Only two places, distant from each other, showed mindbeast sign. Two ships at the larger; at the smaller, three. But there, the third was the ship that came out of nothing!

  To decide-as correct, as understood. Pain and dread would be, but Tsa-Drin law gave no choice. Mindsaying the need and regret, Elzh directed the five ships to descend. Gases tugged at the speed of Elzh's ship; it shuddered, almost as Elzh did.

  But ships cannot feel dread.

  Down toward beastworld, within mindpain distance, and slowing. But nearing surface between mindbeast places, the

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  curve of beastworld itself shielding Tsa from pain. To now, then, success for Elzh. And time for thinking. But always, to obey.

  Then, below, the small ship-and in it, some mindbeasts not the same. At first, no mindpain-never deadly it came, Elzh knew, until the beasts detected Tsa. So-to strike first! Yes.

  Quickly, Elzh mindsaid, and with agony the Tsa threw attack. At first, no seeming effect-then the small ship faltered, but soon recovered course. As mindpain struck! To evade! Up and up, to observe at safe distance while Tsa healed from mindbeasts' return attack. Then turn and pursue. Mindsaying and mindhearing with all crewmates, Elzh exulted. Even with two kinds of mindbeasts, this small ship was no match for the Tsa!

  Now down again, nearing the tiny thing-strike! Below the opaque gases it went; Elzh's mind ranged there without finding. But strike again! And more, and more!

  Soon then, no more feel of mindbeasts. Up again, the Tsa ships now. Mindsaying, as near to indling as can be over distance, Elzh spoke the ships. Finding hurt, as expected, but fastly healing. And from Tserln the thought that Ceevt, the young, had felt no pain.

  So. As the Tsa-Drin wills. But the ship from nothing, that still waited, was not small. Best to strike it at speed, so that if mindpain built into death-risk, Elzh's ships would be soon away to safe distance.

  Then, no matter how strong the ship might be, that had come out of nothing, Elzh's five ships would wait. High above this beastworld, so that the strange ship could have no chance to leave it.

  Elzh's mindsaying ended. Toward the place where the ship from nothing stood, the Tsa fleet turned.

  X. Ivan

  After Tregare signed off, Ivan re­sumed his meal with Dacia Kobolak-his breakfast, her after-watch dinner. "So we'll see them about mid-afternoon," he said, and told her of Tregare's agreements with the Shrakken leader at Shtegel. "Soon as I check the watch logs, I'll get on the computer and start coding out the Hoyfarul Drive data. Maybe I can give Hagen a head start." Done eating, he stood. "If I save a day or so, we can lift for Stenevo that much sooner."

  Standing also, Dacia said, "Are you in a hurry, Ivan?"

  He shrugged. "The Shrakken seem to be. Maybe they're right."

  They went to First Hat's quarters. While Dacia prepared for bed, Ivan riffled papers until he found what he needed. He gave Dacia her goodnight kiss; then, impatient, he climbed to Control.

  The watch logs held no surprises; Ivan initialed acceptance and Anders Kobolak nodded in acknowledgment. Then, at the primary computer terminal, Ivan ran his data search. Jeremy Crowfoot interrupted, suggesting a coffee break, and in the galley the two men discussed the scope of what the Shrakken would need to know. Afterward, upship again, Crowfoot helped with the data retrieval and finally said, "That's really all I can think of. I'd run it through once again to cut redundancy, and leave it for Trent to check."

  "Right. Thanks for sitting in, Jere." Crowfoot left. Ivan punched directions for pruning the data, and the new readout began. He nodded; this version came out shortened by nearly a third.

  By his chronometer, more time had passed than he'd real­ized. Dacia would have had her refresher nap and might be in a mood for company. No need to check out with Anders Kobolak...

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  But as Ivan reached the door, the Second Hat said, "Blips- something upstairs. Look quick!" Ivan turned to peer. On the topside screen five dots moved. Anders moved dials, trying to follow them, but in seconds they were gone, offscreen.

