Winter in Eden Read Online Free PDF Page A

Satsat said, touching Enge lightly to awaken her.
    Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
    Enge signed grateful thanks and waited in silent stolidity until the time came when the commander was alone on top of the fin: she joined her there and they both looked in silent appreciation at the line of white breakers that were drawn against the greens of the jungle beyond.
    "Respectful request for knowledge," Enge signed, and Erafnais let acceptance be known. "We are looking at the shore of warm and eternal Entoban*. But is it known at what position on the coast we see?"
    "Somewhere here," Erafnais said, holding out the chart tight-clamped between the thumbs of one hand, the thumbs of the other spanning a distance on the coast. Enge looked closely at it.
    "We must proceed north along the shore," Erafnais said, "then on past Yebèisk to the island city of sea-girt Ikhalmenets."
    "Would impertinence be assumed if I asked the commander to point out warm-beached Yebèisk when we are close?"
    "Communication will be made."
    Another two days passed before they came to the city. Vaintè was also interested in Yebèisk and stood at the far end of the fin while Erafnais and Enge remained at the other. It was late afternoon when they passed the high trees, the golden curve of the sands on each of the city's flanks, the tiny forms of the fishing boats returning with the day's catch. Surprisingly, after all her earlier curiosity, Enge showed scarcely any interest at all. After one long glance she signed her gratitude for information and went below. Vaintè permitted herself a spasmodic glare of hatred as she passed, then stared back at the shore.
    In the morning she listened as a crewmember addressed the commander, and could not control the tremors of anger that shook her body. She should have known—should have known.
    "They are gone, Erafnais, all five of them. I saw their sleeping positions vacated when I awoke. They are not here in the uruketo or in the fin."
    "Nothing was seen?"
    "Nothing. It was my duty to awaken first this day to take the guiding position. It is a mystery…"
    "No it is not!" Vaintè cried aloud and they drew back from her. "The only mystery is why I did not see what was going to happen. They know that no good will come to them in the bold city of Ikhalmenets.
    They seek hiding places in Yebèisk. Turn about, Erafnais, and go there at once."
    There was command in Vaintè's voice, authority in the stance of her body. Yet Erafnais made no move to obey, instead stood in immobile silence. The watching, listening crewmembers were rigid, each with an Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
    eye turned toward one of the speakers. Vaintè signed urgency and obedience and wrath, hovering like a destructive thundercloud over the smaller commander. Bentback, dragfoot Erafnais.
    With a will of her own. She had had more than a hint of the motives involved here. Enge had been kind to her and never offended her—while she knew little of the Daughters of Life, cared even less. What she did know was that there had been enough killing. And it was obvious that death lay behind every one of Vaintè's venomous movements.
    "We will proceed. We will not turn back. Dismissal of presence from commander to passenger."
    Then she turned about and walked away, letting her limp muffle the positions of pleasure and superiority in her body movements.
    Vaintè was rigid with anger, paralyzed by impotence. She did not command here—did not command anywhere echoed back darkly from her thoughts—nor could she use violence. The crewmembers would not permit that. She was locked in a silent, internal battle with her anger. Logic must rule; cold thought must vanquish. The inescapable fact was that there was absolutely nothing that could be done at the present time. Enge and her followers had escaped from her for the moment. That was of no importance.
    In the fullness of time they would meet again and instant justice would follow. Nor could anything be done now about the