Winter in Eden

in Eden - Harry Harrison
    "Get away from there," Kerrick ordered, modifiers of urgency and immense danger. She did not listen, was reaching down, sitting up now—with a hèsotsan.
    Kerrick shouted and fired, saw the dart strike one of the containers. The opening of the other weapon swung toward him and he dived to the sand, scrambling into a dip, hearing the other fire. Raising his own weapon to fire again.
    More successfully this time. The dart struck her in the chest and she fell face down in the sand. Kerrick ran forward, before the other crewmembers could react, grabbing up the other hèsotsan with his free hand, spinning about and pointing his own at the crew.
    It had taken only instants—yet everything had changed. Another of the Yilanè was huddled on her side, dead. The dart that had missed him had found her instead. Kerrick pointed at Erafnais and the other two survivors.
    "I warned you, ordered you to stop them. This need not have happened. Now all of you, move back away from these things. Two are dead. That is enough."
    "Eight others dead in the uruketo," Erafnais said, speaking so softly he could barely hear the sounds, her limbs scarcely moving with the qualifiers.
    "Tell me of the city," Kerrick said, loudly, urgency-of-speech in his sharp movements. "What has happened there? Tell me of Alplèasak."
    "You were not there?" Erafnais asked as the meaning of his words finally penetrated.
    Kerrick signed a quick negative, glancing quickly at the crewmembers, then back at the commander. "I was very distant. I have just returned. What happened?"
    "Vaintè said there would be no battle, but she was wrong. The eistaa listened, helped her, for the winter winds are blowing toward Ikhalmenets and she wanted to believe. Vaintè told her of this city, sought her aid, came here, promised no battle. The seeds were spread, the ustuzou were to die, then Alpèasak would be Yilanè once again. But they attacked our island base from the sea, the ustuzou, and were beaten off. I carried Vaintè in this uruketo, so I know, at first she was gorgeous in her victory, then when she discovered that it was a ruse her anger was so great fargi died about her."
    "Ruse, what ruse?" Kerrick pleaded, movements of explanation, greater clarity requested.
    "Only a small force attacked the island. It is believed that all of them died. But while this was happening, all of the others in the city escaped, fled, could be traced, not caught. And it does not end." Erafnais turned to face Kerrick, drawing herself up as straight as she could with her twisted back, spoke with feeling.
    Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
    "Why does she do it, Kerrick ustuzou? You know her. What hatred drives her? The city is Yilanè again, that is why we came here, why so many died. Yet she talks to the eistaa, has convinced her that the ustuzou will return, talked to her on the fin of my uruketo, so I know. And the eistaa agreed with her and they plan to follow and attack. And more Yilanè will die."
    "Ustuzou will die as well, Erafnais," Kerrick said, lowering the hèsotsan. "It is not my wish either that this go on."
    Erafnais seemed to have forgotten his presence. She was looking out to sea, past the dead bulk of the uruketo. "The enteesenat are upset—see how they jump high. But they are intelligent creatures and will not stay here. They will return to the harbor, they can be trained to follow and feed another uruketo. We must go too. We must report what has happened…"
    "No," Kerrick said, pointing the weapon again. "You cannot do that. You cannot tell Vaintè of my existence. And you will have to tell her, won't you?"
    Erafnais signed agreement and lack of understanding. "When we report what happened your presence will be noted."
    "I know. Even if you could lie you would not."
    "The expression 'lie', I do not know it. Clarification requested."
    "It is a term that Vaintè invented to describe a certain ustuzou concept unknown to Yilanè. It is not relevant. What is relevant is that I cannot permit your return. She would be after me, the birds would fly, we would be found. I suppose the males would live—but not for long. I know how they would pay for their attempt at freedom. The beaches, as many times as was needed. I am sorry, you cannot return."
    "We will take my charts," Erafnais said, picking them up. "They should not be left here. The rest can remain; others will come and retrieve anything of value…"
    "Stop!" Kerrick ordered. "What are you