Read Dragonback 04 Dragon and Herdsman for Free Online Page B

Virge said tardy.
"He never said we'd stay and hold her hand."
    "We cannot simply fly away and abandon her," Draycos insisted.
    "It's none of our business," Uncle Virge insisted right back.
"Besides, there's half a chance she won't want us to see who it
is who comes to get her."
    "Can we just get down there?" Jack interrupted. "We can decide
later whether or not to throw her a going-away party."
    The winds sweeping over the mountains made the approach trickier
than Jack had expected. But Uncle Virge was equal to the task, and soon
they had passed over the snow-covered peaks and were flying over the
river on their way to the forest below.
    "Interesting," Draycos commented, the side of his triangular head
pressed against the canopy as he tried to look straight down. "I do not
believe I have ever seen water quite so chaotic."
    "They're called rapids," Jack told him. "Fast and shallow water
running over big rocks just below the surface."
    "Actually, the only rapids I spotted are higher up the mountain,"
Uncle Virge said. "The water along here is really pretty deep."
    Jack frowned. "Then what's causing all the white water?" he asked,
maneuvering the Essenay a few yards to the side to give him a
better view of the river.
    "Probably have some underwater springs coming in under pressure,"
Uncle Virge said. "I can't tell for sure—there's a lot of silt churning
around down there throwing off my sensors."
    "So it's like a free-flowing spa tub?" Jack suggested.
    "A free-flowing spa tub for walruses," Uncle Virge said. "That
water's mighty cold."
    "I wasn't suggesting we take a dip," Jack assured him, turning his
attention to the forest. Close up, it looked even darker and more
ominous than it had from low orbit. "You spotting any technology at all
down there?"
    "None," Uncle Virge said. "As far as I can tell, this place is as
primitive as you can get in the Orion Arm."
    "I guess Gardens of Eden are supposed to be that way," Jack said,
shifting his eyes to the more cheerful-looking plain at the forest's
southern edge. "Well, let's get to it. The sooner we drop Alison, the
sooner we can get back to the job of rescuing Draycos's people."

    Given their apparent lack of technology. Jack had half-expected
the colony of Erassvas to scatter in panic as the Essenay flew
past overhead and then settled to the ground a hundred yards from the
forest.
    Not only did they not scatter, but most of them didn't even bother
to look at the big metal bird that had invaded their territory.
"Certainly are calm types," Uncle Virge commented as Jack shut the
ship's systems down to standby.
    "It's better that than the alternative," Jack said. "Draycos, can
you see all right?"
    "I am fine," the dragon assured him. "And I can hear and smell, as
well. If there are any predators nearby, I should detect them before
they become a threat."
    He pushed against Jack's shirt as he lifted his head from Jack's
shoulder. "Or is that not what your question meant?"
    "Yes, it was," Jack said, grimacing. Sometimes the dragon read his
mind a little too well.
    Alison was waiting at the air lock, her two travel bags at her
sides. "I'm told there are enough traders and mining speculators poking
around these colonies that there should be at least one or two Erassvas
in the group who speak English," she told Jack as he keyed the outer
door. "You might want to let me do the talking, though "
    "Be my guest," Jack said, gesturing her to go ahead of him.
    "Thanks." She gestured at the tangler Jack had belted at his
waist. "And you'll want to keep that in its holster, too."
    "It's just a tangler," Jack said.
    "With shock rounds?"
    "Low-current variety only," Jack assured her. "Just enough juice
to stun most beings without damaging them."
    "Good," Alison said. "Keep it in its holster anyway."
    The Erassvas hadn't been much interested in the Essenay 's
approach. They were just as uninterested in the two humans walking
across the hairlike grass toward them. A couple of the aliens looked up
but