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Updated: May 16, 2025
As Manulito disappeared Travis summoned the coyotes, putting full effort into getting across one message. Any tribe led by Deklay would be hostile to the mutant animals. They must go into hiding, run free in the wilderness if the gamble failed Travis. Now they withdrew into the bushes but not out of reach of his mind. He did not have too long to wait.
Manulito managed to wrench his head to the left so he could see his captor. Travis loosened his grip, got to his feet. Manulito sat up, his face darkly sullen, but he did not reach for his knife. "You will say this to Deklay: The Fox says he is a man of little sense and less courage, preferring to throw stones rather than meet knife to knife as does a warrior.
Under the direction of the coyotes, Travis had circled the line of march, come in ahead of the clan. Now he needed an emissary to state his challenge, and the fact that the scout he was about to jump was Manulito, one of Deklay's supporters, suited Travis' purpose perfectly. He gathered his feet under him as the other came opposite, and sprang.
Moving slowly in his cumbersome clothing, Manulito reached the ground, fumbled with the catch of his head covering and then stood, taking deep, lung-filling gulps of air. "Well?" Travis demanded. "I see no ghosts," Manulito said, grinning. "This is ghost-proof!" He slapped his gloved hand against the covering over his chest.
"Against a mixed-up Redax broadcast, you mean!" Jil-Lee exclaimed. "Yes, but you stay here, younger brother. This is a risky climb, and you are not yet strong." Travis was forced to accede to that, waiting as Manulito and Lupe climbed up to the tear and entered. At least Buck and Deklay's experience had forewarned them and they would be prepared for the weird ghosts haunting the interior.
"What would happen were the Reds to get inside and try to fly again?" Manulito wondered aloud. Travis was struck by a sudden idea, one perhaps just as wild as the other inspirations he had had since landing on Topaz, but one to be studied and explored not dismissed without consideration. Suppose enough power remained to lift the ship partially and then blow it up?
To one side of the water Buck stood, his arms folded across his chest, armed only with his belt knife. Grouped behind him were Deklay, Tsoay, Nolan, Manulito Travis tabulated hurriedly. Manulito and Deklay were to be classed together or had been when he was last in the rancheria. On Buck's stairway from the past, both had halted more than halfway down.
"There is also this from what I know of these ships some of the relays still work. I think this could be made into a trap. We could entice the Reds in and then...." His hand moved in a quick upward flip. "But we don't know anything about the engines," Travis replied. "No? Listen you, Fox, are not the only one to remember useful knowledge." Manulito had lost his cheerful grin.
Travis agreed emphatically and then was annoyed at the broadening of Jil-Lee's smile. Abruptly he changed the subject. "Manulito is setting the booby trap in the ship." "That is well. He and Eskelta will remain here, and you with them." "Not so! We must go to the towers " Travis protested. "I thought," Jil-Lee cut in, "that you believed the weapons of the old ones too dangerous for us to use."
The rush carried Manulito off his feet and face down on the sod while Travis made the best of his advantage and pinned the wildly fighting man under him. Had it been one of the older braves he might not have been so successful, but Manulito was still a boy by Apache standards. "Lie still!" Travis ordered. "Listen well so you can say to Deklay the words of the Fox!" The frenzied struggles ceased.
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