The sixteenth day, they climbed another mountain for another sighting. This time they could identify it, but it wasn’t much closer than the last time seen.
“We could chase it clear around this world,” McKay said disgruntedly.
“If we have to, we have to,” Kickaha said cheerfully. “You’ve been bitching a lot lately, Mac. You’re beginning to get on my nerves. I know it’s a very hard life, and you haven’t had a woman
for many months, but you’d better grin and bear it. Crack a few jokes, do a cakewalk now and then.”
McKay looked sullen. “This ain’t no minstrel show.”
“True, but Anana and I are doing our best to make light of it. I suggest you change your attitude. You could be worse off. You could be dead. We have a chance, a good one, to get out of here. You might even get back to Earth, though I suppose it’d be best for the people there if you didn’t. You’ve stolen, tortured, killed, and raped. But maybe, if you were in a different environment, you might change. That’s why I don’t think it’d be a good idea for you to return to Earth.”
“How in hell did we get off from my bitching to that subject,” McKay said.
Kickaha grinned. “One thing leads to another. The point I’m getting at is that you’re a burden. Anana and I could go faster if we didn’t have to carry you on our moosoid.”
“Yours?” McKay blazed, sullenness becoming open anger. “She’s riding on my greggl.”
“Actually, it belongs to an Indian. Did, I should say. Now its whoever has the strength to take it. Do I make myself clear?”
“You’d desert me?”
“Rationally, we should. But Anana and I won’t as long as you help us. So,” he suddenly shouted, “quit your moaning and groaning!”
McKay grinned. “Okay. I guess you’re right. I ain’t no crybaby, normally, but this …” He waved a hand to indicate the whole world. “Too much. But I promise to stop beefing. I guess I ain’t been no joy for you two.”
Kickaha said, “Okay. Let’s go. Now, did I ever tell you about the time I had to hide out in a fully stocked wine cellar in a French town when the Krauts retook it?”
Two months later, the traveling building still had not been caught. They were much closer now. When they occasionally glimpsed it, it was about ten miles away. Even at that distance, it looked enormous, towering an estimated 2600 feet, a little short of half a mile. Its width and length were each about 1200 feet, and its bottom was flat.
Kickaha could see its outline but could not, of course, make out its details. According to Urthona, it would, at close range, look like an ambulatory Arabian Nights city with hundreds of towers, minarets, domes, and arches. From time to time its surface changed color, and once it was swathed in rainbows.
Now, it was halfway on the other side of an enormous plain that had opened out while they were coming down a mountain. The range that had ringed it was flattening out, and the animals that had been on the mountainsides were now great herds on the plains.
“Ten miles away,” Kickaha said. “And it must have about thirty miles more to go before it reaches the end of the plain. I say we should try to catch it now. Push until our hikwu drop and then chase it on foot. Keep going no matter what.”
The others agreed, but they weren’t enthusiastic. They’d lost weight, and their faces were hollow-cheeked, their eyes ringed with the dark of near-exhaustion. Nevertheless, they had to make the effort. Once the palace reached the mountains, it would glide easily up over them, maintaining the same speed as it had on the plain. But its pursuers would have to slow down.
As soon as they reached the flatland, they urged the poor devils under them into a gallop. They responded as best they could, but they were far from being in top condition. Nevertheless, the ground was being eaten up. The herds parted before them, the antelopes and gazelles stampeding. During the panic the predators took advantage of the confusion and panic. The dogs, baboons, moas, and lions caught fleeing beasts and dragged them to the ground. Roars, barks, screams drifted by the riders as they raced toward their elusive goal.