 Key at a Time by Andre Norton, Chapter 11. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by RJ Davis. Key at a Time by Andre Norton, Chapter 11. Weapon from the Depths. Josiah told her story with an attention to time and detail, which amazed Ross and won his admiration for her breed. She had witnessed the death and destruction of all which was her life, and yet she had to wit to note and record mentally for possible future use all that she had been able to see of the raiders. They had come out of the sea at dawn, walking with supreme confidence and lack of any fear. Access flung when they did not reply to the century's challenges had never touched them, and a bombardment of heavier missiles had been turned aside. They proved invernable to any weapon the rovers had. Men who made suicidal rushes to use sword or battle axe hand-to-hand had fallen before they were in striking distance from spraying tongues of fire from tubes the aliens carried. Rovers were not fearful or easily count, but in the end they had fled from the five invaders, gone to ground in their halls, tried to reach their beach ships, only to die as they ran and hid. The slaughter had been remorseless and entire, leaving Jazzia in the hill-shrine as the only survivor. She had hidden for the rest of the day, seen the killing of a few fugitives, and that night had stolen to the shore, watched one of the ship's boats, which was in a cove well away from the main harbor of the ferry, heading out to sea in the hope of meeting the homing cruisers with her warning. They stayed there on the island, Ross asked. That point of her story puzzled him. If the objects of that murderous raid had been only to stir up trouble among the Vakakian rovers, perhaps turning one clan against the other, as he had deduced when he had listened to Torko's report of similar happenings, then the star men should have withdrawn as soon as their mission was complete, leaving the dead to call for vengeance in the wrong direction. There would be no reason to court discovery of their true identity by a lingering. When the boat was to sea, there were still lights in the faring hall, and they were not our lights, nor did the dead cherry them, she said slowly. What had those to fear? They cannot be killed. If they are still there, that we can put to the test, Torko replied grimly, and a murmur from his officers bore out his determination, and lose all the rest of you, Ross retorted codily, I have met these before. They can will a man to obey them. Look you, he slammed his left hand flat on the table. The rigid scar tissue were plain against his tan skin. He knew no better way of driving home the dangers of dealing with the star men than providing this graphic example. I held my own hand in fire so that the hurt of it would work against their pull upon my thoughts, against their willing that I come and be easy meat for their butchering. Jazzy's fingers flickered out, smoothed across his old scars lightly as she gazed into his eyes. This too is true, she said slowly, for it was also pain of body which kept me from their last snare. They stood by the hall and I saw a paw-head, okon, machi, come out to them to be killed as if they were in a hole net and were drawn. And there was that which called me also so that I would go to them, though I called upon the power of puka to save. And the answers that plead came in a strange way, for I fell as I went from the shrine and cut my arm on the rocks. The pain of that hurt was as a knife severing the net. Then I crawled for the wood and that calling did not come again. If you know so much about them, tell us what weapons we may use to pull them down. That demand came from Bister. Ross shook his head. I do not know. Yet, Jazzy amused, all things which live must also die sooner or later. And it is in my mind that these have also a fate they dread and fear. Perhaps we may find and use it. They came from the sea by a ship then, Ross asked. She shook her head. No, there was no ship. They came walking through the breaking waves as if they had followed some road across the sea bottom. They said, What is that? Torgel demanded. A type of ship which goes under the waves, not through them, carrying air within its hull for the breathing of the crew. Torgel's eyes narrowed. One of the other captains who had been summoned from the two companion cruisers gave his snort of disbelief. There are no ships, he began, to be silenced on Torgel. We know of no such ships, the other corrected, but then we know of no such devices as Jazzy saw in operation either. How does one war upon these under the sea ships, Ross? The chairing hesitated. To describe to men who knew nothing of explosives, the classic way of dealing with a sub via depth charges was close to impossible. But he did his best. Among my people, one imprisoned in a container a great power. Then the container is dropped near the sub and how broken the skeptical captain do you know where such a ship lies? Can you see it through the water? In a way, not sea, but here. There is machine which makes for the captain of the above sea ship a picture of where the sub lies or moves so that he may follow his course. Then when he is near enough he drops the container and the power breaks free to also break apart the sub. Yet the making of such containers and the imprisoning of the power within them, Torgel said, this is result of a knowledge which is greater than any safety for one may possess. You do not have it. Now, it took many years and the combined knowledge of many men among my people to make such containers such a listening device. I do not have it. Why then think of what we do not have? Torgel's return was decisive. What do we have? Ross's head came up. He was listening, not to anything in that cabin, but to a sound which had come through the fort just behind his head. There, it had come again. He was on his feet. What? Vister's hand hovered over the axe at his belt. Ross saw their gaze centered on him. We may have reinforcements now, the Terran was already on his way to the deck. He hurried to the rail and whistled. The fence real summons he had practiced for weeks on a domestic adventure. A sleek, dark body broke water and the dolphin grin was exposed as Tina Raw answered his call. Though Ross's communication powers with the two thin scouts was very far from Keros, he caught the message in part and swung around to face the rovers who had crowded after him. We have a way now of learning more about your enemies. A boat, it comes with that sailor towards one of the crew pointed. Ross waved vigorously but no hand replied from the skip. Though it came steadily onward, the three cruisers disappeared gold. Keroa, Ross called. Then side by side with Tina Raw were two wet heads. Two masked faces showing as the swimmers trod water. Keroa and Loka dropped ropes. Ross gave that order as if he rather handed and the captain himself was one of those who moved to obey. Locas came out of the sea first and as he scrambled over the rail he had his sword ready. Looking from Ross to Torgol the Terran held up empty hands and smiled. No trouble now. Locas snapped up his mask so the sea maids said defend ones reported. Yet before these thirsted for your blood on their blades what magic have you worked? None. Just the truth that's been discovered. Ross reached for Keroa's hand as she came nimbly up the rope swung her across the rail to the deck for she stood unmasked brushing back her hair and looking around with a lively curiosity. Keroa, this is Captain Torgol. Ross introduced the rover commander who was staring round-eyed at the girl. Keroa is she who swims with the defend ones and they obey her. Ross gestured to Tina Ross. It is Taw who brings the ship. He asked the Polynesian. She nodded. We followed from the gate. Then Locas came and said that she paused and then added but you do not seem to be in danger what has happened? Much. Listen, this is important. There is trouble at an island ahead. They were there. They murdered the kin of these men. The odds are they reached there by some form of sub. Send one of the dolphins to see what is happening and if they are still there. Keroa asked no more questions but whistled to the dolphin. With a flip of tail, Tina Ross took off. Since they could make no concrete plan of action the cruiser captains agreed to wait for Tina Ross' report of the ferrying harbor until it came. This police in magic Ross remarked Keroa has one advantage. The natives seem able to take in their stride the fact the dolphins will scout for us. They have lived their lives on the sea for it they must have a vast respect. Perhaps they know as did my people that the ocean has many secrets some of which are never revealed except to the forms of life which claim their homes there but even if you discover this baldy sub what will the rovers be able to do about it? I don't know yet. Ross could not tell why he cloned to the idea that they could do anything to strike back at the superior alien force. He only knew that he was not yet willing to relinquish the thought that in some way they could and ash. I don't know it hurt Ross to admit that back there what really happened at the gate he asked Keroa all at once the dolphins seemed to go crazy. I think for a moment or two they did. You felt nothing? No. It was like a fire slicing through the head some protective device of the phenomena I think a metal defense to which he was not sensitive which meant that he might be able to breach that gate if none of the others could but he had to be there first. Suppose, just suppose Torgull could be persuaded that this attack on a gutted kind and was useless. Would the rover commander take them back to the Kalana keep or with the dolphins and the skiff could Ross himself return to make the try? That he could make it on his own Ross doubted. Excitement and willpower had buoyed him up throughout the past of back again day and night now fatigue closed in past his conditioning and the built-in stimulant of the Terran Rations to enclose him in a groggy haze he had been warned about this reaction but that was just another item he had pushed out of his conscious mind. The last thing he remembered now was seeing Karowal move through a fuzzy cloud. Voices argued somewhere below the force of that argument carried more by tone than any words Ross could understand. He was pulled sluggishly out of a