Caleb blinked and thought about it for a moment. “But,” he mumbled, “what do you...”
“Never mind,” she said, walking past him toward the camp. “I’ll tell you about it some other time.”
The morning had brought clear, cloudless skies and a dry, simmering heat to the tree-dotted plains of the Snake River Valley. Caleb and the others had risen early and eaten a small breakfast, then resumed their journey toward the Snake River, prompted by Krezahu’s cryptic urgings.
There was little conversation within the group. The morning had been calm and peaceful, almost dreamlike in its gentle silence. Any idle chatter seemed somehow disruptive and inappropriate in that tranquil setting. By noontime, however, the soft sense of peace had been replaced with a ceaseless burning heat. The brilliant sunlight dazzled the eyes and seemed to bleach everything in sight to a pale, hazy glare. The heat beat down from the sky like a rain of fire, bouncing up from the thick grass and into the downcast faces of the weary travelers.
The four wanderers continued on in a dazed march through the waist-high grass, pausing occasionally to take small sips from their shrinking water supply. Chuck seemed to fare best. Her large size meant that it would take the longest for the heat to spread through her entire body. Tess and Krezahu seemed only slightly worse, their dry skin doing much to keep them from dehydrating, while the panting of their birdlike lungs kept them from overheating. Caleb lagged behind at the rear of the group. He had stopped riding Chuck more than an hour ago, knowing that it would only make her overheat faster. He now shuffled slowly through the dry grass, his dusty clothes streaked with sweat and his arms and neck beginning to turn bright red.
The group paused once more for a quick drink. Caleb tried to hide his exhaustion, but the others were careful to take only a little water, giving the larger share to Caleb. Krezahu sat crouched in the shade of a large boulder, and Caleb moved to join him. Halfway there, he stumbled and fell on his hands and knees in the brittle grass. Tess moved to help him to his feet, but Chuck reached his side first. She carefully positioned herself over him, casting a long shadow across his sweat-soaked body. The scene reminded Tess of a mother dinosaur standing protectively over her nest.
Beside the boulder, Krezahu mumbled and clucked to himself, seeming unconcerned. Tess turned and crouched down in the shade beside him.
“We’ve got a problem here,” she said harshly.
Krezahu nodded sagely.
“Well,” Tess said, her voice rising, “what’re we going to do about it?”
The old Awaru rubbed his throat wattles thoughtfully.
“It seems that we will need more water,” he said calmly.
“No shit!” Tess barked. “Jeez! You know, for an old wise-man type, you can be pretty damn numb!”
Krezahu clucked thoughtfully and glanced at Tess with a distracted nod.
“I don’t suppose you happen to know where we can find some water?” she asked, standing up and looking rather threatening. Krezahu stared up at her now, his bright eyes glaring intensely.
“Sit, child,” he said forcefully. “There are ancient ears in this land that will not have the patience to listen to your foolish antics.”
Tess’s eyes widened in angry surprise and she opened her mouth to begin another tirade, but clamped it shut again as a strange noise echoed over the plain. The weak wind seemed to pick up, and a weird whistling buzz lingered on the edge of hearing. At first, it sounded much like the rustling wind, but the noise grew steadily louder. Sitting under Chuck’s sheltering shadow, Caleb’s head snapped up, his face suddenly alert and wide-eyed.
The noise grew slowly, rising in pitch for a moment, then falling again until it seemed to be felt through the ground more than in the air. The rise and fall continued, and an ululating pattern emerged. It was an eerie sound, a somewhat insect-like buzz, but patterned and tonal, almost like music or birdsong. It reminded Caleb of a sort of giant cicada, or perhaps the strange humming drone he had heard on old television shows about Australian aborigines.
The sound continued to rise, filling the air and ground with a dizzying buzz. Caleb could now hear faint undertones in the louder hum, like strange, monotone chanting or singing. He had a vague memory of the chants of Benedictine or Buddhist monks he had heard somewhere as a child. The sound grew steadily louder. Now the undercurrent of chanting was unmistakable. Chuck crouched down, trying to lie low in the tall grass. Caleb could see Tess huddled against the boulder beside Krezahu, who seemed to be falling into some sort of trance.
