White and clean most of those bones were, but the skull was blackened,
and similar charring existed down one arm and shoulder. That merman
had not died from any mishap in the sea!
"It is so," Sssuri replied to his thought. "_They_ have come once more
to give the flaming death--"
Dalgard, startled, looked up that slope which must lead to the island
top above the waves.
"Long dead?" he asked tentatively, already guessing what the other's
answer would be.
"The pickers move fast," Sssuri indicated the sand dwellers. "Perhaps
yesterday, perhaps the day before--but no longer than that."
"And _they_ are up there now?"
"Who can tell? However, _they_ do not know the sea, nor the islands--"
It was plain that the merman intended to climb to investigate what
might be happening above. Dalgard had no choice but to follow. And it
was true that the merpeople had no peers or equals when it came to
finding their ways about the sea and the coasts. He was confident that
Sssuri could get to the island top and discover just what he wished to
learn without a single sentry above, if they had stationed sentries,
being the wiser.
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