slumber too deep for any dream to trouble and lifted heavy eyelids to see Karowal once again. There was a prick in his arm or was that part of the unreality about him. 5, 6, she was counting and Ross found himself joining in. 7, 8, 9, 10. On reaching 10 he was fully awake and knew that she had applied the emergency procedure they had been drilled in using giving him a pep shot. When Ross set up on the narrow bunk there was a light in the cabin and no sign a day outside the porthole. There was a vister the two other cruiser captains all there and jazzy. Ross swung his feet to the deck a pep shot headache was already beginning but would wear off soon. There was however a concentration of tension in the cabin and something must have driven Karowal to use the drug. What is it? Karowal pitted the medical kit into the compact carrying case. Tina Raw has returned there is a sub in the bay. Suppose the rovers could find a way of cutting off the power. The sea maid told us that this ship sets on the bottom of the harbor. If we could board it, began Torgill. Yes, Vister brought his fist down against the end of the bunk on which the Terence still sat jarring the dull, drug-borne pain in Ross's head. Take it, then turn it against his crew. There was an eagerness in all rover faces, for that was a game that a vaca key in the seafarers understood. Take an enemy ship and turn its armament against its companions in a fleet. But that plan would not work out. Ross had a healthy respect for the technical knowledge of the galactic invaders. Of course he, Karowal, even Lokath might be able to reach the sub, whether they could in a fairly different manner. Now the Polynesian girl shook her head. The broadcast there, Tina Raw writes it as lethal. There are dead feats floating in the bay. He had warning at the brief entrance. Without a shield there would be no way of getting in. Might as well whoosh for a death bomb, Ross began and then stopped. You had thought of something? A shield, Ross repeated her words. It was so wild, this thought of his, and one which might have no chance of working. He knew almost nothing about the resources of the invaders. Could that broadcast which protected the sub and perhaps activated the weapons of the invaders, a shore be destroyed? A wall of feats. Sea life hurted in there as a shield. Wild, yes. Even so wild it might work. Ross outlined the idea of speaking more to care while than to the rovers. I do not know, she said doubtfully. That would need many feasts too. Many to hurt and drive. Not feast toggle cut in. Salkers. Salkers? You have seen the bow carving on this ship. That is a salker. Sit your larger than a hundred feasts. Salkers driven in. They might even wreck this undersea ship with their weights and anger. And you can find these salkers nearby. Ross began to take fire. That dragon which had hunted him. The bulk of the thing was well above any other sea life he had seen here. And to his curiosity, he could give testimony. At the spawning reefs. We do not hunt at this season which is a time of the taking of mates. Now too, they are easily angered. So they will even attack a cruiser. Too slay them at present is a loss for the skins are not good. But they would be right for battle where they too be disturbed. And how would you get them from the spawning reefs to the sea? And here is Kyonan. Salkers have a great hunger at this time. Show them bait and they will follow. Espacially will they follow swimming bait. There were a great many holes in the plan which had only a halfway chance of working. But the rover seized upon it with enthusiasm. And so it was set up. Perhaps some two hours later Ross swam towards the landmast of Kyonan. The flames of light fricked on the shore well to his left. These must mark the rover settlement. And again the Terran wondered why the invaders had remained there. Unless they knew that there had been three cruisers out on a raid and for some reason they were determined to make a complete mapa. Keraw moved a little to his right. Tawed between them. The Dolphin Supercensus their guide and warning. The swiftest of the cruisers had departed. Locathon board to communicate with Tina Raw in the water. Since Mayo Dolphin was the best equip to provide a fox for Shulkar hounds he was the bait for this weird fishing expedition. No further. Ross's sonic pricked a warning against his body. Through that he felt a jolt which sent him back away from the bay entrance. On the reef Keraw's tap code drew him on a horse. Moments later they were both out of the water. Though the warship waves over their flippered feet was constant. The rocks among which they crouched were a rough harbourage from which they could see the shore as a dark blot. But they were well away from the breaking a one in a million chance Ross commented as he put up his mask. Was not the whole time-agent project founded on just such chances Kerawa asked the right question. This was Ross's kind of venture. Yes, one in a million chances had been pulled off by the time agents. Wyatt had been close to those odds against their ever finding what they had first sought along the back trails of time. Their wrecked spaceships. Just suppose this could be a rehearsal for another attack. If they saw cars could be made to crack the guard of the police. Could they also be used to get the foanna gate? Maybe. But take one fight at a time. They come. Kerawa's fingers grip Ross's shoulder. Her hand was hard. Bar ridged. He could see nothing, hear nothing. That warning must have come from the dolphins. But so far their plan was working. The monsters of the Abakaki and sea were on their way. This concludes the reading of Chapter 11. Key out of Time by Andre Norton, Chapter 12. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by R.J. Davis. Key out of Time by Andre Norton, Chapter 12. Baldies. Oh Kerawa clushed at Ross. Her breath coming in little gas. Giving bit to her fear and horror. They had not known what might come from this plan. Certainly neither had foreseen the present chaos in the lagoon. Perhaps the broadcast energy of the enemy whipped the already vicious tempter's soul curse into this insane fury. But now the moonlit water was beaten into foam as the creatures fought there. Attacking each other with a ferocity neither Terran had witnessed before. Lights claimed along the shore where the alien invaders must have been drawn by the clamor of the fighting marine reptiles. Somewhere in the heights above the beach of the lagoon, a pick band of rovers should now be making their way from the opposite side of the lagoon and under strict orders not to go into attack and less signal. Whether the independent sea warriors would hold to that command was a question which had worried Ross from the first. Tina raw and taught in the waters in the seaweed of the reef the two Terrans on that barrier itself. And between them and the shore the wild melee of Madden Salkers. Ross started and had been pulsating steadily against his skin cut off sharply. The broadcast in the bay had been silenced. This was a time to move but no swimmer could last in the lagoon itself. A longer reef care was set. That would be the long way round. Ross knew but the only one possible. He studied the cluster of lights ashore. Two or three figures moved there. The attention of the aliens was well centered upon the battle still in progress in the lagoon. Stay here he ordered the girl adjusting his mask. Ross dropped into the water cutting away from the reef and turning to swim parallel with him. Tina raw matched him as he went. Guiding Ross to a second break in the reef towards the shore some distance from where the conflict of Salkers still made a hideous dent in the night. The Terran waited in the shadows stripping off his flippers and snapping them to his belt letting his mask swing free on his chest. He angled towards the beach where the aliens had been. At least he was better armed for this than he had been when he had front of the rovers with only a diver's knife. From the time agent supplies he had taken a single hand weapon found in the armory of the derelict spaceship. This could only be used sparingly since they did not know how it could be recharged and the secret of its beam still remained secret as far as Terran technicians were concerned. Ross worked his way to a curtain of underbrush from which he had a free view of the beach and the aliens. Three of them he counted and they were baldies all right taller and thinner than trees. Their bald heads gray white the upper dome of their skulls overshadowing the features of their pointed chin faces. They all wore the skin type blue-purple-green suits of the space foragers. Suits which Ross knew of old were insulated and protective for their wearers as well as a medium for keeping in touch with one another. Just as he wearing one over miles of wilderness. To him all three of the invaders looked enough alike to have been stamped out of one pattern and their movements suggested that they worked or went into action with drill precision. They all faced seabird holding tubes aimed at the Salkar infested lagoon. There was no sound of any explosion but green spheres of light struck at the scale bodies plunging in the water and those beams struck flesh seared. Methodically the trio raked the basin but Ross noted those beams which had been steady at his first sighting were now interrupted by flickers. One of the baldies uptended his tube wrapped his butt against a rock as if trying to correct a jamming. When the alien went into action once again his weapon flashed and failed. Within a matter of moments the two were also finished. The lighted rods pushed into the sand giving a glow to the scene darkened as a fire might sink to embers power fading. An ungainly shape floundered out of the turned water lumbered over the shale of the beach his subtle neck out stress his horned nose down for a gore threatening charge. Ross did not realize that the Salkars could break out of what he thought was their natural element but this wild-eyed dragon was plainly bent on reaching its tormentors. For a moment or two the baldies continued to front the creature almost Ross thought as if they could not believe that their weapons had failed them. Then they broke and ran back to the faring which they had taken with such contemptuous ease. The Salkar plowed along in their wake and drew more labored