40

They stop for the indispensable: to eat, to refill the tank, or to go to the bathroom. As soon as they finish their work, Chester urges them to resume their march. They are not alone, there are trackers, motorized silhouettes patrolling miles behind. They are a reminder that they are still in danger.

"Shall we go back and blow them up?" Erika offers.

"That would reduce our advantage" Chester votes for peace. "For now, let's leave them alone. When the North Star activates, I'll deal with them personally"

Ash, upon hearing this, scratches his throat in fear of the consequences of failure.

At the third noon, Tashala proves his worth as a guide. A flat-faced mountain appears on the horizon, neighboring a dry river. Chester congratulates Tashala with a pat on the back, and turns to Nadjela expecting to find her puffed up with excitement, like a child returning home after a tortuous journey. But instead he finds her silent and meditative. Lancaster's smile turns into a dull grimace. Upon reflection, he realizes that he too is not happy to reach La Cuna. Perhaps because of Tashala's warnings? Perhaps because of emotions that his overactive personality prevents him from weighing.

A lookout hidden in a eucalyptus tree sees them appear, and runs to raise cries of alarm in the village. The women grab their children and take shelter in the houses. At the same time the champions of the hawk, the Tasmanian, and the Komodo, leap from their beds in the hut, and rush for their cloaks, saddles, and weapons. The hunters left at rest adopt a similar attitude and, bow and quiver in hand, mount the ostriches and join the cavalcade of champions.

The jeep is 300 meters away and approaching. The natives form three lines, two of 10 hunters, and the front line of 12, which includes the champions. Zell, eyes narrowed under the bone spike, draws three arrows from the quiver, raises the bow about fifteen degrees, and tightens the string. His 20/20 gaze follows the vehicle. He ignores the murmurs of restless voices asking what kind of demon-laden mount this is. He studies how the wind behaves, and as soon as the calculations are complete, he fires. The bow cracks like a whip, and the projectiles trace a parabola.

200 meters. Inside the jeep the group notices the gesture, but it takes them a while to recognize the lines that trace the sky and disappear for moments in the sun's glare.

"Ah, arrows" Chester mutters, the scope confirms it.

The first projectile destroys a lighthouse. Ash shrieks and Nadjela hides under the seat. The second brushes the hair of Erika, who ducked just in time. The third arrow pierces the windshield and plunges into Tashala's chest, right through the heart.

150 meters. At Zell's command, the hunters load their bows. The falcon champion is the first to notice that the young woman in the vehicle, the one with the dust-tanned body and clothes, who stands up and waves her arms, against all odds is Princess Nadjela. Zell wants to order fire, but out of the corner of his eye he perceives that, one of the men with almost as good an eye as he has, already suspects the girl's identity.

Zell lowers his hand, knowing that he missed the opportunity to solve the problem at the first encounter. The hunter who identified the princess starts shouting euphorically and calling for weapons to be put down. Bironte and Maaca watch Zell waiting for instructions, but the leader just closes his eyes and waits.

Finally, the distance is no longer an impediment, even the most myopic of the advance party recognizes Nadjela. The euphoria of the hunters reaches the houses, and the refugees spill out after hearing the incredible news of the return of the princess.

The jeep slows down a hop away from the village, and is immediately surrounded by ostrich riders, whose enthusiasm passes into concern at discovering the new faces, one gray and two pale ones, but above all at finding Tashala injured, and by the arrow of one of their own! Until then for most the whereabouts of Tashala was a mystery.

Nadjela climbs onto the flamethrower's stand, and from there announces her arrival.

"Hunters of La Cuna, I'm fine, I'm safe, but Tashala needs to get to the healers!"

The pig's champion is not as optimistic as Nadjela, he feels a metallic taste on his lips, and a warmth sliding down his chest. He lacks sensation in his limbs, yet he keeps moving his arms. He spends that last spark of life to lure Chester from the vest.

"Swear to me that you will protect the princess"

"Come on. Hang in there, man. Fight"

"Swear to me!" He asks through clenched red teeth.

Chester understands that this is the last will of a dying man. He nods and gives him his word. Tashala, consoled that his task is in good hands, releases the Lancasterian and steps back. He yields to the mystery that unravels beneath the privacy of his eyelids, the discovery of what lies after death.

From the houses comes a rush of men, women, old men, and children, bathed in enthusiasm. Although at first they shiver as they notice Chester, Erika, and Ash, that distrust is assuaged when the princess announces that they are their saviors. But the tears of joy turn to anguish when they notice the man Chester holds in his arms. The cries of a woman and two children overtake those of the others.

The Lancasterian casts a solemn glance over the crowd. He unravels the faces until he reaches the three champions in the background, oblivious to the pleasure or regret of the reunion. Three animals: Tasmanian, komodo, and hawk... The eyes of the third are particularly icy, not like ice, but like stone. But soon Chester's attention leaves them and he ventures beyond, to the balcony of the tallest and widest building in the village. A man watches the reunion from that spot, and if Zell seems to have eyes of stone, Neddin turns out to be a gargoyle altogether.