“How long you think until dark?” Steengo asked. “That pill you gave me is wearing off with a vengeance.”
I projected a holo of a watch. “I truly don’t know-because I don’t even know the length of the day here. This watch, like the computer, is on ship’s time. It’s been a good long time since they threw us out the gate.” I squinted at the sky. “And I don’t think that sun has moved very much at all. Time to ask for some advice.”
I bit down three times hard on the left side of my jaw, which should have triggered a signal on the jawbone radio.
“Tremearne here.” The words bounced around clearly inside my skull.
“I read you.”
“You read what?” Steengo asked.
“Please-I’m talking on the radio.”
“Sorry.”
“Reception clear at this end. Report.”
“We were less than charmed by the Machmen. We left town a couple of hours ago and are hiking out across the plain . . .”
“I have you on the chart, satellite location.”
“Any of the Fundamentaloid bands in sight as well?”
“A number of them.”
“Any of them close to this position?”
“Yes, one off to your left. Roughly the same distance you’ve walked already.”
“Sounds a winner. But one important question first. How long are the days here?”
“About one hundred standard hours.”
“No wonder we’re beginning to feel tired-and it’s still full daylight. With the total daylight at least four times longer than what we’re used to. Can you put your satellite to work looking back the way we came-to see if we are being followed?”
“I’ve already done that. No pursuers in sight.”
“That’s great news. Over and out.” I raised my voice. “Company-halt. Fall out. I’ll give you the other side of the conversation that you didn’t hear. We’re not being followed.” I waited until the ragged cheer had died away. “Which means we are stopping here for food, drink, sleep, the works.”
I slung my pack to the ground, stretched largely, then dropped down and leaned against it, pointed to the distant horizon. “The Fundamentaloid nomads are somewhere out in that direction. We are going to have to find them sooner or later-and I vote for later.”
“Vote seconded, motion passed.” They were all horizontal now. I took a good swig of water before I went on.
“The days here are four times as long as the ones that we are used to. I think that we have had enough of fighting, walking, everything for one day, or a quarter of a day, or whatever. Let’s sleep on it and go on when we are rested.”
My advice was unneeded since eyelids were already closing. I could do no less myself and was drifting off when I realized this was not the world’s greatest idea. I heaved myself, groaning, to my feet and walked away from the others so my voice would not disturb them.
“Come in Tremearne. Can you read me.”
“Sergeant Naenda here. The Captain is off duty this watch. Should I send for him?”
“Not if you are sitting in for him-and you have the satellite observations handy and up-to-date.”
“Affirmative.”
“Well keep looking at them. We’re taking a sleep break now and I would like it to be undisturbed. If you see anyone or anything creeping up on us-give a shout.”
“Will do. Nighty-night.”
Nighty-night! What were the armed forces coming to? I stumbled back to my companions and emulated their fine example. I had no trouble at all in falling asleep.
It was waking up that was difficult. Some hours had slipped by because when I blinked blearily up at the sky I saw that the sun had passed the meridian and was finally slipping down towards the horizon. What had wakened me?
“Attention, Jim diGriz, attention.”
I looked around for the speaker and it took long seconds before I realized that it was Captain Tremearne’s voice I was hearing.
“Wazza?” I said incoherently, still numbed with sleep.
“One of the Fundamentaloid bands is on the move-roughly in your direction. They should be close enough to see you in about an hour.”
“By which time we should be ready for visitors. Thanks, Cap-over and out.”