Foster, Alan Dean Icerigger 1 Icerigger

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so really decent and-
"-schizoid," finished September. "We'll chat about their unfortunate aberrations later." He knelt and stuck
his head a little ways into the room.
"They've gone. I expect they'll be out on the rooftops after us in a minute. Deity knows they're more
familiar with them than us. Now, there's only one way down from this rockpile. And while our
knowledgeable friends don't appear to be militarily inclined ... witness their performance in that room ...
sooner or later some bright boy among them's going tee realize that by blocking off the stairway they'll
have us trapped up here."
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The next minutes were a slow-motion dream-scheme of running, hurtling parapets, darting across
rooftops, and drop-ping one level at a time. Hunnar and September assumed'. the lead. They all had to
mote fast and carefully. One wrong step in an unfamiliar place and they might step off the side of the
mountain.
Ages later the two lead men returned to the group with a sign to keep silent.
"We're just above the gateway," September whispered.
"There's a single Brother on guard there and he doesn't look awkwardly tense about things." Ethan
looked past the big man, saw no sign of Sir Hunnar.
A minute later there was a short, sharp whistle from below. They ran to the edge of the building.
September didn't hesi-tate. He turned, grabbed the coping, and let go. Without thinking, or he might have
hesitate, Ethan copied him.
The drop wasn't bad, and the big man and Hunnar were there to catch him. Suaxus came next, and
immediately took up a position next to the closed door. Lanterns burned on either side of the entrance.
Crying mournfully, the slight breeze lowed over the peaks and down into the black abyss.
Carefully, old Eer-Meesach was lowered to the stairs, then Elfa. Budjir hung from the edge for a second
and then they were all gathered below. They turned to descend.
Hunnar held back a moment. He picked up the green stone staff of the unconscious brother, stripped
one the white robe. Carefully he lifted one of the lanterns from its holder.
Transferring it from the staff to one paw. He whirled it once in a circle, arced it against the wooden door.
Flaming oil splattered on the grain, flickered unsteadily for a moment, then sprang up brightly.
"That ought to keep their reasoning minds busy for a while," he muttered grimly.
They ran as quickly as they dared in the darkness. Eer--Meesach had to be considered, too. The wizard
was holding up well under the strain, but there would come a time when his body, no matter snow strong
his spirit, would fail him.
They made fair speed down the black stairs. Now fully awake, Ethan took a cautious look over the
edge. The unend-ing ice sheet shone unseal in. the starlight, speckled here and there with ebon spires that
were other, friendly islands.
A last glance behind showed a bright glow from the still-burning doorway.
By the tine they reached the last stair, Ethan was puffing noticeably. Eer-Meesach, on the other hand,
was near collapse. They moved the wizard into the shelter of some big boulders.
Budjir had gone on ahead to the ship. He returned and between gasps told them he'd seen tran moving
on board theSlanderscree - and too many of them had beards, wore long robes, and carried green!
staves.
Simultaneous curses passed among the little assembly. Lan-guages differed but sentiments were
identical.
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"Not quite as naive as I thought," September murmured. "Could you see any of our people, Budjir?"
"Not a one of the crew. They must all be trapped below-decks."
"Couldn't have been too bard," the big man mused. "One man on watch, and him not expecting
anything."
"They couldn't have overcome the whole crew," said Ethan in disbelief. "Not with clubs."
"Hah! I doubt if they even had to hit anybody, except maybe the watch. Quietly bolt all the batches,
what, and keep a look-see for anyone trying to break out elsewhere. Bala-vere and the rest probably still
don't know what hit 'em. How many'd you spot, Budjir?"
"Eight ... perhaps nine. There may be more I did not see."
"Not likely. That much know-how I don't credit them with." September looked thoughtful. "Ta-hoding
and his bunch weren't expecting them.They won't be expecting us."
Durnad was the one who noticed the tiny band coming toward the dock. He started. Fully six of the.
infidels were in the group. They trooped along, heads downcast, with their hands/paws clasped behind
their backs. A single Brother fol-lowed behind.
"Come here, Brother Tydin." Another white-robed figure joined Durnad at the head of the landing ramp.
"What, Durnad ... oh!" He'd also spotted the approach-ing procession. "What means this?"
"Hail, Brother!" shouted Durnad. "What has happened at the Home? We saw a great light."
The Brother's reply was low, but intelligible.
"All fairs well. These are to be kept aboard their ship until the morrow."
"That is strange, Brother," said Tydin, clearly puzzled. The group marched up the ramp. "I had heard that
all the infidels were to be dealt with in the great dome this very night. Why do you hide your face? Have
you been hurt by these devils?" Tydin took an uncertain step backwards.
"There's been a change in plans, Brother," yelled Septem-ber. He brought his clasped hands around and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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