|
er and of the
deep water creek which fed the river, remained troubled, expect-
ant, tossing the little sailboat lying at an uneasy anchor in the
creek, this way and that. In another three hours, dawn would come.
But for now, with no moon to lift and fill the silence, there was
only the total blackness of night and the metallic sound of hal-
yards banging against metal stays, and the incessant dripping of
water from water soaked leaves and fallen trees, the murmur of the
stream that ran close upon the cabin and the voice of the rising
creek itself.
A match flared in the darkness, then was gone. Its sound un-
natural in the silence. In its brief light, the framework of a
door was imprinted upon the darkness and within its boundaries, a
darkish man whose eyes caught the glint of yellow from the flame
and reflected the light like two tiny moons reflect the suns rays.
"Nat?"
His name was Nathianel. Nate, to friends and enemies alike--
Nat, to the woman who's voice came out of the darkness behind him.
If the light from the match had remained for a moment longer than
it had, and had he been facing her, he was certain Sasa Handa would have
been surprised by the look of wonder
|
