The Risks of Dead Reckoning by Felicia Watson (novels to improve english txt) 📕

somethingbig – I mean, besides the apparently treacherous mission toJileesa. All because someonewasn’t prudent enough to wait for his Tacticalleads.”

“Is there an Apacheversion of ‘people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’? Youbarely escaped death by monster worms and are now spending thenight in a broken-down tram-car on a quaking mountain with peerazubuzzing around. In order to ask for help from people who worshipthose damn things. Did I get any of that wrong?”

“Nope. I guess I shouldask if there’s an Italian version of, ‘the fruit never falls farfrom the tree’.” Naiche was pleased to hear Ricci laugh at thatretort. “Yeah, it’s true, we’ve already run into major problems. Istill believe this mission will be worthwhile. The Intabet do soundweird, but we should hear them out. Maybe everyone is wrong aboutthem. Like Con said – if not, at least we’ll havetried.”

“I hope you’re right. I’mgoing to sign off now and let you get some sleep. You’ll want to bein top form to deal with the ‘Mad Monks of Tolu’.”

She chuckled and repeated,“Mad Monks – I like that. But don’t worry, I won’t use it when wetalk to them.”

“Ah yes, a very diplomaticchoice. You are your mother’s daughter. Kadish day, Naiche.”

“Good-night. Thanks forthe hail, Pop.”

Chapter 18

Like Oil above Water

“...for truth will ever rise abovefalsehood, like oil above water." Miguel de CervantesSaavedra, Adventures of Don Quixote dela Mancha

The next day Decker andKennedy awoke early, and were relieved to find that the quakes hadlessened greatly in frequency. The trek up the tram tracks wasdemanding, but considerably easier than hiking up a trail wouldhave been, with the added bonus of aiding them in avoiding thenotice of any peerazu. They stowed most of their gear in thedeserted tram station at the end of line and walked towards thetown they could see in the distance, clinging to themountainside.

They arrived in Intabahand found it to be a dismal place; most of the buildings were inextreme disrepair and seemed mainly empty. Con said,“This is whatKinlea called a ‘mountain fortress’? Could the Silver Tongues havemis-translated the Tolutay word for ‘deserted, grimy littlecity’?”

Surveying the area, Decknodded in agreement. “We can mark that down as the first thing theMaykure had wrong about them – wonder what else is on thatlist?”

“Let’s findout.”

That task proved somewhatdifficult since the few Intabet they met with, all turned away atKennedy’s friendly greeting. The inhabitants were surprisingly welldressed, their clothing more closely resembling the Maykure thanthe Featay – but they resembled neither in demeanor, being moreguarded and unfriendly than both.

When one individual at lastdeigned to speak with them, it was simply to tell them that theywere unwelcome and needed to leave immediately. Kennedy was not tobe so easily dissuaded after their grueling journey. “Can you atleast direct us to the person in charge of Intabah?”

“What business do youclaim? Strangers will find no staple of worth here.”

Decker volunteered, “Wewant to talk to someone who knows about the peerazu.”

The Intabet shrugged andpointed at one of the creatures circling a distant mountain top.“The need for talk is lacking. The peerazu are. That’s all theknowing one can claim from them.”

Kennedy exchanged anexasperated look with Decker before asking, “Is there anyone whomight have more information about them than that?”

“Our elder is likely onewith such knowing – but may hold no wish to share at strangers.Petition your request of Tievas Galloo. Seek Galloo, at the….” Theword didn’t translate but the Intabet grudgingly gave directionsbefore hurrying off.

They wandered quite sometime through the narrow and twisting streets before finding abuilding which matched the Intabet’s description. Kennedy triedknocking on one of the double doors but it swung open creakingly athis touch. He stuck his head in, calling, “Hello? TievasGalloo?”

A grumpy voice bellowed,“Come in. You need be the strangers Eepaz warned of. I will presentmyself this same hour.”

Kennedy pushed through thedoors into the dim room, with Decker and Kay following closelybehind. The tactical officers surveyed the musty space. It was oneof the larger buildings they’d seen – high-ceilinged, with stonefloors and two large windows of glass that had either beendeliberately colored a dull yellow tint or had developed a patinaover time. There were a few wooden chairs arranged in a half-circleand a large desk covered with what looked to be two or threeancient computer tablets.

While waiting for theirhost to appear, Deck glanced around at the paintings on the walls,attempting to discern the subjects. As best as she could tell, theywere mainly depictions of animals in dimly-lit burrows but thethick layer of grime on them left her in doubt. She was distractedfrom the artwork by a soft whine from Kayatennae letting her knowthat he was aching to explore. Naiche shook her head at him,ordering the dog to stay seated. She whispered to Con, “Maybe theyare kinda like monks. This does look something like a chapel. Sortof.”

“Maybe. Not one I’d everwant to pray in.”

There was no chance for herto respond since an Intabet emerged from a hidden door in an alcoveon the left side of the building. The small figure, dressed all inbrown, hobbled over to them, announcing, “You find here TievasGalloo.” The Intabet then began to pepper them with irateinquiries. “You are the off-worlders come lately to Tolu?” Kennedyconfirmed that supposition and introduced the both ofthem.

Tievas said, “Days muchpast, we marked the encroach of your ship. What business do youclaim on this world? Tolu holds no worth for off-worlders.” WhenKennedy explained about the crash of the Aurora, Tievas’s ears twitched inapparent approval. “The peerazu guard well this realm they claim.By what means did you journey to Intabah? We marked not yourapproach.”

“We came via thefloat-ways,” Deck said, “and then walked up the tramtracks.”

Tievas stared at them for amoment. “I hold no time for stranger’s riddles. None can travel thefloat-ways. That realm is claimed by loerna.”

Kennedy shrugged broadly,making his nonchalance obvious. “If loerna is your word for‘veil-worms’ – they may rule the float-ways, but they didn’t hinderus.”

“By what means is thisso?”

Deck knew Con shared herinstinctive distrust of Tievas when he airily replied, “We have ourways. It’s a special