roached. The commoners fluttered off and
Thrala greeted 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 time. Tomorrow the Gibi leave. The morgels 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 them. But
they may be caught 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-combs after conducting their guests to the
rock-hollows.

_CHAPTER NINE_

_Days of Preparation_

Garin was awakened by a loud murmuring. Dandtan knelt beside him.

"We must go. 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 them. The first of the swarm were already
winging eastward.

With the Gibi nation hanging like a storm cloud above them, the three
started off across the meadow. The purple-blue haze was thickening and,
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 steaming.

"The Mists draw close; we must hurry," panted Dandtan.

They traversed the tongue of forest which bordered the meadow and came
to the central plain of Tav. There was a brooding stillness there. The
Ana, perched on Garin's shoulder, shivered.

Their walk became a trot; the Gibi bunched together. Once Thrala caught
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 morgels!"

The morgel pack, driven by fear, ran in leaping bounds. They passed
within a hundred yards of the three, yet did not turn from their course,
though several snarled at them.

"They are already dead," observed Dandtan. "There is no time for them to
reach the shelter of the Caves."

Splashing 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
arms and, before she could protest, swept the girl into his arms.

The haze was denser now, settling 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.