Clarion

Chapter Eight

THEY SPENT THE NIGHT FAR BACK IN THE CAVE.

Paul slept fitfully on a mat of blankets, with another one o.ver him.

The next morning was clear and cold. They made their plans for the trip to the temple over a breakfast of baked poca and several other unmemorable vegetables. Karyn seemed to be the informal leader when it came to strategy, and it was clear that she was most familiar with the Tal Tahir city. Sabastian spoke little, offering only a suggestion now and then. He and Olaf Blackburn would remain at the camp.

Jacque Hakim selected and checked over the

handmade knives and the single burp gun they would take. Paul reluctantly strapped a sheathed knife around his waist, fervently hoping he would never face the prospect of using it. Dorland refused to carry a weapon.

Karyn impressed on them that timing was important. They would have to reach the temple after nightfall in order to get Dorland inside under cover of darkness, so they wouldn't leave the camp 86 William Greenleuf

until late afternoon.

In order to keep in touch with Sabastian

and Olaf, Karyn carried a small device called a fartalker in her belt pouch. Curious, Paul had asked to see the palm-sized box before they left the camp, and found that it was an ancient but recognizable version of an intraship communicator. According to Selmer, several hundred of the devices had been salvaged from Vanguard. Energy charges had diminished to the point that the fartalker range was only about seven kilometers, but that would be enough to stretch the distance between the temple and the mountain camp.

The air was still crisp when they left. They all wore dark coveralls, and jackets made of heavy, durable cloth. The going was rough as they made their way down the slope with Karyn and Jacque leading. Doriand and Paul followed, and Selmer Ogram brought up the rear. Several times they had to clamber over outcroppings of splintered rock. Paul noticed that Karyn always kept her eyes on the area ahead, and paused several times to survey the slope below them.

"What's she looking for?" Paul asked Selmer at one such halt.

"Deacons," Selmer answered. "Or Sons of God. She doesn't want to cross paths with them."

"I thought you said they aren't allowed up this way."

"They aren't. But I also said Lord Tern changes the rules from time to time."

They continued down the slope toward the valley in the face of a chill wind. At last the ground leveled and the rocks gave way to spongy soil and waisthigh plants with flat leaves that were blue and shiny. The area was still heavily wooded, but the trees were not,as tall or as thickly foliaged as those of the higher slopes.