Double Suns - Twisted Mirrors - Episode III (ePub)

He paused for a moment to look up at the shadowed suns and then went on saying, "But I think now, this cold will keep their scouts from being too active. Their bodies need the warmth. They are very demanding and unrelenting creatures. I once lost twenty slaves to them, my entire cargo ... It was my first run to the south. Perhaps with the increased cold they will not be so hungry and their demands less severe." He yanked on the lead leashes saying, "Come now, we must be on our way. We have a long way to travel and a schedule to keep."

As they all stood his daughter asked, "What about the Elapidae are they not dangerous too?"

"Yes, very dangerous, Ta-top replied in a serious tone, "If you are bitten the poison will cause you go insane. If you are lucky you will kill yourself right away. But, they are not so much a problem. I have ways to deal with the snakes. The Limpeds are a different matter, they too are reptiles ... but you see, in their thoughts they are like us. Intelligent creatures they are. They have cities and everything. Honorable creatures--it's just that they like the taste of human flesh.... It makes them difficult to trust."

"In the meantime, compatriots, we need to gather as much information as possible regarding this ... creature ... individual ... person or whatever it is. For example ... why does he kill only the taskmasters? As far as we can determine, at least as of this time, it is only the taskmasters that he hunts. No slaves have been harmed."

A voice from the floor spoke, "He seems very clever ... whatever or whoever it is, it seems to be doing its killing on a systematic basis. He only hunts those that are isolated--on the edge of the farms. He has never attacked a house or a convoy with more than three taskmasters in attendance."

"As to the slaves..." He paused and smiled, "... I am going to arrange a special event for them at the coliseum. To make it effective, all of you must bring some of your slaves to this event. Even the household help. We will show them what happens to those who do not wish to work or that may try to escape and follow this Promised One. When it is finished, I am sure they will go away with renewed vigor to return to their jobs."

He had taken the pups, pulled them squirming from their protective carrying bag, held them up by their back legs and stood for a moment looking directly at Ladonna. Then with a single slice of his knife he cut their throats and let them bleed to death in front of her. In death they had struggled for a moment and each made a single pathetic little yelp.

Voltex looked off to the side to see hundreds of bright red eyes burning in the distant darkness, slowly waving like wands in a light breeze. Then he noticed another gleam that was coming from piles of stones. There were greens and yellows, some pink, and a clear crystalline that reflected many colors. He watched the sparkle and sent a transmission to Silack saying, "Look, up ahead of us. Off the trail to the right. It looks like jewels. Gemstones of every sort."