Decision at Doona

“You don't suppose Codep is actually sending transport to take us off,” Kate Moody remarked, shooting an anxious look at the Reeves.

“That is a possibility,” Ken heard himself answering calmly. “And if it is transport to take us off Doona, we got more to worry about than the snakes.”

«But why do we have to leave Doona now?» Kate exclaimed. The Hrrubans are aliens, and the Principle of Non – "

“Yeah, Kate, but we don't happen to have a few Hrrubans around as proof. And no one trusts us!”

“Maybe it's Alreldep!” Pat suggested with simulated cheerfulness.

Ken shaded his eyes but the ship was still too high to make out more than the imposing size of her rocket flares.

“Kate, be a good kid and go get the binoculars and keep that thing in sight. If it is Alreldep, we're okay. If not, we've got to delay.”

He raced to the mess hall ahead of Kate, pulling aside the panel that contained the com-unit. Frantically he signaled for Buz to come in, cursing fluently when he realized that Buzz probably hadn't bothered to turn the copter's set on. They hadn't used it much.

If he could just get the men to scatter, on the chance that this was Spacedep or Codep, that would delay departure. Recklessly going on his theory that they were being observed, Ken spoke in a loud, clear voice.

“Hrrubans, if you're watching, there's a big ship landing and it may mean trouble. Please put in an appearance. Please bring back my son.”

Then he left the hall, at a run for the stable. He had to get to the blasting party. Socks, however, was not about to cooperate, tossing her head away from the bridle, dancing and heaving when he tried to cinch the girth. By the time he was able to lead her from her stall, he was ready to brain her.

“You can turn that beast loose,” a familiar voice ordered him as he emerged from the barn.

Ken whirled to see Landreau, leading a squad of space marines, approaching from the Common. Beyond them, Ken could see additional squads rounding up the women and children.

“Where're the rest of the men, Reeve?”

“You have no jurisdiction over us, Landreau,” Ken replied, glancing quickly at the marines. All they carried were the riot sticks, heavy-duty plastic clubs which had become all that was necessary to quell masses of apathetic citizenry. Was Landreau that confident of himself, of authority, of conditioning? Or was Landreau cautious?

“On the contrary, Reeve,” Landreau assured him arrogantly. “Spacedep has resumed its initial responsibility over Doona. The matter has been taken away from Codep and Alreldep. I have full authority to deal with the matter. Where are the rest of the men, Reeve?”

“Off on a visit.”

“Don't give me that Reeve. Where are they?” Landreau advanced menacingly, his shoulders hunched forward so that he appeared neckless and, Reeve thought, rather stupid.

Socks snorted suddenly, tossing her head nervously as a fresh breeze brought the unmistakable rank stench of snake. Distaste for the odor was reflected in the expressions of the stern marines.

“Smell that, Landreau? That's snake stink”

“Cut it, Reeve. I made that initial survey. There were no snakes, no natives. And I've been over every inch of that Phase II report which happens to include the forest you claim is inhabited by Hrrubans. Hrrubans!” Landreau sneered.

“Then explain that stink to the mare. She smells it. Care to probe her? She's seen Hrrubans too. Been ridden by Hrrubans in fact. Probe her!”

The mare was neighing and cavorting in full panic now, requiring all Ken's attention.

“Where are the men?” Landreau bellowed above her shrill complaints.

Ground shock rumbled underfoot, followed by the sound of explosion, the sight of a dusty cloud roiling up in the distance.

“Why are they blasting at the pass?” Landreau demanded.

“To block the non-existent snakes, Landreau.”

The spaceman fingered on a wrist radio.

“Launch the boat to the Pass and secure all colonists.”

In the instant Landreau had his eyes turned away, Ken, yanking hard on the bridle, brought the mare between himself and the spaceman. With an agility that amazed him, Ken swung into the saddle and dug his heels into her ribs. She took off with a squeal of rage, knocking Landreau aside and rearing away from the upraised clubs of the space marines. Fortunately, her wishes and his coincided as she raced in the direction of the river, across the open field.

As Ken shot a glance over his shoulder, he saw Landreau's wrist raised to his mouth again and had no doubt of the orders the spaceman was issuing to the ship. Instinct as well as pain in his buttocks made him crouch low against the mare's straining back. And when he felt the hot breeze of a laser bolt, he began to neck-rein Socks in zigzag patterns, all the time urging her to greater speed.

A bolt boiled the waters of the river just as the mare plunged into the swift current at a dead run. Ken let momentum carry him over her head, down into the water, safely ahead of her threshing hooves. He felt the sudden spots of warmth from other bolts and dug deeper into the current, hoping to get far across and down the river from his point of entry.

He derived what comfort he could from the notion that none of the three departments could write Rrala off until he and Todd had been recovered.

Lungs bursting with fire, he thrust for the surface, restraining the panicky urge to shoot up high into open air. It proved difficult enough to keep his head above water in the rapid current which bounced him around. He realized he was well past the landing field but far too close to the first of the lower falls. There was no sign of the mare, Ken hoped she'd had wit enough to get to shore safely – if she hadn't been bolted into roast meat.

The water was icy, its source the distant snow-clad mountains, and while it numbed saddle galls opened in his rough escape, it also began to numb arms and legs. Fearful now that he might become a real casualty, Ken struck out for the far shore.

When he had finally dragged himself up into underbrush, he was bruised, freezing and exhausted. Shivering, he worked his way back into the thick woods, wondering how he was going to survive the chill of a spring night on Rrala.

By the time he reached the wooded ridge that ran parallel to the river, it was growing dark. He shivered almost continually now, worried, hungry and angry! There were lights on in the mess hall but in none of the cabins set back in the woods. Landreau was presumably keeping all the colonists together. Ken thought he made out the angular silhouette of the copter in its parking space but he couldn't be sure, the usual Common fire had not been lit. But there was no mistaking the ominous bulk of the Spacedep launch.

He had to do something – besides wait and pray for the Hrrubans to return. He had to find some shelter for the night or risk illness. Where would he be least expected to go?

The answer was so ridiculous that Ken chuckled between spasms of shivers as he made his way farther up the river.