  Ivan frowned. "What kind of a track does Tinhead show?"

  "Just a minute; I'm on it." Impatient, Ivan waited until Kobolak looked up and said, "They weren't on screen long enough to be sure-but roughly, at the edge of atmosphere, and too fast for orbit. Using power to hold such tight curvature. Marchant-do you think-"

  Ivan shook his head. "It doesn't matter what I think. We have to assume-" Scowling, he nodded. "Sound general quar­ters; everybody groundside, get aboard fast. All projector turrets and missile controls manned until further notice." He paused. "And get the drive warmed up. Now."

  Kobolak relayed those orders, then turned back to Ivan. "You're thinking of lifting off? With Tregare out there still?"

  Ivan didn't like the man's expression. "You heard Tregare: keep this ship safe at all costs. That's what I'm thinking."

  Anders didn't meet his glare. "Of course. But for a minute there-"

  "You thought I'd use his orders as excuse to abandon him, and keep command." He leaned forward; Kobolak flinched. The man was no coward; Ivan wondered what his own face showed. Trying to relax it, he shook his head. "My sister's out there, too-not to mention my niece, Lisele. Rissa and Tregare-I owe them my life, and more."

  Now Kobolak looked up. "I'm sorry. Don't know what got into me."

  "I know. You're chuffed that I have command. But that's all right-so long as you're sure you've got it out of your system."

  He raised his eyebrows, and Kobolak nodded. "I'm sure."

  What else to say? Nothing. Ivan clapped a hand to the other's shoulder. "Continue alert procedures; keep gunnery and drive informed. I'll be back soon-before those ships can get around the planet, let alone spiral in close enough to worry." For in atmosphere, projector range was drastically reduced.

  "All under control, then," Anders said, "until you return."

  Turning away, Ivan paused. "Not much chance, with the scout's antennas pulled in so they won't break off, plowing air, but try calling Tregare, anyway. To let him know what we're up against."

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  Now Kobolak could smile. "Right away." He spoke to his comm-tech. After a moment, Ivan nodded and left Control.

  Fast, he went downship. Not enough time, probably, for him and Dacia-but at least, for a little while, they could talk.

  And suddenly he needed to be with her.

  There was time, Dacia insisted, for both talk and love. But plagued by the distraction of the ship's danger, Ivan could not reach completion. Finally, though, lying with her and giving up that particular goal, panting and sweating he felt better, anyway.

  He checked the time. "A fast shower; all right?" They took it together, and dried themselves quickly. He said, "Time for a short drink? Very short." And sipping from the ice-tinkling glass, he muttered, "If we have to lift-"

  "You've planned for that?" How could she look so unworried?

  "I have to." He felt his scowl but couldn't release it. "We're groundside. Hoyfarul Drive or no-any ship upstairs, with speed on, has us by the knockers."

  She squeezed his hand. "But you've thought of an answer?"

  "No. Tregare did. I'm just trying to figure the best way to use it." And then it was time for him to get back upship.

  Lower than before but not by much, again the five ships passed above. This time, aided by the computer's track of the earlier contact, the Deux's screens followed from horizon to horizon. "At the last, there," said Anders, "they changed flight angle, and slowed. They're coming down."

  Ivan nodded; the statement was obvious. More important- on high-mag, with time to tune reception, the screens had caught the ships on visual. The picture wavered, but there was no question-those five weren't Shrakken. Nor, of course, human.

  "So," he said, "that leaves the Tsa." Arlen Limmer's face showed excitement; the boy suggested a possible unknown alien species. Ivan shook his head. "The point is, it wouldn't matter. We have to assume the worst case." Without speaking, Arlen nodded.

  Ivan had never seen the control room so full of people, some in the extra seats and others standing. With intercom circuits open to gunnery turrets and the drive room, effectively the entire crew was present. Yet the talk went slowly. Kobolak hadn't been able to reach Tregare; that fact seemed to put a damper on everyone. A thought nagged at Ivan, and finally he recognized it.

