"Of course. They found it half an hour ago, and now they're setting it
up. Just a matter of time, so relax."
I squatted down on my hands and knees, making the gesture for silence
again. I found a jagged little rock and started to trace lines in the
powdery pumice. It was messy, but they could understand it. I wrote:
GO TO THEIR OLD DOME AND GIVE UP. YOUR AIR WONT LAST. THEY WON'T
KILL. SCARED. QUESTION YOU ABOUT WEAPON. REMEMBER WHAT GEORGE &
HARRY SAID ABOUT WEAPON BEFORE, BUT PLAY A LITTLE DUMB. LEAVE
REST TO ME.
I waited while I saw them reading it, then I rubbed it out. Clair shook
her head. Her eyes told me plainly enough that she didn't want to die,
but that she'd rather die out here with me than otherwise.
Gramps looked like he would rather be sitting someplace comfortable
with his guitar, but he was trying to smile a little.