“Nothing. We were talking abouthis relationship with Breezy. They’re a perfect couple; they’veknown each other since they were kids.”
“That doesn’t seem to keephim from flirting with you. Stay away from him.”
From the front of the canoeErling shouted, “Watch out. Rocks on the left!”
Toemeka grabbed the sides of thecanoe as it shot into the rapids, dove down in the swell of a wave,then rose up again. Waves crashed in from all sides, filling thecanoe with water.
“Steer toward the center of theriver!” Erling yelled. “Fewer rocks there!”
A particularly large wave washedover Toemeka, soaking her clothes. Another wave splashed in. Then thecanoe crashed into rocks on the right side and spun around backwards.Completely out of control, it crashed into the rocks again. The canoepitched forward.
Toemeka gripped the sides of thecanoe tightly, terrified the canoe would capsize, pitching them allinto the water.
Michio and Erling franticallyfought to control the canoe as the river roared and churned aroundthem. It seemed alive, wanting to devour them.
The canoe shot forward again —and then, all at once, it was over. They were beyond and below therapids.
“We did it!” Jake shouted.
“What a ride!” Erlingexclaimed.
Toemeka turned to Michio. Heleaned over and kissed her with passionate intensity. She kissed himback, overjoyed at surviving the rapids.
“Hey Tiger, you’redistracting Michio,” Jake said with a chuckle. “We need to getashore and dump this water.”
Michio let Toemeka go andskillfully steered toward shore. The going was slow and strenuousbecause of all the water in the bottom of the canoe.
Once they got ashore anddisembarked, Erling and Michio dragged the canoe onto the bank andtipped it to one side, pouring out the water. Toemeka headed into thetrees.
“Where are you going?” Michiocalled after her.
“I have to pee.”
“Pee here. It’s too dangerousto go off alone.”
“I’ll only be a moment.”Once she was concealed from view, she squatted down to relieveherself. When she started back, a twig snapped. She froze, her eyeson the thick leaves. A huge savage with blue skin and bushy, blackhair stepped into view. He was heavily armed, dressed in furs andbuckskins. Toemeka yelled for help and fled back toward the river.She’d only gone a short distance when Michio reached her. She flewinto his arms.
“What is it?” he asked.
“We have to get out of here!”she exclaimed. Erling arrived a moment later.
“Toe, are you okay?” Erlingasked.
“I – there’s —” shepanted, out of breath.
“Calm down, Toemeka.” Michiograsped her upper arms and looked directly into her eyes. She felthis strength and calm pouring into her. “What did you see?” heasked.
“A savage,” she said,pointing to the woods. “There could be more.”
“Let’s go,” Michio said.
They ran back to the canoe whereJake waited. Everyone waded out and climbed in, then Michio andErling paddled quickly away from land.
“I wonder why he didn’t comeafter us,” Erling said, taking a strong stroke with the paddle.
“Probably going to getreinforcements,” Michio replied.
“Was it one of Cadmus’ men?”Jake asked.
“I’ve never seen anyoneworking for Cadmus who looked like that,” Toemeka said.
“Describe him,” Michiopressed.
“He was dirty with tatteredleather clothes, long black hair and a thick beard. One of thetallest men I’ve ever seen, maybe a head taller than you. He had anugly, large nose with a ring through it, tattoos on his face, and abandolier. He carried a huge knife and a rifle — not a blasterrifle, an old-fashioned one that shoots bullets. He looked assurprised to see me as I was to see him.”
“Was his skin blue?” Jakeasked.
“Yeah,” Toemeka said. “Doyou know of a race of blue-skinned people?”
“Sure do. He’s most likely amember of the Owayan Resistance!” Jake grinned. “Let’s headback. He must be a scout. He’ll take us to their camp.”
“The Resistance looks likethat?!” Toemeka exclaimed.
“Yeah,” replied Jake. “Theydon’t have uniforms or modern weapons. They’re a band of warriorsliving in the wilderness, trying to protect their tribe from SamratCondor’s troops by attacking enemies that enter their territory.They’re on the move constantly.”
“Will Toemeka be safe amongthem?” Michio asked. “You never mentioned they were such a wildlot.”
“They aren’t wild.” Jake’svoice was defensive. “They have their own customs and rules theylive by. I’m sure Toemeka and Erling have heard of the Owayanpeople.”
Erling nodded and Jake continued,“They’re a primitive people and the women in their culture are —how should I put it — not exactly revered. Their race is dying outquickly with the takeover of Alandra, but they’d rather diefighting than change their lifestyle.”
“I’ve seen photos of theirtribes, but never came face-to-face with one of their warriors,”Toemeka said. “Where are the women?”
Jake pointed toward themountains. “The women, children and elders hide in a mountainvalley.”
“How can they help us?”Michio sounded skeptical.
“I’m friends with theirleader. Maybe one of their runners can get a message to theResistance in Kossel, who can send a spacecraft to fly us out. TheOwayan men have incredible endurance. They run all day withoutresting and can go for days with little food and sleep.”
“Let’s vote,” Michio said.“I’m against going to the Owayan camp. If we were all men, it’dbe worth the risk, but I don’t feel right taking Toemeka there. Ihave an uneasy feeling about it.”
“I’m for going,” Jake said.“We need help. Our only supplies consist of what’s in Toemeka’sbackpack. We need food, tents, sleeping bags, communicators andweapons. Not to mention, I’ve been wounded and need time to restbefore moving on.”
Erling looked at Toemeka, thensaid, “I agree with Jake. I think Toemeka’s safer with the Owayanwarriors than in a canoe or hiking in the woods with Rochambeautrying to track her. The Owayan people have different customs, butthey’ve got just as many rules, traditions and standards ofbehavior as we do.”
A premonition of danger settledover Toemeka and she shook her head. “I don’t want to go. Thatwarrior looked dangerous and I didn’t like the way he stared atme.”
“Then we’re at a stalemate,”said Erling.
“I’ll flip a coin,” Jakesaid. He reached into his pocket and smiled as he pulled out a coin.
“My lucky coin survived myriver dunking. Heads, we go to the Owayan camp.” He tossed the coininto the air and they all looked up. Overhead a Talon spaceship flewinto view. They all spotted it at the