Caleb craned his neck and scanned the surrounding plains, but there was no movement to be seen, except for the gentle waving of the windblown grass. Despite his growing nervousness, Caleb stood up and shaded his eyes to get a better view.
The plain appeared empty, but the buzzing hum was now surrounding the group on all sides, seeming to come from only a few yards away. The tall grass waved in ripples like water. Caleb strained his eyes to see any sign of unusual movement.
Suddenly the wind died away, but the buzzing sound grew even louder. Caleb blinked in surprise at the surrounding grass. It seemed to still be rippling with movement, even though the air had become completely still. As Caleb stared, a tall figure rose from the grass, standing straight and still.
The figure was easily seven feet tall, but long and lean in build, like some sort of ostrich or heron. Caleb was reminded immediately of the terrifying dinosaur soldiers, the Ne Shaazi. This creature was almost exactly identical to the Ne Shaazi in size and shape, but there were several striking differences.
The first thing that Caleb noticed about this creature was its tools and clothing. Instead of wearing nylon harnesses and sophisticated electronic gear, the figure was adorned with simple bone and shell necklaces and bracelets. A thin shoulder strap supported a small leather pouch hanging against its flank. Wooden beads and intricate knot work decorated the pouch, as well as the small shawl that hung loosely across the creature’s back and shoulders.
In its hand, the figure bore a tall, thin staff, wrapped with clinking bones and cord and topped with a fan of bright feathers. The staff seemed more like a ceremonial tool than a weapon, a far cry from the hideous lightning guns of the Ne Shaazi.
Caleb also noticed that much of the creature’s skin was covered in a coat of downy feathers, almost like short fur or hair. The skin of the face, hands and feet was similar to the bare scales of the Ne Shaazi, but more of a light, coppery color. The dappled brown plumage started at the edges of the creature’s face and continued down its neck, all the way to the tip of its stiff, slender tail. The feathers also covered the creature’s thighs and arms, looking almost like vestigial flight feathers on its forearms.
The most striking distinction, however, was not a physical one. As Caleb stared into the great, glinting eyes of the creature, he felt none of the menace and boiling fury of the Ne Shaazi. Instead, he was filled with a sense of otherworldliness, as if the creature’s eyes were gleaming portals into the ancient past, windows looking into a lost world. Caleb felt as though he were suddenly very young and small, a tiny, blundering infant in the shadow of a being as old and wise as the earth.
The buzzing drone continued as Caleb stared at the mysterious figure, realizing now that the sound was emanating from the creature’s throat. As he watched, another figure rose from the grass to the left, standing tall and motionless like the first. Another figure rose on the right, then another, and another. Caleb heard Tess make a strange sound behind him, like a nervous growl that faded off into a soft whimper. The tall figures continued to rise from the long grass, forming a tight circle around the small band of travelers. Caleb tried to count them all, but quickly lost track. He guessed that the creatures numbered at least fifty.
Gradually, the buzz and hum subsided as each figure fell silent. Caleb heard Krezahu humming behind him, sounding like a crude imitation of the unearthly buzz. The creatures remained still and silent for a short moment while Caleb stood staring at the spectacle arou
nd him. One of the creatures abruptly broke out of the circle, walking smoothly toward Caleb with long strides. It stopped only a few feet away, glancing at each of the four travelers in turn. Turning its piercing eyes on Krezahu, it muttered a few questioning words.
“Dekk nu Ittu-Zhet wi-yth dakk kiith?” it asked. The creature’s voice was like a warm, rustling wind, a soft melody from a time before man.
Krezahu was now standing beside Caleb, his head held high and his throat wattles flushed with pride.
“Nu Wi’im-Duzi dekk ku’ut dak duzik wesu,” he clucked cheerfully. The tall creature nodded, and turned its gaze back on Caleb.
“I am Ksogiasu, of the Hininze,” she said. “We bring you water to heal your body, wisdom to soothe your mind, and wings to carry your hope.” The creature plucked a small gourd from her pouch and handed it to Caleb.
Caleb peered inside the small hole in the top and saw the cool shimmer of water. As he sipped the clear water, three other Hininze stepped forward, offering several gourds to Krezahu, Tess and Chuck. Caleb was surprised to see Chuck open her mouth and calmly wait while the Hininze emptied a large gourd into her throat.
