Storm Over Warlock

on Warlock. Summer had taken a big leap forward. The Terrans worked in partial shade below a cliff overhang, n

ell as the general shape suggested that-was equipped with a framework to act as a stabilizing outrigger. W

ajor evidence of native life along the shore was a new species of clak-claks, roosting in cliff holes and scavenging along the sands, and various queer fish and sh

ashing, straightening up, his fists resting on his

ould be off to explore Thorvald's Utgard. But a small and nagging doubt inside the younger man restrained his enthusiasm over such a voyage. Fork-tail had come out of t

ersonal doubts of their success. The outmost tip of tha

... that on

fury of that elemental burst had tightened the bond between men and animals, both alien to this world. Now Taggi and his mate padded toward him

xed Taggi gently. Though the wolverine protested, he at last scrambled in, to hunch at the bottom of the shell, the picture of apprehension. Togi too

outrigger proved right, for the craft was seaworthy. It answered readily to the dip of their paddles as

wo thirds of the group were barren rock, inhabited only by clak-claks and creatures closer to true Terran birds in that they wore a body plumage which resembled feathers, though their heads were

ach from sea level. Perhaps it might be possible to climb to the top of the cliff walls. But Tho

re were at least two beaches with climbable ascents to the upper reaches inland. Though Shann noted that the vegetation showing was certainly not luxuriant, the few trees within their range of vision being pallid growths, rat

e of the reef. Thorvald impatiently dug his paddle deeper. They had explor

ected back from the surface of the waves, burned their exposed skin, so they dared not discard their ragged clothing. And the wolverines were growin

ng at the same time his companion was not in any

bborn determination to find a passage. This was a personal thing now, between Ragnar Thorvald of the Te

eemed dangerously limited, the sudden slam of a wave could dash them against either of those pillars, with disastrous results, before they could move to save themselves. B

euvers was proved when the canoe rode in a rising swell in and by those rocks to gain the

s, for fronting them on this side of the well-protected island were cliffs as f

nodules of rock projected inches or feet above the surface, awash in the wavelets, to be avoided by the voyagers. Shann's shoulders ached and burned, his muscles were unaccustomed to the steady swing of

unsupported theory against that ache in his shoulders, the possibility of being marooned on the inhospitable shore ahead, against the fifty probable dangers he could total up with very little expenditure of effort. A small nagging doubt of Thorval

eared, plunged over the side of the craft, and Shann had just time to fling his weight in the opposite direction as a counterbalance when Togi followed. They splashed shoreward while Thorvald swore fluently and Shann grabbed

n sweated to get it up on the beach without snagging the outrigger against stones an

ted no time in sampling the contents of a wealth of nesting places beginning just above the high-water mark, cupping two to four tough

stone-walled depression on the crest of a rise, filled by the bounty of the rain. Th

he bottom of it a showing of purple-green foliage where plants and stunted trees fought for living space. But there

swallowed. Tonight no cloud bank hung overhead. A man, gazing up, could see the stars. The stars and other things, for over the distant shore of the mainl

," Shann stated what w

take a prisoner to talk her in and allay suspicion, then-" he sn

watched the Terran camp die under the aliens' weapons. But one day faded into another so that he could remember only action parts clearly-the attack on the grounded scoutship, the sortie they had made in turn on the occupied camp, the dust storm on the

land?" he as

e on the edge of this valley," T

e found noth

supplies us with

, Shann spread out his hands in the very faint light of their tiny fire, poked with a finger tip at smarting points which would have been blisters had those hands not known a toughening process in the past. More paddling tomorrow? But that was tomorrow, and at least they need not worry tonight about any

a cat at ease. Then he really awoke under the press of memory, and the need for alertness rode him once more. Beaten-dow

and the Survey officer were indeed gone. Shann sat up, got to his feet, breathing faster, a prickle of uneasiness spreading in him,

y had used for a screen were strewn about as

ade wielded by its occupant flashing brightly in the sun. On the shingl

rval

ing from one of the small peaks at his back. But the man in the boat did

ng the last few feet, saving himself from going headfi

right under the sun did not turn; there was no answe

est. Shann was not a powerful swimmer. His first impetus gave him a good start, but after that he had to fight for each foot he gained, and the fear grew in him that the other

ished the balancing outrigger. As his fingers tightened on the slimy wood

impromptu half dive, Shann carried with him a vivid pic

log and gone under water, that crudely fashioned piece of wood might, have broken his skull. He saw only too clearly the paddle

more attention to what lay behind than if he had successfully disposed of the man in the water. To follow would be only to invite another attack, and Shann might not be so luc

nd the animals on this island, the island Thorvald had called a starting point in his search for the natives of Warlock? Or had every bit of that tall tale been invented by the Survey offic

nuzzle him, making a small, bewildered whimpering. While above, the leather-headed birds called and swooped, fearfu

d be very close to the reef passage, perhaps through it by now. Not stopping for his

f his hands Shann saw the canoe again, beyond the reef, heading on out along the island chain, not back to shore as he h

as half the size of the valley which held the Survey camp. As far as he knew, his only supply of drinkable water was that tank of evil-smelling rain which would be speedily e

in the chain, a small, bare knob, but to the one beyond that.

cer had no intention of returning, that he was again on his own with only his wits