As if now there was danger to be feared from following
the normal ways.
Again Sssuri whistled, and in that cry Dalgard heard a close
resemblance to the flute tone of the night moth birds. Up the scale
the notes ran with mournful persistence. When the answer came, the
scout at first thought that the imitation had lured a moth bird, for
the reply seemed to ripple right above their heads.
Sssuri stood up, and his hand dropped on Dalgard's shoulder, applying
pressure which was both a warning and a summons, bringing the scout to
his feet with as little noise as possible. The horrible smell caught
at his throat, and he was glad when the merman did not head inland
toward the source of that odor, but started off along the edge of the
cliff, one hand in Dalgard's to draw him along.
Twice more Sssuri paused to whistle, and each time he was answered by
a signing note or two which seemed to reassure him.
Against the lighter expanse which was the sea, Dalgard saw the loom of
a peak which projected above file general level of the island. Though
he knew that the merpeople did not build aboveground, being adept in
turning natural caves and crevices into the kind of living quarters
they found most satisfactory, the barrenness of this particular rock
top was forbidding.
Pages:
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179