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A new thing in the world。
Together they weaved unsteadily down another avenue between two forests of boo。 The channel spared them from the frigid wind； and also from having to make any decisions。 Each step took them farther from the lakeside conflagration； which suited Dwer fine。
Where there's one death machine； might there be more？
Could another levitating minifortress e to avenge its brother？ With that thought； the narrow； star…canopied aisle ceased seeming a refuge； rather an awful trap。
The boo…lined corridor ended at last； spilling the four of them onto a meadow of knee…high grass swaying before a stiff； icy wind that drained their bodies as they shuffled along。 Frost flurries whirled all around。 Dwer knew it was just a matter of time before they collapsed。
A grove of scrubby saplings clustered by a small watercourse； some distance from the path。 Shivering； he nudged the glaver across the crunching； crackling grass。 We're leaving tracks； the hunter in him carped。 Lessons drilled by old Fallen floated to mind。 Try keeping to hare rock or water。。。。 When you're being stalked； head downwind。。。。
None of which was helpful now。 Instinct led him to a rocky ledge； an outcrop shrouded by low bushes。 Without his fire…lighter or even a knife or piece of flint； their best hope lay in finding shelter。 Dwer yanked Rety off the glaver's neck； pushing till she understood to bend and crawl under the shelf。 The glaver shuffled inward on all four knees； Mudfoot hitching a ride on her corrugated back。 Dwer yanked some fallen branches where the wind would pile leaves on top。 Then he also dropped； slithering to join an interspecies tangle of limbs； fur； skin…and someone's fetid breath not far from his face。 Snowflakes sublimed off flesh as body heat spread through the confined space。 Just our luck to have a late flurry； so far into spring； he thought。 Old Fallen used to say there were just two seasons in the mountains。 One was called Winter。 The other was also winter； with some green stuff growing to trick the unwary。
He told himself the weather wasn't really so bad…or wouldn't be if their clothes hadn't been burned off their bodies； or if they weren't already in shock； or if they had supplies。
After a while； Dwer realized the deafness must be fading。 He could hear someone's teeth chattering； then a murmur of some sort； ing from behind him。 That was followed by a sharp jab on his shoulder。
〃I said could you move jes a bit？〃 Rety shouted； not far from his ear。 〃You're lying on my…〃
He shifted。 Something bony slid from under his rib…cage。 When he lay back down； his flank scraped icy grit。 Dwer sighed。
〃Are you all right？〃
She squirmed some more。 〃What'd you say？〃
He writhed around to see her blurry outline。 〃Are you okay？〃 he shouted。
〃Oh； sure。 Never better； dimmie。 Good question。〃
Dwer shrugged。 If she had energy to be nasty； she was probably far from death's door。
〃You got anything to eat？〃 Rety added。
He shook his head。 〃We'll find something in the morn。 Till then； don't speak 'less you must。〃
〃Why？〃
Because robots probably have ears； he almost said。 But why worry the kid？
〃Save your strength。 Now be good and get some sleep。〃
A slight vibration might have been the girl； mimicking his words sarcastically under her breath。 But he couldn't be sure…a blessed side effect to the beating his ears had taken。
With a series of sharp jabs； Mudfoot clambered up his leg to settle in the wedge between his body and Rety's。 Dwer squirmed to a position where his head was less sheltered by the glaver's warm flank。 A bitter chill greeted his face as he peered back at the trail they had just left…the narrow avenue between two vast stands of boo。 As a makeshift hunter's blind； this wasn't bad…if only more snow would fill in the trampled trail they had left in the broken grass。
We got away from you； One…of…a…Kind； he thought； savoring a victory he had not won。 Many patches of skin still seemed too numb； too cool for even the glaver's warmth to heat up； tracing where the spider's golden preserving fluid had stuck。 No way to clean them right now。。。 if the droplets ever would e off。
Still； we got away； didn't we？
A faint touch seemed to stroke his mind。 Nothing he could pinpoint； but it triggered a tickle of worry。 Surely the crazy old mule…deconstructor couldn't have survived the inferno by the lake？
It's just my imagination。 Forget it。
Unfortunately； his imagination also supplied what One…of…a…Kind would surely reply。
Ah； my precious。 Is that not what you always say？
Shivering from more than mere cold； Dwer settled for a long watch； eyeing the funnel…avenue for other strange things sneaking over the pass through the Rimmer Range。
A sound roused Dwer from a dream filled with sensations of failure and paralysis。 His eyes flinched when he opened them to a chill wind。 Listlessly； he tried focusing on what had yanked him awake。 But all that came to mind was a preposterous notion that someone had called his name。
The Dolphin was up near zenith； its flank shimmering with blue…white stars； seeming to dive between milky waves。
Clouds。 And more snow was falling。 He blinked； trying to stare。 Something was moving out there。
Dwer lifted a hand to rub his eye； but the fingers would not uncurl。 When they touched his face； they seemed petrified…a sign of shock pounded by frostbite。
Over there。 Is that it？
Something was moving。 Not another robot； wafting on smug pillars of force； but a shambling bipedal figure； hurrying upslope at a pace Dwer found professionally lacking。 At that rate； whoever…it…was would tire much faster than necessary。 No errand was worth taking such risks in this kind of weather。
Of the Six； only a hoon or human could make it this high in a snowfall； and no hoon would let himself get into that much of a hurry。
Hey； you！ Don't go up through the boo！ There's danger thataway！
Dwer's voice produced only a croak； barely loud enough to rouse the noor； causing Mudfoot to lift its head。
Hey； fool。 Can't you see our trail in the grass and snow？ It's like a Buyur highway out there！ Are you blind？
The figure plowed right on by； disappearing into the dark cathedral…like aisle between twin walls of vaulting boo。 Dwer slumped； hating himself for his weakness。 All I had to do was shout。 That's all。 Just a little shout。
Glassy…eyed； he watched more flakes fill the runnel in the grass； slowly erasing all signs leading to this rocky cleft。 Well； you wanted to hide； wasn't that the idea？
Perhaps the four of them would never be found。
Dwer lacked the strength to feel irony。
Some hunter。 Some mighty hunter。。。
The Stranger
It will take some getting used to； this curious unlikely voyage； rushing along in a wooden boat that glides down rocky canyons； swooping past high stone walls； giving a sense of incredible speed。 Which is odd； since he knows he used to travel much； much faster than this。。。 though right now it's hard to recall exactly how。
Then there are his fellow passengers； a mixture of types he finds amazing to behold。
At first； several