the further it advanced until it lasted lay with only his head up raised darting it back and forth his fang jaws well agape voicing a coughing howl. His flank was answered from the water as a second of his kind wallowed ashore a terrible wound had toward skin and flesh just behind his neck yet still it came on hissing and bubbling a battle challenge. It did not attack its fellow instead it dragged its both past the first comer on its way after the baldies the Salkars continued to come ashore. Two more a third a fourth mangled and tore pulling themselves as far as they could up the beach to lie facing inland their necks weaving their horn heads bobbing their cries a frightful dent what had drawn them out of their preoccupation a battle among themselves into this attempt to reach the aliens Ross could not determine unless the intelligence of the beast was set that they had been able to connect the searing beams which the baldies had turned on them so tellingly with the men on the beach and had responded by striving to reach a common enemy but no desire could give them the necessary energy to pull far ashore almost helplessly beach they continued to dig into the yielding sand with their flippers in a vain effort to pursue the aliens Ross skirted the clamoring very of Salkars and headed for the ferry a neck snapped about a head was lowered in his direction he spilled the rank stench of reptile combined with burn flesh the nearest of the brutes must have centered the Terran in turn as it was now trying vainly around to cut across Ross's path but it was completely outclassed on land and the man dodged it easily three baldies had fled this way yet Jazzia had reported five had come out of the sea to take Kyonan two were missing where had they remained in the ferry were they now in the sub and that sub what had happened to it the broadcast had been cut off he had seen the failure of the weapons and the shorelights might the sub had suffered from Salkar attack though Ross could hardly believe that the beast could wreck it the Terran was traveling blindly keeping well under cover of such brush as he could knowing only that he must head inland under his feet the ground was rising and he recalls the nature of this territory as Torgol and Jazzia had pictured him this had to be part of the ridge wall of the valley in which lay the buildings of the ferry and these hides was the shrine of Puka where Jazzia had hidden now to the west now lay the rover village so he had to work his way left downhill in order to reach the hole where the baldies had gone to ground Ross made that progress with the stealth of a trained scout Havakakia's moon tripled in size the terrace companion was up and the landscape was sharply clear with shadows well defined the glow weird deterrent ice added to the effect of being abroad in a nightmare and the bellowing of the grounded Salkar continued a devil's course when the rovers had put up the buildings of their fairing they had cleared a series of small fields feeding outward from those structures all of these were now covered with crops almost ready to harvest the grain if that tearing term could be applied to this Havakakian product was housed in long pods which dipped from shoulder high bushes and the pods were well equipped with horny projections which tore a single try at making his way into one of those fields convinced Ross of the folly of such an advance he set back to nurse his scratched hands and surveyed the landscape to go down a very tempting lane would be making himself a clear target for anyone in those buildings ahead he had seen the flamers of the baldies fail on the beach but that did not mean the aliens were now weaponers his best chance Ross decided was to circle north come back down along the bed of a stream and he was at the edge of that water course when a faint sound brought him to a frozen hull weapon ready Ross, Locan and Torgol and Vistar this was a party from the opposite side of the island gone expertly to earth in the moonlight Ross could detect no sign of their presence yet their voices sounded almost beside him they are in there in the great that was Torgol but no longer are there any lights now an urgent explanation through their attention light below but not the glow of the rods Ross had seen on the beach this was a warm yellow red of honest fire bursting up the flames growing higher as if being fed with frantic haste three figures were moving down there Ross began to believe that there were only this trio ashore he could sight no weapons in their hands which did not necessarily mean they were unarmed but the stream ran close behind the rear wall of one of the buildings and Ross thought his bed could provide cover for a man who knew what he was doing he pointed out as much to Torgol and if their magic works and you're drawn out to be killed the rover captain came directly to the point this is a chance to be taken but remember the magic of the Polanna at the sea gate did not work against me perhaps this won't either once earlier I won against it have you then another hand to give to the fire as your defense that was Vistur but no man has the right to order another's battle challenge just so replied Ross sharply and this is a thing I have long been trained to do he slid down into the stream bed approaching from this angle the structures of the faring were between him and the fire so screened he reached a log wall got to his feet and edged along it then he witnessed a wild scene the fire raged in great sky touching tongues and already the roof of one of the rover buildings smoldered why the aliens had built up since the conflagration Ross could not guess a signal designed to reach some distance he did not doubt there was some urgent purpose for the three were dragging in fuel with almost sprinted haste bringing out of the rover buildings fails a cloth to be ripped apart and whirled into the deviring flames furniture everything movable which would burn there was one satisfaction the baldies were so intent upon this destruction that they kept no watch say that now and then one of them would run to the head of the path leading to the lagoon and listen as if he expected a saw car to come pounding up the slope there they're rattled Ross could hardly believe it the baldies who had always occupied his mind and memory as practically invisible supermen were acting like badly frightened primitives and when the enemy was off balance you pushed, you pushed hard Ross thumbed the button on the grip of the strange weapon he sided with deliberation and fired the blue figure at the top of the path wilted and for a long moment neither of his companions noted his collapse then one of them whirled and started for the limp body his colleague running after him Ross allowed them to reach his first victim before he fired the second and third time all three lay quiet but still Ross did not venture forth until he had counted off a dozen tearing seconds then he slipped forward keeping to cover until he came up to the bodies the blue-clad shoulder had a flaccid feel under his hand as if the muscles could not control the flesh about them Ross rolled the alien over looked down in the bright light of the fire into the baldies wide open eyes amazement the tearing thought he could read that in the dead stare which entered his intact gaze and then anger a cold and deadly anger which chilled into ice kill Ross slewed around still down on one knee to face the charge of a rover in the firelight the abacca king's eyes were blazing with fanatical hatred he had his hooked sword ready to deliver a punishing stroke the tearing blocked with a shoulder to meet the rover's knees through and back then Ross landed on top of the fighting's crewman trying to pin the fella to earth and avoid that recklessly slicing blade locust vista Ross shouted as he struggled more of the rovers appeared from between the buildings bearing down on the limp aliens and the two fighting men Ross recognized the limping gaze of locust using a branch to aid him into a running shuttle across the open locust here the abacca king covered the last few feet in a dive which carried him into Ross and the rover hold him the tearing ordered and had just time enough to throw himself between the baldies and the rest of the crew there was a snarling from the rovers and Ross knowing their temper he was afraid he could not save the captives which they considered fairly their legitimate prey he must depend upon the hope that there were one or two cooler heads among them with enough authority to restrain the would be avengers otherwise he would have to beam them into helplessness Torgo he shouted there was a break in the line of runners feeding for him the big man lunging straight across could only be vista the other yelling orders was Torgo he would depend upon how much control the captain had over his men Ross scrambled to his feet he had clicked on the beamer to his lowest frequency he would not kill but would render his victim temporarily paralyzed and how long that state would continue Ross had no way of knowing tried on tearing laboratory animals the time had varied from days to weeks Vistar used the flat side of his war axe clapping it against the foremost runners setting his own bulk to impose a barrier and now Torgo's orders appeared to be getting through more and more of the men slacked leaving a trio of hotheads two of them Vistar sent reeling with his fist the captain came up to Ross they are alive then inspect the baldy the Terran had rolled on his back assessing the aliens frozen stare with thoughtful measurement yes but they cannot move well enough Torgo nodded they shall meet the justice of Putka after the law I think they were whoosh that they had been left to the boarding actors of angry men they are worth more alive than dead captain do you not whoosh to know why they have a carried war to your people how many of them there may yet be to attack and other things also Ross nodded at the fire now catching the second building why have they built up that blaze is it a signal to others of their kind very well said yes it may be well for us to learn such things nor will Putka be jealous of the time we take to ask questions and get answers many answers he provided the baldy with the toe of his seabed how long will they remain so your magic has a bite to it Ross smiled not my magic captain this