Neither he nor his
fellows made any sound, and Raf guessed that they had some other form
of communication, perhaps the same telepathic ability to broadcast
messages which this amazing man beside him displayed.
"They are of his tribe," the other explained, sensing that Raf could
not understand. "They came here to try to save him, for he is one of
their Speakers-for-Many."
"Who are they? Who are you?" Raf asked the two questions which had
been with him ever since the wild adventure had begun.
"They are the People-of-the-Sea, our friends, our knife brothers. And
I am of Homeport. My people came from the stars in a ship, but not a
ship of this world. We have been here for many years."
The mermen were moving now. Several had waded forward to greet their
chief, aiding him ashore. But when Raf moved toward the ledge, Dalgard
put out a restraining hand.
"Until we are summoned--no. They have their customs. And this is a
party-for-war. This tribe knows not my people, save by rumor. We
wait."
Raf looked over the ranks of the sea folk. The light came from globes
borne by every twentieth warrior, a globe in which something that
gave off phosphorescent gleams swam around and around.
Pages:
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261