Mission To Mahjundar (22 page)

“If we reach the banks of the Suaga River, I promise we'll go free,” Saium assured them as they kicked their horses forward at a gallop. “This old Windhunter has some clan secrets those vermin can’t dream of.”
 

 
Mike kept the reins of Shalira's horse tightly wrapped around his right hand as they rode.
 

In the lead, he set a rapid pace, riding as fast as his horse could weave a safe trail through the forest. He kept them at this speed for a good three hours past dawn, stopping only for short breaks to rest the winded animals. As Saium had suggested, Mike was setting a course toward the Suaga River, which marked the official boundary between the foothills and the lower slopes of the Djeelaba Mountains proper.
 

During one of the breaks, Saium cocked his head, staring the way they’d come. “Hunting horns!” He swiveled in the saddle to stare at Mike.
 

Mike heard the horns sounding again. “Probably a couple of miles back. Sound carries a long way in the thinner air at this altitude. A race then, one we have to win. Shalira, are you ready?”

She was sitting straight in her saddle, chin up, composed. “Don't worry about me. I can hang on no matter how fast we go. This is a good little horse.”
 

Mike shifted in his saddle, looking for Saium. “How much farther to the river?”
 

“Several hours of hard riding, at least.” Saium frowned. “The trail gets easier in a few more miles, but it will be easier for those who follow, too.”
 

The rest of the day was a blur forever after to Mike. He kept them galloping as much as possible to establish a greater margin of safety between them and those who hunted them, but always the horns would sound again.
 

Johnny rode rear guard. It took a shorter and shorter amount of time for him to double back to observe the pursuit and then rejoin the group.
 

Finally, in the late afternoon, Mike heard a roaring sound ahead.
 

“The Suaga!” Saium shouted, pointing ahead. “We must be close to the great falls, where the river drains into the low-lands. Not long now.”
 

“Getting tight, Mike,” Johnny warned. “They're going to be on us about the time we reach this river.”
 

“Stop talking and ride, then.” Mike touched his horse with his spurs.

Another short burst from the tiring animal and he came out on the banks of one of the most intimidating rivers he’d ever seen, on any planet. Wide, fast with wicked rapids, there was obviously a huge waterfall not too far from them.
Means a powerful current. Our horses are too tired to swim across.
Mike pointed at the roiling waters, frowning at Saium. “You expect us to cross
this
?”

In the forest behind them the hunting horns blared again, much closer.

Saium was undaunted. “Trust me, there’s a way across. One summer when I was a boy, drought left the river lower than any other time in memory, and I found a safe place to ford, even at full flood level.”
 

Mike shaded his eyes with one hand and studied the desolate landscape awaiting them on the other side and the thickly forested foothills rising beyond. “We've got to get across this monster of a river now or the Bartuk Clan warriors are going to get their revenge for Bandarlok’s death.”
 

“Too close to the falls here,” Johnny said, pointing at a tree trunk drifting past them at a rapid pace, “There’s a strong current through this pass.”
 

“Here would be suicide,” Saium agreed. “We must find my boyhood landmarks. The way is more to the west.”
 

Mike lifted the reins, urging the black stallion to proceed along the riverbank. “Lead on, then. We can't waste any more time or they'll be on top of us.”
 

Following his lead, the others turned their horses, the tired animals picking their way carefully on the muddy surface.
 

Maybe half a mile farther on, Saium raised his hand for the group to halt. “We make the crossing here.”

The first of their pursuers burst onto the riverbank back to the east, near the falls. Shouts and more horns broadcast their arrival and excitement at catching sight of their quarry.

Pointing to the opposite river-bank, Saium spared no attention for the rapidly oncoming warriors. “I recognize the rock formation directly across from us, the one shaped like a sleeping bartuk.”

“This is a nightmare,” Johnny shouted over the roar of the water. “We're never going to make it across.”
 

“No choices left,” Mike said simply. Pulling her horse closer, he leaned in to address Shalira, who had a death grip on her saddle and was pale and silent. “Hang on tight, no matter what happens. We're going to try fording the river now.”
 

“I trust you, and I trust this horse.” Her face calm, Shalira patted the little mare on the neck and sat straight in the saddle.
 

Saium forced his horse down the bank and into the narrow band of quiet water at the river's edge. Mike came directly behind him, tugging on the reins to ensure Shalira’s mare followed. Johnny led the pack horse. Saium's mount lost its footing in the water and swam, fighting against the current. Suddenly the horse scrambled, finding something solid under the swirling water. Saium let the animal stand for a moment, man and horse gathering confidence before walking in madly swirling water up to the horse's knees, heading for the opposite bank. “The safe path is narrow,” he yelled. “Follow my lead exactly.”

Buzzing like an angry bee, a bullet whizzed past Mike’s ear as he forced his reluctant horse deeper into the water, pulling Shalira's mare behind him. The horses started swimming for the point where Saium had found the narrow ridge that was his ford. Pausing to let loose a few rounds of sizzling blaster fire to set the trees ablaze, Johnny brought up the rear.
 

About the time Mike thought he’d have to allow the horse to attempt swimming across the river, the animal found the first rock under its hooves. Staring into the foamy, cold, greenish water, Mike could barely make out the black shadows of the stepping stones.
 

More shots rang out from the Bartuk Clan warriors on the bank. Risking a backward glance, Mike observed a large party of men milling at the water's edge, arguing amongst themselves. Some plainly wanted to abandon the chase, while others were gesticulating and pointing at the river, where their quarry was rapidly drawing farther away to the safety of the other bank.
 

Firing short bursts at the enemy from time to time, Johnny was bringing up the rear, shooting when he could spare attention from trying to navigate the hidden path. His aim was badly off under the stress of the river crossing, but accurate enough to cause the Bartuks to dodge into the cover of the trees.