weapon was taken from one of their own ships as to how long they will remain so that I do not know very well we can take precautions under Torgo's orders the aliens were draped with capture nets like those Ross and Locas had worn the sea grown plant adhered instantly wet strands knitting in perfect restrainers as long as it was uncut having seen to that Torgo ordered the evacuation of Cayenne ant as you say he remarked to Ross that fire may well be a signal to bring down more of their kind I think we have had the favor of Putka in this matter but the prudent man stretches his kind too far also he looked about him we have given to Putka and the Shades are dead there is nothing for us here now but hate and sorrow in one day we have been broken from a clan of pride and ships to a handful of standardless men you would join some other clan carer wall had come with jazzy to stand on the stone ledge chipped to form a base for a column bearing a strange brooding eyed head looking seabird the rover roving was super intending the freeing of the head from the column at the tearing girls question the captain gazed down into the dreadful chaos of the valley they could yet hear the roars of the dying saw cars the reptiles that had made their way to land had not withdrawn but still lay some dead now some with weaving heads reaching inland the hole of the fairing was ablaze with fire we are now blood sworn men see made for sits there is no plan there is only the hunting and the kill with the magic of puka perhaps we shall have a short hunt and a good kill there now so jazzy stepped back the head which it faced to see was lowered carefully to a wide strip of chrysum and gold stuff she had brought from torgal ship with her one usable hand the rover woman drew the fabric about to carve it muffling it except for the eyes those were large ovals deeply carved and in them Ross saw a glitter jewel set there yet he had a queer silvery feeling that something more than gyms occupied those sockets that he had actually been regarded for an instant of time he was dressed and dismissed we go now jazzy awaved and torgal sent men forward they lifted the wrapped carving to a board carried between them and started down slope Karawa cried out and Ross looked around the pillar which had supported the head was crumbling away wrecking into a rubble which cascaded across the stone ledge Ross blinked but he was too tired to be more than dolly amazed as he became one of the possession returning to the ships this concludes a reading of chapter 12 key out of time by Andre Norton chapter 13 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by R.J. Davis key out of time by Andre Norton chapter 13 the Sea Gate of the Fouena Ross raised a shell cup to his lips but hardly sift the fire or brew it contained this was a gesture of ceremony but he wanted a steady head and a quick tongue for any coming argument torgal a fukta ungah the three commanders of the rover cruisers jazia who represented the mysterious power of fukta, vista and some other subordinate officers carowal himself with locust hovering behind a council of war but summoned against whom the Terran had come too far afield from his own purpose to reach ash in the Fouena Keep and to further his own plans was a task he doubted his ability to perform his attack on the baldies had made him too important to the rovers for them to allow him willingly to leave them on a quest of his own these star men Ross sat down the cup tried to choose the most telling words in his limited Havakiki and vocabulary for this weapons and powers that you cannot dream of that you have no defense against back at Kyanad we were lucky they saw cars attack their sub and halted the broadcast powering their flamers otherwise we could not have taken them even though we were many against their few now you talk of hunting them in their own territory on land and in the mountains where they have their base that would be folly akin to swimming bare handed to front a saw car so then we must set and wait for them to eat us up flared on goal I say it is better to die fighting with one's blade wet do you not wish to take at least one of the enemy with you when you fight to that finish Ross counter these could kill you before you came in blade range you had no trouble with that weapon of yours if you spoke up I have told you this weapon was stolen from them I have only one and I do not know how long you will continue to serve me or whether they have a defense against it those we took were naked to any force for their broadcast had failed them but to smash blindly against their main base would be an act of madmen they saw cars opened away for us that was Torgol but we cannot move a pack of those inland to the mountains Mr. pointed out reasonably Ross studied the captain that Torgol was groping for a plan and that it had to be a screwed one the tearing guests his respect for the rover commander had been growing steadily since their first meeting the cruiser readers had always been captain by the most daring men of the rover clans but Ross was also certain that a successful cruiser commander must possess a level headed leaving of intelligence and be a strategist of parts the Avaka key and force needed a key which would open the baldy base as the saw cars had opened the lagoon and all they had to aid them was a handful of facts gained from their prisoners oddly enough the picklock to the captain's minds had been produced by the dolphins just as Tina raw and towel had formed a bridge of communication between the Terran and Locust so did they read and translate the thoughts of the galactic invaders for the baldy among her own kind were telepathic vocalizing only to give orders to inferiors their capture by these primitive inferiors had delivered the first shock and the mine probes of the dolphins had set the supermen close to the edge of sanity to accept an animal form as an equal had been shattering but the star immense thoughts and memories had been winnowed at last and the results spread before this impromptu council rovers and Terrans were briefed on the invaders master plan for taking over a world why they desired to do so even the dolphins had not been able to discover perhaps they themselves had not been told by their superiors it was a plan almost contemptuous in its simplicity as if the galactic force had no reason to fear effective opposition except in one direction one single direction rosters fingers tightened on the shell cup had Torgall reached that conclusion yet the belief that the phoena could be their key if so, they might be able to achieve their secret purposes in one action it was seen that they are weary of the phoena he suggested, alert to any telltale response from Torgall but it was Jazzia who answered the Terrans have question the phoena have a powerful magic they can order wind and wave man and creature if so be their will well might these killers fear the phoena yet now they move against him Ross pointed out still eyeing Torgall the captains reply was a small quiet smile not directly as you have heard it is all they parted their plan to set one of us against the other letting us fight many small wars and so use up our men while they take no risk they wait today when we shall be exhausted and then they will reveal themselves to claim all they wish so today they stir up trouble between the records and the phoena knowing that the phoena are few also they strive in turn to anger us by rates allowing us to believe that either the records or phoena have attacked thus he held up his left thumb made a pincers of right thumb and forefinger to close upon it they hope to catch the phoena between records and rovers because the phoena are those they reckon the most dangerous they move against them now using us and weakening our forces into the bargain a plan which is clever but the plan of men who do not like to fight with their own blades they are worse than the coast come these cowards on gulf spat torgal smile that is what they believe we will say kinsman and so underrate them by our customs yes they are cowards but what care they for our judgments did we think of the silk cars when we used them to force the lagoon no they were only beasts to be our tools so now it is the same with us except that we know what they intent and we shall not be such obedient tools if the phoena are our answer then he paused gazing into his cup as if he could read some shadowy future there if the phoena are the answer then what ross poosh instead of fighting the phoena cherries try to ally ourselves with them and do all that while we still have time just how do we do these things demanded ongle the phoena you would warn cherries claim as allies are already our enemies were we not on the way to force their seagate only days ago there is no chance of seeking peace now and had the finned ones not learned from the women killers that already there is an army of wreckers camped about the citadel to which these sons of the shadow plan to land certain weapons do we throw away three cruisers all we have left in a hopeless fight sit you the council of one struck by loss of wits there is a way my way ross seizing the opening and the phoena citadel is my sword lord to whose service I am valed we were on our way to attempt his freeing when your ship picked us out of the waves he has learned beyond me in the dealing with strange people and if the phoena are as clever as you say they will already have discovered that he is not just a slave they claim from lord Zahir there it was in the open his own somewhat tattered hope that ash had been able to impress his captors with his knowledge and potential trained to act as contact men with other races there was a chance that gordon had saved himself from whatever fate had been planned for the prisoners the phoena had claimed if that happened ash would be their opening wits in the phoena stronghold this also I know that which guards the gate turns your minds whirling and sets you back from your raid does not affect me I may be able to win inside and find my clansman and in that doing treat with the phoena the baldy prisoners had not underestimated the attack on the phoena citadel as the rover cruisers beat in under the cover of night the fires and torches of both beseech and beseechers made a wild glow across the sky only on the seaside of the fortress there was no sign