Read Online Enemies of the System by Brian W. Aldiss - Free Book Online

us once more.” He stood up and pointed through the thick atmosphere.
    Down from the road, across a wearying jumble of rocks and canyons studded with horsetails, their gaze traveled, searching the brown wilderness until their eyes lit on a group of figures crouching on a prominence and surveying them.
    As if they had waited to be seen, the distant figures rose and began to climb slowly down in single file.
    â€œNot many of them,” observed Kordan. “Stupid of us not to bring binoculars along. We will continue to walk on at a steady pace. No cause for alarm.”
    Taking hold of the luggage trolley, he set the example. Sygiek fell in beside him, Burek and Dulcifer followed. Takeido helped Constanza to her feet and they walked behind the others, Takeido keeping hold of the guide’s hand.
    Without undue haste, the indistinct figures of the enemy scrambled down to the floor of the rift valley and moved toward the road, closing in as the minutes passed. It was clear that the Utopians were their target.
    As the trolley growled before them over the road, Sygiek said quietly to Kordan, “Do you notice they seem to have two heads? Oh, I feel such horror—less fear than horror. Surely they were never of homo sapiens stock? Shall we commence running?”
    â€œIf we run, so will they. My knowledge of history tells me that it might make better sense to fire off some flares and try to scare them away. Allow me to say that I fear more for your safety than for mine. Dearest Millia, what should we do?”
    She looked at him and smiled tensely. “I will back whatever you do.”
    He flashed her a grateful look. “Let’s try to drive these monsters off.”
    The six stopped in the middle of the road and drew together. A case of flare-guns was broken open; armed, they turned to face the creatures now rapidly approaching across the barren valley.
    The enemy halted. It consisted of five ferocious individuals, each looking more formidable than any life-form the tourists had seen so far. Each wore a kind of coat of short, bristling spines. Each had a face painted with drab vertical stripes; two black horizontal stripes partly masked the eyes. Each had hair which piled up stiffly like a cock’s-comb above its head. They resembled enormous perambulating cacti.
    The exception was the leader, who halted ahead of his four companions. A bone with sharply spiked ends pierced the flanges of his nostrils. On his head, above a mass of unruly yellow hair, he carried a skull like a crown, the teeth of its upper jaw biting into his forehead. The skull was painted in similar patterns to his face. It was this skull that, in a moment of fear, had made Sygiek think the newcomers were two-headed.
    They were mounted on steeds, carrying spears and sitting erect. In their watchful silence, they were extremely menacing. Despite their extraordinary garb, they bore more definitely than any other creature encountered on Lysenka the stamp of humanity.
    â€œTerrifying,” said Takeido. He clutched his mouth with his hand.
    â€œDo we or don’t we use the flare-guns?” demanded Constanza, in an urgent whisper. “If we had just one good gun, we could wipe them all out.” She clung to Takeido.
    â€œWhen I give the signal, fire into their faces,” said Sygiek. “And not until I give the signal, understand?”
    The hunters were dismounting. Their steeds, their debased two-legged horses, were zebra-creatures, similar to the ones which had attempted unsuccessfully to cross the river. They carried the hunters piggy-back. Narrow saddles were secured just above their rumps. Spiked stirrups hung to their knees. When their riders dismounted, the five zebras fell to the ground, showing every sign of exhaustion, and took no further interest in the proceedings.
    The five hunters stepped forward, bristling in their strange armor. They held their spears at the ready. The leader grunted a word of command,