Cloak of the Two Winds by Jack Massa Page A
Authors: Jack Massa
wrists.
His fury proved contagious. First Eben, then Draven and Brinda started tugging at their chains in the same tempo. The ring on the mast ignited with yellow light. Pulled taut again and again, the tethers threw off ruby sparks. Even amid his rage, Lonn was aware of the wave of silver radiance that loomed higher and higher as the meltwind neared the coaster's bow.
Hearing the excitement, a number of crewmen had come out on deck. They hovered at the rails, watching the skater's race for life, some making wagers on the outcome.
Flashes of silver light popped and fizzed in the air as the towering curtain of the sea change approached. It was almost upon the ship when a groan went up from the Larthangans. Lonn knew that Karrol had been caught.
Howling in torment, Lonn put both feet on the mast and arched his back. He heard a link snap and then he fell backward, his head and shoulders slamming on the deck.
Next moment, the meltwind engulfed the ship. There was a whir, like a song note, piercing to his bones, a stifling unbreathable warmth in the air, and the dazzling silver light everywhere.
Still on his back, Lonn slid forward as the deck plunged, the Plover running off the vanishing ice and crashing into the water. The deck lurched up again as the light and warmth and song note blew past. Cold spray glittered in the air as the ship's hull splashed through foaming waves.
Lonn bounded to his feet, unsnapping the gold bracelets—which, came off easily now—and flinging them away. The main ring of chain had broken on the mast and the other Iruks were also free.
The mates separated and ran to either rail. They shoved the Larthangans aside and looked for Karrol. Lonn spotted her off the starboard side, her arms wildly beating the bright water.
"Hang on, mate!" he yelled. "We'll get you."
At Amlina's orders the sailors had gotten life buoys ready—hoops of cork covered in canvas and attached to ropes. One of these had already been thrown, but the cast had fallen short. Lonn darted back along the bulwark and grabbed a second buoy from the man holding it. He leaned far over the rail and flung the life buoy with all his strength.
The hoop hit the water beyond Karrol and off-line, but Lonn had wisely thrown it to her right, so the coaster's drift would pull the lifeline within her reach. In a moment Karrol caught the rope, a few yards from the floating buoy. She pulled her head well out of the water then and took a great gasp of air.
Lonn's mates were beside him, whooping with joy, Brinda pounding him on the back. Draven and Eben took hold of the lifeline and began hauling it in.
The Larthangans were falling back, muttering among themselves, confused and worried now that the Iruks had somehow gotten free.
Karrol had wrapped both arms around the lifeline and was straining to hook her leg over it as well. By the weakness of her efforts Lonn could tell she was in no shape to climb onboard the ship. So he and Draven grabbed a rope ladder that lay nearby and tossed it over the side. They scrambled down the ladder to the ledge, then started down the arcing beam to the aft runner.
The silver wall of the meltwind receded in the south. Prow in the wind, the coaster had slowed to a drift in the still-turbulent sea. Lonn had almost reached the runner when a high wave dashed over the beam. He lost his grip and plunged into the frigid water.
For a moment he kicked in wild fright. Then his hand found the steel runner and he pulled his head to the surface. Coughing, he dragged himself onto the runner-top, which rode a foot deep. By now Draven had reached the runner, and he helped Lonn to sit upright.
The two mates straddled the runner, waist-deep in the glittering sea. They edged their way aft to where Karrol had been dragged by the lifeline and was feebly trying to get a leg up. Lonn grasped her harness and Draven her arm and together they hoisted her until she sat between them on the runner.
Brinda and Eben called down
His fury proved contagious. First Eben, then Draven and Brinda started tugging at their chains in the same tempo. The ring on the mast ignited with yellow light. Pulled taut again and again, the tethers threw off ruby sparks. Even amid his rage, Lonn was aware of the wave of silver radiance that loomed higher and higher as the meltwind neared the coaster's bow.
Hearing the excitement, a number of crewmen had come out on deck. They hovered at the rails, watching the skater's race for life, some making wagers on the outcome.
Flashes of silver light popped and fizzed in the air as the towering curtain of the sea change approached. It was almost upon the ship when a groan went up from the Larthangans. Lonn knew that Karrol had been caught.
Howling in torment, Lonn put both feet on the mast and arched his back. He heard a link snap and then he fell backward, his head and shoulders slamming on the deck.
Next moment, the meltwind engulfed the ship. There was a whir, like a song note, piercing to his bones, a stifling unbreathable warmth in the air, and the dazzling silver light everywhere.
Still on his back, Lonn slid forward as the deck plunged, the Plover running off the vanishing ice and crashing into the water. The deck lurched up again as the light and warmth and song note blew past. Cold spray glittered in the air as the ship's hull splashed through foaming waves.
Lonn bounded to his feet, unsnapping the gold bracelets—which, came off easily now—and flinging them away. The main ring of chain had broken on the mast and the other Iruks were also free.
The mates separated and ran to either rail. They shoved the Larthangans aside and looked for Karrol. Lonn spotted her off the starboard side, her arms wildly beating the bright water.
"Hang on, mate!" he yelled. "We'll get you."
At Amlina's orders the sailors had gotten life buoys ready—hoops of cork covered in canvas and attached to ropes. One of these had already been thrown, but the cast had fallen short. Lonn darted back along the bulwark and grabbed a second buoy from the man holding it. He leaned far over the rail and flung the life buoy with all his strength.
The hoop hit the water beyond Karrol and off-line, but Lonn had wisely thrown it to her right, so the coaster's drift would pull the lifeline within her reach. In a moment Karrol caught the rope, a few yards from the floating buoy. She pulled her head well out of the water then and took a great gasp of air.
Lonn's mates were beside him, whooping with joy, Brinda pounding him on the back. Draven and Eben took hold of the lifeline and began hauling it in.
The Larthangans were falling back, muttering among themselves, confused and worried now that the Iruks had somehow gotten free.
Karrol had wrapped both arms around the lifeline and was straining to hook her leg over it as well. By the weakness of her efforts Lonn could tell she was in no shape to climb onboard the ship. So he and Draven grabbed a rope ladder that lay nearby and tossed it over the side. They scrambled down the ladder to the ledge, then started down the arcing beam to the aft runner.
The silver wall of the meltwind receded in the south. Prow in the wind, the coaster had slowed to a drift in the still-turbulent sea. Lonn had almost reached the runner when a high wave dashed over the beam. He lost his grip and plunged into the frigid water.
For a moment he kicked in wild fright. Then his hand found the steel runner and he pulled his head to the surface. Coughing, he dragged himself onto the runner-top, which rode a foot deep. By now Draven had reached the runner, and he helped Lonn to sit upright.
The two mates straddled the runner, waist-deep in the glittering sea. They edged their way aft to where Karrol had been dragged by the lifeline and was feebly trying to get a leg up. Lonn grasped her harness and Draven her arm and together they hoisted her until she sat between them on the runner.
Brinda and Eben called down