Page 183 of Moon Chosen

Just thinking about seeing her again—touching her, possessing her, had Thaddeus’s hands trembling and his stomach tightening with excitement.

No!he told himself firmly.I will not succumb to that temptation. Not now. Not until I know more about what is happening to me.

Nik had, of course, succumbed easily to the lure of his mutant girl. That was no surprise to Thaddeus. Nik had always been desperate to fit in. What truly shocked him was how easily their Sun Priest had succumbed, though in retrospect he should have expected it. Sol had always been too liberal—too accepting of oddities. That dead wife of his was the perfect example. She had been an oddity. She’d had beauty and talent aplenty, but there had been something off about her—some kind of internal strangeness that kept any canine from choosing her.

Well, if his luck held, after tonight tiptoeing around Sol and his needy son would no longer be an issue. There were still Companions who would listen to reason—still Companions who believed in breeding strength and stability within the Tribe.

He reached the correct nest, and knocked on the doorframe. Nothing happened. He waited, and then knocked more insistently—again and again.

There was a shuffling from inside and the grizzled muzzle of an ancient Shepherd poked through the doorway curtain. The canine looked up at him and growled softly.

“Argos, who is it?” called an equally grizzled voice from within.

“I’m sorry to disturb your sleep, sir. But there is something you must know about,” he said.

The curtain was pushed to the side, and Cyril, looking disheveled but typically bright-eyed, peered out at him, frowning. “Thaddeus, what is it you think is so important that it can’t wait until after sunrise?”

“Well, sir, let me tell you what I’ve witnessed tonight.”

With increasing concern Cyril listened to Thaddeus describe the mutant woman, the returned pup, and the role the Sun Priest and Nik were playing in her infiltration of the Tribe. Finally, the old man parted the curtain and motioned for him to come in.

“You were right to wake me. This must be stopped.”

Smiling victoriously, Thaddeus entered the Lead Elder’s nest and waited patiently while the old man dressed.

***

The short trip to Farm Island was a blur for Mari. Her mind was awhirl with conflicting thoughts about what was to come. She had to Wash the women. Her conscience wouldn’t allow her to leave—to retreat back to her comfortable burrow and the friends waiting for her there—while knowing Earth Walker women were suffering and she had had the opportunity to relieve them of that suffering, even if it was only for a little while.

As they hurried down the ridge, heading for the channel and the island that lay like a green jewel between it and the mighty river, Mari studied Sol, considering…

That Nik was a good man was beyond any doubt. He’d proven himself to her over and over, even in the short time she’d known him. But was his father the same caliber of man? Or had power and leadership and popularity eroded him?

Mari decided tonight she was going to find out.

“Stay still. I’ll do the talking. When I walk away, follow me quickly,” Sol said as they approached the last huge pine before the ruins of an old road and the bank that framed the west side of the Channel broke the land. He walked to the base of the pine, cupped his hands, and shouted up, “Attention in the lookout! It’s Sol. My group and I are entering the island.”

Mari looked up to see the shape of a man, with a Terrier beside him, step out to the edge of the small deck and look down. Sol waved his hand. The man waved back and shouted down, “Go ahead, Sol!”

“That’s Davis, and that’s a really good thing,” Nik spoke under his breath to his father.

Sol nodded. “Thank you, Davis!”

“Looks like you’re pulling a lot of duty lately,” Nik called up.

“Nik! Good to see you out and about! Let’s get a drink later and catch up.” Mari could hear the smile in the young man’s voice, and she felt the tight knot of tension within her begin to loosen.

“Will do, Davis!”

Sol waved again, and then strode out onto the broken road. Mari and Rigel followed, picking their way carefully over the buckled, cracked surface. Mari glanced up and down the ancient road. It looked like a massive water serpent had slithered from the water onto the land, its spine breaking apart the earth as it departed.

Nik took her elbow, helping her over the last of the road. “Are you okay?”

Mari nodded. She met his gaze. He was worried about it, that was obvious, but he also looked angry. “I have to do this, Nik, even if it makes you angry.”

“I’m not angry. I’m scared for you. I’m scared for me, too. I don’t want to lose you, Mari. I just found you.”

Mari smiled softly. “I’m scared, too. And if I have anything to say about it, you won’t lose me. But things have to change for the Earth Walkers; you know that, Nik.”