  He rapped knuckles on the control panel. "One moment,

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  please. Something that needs doing-if we have to lift, we should leave Tregare a supply cache." He looked around. "Third Hat?"

  Ornaway stood. "Orders?"

  "Yeah. You test-flew Number Two scout, when we broke it out to sit groundside. In top shape, is it?" The young man nodded. "Then that's our cache. Is it fully stocked?" Another nod, and Ivan returned it. "Let's do better--beef up the stores a little." He paused to think. "Two one-hand energy guns, plugged in to stay at full charge, and one of the big portables, too. Plus three-four extra needlers with plenty of ammo." And what else, now?

  He asked, and Anders said, "Communication. To let Tregare know where the scout is. I mean, we'll have to hide it."

  Of course! Damn! Ivan realized he was letting worry cloud his thinking. He punched for screen display of a local terrain contour map. "Where's a good place? And Kobolak-about the communications?"

  Anders' ideas made sense: automatic timing for the scout to transmit, at intervals, short bursts of recognition signals on frequencies Tregare could receive. And receipt of a proper answer would key the sending of the scout's location code. "Good enough," said Ivan, and turned the group's attention to the screened map. "So where do we hide the scout?"

  Crowfoot liked a low island, out in the river-junction delta. "The wooded part, with all those irregular clearings." The problem was that reaching the spot would involve crossing water, which might be difficult for Tregare, later, or might not. Ivan picked a dry flat-bottomed gully, angling off the lefthand river about two kilos upstream. Narrow, it looked, and partly overhung by tall trees up the high banks.

  "Not perfect cover," Ivan said, "but usable if Hask sets the scout in without burning much foliage. Vote?" The gully won. "Ornaway? You think you can be gentle with the shrubbery?"

  "I'll pick a fair-size opening, and at the last, throw side-drift."

  Ivan grinned. "Good enough. Two things, now. One is, I know we took hell and forever to decide, but now do it fast. Push comes to lift, we don't want to be leaving you behind." Ornaway waited. "The other thing. You won't have to walk back; I'll send you a ride."

  The Third Hat left, with two persons to help him stock the scout. Ivan looked back and forth among the assembled group. "Limmer!"

  Arien stood. "Yes?"

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  "You're good with aircars. Go take one up. Until Ornaway moves the scout, stay downriver, out of his way. Thee follow. Forget the map; just land near where he does, and bring him back. Got it?"

  At first the boy looked unbelieving; then his chest swelled and his grin stretched wide. "Yes. I'll be careful about the trees, too." Ivan suppressed a smile and waved a half-salute; in any case, the aircar wouldn't leave noticeable marks. Limmer waved back, and left.

  So far, so good, thought Ivan. But what have I overlooked?

  On the screen Scout Two and then the aircraft hopped over the ridge of hills and sank out of sight. The wait, then, was too long-in the gully, what was happening?

  "Ivan," Dacia began; then her face twisted and she screamed. "The Tsa!" The screen bloomed with five ships, coming low at first, then starting to rise. To Ivan came recognition and then adrenaline and then pain that put his hands to his head to keep it from bursting. His vision blanked; then it worked again.

  Pain or no pain-and he heard his own voice whimper, and didn't know when it had begun, and couldn't make it stop-he reached for the screen's tracking controls. And-one thrust, was all he could make-set them to follow those ships. If he could have seen better, held purpose against the pain--but everything hurt. He felt himself sliding down out of the control seat, fingers scrabbling to no avail.

  Then he welcomed the blackness.

  "Ivan!" Dacia's voice. "Oh, peace-my head. Ivan?"

  What with the urgent voice, and being shaken by the shoulders, Ivan forced himself awake. In two tries he pulled himself up into his seat. Shaking his head was a mistake and opening his eyes was worse; light stabbed like swords and the lids clamped shut again. More cautiously, he blinked them open a little at a time, absorbing the hurt in increments. "Dacia?"

