The unusual
activity of the Salariki in the shallows had in turn drawn to the spot
battalions of the intelligent, malignant reptiles who had struck in
strength, slaying and escaping before the Salariki could form an adequate
defense, having killed the land dwellers' sentries silently and
effectively before advancing on the laboring main bodies of gem hunters.
A loss of a certain number of miners or fishers had been preseen as the
price one paid for Koros in quantity. But the death of a chieftain was
another thing altogether, having repercussions which carried far beyond
the fact of his death. When the news reached the Salariki about the Queen
they melted away into the grass forest and for the first time the Terrans
felt free of spying eyes.
"What happens now?" Ali inquired. "Do they declare all deals off?"
"That might just be the unfortunate answer," agreed Van Rycke.
"Could be," Rip commented to Dane, "that they'd think we were in some way
responsible--"
But Dane's conscience, sensitive over the whole matter of Salariki trade,
had already reached that conclusion.
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