Chapter ten
Of the pride of a Rapa PaktunThe mizzle of rain eased and a wan grayish daylight seeped through the massed clouds. Hillsides, woods, bushes, open swards dripped water. Barty swung off his hooded cape and the water sprayed. The totrixes ambled along in that skewed six-legged gait. Uthnior slid his cape off expertly and let the water drain off into the grass.
Gray clouds hung about the mountains. The pass ahead glinted with a waterfall’s sudden silver.
“Five burs ride beyond the pass,” said the guide, pointing. “Then I leave you to go on. There is a cave. Three days I shall wait. After that—”
“You needn’t go on!” exclaimed Barty. “If we don’t come back in three days we’ll be dead. I know.”
Uthnior had little experience of airboats, for his hunter clients liked to get into th
