"That was what it felt like. It hurt like hell."
"You didn't see anybody?"
"I did not. I didn't wait long enough."
"We've got to get out of here."
"An observation of amazing erudition."
Mike lashed a long flat piece of driftwood to the raft as a steering
oar, found two other such pieces to serve as unattached oars, and
helped Nicko finish with loading the supplies. "All right," he said.
"Let's go."
They cast loose and while Doree worked with the stern oar, Mike and
Nicko paddled feverishly toward the middle of the river. With this
objective achieved, Nicko took over the stern. Mike forced Doree to
lie down. He put a pillow under her head, kissed her and sat beside
her until her eyes closed. Then he went back and sat down beside
Nicko.
The latter had not forgotten his terrifying grin. "We certainly get
around, don't we?" he said cheerfully.
"I'm glad it makes you so happy."
"As a matter of fact I'm scared stiff. It is just that my sainted
mother told me always to keep a brave front."
* * * * *
Mike looked at his assistant with sudden fondness. "Who was your
mother, Nicko?"
Nicko shook his dragon's head sadly. "I can't seem to remember but I
know I had one. And of course she was saintly."
"And your father?"
A distant sound intruded, touching Mike's ears lightly. His eyes were
still upon Nicko as the latter said, "You've got me--but I have a
feeling he was a gallant knight in armor who swept my beautiful mother
off her fairy-like feet."
"No doubt," Mike smiled. The sound was louder now, but it still did
not catch his attention. He was remembering that encounter in the
polar forests of Mars; the day he found little Nicko crouching under a
bush; how he'd come within an ace of putting a bullet into the hideous
creature's brain. But some vagrant touch of compassion had stayed him.
The little monster seemed so lost, so pathetic, so helpless. He'd
taken Nicko back to camp, the Martian infant's parentage and ancestry
a mystery Mike felt would never be solved.
What sort of hideous mating had occurred, he wondered, to produce this
mongrel creature with the brain of a human and the body of a beast?
Mike held forth his hand. "You were a vicious little devil," he said.
"I'll wear that scar forever."
Nicko sighed gustily. "If you beat me unmercifully each fine morning
for the rest of my miserable life, the punishment would be light for
such a heinous deed."
Mike laughed and started to get to his feet. Halfway up, he paused,
crouching there. Then his voice thundered. "Grab an oar! Pull for
shore! Pull for God's sake!"
In an instant both of them were tearing the water in an effort to
reach the nearest bank. As they worked, the current upon which they
moved swept forward at an ever-increasing speed and the roar about
them was like the crashing of skyscrapers under bombardment.
They came ashore a scant six feet above certain death. Fortunately the
raft was light and they were able to gain a foothold and lift it from
the snarling waters.
Then, gasping for breath, they moved a few feet down-stream and stood
looking at the frothing cataract that dropped the great river a sheer
two-hundred feet to boulders below.
"I ought to be whipped for not attending to business," Mike said
bitterly.
Doree was clinging to his arm looking down at the awe-inspiring sight.
"You saved us, darling. Why should you criticize yourself?"
"It was too close--far too close."
Nicko said, "It seems to me the important thing now is where we go
from here."
"We carry the raft down those rocks and beyond the rough water."
"But why all that effort? Couldn't we be as happy up here as down
there?"
"All rivers lead to civilization," Mike said. "Or at least, they lead
to the places civilization naturally springs up."
"A logical observation."
"Also, I've got a hunch about this river. I may be wrong but I think
it might take us right where we want to go. I'll bet there are
interesting things ahead."
* * * * *
Mike turned and directed his words to Doree. "That papyrus your father
translated said the forefathers of the Egyptians sought a planet
similar to their own. Perhaps the similarity had to be more than
general. Such a thing is indicated by their traveling around for
several lifetimes. Anyhow, except for the tropical climate, this river
bears a great resemblance to one of the tributaries that feeds the
Nile back on Terra."
"You're quite right," Doree marveled.
"And this could well be Victoria Falls. I wonder if another Egypt
doesn't lie below."