"There must be something Khorosh wants more than my head!" cried Mjipa. "Let's discuss the matter in civilized fashion ..."
"Nay, we Zhamanacians know better than to let you Terran knaves entrap us in your webs of lies and subtle equivocations. Will ye bow your head, or must I have my men hold you in suitable posture?"
"I—" persisted Mjipa. But then came an interruption. Out of the woods erupted a horde of tailed Krishnans, naked and hairy and carrying stone-bladed axes and spears, together with a few metal weapons. With yells of surprise and alarm, the Khaldonians snatched up their clubs and backed into a clump.
The leader of the tailed Krishnans had fitted over his head an artificial head resembling that of a huge Terran baboon. He pointed to Mjipa and shouted something in a language full of grunts and clicks.
Verar had joined his men. Another Khaldonian held the sword that Alicia had been wearing; two others bore the pikes that Mjipa and Isayin had carried.
Mjipa was astonished to hear the same language of grunts and clicks coming from Alicia. The leader stepped forward and took off his artificial head. Holding it under one arm, he addressed Alicia, who replied.
After several exchanges, the tailed man turned and shouted to his followers. Instantly they rushed upon the twelve Khaldonians. Mjipa glimpsed a sword waving in the air for an instant; then it vanished. The Khaldonians disappeared beneath a mass of hairy bodies. Presently one dead Khaldonian, with blue-green blood pouring from jagged wounds inflicted by stone weapons, was dragged out of the mass by his-ankles; then another, and soon until all twelve, including Verar, had been dragged away.
Carrying one of the swords, the leader came to Alicia and spoke. She replied and bent her head forward. For a horrible moment, Mjipa thought the Fossanderaner was going to give her the treatment Verar had promised. But the tailed one wanted only to saw the rope that bound her wrists. When it parted, he severed the rope on her ankles and then Mjipa's. There was more talk in the tongue of the tailed men. The chief put his artificial head back on and stalked away after his men. They took the Terrans' swords and spears with them. Mjipa dismissed the thought of demanding these weapons back. He probably would not get them, and anyway they were a cheap enough price for their lives.
He let out a long breath. "I'm not due for retirement for another hundred years, but sometimes I wonder if it's worth it ... Tell me what happened, Lish."
"They suspected Verar's gang of being slavers. On the other hand, they recognized you as the Terran who tried to pacify them in return for stopping the slavers. They think well of you because of your square dealing with them. Didn't you learn any of their language?"
"No; I didn't have time. I took a tame tailed man from Koloft as interpreter. How did you learn it?"
"By a book and a set of tapes, as usual."
"But what happened?"
"I explained that you had come to investigate rumors of slaving raids, and that Verar's gang were slavers about to kill us to prevent exposure. I said they were welcome to take the Khaldonians away and barbecue them."
Mjipa made a face. "I have a strong prejudice against cannibalism; but I suppose Verar's gang might as well serve some practical use." He got up and extended a hand to help Alicia, but she bounced to her feet without assistance.
They set out along the trail that ran parallel to the sea, which they could glimpse through the trees. Finding himself limping badly, Mjipa cut himself a walking stick from a branch with his dirk, of which he had not been deprived. In the distance he heard the boom of log drums, heralding the feast that the tailed men would soon enjoy.
"I told you not to rescue those guys when they were helpless on the raft," said Alicia. "They 're just as dead now as they would be if you'd left them at sea. All your magnanimous gesture got us was another hairbreadth escape, by dumb luck. And why didn't you—"
"Lish!" said Mjipa in a tone so stern that for once she paused in her catalogue of criticisms. "Let's not start the game of if-you-had-only-done-this, and that-was-your-fault-not-mine. We've both made enough mistakes to go round; you're the one who insisted on the picnic, for instance. But you made up for it by knowing the caudates' language. Still—" He held up a hand as she seemed about to burst into angry speech. "I'm older than you, and I can tell you one thing. Anyone who has never had occasion to say to himself, 'How could I have been such an idiot?' just hasn't lived. If you'll keep mum about my shortcomings and blunders, I'll do likewise for you. Agreed?"
She gave him a sour little look. "Okay; agreed."
Back at the beach, Mjipa learned that Isayin had returned to the ship. He and Alicia went aboard and found the scholar in his bunk.
"Ah me!" moaned Isayin. "I am unstrung by all this excitement! I need rest and security. Master Mjipa, why didst let those varlets steal upon us undetected? 'Twas stupid of you."
"No more than you," growled Mjipa. "You could have watched our rear as well as I. Why didn't Captain Farrá arm some of his men and send them to find us?"
"Because he holds you to be bringers of bad luck. Caring nought for Terrans, he'd have been happy to see the last of you."
"And why did you run, leaving your weapon, without the least effort to defend us?"
"I am no vulgar swashbuckler, but an intellectual. 'Tis not my part to engage in such affrays, whereas you are hardened to them. As the philosopher Kurde points out—"
Mjipa clenched his fists. "The gods of Krishna give me strength!" he roared. "And to think I risked my hide to save you from Vuzhov's justice! If I could, I'd send you back to Kalwm."
He slammed out of the cabin. When Alicia, who had followed the exchange, gave him a smirk, he said: "And if you say, T told you so!', you'll get an impromptu bath in the Banjao Sea!"
"Percy darling! We just agreed not to say such things, remember?"
"So we did. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
X
REUNION
Towards evening, Percy Mjipa and Alicia Dyckman appeared on the north shore road along the Pichidé River. They trotted a pair of ayas bought in Majbur, with their bags strapped on behind the saddles. They rode in high Krishnan boots, also from Majbur. A new sword clanked against the ribs of Mjipa's mount, while Alicia wore that which they had taken from the guard when they escaped from the detention chamber in Mejvorosh. Mjipa had bought a new blade because the hilt of the Zhamanacian sword was too short for his big hand.
Alicia wore her Khaldoni straw hat. The hat was tied under her chin, and the wide brim flopped with the motion of the aya. The hair of both travelers had grown out to a length of perhaps a centimeter, so that when bareheaded they appeared to have short crew cuts.
As they approached the East Gate of the Novorecife compound, Mjipa shouted up to the man in the watchtower: "Aberta! It's Terrans Mjipa and Dyckman!"
There was a scurry within the wall, and the gate opened. As they rode in, people poured out of the buildings until the travelers found their way blocked by the crowd. All Novorecife turned out as word of the travelers' arrival spread from building to building.
"Get down, Percy!" shouted someone. "We'll take care of the animals and baggage!"
When Mjipa dismounted, the bearlike Boris Glumelin seized him in a hug and kissed him loudly on both cheeks. Then he did the same to Alicia, saying: "Bozhe moy, what happened to your pretty hair?"
"It's a long story," she said. "We'll tell you as soon as you let us get presentable."