and was apparently appreciated, for the nightmare quivered slightly, rippled a bit, and lay stilb Hul Jok tried it with another rock, but had the mischance to hit his little pet in the eye—and seven Blasters sent that livid horror to whatever limbo had first spawned it! And it was above our heads in air, hurtling downward upon us when we blew it apart! Lightning scarcely moves swifter! Even Hul Jok was satisfied thereafter, when encountering one, to confine his caresses to pointing his Blastor and pressing the release stud, instead of trying to play games with it.
But that was, after all, the sole type of life we found in that valley, although what the things fed upon we could not then ascertain, unless they devoured their own species.
We found others like them in another place—blob-things that could not be destroyed by our Blasters; and we saw, too, what they were fed with. But that in its proper place!
We spent some time here in this valley, but then, finding nothing new, we again took to our craft and passed over the encircling mountains, only to find other mountains beyond. Also, other valleys.
At length we came to a larger valley than any we had before seen. This was, rather, a plain between two ranges, or, to speak more accurately, a flat where the range divided and formed a huge oval, to re-unite and continue as an unbroken chain farther on.
And here we again landed where a grove of trees gave concealment for our Aethir-Torp in case of—we did not know—anything! But upon us all there lay a heavy certitude that we were in a country inimical to our very continuance of existence.
Why? We could not tell that, yet each of us felt it, knew it, and, to some extent, feared it—for the bravest may well fear the unknown.
It was Mor Ag who had spoken the words which guided our actions for some time past.
"Were Aerth inhabited as we understand the word," he had said, sententiously, "the great city we saw would be no ruin, but teeming with life and activity, as was the custom of the Aerthons before the light of the Green Star waned. So, if any be still alive, it is in the wilderness we must seek them. Wherefore, one place is as another, until we learn differently."
How utterly right he was, speedily became manifest.
The pit-black murk of night slowly gave place to the pallid, wan daylight wherein no actual sunlight ever shone, and as we gathered up our Blasters and other impedimenta, preparatory to setting forth, Toj Qui raised a hand in warning.
There was no need for speech. We all heard what he did. I think the dead must hear that infernal, discordant din every time it is sounded. Describe it? I cannot. There are no words!
When our ears had somewhat recovered from the shock, Vir Dax shook his head.
"O-o-o-f-f-f!" he exclaimed. "To hear that very often would produce madness! It is agony!"
"Perhaps," growled Hul Jok. "But I have already gone mad because of it—gone mad with curiosity! Come along!"
He was commander. We went, leaving our Aethir-Torp to care for itself. But never again were we thus foolish.
We proceeded warily, spread out in a line, each keeping within sight of the next. The noise had come from the north side of the flat, and thither we directed our steps. Well for us that we were hidden by the trees and bushes!
