Separation

“That something worry about,” Jak said slowly.

“We’re really going to have to be triple-red from now on,” Ryan mused. “Shit, I wish we could get our blasters back. Mebbe Mildred could—”

“Mebbe she won’t,” J.B. interrupted coldly. “Figure that just mebbe we’ll have to get the blasters ourselves.”

“You think it’ll come to that?” Dean asked, alarmed.

J.B. was about to answer when Krysty cut him off. “Don’t say anything you might regret, J.B. And listen, I think this concerns us.”

On the platform, Sineta was detailing the way work at the ville would be divided until the migration. It was important to keep the land and hunt in progress, so that there would be plenty of food. Yet there was also much to do in the way of preparation and storage. One of the most important tasks would be to ready the transportation that would take them to the whitelands. New boats were to be built, and those on the fishing fleet would be rotated so that they could be adapted to take larger cargoes of people and produce and the livestock and wags that would carry the population once they hit the mainland.

“Mildred’s companions have much experience of such matters, and so they will work with us on the conversion of the boats. They will also help to oversee the storage of foodstuffs and belongings for the journey. They will work closely with us, and you will see the true qualities of the pale ones.”

Ryan cast his eye over the expectant crowd that had turned with curiosity to view them. He particularly noticed the hostile faces, especially those grouped around Chan.

Sure, it would give them a chance to prove both themselves and also the point Sineta—and presumably Mildred—wanted to make.

But it would also put them right in the firing line for the fanatics.

Chapter Eight

“Fireblast! How tough are these damn trees?” Ryan grunted as the ax stuck yet again in the fibrous wood of the trunk. Sap oozed over the ax head and down the handle, almost like glue to seal the metal into the body of the tree. The trunk gave easily at the swing of the head, but was loathe to loose the metal, making it hard and time consuming to fell even a single tree.

And there were many to be felled. Wood was needed for the reinforcement of existing craft and the rapid building of more. Hard labor was required to gather this wood, and among the few islanders felling trees, the companions were set to the task. That was, all the companions except Mildred, who was still aiding Sineta. Although this decision made sense, it still rankled J.B. that Mildred hadn’t been to see them while they set about their task.

The islanders who joined them in tree felling were among the least friendly on the island. Many of those who had spoken openly after the meeting about not wishing to travel abroad had been rounded up by Markos’s sec men and put to work out of harm’s way. There was little they could do in the way of sabotage and damage to the evacuation plans while they were merely chopping trees. There was one exception—

Elias, the man who was Markos’s rival for the hand of Sineta.

“Though I wish the move to take place smoothly, I also know my strengths—perhaps literally,” he had answered when Ryan, discovering his views and identity, had questioned his being on such a ‘punishment’ detail. “You just have to look at me to see why I am suited to this.”

Ryan had to agree. Although he was softly spoken, Elias was a giant of a man. Around six feet four or five, he was broad shouldered, with a thickly corded neck and biceps and pectorals that showed a great upper body strength. He seemed to be top heavy, as his legs weren’t as well muscled. However, this was only comparatively, and served to emphasize his upper body development. He was felling trees near the companions, and in work breaks had spoken with them, keen to discover more of the world beyond Pilatu. They had learned, in return, of his desire to integrate the community in the outside world, something he felt essential for its long term survival, and of his quest for Sineta’s hand to further this. Taken with what they knew of Markos and his brother Chan, it made the giant Pilatan a sympathetic figure who may be a good ally.