of involvement whatever guarded the gate must still be in force ross stood with his feet well apart to balance his body against the swing of the deck his suggestion had been argued over protested but at last carried with the support of torgal and jazio and now he was to make his try the sum of the rovers knowledge of the sea gate had been added for his benefit but he knew that this venture must depend upon himself alone carawa the dolphins the avaca kins were all too sensitive to the barrier torgal moved in the faint light we are close our power is ebbing if we advance we shall be drifting soon it is time then ross crossed to the rope ladder but another was there before him carawa perched on the rail he regarded her angrily you can't go I know but we are still safe here just because you are free of one defense of the gate ross do not believe that makes it easy he was stung by her assumption that he would be so self-assured I know my business ross poofed past her swinging down the rope ladder pausing only above water level to snap on flippers make sure the set of his weighted belt and slide his gill mask over his face there was a splash beside him as the neck containing spare belt, flippers and mask hit the water and he caught at it these would provide issues escape from the fortress the lights on the shore made a wide arc of radiance across the sea as ross headed towards the wave course coast he began to hear shouting another sound which made him believe that the besiegers were in a mist of an all-out assault yet those distant fires and rocket-like blasts into the sky had a wavery blur and ross making his way with the effortless water cleaving of the diver surfaced now and then to spot film curling up from the surface of the sea between the two standing rock pillars which marked the gate he was startled by a thunderous crack rending the air above the small bay ross pulled one of the pillars studied himself with one hand against it those twists of film rising from the surging surface were thickening more tentacles grew out of the parent seams to creep along above the waves rising up sprouts and branches in turn the mist was building between gate and shore again a thunderclap overhead involuntarily the Terran duck then he turned his face up to the sky striving to see any evidence of storm what hung there sped the growth of the fog on the water yet for the fog was gray white it was a darkness spouting from the highest point of the citadel ross could not explain how he was to see one shade of darkness against equal dusk but he did or did he only sense it he shook his head willing himself to look away from the finger only it was a finger no longer now it was a fist aimed at the stars it was fast blotting out a fist rising to the heavens before it curled back descended to press the fortress and its surroundings into rock and earth he hurled about ross spilled outward through the seagate he loose his grip on the pillar and died swimming on through the gap with the fortress of the Filana before him there was a jetty somewhere ahead that must he knew from Torcal's description those who served the Filana sometimes took sea roads and they had slim fast cutters for its coast-wise travel ross surfaced cautiously to discover there was no visibility to wave level here the mist was thick a smoldering cover so wildering he was confused as to direction he ducked below again and flippered on was his confusion born of the fog or was it also in his head did he after all have this much reaction to the gate defense ross ducked at suspicion as he had ducked the moist blanket on the surface he had come from the gate which meant that the jetty must lie there a few moments later ross had proved that his sense of direction had not altogether failed him when his shoulder grazed against a solid obstruction in the water and his exploring touch told him that he had found one of the jetty piles he surfaced again and this time he heard not a thunder roll it was loud almost directly above his head but since the cotton mist held he was not afraid of being sighted the chatter must be on the jetty and to ross's right was a dark bulk which he thought was one of the cutters was a sortie by the besieged being planned then out of the night came a dazzling beam well above the level of ross's head he clung to the piling it centered on the cutter slicing into the substance of the vessel with the ease of steel piercing clay the canning stopped on mid-note broken by cries of surprise and alarm ross pressing against the pile received a jolt from his belt sonic there must be a baldy sub in the basin inside the gate perhaps the flame beam now destroying the cutter was to be turned on the walls of the keep in turn the tern's body jerked his mass smothered a cry of pain about his legs and middle immersed in the waves there was cold so intense that it seared fear goaded him to pull up on one of the under beams of the pier he reached that refuge and rubbed his icy legs with what vigor he could summon moments later he crept along towards the shore the energy ray had found another target ross paused to watch a second cutter slice if the counter stroke of the philano would route the invaders it had not yet begun to work the net holding the extra gear brought along in hopes of ice's escape weighed the tern down but he would not abandon it as he felt his way from one foot and hand hole to the next the waves below gave off an icy extrudation which made him shiver uncontrollably and he knew that as long as that effect lasted he dared not venture into the sea again light along with the cold there was a phosphorescence on the water white patches floating dipping writing the waves some of them gathered under the pier clustering about the pilings and the fog thinned with water coming as if those irregular blotches absorbed and fed upon the mist the tern could see now he had reached the land end of the jetty he wedged his flippers into his belt pulled on over his feet the covers of salkar hide Torgull had provided save for his belt his trunks and the gill pack ross's body was bare and the cold caught at him but slinging the carry net over his shoulder he dropped to the depth sand and stood listening the clamor of the attack which had carried all the way offshore to the rover cruisers had died away and there were no more claps of thunder instead there was now a thick wash of rain no more fire rays as he faced seabird and the fog was lifting so ross could distinguish the settling cutters their bow still moored to the jetty there was no movement there had those on the pier fled dot dash dot ross did not drop the net but he crouched back in the half protection of the piling for a moment was stretched beyond tern time measure he froze so waiting dot dash dot not the prickle induced by the enemy installations it was a real coded call picked up by his sonic and one he knew don't rush he told himself sharply play it safe for i writes only two people in this time and place would know that call and one would have no reason to use it but a trap this could be a trap all of the phoenix powers had touched him a little in spite of his off-world skepticism he could be lured now by someone using asher's call ross stripped for action after a fashion bundling the net and his contents into a hollow he scooped behind a pile well above water level the alien hand weapon he had left with karar not trusting it to the sea but he had his diver's knife and his two hands which by training could be and had been deadly weapons with the sonic against the phoenix the floating patches did not supply much light but he was certain the call had come from the jetty there was movement there a pleasure to and the sonic ross had to be sure very sure the broadcast was certainly stronger when he faced in that direction dared he come into the open he could cut ash away from his captors so they could swim for it together ross clicked a code reply dot dot dot the answer was quick in parody where surely no one but ash could have sent that ross did not hesitate be ready escape no even more in parody friends here had he guessed rightly had ash established friend relations with the phoenix but ross kept to the caution which had been his defense and armor so long there was one question he thought only ash could answer something out of the past they had shared when they had made their first journey into time disguised as beaker traders of the bronze age deliberately he tapped that question what did we kill in Britain tensely he waited but when the reply came it did not pulse from a sonic under his fingers instead a well remembered voice called out of the night a white wolf and the words were tearing English ash ross leaked forward climbed towards a figure he could only dimly see this concludes the reading of chapter 13 key out of time by Andre Norton chapter 14 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by R.J. Davis key out of time by Andre Norton chapter 14 the phoenix ross ashes hands gripped his shoulders as if never intending to free him again then you did come through ross understood Gordon ash must have feared that he was the only one swept through the time door by that freak chance and Carrera and the Dolphins here now in this black bowl of the Cinnable Bay ash was only a shadow with voice and hands no out with the rover cruisers ash do you know the Baltes are on Havakiki they've organized this whole thing the attack here trouble all over right now they have one of their subs out there that's what cut those cutters to pieces five days ago five of them wiped out a whole rover ferry just five of them Gordon unlike the hissing speech of the Vakakins this new voice made a singing lilting call of ash's name this is your swordsman in truth another shadow drew near them and Ross saw the flutter of cloak edge this is my friend there was a tone of correction and ash's reply Ross this is the guardian of the seagate and you come the Joanna continued with those who gathered to feast at the shadows table but your rovers will find little loot to their liking Ross hesitated how did one address the phoena he had claimed equality with Torgol but that approach was not the proper one here Instinct told him that he fell back on the complete truth uttered simply we took three of the Baltic killers from them we learned they moved to wipe out the phoena first for you he addressed