"Not many people have ever seen them. I'm wondering. I managed to
translate some inscriptions from Chahnn.... The Zarno aren't human, are
they?"
Garth didn't answer. Paula went on.
"The Ancients knew them, though. They tried to educate them--like Rome
colonizing savage races. That's probably why the Zarno are supposed to
speak the Ancient Tongue."
"They do."
"And then the Ancients died out--somehow. The Zarno were left. They
became barbarous again. I wish I knew what they were like. Natives
who've seen them don't seem able to describe the creatures. They wear
shining armor, don't they?"
* * * * *
Garth closed his eyes, trying to remember. A vague, dim picture was
growing in his mind--man-like figures that glowed, faces that were
craggy, hideous creatures....
"I've seen them," he said, "but I've forgotten. The Noctoli poison--it
wrecked my memory."
"You don't recall anything?"
"I--" Garth rubbed his forehead. "Not human--no. Creatures like living
statues, shining and moving.... I don't know."
"Silicate life?" Paula theorized thoughtfully. "It's possible. And it
might evolve on a planet where conditions are so tough for survival.
Such creatures wouldn't be affected by the Noctoli pollen, either,
would they?"
"No. Or they've built up resistance. The virus is active only in
daylight, when the flowers are open. I don't know why. Before we go
too far into the Black Forest I'll have to give everyone antitoxin
shots--everyone but me. The pollen doesn't work on me any more."
They were silent, resting. It seemed only a moment before Brown
appeared, announcing that the raft was ready.
"It's a makeshift job, but it's strong," he said. "Listen, Garth, what
about the planes spotting us on the river? We'll be an easy target."
"They wouldn't fire on us?"
"No. But they'd use sleep-gas, and nab us when we drifted ashore. We
don't want that."
Garth rose, his muscles aching. "It's a chance. Most of the time
there'll be fog on the river. That'll help." He found his medical kit
and shouldered it. "I'm ready."
The men were already on the raft, a big platform of light, tough
_lata_-logs bound together by vines. Garth took his place near the pile
of equipment in the center. "Keep to midstream," he cautioned. "Watch
for bubbles breaking ahead. Swing wide of those. Waterspouts."
The raft slid out from the bank, long poles guiding it. Water washed
aboard and slipped away as the platform found its balance. Presently
they were drifting downstream in the dimly-lighted fog, the black river
murmuring quietly beneath them.
Garth kept his gaze ahead. It was hard to see in the faint, filtered
light of the moons, but a ray-lamp would have been betraying to any
planes that might be searching above.
"Swing left. Hard," he called.
The men obeyed. Oily bubbles were breaking the surface. As the raft
moved toward the bank, a sudden geyser burst up from the river, a
spouting torrent that tipped the platform dangerously and showered its
occupants with icy spray.
Garth met Brown's eyes. "See what I mean?" he remarked.
"Yeah. Still, if that's all--"
The river flowed fast. Once or twice the plated back of a giant saurian
was visible, but the water-reptiles did not attack, made wary,
perhaps, by the bulk of the raft. There were other waterspouts, but the
men soon became adept at avoiding them.
Sometimes they drifted through fog, sometimes the mists were dissipated
by winds, though not often. During one of the latter periods a faint
droning drifted down from above. It was the worst possible timing, for
the two larger moons were directly overhead, blazing down on the river.
The stub-winged shape of a plane loomed against the starry sky.
Brown said sharply, "Drop flat. Don't move." He forced Garth and Paula
down. "No, don't look up. They'd see our faces."
"They can't miss us," Sampson muttered.
"There's fog ahead."
The sound of the plane's motors grew louder. Abruptly there was a
splash. Another. Something shattered on the raft.
"Hold your breath!" Brown snapped.
Garth tried to obey. A stinging ache had crept into his nostrils. His
lungs began to hurt. The plane had spotted them--that was obvious.
Sleep-gas works fast.
Another soft crash. Garth scarcely heard it. He saw a stubby, cruciform
shadow sweep over the raft, as the plane swooped, and then the wall of
silvery fog was looming up ahead. Paula gave a little gasp. Her body
collapsed against him.
The fire in Garth's chest was blazing agony. Despite himself, he let
breath rush into his lungs.
After that, complete blackness and oblivion.