Ksogiasu handed Caleb another gourd when he had finished the first, then returned the empty gourds to her pouch. She then settled into a sitting position on the thick grass, gesturing for Caleb to join her. Tess and Krezahu sat on either side of Caleb, while several Hininze carefully poured water into the jugs hanging from Chuck’s saddle.
“I know of your journey, Caleb Owen,” the Hininze said matter-of-factly, “and I wish to see you succeed. It would be to the benefit of all of our peoples.” She cast a glance at Tess and Krezahu.
“Do you know about the caravan?” Caleb asked tentatively.
“Yes, yes. We saw that through our dreams. Most of your friends are alive, but they are still in great peril,” she answered. Tess’s body tensed as if she would leap up and run if they would only point the way.
“Where are they?” Tess blurted out. “Can you take us to them?”
Ksogiasu nodded slowly. “I can help you find them,” she said, “But it will be very dangerous for all of you. They are with the Ne Shaazi.” Caleb’s face paled at the name. Tess was suddenly very still.
“The unnatural ones attacked the caravan with one of their great ships. They destroyed the wagons and animals, but most of the ‘old-bloods’ survived. They were taken into the ship, and are now held prisoner. The Ne Shaazi have use for their kind, but first they will try to break their minds. It will be difficult to sway them, strong as they are, but your friends may soon become slaves of the Ne Shaazi.”
Caleb considered the news. It would be nearly impossible to attack one of the Ne Shaazi’s small one-man ships, never mind trying to break into a larger ship and escape with dozens of prisoners.
“How could we possibly rescue them?” Caleb asked. “We don’t have any weapons that could stand up against their ships. We couldn’t even get close to them without being killed or captured ourselves.”
“We would not give you foolish hope,” Ksogiasu said. “We have friends who see far and wide, and they have discovered something that could allow you to enter the ship without the Ne Shaazi even knowing. Once inside, you will have a good chance of freeing your friends and escaping alive.”
“Who are these ‘friends?’“ Tess asked skeptically.
Ksogiasu blinked contentedly and reached into her pouch, withdrawing a large chunk of smooth mica. The thin stone glittered in her clawed hand like a polished mirror. Caleb could see that there was a small hole drilled through the center. It reminded him of the signal mirrors once used to communicate with airplanes from the ground. As if reading his thoughts, Ksogiasu raised the stone to her eye and peered up at the sky through the small hole. She wiggled the stone gently, reflecting a brilliant beam of sunlight back up into the air.
Caleb and Tess squinted and strained to see what the Hininze was looking at. Far above, almost invisible in the blinding glare of the noon sun, a black silhouette wheeled and circled in the sky. Caleb could see brief flashes of light glinting on the underside of the creature as Ksogiasu waved her mirror. The creature turned and began a slow dive, crying out with a deep whistling voice. Several other shadows joined the creature in its spiraling descent. In a few moments, the creature was clearly visible, sweeping low over the plains and flapping its great, leathery wings.
“Pterodactyls?” Tess mumbled uncertainly.
“Ewahi,” Caleb answered in a breathless voice. “The third race from the old days.”
As they watched, the lead Ewahi swept up to the circle of Hininze and passed low overhead. It pulled into a tight circle and glided to a gentle landing on the large boulder. Caleb stared in awe as the delicate creature carefully stretched its wings out to their full twenty-one-foot span, then folded them neatly at its sides. The Ewahi’s body was quite small compared to its wingspan, standing shorter than a man, even with the large triangular crest that crowned its three-foot-long head. The crest was boldly patterned with yellow and red stripes, while the face bore patches of pale blue. The skinny neck and compact body that supported the oversized head was covered in a fine coat of soft fur, deep brown on the back and creamy white on the throat and underbelly. The creature regarded the group with the casual detachment of a master flyer, knowing that it could easily rise above any danger with a flick of its powerful wings.
Ksogiasu stood and dipped her head in greeting to the Ewahi.
“Chu-msiju, chath-zahuz,” she said, spreading her arms in a simple imitation of the Ewahi’s wings.
