"Don't put it that way. Room service. Room service and maid service and lights. Food and drink." She picked up one of the fruits. It was about the size and shape of a cucumber. "Do you suppose this is fit to eat?"
"I don't think you ought to try it. Ellie, it would be smart not to eat or drink anything until we are rescued."
"Well, maybe we could go hungry but we certainly can't go without water. You die of thirst in a day or two."
"But we may be rescued before morning."
"Maybe." She peeled the fruit. "It smells good. Something like a banana."
He peeled one and sniffed it. "More like a pawpaw."
"Well?"
"Mmm-- Look here, I'll eat one. If it hasn't made me sick in a half hour, then you can try one."
"Yes, sir, boss man." She bit into the one she held. "Mind the seeds."
"Ellie, you're a juvenile delinquent."
She wrinkled her nose and smiled. "You say the sweetest things! I try to be."
Max bit into his. Not bad--not as much flavor as a pawpaw, but not bad. Some minutes later he was saying, "Maybe we should leave some for breakfast?"
"All right. I'm full anyway." Ellie leaned over and drank. Without words they had each concluded that the cloying meal required them to risk the water. "There, I feel better. At least we'll die comfortably. Max? Do you think we dare sleep? I'm dead."
"I think they are through with us for the night. You sleep, I'll sit up."
"No, that's not fair. Honest, what good would it do to keep watch? We can't get away."
"Well ... here, take my knife. You can sleep with it in your hand."
"All right." She reached across the bowl and accepted it. "Good night, Max. I'm going to count sheep."
"Good night." He stretched out, shifted and got a tree cone out of his ribs, then tried to relax. Fatigue and a full stomach helped, the knowledge of their plight hindered--and that hobgoblin hanging up there. Maybe _it_ was keeping watch--but not for their benefit.
"Max? Are you asleep?"
"No, Ellie."
"Hold my hand? I'm _scared_."
"I can't reach it."
"Yes, you can. Swing around the other way."
He did so, and found that he could reach over his head past the water bowl and clasp her hand. "Thanks, Max. Good night some more."
He lay on his back and stared up through the trees. Despite the half light given by the luminiferous animals he could see stars and the numerous meteor trails crisscrossing the sky. To avoid thinking he started counting them. Presently they started exploding in his head and he was asleep.
The light of the local sun through the trees awakened him. He raised his head. "I wondered how long you would sleep," Eldreth announced. "Look who's here."
He sat up, wincing with every move, and turned around. Mr. Chips was sitting on Ellie's middle and peeling one of the papaya-like fruits. "Lo, Maxie."
"Hello, Chipsie." He saw that the note was still tied to her. "Bad girl!"
Mr. Chips turned to Ellie for comfort. Tears started to leak out. "No, no," corrected Ellie. "Good girl. She's promised to go find Maggie as soon as she finishes breakfast. Haven't you, dear?"
"Go find Maggie," the spider puppy agreed.
"Don't blame her, Max. Spider puppies aren't nocturnal back home. She just waited until we were quiet, then came back. She couldn't help it. I found her sleeping in my arm."
The spider puppy finished eating, then drank daintily from the bowl. Max decided that it didn't matter, considering who had probably used it before they had. This thought he suppressed quickly. "Find Maggie," Mr. Chips announced.
"Yes, dear. Go straight back to the ship as fast as you can and find Maggie. Hurry."
"Find Maggie. Hurry fast. 'Bye, Maxie." The spider puppy took to the trees and scampered away in the right direction.
"Do you think she'll get there?" asked Max.
"I think so. After all, her ancestors found their way through forests and such for a lot of generations. She knows it's important; we had a long talk."
"Do you really think she understands that much?"
"She understands about pleasing me and that's enough. Max, do you suppose they can possibly reach us today? I don't want to spend another night here."
"Neither do I. If Chipsie can move faster than we can ..."
"Oh, she can."
"Then maybe--if they start quickly."
"I hope so. Ready for breakfast?"
"Did Chipsie leave anything?"
"Three apiece. I've had mine. Here."
"Sure you're lying? There were only five when we went to sleep." She looked sheepish and allowed him to split the odd one. While they were eating he noticed a change. "Hey, what became of the over-sized lightning bugs?"
"Oh. One of those awful creatures came at dawn and carried them away. I was set to scream but he didn't come close to me, so I let you sleep."
"Thanks. I see our chaperone is with us." The hobgoblin still hung in the tree tops.
"Yes, and there have been peekers around all morning, too."
"Did you get a look at one?"
"Of course not." She stood up, stretched and winced. "Now to see what beautiful surprises this lovely day brings forth." She made a sour face. "The program I would pick is to sit right here and never lay eyes on anything until George Daigler shows up with about a dozen armed men. I'd kiss him. I'd kiss all of them."
"So would I."
Until well past noon Eldreth's chosen schedule prevailed, nothing happened. They heard from time to time the bugling and snorting of centaurs but saw none. They talked in desultory fashion, having already disposed of both hopes and fears, and were dozing in the sunshine, when they suddenly came alert to the fact that a centaur was entering the clearing.
Max felt sure that it was the leader of the herd, or at least that it was the one who had fed and watered them. The creature wasted no time, making it clear with kicks and prods that they were to allow themselves to be leashed for travel.
Never once were they free of the living ropes. Max thought of attacking the centaur, perhaps leaping on his back and cutting his throat. But it seemed most unlikely that he could do it quietly enough; one snort might bring the herd down on them. Besides which he knew no way to get free of their bonds even if he killed the centaur. Better wait--especially with a messenger gone for help.
They were led, falling and being dragged occasionally, along the route taken by the party of slaves. It became apparent that they were entering a large centaur settlement. The path opened out into a winding, well-tended road with centaurs going both directions and branching off onto side roads. There were no buildings, none of the outward marks of a civilized race--but there was an air of organization, of custom, of stability. Little centaurs scampered about, got in the way, and were ordered aside. There was activity of various sorts on both sides of the road and grotesque human slaves were almost as numerous as centaurs, carrying burdens, working in unexplained fashions--some with living-rope bonds, some allowed to run free. They could not see much because of the uncomfortable pace they were forced to maintain.
Once Max noted an activity on his side of the road that he wished to see better. He did not mention it to Ellie, not only because talking was difficult but because he did not wish to worry her--but it had looked like an outdoor butcher shop to him. The hanging carcasses were not centaurs.
They stopped at last in a very large clearing, well filled with centaurs. Their master patted the lines that bound them and thereby caused them to shorten until they were fetched close to his sides. He then took his place in a centaur queue.