Anina played the light about in the air for a time, but soon there were so many girls flying about she had to shut it off. A few minutes more and they had passed the last of the houses, swept around the bend in the river, and left the frightened city out of sight behind them.
They had left the river and, following close along shore, headed for the bayous that led up to the Great City. The storm had now entirely passed, leaving the daylight unusually bright and a fresh coolness in the air. The sea was still rough, although not alarmingly so, and the boat made comparatively slow progress. It was two hours or more—to Mercer it seemed a whole day—before they were nearing the bayous. Anina was sitting by his side in the center of the boat. Lua was steering.
"You hungry, Ollie?" the girl asked, smiling.
Mercer shook his head. He had forgotten they had intended to eat in the Water City.
"I very hungry. Soon we—"
She stopped abruptly, staring up into the sky ahead of them.
Mercer followed her glance. A little black blob showed against the gray; off to one side two other smaller black dots appeared.
"What's that?" cried Mercer, alarmed.
They watched a few moments in silence. Then Mercer took the cylinder, and flashed its light into the air.
"If it's anybody connected with Tao, that'll show they'd better keep away," he explained grimly.