By the fifth day after leaving the western Knoll, Dan Rory had gathered together all those he wanted to join his group. He was hang gliding that day, along with four others, high above the grassy plains at the northern part of the continent. Taking a moment to glance down, he could see the ground crew. They were riding goat-type creatures that, on Greenworld, were large and sturdy enough to be ridden. More of the beasts were being used to carry the night-shelters and other equipment that they needed. He circled around the ground crew, seeing no obvious dangers in wait on their northward course. Amy and the other three would have warned them in any case – tilting his head backwards for a moment, he could see one of the Windriders, those who'd reared – and more or less tamed – the eagle-like birds of prey they were now riding.
He'd simply told his father that he was going on a long hunting trip. The older Rory had simply grunted a reply. Perhaps he's guessed, