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Rider understood immediately. "An albatross or eagle would be less flashy."
"Dig out some of those mirrors and flares," Su-Cha told Chaz. Already his head
was avian.
"A shape to go with his brain," Chaz said, ransacking the packs. He produced
signal mirrors and four small flares, which he placed in a pouch the imp grew
among his ventral feathers. Su-Cha retained rudimentary hands beneath his
wings.
Rider spread a maritime chart. "The ship is here, now, and headed so. If there
are others around, watch the one that is in a hurry. They're making all the
speed they can."
Su-Cha squawked and plunged through a hatch Preacher opened. In a moment he
was headed out over the strait on long white wings.
Greystone looked over Rider's shoulder. "They headed for the Hurm Islands?"
"Maybe. They could shift course once they're sure they're clear of the web."
"How soon?"
"I've lost them already."
"Signal from Su-Cha," Chaz said. "He has them."
Rider peered out the window. Far away, a mirror flashed.
"Keeping their heading," Chaz read.
"Tell him not to get too close," Rider replied. "What do you know about the
Hurm Islands, Greystone?"
"Not much to know. Uninhabited and considered uninhabitable. Except for the
biggest, Radhorn Island, they're little more than marshy places off the mouth
of the Claytyne River." The Claytyne emptied into the Bridge of the World from
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its southern, Saverne side. "Long ago, before the seas were ours alone, there
were naval fortifications on Radhorn. Earlier still, pirates nested there,
lying in wait for ships headed west."
Rider nodded. "And these days it's suspected of being a hideout for smugglers.
The ruins of the fortifications would provide a good hiding place for a pirate
airship."
"But Odehnal said Polybos House," Preacher protested.
"Let's forget that for the moment. Chaz. Can you make out Su-Cha?"
"Only when he flashes an all right."
"Maybe we ought to call for an all-out raid," Preacher said. "Half a dozen
airships and a company of air marines. Could be anything waiting out there."
"If it becomes necessary." Rider spoke to the propulsive demon. The ship
surged forward. "Chaz. We're going down channel and crossing over. Tell
Su-Cha." He began shedding altitude.
The airship crossed the Bridge of the World just yards above the waves. It was
seen by several merchantmen and fishing vessels, but Su-Cha reported none
steering near the Hurm Islands. Rider took the airship up into the southern
hills, finally grounded in a side canyon leading down to the Claytyne River.
"Now what?" Chaz asked. He was working his sword with a whetstone.
"We wait for darkness. And for Su-Cha."
Su-Cha arrived first, but not by much. "They stuck Soup and Spud in a basement
under the old ruins, then headed back for the north shore."
"They just dumped them?" Chaz asked. "Didn't leave any guards or anything?"
"Oh, there's guards. Fifteen or twenty smugglers and runaway slaves and such,
that they paid to watch them."
Chaz said, "Something's wrong here, Rider. Either it's a trap or we've been
snookered into leaving town."
"No trap," Su-Cha said. "I looked the place over good."
"Perhaps Shai Khe has fallen victim to his own arrogance."
"Well, at least we could have followed the fishing boat if the runt hadn't...
"
Su-Cha was grinning his biggest grin.
"What instructions were the smugglers given as to the care of our friends?"
Rider asked.
"They're to treat them well. Till they hear otherwise. The men from the
boat-they were all orientals-paid the smugglers for two weeks."
"And did you do what I suspect you did with your flares?"
"Yep." Su-Cha grinned again.
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"And your mirrors?"
"Right up on the masthead. Nobody pays attention to a bird."
"Or a birdbrain," Chaz mumbled.
Rider said, "Let's get flying, then. Soup and Spud are safe for the moment."
"You just going to leave them there?" Chaz asked.
"If we don't mess with them, Shai Khe will think we're off the trail," Su-Cha
said.
Rider took the airship back along the reverse of his approach route, but
midway across the Bridge of the World he lifted into the normal air lane from
Kaizherion. "Take over, Chaz."
He busied himself in the rear of the cabin for several minutes. In time he
brought forward a plate of frosted violet glass. He handed this to Su-Cha. The
imp held it at eye level, extended, in both hands. "Ready when you are."
Rider spoke one Word of Command. Su-Cha turned rapidly, staring through the
glass. "There!"
Rider marked the direction. "Charts, Greystone. Not the direction I expected."
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