Read Online Children of the Gates by Andre Norton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Andre Norton
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in a frenzy of effort, aimed its weapon-beam from various angles. Nick could imagine the frustration building up in the attacker—to launch his—or its—greatest power and not even awaken a slight response from the attacked must be infuriating.
Finally the cigar climbed directly above the saucer and hung there as motionless as the craft beneath it. There were no rays stabbing downward from it now. Instead there was an instant of sparkling light, a flash that was gone so quickly Nick could not even be sure he had sighted it at all.
Slowly the cigar began to descend, straight down on the saucer. What this maneuver might be Nick could not guess, nor had he any help from his companions. So slow was the descent that it was plainly ominous. The pilot of the upper ship now must be using the ultimate weapon at his command.
Down, down—was he going to ram the other—as did the Japanese pilots of World War II who died willingly to take an enemy plane or battleship with them? Down—
Nick saw a tremor in the lower ship. And then—
It was gone!
Exploded? But there had been no sound, no shock wave, no debris. It was just gone.
The cigar lurched, gave an upward jump. It circled the lake twice as if trying to make sure the enemy was no longer there. Once more it returned to hover over the site of the attack. Then it left, streaking away with a speed that took it out of sight in seconds.
Crocker sat up, holding his screwdriver in one hand before him as a worshipper in church might hold a candle.
“Fun and games,” he commented. “So they’re out to burn each other down now. That good or bad for us, I wonder?”
“What was he trying?” Nick wanted to know. “Coming down on the saucer that way?”
“I would guess, and it’s just a guess, mind you, that he was going to use his force field against whatever one that other ship had. The flyers—they’re years—centuries ahead of us with their technology—just as the People are with their ‘magic.’ Anyway the other plane decided it couldn’t take it.”
“I know one thing”—Stroud crawled on hands and knees between them—“that’s plain now, m’boyos. We’re gettin’ out of this here country. With the Nasties back flyin’ overhead, this ain’t a healthy place for us to be. An’ we’ve been warned out of the woods so we can’t go kitin’ in there to be safe. Get started out as soon as we can.” He was on his feet, his pace near a run, as he headed up the open land toward the river camp. Yet even if it were needful to make speed, Nick noticed, he kept as much as he could to cover, as did Crocker. And Nick copied their caution.
5
Nick ran his hands along the handlebars of the motorbike. To leave it here would be like closing the door yet tighter on any chance of return. But Stroud was right, he could not take it through rough country ahead and it would be worthless anyway when the gas was exhausted. He wheeled it to the back of the shelter and there concealed it as best as he could.
They had waited until close to dawn of the next day before preparing for their trek back to what the English party considered their best haven of safety. But the night had not been an easy one. They had taken guard duty by turns, alert for any sky sign to prove the hunters’ return, or any noise at ground level to suggest they were watched.
There had been a moon and the night was cloudless. And the light had drawn strange shadows, to look upon, which stirred the imagination, Nick believed, in a manner that did not allay uneasiness.
He had not been helped to confidence when, during his watch, an hour after midnight, the furred shape of Jeremiah flowed past him into the open just beyond his reach. Out there the big cat sat down, his tail stretched out straight behind him, his attitude one of listening. Then, without warning, the tail lashed from side to side, and there was a low growl. The sound never arose to that squall meaning a challenge, but kept on a low note,
Finally the cigar climbed directly above the saucer and hung there as motionless as the craft beneath it. There were no rays stabbing downward from it now. Instead there was an instant of sparkling light, a flash that was gone so quickly Nick could not even be sure he had sighted it at all.
Slowly the cigar began to descend, straight down on the saucer. What this maneuver might be Nick could not guess, nor had he any help from his companions. So slow was the descent that it was plainly ominous. The pilot of the upper ship now must be using the ultimate weapon at his command.
Down, down—was he going to ram the other—as did the Japanese pilots of World War II who died willingly to take an enemy plane or battleship with them? Down—
Nick saw a tremor in the lower ship. And then—
It was gone!
Exploded? But there had been no sound, no shock wave, no debris. It was just gone.
The cigar lurched, gave an upward jump. It circled the lake twice as if trying to make sure the enemy was no longer there. Once more it returned to hover over the site of the attack. Then it left, streaking away with a speed that took it out of sight in seconds.
Crocker sat up, holding his screwdriver in one hand before him as a worshipper in church might hold a candle.
“Fun and games,” he commented. “So they’re out to burn each other down now. That good or bad for us, I wonder?”
“What was he trying?” Nick wanted to know. “Coming down on the saucer that way?”
“I would guess, and it’s just a guess, mind you, that he was going to use his force field against whatever one that other ship had. The flyers—they’re years—centuries ahead of us with their technology—just as the People are with their ‘magic.’ Anyway the other plane decided it couldn’t take it.”
“I know one thing”—Stroud crawled on hands and knees between them—“that’s plain now, m’boyos. We’re gettin’ out of this here country. With the Nasties back flyin’ overhead, this ain’t a healthy place for us to be. An’ we’ve been warned out of the woods so we can’t go kitin’ in there to be safe. Get started out as soon as we can.” He was on his feet, his pace near a run, as he headed up the open land toward the river camp. Yet even if it were needful to make speed, Nick noticed, he kept as much as he could to cover, as did Crocker. And Nick copied their caution.
5
Nick ran his hands along the handlebars of the motorbike. To leave it here would be like closing the door yet tighter on any chance of return. But Stroud was right, he could not take it through rough country ahead and it would be worthless anyway when the gas was exhausted. He wheeled it to the back of the shelter and there concealed it as best as he could.
They had waited until close to dawn of the next day before preparing for their trek back to what the English party considered their best haven of safety. But the night had not been an easy one. They had taken guard duty by turns, alert for any sky sign to prove the hunters’ return, or any noise at ground level to suggest they were watched.
There had been a moon and the night was cloudless. And the light had drawn strange shadows, to look upon, which stirred the imagination, Nick believed, in a manner that did not allay uneasiness.
He had not been helped to confidence when, during his watch, an hour after midnight, the furred shape of Jeremiah flowed past him into the open just beyond his reach. Out there the big cat sat down, his tail stretched out straight behind him, his attitude one of listening. Then, without warning, the tail lashed from side to side, and there was a low growl. The sound never arose to that squall meaning a challenge, but kept on a low note,
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