Pictoria (The Ammonite Galaxy Series, Book 4)

Chapter 4

ARCAN DROPPED THE Independence into orbit around Pictoria, and Ledin was the first to move to the rexelene visors to look down at the planet. Then he turned to the others, an expression of amazement on his face.

Diva laughed. "Yes, you really are on the other side of the galaxy," she told him.

"Unbelievable. I feel so privileged."

Six gave a grunt. "You won't for very long. Once these two females start spouting on about first contact and naming things you will just wish you were back on Kwaide."

Ledin grinned. "Never! I can hardly believe that someone as ordinary as me has been allowed to form part of this." He peered down at the planet below. "What are all those stripes, and the brownish clumps? They almost look like giant temaris trees painted flat onto the surface of the planet."

"The brown bits are the areas around the buttes, where the surface crust is pitted with potholes, and the stripes are the parallel ridges that run from North to South."

"And are there any intelligent lifeforms?"

"Just the avifauna, and the amorphs, as far as we know." Six described the ortholiquid lake, and the avifauna. "Of course, Diva wanted to adopt one."

"I thought it would make a more intelligent companion than you! —OUCH!" Diva moved her foot to safety and glowered at Six.

"Tell you one thing, mate," said Six feelingly. "You don't want to get too cosy with those avifauna. I was practically smothered by one. Nearly had to cut my way out."

"Perhaps it recognized a family resemblance?" suggested Diva.

"They are dumb prehistoric animals with big mouths and wings!"

"You said it!" Diva examined her fingernails. "—Although you don't have wings."

Six narrowed his eyes. "Strange," he said, "that it obeyed you instinctively." He pondered for a few seconds, and then his frown cleared. "I expect it recognized a fellow bird-brain."

It was Diva's turn to glare. They stared at each other for quite five seconds, and then they both grinned.

Six turned back to Ledin. "You might like to carry a knife," he told him, "—just in case. There are some very aggressive bats down there too."

"It is getting more attractive by the minute."

"Of course, if the visitor turns up here on the ship, there will be no need to go down to the surface of the planet."

Both girls looked up at that.

"We have to go down!"

"Now that we have come this far!"

Six exchanged another look with Ledin, and then shrugged. "See what I have to put up with all the time?" He blew out air. "No peace for the wicked, I suppose. We had better prepare the shuttle. We are going to need a lot of ropes, and enough food and water for a few days, in case we get stuck down there because of the winds."

THE NEXT MORNING they landed safely between two of the high ridges and Six led the way down onto the planet's surface. Ledin whistled as he gazed around at the wind-sculpted ridges, cut into alternate steps and risers. He stared off into the distance, the skin around his eyes crinkling against the sun.

"So where are we headed?"

Diva pointed to the nearest butte, "There. Are we going up or down, Six? What do you think?"