02 Quetzals Flock

QUETZAL'S FLOCK
"An observation, my friend. The Masters of Psi are those who must be
obeyed!"
He had heard that expression too often! He changed the subject.
"After I have slept, it is my intention to go to the Encampment of Obeid."
"For this reason, I have shown you the Legend of the Sentinels - so that you
may begin to understand that the Lord Quetzal has a special relationship to his Flock."
Kane looked into his eyes, they seemed to pierce through him. Urartu smiled.
"Did you imagine that Lord Quetzal's Flock referred to the Picun?"
The smile widened.
"No! But, I thought it might mean your people!"
"A poetical concept, but inaccurate."
The audience was at an end. Urartu seemed to recede within himself and the
mists of the Wraith Chamber boiled closer to enshroud him as Kane walked from the
cavern.
Before he slept, he thought over the visions he had been shown. The hopeless
face of the young crewman haunted him. He knew he had come to the end of the line
but still, he persisted in making his futile record. He could never have imagined that it
would survive the coming of the Dwarf in the way that it had. It was an uncanny
coincidence that the ship carrying the present occupants of the planet, had been
stranded by a similar clumsy landing. He wondered suddenly, if the wreckage of that
ship still existed. Perhaps, the passage of twenty thousand years had obliterated all
traces of it.
He slept at last and he had no disturbing dreams until he was awakened by
Nijah. His three Body Companions arrived from their quarters. He sensed that they
were eager to make a quick start. He deactivated the Bole and ignored the curiosity of
Dagh, when he declined the offer to carry it to the outside and load it on to a spare
pack animal. So far, he hadn't elected to introduce the men of Jubal to the Bole. Some
inherent caution made him keep its capabilities under wraps.
He took his time to be especially courteous to Nijah. The old man was,
without a doubt, one of the greatest crawlers of all time, but he had served him
without apparent treachery. It was better to leave a potential friend than an enemy. He
positively glowed under the appreciative words and nearly dusted the path of the
Picun as they left.
A little way along the path which led through the crops and when they were
well out of earshot of the farewelling party, Hammadi collapsed into a roar of
laughter. Kane eyed him cautiously, there was always a possibility that he was
showing a portion of his anatomy which was normally kept hidden. Hammadi wiped
his eyes.
"My mother told me of your sly way with words. She said you could charm a
Sentinel from the sky and he would settle on your wrist. That was how you seduced
her!"
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