  She tried to hug him. "You're all right?"

  "Maybe." No time, now, for hugging. He shrugged away, looked at the screen and saw nothing. "What's upstairs?"

  As she leaned across him he saw tears following the little channels from her eyes and dropping from her cheeks. "Those ships?" she said. "Gone now. And now we know what the Tsa are, don't we? Clawing into our minds!" All her body, that Ivan

  could see or feel, trembled. "The screen's blank; they're gone. But what can we do?''

  "I think-" He came upright and bore the pain of it, and leaned forward to the controls and hurt more, and yet knew he was past the worst of it. "If I got the right switch when they attacked," he said, "then we have them on tape. What they did, where they went."

  Leaving the main screen watching upstairs in real time, he put the tape on an aux viewer, and carefully noted what he saw. And thought about it. "They made a hedgehop pass here, and then turned straight up, tight as they could. Dacia-when they hit us, hurting, how close do you think they were?"

  "I saw them top the horizon." Now her voice was steadier. "I started to tell you, when the attack came. Only a second or two-"

  "Just long enough for them to spot us," said Anders Kobolak. Rubbing his neck, he grimaced as he moved it.

  Ivan kept his cursing unvoiced. "So we still have no idea what their range is." Looking round, he shrugged, then wished he hadn't. Some people were sitting up and some not. The one man-was he even breathing? To Dacia he said, "Well, first things first. You're in charge of casualties. See how bad every­body was affected; maybe we can find some correlations." Then a thought came. "The baby! Peace take me, what would that mind-clawing do to Renalle?"

  He hit the intercom for captain's quarters. "Ellalee-are you there? Is Renalle all right?"

  After a pause, the woman's voice said, "When it happened, she was asleep. Near as I can tell, she didn't even notice."

  Dacia leaned forward. "And yourself?"

  "I-all right if I come upship, and bring Renalle? I don't fancy being alone just now."

  "Sure." And soon the young aborigine came in, carrying her charge. She looked well, but Ivan asked, "How bad did it get you?"

  Sitting, settling the sleepy baby comfortably, Ellalee said, "Not so badly as some, looks as though. It hurt like all billy, and googled my eyesight, but I kept control, right enough. Just couldn't do much of anything. It was like-" She frowned, then nodded. "I'm from the Outback, you know-a big place, and in our part a white man was something rare, something to stare at. I was the only half-breed in the tribe. Children ran the bush and desert, naked. Come puberty, the old men cut away at your private parts with their dirty knives, so's you wouldn't enjoy sex much."

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  One side of her mouth smiled, then didn't. "I ran away. I wasn't the first. OS to the west was a white men's dig--the building of Lena Hulzein's Aussie branch HQ, though we didn't know that at the time-and several young boys and girls had fled there." Again she grimaced. "You should see what the old men do to the boys. The penis gives so many opportunities for surgical cleverness."

  Ivan shook his head. "And cruelty perpetuates itself. If it was good enough for daddy, it's good enough for sonny." And wasn't that the way it had been for him, too, in Welfare? Not quite, but bad enough. He said, "You ran. And the old men chased you?"

  "Too right; I saw my turn coming, and lit out. A week, ten days, from the installation; one water bag and about half the dried meat I could have used." Ellalee muffled a cough. "The old men-not old in your terms. Life's short in the Outback, for abos. But old enough to be past resenting their own mutilation, and be good hunters. If they'd caught me, I was stonkered for sure."

  He had to keep attention on the topside screen, and certainly they weren't going anywhere just now, but still her story was running long. "I know you have a point to make, Ellalee."

  "Right, 'pologetics and all. Three days I ran-really ran, much as I could manage-and behind me they were never in sight, but I knew." She shuddered. "Some they'd caught and brought back, you understand. Boys and girls both. None of them good for much, afterward, except scavenging."

 

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