CHAPTER 20
It had been a very long night and now they were moving again, moving in the lightless cavern beneath the canopy, moving back down the ridge they had ascended to their wet and sleepless NDP, moving closer and closer to their central valley objective. At least the rain’s stopped, they consoled each other. “At least we didn’t get hit,” Cherry said to Silvers who followed him in the chain of tired soldiers. The boonierats of Alpha walked somnambulant, unaware of their motion. Their steps were cautious and tentative. No longer were their legs sure enough, strong enough, to be trusted when extended over the unsure, unseen footing. Thighs twinged from the weight carried, from the exertion of the climb, from the undissolved stiffness and chill of the night before and from the demand to
