Draggah (44 page)

“
I don
’
t understand.
”

“
When we first got here, everyone was happy to have found a new water source,
”
Rafe said. 
“
We
’
ve all been drinking it for days, right?
”

“
Yes,
”
Lexi said.

“
Even Olyva and she
’
s sensitive to this kind of thing.
”

“
What kind of thing?
”
Lexi asked.

“
Something has made the water here bad,
”
Rafe said. 
“
Or someone.
”

“
You think someone poisoned the water?
”

“
It
’
s possible isn
’
t?
”
Rafe said. 
“
We were just attacked two nights ago.
”

“
You think the raiders did something to the water supply?
”

Rafe nodded.

“
I sent one of the Rogu to check it out.  I don
’
t want to leave until he comes back.
”

They moved the wagon out of the camp and stopped near the growing area of sick Hoskali.  The tribe members were all working together, but Lexi could tell just by looking that most of the Hoskali that were still up and moving around were already sick.  It wouldn
’
t be long until the entire tribe was completely vulnerable.

“
Do you notice anything strange?
”
Rafe asked her quietly.

“
Should I?
”
Lexi said.

“
I don
’
t see any of the captive raiders laid out with our people,
”
Rafe said.

“
They
’
re still being held in the camp,
”
Lexi said.

“
I checked there too,
”
Rafe said. 
“
They aren
’
t sick.
”

“
None of them?
”

Rafe shook his head.

“
But Tiberius healed their leader, Bu
’
yorgi.
”

“
Yes,
”
Rafe said,
“
but think about it.  He lost the Tuscogee, which means he lost all of the captives they had taken and all the loot they had stolen.  He would be disgraced by going back to his tribe a failure.
”

“
You think he ordered our water supply to be tainted?
”
Lexi asked.

“
That
’
s my guess.
”

One of the Rogu jogged toward the camp from the head of the spring.  Rafe waved to the man, who made his way past the area of sick Hoskali and finally reached the wagon.  Lexi could tell the man was suffering.  He was out of breath and Lexi had never seen the Rogu panting even after their long runs.  The Rogu had great stamina, but even they couldn
’
t fight off whatever was causing the sickness.

“
There was a Cadsoo in the spring,
”
the man said.

“
What
’
s a Cadsoo?
”
Rafe asked.

“
A small animal,
”
the Rogu warrior explained. 
“
It fends off predators with a poison spray from under its tail.
”

“
Could it have fallen into the spring and died?
”
Lexi asked.

The hunter shook his head.

“
It was held under the water by a rock,
”
he said.

“
The Sky Tribe,
”
Rafe said.

The Rogu nodded.

“
Okay, we
’
ll get clean water,
”
Rafe said.

“
No,
”
the Rogu said. 
“
I removed the Cadsoo.  Our water should be clean.
”

“
But we won
’
t know that for sure.  They may have done other things to the water.  The Rogu must keep watch.  I don
’
t think the Sky Tribe will attack directly, but they
’
ll free their own.  If they come for the captives, don
’
t stop them.  We
’
ll get fresh water, then we
’
ll go after the raiders.
”

The man nodded and Rafe flicked the reins.  The horses trotted forward, but Lexi felt a knot forming in her stomach.  Their water was tainted and they would probably all get sick, including Rafe and Lexi, then the raiders could do whatever they wanted to the tribe and there would be no one to defend them.

“
Why don
’
t you let me drive the wagon,
”
she said. 
“
You could lay down in the back and rest.
”

“
That
’
s not really an option,
”
Rafe said.

“
Why not?
”
Lexi asked. 
“
You were up most of the night.  At least I got a little sleep.
”

“
It
’
s not an option because at some point we
’
re going to be attacked.
”

“
What are you talking about?
”
Lexi said, fear making the knot in her stomach grow even larger.

“
Think about it Lexi,
”
Rafe said. 
“
If the raiders poisoned the spring, then they
’
re aware that we need to go get fresh water.  They don
’
t want us to do that.  They want to incapacitate us so they can take whatever they want.
”

“
That
’
s doesn
’
t mean they
’
ll attack us, surely,
”
Lexi said.

“
And what happens if we find another tribe who comes to help?
”
Rafe asked. 
“
What if we get back with fresh water and the tribe gets better?
”

“
They won
’
t let that happen, will they?
”
Lexi asked.

“
I wouldn
’
t,
”
Rafe said. 
“
Why take the risk.
”

“
There aren
’
t very many of the raiders left,
”
Lexi said.  Maybe they won
’
t realize what we
’
re doing.
”

“
There
’
s more than two of them,
”
Rafe said. 
“
Which means they
’
ll out number us.
”

“
If they attack,
”
Lexi said, hoping that she was right. 
“
They might not.
”

Rafe looked at her and she could tell he was wishing the same thing.  They rode on in silence.  Lexi had her dagger, but she wasn
’
t a warrior.  She could hold her own when she was backed into a corner, but she preferred to avoid confrontation whenever possible.  She couldn
’
t help but loosen the blade in her belt; making sure it was close to hand made her feel more secure.

“
You any good with that thing?
”
Rafe asked.

“
I grew up on the streets,
”
Lexi said. 
“
You don
’
t last long if you can
’
t handle yourself.
”

“
That doesn
’
t really answer my question?
”
Rafe said.

“
Yeah, I can use it.
”

“
Good,
”
Rafe said.

“
Are you going to get sick on me?
”
Lexi said.

“
What are talking about?
”

“
You
’
re pale, sweating, and you look tired.
”

“
I am tired, I was up all night, remember.
”

“
So tell me you
’
re just hung over and not coming down with Sellado or whatever is making everyone else sick.
”

Rafe didn
’
t look at her.

“
Great,
”
Lexi said. 
“
That
’
s fantastic.
”

“
I
’
ll get you past the raiders,
”
Rafe said. 
“
Like you said, there aren
’
t a lot of them left.  They
’
ll only get one shot at stopping us.  Once we
’
re past that, you get us the water and get back to the tribe.
”

“
What if I get sick,
”
Lexi said.

“
Don
’
t get sick,
”
Rafe replied.

They rode for an hour.  Lexi and Rafe nibbled some of the traditional Hoskali bread, but neither really felt comfortable eating.  The idea that someone had poisoned the spring made them suspicious of anything going into their mouths.  Rafe drove the wagon and Lexi tried to relax.  She knew she was in for a long, hard day, even if the raiders didn
’
t attack them.

Rafe was stalwart.  She could see his iron-like military discipline coming through.  He refused to give in to the ailment which was clearly tormenting his body.  He was sweating and hunched in the seat next to her, but he never complained.

“
I could drive and let you rest,
”
Lexi offered.

“
It
’
s better if I stay busy,
”
Rafe said. 
“
I
’
ve been through worse.  Besides, I don
’
t want to let my guard down.
”

“
It
’
s not like they can ambush us without us seeing them coming,
”
Lexi said as she waved her hand at the wide open plain in front of them. 
“
There
’
s nothing to hide behind for miles.
”

She was turning around to emphasize her point when she spotted the runners behind them.  The wagon had started out at a quick pace, but the horses soon grew tired and were now moving about the same speed as a person walking fast.  They had been expecting the attack to come from in front of them, and had neglected to look behind.

“
Rafe!
”
Lexi said as she grabbed his shoulder.

He turned and then cursed.

“
Hold on,
”
he said.

Then he flicked the reins and shouted at the horses.  They lumbered into a canter.  Lexi watched the men behind them.  They were obviously Rogu, jogging at the same dogged pace they could keep up all day.  The horses were grunting with exertion.

“
We can
’
t outrun them, can we?
”
Lexi asked.