Winter in Eden

overriding fear as the first. Then a fourth figure became visible in the shadows, erect and commanding, familiar. Stepping forward into the light.
    Vaintè.
    Kerrick shook with the wave of fierce sensations that swept over him. Hatred and loathing—and something else, he couldn't tell what it was, did not want to know. Vaintè had returned, there were invading forces, he had to give the warning.
    He had to kill her, that was all that he knew. Once before he had plunged a spear into her and she had lived. Now, a single bite from his dart, an invisible drop of poison on its tip—and instant death. Yes!
    Raise the weapon slowly, sight along it, a touch of moving air on his cheek, allow for it, she was turning toward him, how well he knew that face…
    Squeeze…
    The weapon cracked loudly in his hand just as one of the fargi stepped forward. To receive the dart in her flesh, stumble and fall.
    "You!" Vaintè said, staring at his face, hatred coloring the word, rippling her flesh with its strength.
    Without conscious thought Kerrick fired again—but she was gone. The two remaining fargi turned to follow her. His weapon snapped again and one of them dropped. Loud footsteps crashed away through the trees.
    They were running, fleeing. It was not the invasion then, perhaps only a scouting party.
    "They are here!" he shouted as loudly as he could, then howled the Tanu war cry. Then shouted in Yilanè
    "Kill, kill, kill—Vaintè, Vaintè, Vaintè!" in the hope that she would get the meaning.
    There were shouts in the distance and he called out the warning again. Then ran, suddenly heedless of all danger, following the receding footsteps. Crashed after them, panting, wanting to kill some more. Came out of the trees and saw the two figures on the dockside ahead hurling themselves from it into the water.
    Kerrick stood on the scarred wood and fired at the two heads moving away from him in the sea, over and over until the depleted hèsotsan writhed feebly in his grip. His darts had missed; the two swimmers were well out of range. Moving toward the black object far out in the harbor.
    Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
    The fin of an uruketo, waiting there for them.
    Only then did Kerrick realize how he was shaking. He lowered the weapon and watched the heads grow smaller until they were lost in the waves. Vaintè here, and he could have killed her. There was the sound of hurrying feet behind him and two hunters ran up.
    "We saw them, two murgu, dead, they killed Keridamas and Simmacho; what is happening?"
    Kerrick pointed, still trembling. "There, the murgu, they are still alive. They have one of their boat-beasts out there. They came to see the city; they know that we are here now."
    "Will they be back?"
    "Of course they will be back!" Kerrick screamed, his lips drawn back from his teeth. "She is with them, the leader, the one who keeps alive the battle against us, who wants to kill us all. As long as she is out there—they'll be back."
    The hunters stepped away from Kerrick and eyed him uneasily. "This is a thing that Sanone must be told about," Meskawino said. "We must run and tell him."
    They started away and Kerrick had to call after them. "One can carry the news. You, Meskawino, stay here."
    Meskawino hesitated, then obeyed since Kerrick ordered things in the city. Sanone was their mandukto whom the Sasku still looked to for leadership, but he had instructed them to obey Kerrick at all times.
    Meskawino gripped his mattock and looked around apprehensively. Kerrick saw this and struggled to get himself under control. The time for blind anger was past. He must think coldly now, like a Yilanè, think for all of them. He reached out and touched the hunter's trembling arm.
    "They are gone, so your fear must go as well. I saw the one who leads; she and another swam to safety.
    They are gone, all gone. Now you must remain here and keep watch in case they return."
    This was a positive command, something to do. Meskawino raised his mattock like a weapon. "I will watch," he said, turning and looking out to sea. When he did this he saw the slumped body of the guard for the first time and began to wail.
    "He too—my brother!" The mattock slipped to the ground as he stumbled over to the body and dropped to his knees beside it.
    More killing and more death, Kerrick thought, looking out at the now empty harbor. Vaintè, the creature of death. Yet it could not be her alone. She would receive no aid from the cities were it not for the