Without another word, the 'bot grabbed Dee and lifted her from the ground, scurrying back toward the ship as a group of riders mounted on tall, two-legged animals flowed around the hill. Whatever they were, the beasts were very fast, running in great bounding leaps and coming closer every moment. Cale sighted his laser and fired several bolts in front of the animals, hoping to panic them.
But these beasts were well trained, and didn't even miss a step. Now the warriors were shouting war cries and shaking what appeared to be lances or spears.
The 'bot reached the lifeboat, and clung to Dee's chest as they cycled through the tiny, suit-shaped lock. Cale fired one more bolt before following them into the airlock and sealing it. Just as the hatch dropped into place, a wood shaft flew through the opening. It missed Cale by a fraction of an inch, and was snapped in half by the heavy hatch door.
They hurried into the cabin, staring at the viewscreen. The nomads were circling the small ship, shouting and waving their spears. One had dismounted, and was banging on the hatch with what appeared to be a stone axe.
"Thank you, Tess," Dee said quietly. "Without your 'bot I might not have made it in time. Those things are fast!"
Another nomad dismounted and began climbing up the hull, apparently heading for the small vessel's windscreen. Though it was equipped with a viewscreen, most lifeboats were equipped with a thick plas windscreen for in-atmosphere maneuvering.
"Can we stop him?" Dee asked.
Cale shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Dee." Suddenly he grinned. "At least not until he gets to the windscreen!"
The nomad struggled over the smooth surface of the small vessel. Finally, he threw out a hand that landed on the plas. Cale grinned and flipped a switch. The nomad yelped and tumbled to the ground. In a moment, he bounced to his feet, shouting and waving his fist at the windscreen. Cale grinned. "Electrostatic cleaner. It's for rain. Works good for nomads, though."
"Cale," Tess said. "I recommend you lift off. I must remind you that we do not know what old knowledge they retain. The airlock hatch control is designed to be operated by injured and untrained people."
Cale looked startled, and then nodded. "You're right, Tess. We can't afford to play with these people; they're not playing. They're dead serious, with the emphasis on 'dead'. But how can we lift off without hurting anyone?"
Dee looked suddenly relieved, and Cale scowled, suddenly reminded that she knew of his pirate history, and had half expected him to simply lift, incinerating the nomads. Her almost obvious concern that he would continue a pirate's bloodthirsty ways, despite his flight from that life, was annoying.
"I'm especially worried about that fool pounding on the hull," he continued. "I can't lift off with him there."
"I suggest a short burst of the lift engine. I suspect that a singeing will encourage him to back off."
"I don't want to hurt him," Cale protested.
"I am confident he will suffer only minor burns," Tess assured him. "But the pain should drive him to retreat, and the burst of smoke and fire should encourage the others to move out of range. I could not do it, of course, but I can recommend it as a course of action."
Cale's grin resurfaced. "Recommendation accepted," he said, and slapped the takeoff button twice rapidly. There was a 'Whoof' and a burst of smoke and fire. When it cleared, the nomad who'd been banging on the hull was running at top speed in pursuit of his mount, which, like all the others, was fleeing with all their incredible speed away from the ship. The mounted nomads did not appear to be trying to slow or stop their mounts. In moments, they were well clear, and Cale lifted off.
"Well, now what?" Cale asked when safely ensconced in Cheetah's lounge once more. "If they were able to predict our arrival there, they'll be able to predict the last one."
"I agree," Tess replied. "Probability approaches certainty. I recommend we skip the last stop, and move on to the inhabited area."
Dee shrugged. "Well, we certainly can't gather samples while fighting off nomads. We should move on."
Cale frowned. "I've seen those things they're riding, but it wasn't on Jumbo."
"They bear a resemblance to a prehistoric creature that existed on Old Earth called 'dinosaurs', specifically 'therapod dinosaurs'," Tess replied. "Though these are only about twenty feet long. The old records indicate that they were called 'dinos', and were genetically engineered for speed as riding animals. Apparently, visitors were enthusiastic about having holos taken of them riding a 'dinosaur'. They were also bred for racing, and 'dino' racing and betting produced significant revenue for Jumbo. Therapods are best known as carnivores, but these are herbivores, of course. It seems the nomads have made good use of them, though the records indicate that they must consume large amounts of food to support their metabolism."
Dee shuddered. "Those things are fast! I can see how the nomads are able to enforce their border with the inhabited lands."
"I hope you got a lot of good images, Tess," Cale said. "Our clients will need to know about those things, and about the nomads that ride them."
"They are well-documented in the old records," Tess replied, "and our observations will add current knowledge. Our clients will not be unprepared."
"So, what now?" Dee demanded. "Where's the best place for us to ground in that inhabited belt?" She grinned. "By that I mean the least likely place to get shot at!"
Cale shrugged. "It seems obvious to me. The area around Valhalla seems significantly more advanced than the rest of the inhabited area. I want to know why. And besides, I suspect they'll have at least a basic concept of 'science', and be the most likely to talk before shooting or running off."
Dee smiled. "Or burning us as witches." She shrugged. "That makes sense. How do you think we should do it? Should we just set Cheetah down in the courtyard of that castle, or fortress, or whatever it is?"
Cale began shaking his head even as she spoke. "Definitely not. It would look too much like an attack, and would be certain to touch off a violent response. I do think we should use Cheetah instead of the lifeboat, though. Appearing in a ball of fire in a ship the size of Cheetah should impress the locals, and give them a hint that talking would be better than shooting."
"I agree," said Tess. "I recommend we ground at the edge of their town, stay sealed up, and wait for developments. My studies of similar periods in Old Earth history would indicate that they will probably first send out soldiers to intimidate us or fight us, but if we don't react to being encircled by them, I suspect the local king will send a courtier to find out about us within a few hours."
Cale nodded. "Sounds reasonable to me. Let's hope it sounds reasonable to them."
They grounded without incident, though the viewscreen showed people and animals streaming from the area in panic.
But only moments after landing, Tess said, "Cale, I have to report we have started a fire. If we do not extinguish it, it will damage a crop field. Shall I send a 'bot?"
Cale shook his head. "No, Tess. I'll handle it. There's no doubt we're being watched, and if they see one of your spider 'bots, they'll really panic. Do we have some sort of extinguisher?"
"A tank of fire foam is on its way to the airlock as we speak. It will be quite effective, and will quickly dissipate, leaving no residue."
Cale was hurrying toward the airlock. "Good. With any luck I can get it put out before their soldiers or fire brigade get here."
The fire foam was very effective, and Cale had the fire almost extinguished when Tess said, "Cale! Twelve soldiers mounted on dinos just left the castle. Estimated time of arrival less than two minutes. You should return immediately."