Part 7 (2/2)
Thrala rubbed the round head while the insect nuzzled affectionately at her cheek Then she held out her wrist again and it was gone
”We shall be expected now and may pass un sound The crater wall loo the trees at its base
”There is the city of the Gibi,” re to the rock were the towers and turrets offor the Mists,” observed Thrala ”We shall have company on our journey to the Caverns”
They passed the trees and reached the foot of the wax skyscrapers which towered dizzily above their heads A great cloud of the Gibi hovered about theainst his body
And they crowded each other jealously to be near Thrala
The soft _hush-hush_ of their wings filled the clearing as one large Gibi of outstanding beauty approached The coreeted the Queen of the cells as an equal Then she turned to her companions with the information the Gibi Queen had to offer
”We are just in tiels have crossed the river and are out of control Instead of hunting us they have gone to ravage the forest lands All Tav has been warned against theht by the Mist and so destroyed We are to rest in the cliff hollows, and one shall come for us when it is time to leave”
The Gibi withdrew to the cell-couests to the rock-hollows
_CHAPTER NINE_
_Days of Preparation_
Garin akened by a loud o Even now the Gibi seal the last of the cells”
They ate hurriedly of cakes of grain and honey, and, as they feasted, the Queen again visited the eastward
With the Gibi nation hanging like a storm cloud above them, the three started off across theand, here and there, curious formations, like the dust devils of the desert, arose and danced and disappeared again The tropic heat of Tav increased; it was as if the ground itself were stea
”The Mists draw close; we ue of forest which bordered the meadow and ca stillness there The Ana, perched on Garin's shoulder, shi+vered
Their walk becaht her breath in a half sob
”They are flying slowly because of us And it's so far--”
”Look!” Dandtan pointed at the plain ”The el pack, driven by fear, ran in leaping bounds They passed within a hundred yards of the three, yet did not turn froh several snarled at them
”They are already dead,” observed Dandtan ”There is no time for the through a shallow brook, the three began to run For the first time Thrala faltered and broke pace Garin thrust the Ana into Dandtan's arirl into his ar upon them as a curtain Black hair, finer than silk, whipped across Garin's throat Thrala's head was on his shoulder, her heaving breasts arched as she gasped the sultry air
”They--keep--watch!” shouted Dandtan
Piercing the gloorazed Garin's head--one of the Gibi Queen's guards