himself to the cloak shape that would be a threat we heard that they urged the records to this attack and so and so the rovers come but not to loot then they are something new among their kind the phoena's reply was as chill as the sea bay's water loot does not summon men who want a blood price for their dead kin Ross retorted no and the rovers are believers and the phoenix conceded did they also believe in the balance of aid against aid now that is a thought upon which depends much Gordon it would seem that we may not take to our shifts so let us return to council Asher's hand was on Ross's arm guiding him through the murk though the fog which had choked the bay had vanished thick darkness remained and Ross noted that even the river was clear then they were in a passage where a very faint light clung to the walls robed phoena three of them moved ahead with that particular gliding progress then Ash and Ross and bringing up the rear a dozen of the male guards the passageway became a ramp Ross glanced at Ash like the phoena the Terran agent wore a cloak of gray color from time to time as did those of the abacquian enigmas and now Gordon shoved back his foals, revealing supple a body armor questions gathered in Ross he wanted to know, needed desperately to know, Ash is standing with the phoena what had happened to raise Gordon from the status of captive in Zahir's hold to familiar companionship with the most dreaded race on this planet the ramp's head faced blank wall with a sharp angle turned to the right of a narrower passage one of the phoena made a slight sign to the guards who turned with drill precision to march off along the passage now the other phoena held out their wands what a moment later had been unbroken surface showed an opening the change had been so instantaneous that Ross had not seen any movement at all beyond that door they passed from one world to another Ross's senses already acutely alert to his surroundings could not supply him with any reason by sight, sound, or smell for his firm conviction that this hold was alien as neither the record castle nor the rover ships had been surely the phoena were not the same race perhaps not even the same species as the other native abacquians those robes which he had seen both silver, gray, and dark blue now faded purled, fanned until each of the three still gliding before him were opacient columns without definite form Ashes grass fell on Ross's arm once more and his whisper reached the younger man thinly they are mistresses of illusion be prepared not to believe all that you see mistresses Ross caught that first women or at least female them illusion, yes already he was convinced that here his eyes could play tricks on him he could hardly determine what was robe, what was wall or if more than shades of shades swept before him another blank wall then an opening and flowing through it to touch him a wave of alieness that Ross felt he was buffeted by a storm wind yet as he hesitated before it reluctant in spite of Ashes whole to go ahead he also knew that this did not carry with it the cold hostility he had known while facing the baldies alien, yes inimical to his kind, no you are right younger brother spoken those words were forming in his mind Ross was in a place which was sheer wonder under his feet dark blue the blue of a tearing sky at dusk caught up in it twinkling points of light as if he strode not equal with stars but above them, walls were there any walls here or shifting swaying blue curtains on which silver of the lines ran to fallen symbols and words which some bemused part of his brain almost understood but not quite constant motion, no quiet until he came to a place where those swaying curtains were still where he no longer strode above the sky but on soft surface a mat of gray living sod where his steps released a spicy fragrance and there he really saw the phoenix for the first time where did the cloaks got? had they tossed them away during that walk or drift across this amazing room or had the substance which had formed those coverings flowed away by itself as Ross looked at the three in wonder he knew that he was seeing them as not even their servants and guards ever viewed them and yet was he seeing them as they really were or as they wished him to see them as we are younger brother as we are again an answer which Ross was not sure was thought or speech in form they were humanoid and they were undoubtedly women the muffling cloaks gone they wore sleeveless garments of silver which were girded at the waist with belts of blue gems only in their hair and their eyes did they betray alien blood for the hair which flowed and wove about them cascading down shoulders rippling about their arms with silver too and its swirl moved as if it had a separate life of its own while their eyes Ross looked into those golden eyes and was lost for seconds until panic awoke in him forcing him after sharp struggle to look away laughter no he had not heard laughter but a sense of amusement and respect came to him you are very right Gordon this one is also of your kind he is not which is meat Ross caught the distaste the kind of haunting unhappiness which colored those words remnants of an old hurt these are the foanna as his voice broke more of the spell the lady yinan the lady yangram the lady yangvalda the foanna these three only she whom I should name Weiland whose eyes had entrapped and almost held what was Ross Murdock made a small gesture with her ivory hand and in that gesture as well as in the words which is meat the Terran read the unhappiness which was as much a part of this room as the rest of its mystery the foanna are now but three they have been only three for many weary years old man from another world in time and soon if these enemies have their way there will not be three but none but Ross was still startled he knew from locust that the records had deemed the foanna a few in number an old and dying race but that there were only three women left was hard to believe the response to his unspoken wonder came clear and determined we may be but three however our power remains and sometimes power distilled by time becomes the stronger now it was seen that time is no longer our servant but perhaps among our enemies so tell us this tale of yours as to why the rovers would make one with the foanna tell us all younger brother Ross reported what he had seen what Tina raw and towel had learned from the prisoners taken at Cayenne and when he had finished the three foanna stood very still their hands clasped one to the other though they were only at arms distance from him Ross had the feeling they had withdrawn from his time and world so complete was their withdrawal that he dared to ask asked one of the many questions which had been boiling inside him who are they but Ross knew he really meant what are they Gordon asked shook his head I don't really know the last of a very old race which possesses powers and knowledge different from any we have believed in for centuries we have heard of witches in the modern day we discount the legends about them the foanna bring those legends alive and I promise you this those powers loose he paused it will be such a war as this world perhaps any world has never seen that is so the foanna had returned from the place to which they had withdrawn and this is also the truth or one face of the truth the rovers are right in their belief that we have kept some measure of balance between one form of change and another on this world if we were as many as we once were then against us these invaders could not move at all but we are three only and also do we have the right to evoke disaster which will strike not only the enemy but perhaps recoil upon the innocent there has been enough death here already and those who are our servants shall no longer be asked to face battle to keep an empty shell in violet we would see with our own eyes these invaders probe what they would do there has ever changed in life and if a pattern grows too set then the race caught in it may wither and die maybe our pattern has been too long in its old design we shall make no decision until we see in whose hands the future may rest against such finality of argument there was no appeal these could not be influenced by words Gordun there is much to be done do you take with you this younger brother and see to his needs when all is in readiness we shall come one minute ross had been standing on the carpet of living moss then he was in a more normal room with four walls a floor, a ceiling and light which came from ross set in the corners he gasped stunned me too the first time they put me through it he heard I say here, get some of this inside you it will steady your head there was a cup in his hand a beautifully carved rose red container shaped in the form of a flower somehow ross brought it to his lips with shaking hands gulped down a good third of its contents the liquid was a mixture of tart and sweet cooling his mouth and throat but warming as it went down and that glow spread through him what? how did they do that he demanded I shrugged how do they do the 101 things I have seen happen here you've been teleported how it's done I don't know any more than I did the first time it happened simply a part of phoenix magic as far as spectators are concerned he sat down on a stool his long legs stretched out before him other worlds, other ways even if they are confounded queer ones as far as I know there's no reason for their power to work, but it does now, have you seen the time gate is it in working order ross put down the now empty cup and sat down opposite ice as concisely as he could he outlined the situation with a quick resume of all that had happened to him carawa and a dolphin since they had been sucked through the gate ash asked no questions but his expression with that of the agent ross had known evaluating and listing all the younger man had to report when the other was through he said only two words no return so much had happened in so short a time that ross' initial shock at the destruction of the gate had faded been well overlaid by all the demands made upon his resources skill and strength even now the fact ash voice seemed of little consequence balanced against the struggle in progress ash ross rubbed his hands up and down his arms brushing away grains of sand remember those pylons with the empty