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"Nora!" he shouted. "Can you see her?"
Mouseglove gestured toward the trees on the other side of the scaly turmoil. Nora had apparently jumped or been thrown in the opposite direction from Pol. He began circling, ru
At that moment, the reptilian combatants rolled toward them and they fled.
They came together among the high growth to the east, gasping, leaning upon vine and fungus-decked trees.
"Hurry!" Pol said, extending his hand. "The rod! I need it!"
Mouseglove passed it to him, a thin, long section, sculpted with clouds, the moon, stars and a celestial palace set above them, angelic spirits passing through the high places. Pol dropped it twice before he succeeded in fitting it into place at the end of the other sections. The feeling of power that washed over him as he did so was immense. It steadied his hands as it made his head swirl. He straightened.
"We have to go after her," he said, facing back toward the sounds of crashing and roaring. He pointed to the left of that place. "We can move faster if we return to the clearing, stay away from the fight, skirt the jungle."
Mouseglove nodded and put up his hand.
"I don't think we'll succeed, but I believe that she is safe for now, anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"I know those dwarves fairly well. She'd be dead by now if they didn't have orders not to kill her. They came here in flying ships and they'll doubtless take her back in one. They must be to them by now."
"I thought it was me they were after--or the last piece of this rod."
"Yes, but they'll avoid you rather than confront you now that you've got it. She was probably second choice--as hostage, possibly."
"What do you mean 'possibly?' "
"Mark likes her himself, you know."
"Yes, I know," Pol said, "Fill me in later. Let's move."
He raised the rod, and a blinding flash of white light leaped from it, cutting a path through the jungle. Without pausing, he headed forward along it.
When they came into the clearing once again, they saw that Moonbird and the feathered serpent were locked together, unmoving, pressed up against the side of the pyramid. The dragon was still caught within a coil, and his teeth were now locked upon the great snake's side. The serpent had his fangs fixed in Moonbird's left shoulder. A portion of the pyramid had collapsed about them.
As they turned and began to pass to their left, a sudden resumption of activity shook the ground. The singed serpent was thown flat as Moonbird, wings freed, rose into the air, his shoulder still in the grip of his dangling adversary. Pol swung about and raised the rod.
No! The word vibrated along a green strand which suddenly sprang up between Moonbird and himself. This is between us! Stay away!
Without pausing to acknowledge the message, Pol continued on his way toward the place where Nora had been borne into the jungle, Mouseglove close behind him. There came another roar. Shortly, he smelled the stench of burning flesh. He did not look back.
They reached the spot where the bodies lay among the reddened grasses, Nora's blade protruding from one of them. Now that they were away from the scuffling beasts, other noises came to their ears--mechanical humming sounds from beyond the trees.
A dark shape rose into the air some distance to the south of them. Almost immediately, two more followed it.
"No!" Pol cried, and he raised the rod.
Mouseglove caught at his arm, dragging it down.
"You'll kill her if you shoot it down!" he shouted. "Besides, you've no way of knowing which one she's in. You can't afford to hit any of them!"
Pol's shoulders sagged. Two more vessels climbed into the air.
"Of course," he said, his arm falling. "Of course. ..."
He turned and looked at Mouseglove.
"Thanks," he said. Then, "I've got to go after her. I have to do what Mark wants--take things to a full conflict. He doesn't know what I've got to bring up against him, but he has to find out before he can embark on his campaign. Now he is about to learn. I'm going back there and take Anvil Mountain apart, if Moonbird can still fly. ..."
"I've got a ship," Mouseglove said. "I stole Mark's. I can fly it. I'll show you."
He took Pol's arm.
As they passed the pyramid again, the struggle was still in progress with neither combatant showing any sign of weakening. Great furrows and pits had been torn in the charred ground; thick, sweet-smelling blood was smeared everywhere, and both dragon and serpent were soaked in it. At the moment, they were so intertwined that it was impossible for Pol to assess their damages, let alone to use the rod on Moonbird's behalf.
He summoned the strand by which Moonbird had addressed him earlier.
I must return to Rondoval now and prepare for battle, he said. Mark has Nora. Mouseglove can take me there in his flier. I ca
Go. When it is finished, I will return.
Immediately, the two began to thrash about again. The serpent, half of its feathers missing, began to hiss violently. Flames blossomed about it, upon it, as Pol and Mouseglove hurried by. It succeeded just then in throwing a coil about Moonbird's neck, but the dragon's claws were now raking its midsection.
"Tell him to go for the green jewel in the thing's head," Mouseglove said. "I stu
Strike at the jewel in its head, Pol immediately relayed to Moonbird, but there was no reply.
They hurried past, coming shortly to the trail Mouseglove had hacked through the brush.
"This way," said the smaller man. "I've concealed it in a place not too far ahead. But--Pol, I'm too tired to make the flight all the way back. I'd fall asleep and kill us both."
"Just get us airborne," Pol replied. "I'll watch and ask questions. We can take turns flying if necessary."
"You look fairly tired yourself."
"I am. But it is not going to be as long a haul as you might think."
They entered a cleared area. Mouseglove paused and gestured, crossed to a green mound, began removing fronds.
"What do you mean?" he asked. "I just made the trip."
Pol moved to assist him.
"You're not going to like it," he said, "but I know a shortcut. ..."