Before Egypt
Page 5
Queen_ had come in. It was a goodthing for them.
* * * * *
"A lucky one," Mike replied. He scanned the thick tropical vegetationon every side.
"We could be down in the green jungles of Terra," Nicko said.
"We could at that. There is a river around here somewhere."
"How do you know?"
"I got a flash of a river as we glided in. Thought we were going tohit it. Then we went over. It ought to be in that direction. Let'sgo."
Doree, still stunned by the episode of the snake, was mute and pale asshe followed close behind Mike. Nicko brought up the rear. The goingwas hard until Mike broke through into a comparatively open area. Hepointed. "There it is."
A silent, ominous river, dark under the hot rays of a high sun. Aroundthem, nothing moved; only the black waters of the river rushing onwardtoward some distant rendezvous with the sea. Doree shuddered.
* * * * *
Mike drew her into the circle of his arm. "Don't be afraid. This is abreak--just what we wanted. All rivers go somewhere and this one savesus from fighting our way through the jungle an inch at a time."
"But we have no boat."
"We can make a boat." Nicko said. "The rubber mattresses and cushionsfrom the ship. I'll bet no one on this planet has ever seen such aboat as we'll have."
Mike and Nicko struggled back and forth from the river bank to theship, bringing what was needed. Doree, fearing to remain alone,trailed with them until she was exhausted, whereupon Mike beganbuilding the raft, leaving the rest of the trips to the indestructibleNicko. Mike bound the mattresses and cushions to a base of wovenreeds. The reeds grew in abundance in a nearby swamp. Doree helpedwith the braiding and the work went swiftly.
Nicko made a half dozen more trips and returned from the last one withseveral scales knocked off his back. "Somebody threw a brick at me,"he said.
Mike scanned the now-menacing jungle wall. "A brick?"
"That was what it felt like. It hurt like hell."
"You didn't see anybody?"
"I did not. I didn't wait long enough."
"We've got to get out of here."
"An observation of amazing erudition."
Mike lashed a long flat piece of driftwood to the raft as a steeringoar, found two other such pieces to serve as unattached oars, andhelped Nicko finish with loading the supplies. "All right," he said."Let's go."
They cast loose and while Doree worked with the stern oar, Mike andNicko paddled feverishly toward the middle of the river. With thisobjective achieved, Nicko took over the stern. Mike forced Doree tolie down. He put a pillow under her head, kissed her and sat besideher until her eyes closed. Then he went back and sat down besideNicko.
The latter had not forgotten his terrifying grin. "We certainly getaround, don't we?" he said cheerfully.
"I'm glad it makes you so happy."
"As a matter of fact I'm scared stiff. It is just that my saintedmother told me always to keep a brave front."
* * * * *
Mike looked at his assistant with sudden fondness. "Who was yourmother, Nicko?"
Nicko shook his dragon's head sadly. "I can't seem to remember but Iknow I had one. And of course she was saintly."
"And your father?"
A distant sound intruded, touching Mike's ears lightly. His eyes werestill upon Nicko as the latter said, "You've got me--but I have afeeling he was a gallant knight in armor who swept my beautiful motheroff her fairy-like feet."
"No doubt," Mike smiled. The sound was louder now, but it still didnot catch his attention. He was remembering that encounter in thepolar forests of Mars; the day he found little Nicko crouching under abush; how he'd come within an ace of putting a bullet into the hideouscreature's brain. But some vagrant touch of compassion had stayed him.The little monster seemed so lost, so pathetic, so helpless. He'dtaken Nicko back to camp, the Martian infant's parentage and ancestrya mystery Mike felt would never be solved.
What sort of hideous mating had occurred, he wondered, to produce thismongrel creature with the brain of a human and the body of a beast?Mike held forth his hand. "You were a vicious little devil," he said."I'll wear that scar forever."
Nicko sighed gustily. "If you beat me unmercifully each fine morningfor the rest of my miserable life, the punishment would be light forsuch a heinous deed."
Mike laughed and started to get to his feet. Halfway up, he paused,crouching there. Then his voice thundered. "Grab an oar! Pull forshore! Pull for God's sake!"
In an instant both of them were tearing the water in an effort toreach the nearest bank. As they worked, the current upon which theymoved swept forward at an ever-increasing speed and the roar aboutthem was like the crashing of skyscrapers under bombardment.
They came ashore a scant six feet above certain death. Fortunately theraft was light and they were able to gain a foothold and lift it fromthe snarling waters.
Then, gasping for breath, they moved a few feet down-stream and stoodlooking at the frothing cataract that dropped the great river a sheertwo-hundred feet to boulders below.
"I ought to be whipped for not attending to business," Mike saidbitterly.
Doree was clinging to his arm looking down at the awe-inspiring sight."You saved us, darling. Why should you criticize yourself?"
"It was too close--far too close."
Nicko said, "It seems to me the important thing now is where we gofrom here."
"We carry the raft down those rocks and beyond the rough water."
"But why all that effort? Couldn't we be as happy up here as downthere?"
"All rivers lead to civilization," Mike said. "Or at least, they leadto the places civilization naturally springs up."
"A logical observation."
"Also, I've got a hunch about this river. I may be wrong but I thinkit might take us right where we want to go. I'll bet there areinteresting things ahead."
* * * * *
Mike turned and directed his words to Doree. "That papyrus your fathertranslated said the forefathers of the Egyptians sought a planetsimilar to their own. Perhaps the similarity had to be more thangeneral. Such a thing is indicated by their traveling around forseveral lifetimes. Anyhow, except for the tropical climate, this riverbears a great resemblance to one of the tributaries that feeds theNile back on Terra."
"You're quite right," Doree marveled.
"And this could well be Victoria Falls. I wonder if another Egyptdoesn't lie below."
There was awe in Doree's voice. "Before Egypt--"
"What did you say?"
"An Egypt--a great civilization that flourished on this planet beforeEgypt--before the Terran Egypt was even dreamed of."
Mike smiled fleetingly. "That's what you and your father havebelieved, isn't it? So why be surprised?"
"It's just that--well, being so close to it--realizing it might_really_ exist--"
Mike laughed. "I understand. But we're still a long way from it." Heturned to the Martian. "Come on, Nicko, let's get busy with thisstuff."
The portage was laborious and dangerous. It took the balance of thatday. Even when the sun set they had still not reached the terminationof white water.
They found an open area beside the racing river that would have beencovered during high water and Mike decided it would be a good place tocamp. While Mike broke out the supplies, and Doree prepared the meal,Nicko stood on the alert with a rifle over his arm scanning the lineof undergrowth at the edge of the forest.
After all three had eaten, Mike directed Nicko to bed down in order tobe ready for the second watch. He urged Doree to sleep also, but sheinsisted on sitting with him during his watch. And though her headdrooped several times, she remained with him and refused to sleep.
When Nicko took over the watch, Mike stretched out under his blanketnear Doree. He dozed off and was then awakened by a pressure againsthis back. Doree, snuggling close. "It's c
old," she murmured, anddrifted to sleep with a contented sigh. It was a calm, restfulslumber.
* * * * *
The sharp bark of Nicko's rifle awakened Mike after what seemed to himonly a few moments of sleep. He sprang up to find dawn breaking andNicko sending another shot into the undergrowth.
Mike grabbed his own rifle and ran to the Martian's side. "What'swrong?"
Nicko lowered his weapon. "I saw four platoons of infantry chargingout of the brush--I think."
"In other words you think maybe you saw something. You don't know whatit