[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
change less here than we think we do, eh?" The colonel sighed. "Well, that is
neither here nor there. The question is. What do we do next? Do we go back
out and see if we can find anything in the aftermath of this, or do we wait
and see what gets picked up?"
"I'm for going back out," Gus replied without hesitation. "If either or both
survived, then things got really stirred up, didn't they? It might have
spooked 'em-and remember, they got the knack like me. If they don't want to
be seen, you can't see 'em. You can't, but 7 can." And that was precisely why
the colonel needed Gus. For his part, though, Gus did not underestimate the
colonel, who had managed to accumulate a whole hell of a lot of authority and
rank, which implied trust, in a very short time on the Well World. That kind
of man was dangerous in and of himself, but even more so when it was not at
all clear to whom the man gave his loyalty.
The colonel considered Gus's response, then said, "I think perhaps you are
right, my friend. If
I'd had a boat at my disposal, we would have left at the first reports, but
they have a veritable armada out there, from patrol boats to scientific
teams, and that left them thin in other areas.
There's one due in for refueling and reprovisioning this afternoon, though. I
think when it sails, you and I should be on it."
The colonel's question had bothered Gus more than he let on. What was he going
to do if he found
Terry? What sort of future did he have in mind, particularly considering the
state she'd been in when he'd found her? Her only hope was the captain, and
while he seemed like a decent enough guy, he didn't seem to be all there in a
number of ways. In a sense, his only real hope was the captain, too, since he
sure couldn't go back to Dahir and didn't see much of a future anywhere else.
In point of fact, until things had stalled, this business had been the most
fun he'd had since he had arrived in this strange place.
They'd probably let Terry go. She wasn't much good to anybody, but she wasn't
very good company as it was, either. But Brazil-that was a different story. At
best, they'd lock him up and try to get enough guts to trust him on any deal
he might make, or they'd march him into that whatever it was up north with
guns pointing at his head. Not a good condition for granting favors, although
Brazil always seemed confident that if he got in there, he could handle
anything. Still, old Gus wasn't one of the folks likely to be invited to the
party, and Brazil would have a lot more on his mind than his brief
acquaintance and shipmate.
Damn! he thought. Kinda like The Wizard of Oz, only you got to steal the
wizard and carry him off, too. Yeah, and when they'd gotten to the wizard,
he'd proved to be a fake, anyway. Wouldn't that take the cake! All this crap
and you get Brazil inside and he's just another con man. Hell, the captain
had even described himself as a con artist! Seemed damned proud of it,
although where had it gotten him up to now?
As always, he'd have to just wing it. At least those two somehow had learned
the same knack for not being noticed that was built into the Danir; they
might be pretty damned hard to keep locked up. That was something of an
advantage, although, as the colonel said, it wouldn't take forever
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20L.%20Chalker/Chalker,%2...20-%20Gods%20at%20the%20Well%2
0of%20Souls.TXT (39 of 157) [7/1/03 1:20:24 AM]
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20L.%20Chalker/Chalker,%20Jack%20L%20-%20...of%20Souls%200
3%20-%20Gods%20at%20the%20Well%20of%20Souls.TXT
to get somebody else here, somebody native, who could see through the trick.
"Ship off the port bow!" the lookout cried. "Coming landward and at full
speed! Looks like one of ours!"
Page 47
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"Make to approaching craft by signal lantern as soon as she's in range," the
ship's captain instructed. "Ask them for identification and the reason for
coming in. They might have some problems. Nobody was due in for another thirty
hours."
The semaphore lantern was soon clicking away, and after an interval during
which time the approaching craft had covered a good deal of distance toward
them, the signalman read out the reply.
"Corvette Swiftwind Thunderer, carries two survivors, unknown species, one in
critical condition."
The colonel snapped to. "It's them! I know it is them! Captain, tell them to
approach and lay to next to us. My companion and I are going to board that
ship and ride it back in."
"Might not be who you're looking for." the officer pointed out. "It is. I will
chance it anyway.
Just give the order before they get so close that they pass us." He paused a
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]