第23节

nows? It might actually be true."

'It might,' admitted Steve. 'If you believe that stuff."

He eyed the motionless warriors. 'Did you tell them we flew here from

Ne-Issan?"

'No."

'So how did they know about the "iron birds"?"

'The same way as the Plainfolk knew about cloud-warriors and iron

snakes centuries before wagon-trains emerged from beneath the deserts

of the south.

That's the magic of prophecy."

'Yeah . . ."

Jodi, who had been following their conversation with growing puzzlement

said: 'Would you mind telling me what all this iron bird shit is

about?

And who or what is Talisman?"

Steve flagged her down. 'Some other time, Jodi. So where do we go

from here?"

Cadillac smiled. 'Well, for the moment, you three aren't going

anywhere. We can't risk Kelso shooting his mouth off."

'Ayy-men to that,' said Jodi.

'They wanted to take us all back to their settlement so their wordsmith

could question us but I told them our "blood-brother" had contracted a

malady that lurks in the land of the dead-faces. And until he got

better, he should not be brought into the settlement. I explained that

we were not infectious. It was only young children in the general

vicinity of the invalid who were in danger."

'Neat. So we stay and you go..."

Steve looked at Jodi. His eyebrows formed the silent question.

'That's okay by me, Steve. Clearwater gave us all great paintjobs but

even if Dave kept his mouth shut neither of us know the ropes. You may

be able to wing it but it's not gonna take 'em long to cotton on to the

fact we aren't the real thing."

'Yeah, you're right." Steve slapped his fur-clad hands together.

'Okay - how does it play from here?"

'They're taking me and Clearwater back with them to meet their

wordsmith. That's why I'm leaving you the backpacks."

'And what do we do,' asked Jodi. 'Camp here?"

'Yes. There shouldn't be any trouble. We're on their turf." Cadillac

made a quick appraisal of their surroundings and pointed to a nearby

stand of tall pines whose lower branches drooped under the weight of

the accumulated layers of snow. 'That looks like a pretty good spot.

Why don't you check it out?"

'We will,' said Steve, feeling distinctly upstaged.

'Where're they taking you?"

'They didn't say exactly. Just somewhere north of he re."

'So you can't tell us when you'll be back..."

'No. But these guys are travelling light - which means their

settlement can't be all that far away. My guess is we'll be back in

the next couple of days."

'Or never,' said Jodi.

Cadillac replied with a philosophical shrug. 'Depends on how we make

out with their wordsmith. If we can convince him we're the real thing

we may be offered a warm bed and free meals for the rest of the

winter."

Steve absorbed the scenario with a thoughtful nod.

'That takes care of you two, and maybe Jodi and me at a pinch. But

that leaves Kelso out in the cold - or is his "malady" going to be

suddenly and magically cured?"

'Be realistic, Brickman. We both know there's only one cure for Kelso

and--' 'Now wait a minute--!"

Cadillac rounded on Jodi. 'No! You listen! Because without me and

Clearwater your life's not worth shit!

Even if Mr Snow was here right now he couldn't put Kelso back

together.

He needs major surgery - and only your people can handle that--'

'But--' 'Look! I'm not going to argue about this. Kelso's your

problem - and you've got two days to make up your mind what to do about

it."

'You miserable piece of lumpshit!" Jodi lunged at Cadillac's throat.

Steve saw Clearwater start running towards them as he stepped in

between the warring pair, deflecting Jodi's hands before they could do

any damage. 'Cool it!

Christopher Columbus! What d'you wanna do - blow the whole deal? I'

She rounded on Steve, eyes blazing. 'I'm not going to let you kill

him!"