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.How long the effect will last I have no way of telling.""If we saw one rock ape," Dane wondered, "why didn't we see others? And why here and now?""That!" Tau pointed ahead on the trail Asaki had picked for their ascent.For a long moment Dane could see nothing of any interestthere and then he located it--a finger of rock.It did not point directly skyward this time, in fact it slanted so that its tip indicated theirback trail.Yet in outline the spire was very similar to that outcrop from which the real rock ape had charged them the day before.Asaki exclaimed in his own tongue and slapped his hand hard against the stock of the needler."We saw that and so again we saw an ape also! Had earlier we been charged by graz or jumped by a lion in such a place, then again wewould have been faced by graz or lion here!"Voodoo Planet 21/38 Voodoo PlanetCaptain Jellico gave a bark of laughter colored only by the most sardonic humor."Clever enough.He merely leaves it to us to selectour own ghost and then repeat the performance in the next proper setting.I wonder how many rocks shaped like that one there are inthese mountains? And how long will a rock ape continue to pop out from behind each one we do find?""Who knows? But as long as we drink this water we're going to continue to have trouble; I feel safe in promising that," Tau replied.Heput the vial of doctored purifier into a separate pocket of his medical kit."It may be a problem of how long we can go without water.""Perhaps," Asaki said softly."Only not all the water on Khatka comes running in streams.""Fruit?" Tau asked."No, trees.Lumbrilo is not a hunter, nor could he be certain when and where his magic would go to work.Unless the flitter wasdeliberately sabotaged, he was planning for us to use our canteens in the preserve.That is lion country and there are long distancesbetween springs.This is jungle below us and there is a source there I think we can safely tap.But first I must find Nymani and proveto him that this is truly deviltry of a sort, but not demon inspired."He was gone, running lightly down-slope in the direction his hunter had taken, and Dane spoke to Captain Jellico."What's this about water in trees, sir?""There is a species of tree here, not too common, with a thickened trunk.It stores water during the rainy season to live on in the hotmonths.Since we are in the transition period between rains, we could tap it--if we locate one of the trees.How about that, Tau? Darewe drink that without a purifier?""Probably a choice of two evils, sir.But we have had our preventive shots.Personally, I'd rather battle disease than take a chance on amind-twisting drug.You can go without water just so long.""I'd like to have a little talk with Lumbrilo," remarked Jellico, the mildness in his voice very deceptive."I'm goingoingto have a little talk with Lumbrilo, if and when we see him again!" promised Tau."What are our chances, sir?" Dane asked.He screwed the cap back on his canteen, his mouth feeling twice as dry since he knew hedared not drink."Well, we've faced gambles before." Tau sealed the medical kit."I'd like to see one of those trees before sundown.And I don't want toface another pointed rock today!""Why the leopard?" asked Jellico reflectively."Another case of using flame to fight fire? But Lumbrilo wasn't among those present tobe impressed."Tau rubbed his hand across his forehead."I don't really know, sir.Maybe I could have made the ape vanish without a counterprojection, but I don't think so.With these hallucinations it is better to battle one vision against another for the benefit of thoseinvolved.And I can't even tell you why I selected a leopard--it just flashed into mind as about the fastest and most deadly animalfighter I could recall at that moment.""You'd better work out a good list of such fighters." Jellico's grim humor showed again."I can supply a few if you need them.Not thatI don't share your hope we won't see any more trigger rocks.Here comes Asaki with his wandering boy."The Chief Ranger was half-leading, half-supporting his hunter, and Nymani seemed only half-conscious.Tau got to his feet andhurried to meet them.It would appear that their search for the water tree would be delayed
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