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 No! said Shan Kar instantly.
 Then I do not go! flashed the wolf.  For how am I to know but what you've killed him already?
Shan Kar hesitated.  Very well. You can see him. But you're not to plot with him, Tark!
The wolf trotted soundlessly beside them as they went down the corridor to the farthest barred door. Nelson
noticed that Lefty Wister never took his eyes off the beast. The Cockney's pinched face glared his fear and
hatred.
Barin leaped up from his wooden cot when Shan Kar opened the door. The youth still had a raw wound in his
forehead, but seemed to have otherwise recovered.
Nelson saw his likeness to Nsharra the same highbred, handsome features, the same intense passion flashing
in his dark eyes.
 Betrayer of the Brotherhood! Barin spat at Shan Kar.  Blasphemer against the law!
Chapter VII. SECRET MISSION 35
The Valley Of Creation
He struck fire from Shan Kar. The latter's deep fanatic intensity of purpose boiled instantly to the surface.
 Your father's law law of the lying Guardians of all the ages, who have told our people that beasts should
rank with men!
The wolf Tark was gazing fixedly at Barin and Nelson heard his thought.  Barin, if all goes well, you will
soon be free. Wait quietly.
Barin glanced swiftly at the wolf, then suspiciously at Nelson and the Cockney.
 You plan something with these outlanders? Tark, I will not 
 Wait quietly! repeated the wolf, harshly commanding.
 No more! cut in Shan Kar. The Humanite brusquely pushed them back, closed and barred the door.
It seemed to Eric Nelson that some swift glance of understanding had passed between Barin and Tark. A
secret signal? Yet Tark went quietly enough with them back through the corridors. They emerged into the
darkness of a court where warriors waited with a half-dozen horses.
 We take two extra horses for remounts, Shan Kar said.
The wolf ventured no comment. But Nelson wondered if he guessed that the extra mounts were intended for
Kree and Nsharra.
The next instant it was swept from his mind by a disturbing shock. The horses tossed their heads excitedly
against their cruel-bitted bridles and uttered eager thoughts that sounded in Nelson's brain.
 It's the Hairy One! they cried.  Tark!
It shook Nelson. And Lefty uttered a smothered oath.
 These horses of yours are talking to the bloody wolf! cried the Cockney to Shan Kar.
Shan Kar answered curtly.  All the clans in this valley are intelligent. These Hoofed Ones are our prisoners of
war.
 Slaves, say rather! flashed the passionate thought of the golden mare in the forefront.  Slaves, beaten into
beasts of burden by the Humanites! Tark, do they know this in Vruun?
The thought of the wolf came pregnant with hate and menace.  We knew many of Hatha's clan were captured,
but did not know the Humanites dared enslave you thus, brothers!
A bay stallion, ears flattened and eyes rolling, reared up despite the saw-edged bit that cut his mouth.
 Tark, have you come to free us? By the Cavern, speak but a word and we fight and die here now!
 My warriors can kill you all swiftly and then Barin dies! Shan Kar warned the wolf.
 Wait, brothers! the wolf's thought ordered the rearing, excited horses.  Wait and go quietly with us now it
is for the good of the Brotherhood.
Chapter VII. SECRET MISSION 36
The Valley Of Creation
Unearthly, that thought-colloquy of wolf and horses, to Eric Nelson! He was surely deluding himself, he
thought his mind could not actually be hearing that swift interchange of passionate thought
But the rearing horses quieted, and from them came quick answer.  We obey, Tark! If it is for the
Brotherhood!
Shan Kar spoke to Nelson and the Cockney.  Mount now and fear nothing. These Hoofed Ones have
learned their masters!
It gave Nelson a creepy feeling to swing into the rude saddle of the golden mare and to realize that his mount
was intelligently aware of him, hating him, wanting to kill him.
They rode out of the court and on out through the dark silent windings of forest that enlaced Anshan. Tark ran
silently, a black shadow, beside Shan Kar's steed.
Then they were out on the rolling plain, under a sky of magnificent stars against whose sparkling splendor the
lofty peaks around L'Lan towered solemn and distant!
 Now lead the way, Tark, and remember that if you lead us wrongly Barin dies!
The great wolf noiselessly slid ahead of their little mounted party. He trotted almost due north across the
plain.
 Keep close behind me, his thought came back.  Obey instantly when I direct you.
Wind, cold from the distant peaks, buffeted Eric Nelson's face as the mare loped steadily. Lefty Wister
bucketed along just behind, Diril bringing up the rear with the two spare horses.
The wolf veered constantly to keep always as near as possible to the clumps of trees that dotted the plain.
Soon Nelson learned the reason.
Tark whirled, just ahead of them, and his eyes flashed green light as his sharp thought came back to them.
 Into the trees! Quickly!
There was a clump of birch close ahead. They spurred into the little grove. There Shan Kar turned in his
saddle toward the wolf, his thought suspicious and menacing.
 Is this a trick? If it is, Tark 
 Quiet! commanded the wolf.  Scouts are coming.
They came as three gliding shadows up against the stars. Nelson saw they were eagles winging high in the
darkness, soundless as flying clouds, sweeping on toward Anshan.
 Now we can go on, the wolf told them a minute later.  The Winged Ones have passed.
 What are they doing here? Shan Kar asked harshly.  Going to watch Anshan, was the curt answer of Tark.
They rode on, veering to keep near the infrequent tree-clumps, until the solid wall of the forest loomed up
before them.
Chapter VII. SECRET MISSION 37
The Valley Of Creation
The forest was like a dark maw gaping for them. The thought of the intelligent, hostile beasts that roamed its
ways made it seem a black witch-wood to Nelson. He didn't want to go into it.
Neither did Lefty Wister. The Cockney's voice snarled in the dimness beside Nelson.  If that blasted wolf has
got others waiting for us in there 
It seemed pitch-dark beneath the trees at first. Then Nelson's eyes became more accustomed to the deeper
obscurity. He looked up and saw tall trunks and graceful boughs against the stars, recognized the outlines of
larch and cedar and fir.
The forest smelled dry. The rainless months had parched it so that each twig the horses stepped on snapped
and broke. Tark was a darker shadow in the darkness, leading the way between the trees by occasional
back-glances of luminous green eyes.
 Why don't we follow the river to Vruun? Shan Kar demanded.  It would be the clearest way.
 To discovery, Tark's thought retorted harshly.  Quorr's clan are the greatest danger. The Clawed Ones roam
those river-brakes by night.
Clawed Ones? He meant the tigers, Nelson realized. His skin crawled at the thought of meeting those striped
killers here.
 No more thoughts-speech unless I speak first! Tark continued peremptorily.  Your danger deepens with
each mile we traverse now.
The horses were jumpy as they went on through the forest, up ridges, through brushy valleys. The mare
quivered under Nelson.
Excitement? He wondered They must know they were going toward Vruun. Was that why they were so
jumpy? It made Nelson feel a sudden pity for them. These were not the dumb beasts of the outer world. These [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]