Return to Eden
find your way to distant Entoban*. When you reach those shores Vaintè will lead the search. She will tell you of the land and ocean there and you will search where she tells you to search. Will you do that for me, Vaintè?"
"I will do as you command, Eistaa. It will be my greatest pleasure to do as you order, for I seek the same thing that you seek. And when we find the uruketo—what then? What will you have me do with those who stole it from you?"
Vaintè's enthusiasm was greatly diminished when Saagakel spoke again, but she hid it beneath her posture of firm attention.
"When the uruketo is found you will turn to Fafhepto for your orders. Though you are not of this city, Fafnepto, will you act for this city? Will you seek out those who have wounded me and bring my stern justice to them? You are a hunter—will you hunt now for me?"
Fafnepto shaped her stance in rough obedience. "I will do as you order. It will be my pleasure. I have hunted all kinds of creatures before this, but never another Yilanè. I think they will make good sport and will be excellent game to track down."
"Well spoken. Now stay, while the others leave, and hear my instructions."
Vaintè was overly careful to let none of her displeasure show. She signed gratitude and respect before she turned away, for she surely felt those things towards the Eistaa who was giving her this opportunity. Only when she had crossed the silver bridge did she move with some bitterness. She should have been in command and the Eistaa knew that.
Which was exactly why she was not. None would ever rule in Saagakel's place as long as she lived. She would make all of the decisions and others would obey. Gunugul would cross the ocean, Vaintè would find their prey. And then—what?
She turned and looked at the two distant figures. Saw their limbs move, could make out nothing of their conversation. What were Fafnepto's orders? Vaintè possessed nothing. But had she any possessions, power, position, she would have given them all up to overhear that distant conversation. But she could not. She turned away and hurried after the uruketo commander.
In addition to food and water she must see to it that hèsotsan were taken aboard.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
"I have been here before," Vaintè said. "It was a lifetime ago. Or perhaps it was in another lifetime. I stood just where I am standing now. Where you now stand, Fafnepto, was the commander of the uruketo.
She has since died. Erafnais was her name. I have not thought of her in a very long time. Her uruketo died so she died as well."
It had been an easy crossing. Some rain, no real storms. Vaintè had not slept continually like the others but had been here, high on the fin, for most of the time. Her thumbs, now gripped tight to the scarred skin, could feel the writhing movement as the creature surged through the sea, the powerful tail muscles driving it forward. With each thrust moving closer to Entoban*—from which she had twice been driven. There would be no third time. Fafnepto had emerged from the dark interior and stood beside her in the warm sunlight. She did not speak much, but was a good listener. She wanted to learn all there was to know about this new continent and respected Vaintè's knowledge. Vaintè was happy to share it.
The pupils of Fafnepto's eyes were thin slits as she looked into the bright sun, she shaded them even further with one hand as she pointed to the horizon. "I see something there, distant in the water. More than one. Are they islands?"
"They are. Yesterday, when you were below, we passed a large island. That is the first thing to be seen after crossing the ocean. Now we come to this island chain. Their name is their being. Alakas-aksehent, the succession of golden, tumbled stones. Their sands and the water about them are warm all the year round. The islands extend in a line until they reach the mainland. There you will find the city of Alpèasak.
That is the one place we shall not go, the one place where the uruketo we seek would not have gone."
"These islands—could those we seek possibly be there?"
"I think not. I was told there is little vegetation, less water. Those who flee will look for a shore where there are animals to hunt and eat."
"I understand that. Do you understand that to hunt an animal you must think like that animal?"
"I have never heard that before, but now that you say it I believe it. And thank you. We hunt fleeing Yilanè, we must think as these Yilanè
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