With Dessie holding his hand tightly and Lanny bringing up the rear still carrying his pack, Dard came into a room where there was a long table flanked by benches. Kimber was already sitting there, empty plates before him, talking to an excited Kordov.
But where did they go-those city dwellers? the little biologist sputtered as Dard waded into the food Trude Harmon spread before him. They could not just vanish- pouff! He snapped his fingers. As if they were but puffs of smoke!
Kimber gave the same answer to that question as Dard had made. Say an epidemic following war-germ warfare-or radiation sickness-who can tell now? By the weathering of the city they have been gone a long time. We found no traces of anything but animal life. And nothing to fear but the lizards
A whole world deserted! Kordov shook his head. It is enough to frighten one! Those Others took the wrong turning somewhere.
It is up to us to see that we dont follow their example, Kimber cut in.
That evening the voyagers gathered about a giant campfire in the open space before the cliff house, while Kimber and the others in turn recited the saga of their journey into the interior. The city, the robot-controlled battery, the battle with the lizards, held their listeners enthralled. But when they had done the question came again:
But where did they go?
Kordov gave the suggested answers, but then he added:
It would be better if we asked ourselves now why did they go and be governed by the reply to that. They have left us a deserted land in which to make a new beginning. Though we must not forget that in other continents of this world some remnants of that race may still exist. Wisdom suggests alertness in the future.
Dessie, sitting in Dards lap, leaned her head back against his shoulder and whispered:
I like hearing about the night monkeys, Dardie. Do you suppose they will ever come here so I can see them too? Knowing them would be fun.
Yes, it would, he whispered back.
Maybe someday when they were sure of safety beyond the cliffs, all the Terrans could venture out and he could show Dessie the night monkeys. But not until the last of that scaled death had been found and exterminated!
Since Kimber could not use his arm until the shoulder wound healed, Dard became hands for the pilot, working with Cully on the damaged sled. Seeing that he could and did follow instructions, Cully went back to his own pet project of dismantling the engine of the carrier they had rescued from the sea tube. He intended some day, he insisted, to hunt out that second car from the lizard valley and compare the two.
Dessie kept near them as they worked. She was Dards shadow in the waking hours, as she had always been since taking her first uncertain steps. The other children were objects to be watched with sober interest, but as yet she preferred company she knew. And, since she was perfectly content to sit quietly, absorbed in the antics of the hoppers, insects, and the butterfly-birds; they often forgot she was with them.
No-
Dard was startled into turning by her sudden cry. She was having a tug of war with the largest hopper he had yet seen, a grandfather of a clan at least. But Dessies strength was superior, and she wrenched away the prize the animal had just stolen from the blouse Dard had discarded in the heat.
He opened your pocket, she told the boy indignantly,and he took this out, just as if it were his own! What is it? Pretty She crooned the word as she fingered the sheets in which colors ran in waving bands.
Why- Id forgotten all about that. Its a book-or I think it is, Dessie. It belonged to Those Others.
"A what! Kimber reached for it. Where did you get it., kid?
Dard explained how he had found it in the hidden room of the gun emplacement and of his theory that Those Others might have used the bands of color as a means of communication.
I was going to compare it with those shots you took on microfilm of that doorway in the city. And then so much happened I forgot all about it.
You do have a feeling for word patterns-I remember.
Dard makes pictures out of words. Dessie answered for him. Show how, Dardie.
Under Kimbers interested eyes Dard sketched out the pattern of a line of verse. The pilot nodded.
Patterns for words. And that must be how you understood the importance of this. All right. Remember those rolls of some kind of recording tape we found in the first carrier? Rogan believes that they can be read by the help of our machines. Youre going down to the ship right now and tell him to get out that equipment, We didnt see any use for it yet and its been left down there. But I want to know
- Yes, go right now!
So Dard, with Dessie still in tow, set off down river to the seashore where the remains of the star ship was being dismantled as fast as they could use its materials at the cliffs. The red spider plants were again floating in wide patches on the water, but not cloaking all the river as they had on the day the ship landed.
I havent been down here yet, Dessie confided. Mrs. Harmon says that there are bad dragons.
Dard was quick to underline that warning. Dessie might just try to make friends with one of the things!
Yes, there are, Dessie. And they are not like the animals at all. Promise me that if you see one you will can me right away!
She was apparently impressed by his gravity for she agreed at once.
Yes, Dardie. Mr. Rogan brought me a pretty shell from the sea. Might I just go down and see if I can find another? Dessie asked.
Stay in sight of the ship and dont wander away, he told her, seeing no reason why she should not hunt for treasures along the waters edge.
The ship which had been so solid and secure against the dangers of outer space was but a shell of her former self. In some places she had been stripped down to the inner framework. Dard squeezed through open partitions to a storeroom where he found the techneer checking the markings on a pile of boxes. When he explained his errand Rogan was enthusiastic.
Sure we can try reading those tapes. Well need this, and this, and"-he pushed aside a larger container to free a third- this. Ill go to work assembling as soon as we get this back to the cliff. Might be able to try running off one roll tonight or early tomorrow. Want to give me a hand?
Dard took one of the boxes under his arm and hooked his fingers in the carrying handle of another before tramping back over the ramp to the sand.
Dessie came down with me. She wanted some more sea shells. Ill have to round her up.
Sure thing. Rogan set down his large box and came along. They were almost at the shore when the scream sent them into a run.
Dardie! Dardie! Quick!
Dards hand went to the ray gun Cully had given him after the adventure with the lizards. It had a full charge in it now. But they had seen no trace of the monsters here!
There she is! By those rocks!
But he didnt need Rogans direction. Dard had already sighted Dessie, her back to some sea-washed rocks, shying stones at one of the flying dragons, while she continued to shout for help. To Dards surprise she made no move to join her rescuers but stood her ground valiantly until he used the ray to slice the head of the dragon and send its body flopping into the sea.
Come here! he called but she shook her head. He saw tears on her cheeks.
Its the sea baby, Dardie, the little baby out of the sea. Its so afraid! We must help it
Dard stopped, catching at Rogan to bring him to a halt also. He trusted Dessies instincts. She had been protecting another creature, not herself, and he had a feeling now that her act was of vast importance to them an. He schooled his voice to a low, even level as he said:
All right, Dessie. The dragon is dead. Can you get the sea baby to come out now-or shall I come to help you?