guard robots。〃
〃Of that I have no doubt；〃 Lark answered； shading his eyes to peer against the glare； as searchlights roved across the crater where the alien station lay in ruins。 After two days without sleep； the far…off engines reminded him of a growl of a she…ligger； just returned from a hunt to find her pup mauled and now nursing a killing rage。
〃It's still not too late； you know；〃 Ling went on。 〃If you hand over your zealot rebels…and your High Sages…the Rothen may accept individual rather than collective guilt。 Punishment doesn't have to be universal。〃
Lark knew he should get angry。 He ought to whirl and decry the hypocrisy of her offer…reminding her of the evidence everyone had seen and felt earlier； proving that her masters planned genocide all along。
Two things stopped him。
First； while everyone now knew the Rothen planned inciting bloody civil war； aimed foremost at the human population of Jijo； the details were still unclear。
And the devil lies in the details。
Anyway； Lark was too tired to endure another mental tussle with the young Danik biologist。 He turned his head in a neck…twist that mimicked an urrish shrug； and hiss…clicked in GalTwo…
〃Have we not （much） better things to do； than to discuss （intensely） absurd notions？〃
This brought approving snickers from the guards； acpanying the two of them into hiding。 Other groups were escorting Rann and Ro…kenn to separate concealed places； dispersing the hostages as far apart as possible。
Yes； but why did they put me in charge of Ling？
Maybe they figure she'll be too busy constantly fighting with me to plan any escape。
For all he knew； the two of them might be stuck together for a long time to e。
Silence reigned as they watched the mighty starship cruise back and forth； shining its fierce beam onto every corner of the Glade； every place where a pavilion had stood； only miduras before。 From a remote mountainside； it was transfixing； hypnotic。
〃Sage； we must be going now； it's still not safe。〃
That was the militia sergeant； a small wiry woman named Shen； with glossy black hair； delicate features； and a deadly pound bow slung over one shoulder。 Lark blinked； at first wondering who she was talking to。
Sage…ah； yes。
It would take some getting used to。 Lark had always figured his heresy would disqualify him； despite his training and acplishments。
But only a sage can rule in matters of life or death。
As the group resumed their trek； he could not help glancing at Ling。 Though half the time he 〃wanted to strangle her；〃 that was only a figure of speech。 Lark doubted he could ever carry out his duty； if it came to that。 Even now； smudged and gaunt from exhaustion； her face was too lovely by far。
A midura or so later； a blaring cry of dismay filled the mountain range； echoing round frosted peaks to assail them from all sides； setting trees quivering。 A militia soldier pointed back along the trail to where the starship's artificial glow had just grown impossibly brighter。 They all ran to the nearest switchback offering a view southwest and raised their hands to shield their eyes。
〃Ifni！〃 Lark gasped； while guards clutched their crude weapons； or each other's arms； or made futile hand gestures to ward off evil。 Every face was white with reflected radiance。
〃It。。。 can't。。。 be。。。〃 Ling exhaled heavily； sighing each word。
The great Rothen ship still hovered over the Glade…as before； bathed in light。
Only now the light blazed down upon it from above…cast by a new entity。
Another ship。
A much； much bigger ship； like a grown urs towering over one of her larvae。
Ub。。。 went Lark's mind as he stared； struggling to adjust to the change in scale。 But all he could e up with was a blaspheming thought。
The new monster was huge enough to have laid the Holy Egg and still have room inside for more。
Trapped underneath the behemoth； the Rothen craft gave a grinding noise and trembled； as if straining to escape； or even to move。 But the light pouring down on it now seemed to take on qualities of physical substance； like a solid shaft； pressing it ever lower toward the ground。 A golden color flowed around the smaller star…craft as it scraped hard against Jijo's soil。 The dense lambency coated and surrounded it； congealing like a glowing cone； hardening as it cooled。
Like wax； Lark thought； numbly。 Then he turned with the others and ran through the forest night for as long and as hard as his body could bear it。
Asx
WHAT IS THIS； MY RINGS？ THIS SHIVERING sensation； coursing through our stack？ It feels like dread familiarity。 Or a familiar dread。
Amid this horrible glare； we stand rooted in the festival glade with the Rothen ship grounded nearby； encased in a bubble of frozen time； with leaves and twigs caught motionless； mid…whirl； next to its gold…sealed hull。
And above； this new power。 This new titan。 The searing lights dim。 Humming an overpowering song； the monstrous vessel descends； crushing every remaining tree on the south side of the valley； shoving a new bed for the river； filling the sky like a mountain。
Can you feel it； my rings？
Can you feel the premonition that throbs our core with acid vapors？
Along the vast flank of the starship； a hatch opens； large enough to swallow a small village。
Against the lighted interior； silhouettes enter view。
Tapered cones。 Stacks of rings。
Frightful kinfolk we had hoped never to see again。
Sara
THE STRANGER HURRIED INTO CAMP A WHILE after the second ship passed overhead。 By then； Sara had recovered enough to bring her mind back down to matters close at hand。
Matters she could do something about。
The star…man came from the south； herding a half…dozen weary donkeys。 He seemed excited； feverish with need to tell of something。 His mouth opened and closed； gabbling incoherently； as if trying to force words by sheer will。
Sara felt his forehead and checked his eyes。
〃I know；〃 she said； trying to calm his overwrought nerves。 〃We saw it too。 A huge damn thing； bigger than Dolo Lake。 I wish you could tell us whether it was your ship； or someone you don't like much。〃
In fact； she wasn't even sure the man could hear her voice； let alone follow her meaning。 He had been closer to the stun…grenade and less prepared。
Nevertheless； something seemed strange about his excitement。 He did not point at the sky； as she would have expected； nor to the north； where the two ships were last seen descending； one after the other。 Instead； he gestured southward； in the direction he had just e。
The Stranger's gaze met hers； and he shuddered。 His brow furrowed in concentration as he took several deep breaths。 Then； with a light suddenly in his eyes； he sang；
〃Blacks and bays； dapples and grays；
Coach and six white horses；
Hush…a…bye； don't you cry；
Go to sleepy； little baby。〃
His voice was raspy and Sara saw tears。 Still； he went on； triggering verses that he knew by heart…that lay ready； even after many decades； creased in undamaged folds of his brain。
〃When you wake；
you shall have cake；
and all the pretty
little horses。〃
Sara nodded； trying to sift meaning out of the lullaby。
〃All the pretty litt…oh； Ifni！〃
She whirled to face the explosers。
〃He's seen more urs！ They're here already； swinging south to take us from behind！〃
Kurt blinked a couple of times； then began to open his mouth…but was cut off by a fluting whistle of jubilation from the prisoners。
Ulgor stretched her neck toward them。 〃I told you our allies would not take long arriving。 Now cut these cords so I can intercede； and fersuade our Urunthai friends not to treat you too badly。〃
〃Sara；〃 Kurt said； taking her elbow。 But she shrugged him off。 There was no time to spare。
〃Kurt； you take Jomah； Prity； and the Stranger into the rocks。 The Urunthai can't follow well in rough terrain。 You might reach high ground if Blade and I stall them。 Try to find a cave or something。 Go！〃
She swiveled to face the blue qheuen。 〃Are you ready； Blade？〃
〃I am； Sara！〃 The blue clacked two fierce pincers and stepped