Ammonite Stars (Omnibus): Ammonite Galaxy #4-5 by Gillian Andrews Page B

broke up the green scrubland were the small huts which loomed out of the mist every so often; more copper composite walls which this time didn’t reach so high. The huts must have been merely entrances, for they were not big enough to be offices or dwellings of any kind – not for creatures as big as the ones Grace had just seen. Arcan’s map had been right – the work was carried out underground, and these were merely entrances to the different bunkers.
    Grace wondered how on Sacras Six was finding his way around; he was quite firm and determined, and seemed to know exactly where he was going. She had lost count of these copper huts – they must have passed at least twenty already. The rain lashed down on them, and even the bodywrap was beginning to feel uncomfortably hot and sweaty.
    AT LAST THEY arrived at the particular hut that Six had been aiming for. The door was locked, but the same key that he had taken from the entrance gate opened it easily. This species had clearly never needed high security on their home planet, at least until now. So there were no threats to their safety in the near vicinity. It was a good sign. He began to feel that the operation could be a success. Not that it would be easy – they were still only at the very beginning – but it helped a lot that their opponents were clearly not expecting any sort of rescue operation. It seemed that they had, after all, decided that the recent apparition in their skies had been due to natural causes.
    Inside, there was a double-rimmed cylinder of water glittering in the dim light. It was about three times the width of Ledin, and seemed to disappear down into the nether regions of the island. Water was noisily streaming out of the top of the inner cylinder, over the side, and down to the depths again on the outside of the inner cylinder, but contained within the outer one. It looked to be a long trip down, and the flow of water upwards meant that none of them could possibly dive down through the steep pressure gradient. The Dessites obviously used the cylinders only for ascent. Then Diva opened her eyes wide, and pointed. Curving around the double rimmed cylinder was a spiral slideway, which disappeared into the gloom below. Beside the start of the slide there was a pile of mats, made out of some rough black material, which was stiff but pliant. The front of each mat curved upwards, to protect its occupant.
    Diva danced on the spot, her eyes begging for the chance to try out this unusual form of transport. Six hesitated, and then peered down into the gloom, and shrugged. There was no other way to get down. It was this, or nothing. He gave a reluctant nod.
    Since the Dessites were much bigger than they were, there was room for two of them on each mat. Diva leapt onto the first mat and settled herself comfortably at the front. Six raised his eyes heavenwards and wedged himself in behind her, extending one arm to each side of her body to hold firmly onto the front curve of the mat. Diva’s eyes tracked to the arms to either side of her, appeared to be thinking about a comment, then turned back to the slide in front of them. With a wicked grin she pushed them off from the horizontal launch platform, and they plunged into the darkness, accelerated rapidly and disappeared. Even so, Grace could just make out a muffled whoop of glee as the mat build up speed.
    Ledin pulled out the following mat, and gestured to Grace to climb aboard. She hopped nimbly onto it, and sat down. Then he copied Six and positioned himself behind her, with arms to either side of her body holding the front curve of the mat. She felt safe, and he bent forward to give her the slightest of touches at the back of her neck. It was hardly a kiss – it couldn’t be because of the mask pack protection – but it felt good. She nodded her head slightly and then pushed them off.
    There were a few seconds of expectation as the mat began to pick up speed. Then a few more of enjoyment as a sense of