Mike was on the other shore now, with Saium and Shalira, watching the last part of the drama play itself out. The faction among their pursuers who argued for following them into the river prevailed. Eight men urged their horses into the swirling water, swimming toward the point where they seemed to think better footing existed. Johnny shot one man, who toppled into the river with a startled yell and was swept away. The riderless horse clambered to safety on the opposite bank, but the other warriors kept coming.

As Shalira covered her ears and hunched low in her saddle, Mike and Saium unholstered their weapons and sent a barrage of covering bullet-and-blaster fire arcing over the river as Johnny and the pack horse finished crossing.
 

Mike took careful aim on the first warrior who reached the narrow band of shallower water. As soon as the man’s horse found the welcome footing, Mike shot the rider, winging him. The Bartuk clansman fell partway from the saddle, but managed to grab his horse's mane, avoiding the water. As the next person in line tried to help him, their mounts got tangled up together on the rock. The third horse in the column made a plunging rush onto the stepping stone. In the blink of an eye, all three horses and riders had been swept away into the current. Misjudging where the stone was, the next man went rolling and bobbing downriver toward the roaring falls. The fifth man shouted and tried to redirect his horse toward shore. Confused and frightened, the animal collided with the horse swimming behind it and both were carried away.
 

By now, the remaining Bartuk Clan members had apparently decided they were in a no-win situation and retreated to safety. Clustered on the far bank, the enemy leaned around the trees sheltering them, waved their fists and cursed, firing wild shots at random.

Laughing, Mike snapped off a sardonic salute in the direction of their pursuers as he wheeled the black stallion to leave the riverbank. “Saium, my apologies for ever doubting you.”
 

Well satisfied at having saved the situation, the old guardsman nodded, although visibly less jubilant over their escape than Mike was. “Not only are they afraid of your weapons and the river, they fear the natives who dwell on this side of the water. Venturing to this shore can lead to certain death. We’ll have to keep a sharp watch.”

“So how did you survive, coming into this territory when you were a boy?” Johnny asked as he checked his blaster charge and holstered the weapon.

“I was cautious and I didn’t draw attention to myself.” Saium nodded in self-satisfaction. “I remember my scout craft, never fear. We’ll find your crashed ship and escape from these mountains unscathed, just as I did when I went treasure hunting many a time as a boy.”

“Treasure hunting?” Shalira tilted her head in his direction as the group moved away from the river shore.

“The emperor’s ancestors made many attempts to conquer the tribes who live here,” Saium said. “Always they were driven back, sometimes slaughtered on the road as they fled. Finally the emperor himself—one of your ancestors—disappeared on a campaign into the Djeelaba. Legend has it he threw the Cherindor Scepter into the river with his dying breath, so the enemy couldn’t possess its great powers. His heirs declared the crusades were over, honor and the gods satisfied. No more need to explore the area.”

“And now here we are, hundreds of years later,” Shalira said. “Traveling into the mountains again. I remember the stories.”

Mike exchanged glances with Johnny as they rode.
Doesn’t sound to me like her people actually won. I wonder if the tribes who did still roam here.

Mike didn’t waste time gloating over the escape, but led his party away from the river, deeper into the mountains. Not wanting to camp in the open, he was determined to reach the shelter Saium had promised before night fell. Sure enough, in another hour of riding, as the first spatters of what promised to be a hard rain began to fall, Saium led them to the huge cave he remembered using as his base camp many years ago. Mike and Johnny stabled the horses in a large room off to the side of the entrance, harvesting what fodder was available in the immediate area of the cave. Saium arranged accommodations in the other chambers and started a cooking fire and dinner, after which he joined Mike and Johnny as they stared out the mouth of the cave at the leaden sheets of rain.

Shalira laughingly refused to stir from the roaring fire, clutching her blanket closely. “There’s no attraction to me in proximity to the downpour.”

After making sure the fire was burning steadily, with a minimal amount of smoke, Mike clapped Saium on the shoulder. “Guess you were right about this cave having natural chimneys. I was dubious about making a fire in here, but I’m a believer now. You know these mountains like the back of your hand. We never would have made it without you today.”
 

Standing a little taller, his eyes gleaming, Saium snorted. “I roamed all over the Djeelaba as a boy. I loathed being confined and following orders.” Rubbing his chin, the guardsman said, “So then of course, I spent several decades cooped up in the city, constrained in every way on a daily basis by the palace protocols.”
 

“Good thing the storm didn't hit earlier, while we were trying to ford the river.” Mike pulled his collar tighter at his throat, glad the Sectors uniforms were water resistant.

“Mountain gales usually go on like this for a day and a night,” Saium told them. “We rest here tomorrow. Her Highness is a strong-minded woman, but I think she’ll benefit from the respite.”

“She’s been through a lot,” Mike agreed. “Still, if we can ride tomorrow, I’d risk it. Finishing our mission and getting off the planet in one piece is the safest thing for all of us.”

Saium watched the rain falling in sheets. “The day after will be clear, and we can travel onward. You’ll need to explain to me more exactly where this crashed ship of your comrades’ is.”
 

“The fix isn't too clear,” Mike admitted. “The beacon bounces off these mountains, making the signal erratic. Mineral deposits, no doubt. Which is why Command had to go to all the trouble of sending Johnny and me out here, rather than homing in on the distress beacon and doing a straightforward extraction. Care to make a rough guess how many days’ ride it’ll be to the general area, based on what we told you before?”
 

Closing his eyes for a moment, Saium wrinkled his brow, lips moving soundlessly as he calculated. “Probably three or four at the most.”