第7节

in my body, you and I will be together. My feelings for you

will never change. I will care for you and protect you."

'No,' said Roz. 'That's my job. Let me at least earn my keep."

."That's something we need to talk about."

Cadillac hesitated. Ever since they landed in Wyoming he had been

holding back a question which he hoped she would answer in the

affirmative. Be it 'Yes' or 'No' he couldn't put it off any longer.

'This telepathic link you share with Steve. Does it work with me? Can

you reach into my mind?"

Roz shook her head regretfully. 'If it did, you'd know about it. On

the other hand, you and I have something he never had."

'I know..."

'But you're still upset."

'Not really. Not about that, anyway."

'Is it this meeting of the Plainfolk at Sioux Falls?"

'Partly. That and staying alive."

Roz placed her hands on his thighs, leant forward and kissed the base

of his throat. 'Our lives are in the hands of Talisman. I never

thought I'd have to tell you that."

'You don't. It was, well - a slip of the tongue. When something good

happens to you - like what's happening between us, you don't want to

lose it ... makes you realise how precious life is."

'And how precarious..."

'Exactly. The four of us may have been born in the shadow of Talisman

but that doesn't mean to say we're destined to live happily ever

after." He saw her eyes cloud over and moved on rapidly. 'Sioux Falls

is about five hundred miles from here. We ought to leave soon to make

sure of getting there in good time."

The image of the fearsome Shakatak D'Vine and the vicious duel they

fought came into his mind. 'Thing is-there are quite a few D'Troit and

C'Natti clans between here and Sioux Falls. They may not be too

pleased to find us treading on their turf."

'We could always fly there."

Cadillac shook his head. 'We can't. Remember those bear steaks we had

the other day?"

'unforgettable. They were enough to put me off meat for the rest of

my life."

'Yeah, well, I collected those up in the hills when I went up to check

out the Skyhawk.Didn't set out to, but I found myself halfway there,

so..."

'You went..."

'Yeah. And when I got there, I found a whole family of 'em - climbing

all over it. A big male, about nine feet tall on his hind legs, two

mothers and five cubs- ' 'Babies? Oh, I wish I'd been there!" 'I'm

glad you weren't. The port aileron had been torn off and they'd ripped

great holes in the underside of the wing. It was lucky I had my

carbine."

'Did you manage to drive them off?."

'And store up more trouble? Of course not. I killed them."

'Oh, Caddy! How could you?!" Roz pounded his shoulders with her

fists.

Cadillac caught them and squeezed hard. 'Listen!" he hissed. 'The

bear is an animal you don't mess around with. Those cuddly little

babies you're so upset about grow up to be big and mean, with paws

twice the size of a man's hand and claws that can tear your head off

your shoulders with one swipe!" Roz was surprisingly strong but it

wasn't the physical force she exerted that made him let go. It was the

look in her eyes. The same look that had chilled Steve to the

marrow.

'Not my head..." She stood up.

Cadillac got to his feet with a placatory gesture. 'I didn't mean to

hurt you. I was- ' 'You didn't..."

'Roz. There's another question I need an answer to.

The night we..."

'Yes, I remember..."

'When you went into the hut you said - "There is no need to stand

guard. My power will protect us both." Steve mentioned something