Smugglers of Gor

Chapter Thirty-Four



“Ho!” said Axel, pointing to the ground.

Tiomines was snuffling about, scratching at the ground.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Our little friend has been here,” he said, “but so, too, has another. See, the stirred leaves, the sandal print. Excellent, excellent!”

“I do not understand,” I said.

“I had hoped for such fortune,” he said, “but was muchly uncertain that it might be obtained.”

“I would appreciate it,” I said, “if you would speak more clearly.”

“It is thought the camp was under surveillance,” he said. “Shadows, glimpses, the uneasiness of larls in their cages. But there was no clear trail, one of relevance, one to which to put a sleen. There are many trails, those of larl masters, of deserters, those of scouts, trails of recruits, being conducted here, such things. But if you were to find a coin in the sand, even one of modest value, you might stoop to pick it up, might you not?”

“Of course,” I said.

“That was our hope,” he said. “Your stupid little barbarian friend is such a coin. Our visitors, or spies, if they exist, would have the vicinity under surveillance, and thus it is not impossible that they might note the unauthorized departure of an unwise slave. She has some value, even if it is negligible. Why should they not drop their net on her, and haul her in?”

“They are greedy,” I smiled.

“It is a common fault,” he said. “Her trail will now lead us to them.”

“There may be several,” I said, “and we are only two.”

“We will be wary,” he said. “Our business is to locate the enemy, not engage him, or her.”

“‘Her’?” I said.

“See the sandal print,” he said, pointing. “It is small. It is almost certainly the print of a woman’s sandal.”

“Panther Girls,” I said.

“They might do well in matters of observation, and surveillance,” he said.

“They may have men with them,” I said.

“That is unlikely,” he said, smiling.

“I see,” I said. “But there may be several.”

“Possibly,” he said. “That might be better determined later. In any event, you may recall that I informed you while in camp that we have allies about, from the coastal ships, levies from some crews.”

“But not from Shipcamp,” I said.

“No,” he said, “they know little or nothing of Shipcamp. The word of Tyrtaios may be accepted on this.”

“They do not know why they have been stationed in the forest?” I said.

“No,” he said. “Is it to intercept deserters, to trade, to convey departing contingents to the galleys, to take part in some action? They do not know.”

“I see,” I said.

“We wish to have a force on the ground, one between Shipcamp and the coast, which may be utilized in the case of an emergency. It is a precaution, I gather, on the part of Lord Okimoto.”

“He who is first in Shipcamp,” I said.

“Yes,” he said.

“He leaves little to chance,” I said.

“It is his way,” he said.

“If you locate the enemy,” I said, “you will utilize these allies?”

“One would attempt to do so,” he said.

“How will you contact them?” I asked.

He drew from his tunic a whistle, looped on a string about his neck. “They have a larl with them,” he said. “The Pani have seen to it. This whistle will be heard only by the larl, and such beasts. The larl will then lead the contingent to the source of the sound.”

“How far does it carry?” I asked.

“I do not know,” he said. “But far, easily for a pasang or two. It is said some larls can hear the squeal of a wounded animal from five pasangs away.”

“And if it does not hear it?” I asked.

“Then, my friend,” he said, “depending on the situation, it might prove wise to withdraw with discretion.”

“To return to Shipcamp and report,” I said.

“Yes,” he said. “Tarnsmen might be dispatched. And the tarn can outdistance the kaiila.”

“Your beast,” I said, “appears ready to continue the hunt.”

“He has been ready,” said Axel. “Let us proceed, lest he become annoyed at the delay.”