by Candy Rae
The Lind Jsei was one of these spies. He began his crossing back early one wintry morning, intending to rest on one of the larger islands for much of the day ahead before setting off again at nightfall. When he reached one large island about seven out from the southern coast he pulled himself out of the water, shook himself and started to trek across to the other side, where he thought he remembered having seen some caves in which he could hide. He took the inland route, one not frequently used by either Lind or Larg. He was much surprised to see strange tracks on the ground beneath his paws. Bending down to take a closer look, he sniffed warily and then he became more confused. These were not the prints of the Larg, in fact, they were the prints of a something that he had never seen before and they were as large as his own.
Jsei decided to investigate.
As he approached the western side of the island he found further evidence of occupation. There were more tracks and then some most peculiar smelling droppings. He also smelt fire but not the more familiar forest variety. Having spent a number of days in the pack Zanatei domta before coming south he recognised it at once. It was the aroma of roasting meat. He stopped and tried to make sense of the information. He knew for a fact that none of the Lind’s new human allies had ventured on to the island chain. Logically therefore, the fire must belong to the men of the south who were allied to his enemies.
As he crept towards the smell under the cover of the bushes he began to hear voices, human voices but he could not sense the presence of any Larg. Jsei became even more confused.
Gerry and the two Jays were making lunch. The mares were nearby. They began to move restlessly, having caught Jsei’s scent, even though the Lind scout was downwind of the group.
“What’s up with them?” Gerry asked, reaching for his knife.
The girls went white. The three had been very careful during their sojourn on the island, keeping their fires low and out of plain sight and not venturing to the east of the island. Gerry had, in their early weeks, found some tracks there that he had not been able to identify and they had concluded that it would be much safer to remain hidden as much as possible. They most definitely did not wish to meet the owners of these tracks.
Gerry stood and looked around, fingering the sharp edge of his knife. The girls had their own knives at the ready.
Jsei was in a quandary. Who were these humans and what on Lind were these other creatures moving restlessly round the paddock? He lay there, watching and listening. Jsei’s Standard was not as proficient as Kolyei’s but he knew enough to make some sense of what he was hearing.
“It can’t be those men,” Jessica was saying. “They would have attacked by now, surely?” The three of them had seen nothing and the mares had stopped milling around although they stood still and tense.
“Perhaps it is some others who have escaped Fort?” was Jenny’s suggestion.
The three began to relax, just a little bit but although they went back to their fire, they kept looking round for lurking danger as they began to eat; the island teemed with small burrowing creatures closely resembling a rabbit, but with very short ears and no tail.
After a while, Jsei decided that he would have to make the first move. He had realised by now that these could not be southern men but had to be fugitives from them.
Thinking hard of all the Standard words he knew, he called out to them.
“Hello. Humans. Jsei.”
The words were a distinct shock to Gerry and the Jays.
“Who was that?” asked Jenny in fright, dropping her plate as she stood up. The contents spilled on top of the fire and hissed.
“Don’t know,” Gerry answered. “Doesn’t sound human.”
Jsei tried again.
“Hello. Argyll.”
The three looked at each other.
“The Argyll?” exclaimed Jessica disbelievingly.
“The Argyll was one of the ships in the convoy,” offered Jenny. “Do you think they reached the planet as well as us?”
“Possibly,” answered Gerry. “If that’s the case then I think that whoever or whatever is hiding out there may well be friendly, but there are no guarantees.”
“I vote that we invite the voice in,” stated Jessica in a manner reminiscent of her father. Gerry remembered how good Peter had been at making decisions and forcing them through, however unpopular. Jessica continued. “Perhaps they have found out about the Electra and it’s a rescue mission.”
“Of one?” he countered.
Jessica ignored him.
“I agree with Jess,” ventured Jenny. “Let’s find out. I’m scared and I want to know exactly what is out there. Ask whoever it is to come in so we can see it.”
“With its hands up?” questioned Gerry.
“If it has hands, then yes,” said Jessica, fingering her knife.
