The Devoured Earth by Sean Williams Read Free Book Online Page B

could move on. Yes, it would remain dangerous, and probably become more so the higher they went. But giving up at the first serious hurdle wasn’t in his nature. And it wasn’t in Sal’s, either.

    A new thought occurred to him. What if the avalanche had been triggered deliberately to put them off the trail? That was a possibility he couldn’t afford to ignore. But who might do such a thing? The man’kin themselves?

    Kail understood, then, exactly what was going through Sal’s mind. Shilly had gone willingly with the man’kin. Perhaps she didn’t want to be found by anyone, Sal included.

    Kail felt for him. ‘This was an accident,’ he told Sal, putting a hand on his shoulder that was instantly shrugged away. ‘We’ll find her. Don’t worry.’

    ‘You won’t,’ said a voice from above them. ‘And your young friend is right. You have every reason to worry.’

    Sal, Highson and Kail instantly turned. The Change turned with them, kicking up an expanding bubble of dust and pebbles. Highson put himself physically between Sal and possible attack and formed an open-handed Y with his outstretched arms and body. Kail tugged off his right glove to free his fingers.

    On top of the spur of rock they had just passed sat a strange figure, a manlike thing with qualities that weren’t entirely human. The size of a small child, with an underfed, bony look, his face was narrow, as though squashed between two hands. His blade-like nose had a sharp upward bow to it, like a skinning knife, and his eyes formed a disconcerting V to either side. His mouth was pursed in a piercingly sharp smile.

    ‘I won’t hurt you,’ said the figure, ‘unless you give me good reason to.’

    ‘Stay back,’ warned Highson.

    ‘Oh, I will. I can smell you from here.’

    ‘Who are you?’

    ‘I’m Pukje, and I’ve come to do you a favour. In fact, I’ve already done you a favour, although you might not see it that way. I’ve been watching you for a while now. You’re determined to get yourselves killed, aren’t you? Perhaps I should let you, but I feel oddly compelled to offer you my aid instead. I have these flashes of selflessness occasionally. One day I’ll get them seen to.’

    ‘You’re the one who searched our camp last night,’ guessed Kail, not believing for a second that the creature’s motives were so ill-defined.

    ‘What if I am? I did you no harm.’

    ‘You want something from us,’ Kail persisted. ‘Something you didn’t find, otherwise you would’ve just robbed us and moved on. What is it?’

    ‘Wouldn’t you like to know, warden man?’ The creature’s eyes narrowed and his smile became markedly malicious. ‘It’s not in that pouch around your neck, if that’s what you’re wondering. I took a good look at your pretty bauble while you snored on. Do you have any other secrets you’d like to share with the group? Who Vania is, perhaps, and why you carry her letter with you everywhere you go?’

    Kail felt himself flush from the top of his head down to his chest. ‘That’s none of your business.’

    The creature laughed. When his mouth opened, Kail saw no teeth. ‘You have nothing I want except your business.’

    ‘Pukje.’ Sal spoke the unfamiliar name with deliberate emphasis: Pook-yay . ‘We don’t have time for this. If you’ve got something to tell us, get it over with and let us do what we have to do.’

    ‘I know why you’re here,’ said the creature, sobering. ‘I know who you’re looking for. I know where they’re going, and I know you’re too late to get there in time.’

    ‘How can you know all this?’ asked Highson.

    ‘I have eyes and ears, and other senses,’ said Pukje. ‘I use them.’

    ‘Will you tell us where they’re going?’ said Sal.

    ‘I can do better than that, Sal. I can take you there.’

    ‘Why?’

    ‘Out of the goodness of my heart.’

    ‘We don’t even know you’ve got a heart,’ said Highson.

    Casually, and as lightly as a