Finally we were all aboard, and the mighty Kao-Wagwattl, unaffected by this addition of a few specks of human dust, moved on at its dogged pace through the mountain valleys.
No lives had been lost. No one had been seriously injured. Tomboldo was the heroic leader. I went forward over the lumpy slabs of scales, to find him and congratulate him. He said, "The glad feelings are to be shared," and he spoke with high praise of my own help and that of my friend Campbell. "But we are not yet out of danger. Pass the word."
Pass the word. Keep down. Out of sight. For several days we would be crawling through the lands of savages.
Vauna found me. She had made sure that Omosla and the baby would have the best of care, and now she meant to look after me. "My dear one," she called me.
"Here, my dear one. I have your valuable coat. Come out of sight. The enemy must not see you."
I glanced up the long curved spine of Kao, moving steadily through the sunshine. Little groups of Benzendellas could be seen ahead, as far as the eye could reach. The young children of the party had never had such a trip before, and the older ones found it a strenuous game to keep them down out of sight. Following Tomboldo's order, they rapidly ducked down into hiding. The great rubber-like scales resembled up-ended boxes, set in criss-cross rows. The deep flexible crevices thus formed were ideal for hiding.
I needed my radio. I must talk with Campbell. Vauna had taken my coat.
She called to me. "Come, my dear one." She slipped down into a crevice a little to one side of the crest. "Come, I hear the voice of your friend Campbell in the box."
"I'm coming. Speak to him, Vauna. Tell him to wait."
"Shall I tell him the news?"