15

"We can reach the trees!" Alexius says as two controllers haul a dazed Therko back to his feet.

"What about the Bridge Keepers?" Vecla cries as another swamp person goes down.

"There is no time," Control says. "Therko is hurt. His skin is invincible, but his ribs are not."

You dash for the half-finished wall where the Bridge Keepers now cower. A bullet cracks the reed bridge just behind you, but then you pass into the shadow of the wall. More bullets follow, plinking into the water.

"Get down!" you say, pointing out places to hide along the irregular surface of the wall. Alexius has already snuggled into an ink-black shadow, cradling his rifle. Vecla bounces underneath a shaggy tree and waves over more of the Bridge Keepers, who hide beneath it. Controllers get Therko hidden in the shadow of the wall, and most of the swamp people hide there, too. The airship continues to shoot, but it has no targets, and soon it floats away. You hear the shouts and jeers of its thwarted hunters, denied the chance to kill. Soon it passes out of rifle range, drifting northwest across the swamps.

"Thank you," one of the Bridge Keepers says. Her gourds and medicine satchels identify her as an herbalist. Her voice is barely a whisper, as if she fears any sound will cause the airship to turn around.

"What will you do if that thing returns?" It's Therko. Vecla keeps trying to examine him, but he seems fine after catching his breath for a moment.

"We can set guards now that we know what to look for," the Bridge Keepers' herbalist says, "and we have secret ways beneath the water. Do not fear for us. But you should reach the forest before it is too late."

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