The Defiant Agents

the very lip of a drop, raising a fing

ses they had brought from the stores of the wrecked ship. He passed them along to Travis. There was nothing to be sighte

g their way across the section known to the outlaws. From here they could survey th

not hope to commit the clan to any set plan, that even to get this scouting party to come against the stubborn resista

ed, "they keep watch and can

?" Travis passed t

eak, might fill that role. He adjusted the lenses and began a detailed study-sweep of the

it?" Jil-

.. five.... Also somet

at Nolan's arm, dragging him

ing at Nolan, prodding at Travis with one foot

ge, and then, visibly regaining comman

r. Either some others have escaped or they

did not feel anything when th

"We shall stay here and watch. But since it is bad for you-do you

ound? Did the Tatar believe that he lost face this way? But the shaman gave a grunt of what they took as assent and slipped over the edge of the lookout point. A moment l

ve riders, four wearing Tatar dress. The fifth had such an odd outline that Travis was reminded of Menlik's sketch of the alien. Under the sharper vision of the glasses he saw th

bove," Nolan said. "Dif

m for range inspection, and all of the Apache volunteers had flown in th

the mountains," Jil-Lee mused. "That could explain th

nd upon their machine to control what they

is spoke sharply. N

dark for us, younger brother, that

t he alone knew the best way of handling the enemy. Biting on the sourness of that realization, he lay

n they were lost to view, the pilot made wider casts, and Travis thought the flyer's

for the Tatar camp, just as if

can hold them in mind ropes when they wish. Already they may be so bound. I say-let us go back to our own co

at withdrawal now would only postpone trouble. Sooner or later the Apaches would have to stand against the Re

rcling helicopter. If it was overhanging the action area of the horsemen, they h

ood with Nolan. Tsoay and Lupe and Rope were a little to on

look at the equipment of that one in the helmet. Also," he smiled straight at Nolan-"I do

bow, shot a measuring glance right and l

trail we shall take alone, not allowing the men with fur hats

ing Nolan the old title accorded the leader of a war pa

ng party. The path was theirs at last, only moments after the passing of their quarry. None of the five riders wa

s still circling, Tsoay reported from a higher check point, but those circles remained clos

h the hunters. The four Tatars were grouped together; the fifth man, heavily burdened by his pack, had climbed from t

nt awareness of their present surroundings. Then as one, their heads swung around to the helmeted leader before they dismounted and stood motionless for a long moment in a way

e put his hand to his forehead with an odd, half-dazed gesture. Another half crouched, his lips wrinkling back in

en as one they began to walk forward, the Red bringing up the rear several paces

o cup his mouth, sent a ringing cry southward, and th

h the hunters waited for a long time, there was no answer to that hail. At last the helmeted man call

the helicopter. And they were still too near the plains to attack unless i

n his chest," he said. "If we wou

lf is roped for branding? Then why do they not so take this Red, bin

oned control making it so that t

ay this way and that with minds and bodies!" flared

willing to form new world colonies. What had happened back on Terra that they had been so ruthlessly sent out without warning and under Redax? Another small piece of that puzzle, or maybe the heart of the whole pictu

hoped Menlik had warned them in time. There-that wall of cliff to his left must shelter the valley of the towers, though it was still miles ahead. Travis d

e sun pulled away, leaving crevices and crannies shadow dark, the hunters stopped to mak

e he seeks sitting waiting for him, as if their

ve they are greater than all others. Yet this one is a stupid f

kly. "This one is armed with a weapon which he has good reason to believe makes him

uspect that there are any in these hills save those he can master. And his machine does

ht. Travis was not sure that any of them could break that old ta

take over this confident Red, st

ng its return, trying frantically to understand what had happened in that instant of vertigo and seeming disembodiment. Never had he experienced anything like it-or had he? Two years or more ago when he had gone through t

ow-hung landscape of Topaz had changed in the slightest. But that blow had left behind

e intently down into the enemy camp. Was this some attack from the other's unknown weapon

trap. Better to retreat now than to be taken like fish in a net. He crept out of his place, gave the chitter

your head?" Travis found it diffic

. But y

remains of it were still in hi

mac

ht be that he alone of the party had been stru

ere." Jil-Lee's whisper was the merest ghost of sound. He chirped

ed together. Again Travis asked his question: Had any of

ne remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him. We shall stay here until dawn. If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest

caution was the wise way. Travis wanted no part of a second attack like that which had shaken him so. And Nolan had not ordered a general retreat

ll the Redax had grafted into their memori

irst Tatar plodded into view, and by the stance of his body in the saddle, Travis knew the Red had him under full control. Two, then th

Travis believed the man was not a horseman by inclination. The Apache set arro

ve a shrill scream of pain and terror, reared, pawing at t

e arrows. But he neither had protection against his own awkward seat in th

dropped out of their saddles to lie limply on the ground as if th