im roaring up like that?"

"I couldn't say." Regis looked as if he knew more than he was telling.
"I don't believe that Dr. Allison--he's not much like you--was very
concerned with Kyla. Are you?"

"Damn right I am. I want to make sure she's all right--" I stopped
abruptly. "Regis--did they all see it?"

"Only Kendricks and I," Regis said, "and we will not speak of it."

I said, "Thanks," and felt his reassuring hand-clasp. Damn it, demigod
or prince, I _liked_ Regis.

I went out and accepted some food from the kettle and sat down between
Kyla and Kendricks to eat. I was shaken, weak with reaction.
Furthermore, I realized that we couldn't stay here. It was too
vulnerable to attack. So, in our present condition, were we. If we could
push on hard enough to get near Dammerung pass tonight, then tomorrow we
could cross it early, before the sun warmed the snow and we had
snowslides and slush to deal with. Beyond Dammerung, I knew the
tribesmen and could speak their language.

I mentioned this, and Kendricks looked doubtfully at Kyla. "Can she
climb?"

"Can she stay here?" I countered. But I went and sat beside her anyhow.

"How badly are you hurt? Do you think you can travel?"

She said fiercely, "Of course I can climb! I tell you, I'm no weak girl,
I'm a free Amazon!" She flung off the blanket somebody had tucked around
her legs. Her lips looked a little pinched, but the long stride was
steady as she walked to the fire and demanded more soup.

We struck the camp in minutes. The trailmen band of raiding females had
snatched up almost everything portable, and there was no sense in
striking and caching the tent; they'd return and hunt it out. If we came
back with a trailmen escort, we wouldn't need it anyway. I ordered them
to leave everything but the lightest gear, and examined each remaining
rucksack. Rations for the night we would spend in the pass, our few
remaining blankets, ropes, sunglasses. Everything else I ruthlessly
ordered left behind.

It was harder going now. For one thing, the sun was lowering, and the
evening wind was icy. Nearly everyone of us had some hurt, slight in
itself, which hindered us in climbing. Kyla was white and rigid, but did
not spare herself; Kendricks was suffering severely from mountain
sickness at this altitude, and I gave him all the help I could, but with
my stiffening slashed hand I wasn't having too easy a time myself.

There was one expanse that was sheer rock-climbing, fl