seat coast behind them does that mean the baldies are going to win I don't know no one has ever tried to change the course of history maybe it is impossible even if we dared to try ash was on his feet again facing back and forth try what gordon ross jerked around ash halted one of the pylons stood there her hair playing about her shoulders some breeze felt only by her stirred those long strands dare to try and change the course of the future ash explained accepting her materialization with a calm of one who had witnessed it before aw yes you're traveling in time and now you think that perhaps this poor world of ours has a choice as to which overloads it will welcome I do not know either gordon whether the future may be altered nor if it is wise to try but also well perhaps we shall see our enemy before we are set in any path now it is time that we go younger brother how did you plan to leave this place when you accomplished your mission by the sea gate I have extra swimming equipment cast under the jetty and the rover ship to wait you at sea yes then we shall take your way since the cutters are sunk there is only one extra gill pack and that baldy sub is out there too so then we shall try another road though it will sap our power temporarily her head inclined slightly to the left as if she listened good our people are now in the passage which will take them to safety what those outside will find here when they break in will be of little aid to their plans secrets of the fulana remain secrets past others prying though they shall try oh how they shall try to solve them there is knowledge that only certain types of minds can hold and use and to others it remains for all time unlearnable now her hand reached out flattened against frost's forehead think of your rover ship younger brother see it in your mind and see well and clearly for me torgles cruiser was there he could picture with details he had not thought he knew or remembered the deck in the dark of the night with only a shaded light at the mask the deck ross gave a choked cry he does not see this in his mind he saw it with his eyes his hand swung out in an involuntary gesture of repudiation and struck painfully against foot he was on the cruiser a startled explanation from behind him then a shout ash was here and beyond him three cloaked figures the fulana they had their own road indeed and had taken it you ross Mr. Thunderdome his face a mixture of bewilderment the fulana said in a fab twister echoed by crewmen gathering around but not too close Gordon carried while elbowed her way between two of the Habakkakeans and read them across the deck she cut the agents both hands as if to assure herself that he was alive and there before her then she turned to the three fulana there was an odd expression on the Polynesian girl's face first a measurement with some fear and then a donning wonder from beneath the cloak of the middle fulana came the rod of office with a sparkling knob carried while dropped ash's hands took a tendency step forward and in another the knob was directly before her breast high she brought up both hands cupping them about the knob but not touching it directly she admitted could have been flashing against her flesh but carried while displayed no awareness of that instead she lifted both hands farther palm up and cupped as if she carried some invisible bounty then flattened them loosing what she held there was a sigh from the crewmen carried while gesture had been confident as if she knew just what she was doing and why and Ross heard ash draw deep breath also as a tearing girl turned allying herself with the fulana these great ones stand in peace she said it is her will that no harm comes to this ship and those who sail in her what do the great ones one of us tore go advance but not too near to speak concerning those who are your prisoners so be it the captain bout his will is our will let it be as they wish this concludes the reading of chapter 14 Key Out of Time by Andre Norton Chapter 15 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by R.J. Davis Key Out of Time by Andre Norton Chapter 15 Return to the Battle Ross lay listening to the even breathing from across the cabin he had awakened in that quick transference from sleep to consciousness which was always his when on duty but he made no attempt to move ash was still sleeping ash whom he thought or had thought he knew as well as one man could ever know another who had taken the place of family for Ross Murdock the loner years, two four of them now since he had made half of that partnership his head turned though he could not see that lean body that quiet control face ash still looked the same but Ross's sense of loss was hurt and anger mingled what had they done to Gordon those three be witched tales Terence had accepted as pure as fantasy for centuries came into his mind could it be that his own world once had his phoenix Ross scowled you couldn't refute their magic call it by what scientific name you wish hypnotism, teleporting they got results and the results were impressive now remembered the warning the phoenix themselves had delivered hours earlier to the rovers there were limits to their abilities because they were forced to draw on mental and physical energy they could be exhausted thus they had barriers too again Ross considered the subject of barriers Charois had been able to meet the aliens if not mine to mine been in a closer way even than ash the talent was tighter to the dolphins had in turn been a bond with the phoenix ash and Charois could enter that circle but not Ross Murdoch along with these new separation from ash came that feeling of inferiority to bydog and the taste was sour this isn't going to be easy so ash was awake what can they do Ross asked in return I don't know I don't believe that they can teleport an army into Baldy headquarters the way Torgull expects but it wouldn't do such an army much good to get there and then be outclassed by the weapons the Baldy's might have ash said Ross had a moment of warmth and comfort he knew that tone of old ash was studying the problem willing to talk out difficulties as he always had before you know outright assault isn't the answer we'll have to know more about the enemy one thing puzzles me why have the Baldy suddenly stepped up their timing what makes you think they have well according to the accounts I've heard it's been about three or four planet years here since some offworld devices have been infiltrating the native civilization you mean since things as those attractors set up on the reef at Zaheer's castle Ross remembered Locust story those and other things the refinement added to the engine power on these ships Torgull said they spread from rover fleet to fleet no one's sure where they started the Baldy's began slowly but they are speeding up now those sparing attacks have all been recent and this assault on the Poana Citadel blew up almost overnight on a flimsy excuse why the quick push after the slow beginning maybe they decided the natives are easy pushovers and they no longer have to worry about any real opposition Ross suggested could be self-confidence becoming arrogant when they didn't uncover any opponent strong enough to matter or else they may be spurred by some need with a time limit if we knew the reason for those pylons we might guess their motives are you going to try to change the future that sounds arrogant too can we if we wish to we never dared to try it on Terra and the risk may be worse than all our fears also the choice is not ours there is one thing I don't understand Ross said why did the Poana walk out of the Citadel and leave it undefended for their enemies what about their guards did they just leave them too he was willing to make the most of any flaw in the aliens character most of their people had already escaped through underground ways the rest left when they knew the cutters had been sunk Ash returned as to why they deserted the Citadel I don't know the decision was theirs there up with the barrier between them again but Ross refused to accept the cutoff this time determined to pull Ash back into the familiar world of the here and now that keep could be a trap about the best on this planet the idea was more than just a gamblet to attract Ash's attention it was true a perfect trap to catch Baldies don't you see Ross set up slapping his feet down on the deck as he leaned forward eagerly don't you see if the Baldies know anything at all about the Poana and I'm betting they do and want to learn all they can they'll visit the Citadel they won't want to depend on second and third hand reports of the place especially once delivered by primitives such as the Rutgers they had a sub there I'll bet the crew are in picking over the loot right now if that's what they're hunting there was amusement in Ash's tone they won't find much the Poana have better locks than their enemies have keys you heard Wildland before we left any secrets left will remain secrets but there's bait bait for a trap are you Ross you're right to the young man's joy Ash's enthusiasm was plain and if the Baldies could be led to believe that what they wanted was obtainable with just a little more effort or the right tools the trap could net bigger kests than just underlings Ross's thought matched Ash's why it might even pull in the VIP directing the whole operation how can we set it up and do we have time the trap would have to be a Poana setting our part would come after it was sprung Ash was thoughtful again but it is the only move which we can make it present with any hope of success and it will only work if the Poana are willing have to be done quickly Ross pointed out yes I'll see Ash was a dark figure against the thin light of the companion way as he slid back to cabin door if Waivalda agrees as he went out Ross was right behind him the Poana had been given by their own choice quarters on the bow deck of the cruiser where sail cloth had been used to form a tent not that any of the ostrich and rovers would venture to near them Ash reached for the flap of the fabric and a lilting voice called you seek us Gordon this is important yes it is important for the thought which brings you both has merit enter then brothers the flap was looped aside and before them was a swirling of mist light sheets of pale color Ross could not have described what he saw save if the Poana