Dragon and Herdsman

"Why in that particular system?" Draycos asked.

"Because the only time it shows up is when we come back into normal space," Uncle Virge said. "There's a pulse in power utilization right as we shut the ECHO down; then a few minutes later we get this dip effect, like something is sucking up extra power."

"Could it be a problem with the cooldown?" Jack suggested. "Some wire contracting too fast and making contact where it's not supposed to?"

"If it is, it's not showing on the diagnostics," Uncle Virge said. "I'm probably going to have to do a systematic shutdown to isolate it. But I don't think we want to hang around this rock while I do that."

"On the other hand, we may have the necessary time to spare," Draycos said. He jabbed his tongue toward the sensor display. "I see no sign of any ship."

"So?" Uncle Virge asked.

"If her friends have been delayed, Alison may be marooned," Draycos said patiently.

"All Jack promised was to bring her here," Uncle Virge said tardy. "He never said we'd stay and hold her hand."

"We cannot simply fly away and abandon her," Draycos insisted.

"It's none of our business," Uncle Virge insisted right back. "Besides, there's half a chance she won't want us to see who it is who comes to get her."

"Can we just get down there?" Jack interrupted. "We can decide later whether or not to throw her a going-away party."

The winds sweeping over the mountains made the approach trickier than Jack had expected. But Uncle Virge was equal to the task, and soon they had passed over the snow-covered peaks and were flying over the river on their way to the forest below.

"Interesting," Draycos commented, the side of his triangular head pressed against the canopy as he tried to look straight down. "I do not believe I have ever seen water quite so chaotic."

"They're called rapids," Jack told him. "Fast and shallow water running over big rocks just below the surface."

"Actually, the only rapids I spotted are higher up the mountain," Uncle Virge said. "The water along here is really pretty deep."

Jack frowned. "Then what's causing all the white water?" he asked, maneuvering the Essenay a few yards to the side to give him a better view of the river.

"Probably have some underwater springs coming in under pressure," Uncle Virge said. "I can't tell for sure—there's a lot of silt churning around down there throwing off my sensors."

"So it's like a free-flowing spa tub?" Jack suggested.

"A free-flowing spa tub for walruses," Uncle Virge said. "That water's mighty cold."

"I wasn't suggesting we take a dip," Jack assured him, turning his attention to the forest. Close up, it looked even darker and more ominous than it had from low orbit. "You spotting any technology at all down there?"

"None," Uncle Virge said. "As far as I can tell, this place is as primitive as you can get in the Orion Arm."

"I guess Gardens of Eden are supposed to be that way," Jack said, shifting his eyes to the more cheerful-looking plain at the forest's southern edge. "Well, let's get to it. The sooner we drop Alison, the sooner we can get back to the job of rescuing Draycos's people."

Given their apparent lack of technology. Jack had half-expected the colony of Erassvas to scatter in panic as the Essenay flew past overhead and then settled to the ground a hundred yards from the forest.

Not only did they not scatter, but most of them didn't even bother to look at the big metal bird that had invaded their territory. "Certainly are calm types," Uncle Virge commented as Jack shut the ship's systems down to standby.

"It's better that than the alternative," Jack said. "Draycos, can you see all right?"

"I am fine," the dragon assured him. "And I can hear and smell, as well. If there are any predators nearby, I should detect them before they become a threat."

He pushed against Jack's shirt as he lifted his head from Jack's shoulder. "Or is that not what your question meant?"

"Yes, it was," Jack said, grimacing. Sometimes the dragon read his mind a little too well.

Alison was waiting at the air lock, her two travel bags at her sides. "I'm told there are enough traders and mining speculators poking around these colonies that there should be at least one or two Erassvas in the group who speak English," she told Jack as he keyed the outer door. "You might want to let me do the talking, though "

"Be my guest," Jack said, gesturing her to go ahead of him.

"Thanks." She gestured at the tangler Jack had belted at his waist. "And you'll want to keep that in its holster, too."

"It's just a tangler," Jack said.

"With shock rounds?"

"Low-current variety only," Jack assured her. "Just enough juice to stun most beings without damaging them."

"Good," Alison said. "Keep it in its holster anyway."