Freedom’s Choice Read Online Free PDF

high.”
    â€œWe do know that the avians always come down from the mountains when they attack,” Sarah said, her color returning, as she and the others, moved toward the cover of the nearest copse of trees.
    â€œI listen good,” Fek added, touching both ear holes.
    â€œWe found some piles of other bones, all old, some even partially embedded in the dirt,” Joe said. He sighed as he let his gaze rove across the valley. “Too bad. It’d be a great place to set up a permanent headquarters.”
    Zainal was shading his eyes from the now noon-high sun to look at the straight cliffs that formed the boundaries. He shook his head. “We must know why,” and he pointed back to the barred pass. He clapped his big hands together, startling everyone, so he grinned. “There are fish in the stream. Let’s catch and eat. We have time.”
    So far all the brook and lake denizens had been edible with the one toxic exception of a multilegged bottom-hugging worm that appeared only in stiller water.
    The dung that had been collected gave off such a stench that they doused the fire with water and started a new one in a fresh place, using windfall branches. Whitby outdid everyone else by catching the orange-gray scaled fish with his bare hands. They all ate theirfill and there was enough cooked fish left over to save for the next day.
    * * *
    Worrell and Chuck Mitford were enjoying a few pints of beer by the fire when they both heard a growling bark. With no dogs on Botany, the unexpected noise had both of them reaching for their daggers while Mitford roared for a sentry’s report.
    â€œNothing’s moving, sarge,” the call came back. “And First Moon’s bright enough to see klicks in all directions.”
    A second bark, which had at least three syllables to it, sounded again, with a hint of impatience. Instantly Worrell reached for the pouch in which he had put the thin plate that Mic Rowland had discovered.
    â€œHow did Leon say you operated one of these things?” Worrell whispered at Chuck.
    Chuck took the object from his second in command and depressed the first button. “Tikso damt. Chouma,” he said in a guttural voice as if he were expectorating rather than speaking. He put the unit down on the table beside them and glared at it.
    â€œDidn’t know you spoke any Catten, sarge,” Worrell said, impressed.
    â€œWhoever it is wants a report. I told him later. And to be quiet,” said Chuck Mitford. “At least I hope that’s what he’ll understand I said. Where’s Zainal?”
    â€œStill hunting safe places up in the hills.”
    â€œI’ll see can I reach him,” Mitford said, and connected his unit to the aerial socket that served Camp Rock, high up on the cliff. He let it ring awhile. “Asleep or out of range. Well, let’s keep after him until he does answer. Come to think of it, Leon Dane knows more Catten than I do. At least enough to stall them until Zainal gets back.”
    Leon Dane was on duty, but not occupied, when Mitford and Worrell went to the infirmary caverns. He hadalready been given the injector and drugs but had put them aside until Zainal could tell him what he might know about the contents of the vials.
    â€œSo someone’s looking for those the midnight beasties ate up for us,” Leon said with a faint grin. “Someone forgot to brief the landing party about Botanical life-forms. Served ’em right. D’you think they were here to collect Zainal?”
    â€œOnly reason I can think of for them to send four,” Chuck Mitford said with a snort. “That wouldn’t have been enough of a guerrilla gang to do doodly against us but sufficient to snatch a man. Zainal did mention that he was wanted back home for a duty of some sort he’d rather avoid. Maybe they want him badly enough to come after him.”
    â€œLemme see the unit,” Dane asked, and Chuck handed it