Separation

While Markos, Sineta and Mildred organized the caravan into some kind of order in which to make the descent, Jak went ahead to scout out the best possible route. The albino covered the territory swiftly, moving with ease down the narrow paths and among the undergrowth. It was simplicity itself for him to cover the distance, but he was mindful of the mixed abilities of those who would follow in his wake. Picking the widest paths, and those with the best vegetation for handholds, he marked the twists and turns of the route with branches torn from the trees. By the time he had returned to the top of the ridge, the Pilatans were organized in order of descent and Mildred had gathered the companions to her.

“Ryan, Jak, J.B.—you guys go down ahead of us and make relay points, so that there’s help fairly close at hand for any that may need it,” Mildred said. “Krysty and Dean—one of you go to the middle, the other to the bottom. Take these,” she added, handing them medical supplies she had prepared during Jak’s marking of the route. “That way we’ve got first aid to hand if it’s needed along the way. I’ll stay up here with Markos. Sineta’s going to be one of the first down, and I want Doc to go with her. The last thing we want is for an accident to happen to the baron, so I’d appreciate you really keeping a close eye on her, Doc.”

“It shall be done. You have no need to ask,” Doc said with a small bow.

“One more thing,” Ryan interjected. “I figure we’re far enough away from any of those villes not to have trouble from them, but we’ve got no way of knowing what kind of wildlife is out there.”

“Keeping distance, but can smell it. Could be problem,” Jak affirmed.

“Okay,” Mildred stated. “I’ll make sure they know to keep their blasters ready and be triple-red.”

Ryan nodded, then looked at the darkening sky. “Good. Let’s do it, then. I don’t like the look of the clouds. The last thing we need is rain on top of the worsening light.”

Moving swiftly to get the process under way, the companions separated and moved into position while Mildred prepared the caravan. Doc and Sineta were the first to make the descent.

“I find that the best thing to do is not to look too closely at the drop that beckons, but rather to concentrate assiduously on the path in front of you,” Doc advised the baron as they began the descent.

Taking a quick glance across the open lands to one side of her and the angle of descent, Sineta nodded. “I will take those as wise words, and well worth adherence,” she said nervously.

But the route Jak had selected was a good one, and on those few occasions when she felt herself beginning to slip, or her confidence did likewise, making her believe that she would tumble, the vegetation by her sides and the sure hand of Doc Tanner sustained her. They passed Jak, Ryan, Krysty and J.B. along the way without requiring help. When they had reached the bottom, the baron looked up at the crest of the hillside, where those following in her wake could be seen streaming down the paths.

“I think, if we all have a guide as good as yourself, then we may make it unscathed,” she murmured.

“Why, thank you, madam,” Doc demurred.

The Pilatan progress down the side of the incline was erratic. There were times when the slower members of the tribe held up those that followed in their wake, but there were no casualties and little need for the companions who were stationed along the way. However, when the livestock were led down, things were slightly different. The herders who had led them across the plain, and who had been in charge of the animals on the flat island of Pilatu, found it difficult to keep the beasts in line. The sheep and pigs were terrified, but were so closely roped as to be unable to break. Horses, coming down singly, were nervous but able to keep their footing. The cattle, however, were another matter. Roped together, but of varying strengths, and with each one pulling against the others in fear, it was inevitable that at one point a rogue would try to make a break, risking pulling the entire herd off the path and tumbling them down the steep incline.

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