02 Quetzals Flock

QUETZAL'S FLOCK
smothered everything as the ground shivered into new fissures on the ancient surface.
Kane growled.
"I'll be glad to get off this heap of dust!"
Nuraghe looked interested.
"You may tell Eridos that I have received - new orders. The people of the Ship
will leave within four more of my days - and he and I will leave after that!"
Nuraghe said nothing. After a while, he got up without a word and wandered
off. Kane watched him go, knowing that Eridos would receive his message. They
continued their journey and reached the Arch a little earlier than expected. Eridos had
already established his camp a short distance from it. His scouts reported that Obeid
or Hammadi, whoever was in control, was a similar distance on the other side. It was
the closest the two gens had come in four thousand years. Kane knew that he had a
few hours to talk some sense into their heads. From the expression on Eridos' face,
when he rode into his camp, he knew he was going to have a hard time.
He left the Picun and the Bole in the Encampment and together with Nuraghe,
continued on through the camp and out again on the side nearest the Great Arch. It
had the appearance of the head of a needle which was buried in the purple dust of the
seashore. The eye of the needle was the Arch, which cut the shoreline into two. The
ocean lapped against the outer rock edge, the shaft of the needle continued back into
the land mass, buried in the gradual slope which led to the fringe of Schwarm.
Kane couldn't remember the number of days which had elapsed since he had
first come to Jubal. The numbering of days didn't count for much on a planet where it
had a different meaning. He knew he was weary, as he walked towards it with
Nuraghe. They passed the place where he had first met Hammadi, Dagh and Motya
and where he had witnessed the contest with the Krain. They topped the slight rise
and there it was in front of them. Kane had a sudden longing to return back the way
he had come - back to Maia. Perhaps, the Paths of Psi wouldn't lead him back,
perhaps, they were constantly variable and they were controlled by the Masters.
He had the hollow feeling of complete conviction that Lynxe and Maia were
utterly lost. Even if he could return to Lynxe, it might not be at the right time -
perhaps, he would once more be Taxila, pursuing Shaita and then finding the ten
maidens and fathering the Lynxe race. He wouldn't find Maia.
"Tell me, Nuraghe, Have there ever been others who came to you through the
Arch?"
"You came once before, Lord Quetzal - I don't know of anyone else."
They walked up to it and stopped. For some reason, Kane didn't want to go
through it. It wasn't superstitious fear, more a sense of caution that he might be
snatched away before it was time. There was still a great deal to complete before he
left Jubal in less than three days.
It wasn't a very impressive structure, just a frame of harder rock around
something which had worn away. It was about five metres high and about three deep.
Nuraghe stepped through confidently. He was either very brave or didn't believe that
he was going to be struck by lightning. He waited for Kane to join him. Kane
wondered about a mechanism which could move a man in space and time - but only
sometimes. He walked through and joined him.
A group of grey cloaks came whooping over the brow of the shoreline. They
were either idiots with a death wish, or believed they were under divine protection.
Eridos was camped three hundred metres distant, they couldn't hope to capture them
or kill them, without dying in the attempt. Nuraghe had already drawn his short
sword. Kane gave an abrupt order.
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