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to keep well away from Petris and the others。。。。 Someone has to get back。。。。〃
〃Oh。。。〃 Raffa's breath came just as Bubbles realized one shadow wasn't sliding upslope。。。。 Small； regular； it moved swiftly against the wind； downslope to the south of them； and then ran along parallel to the ridge。
〃Eyes down；〃 Bubbles said； taking her own advice。 Now that it was upwind； they could hear the faint whine of the flitter。 Surely the briar was thick enough … old； tangled； too dense for anyone to see through。 But every freckle of light suggested it was as porous as a fishing net。 She felt sure she had something shiny on her back； something that would glitter … she should take it off。 But her arms had no strength； she lay； hardly breathing； trembling。
The flitter's shadow passed over them； as if a cold hand lay on her back； and went somewhere else。 She could hear the whine moving north； she thought； toward the tip of the island； but she dared not move。
〃So；〃 Raffa said； hardly louder than a breath。 〃They're here。 And it's not a game。〃
〃No。〃 Immediately below them； on the west slope； the rock nubbins were only sparsely covered。。。。 They couldn't count on reaching the cover below without being seen。 They would have to stay here until the flitter landed somewhere。
What if it didn't？ It had not occurred to her that the hunters might well keep someone aloft； especially in this emergency。
〃How e people in entertainment cubes never need a bathroom？〃 asked Raffa。
〃Mmm。 You're right。〃 Now that Raffa had brought it up； she felt the same desperate need。 〃We can't leave cover now；〃 she said。 She wriggled toward the north side of the briar； where its canopy lay along a lower stub of gray stone。 Just beyond that was another hollow； she could see into it by risking another hair…pulling match with the briars canopy。 This one had no handy roof； a small tree had died and collapsed； and the vines that covered it matted the ground。
〃We should've found a place before we came in here；〃 Raffa said。
〃You're right；〃 Bubbles said； squeezing onward around the briar's central stem and root plex。 In the northeast corner of their thorny shelter； she found what she remembered； a niche in the big stone between them and the trail。 Here the briar； reaching for light； lifted enough to allow someone to sit upright。
And below was the other refinement of her childhood hiding place； a standard expedition one…man posting latrine unit； carefully dug into the soil。 Her parents had been； she'd thought then； ridiculously fussy about pollution； one summer they'd all been yanked back to ail…day lessons at the Big House for two weeks just because one set of cousins had dug a real latrine in a spurt of enthusiasm for historical authenticity。 They had all had to memorize the list of diseases they could have given themselves； and the life cycles of innumerable disgusting parasites； before they could e back。 They could have all the prefab units they wanted； her father had said； but they must use them。
She scrabbled at the lid； said a brief prayer to some nameless deity that none of the more agile crawlers had gotten into it； and pulled it open。 〃But here；〃 she said triumphantly。 〃All the forts of home； more or less。 Deodorizing； too。〃 Since she was in place； she took the first turn； and felt much better。
Raffa followed her； gave a sigh of relief； and latched the lid back down。
〃Now if you could just excavate us a cave right here。。。〃
〃Nope。 I tried hard enough； but it's solid stone below a few inches of leaf…drift And I think we'd better get what rest we can。 Just at dusk we could move downslope； if we're careful。〃
Bubbles had not really expected to sleep； cramped under the briar in the hot； sweaty dimness； but she woke at the crunch of footsteps somewhere nearby。 It was pletely dark； and for a moment she could not think where she was。 Then she remembered。 The hand on her ankle； a grip hard enough to pinch； must be Raffa's hand。 She reached back and touched it； and Raffa gripped her hand instead。 Her breath seemed trapped in her lungs。 The footsteps came nearer； not hurrying。 Panic clogged her ears with her own heartbeat； she could not tell how far away the sound was。 A voice murmured something she could not distinguish。 A faint crackle followed； her mind raced； suggesting that the crackle was a unit； which meant the footsteps were a hunters。 I knew that already； she argued back at her mind。 Raffa's fingers in hers were cold； she shivered； but forced herself to lie still。 Another crunch； a boot on the rough path beyond the stone。 She heard a scrape and a soft curse as someone found the space between the stones too narrow。 Something shook that side of the briar； as if the hunter had taken a stick to it； the branches squeaked overhead。 Raffa's fingers tightened suddenly。 Could she see something from her side of the briar？ But the footsteps went away； the faint scrunching growing fainter。 Raffa's fingers relaxed but did not pull away。
Her breath came out all at once； she felt dizzy and faint even lying down。
What if she'd been asleep。。。 and dreaming。。。 and had snored？ Her first school roommates said she snored。 Just when she thought it might be safe to murmur something to Raffa； she heard another sound。 Not nearly so loud as the first； as if the feet wore something softer than boots。 Three steps； a pause。 Four； and another pause。 Two。。。 whoever it was was now just outside the cleft they'd e through。 Bubbles held herself rigidly still； trying not to breathe。
Then the crack of a weapon echoed along the stones； and the person nearest them gave a soft cry。 Bubbles heard the slither and thump as he fell； and the ragged breathing louder than the stifled moans。 The other footsteps came back at a run and paused； even from behind the rock； Bubbles could see the glow of light as the hunter turned on a torch。
〃Got one；〃 he said； this time loud enough for Bubbles to hear； she assumed he was talking into his unit。 〃By the tattoo； it's one of the preeves。〃 The unit crackled and muttered back to him。 〃Right；〃 he said。 〃I'll bring the IDs。 No sign of the others。〃 Bubbles heard the click as he shut the unit cover； and then a grunt and thump as if he bent to set down his weapon and lean over the body。
Then … 〃Got one too；〃 said the other man； in a harsh voice thick with pain。
The hunter squealed； then gasped； and Bubbles heard the fall of another heavy body； the thrashing of limbs； the rattle and clatter of equipment banging on the rocks。 The light went out。 Then silence； but for a final few noisy gasps。
For the first time in her life； Bubbles envied those of her friends who had a religion： they would have had some deity to swear to； or at； or on。 〃We can't stay here；〃 she said quietly。 Her voice surprised her； it sounded as calm as if she were in her mother's drawing room discussing the weather。
〃He touched me；〃 Raffa said。 Her voice； too； was quiet。 〃With a stick or something； when he prodded the briar。〃
〃We have to go；〃 Bubbles said。 〃They'll send someone。〃 Through the gap in the stones； the smell of blood and something worse rolled as if on a stream of water。 Her stomach churned。
〃How can we？ We can't see anything。。。。〃
〃We have to。