The smooth purr of the motor caught in a cough, and then picked up beat again. But Kimber shrugged resignedly.
“It is now not a question of ’may have to,’ that cough was a promise that we are going to walk. How about our friend behind?”
“Coming strong,” Dard was forced to admit.
“Which makes the situation very jolly indeed. We could do with less of this blasted moonlight! A few clouds hanging about would help.”
The engine chose that moment to cough again and this time the pickup was delayed longer than before
“Three or four drops more, maybe. Better set her down before we have to pancake. Now where’re a lot of nice dark shadows? Ha-trees! And there’s only one ’copter behind us-sure?”
“Sure.” Dard verified that point before he answered.
“So, we have to do it the hard way. Here we go, m’lad.”
The ’copter came down a field away from the road they had followed, landing heavily in a sizable drift. On the other side of a low wall was a clump of trees. And-Dard was pretty sure-he had sighted the outline of a house beyond.
They scrambled out and jumped the wall, struggling out off the soft snow into the grove. From behind came the sound of the other ’copter. Those in it must have sighted the machine on the ground at once, they were heading unerringly toward it.