“Chu-msiju,” the Ewahi responded in a smooth, trumpet-like voice. The creature began nonchalantly scratching at its wrist with its long beak, seeming only mildly interested in the activity around it. Four other Ewahi slowly wheeled by overhead and landed on or near the rock, whistling softly to each other or blinking lazily in the bright sun.
“Caleb Owen,” Ksogiasu began, “this is Kchawr-Uou of the Ewahi. His clan has recently witnessed an event that may be of great help to you. He will wish to tell you what he has seen in his own words, but his use of your language is imperfect. Have patience, for he has little of his own.”
Ksogiasu uttered a few quick comments to Kchawr-Uou, then settled on the grass once more. The Ewahi continued to preen himself distractedly for a moment, then looked up as if suddenly remembering where he was. The nimble creature hopped down from the boulder and shuffled up to Caleb on short, skinny legs. He regarded Caleb for a brief moment, blinking his orange eyes. Caleb couldn’t help but feel slightly uneasy with the Ewahi’s sharply pointed beak only a foot away from his face, but he sat still and silent.
“Kay-lub,” the Ewahi muttered. “Hikk ikk-uummmm, aaah-heh. Kay-lub. Funny sound. Good funny name, yes.” Kchawr-Uou stared at Caleb quietly for a moment, then launched directly into his narrative.
“Flying, flying. See the ground. See the hills. See the smoke, climbing smoke in the sky. See the Ne Shaazi, flying in their shell. Flies wrong. Not really flying, just hanging like dead thing. Burns the ground with lightning. Burns houses on wheels. Burns animals. Swallows the animal-humans. Flies away. We watch, we watch. Flies away. We are glad.
“But we are curious. We watch. We follow. What do the Ne Shaazi do with animal-humans? Where do they take them? We watch, we follow. Days. We stay far away, but we watch. Big floating shell hatches small shells, then swallows them again. Over and over. Small shells out, small shells in. We watch. We follow small shell. Why do they go in and out? What are they looking for? We watch small shell land in forest. Small shell hatches Ne Shaazi. Ne Shaazi looks at ground, picks at ground, sniffs at ground. Sees something funny. Doesn’t see animal. Foolish Ne Shaazi doesn’t even smell animal. Animal eats Ne Shaazi. Good, funny animal. Smart to kill Ne Shaazi. Shell just lies there, stupid. Shells act alive but they are stupid and dead. No good. We look at shell but don’t touch. It hums, it shivers. It is a deadly Ne Shaazi thing.
“Hininze say that you need to g
o into the big Ne Shaazi shell. You humans and animal-humans are good with foolish tools that think they are alive. Foolish tools. You like to play with these things. Climb into small shell, make it listen. Ride it into big shell. Find your friends. Kill Ne Shaazi. We watch and laugh when you do. Funny humans. Good to kill Ne Shaazi. Good to save your friends.”
Kchawr-Uou fell silent and resumed his preening. Caleb’s mind was racing. An empty scout ship? Could they actually sneak inside the other ship, or would it be instant suicide? Tess looked at Caleb with a wild, excited expression.
“Caleb, this sounds like our chance,” she said.
The Ewahi was now blinking his eyes tiredly. He seemed as if he were falling asleep.
“Kchawr-Uou,” Caleb said, rousing the bored Ewahi. “When did you see this small shell land?”
“Not a whole day. Sun was setting. Too dark for Ne Shaazi to see ground good. Foolish Ne Shaazi thinks he sees something. Climbs out of thick shell and gets eaten.”
“So, you saw this yesterday afternoon?” Caleb asked.
“Yes, yes. Sun sinking.”
Caleb looked at Tess. “Do you think it would still be there?” he asked. “Wouldn’t they have realized something was wrong?” Tess shrugged her shoulders. Ksogiasu leaned forward.
“The ship remains,” she said. “It is only a few short miles from here. The Ne Shaazi are overconfident in their machines. They think that nothing can harm them. If a ship is missing, they may not take action or even notice for days.”
“You’re kidding...” Caleb mumbled. “If they’re that smug about their technology, we really might be able to sneak into the big ship. They’ll never expect to have one of their ships captured.”
“Arrogance is only one of their many weaknesses,” Ksogiasu said. “You will find that they are nearly as great a menace to themselves as they are to others.”
“Can you lead us to the empty ship?” Caleb asked the restless Ewahi.
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