Croft moaned. It was a sound barely louder than a sigh. A release of breath from constricted lungs, a prolonged exhalation. The chittering increased in volume and then, abruptly, stilled.
"God!" Eidhal felt his stomach contract, his skin crawl as he looked upwards. "What the hell's happening?"
On the pinnacle, something was feeding. It was diaphanous, a thing of gauzy membranes which caught the starlight and reflected it in wispy shimmers. A web of near-invisible filaments which could ride the wind, falling as it condensed, rising as it extended. A web which was formed of a diffused kind of life, alien to human experience.
"Croft! We must-"
"No!" Dumarest held the man fast. There was nothing they could do-and a point had to be proven. "He's gone," he said. "It's already too late. If he doesn't fall and kill himself, he'll be a ghost."
Chapter Fourteen
"Croft." Vestaler shook his head, conscious of his guilt, his relief that it had not been Usdon. Wine stood on the table and he poured himself a measure, sipping, his eyes thoughtful as he stared over the rim of the goblet. "Why?" he demanded. "Why Croft?"
"He was afraid," said Dumarest. "His own fear killed him."
His own terror, the sweat of fear perhaps, attracting the Kheld to its scent. Usdon's face darkened as he remembered what he had seen. It had been a mercy the man had fallen, crushing his skull as he landed, to lie helpless for the predators.
They had been denied their prey. The body was taken, buried now with all honors. A ceremony Croft had deserved. By his death, he had saved the lives of others. No longer would the ordeal be held in the high places. The initiation would be changed, young lives saved, the uneasy presence of the ghosts eliminated for all time.
Usdon poured wine, handed Dumarest a goblet, lifted his own in salute.
"For what you have done, we thank you," he said with formal courtesy. "May your life among us be long and pleasant."
The next barrier was to be surmounted. He and Iduna were safe, but still confined to the valley. A problem to be solved, but Dumarest said nothing as he returned the salute.
The wine was strong, rich with flavor, comforting to his stomach and easing his fatigue. The journey, the vigil, the return-and his full strength had yet to return.
"How did you know?" asked Vestaler. "Did Leon tell you?"
"No, he betrayed none of your secrets. But what must have happened was obvious. He was curious and must have sneaked close to the high places to watch the ordeal. He saw something, or heard something, and it frightened him. He wore the yellow to gain time and, when it ran out, he could do nothing but run." Dumarest lowered the empty goblet. "In his way, he was very brave."
"You liked him," said Usdon with sudden understanding. "He reminded you of someone, perhaps."
Of himself when young, traveling, working, moving on. A little bewildered and unsure, a stranger in a constantly changing world. But Leon had lacked the one thing Dumarest possessed, the luck which had enabled him to survive.
There, but for the grace of God, went I! A sobering thought.
"What I can't understand is how you managed to escape the Kheld the first time you experienced them," said Vestaler. "When you were on your journey."
"There were four of us," said Dumarest. "We were close. Chaque and I were awake and able to give each other strength. And I have met odd life forms before."
"And you are not prone to fear," said Usdon. "Your courage saved the others."
"Perhaps." Dumarest helped himself to more wine. "But I think Jalch saved us. He was dreaming, experiencing a nightmare, and he woke. Perhaps his thoughts, his hate-who can tell?"
"Yet you went to the high places knowing what could happen. The act of a brave man." Again, Usdon lifted his goblet in salute. "You and your woman will breed fine children. They, in turn, will add to the strength of others."
"She is not my woman."
"Not of the Original People?" Usdon frowned, then shrugged. "It is not important. She can be indoctrinated into the mysteries, taught the things we know, the past which has to be remembered. It is unusual, but it can be done. We owe you that and more."
There would be a house and a position, rank which would gain in stature as the years passed. There would be work to engage his hands and mind, boys to train, men to teach. He would tell them stories of other worlds and expand their horizons, far beyond that of the valley. Given time he could change their ways, introduce machines, encourage trade. Give them life.
Already they were too inbred, young faces bearing a similar stamp, lines of weakness lying close beneath the surface. Fresh blood would revitalize them, his own and that of others. The mountains could hold minerals and gems, the predators could provide skins and furs. Even the Kheld could be snared and sold to zoos. A worthy task for any man and here, maybe, he would come as close as he ever would to home. To Earth.
A temptation. A snare loaded with enticing bait; authority, respect, security, the power to manipulate lives, to guide the destiny of a people. Iduna.
* * * * *
She entered the chamber as if at a signal, coming directly towards him, her hands extended, features radiating pleasure.
"Earl! I've been so worried! Thank God you're alive and well!"
"And you?"
"They kept me within a house. There was a loom and some of the women tried to teach me how to use it Earl, it's not for me."
He said, flatly, "They say that we have to stay here. You will have to weave, bake bread, make pots, do what the other women do. Mate with me," he added. "Bear my children."
"Earl!"
"Does the prospect horrify you?"
"No, why should it?" Her eyes were candid as they met his own. "If we have to, then we must."
"Your body against mine," he said deliberately. "Hot as we mate, your womb filled with child, growing, swelling, later to feed the new life. And not just once, Iduna, but many times. We shall eat together, sleep together. Your body will provide my pleasure, my hands-" He broke off, eyes narrowed, searching. "You do not object?"
"No." She swallowed, then managed to smile. "Of course not. You are a fine man, Earl. No woman could ask for better. We can be happy here, you and I. The valley is a nice place, the people kind. When-"
"Now! Today!"
"You mean that tonight-?" Again, she swallowed. "But why the hurry? Earl, you must give me a little time, a few days at least. My brother-I can't forget Jalch so soon."
"He was your brother, Iduna, not your husband. I shall be that."
"Yes, Earl, of course. Even so, I need a little time." Her laugh was strained. "You don't understand. I- you will be the first. Please, Earl! Please!"
She sagged as he nodded, her relief obvious. As she left Dumarest said, dryly, "As I told you, she is not my woman."
"But she will obey." Vestaler had watched from where he stood against a wall. "She must obey. There is no alternative."
"I disagree," said Dumarest quietly. "We could always leave."
"That is impossible. No one can leave the valley!"
"No?" Dumarest looked from one to the other, from Usdon to Vestaler. "Like Zafra, you lie. Men left the valley to go searching for Leon. He saw them and they frightened him. That's why he took passage on the first vessel he could find."
"He-"
"Ran," interrupted Dumarest. "We know why, but he did not leave empty handed. He took three things with him. A map which he had to have in order to find his way from the mountains. Something of value which he could sell in order to obtain passage money-what was it?"