Unless… unless John thought he could catch them sitting. It was possible he might try to do that. His motors had not used up all the energy stored; the Rex had not traveled all day. He could have many hours’ electrical supply left.
No, John wouldn’t attempt it. Not knowing that his enemy was radarless, he would think that the Rex would be detected the moment it showed its nose. And he’d have to cross three miles of lake to get to the Not For Hire. Before he could do that, the enormous hemispherical plate covering the grailstone could be swung aboard and stored and the boat well on its way to meet the Rex.
If only he had an aircraft left to tell him when John’s boat was being recharged. If the Rex was connected to a grailstone near the inlet of the strait, the Not For Hire could be on it before it could get into action. No, John would think of that. He’d go far enough up The River so he’d have time to get ready. And he’d know that Sam Clemens would take the same precaution.
But if he would think of that, why not charge on through and catch John with his royal pants down?
If only he knew the topography, the width of The River on the other side of the mountain. But Plunkett would get the data needed.
Byron said, “Would you like to bury the dead now, sir?”
33
“HEH?” SAM SAID. “On, YES, MIGHT AS WELL GET IT OVER WITH now. We won’t have time later. Are there enough marines left for the burial squad?”
“Exactly forty-two, sir,” Byron said with some satisfaction at having anticipated his captain.
“Good. That’s enough to bury everybody, including themselves. In fact, we’d better just use three rifles. We need to conserve all the powder we can.”
The services were short. The bodies were laid out on the stern of the flight deck, wrapped in cloths, weighted with stones. Half the crew was assembled; the rest stayed on duty.
“… for now we know that resurrection is possible, all having experienced its truth. Thus we consign your bodies to the deeps of The River in the hope that you will once again walk the face of this world or some other. For those who believe in God, may He bless you. So long!”
The rifle salute was given. One by one the bodies in fishskin bags were picked up and swung out into the air. Weighted with stones, they would sink to be eaten by the small and the big fish prowling, pressing, dark, thousands of feet below.
The Not For Hire put into the bank, and its anchors were dropped. Sam went ashore to face an intensely angry La Viro. The big dark hawk-faced man raged at the stupidity and cruelty of both parties. Sam listened stony-faced. This was no time for a wisecrack. But when La Viro demanded that he leave the area, Sam said, “There is no way to avoid this conflict. One of us must go down. Now, do I have your permission to use a grailstone?”
“No!” La Viro shouted. “No! You do not!”
“I am indeed sorry,” Sam said. “But I am using one anyway. If you interfere, you and your people will be fired upon.”
La Viro said nothing for a minute. Finally, his breathing became lighter and the redness faded from his skin. “Very well. We will not use force. You knew we wouldn’t. All I can do is appeal to your humanity. That has failed. On your own head be the consequences.”
“You don’t understand,” Sam said. “We have to get to the polar sea. Our mission is vital to this world. I can’t explain why, but, believe me, it is.”
He looked up at the sun. In an hour, it would touch the top of the western range.
At that moment, Hermann Goring joined the small group behind La Viro. He said something to his chief in a low voice. La Viro said loudly, “Very well. Evacuate them.”
Goring turned and spoke in a trumpet voice. “You heard La Viro! We will go east and get away from this hellish conflict. Spread the word! Everybody east! Martin, you send up the signal balloon!”