ht. A new ship,
another ship which had recently crossed deep space to find them had
flown the dark wastes even as the First Elders had done! It must be
that more outlaws had come to find a new home! This was wonderful
news, news he must take to Homeport. Only, it was news which must
wait. For the sea people had come to a decision of their own.

"What are they going to do now?" Raf asked.

The mermen were not retreating, instead they were slipping from the
ledge in regular order, forming somewhat crooked ranks in the water.

Dalgard did not reply at once, making mind touch not only to ask but
to impress his kinship on the sea people. They were united in a
single-minded purpose, with failure before them--unless--He turned to
the stranger.

"They go to war upon Those Others. He who guided us here knows also
that the new knowledge they have brought into the city is danger. If
an end is not put to it before they can use it, then"--he
shrugged--"the mermen must retreat into the depths. And we, who can
not follow them--" He made a quick, thrusting gesture as if using a
knife on his own throat. "For a time Those Others have been growing
fewer in number and weaker. Their children are not many and sometimes
there are years when none are born at all. And they have forgotten so
much. But now, perhaps they can increase once more, not only in wisdom
and strength of arms, but in numbers. The mermen have kept a watch on
them, content to let matters rest, sure that time would defeat them.
But now, time no longer fights on our side."

Raf watched the furred people with their short spears, their knives.
He recalled that rocky island where the aliens had unleashed the fire.
The expeditionary force would not have a chance against that.

"But _your_ weapons would." The words addressed to him were clear,
though they had not been spoken aloud. Raf's hand went to the pocket
where two more of the blast bombs rested. "And this is your battle as
much as ours!"

But it wasn't his fight! Dalgard had gone too far with that
suggestion. Raf had no ties on this world, the _RS 10_ was waiting to
take him away. It was strictly against all orders, all his training,
for him to become involved in alien warfare. The pilot's hand went
back to his belt. He was not going to allow himself to be pushed onto
anything foolish, whether this "colonist" could read his mind or not.

The first ranks of the mermen had already waded past them, heading
into the wa