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Updated: May 3, 2025
A sudden thunderclap startled them now into consciousness of the scene about them. The wind rushed on them from behind. The sea was rising rapidly; the boat scudded before it. "A storm! Look at it, Anina, behind us!" There was nothing in sight now but the gray sea, broken into waves that were beginning to curl, white and angry. Behind them the darkness was split with jagged forks of lightning.
The girls were obviously cold, standing idle now after their long flight. Mercer lost no time in preparing for the return journey. He tumbled his captives unceremoniously off the platform and set the box of food and blankets beside them. "What's this, Anina?" He was holding in his palm a tiny metal cylinder. Anina took it from him. "For fire, see?"
They were slanting toward the cliffs, and Mercer knew if he did not do something they would be driven against them in a few moments more. "We'll have to turn out, Anina. We can't land along here. We must keep away if we can." With the waves striking its stern quarter again, the boat made much heavier weather. It seemed to Mercer incredible that it should stay afloat.
By which Mercer inferred that within three or four hours, perhaps, they would be at the place where they hoped to turn the men back. They started off slowly up the trail, Mercer carrying the folded blanket, and Anina wearing the fur jacket. They soon came upon the smoldering fire that marked the other party's night encampment. The men were, Mercer judged, perhaps a mile or so ahead of them.
The two girls spoke together hurriedly. "Tao's men in the Water City have caused great disturbance, Alan," Miela said to me. "Where's the Water City?" "Near the Great City across the marshlands. We must get back. And when Anina and our friend Ollie have returned we must go to the Water City. It is very bad there, she said." Our trip back to the Great City was without unusual incident.
"They set free Tao's men as we planned. They were on their way back when the earth-man suddenly bid Anina return. Something was wrong, he said. This girl does not understand what. But they went back. And Anina and Ollie they left there, standing on the shore together. We are to go over to the same place to-night, if we can, and get them. That is all the girl knows."
"You can't see it now, Anina. It's too close to the sun." Again she sighed. "I'm sorry for that. It would seem closer, perhaps, if we could see it." "You're not sorry you came, Anina? You don't want to go back now?" "Not now, Ollie." She smiled into his earnest, pleading eyes. "For those I love are here as well as there. I have Miela and Alan and " "And?" Mercer leaned forward eagerly.
After breakfast Lua and Anina busied themselves about the house, while Miela and I went to the rooftop to wait for the king's summons. From here I had my first really good view of the city at close range. Miela's home sat upon a terrace, leveled off on the steep hillside; all the houses in the vicinity were similarly situated.
Just give me a chance at them." He leaned over the balcony. "How are we going to get down there? It's too far to drop." Miela spoke to Anina, and they both flew away. In a moment they were back with two other girls. All four clung to the outside of the balcony railing, and formed a cross with their joined hands. Into this little seat of their arms I clambered.
He would drive them back out of the gorge, send Anina to keep the appointment with me and bring me up to him with the girls and the platform. They reached the shore and landed within a few feet of where they had been an hour before. The men were not in sight; nothing remained to show they had been there, save pieces of cut cord lying about.
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