Read Online Ireta 02 - [Dinosaur Planet 02] - Dinosaur Planet Survivors by Anne McCaffrey - Free Book Online

he does. A neutralizer?”
    “Varian! That big one . . .” Triv pointed and they looked at the largest of the giffs, who could have been the Middle Giff of the cave inspection, crushing a leaf in its talon and smearing it on its chest.
    “What might work on giffs, might not work on us, but I’ve nothing else . . .” Lunzie muttered and tentatively squeezed sap over the oozing punctures on Kai’s shoulder. “Well, what d’you know? It’s a styptic! Quick, both of you, get to work. Even if the leaves only stop the bleeding, it’s
something
!” She tasted the sap then. “Oooo. Bitter, bitter. Alumlike. Good. Now if it could also neutralize—whatever bit Kai is toxic as all . . . Hell!”
    As if taking due note of Kai’s condition, Ireta’s unpredictable rain started to fall in drops big enough to hurt.
    “Wouldn’t you just know?” Varian cried in disgust, trying to shelter Kai’s legs with her body as Lunzie and Triv leaned across his torso.
    In moments Kai’s hair was afloat in a puddle and the sap was being washed from those portions of his body which the concerted efforts of his friends could not shield.
    “We’ve got to get him out of this. Are you sure we can’t risk the sled?” Lunzie asked urgently.
    Triv splashed to the vehicle and the women could hear him cursing, heard him slamming the plasglas canopy shut.
    “Every damned red light is on. Those sleds are supposed to be impervious . . . We got company again. . . .”
    “What we don’t need are spectators. C’mon, Varian, Triv. We’ve got to get him down to the cave before he drowns.”
    “I’ll just hoist him . . .” Triv said, grabbing Kai by the arm and staggering as he attempted to haul the unconscious man to his shoulder. “What . . .”
    Varian grabbed to support the staggering Triv while Lunzie caught Kai.
    “You’re both just out of cold sleep,” Varian said with some disgust. “Neither of you has regained any useful strength yet.”
    In a joint effort they carried Kai to the edge of the cliff.
    “I don’t like this,” Lunzie muttered to herself as Varian located an untethered vine and hauled it up. “None of us is up to this sort of effort.” She bent to protect Kai from the rain.
    “Varian,” Triv’s voice was taut with alarm. “The giffs are surrounding us. Are they trying to push us off the cliff?” His voice rose as he planted himself in front of Lunzie and Kai.
    Varian turned, rising from her crouch. With a sense of relief she thought she recognized Middle Giff as it took a forward step. Then it inclined its head to her and gestured one wing in as courtly a motion as any she’d ever seen from the mincing Ryxi. The wing tip pointed over the edge of the cliff. It moved to indicate Kai. Then both wings were spread, undulating to suggest flight. The huge raindrops beat against the wing surface, beading as the oil of the fur kept the water from penetrating.
    “Does the giff mean what I think it means?” Triv asked Varian.
    “If it does, it’s a miracle.”
    “Now, wait a minute, Varian,” Lunzie interposed. “I’m not about to surrender Kai to them.”
    “What choice have we? Dropping him into the sea because we haven’t the strength to lower him into the cave? They’ve already helped us with the water and the leaves. They are used to flying burdens with the fish nets, working as a team. If they’re smart enough to see we’ve got a problem in getting Kai into shelter, they’ve also got a solution. The rain’s getting heavier and the wind’s making up.” Varian had to brace herself. “We’ve no other option.”
    Lunzie brushed her soaking hair from her face, staring up at Varian. Then a gust of wind buffeted the trio of humans. Lunzie capitulated, throwing up one hand in acceptance of their desperate situation. “You and Triv go on down. Part the vines and guide the giffs in.”
    With a final fierce look at the xenobiologist, Lunzie surrendered Kai’s limp body to Varian.