The creature that emerged in answer to their invitation was like nothing the three had expected to see. It was fully as large as any one of the mares. Jsei advanced four steps then stopped, looking at them inquiringly.
“Stop right there,” ordered Gerry. “Tell us how you got here, what you know about the Argyll. Just tell us everything you can.”
It took Jsei a while to work out what the man was saying but eventually he managed to tell all he knew, stretching his abilities in Standard to the absolute limit.
By nightfall, Gerry was quite decided on what their next move must be.
“You two Jays must go with Jsei to the north.”
Jessica turned a stricken face towards him. “What about you?”
“I’m going back south to see what I can find out.”
“You can’t,” exclaimed Jessica in distress. “You’ll only get yourself killed and then what will we do?”
Gerry looked at the girl. Again he noticed how like her father she was.
“I am not planning on getting myself killed. I fully intend to get to the north someday and see how you and Jenny have got along with the mares. One of them is carrying a colt. I’m sure he will be a fine fellow and will father many more. I’ll not tell you which mare was inseminated with the male gene. Let that be a surprise to you both.”
He chuckled and then his face took on a more serious expression. “You have to take charge of them in my absence. Make sure they don’t come to any harm. Care for them as I would. I know how to get back into Fort. I also know the surrounding area like the back of my hand. I have to find out what has happened to the women and children back there. In fact, I am hoping to rescue your mother Jessica, and Cherry and Joseph too.”
He faced Jenny.
“And I think, young woman, that you will be very glad I went back when I return with your mother and young Gavin. Won’t you?”
Jenny nodded. After a moment’s thought Jessica did the same.
Jsei remained silent. He would have made the same decision as the man if he had been in the same situation. He informed Gerry of all he knew about what was happening in the south and warned him about the Larg and the alliance between them and the convicts. He also told him of the hiding places where Gerry could hole up if necessary and they made plans for future contact.
Gerry escorted the two girls to the northern shore of the island the following morning and helped them tie the horses into two lines. The waters were getting lower and Jsei promised further Lind help once they reached the next island of any size. The girls said a tearful farewell to Gerry then, leading the mares, they followed Jsei into the water. When they looked back their protector had vanished from sight.
The promised help came the next day but it proved difficult to get the horses across the water, the currents were strong and one couldn’t quite ask them to sit atop a tree trunk. The Lind laboured long and hard to get the recalcitrant animals north. Some eight days later they splashed ashore. Kath and Matvei met them on the beach.
When they reached the settlement they learnt that they were lucky to be alive. During their time on the island, many Larg scout parties had used the eastern edge of the island, pas
sing from south to north and back again. It was pure chance that they had never been discovered.
The Lind were fascinated by the horses and asked endless questions. There were clear similarities between the horse and the striped jezdic, the half-wild animals that the settlers were trying, with limited success, to break to harness.
After due consideration by the Council, it was decided that they should not stay at the settlement, so shortly after their arrival, Jenny and Jessica found themselves on the move again. With a Lind escort, they travelled with their charges to the safety of the rtathlians, there to tend the mares and to oversee the births of the colt and filly. The two girls passed through the Zanatei pack lands, resting there for only a few days before setting out again, bound for domta Ratvei. Jsei had claimed Jenny and Jessica for his own pack, citing the fact that, as it had been he who had rescued them, thus he had the right. The Elda agreed that it would be good for morale if another pack beside the Zanatei had the honour of having humans residing in their domta. The pack welcomed them with open paws.
The horses were an added bonus. They settled in well in a natural paddock and a rudimentary stable was built at the edge of the domta. The Ratvei Lind grew accustomed to their presence and became quite knowledgeable about horse care.
Jenny, not so deep thinking as her friend, settled in more easily. Before long she vadeln-paired with a young male of the pack, Savei by name. Although pressed, Jessica decided not to accept a similar honour, at least for the time being. She often rode Gerry’s favourite grey mare. She missed the man terribly and often wondered over the coming months how he was surviving in the south at Fort.
When the young were born, she named the colt after Gerry, in remembrance, and the filly she named after her little sister Cherry. She did not believe she would see him, or those who remained of her family, ever again.
* * * * *
