sts.

It all meant something, and he frowned as he tried to think what.
Animals running, Pyrran animals.

He sat bolt upright suddenly, wide awake, staring down in comprehension.

"What is it?" Rhes asked.

"Go on," Jason said. "Get us out of this, and get us out safely. I told
you the lifeboat wasn't the only answer. I know how your people can get
what they want--end the war now. There _is_ a way, and I know how it can
be done."

XXV.

There were few coherent memories of the ride. Some things stood out
sharply like the spaceship-sized lump of burning scoria that had plunged
into a lake near them, showering the line with hot drops of water. But
mostly it was just a seemingly endless ride, with Jason still too weak
to care much about it. By dawn the danger area was behind them and the
march had slowed to a walk. The animals had vanished as the quake was
left behind, going their own ways, still in silent armistice.

The peace of mutually shared danger was over, Jason found that out when
they stopped to rest and eat. He and Rhes went to sit on the soft grass,
near a fallen tree. A wild dog had arrived there first. It lay under the
log, muscles tensed, the ruddy morning light striking a red glint from
its eyes. Rhes faced it, not three meters away, without moving a muscle.
He made no attempt to reach one of his weapons or to call for help.
Jason stood still as well, hoping the Pyrran knew what he was doing.

With no warning at all the dog sprang straight at them. Jason fell
backwards as Rhes pushed him aside. The Pyrran dropped at the same
time--only now his hand held the long knife, yanked from the sheath
strapped to his thigh. With unseen speed the knife came up, the dog
twisted in midair, trying to bite it. Instead it sank in behind the
dog's forelegs, the beast's own weight tearing a deadly gaping wound the
length of its body. It was still alive when it hit the ground, but Rhes
was astraddle it, pulling back the bony-plated head to cut the soft
throat underneath.

The Pyrran carefully cleaned his knife on the dead animal's fur, then
returned it to the sheath. "They're usually no trouble," he said
quietly, "but it was excited. Probably lost the rest of the pack in the
quake." His actions were the direct opposite of the city Pyrrans. He had
not looked for trouble nor started the fight. Instead he had avoided it
as long as he could. But when the beast charged it had been neatly and
efficiently dispatched