As his naked body struck the river, his mind exulted. It was perfect timing, the splash of the river beast drowning out his own.
Jarl Gare trod water, waiting. The Jovian's hurtling figure was a dark blotch against the fog. Jarl swallowed a deep breath of air before the splash of water from the Jovian's body struck him.
The two of them floated quietly, letting the river water grow sluggish again. The splashing of the beasts grew nearer. Jarl Gare heard the big Jovian breathing hoarsely. He said reassuringly, "They are harmless, Waltk. I've told you so a dozen times."
"I have never seen one of them," Waltk said hoarsely. "I fear nothing I have seen. You have only told me of them."
Only a few feet away, one of the river beasts suddenly lunged out of the water. Waltk squealed as the huge body loomed in the air over them, then landed between them, sending spray cascading over them.
Waltk struck out at the beast and then began to chuckle. Jarl Gare heard the chuckle through the echoes of the splash.
The beast was gone. "Look," said Waltk, holding up one hand. It held a blob of dripping flesh. "It is weak. I have seen it and I am unafraid."
For answer, Jarl Gare who had just donned the infra-red glasses, tapped Waltk on the shoulder and plunged under the water. He had sighted the ray of an infra-red light on the river.
Jarl Gare swam under water, moving with the current. He felt the movement of the water behind him and knew Waltk was following.