Mutiny in Space Read Online Free PDF Page B

held it up for Jory to see the marks of his teeth. “Lead … that could be useful, you know.”
    Then he said no more, but saved his breath while they rested. Rond spoke into his pectoral, gave Crammer a brief report. Then they were off once more — deeper, always deeper into the woods, always higher into the hills. Animals — always six-legged — twittered or called or sang in the trees, or scuttled on rushing feet into the underbrush. There was much thicket here, and no awks grazed to keep it down. Eventually they made their way single file along a narrow trail. Then even the trail faded out. There were fewer trees and more rocks, huge boulders of a glossy blue-gray slate, and once, but only once, something with six long and slender legs went leaping from rock to rock and dodged away from sight.
    They were walking by that time, leaning heavily upon the hafts of their improvised spears. “I’m about bushed,” someone muttered. And someone else said, “Look — ” and pointed.
    Two great broad bands of smoke ascended into the air.
    “In
front
of us now … we must’ve circled around,” Levvis said.
    “ ‘Spiraled’ would be a better word … let’s get on. Oh — Mr. First, I think you might cut those tapes on the girl’s wrists. I don’t think she’ll be giving us any trouble.”
    “Yes, Captain.”
    He unfastened his knife. She watched him as he came up, then, quite wordlessly, lifted her head, exposing her throat, and leaned forward. It was quite obvious that she expected to be killed.
    “No, Sis,” said Jory. “Not this time. And never by me.” He cut her bonds, then cut off the tapes from each wrist. She gave a long, deep sigh, and he realized that she had been holding her breath. On an impulse, he took up the severed tapes from where they lay on the blue-green moss, and awkwardly began to try to fasten her armor where it hung loose. But as soon as she saw what he was trying to do, she stopped him, turned around, and indicated with her hands the buckles and loops of the entire suit. He could not manage. Obviously no one could get in or out of such a costume alone. He took the knife and slashed.
    “There is no time for that now, Mr. First,” Rond called from up hill. “Later — should she be willing — I have no objection.”
    Jory felt himself flush angrily, and then blush. In a moment the ties were loose, and she stepped out of the armor, letting it fall. She had on a kilted robe something like Little Joe’s, but of plain white, shorter, and corded around the waist. Not giving any further glance at her mail, she started up after the others. After a moment she looked back. Her green eyes seemed expressionless. He snapped his knife back onto its staff, and followed.
    • • •
    “A cave,” said Rond. He seemed deeply disappointed. “Lower and lower — troglodytes. This is not good.”
    Jory, still feeling irritable, said, “We haven’t had any reason to expect a Guild-type installation, sir.”
    Rond did not reply. Slowly he sat down on the soft sand of the floor of the cavern. Slowly he drew open the power-pack in his emergency kit. “Which one of you has the therapy unit? Let me have it, Mars.” He fastened attachments to the pack, to his pectoral, to his head, and delved into the therapy unit.
    Little Joe came and stood by him, fondly, but Rond didn’t notice.
    “Wish you’d have a look at her mouth, sir,” Jory said. “It’s beginning to bleed again.”
    Rond grunted. “Let it bleed. This is more important. Maybe. If she is typical of her race, then language pick-up may be of no use at all. Still … bring her here, Cane.”
    What does he expect me to do — drag her?
Cane’s thoughts were sullen; for a moment he felt he could understand why Rond had lost his ship. He touched her arm and waved his hand toward Rond. Her skin was warm. Calmly and with dignity, she moved forward to an experience she could not have been expected to comprehend.
    • • •
    “It does not