Jo Clayton - Fire in the Sky

She touched the sensor again and stepped back. “As you see,” she said. “Thick stone will defend against the beam, flesh will fry on the bone, glass will melt and metal will cook what’s inside it or touching it.”

There were no groans or moans this time, only a shocked silence. The Speaker shuddered wildly, then fought xeself to control. “You had a suggestion, Scholar?”

“Two suggestions, actually. One, that you allow my Aide and I to remain. We can discuss matters in considerable more detail so you will have the data you need for planning your defense. The flikit will also be useful, since the Eolt should stay carefully away from Medon Pass. There are devices in it that allow the pilot to locate large life forms. Chorek in other words. And there is a stunner set into the base.”

“A stunner is a nonlethal defense weapon. It acts rather like a block of wood brought down on your head, puts you out for a while, gives you a sore head when you wake, but does little additional harm. We are forbidden to give these to you. Even if we could, we have very few of them. Our goal is learning, not conquest.”

“The second suggestion is that the harpist Shadith and my Aide Marrin Ola be sent to capture the spy. They are both fight trained and very good at the arts of survival.”

“That child? That glorious gifted child?”

“That child has done things you can’t imagine, O Speaker. Cha oy, I will let her speak for herself. You asked what I would suggest, but this is your world. You will do as you must and we will hold ourselves bound by your decisions.” She lifted a hand, moved it in a flat slicing motion, a Keteng gesture that meant

I have done.

There was considerable muttering among the Meruu of the ground and touchings of tentacle to tentacle among the Meruu of the air.

Stretching muscle against muscle to relieve the strain from the tension and standing with her neck bent so long, Aslan eased back to stand beside Shadith. “You’re up next, glorious gifted child.”

“You’re not going to let me forget that, are you.”

“How often is one presented with a line like that.” She grinned at Shadith, then sobered. “I saw your sisters dancing out there. Mass hallucination or whatever, that is amazing, Shadow. Do you know how you do it?”

“No. You still haven’t said how you’ll explain sending Marrin off with me. Doesn’t he have more to lose than I if University disciplines him?”

“I haven’t decided. He made up his mind a while back and nothing I said changed it, so I’m left to find a way to cover him. Maybe use you as a reason, him going along to protect you. Mind?”

“No. I…” She made a face and stepped forward as the Speaker called her forth.

The afternoon wound slowly on, questions to Shadith, questions to Marrin Ola, questions to Aslan, questions to Maorgan, interminable arguments within and between the two Meruus, proposals raised, rebutted, brought forth again. The captive chorek were brought down from the tower, questioned to no great result since most of them refused to say anything, just spent their time staring at Denchok and Eolt with hungry eyes that was a more powerful warning of their intent than any words might be.

The Klobach came to an end when the sun touched the tips of the western mountains.

Melitoлh, Meklo Fen, mid-morning

Denchok and Fior trickled into the fen a few at a time but the trickle never stopped or even slowed, Though so many people around made them profoundly uneasy, the swampies came out of the twilight under the trees to guide them and help the newcomers get settled. They faded into the heart of the fen as soon as they could, but came back again and again when they were needed, bringing food and other necessities for living in the swampland.

Leoca looked up as Engebel ducked under the overhang of the stem and leaf roof that Porach had taught them how to make. Xe’d been off all morning getting leaves to repair that roof and had been fiddling with it for an hour after Leoca got back from the swampie meet with fish for supper. “Fixed?”

“Hope so. We’ll know in a minute. Starting to rain again.” Xe shivered, dropped to xe’s knees beside the tiny fire. “If I get much wetter, I’m coming down with root, rot.” Xe glanced at the fish. “Any news from

“Nothing yet. I saw Ceam. He’s just back from a run to outside, gone silent. Won’t answer the harp calls. Ceam says he thinks it was putting too much on him. He reminded us that Danor said Ilaцrn had gone soft in the middle. He said we shouldn’t rely on him, that he’d go squish on us.”

“Cha oy, Danor wasn’t all that sane himself. Think he got all the way to the Meruu? The Eolt don’t say anything about seeing him.”

“Who knows.” Leoca reached behind her for the pot they’d got from the mesuch traders, lifted her head. “Listen to it come down. This is going to be a drencher.” She stretched out her arm, held her hand under the spot where the leak had been. “Looks like you fixed it.”

Banikoлh, Guest House

Shadith set her cha mug down when a Denchok came into the room where the University group members were breaking their fast, a short wiry Keteng with a lichen web so thick that his eyes looked like beetles burrowed into bark. She suppressed a weary sigh, expecting to be summoned to another day of questions and endless arguments.

“I greet you, Scholar, Singer, Aide. I am called Daizil. I am Metau of the House of Knowledge and Speaker for the Meruu of the Earth.”

Aslan stood, Marrin left his chair to stand behind her. Shadith brushed toast crumbs from her mouth and joined them.

Aslan dipped her head in a sketch of a bow. “We greet you, Metau Daizil. May we ask why the honor of this visit?”

He inclined his upper body in answer, a stiffer move, his neck too thickly imprisoned in lichen to make a nod feasible. “The Meruus have conferred throughout the night and have reached a decision, Scholar. You yourself will remain as advisor, explaining to us the soul of the Chandavasi and giving us what knowledge you have of means of defense. We accept your characterization of Shadowsong and Marrin Ola and honor their gift of their skills to the preservation of our people… Whatever they will need in the way of supplies, they have but to ask and we lay Chel Dй’s blessing on their search. We are winnowing our own for those with landskills that we may send forth two or three small bands of searchers. If nothing else, these might serve to drive the spy into the arms of your people. The Scholars of the Meruu will welcome you, Aslan aici Adlaar. A student will wait in the hall outside to guide you when you’re ready.” He inclined his torso again, marched out.

Aslan stood watching, silent, frowning.

Shadith stretched, rubbed the back of her neck. “So it begins,” she said.

Melitoлh, the Kushayt, after moonrise

Ilaцrn dug the packet from under the delseh mint, closed his hand on it, closed his eyes. After a minute, he thrust it into his sleeve and moved on to the next cache. He hadn’t resolved anything. He didn’t know what he was going to do. But he wanted to be ready if the resolve ever came. He knew it would be a matter of seconds. The indrawing of a breath. If he couldn’t act before that breath was gone, he never would.

When he had them all, he stood a moment looking speculatively at the wall, wondering about the hidden door. He shook his head. It was bound to have some kind of mesuch latch that only Hunnar could open. He moved his eyes along to the kerre tree where Eolt Kitsek had dropped the packet. There was cord in the garden shed… if he could get up that tree onto the top of the wall… the cord would be strong enough to get him down without breaking his legs… if he chose the right time… when the wall watch was past…