Carey knew what that meant. There was someone in the city.
Carey did not move for some time. He stared at the beautiful marble city shimmering on its lovely pedestal of coral. He wanted to weep, but there was not enough moisture left in him to make tears, and his despair was gradually replaced by a feeble anger. All right, you bastards, he thought. All right!
He went back to Derech and Arrin and told them what he had seen.
"Wales just came ahead of us and waited. Why bother to search a whole desert when he knew where we were going? This time he'd have us for sure. Water. We couldn't run away." Carey grinned horribly with his cracked lips and swollen tongue. "Only the Shunni found him first. War party. They must have seen the flier go over—came to check if it landed here. Caught two men in it. But the rest are in Sinharat."
"How do you know?" asked Derech.
"The Shunni won't go into the city except as a last resort. If they catch a trespasser there they just hold the well and wait. Sooner or later he comes down."
Arrin said, "How long can we wait? We've had no water for two days."
"Wait, hell," said Carey. "We can't wait. I'm going in."
Now, while they still had a shred of strength. Another day would be too late.
Derech said, "I suppose a quick spear is easier than thirst."