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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
he could, he told the Raven Leader of the coming flood. Fin-Kedinn heard it
without question or interruption.
"You've got to get the clans to higher ground," said Torak. "Right now! The flood
could come at any moment!"
The Raven Leader's face was unfathomable as ever, but Torak knew from the glint
in his eyes that his thoughts were racing. "Everyone's in camp," he said, "arguing
about the best way to hunt you. That'll make them easier to move."
"I've got a skinboat," said Torak. "I'll find the Otter camp and warn them."
"No. They'd shoot you before you got the chance."
"But someone's got to."
"I'll see to it."
"And the clans?"
"I'll get them up to the Hogback." He jerked his head at the ridge behind them.
"You get up there too, fast as you can. Try to reach the south side--there'll be fewer
people."
Torak nodded. But as he made to go, Fin-Kedinn held him back. "Where's the
Viper Mage?"
"I don't know. On the north cliff, I think."
Fin-Kedinn looked grim. "She hasn't finished with you yet. I know her, Torak.
Never underestimate her.
294
Never forget that she might be closer than you think."
Torak hadn't told him of the fire-opal and he didn't now, but as the Raven Leader
turned, he said, "Fin-Kedinn. You wouldn't be here--in danger--if it weren't for me.
I'm sorry."
A shadow crossed the Raven Leader's face. "I cast you out. You're not the one who
should be sorry." He touched Torak's arm. "Get as high as you can. Go!" The wind
screamed in Torak's ears as he scrambled up the slope, while Wolf raced ahead.
The Forest was dark as night, and the trees thrashed and groaned. He was halfway
up when he had to stop, bent double, chest heaving. Slumped against a pine, he told
Wolf to go on without him. Wolf hesitated.
Lightning flared. Thunder crashed directly overhead. Rain pattered on the leaves--
and swiftly became a downpour.
Torak saw Rip and Rek take cover in an oak tree. Yes. Climb the tree. No time for
anything else. Maybe the Forest would protect him, too. Go!he told Wolf again,
and Wolf--sensing what he meant to do---turned and sped to safety.
In the distance, Torak heard a deeper reverberation behind the thunder: an echoing
boom that he'd heard before, in the Far North. The boom of breaking ice. 295
He stumbled for the oak--tripped--and fell headlong in the mud. Lightning flickered
on a footprint by his hand. Behind him, a branch snapped. He rolled sideways just
as Aki's axe thudded into the root where his head had been.
"Got you at last!" bellowed the Boar Clan boy. With his good arm he tugged at his
axe, which he'd buried in the root.
"Aki, are you mad?" shouted Torak against the wind. "The flood is coming! We've
got to get into the trees!"
"I said I'd get you and I will!" yelled Aki.
More lightning, more thunder. The ice river boomed across the Lake.
As he struggled to his feet, Torak saw that Aki wasn't driven by hatred, but by fear
of failing his father--and against that there was no reasoning. Leaving him yanking
at the axe, Torak raced for the oak and leaped for the lowest branch. Desperation
lent him strength, and he was soon ten paces up.
"Aki!" he shouted. "Leave the axe! Climb!"
Another boom from the ice river--and suddenly Aki let go of the axehandle and ran
for the oak. But he was heavier than Torak, couldn't reach the lowest branch. "Grab
my hand!" Torak leaned down as far as he could.
Not far enough. And Aki couldn't climb with only one arm.
296
Through the rain, Torak saw the Boar Clan boy's right arm strapped to his chest:
the arm that he, Torak, had broken when he'd sent Aki crashing into the rapids.
With a snarl, Torak leaped from the tree and linked his hands to make a step.
"Quick, climb!"
Aki was aghast. Then he put his foot on Torak's hands, and Torak boosted him into
the tree with the last of his strength.
The roar came again, but this time it wasn't ice, Torak realized; it was the flood. Far
in the distance he saw it: a giant wall of water powering across the Lake-
obliterating islands, uprooting trees, coming for him.
Aki was shouting and leaning down to give him his hand, but now it was Torak
who couldn't reach. He wasn't going to make it.
In the moment before the flood hit, he saw Wolf racing toward him. Torak
staggered to meet him--he flung his arms around his pack-brother's neck ... ... and
the wave took them both.
297
THIRTY-SIX
Torak came to his senses lying on his back, with rain pattering on his face. A dead
fish hung in the birch tree above him. The storm had passed. The flood had thrown
him onto a stony hillside strewn with broken saplings. There was no trace of Wolf.
Torak prayed that he'd found his way to safety. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
