Well, come morning, they were in for a surprise.
Brant was almost sorry that the watchers had not discovered their plan and begun firing, for it would be a vast relief to know just what the watchers intended. However, the ink-black darkness had concealed their furtive departure from the watchful eyes above and it did not seem likely that their absence would be discovered before morning.
There was one problem which bothered him and made him a trifle uneasy. And that was, quite simply, that in order to leave the encampment they had been forced to switch off the power fence. There was no alternative to this, for the lopers would have suffered from the energy-laden wires when they rode over them as much as would beasts of prey, for whom the energy fence was designed. But if a predator should choose to enter the camp during the night, to rip open the tents in search of food, surely the rumpus would attract the attention of the watchers, and their flight would be known.
Brant shrugged the problem aside. “The hell with it,” he grumbled to himself. “You can’t take every damn precaution— and maybe our luck will hold.”
By this time they had put several miles between them and the abandoned camp, and the lopers were weary of laboring through the talcum-fine dust. So Brant headed in to the shelter of the cliffs, where rock outcroppings and pulverized shale would give the beasts easier footing, and enable them to make better time.
It was his intention to ride all night long, and then, when morning came, to hole up somewhere, seeking shelter in the side of the cliffs, where caves and crevices could easily be found. He just hoped that these wouldn’t already be affording shelter to rock dragons or something even bigger, more powerful and more dangerous. But, as he’d just decided, you have to take some risks.
Zuarra was sharing the saddle with him, as she disdained to ride with Agila. For all the danger of their precipitous night ride, and all the various hazards and problems he had on his mind, Brant could not help feeling uncomfortably aware of the proximity of her body to his.
Her hair held a faint trace of perfume—bitter, musky, a dry, spicelike scent that reminded him vaguely of cinnamon.
Her arms were tightly wound about his waist, for she was riding behind him so that he could more easily handle the reins. So close was her embrace, that even through his clothing he could feel the soft pressure of her firm breasts nuzzling into his back.
He tried not to notice that her smooth thigh was pressed against his leg, and that her warm breath panted against his nape. But Brant was only a man, not a priest or a saint, and the warm closeness of their bodies aroused hungers within him, as did the delicious fragrance of her hair.
Muttering an uncomfortable curse, he moved his big shoulders restively, trying to turn his attention to other matters.
It is doubtful whether Zuarra could have understood his words, for they were in English. But women possess certain instincts, and in the windy dark she smiled a slow little smile to herself, understanding the cause of his irritable agitation.
The night seemed endless, and as they swayed in the saddle to the rhythm of the beast’s awkward gait, they found themselves being lulled into sleep. Brant almost fell from the saddle at one point, but Zuarra’s grasp restrained him, and he straightened, stiffening his back, forcing sleepiness from his mind by an act of will.
The lopers themselves were beginning to founder by this time, for the beasts were unaccustomed to being driven for so long at their best pace. Eventually, and with reluctance, Brant had to give the signal to slow down and let the beasts canter at an easier pace, to conserve their vigor.
Dawn took them all by surprise. On this harsh desert world, where the air is incredibly thin, sunrise does not advertise its coming by the slow brightening of light, as it does on Earth, with its thicker, more humid atmosphere. No, dawn is like a vast, silent explosion, which comes upon you with no advance warnings.
One moment they were riding through pitch-black gloom. And, in the next instant of time, daylight flooded the sky and they blinked sleepy eyes against the unexpected brilliance.
Brant pulled up and let Zuarra dismount. Then he got down from the saddle himself, stretching weary legs with a jaw-cracking yawn.
“We’ll take a brief rest stop here,” he advised the others. After a long night spent in the saddle, they were all thankful for an opportunity to relieve their bladders.
Brant and Harbin scanned the ridgeline narrowly, through powerful binoculars, but nowhere could they discern the slightest sign of the unknown watchers. That was one problem off Brant’s mind, at least.
“How far do you think we traveled, Doc?” inquired Brant, wetting his lips with a drink from his canteen. The scientist pursed his lips and hazarded a guess.
Brant grunted. “Better than I could have hoped,” he said. “Well, we’re all worn out, and the lopers are in bad shape. What say we find a place to hole up and get some shut-eye?”
“I could use some,” admitted Harbin with a rueful grin. “Not as young as I used to be… .”
Brant chuckled at that. “You’re made out of whipcord and steel wire, and you know it,” he quipped. “Matter of fact, you look like you’re in better shape than I am.”
This part of the shoreline of the prehistoric continent was grooved and worn into deep gullies, and it didn’t take the travelers very long to find a snug cave. Fortunately, although the crusted droppings suggested it had once served as a rock dragon’s lair, the beast was no longer in residence, and had not been for many years.
The women unrolled the bedding and Harbin asked the younger man as to the wisdom of mounting guard.
Brant stifled another huge yawn, and shook his head blearily, “Naw, I don’t think so. They’re just now realizing we skipped out last night, and have no way of knowing which way we rode, or how far we went. It’ll be quite a while before they catch up to us, that is, if they bother with pursuit. And that shale we were riding over most of the night won’t show tracks.”
They went to bed and almost instantly fell asleep.
10 The Riddle
Bone-weary as they all were, it was well into the afternoon before any of them awoke.
Brant stretched tired muscles and yawned a jaw-cracking yawn. Then he got up and went out of the narrow cave to relieve himself. He found Harbin already up and dressed.
“I figured you’d still be snoozing,” the big Earthsider grunted. The older man smiled ruefully.
“Old bones don’t rest easy,” Harbin admitted. “People of my age don’t need that much sleep, you know. After all, the Big Sleep is nearer for us than for you young folks.”
Brant grimaced and spat. “Hell, Doc, you’ll see me in my grave, more than likely. Anybody else up?”
Will Harbin shook his head briefly. Stepping away from the cliffwall, Brant scanned the ridgeline with slow and careful gaze.
“Any signs of company?” he inquired.
Harbin shook his head again. “None that I can discern,” he said. “But I hardly suppose that they will be on our track this quickly.”
“Let’s hope not, anyway,” Brant growled. “Another ride like the one we had last night will about do me in!”
Agila emerged from the mouth of the cave shortly thereafter. He ignored Brant as best he might, greeting his employer briefly. Before long, the delicious smell of food being cooked was on the air. Brant sniffed hungrily.
“Soup’s on, I guess. That means the women must be up.”
They broke their fast ravenously, and seldom had hot food tasted better to any of the travelers.
Later on, having fed the lopers, Brant saddled his beast and rode out into the midst of the dunes. Climbing to the top of the tallest one he could find easily, he spent a long time carefully searching the ridgeline with his binoculars. Eventually, finding no slightest sign of their pursuers, he remounted his steed and rode back to the cave, reporting his discovery, or lack of any discovery, to the old scientist.