Key Out of Time

ree R

e meeting of land and water, sea and sky. Surely the haze ab

e too high. But Karara paddling in the bow, Loketh at the stern seemed to be content, and Ross could not, for pride's sake, question their competency. He comforted himself with the knowledge that

a sort. They had had the longer part of the day in the cave before Loketh would agree to venture out of hiding and p

speech so that translation through the dolphins was not necessary except for complicate

r the Foanna's Hawaikan followers who were housed and labored in an outer ring of fortification-cum-village. Those natives were, Ross gathered, a hereditary corp

ded, "why do you go with us against them?" To d

e of his hands raised; his finger

of Zahur. I who am Zahur's true son can not carry my sword in any lord's train. But now you offer me one of the great to-be-remembered quests. If I go, so may I prove that I am a man, even if I go limpingly. There is nothing the Foann

e Terran no longer had any doubts that the castle outcast was willing to brave the unknown terrors of the Foanna keep, not just to aid Ross whom he considered

in the water, and he stated with confidence that he was the best swimmer in the castle. Not that the men of his fathe

e whim of nature when wind and current piled up the trading ships there. Then

to the spells he was taught. Now ships are drawn there so the wrecks have been many an

"of what manner is it and

s a sword. And the color of water under a storm sky, both rods being as tall as a

of Gl

ahur, yet Zahur must take sword oath to send to Glicmas a fourth

re did he get it?

ntry. A mountain broke in twain and a voice issued forth from the rent, calling that the lord of the country come and stand to hear it. When Glicmas did so he was told that the magic would be his. Then the mountain closed again and he found many strange things upon

not?" Karara

fleets as they never did before. And it seems that they, too, have found a new magic, for their ships fly through the water, depending no longer on wind

hink I am? What do

same could have roots in the sea. It is my belief that you are of the Shades, but not the Shadow. And this warrior is also of your kind-but perhap

oss thought. He did not share Lo

w ..." Karara persisted.

The Shades are those of power who may come to the aid of men should it be their desire to influence the future. And the Shadow ... the Shadow is Tha

des or Shadow?" Ross brought them back to the subje

htily." Loketh's an

ld not provide such ma

d a chance to answer, Kara

elieve tha

ps a part of that which spoke from the mountain. It is not well to accept gifts which tie

wise in that, Lok

two facts balanced in an odd way. Back on Terra there had been those sudden and unaccountable jumps in technical knowledge on the part of the enemy, jumps which had set in action the whole Time T

eated the suggestion of space travel as perhaps natural to those all-powerful specters, but certainly not for beings like himself. There was no hint that Hawaika had been openly visited by a galactic ship. Though that did not bar such landings. The planet was, Ross thought, thinly populated. Whole se

led over what might be true. Had the galactic invaders for their own purposes begun to meddle here, leaking weapons or tools to upset what must be a very delicate balance of power? Why? To bring on a conflict which would occupy the native population to the

n ruins, tall pylons reaching from the land into the sea. Was this the beginning of that change which woul

ra's words startled Ross to

rom the tiny secret bay where Loketh kept his boat, was truly a fog

nition of danger. "Their magic-they hide their p

n of nature on the part of the all-powerful Foanna. Too many times the reputations of "medicine men" had

reminded him. "Throw out the rope, Ross.

boat. The line was ready coiled to hand and he tossed the loose end ove

efforts. The curtain gathering above the surface of the water did not hamper the swi

ear ar

lines of his body blurred. His clicking answer seemed distorted, too,

We must see the sea ga

able to see that

se who obey the Sea Maid, who are able to speak

that goal. Karara gave warn

ns had told her. He deman

uch larger

in: "A Rover Rai

e with the dolphins, were the sighted, he the blind. And he resented his handicap in a

y hide-and-seek which might ensue with this superior enemy force. But af

harply. "There is no place

wo of the ships,"

old them-don't use them. Let the dolphins take us on. In

, and he heard an asse

rose. He had no idea why raiding ships were moving under the cover of fog into the vicinity of the Foanna citadel. But the Terran's knowledge of tactics led him to guess that this impending visit was not anticipa

ns, and invade the Foanna sea gate so? Could they use the coming Rover attack as a cover for their

ld not see. But they could hear sounds out of the white cotton wall which told them how completely they were

de him practice in the depths of the cave pool with one of the extras drawn through the gate among the suppl

nst the skiff at his left hand. He cautiously raised the collection of containers and e

irst one way and then the other in sharp jerks as if the dolphins were trying to

ey have gone mad! T

clutched at Ross, striving to steady

rara plunged over the prow of the boat, whe

cries, knew that they had crashed against one of the raiders. He fought to retain his balance, but he had been knocke

enveloped both of them. The stuff was adhesive, slimy. Ross let out a c

ee of the slimy cords, struck against the side of the larger ship. Then he swung in, over the well of the deck, thudded down on t

dropping into the water before the Rovers netted them? He could see men gathering about him, masked and distorted in the fog. T

wits before he tried to flex his arms. They were held tight to his sides by strands which no longer seemed slimy, but were wrinkling as they dried. There was an odor from them which gagged him. B