“We should have the precipice on our right, Gaber. Adjust your face-mask to distance vision and see if you can spot it.”
Gaber peered steadily across the distance. “Cloudy, but you ought to change course by about five degrees.”
They flew over terrain that gradually became more and more swamp-like until water replaced land entirely. At this point a definite shoreline appeared, rising first into small bluffs of well-weathered grey stone which gave way to sheer cliffs rising several hundred metres in an ancient transform fault. Kai ascended and the passage of the sled alarmed cliff dwellers into flight, bringing an exclamation of surprised delight from Gaber.
“Why, they’re golden! And furred!”
Kai, remembering the vicious heads of the scavengers, veered hastily from their flight path.
“They’re following us,” cried Gaber, unperturbed.
Kai glanced over his shoulder. As far as he knew, scavengers only attacked the dying or dead. Judiciously he applied more air speed. The sled could easily outdistance them.
“They’re still following us.”
Kai shot a glance over his shoulder. No question of it, the golden avians were following but maintaining a discreet distance, and different levels. Even as Kai watched, the fliers changed positions, as if each wanted to see various aspects of the intruder. Again Kai loaded on more speed. So did the fliers, without apparently expending much effort.
“I wonder how fast they do fly?”
“Are they dangerous, do you suppose?” asked Gaber.
“Possibly, but I’d say that this sled is too big for them to attack, singly or with the numbers they have behind us now. I must bring Varian to see them. And tell the Ryxi.”
“Why ever tell them? They couldn’t fly in this heavy atmosphere.”
“No, but Vrl asked me about Ireta’s aerial life. I’d hate to tell him there were only scavengers.”
“Oh, yes, quite. I agree. Merciful gods, look below to your left.”
They were well over the water now, stained red by the mineral content of the rocks which bordered it and its watershed. Clearly visible was the plant strewn bottom which shelved off slightly into murky brownness and considerable depth, according to Kai’s instrumentation. From out of that depth a great body torpedoed, responding to the shadow cast by the sled. Kai had a startled impression of a blunt head, grey-blue shining skin, and too many rows of sharp yellow-white teeth, needle sharp. He heard Gaber’s startled cry of horror. Instinctively he slammed on the emergency drive. And corrected hurriedly as they sped uncomfortably close to the curving cliffs.
Looking back, Kai saw only the rippling circles of the monster’s exit and entry on the surface, circles converging together over the twenty-five metres of its jump. He gulped and swallowed against a dryness in his throat. As if that attack had been a signal, more aquatic denizens leapt and dove, and other battles began under and on the surface of the water.
“I think,” Gaber’s stammer was pronounced, “that we started something.”
“Well, they can finish it,” said Kai as he turned the blunt nose of the sled.
“The golden fliers are still following us,” Gaber said after a few moments. “They’re closing.”
Kai spared a backward glance and saw the first rank of fliers moving steadily abreast of the sled, their heads turned towards himself and Gaber.
“Go away,” Gaber said, standing up and waving both arms towards the birds. “Go away. Don’t get too close. You’ll get hurt!”
Half-amused, half-concerned, Kai watched the creatures swing away from Gaber’s flapping. They also maintained their forward speed and their inspection.
“We’re surrounded by them, Kai,” and Gaber’s tone took on a worried note.
“If they were dangerous, they’d’ve had plenty of time to attack, I think. But let’s just lose the escort. Sit down, Gaber, and hang on!” Kai hit the jet accelerator again, and abruptly left the fliers in the heat haze as the sled flung forward. There couldn’t have been any expression on the golden faces, but Kai had the distinct impression that they’d been astonished by the sudden speed.
He must ask Varian what degree of intelligence was possible in these apparently primitive life forms. The Ryxi were not the only winged species in the galaxy but very few avian species were highly intelligent. Capability seemed to have a direct ratio to the amount of time spend on the ground.