Read Online The Golden Enemy by Alexander Key - Free Book Online

the goats to destroy it. Something—something unknown and nameless—was going to happen, and the little chipmunk knew it. The great bear knew it also. Food meant survival, and the lack of food could mean death. Even Emmon had been afraid that there might be a terrible shortage of food. He had advised that no seed be wasted.
    The Golden One was cleverly trying to bring about the destruction of all the future food supplies. Did that mean he knew what was going to happen?
    Of course the beast knew!
    Boy Jaim stared blankly in front of him while his clenched hands beat slowly on the chair arms. A great dread began to grow in him. Suddenly he lurched to his feet. A startled Scatterbrain chittered questioningly as he sped past and rushed up the steps, but he did not notice.
    In the upper hall he paused briefly, thinking of transportation. Should he call L’Mara?
    Instantly he decided against it. She’d want to go with him, and there was bound to be danger. But there ought to be a usable air sled around here somewhere.
    He turned, ran to the end of the hall, jerked the rear door open, and raced into the courtyard.

T he youngest herder thought of his dog and stared unhappily into the night while he waited for his star to rise. When the star appeared, serene and beautiful, he caught his breath and forgot the anger and the hurt and the confusion in him. The hunters were still out, and the beast that had caused so much trouble was still eluding them. But at the moment it did not seem to matter.
    In his mind he could see again the planet he’d imagined. For a moment he saw it as a peaceful place, then he realized that man, if he lived there, might have his troubles. After all, if there were beasts around with the power to hurt man …
    He shook his head, and suddenly wondered why man and beast were always at odds. Did man really have the right to kill?

5
    PLEA
    O n the right of the courtyard Boy Jaim threw back the wide doors of a storage structure and ran inside. Long ago he’d helped take the better sleds over to Andru’s house, but here, in a corner, were a pair of old ones that had been left behind. They were rough, open affairs for use in the fields, though one of them, he remembered, had a power unit strong enough to carry him anywhere.
    It did not occur to him, until he had hurried over to it and was reaching for the switch, that the sled might have lain too long away from the sunlight. The switch, turned on, brought no response. The solar batteries were dead.
    In dismay he tried the second sled. It was as useless as the first. Hurriedly he hauled the heavier sled out into the courtyard where the afternoon sun could reach it and wondered if he had time enough to wait for the power to build up. Or had he better call L’Mara?
    She chose that moment to call him.
    â€œ Boy Jaim, please — this is important! Where can I find you? ”
    â€œ What do you want? ”
    â€œ Emmon wants to see you right away, and so does Andru. ”
    He knew he’d better avoid Andru as long as possible, but the Elder was another matter. Suddenly he wished Emmon had the ability to communicate with him as easily as L’Mara. But few people could, and with most of them it required great effort and concentration.
    â€œ Do you know what Emmon wants? ” he asked.
    â€œ He didn’t say — but I can guess. I’m at home now, and he’s just left for his place to study some star charts. He’s awfully worried …”
    The Elder, he thought, had a right to be worried.
    â€œ I — I’d better see Emmon, ” he told her. “ I’m at the old house, out back, and I don’t have a sled. Will you come and get me? And hurry! ”
    While he waited for her he walked in circles, trying not to think of what might happen if he failed in what lay ahead. He could feel excitement and fear in every direction and hear the constant rush and whistle of speeding air sleds in