attempting to abduct a male fresh from the sea. A crime of major importance. None knew her, she would not speak, died before she could be questioned. Do you see a relevance?”
Vainte signed positive recognition. “Of course. She must have come on the uruketo with Ambalasei. Which in turn means — she was a Daughter of Death!”
“That is true! I just realized it today when I heard Fafnepto speak. It is your mind of great attainment that enables you to see instantlv what was hidden from me all of this time. Ambalasei came on the uruketo, left on it, returned to these Daughters of Evil whom she has joined. And I believe I know where they went.’
Vainte was warm with appreciation, signed request for more information, lowest to highest, a form she had never used before in her entire life. Akotolp, swollen with pleasurable self-esteem, pointed at the containers the fargi had carried aboard.
“They have gone south. Ambalasei revealed to us that she has discovered an entirely new continent there. Thinking of it now, it seems obvious that she must have landed the Daughters somewhere on its shores. She showed us records that she had made, gave us specimens of scientific delight, revealed her voyage of discovery on a gigantic river of that continent. It is my belief that she must be there now, on the shores of that river, or at the estuary where it meets the ocean. She had no other records of exploration of the continent.”
“I believe you, you could not be wrong. But that is only half of what I want to hear.”
“The other half then concerns the ustuzou who penetrate this city, kill Yilane, steal hesotsan. We have firm evidence of that. I have flown the birds and have images here of ustuzou north of this city, on an island near the coast. One of them could be the creature you seek.”
“While there is still brightness of daylight — I must see those images.”
Even as she spoke the light from the open fin darkened, as though a cloud had passed over the sky. Vainte looked up and saw that Fafnepto was descending. Fafhepto began to speak — then stopped when she saw Akotolp, signed a query.
“This is Akotolp,” Vainte said. “She served me when I was Eistaa here. A scientist of great note who has information of even greater note.”
“I have spoken with Akotolp earlier today. Also, this same Akotolp was mentioned by the scientist, Ukhereb, just recently in the ambesed. She said that you both had met with the one we seek, Ambalasei.”
“That is true.”
“Ukhereb also said that Ambalasei brought evidence of a continent to the south of this one, of a river there. Ukhereb believes that Ambalasei and the uruketo we seek are there now. Are you of the same opinion?”
Akotolp was put out, tried not to show it, had believed the theory was hers alone. She finally had to sign positive agreement. “I do agree, yes, and further believe that those you seek, as well as the uruketo, are on the banks of this great river of which she spoke to us in such detail.”
Fafhepto expressed agreement amplified. “Everything you both have said leads me to the same conclusion. As a hunter I also feel that this is correct. I sense our quarry out there. The commander now loads fresh meat and water. In the morning I will speak again with the Eistaa and then we will leave. We will go south to this river.”
Vainte interrupted with signs of importance of speaking. “They will not escape. We will surely track them there. But before we leave there are ustuzou along the coast, close by, that must be found and killed. They came to this city, killed Yilane here. We must kill them in return—”
“No. We go south.”
“It will take only a short time. It is of importance to me—”
“But not to me. We go south.”
“I will talk to Gunugul. I’m sure she will agree that we do this one small thing first.”
“Whether she agrees or not is of no importance. I am Lanefenuu’s representative. I am ordering Gunugul south. I will tell her that now so there will be no misunderstandings while I am in the city.”
She said this almost calmly, as though it was of no importance, looking directly at Vainte all the while. The way she would look at an animal before she killed it. Vainte returned the gaze just as emotionlessly, knowing that it was Fafnepto’s victory this time. Also knew there was nothing that would make her change her mind. Vainte’s moment of justified revenge would have to be postponed.
“You are in command, we will do as you order. Be informed also that Akotolp has offered to leave with us, to help guide us in our quest.” As Vainte spoke her outward calm matched that of her antagonist. Fafnepto accepted this, signed gratitude, turned and left. So she did not see the blaze of color on Vainte’s palms, the curve of hatred in her fingers. Akotolp did, stepped back, rocked by the strength of feeling. It passed quickly as Vainte fought and controlled her emotions, spoke calmly to Akotolp.
“It would be pleasure magnified for me to see the images of the ustuzou. The image now will suffice. I have waited this long to find him — I can wait that bit longer. Nor will this be a wasted journey. Those Daughters of Death escaped me when we fled this city. Their existence has long troubled me. It will be my pleasure to search them out now. Gratitude expressed/amplified — the images!”
Vainte went through the sheets slowly, her limbs moving in emotive response as she did. Hatred, pleasure, discovery. When she had seen them all, she carefully went through them a second time and found one that drew her attention. The others fell from her thumbs as she held this one in the light from the fin; Akotolp retrieved the discarded sheets.
“Look at this, Akotolp,” Vainte finally said. “You have the eyes and the brain of a scientist. Tell me what you see here. Look at this figure.”
Akotolp turned it until the light fell clearly upon it, examined it closely. “It is one of the killer ustuzou, probably a male since the females have other organs here. It shields its eyes as it gazes upwards, so the face is not clearly seen. There is something, a design perhaps, painted upon its upper thorax.”
“You see it too! Could it be a metal tooth like the one you sealed in the bladder long ago?”
“The possibility is there/detail unhappily unclear. But it could be an artifact of metal.”
“It is almost too much to believe, that it is the one I seek, that he is out there.”
“Strong belief/probability. And there is another thing of great interest that I neglected to mention to the eistaa. Here, upon this other sheet, you will see a crude structure of some kind. With two figures standing before it.”
Akotolp signed excitement and pride of discovery as she passed over the sheet, touched the correct spot with one thumb, watched Vainte’s movements of disbelief.
“This is inexplicable. One is a Yilane — the other ustuzou. How is this?”
“We can only guess. Perhaps the Yilane has been captured, held prisoner. Not injured, for she appears in other pictures. And this is very close to the place where the ustuzou lairs are located.”
Vainte trembled with excitement. “Then the creature we have seen must be Kerrick, the one I seek. Only he can communicate with a Yilane. How close are they?”
“Less than a day in an uruketo.”
“And we are in an uruketo…” Vainte’s body twisted as strong emotions gripped her again and it took her a moment to regain control. “But not at the present time. Now we go south. There is one called Enge whom I would see again.”
“One came to me,” Enge said, “bringing the message that you wished to see me, a matter of urgency.”
“Urgency obviously relative with Daughters of Drowsiness,” Ambalasei said disgustedly. “That message was sent earlier today in the hope it might reach you before we all were dead of advanced age.”
“Does the matter have urgency?”
“Only to me. My researches are complete. There is an entire continent to be explored — but others can do that. I have records and specimens for them to marvel at. I have opened the path that others may follow. I return now to Entoban*.”
“Suddenness of decision unexpected/unhappiness, unwelcome information!”
“Only to you, Enge. Everyone else here will be glad to see me leave. Just as pleased as I will be to turn my back upon them. All of my records have been sealed and loaded aboard the uruketo. Setessei will go with me, but assures me that she has trained two Daughters in use of nefmakel, sanitation and wound repair. So you all will not instantly die when we are gone.”
“The suddenness of this confuses/saddens me. I knew the day must come. The pleasure in your presence