were there he could not distinguish them from the rippling of their hair the melting film of the ropes so younger brother you think that which was our home and our treasure box has now become a trap for the confounding of those who believe we are a threat to them somehow Ross was not surprised that they knew about his idea before he had said a word before I should given any explanations their ominescence was only a small portion of their other talents and why do you believe so? we swear to you that the coast folk cannot be driven into those parts of the castle which mean the most any more than our sea gate can be breached unless we will it so yet I swam through the sea gate and the sub was there also Ross knew again a flash of was a pleasure at being able to state this fact there were cheeks in the Poana deep enters again the truth you have that within you young brother which is both a lack and a shield true also that this under seas ship entered after you perhaps it has a shield as part of it perhaps those from the stars have their own protection but they cannot reach the heart of what they wish not unless we open the doors for them it is your belief younger brother that they still strive to force this doors yes knowing there is something to be learned they will try for it they will not dare not to Ross was very certain on that point his encounters with the Baltis had not led to any real understanding but the way they had wiped out the line of Russian time stations made him sure that they dealt thoroughly with any situation they considered a threat from the prisoners second at Kyon Ed they had learned the invaders believed the Poana their enemies here even though the old ones had not repulsed them or their activities therefore it followed that having taken the stronghold the Baltis would endeavour to rip open every one of its secrets a trap with good bait Ross wondered which one of the Poana said that to see nothing but the swirls of miscolor listen to disembodied voices from it was disconcerting part of the stage dressing he decided for building their prestige with the other races with whom they dealt three women alone would have to buttress their authority with such trappings ah younger brother indeed you are beginning to understand us laughter soft but unmistakable Ross frowned he did not feel the touch go touch of metal communication which is often used but he did not doubt that the Poana read his thoughts or at least a few of them some of them echoed from the mist not all not as your older brothers or the maiden whose mind meets with ours with you younger brother it is a thought here a thought there and only our intuition to connect them into a pattern but now there is serious planning to be done and knowing this enemy you believe they will come to search for what they cannot find so you would set a trap but they have weapons beyond your weapons have they not younger brother brave as are these rober kind they cannot use swords against flame their hands against a killer who may stand apart and slay what remains Gordun what remains in our favor you have your weapons too I answered yes we have our weapons but long have they been used only in one pattern and they are attuned to another race did our defenses hold against you Gordun even you strove to prove that you were as you claimed to be and did another repulse younger brother when he dared to sea gate so can we trust them in turn against these other strangers only at the testing shall we know and it sits learning perhaps we shall also be forced to eat the sourness of defeat to risk all may be to lose all that may be true as you said it you mean the sight you have had into our future says that this happens yes just take all and to lose but only for ourselves and for all others here that is a weighty decision to make Gordun but to trap promises let us think on it for a space do you also consult with the rovers if they wish to take part in what may be desperate folly Torgol paced the afterdeck well away from the tent which sheltered the foanna but with his eyes turning to it as Ross explained what might be a good attack those women killers have no fear of foanna magic rather would they come to seek it out it would be a chance to test leaders in a trap you have heard what the prisoner said or thought yes they would seek out this knowledge and we would have this chance to capture them with what Torgol demanded I am not on goal to argue that it is better to die in pursuit of blood payment than to take an enemy or enemies with me what chance have we against their powers ask that of them Ross nodded towards a still silent tent even as he spoke the three cloaked foanna emerged pacing down to midship where Torgol and his lieutenants Ross and Ace came to meet them we have thought on this the lilting half-champ which the foanna used for ordinary communication was a song in the dawn wind it was in our minds to retreat to wait out this troubling of the land since we are few and that which we hold within us is worth the guarding but now what profits its guardianship when there may be none to whom we may pass it after us and if you have seen the truth elder brother then there may be no future for any of us but still there are limitations Rover now they spoke directly to Torgol we cannot put your men within the citadel by desiring not without certain aids which lie sealed there now no we ourselves must win inside bodily and then perhaps we can pull tight the lines of our net cruisers through the gate Torgol begin no not a ship captain a handful of warriors in the water can risk the gate but not a ship ice broke in how many gilpacks do we have Ross counted hurdly I left one cast to shore but there's mine and care was and locus also two more to pass the gates that was a foanna you Ross said to ash and I with care was packed or care while both the Terran's looked around the Polynesian girl stood close to the foanna smiling faintly this venture is mine also she spoke with conviction as it is Tina Ross and Taoise is that not so daughters of the ally of this world yes she made hands of many sorts and not all of them fit into a warrior's hand or can be swung with the force of a man's arm and shoulder yes this venture is yours also sister Ross' protest bubbled unspoken he had to accept the finality of the foanna decree it seemed now that the make up of their task force depended upon the whims of the three rather than the experience and ash was apparently willing to accept their leadership so it was an odd company that took to the water just as dawn colored the sky locus had clung fiercely to his pack insisting that he be one of the swimmers and the foanna accepted him as well Ross and ash, locus and Balacu a young under officer of on goals accorded the best swimmer of the fleet carawa and the dolphins and with them those three others shakes sliding smoothly through the water as difficult to define in this new element as they had been in their tent before them pressed the dolphins Tina raw and towel played about the foanna in an aesthetic joy and when all were in the sea they shot off shoreward that sub within the sea gate had it unleashed the same lethal broadcast as a one that can add but the dolphins could give warning if that were so Ross swam easily ash next locus on his left Balacu a little behind and carawa to the fore as if in vain pursuit of the dolphins the foanna well to the left a queer invasion party even queer when one totaled up the odds which might lie ahead there was no mist or storm this morning to hide the headlands where the foanna citadel stood and the pro monetaries of the sea gate were starkly clear in the glowing light the same drive which always was a part of Ross when he was committed to actions sustained him now though he was visited by a small prick of doubt when he thought that the leadership did not lie with ash but with the foanna no warning of any trouble ahead as they passed through the mighty seasunk bases of the gate pillars Ross depended upon his sonic but there was no adverse report from the sensitive recorder the terrible chill of the water during the night attack had been dissipated but here and there dead sea things floated being torred and devired by hunters of the waves they were well past the pillars when Ross was aware that locus had changed place in the line spurting ahead when he went by the coup they caught up with caro off last past her Ross looked to ash onto the foanna but saw nothing to explain the action of the two abacacians then his sonic beat out his signal from ash danger followed the foanna left caro had already changed course to head in that direction ahead of her he could see locus and bout of coup both still down for the midpoint of the shore where the jetty and the sunken cutters were ash passed before him and Ross reluctantly followed orders a shelf of rock reached out from the cliff wall under it a dark opening the foanna saw this without hesitation ash caro and Ross following moments later they were out of the water where footing slope back and up below them raw and towel knows the rise their heads lifting out of the water as they spoke and caro had hastened to reply locus bout of coup Ross began when he caught a metal stroke of anger so deadly that it was a chill lance into his brain he faced the foanna startled and a little frightened they will not come now a knob crowned one stretched out in the air for reaches of the slope nor can any of their blood unless we win what is wrong ash asked you were right very right men out of time these invaders are not to be lightly dismissed they have turned one of our own defenses against us locus bout of coup all of their kind can be made into tools for a master they belong to the enemy now and we have failed so early care while wanted to know again that piercing thrust of anger so vivid that it was no mere emotion but seemed a tangible force failed no not yet have we even begun to fight you were very right this is such an evil as must be faced and fought even if we lose all in battle now we must do that which none of our own race has done for generations we must open three locks throw wide the great door and seek out the keeper of the closed knowledge light a sharp ray sighting from the tip of the wand and the phoenix followed that beam the three terrenes coming after into the unknown this concludes the reading of chapter 15