The Golden Enemy by Alexander Key Page B

before the goats came.”
    So the birds had all flown away. No wonder they hadn’t heard any singing. But why south? There was nothing down there but rocky hills full of caverns, then endless ocean, with strings of barren islets.
    Then he remembered that at one time, according to old Emmon, birds and even some animals had migrated with the seasons. But that was ages ago when the winters were vicious and supposedly there were warm continents to the south. Or had the birds gone to the caverns?
    He puzzled over the birds for a while, then forgot them as he caught sight of the flooded fields of North Com. All the low ground was under water. Ponds and widening lakes extended through much of the woods to join the distant river.
    Somehow he hadn’t realized how badly flooded the area had become. He’d had a feeling the Golden One would circle the Five Communities, but it was hardly likely with the water the way it was. As for fishing, that would be almost impossible with the rain-swollen river spread out over so much territory.
    Where would the beast go?
    Boy Jaim swung past the scattered houses on the higher ground and began cruising slowly over the wooded hills beyond them. Continually he sent his thoughts out, searching. It had always been easy for him to sense the presence of most creatures, if they were not too far away. But the Golden One was elusive. The other evening, before the big rain came, the monster had appeared suddenly without any warning.
    â€œCan you whiff anything?” he asked presently.
    â€œNot exactly,” Doubtful muttered unhappily.
    â€œHuh? What do you mean by that?”
    â€œHe’s just in the air, but nowhere near. Or maybe it’s just that I know he’s somewhere around and wish he wasn’t. Why can’t you forget him?”
    â€œYou know I can’t do that!”
    Doubtful rolled doleful eyes up at him, then said plaintively, “We had such fine times together before he came. Life was good then. Why does it have to be the way it is now?”
    â€œI don’t know. I wish you’d stop talking like that.” Boy Jaim ground his teeth together.
    â€œI can’t help how I feel. And I don’t feel right. I wish he wasn’t so smart. Why is he so smart?”
    â€œHe’s a mutant,” Boy Jaim mumbled. “I’m sure he’s very old, and that he’s learned how to use the Pool of Knowledge.”
    â€œWhat chance have we got against something like that?”
    â€œNot much, I’m afraid.”
    â€œWell then,” Doubtful said glumly, “don’t you think he ought to be killed before it’s too late?”
    â€œOh, stop talking and help me find him!” Boy Jaim snapped irritably.
    As he swung the sled around again L’Mara called, as she had been doing every few minutes, and asked his location. When he gave it, she said, “ Are there any sleds near you? ”
    â€œ Can’t make out any ,” he told her. “ But I can’t see far in this rain. ”
    â€œ Well, there ought to be a lot around you soon, flying in groups. Father’s organized a big hunt. There’ll be hundreds of sleds out, covering all the country. For the people who can’t use bows, there will be explosives. Father and Councilman Traml are making them now. ”
    L’Mara paused, and suddenly he sensed that something had upset her badly and that she was trying to keep it from him.
    â€œ Go on, ” he urged. “ There’s more. It has to do with Andru. Did he tell you to tell me something? ”
    â€œ Yes, ” she admitted. “ He — he sends orders for you to come back and join the hunt. He says you know how to locate the bear better than anyone, and that if you don’t help kill it he — he’ll have you tried by the Council, and — and condemned to be an outcast. ”
    Boy Jaim was stunned. Tried by the Council! Would Andru actually do that to him? Make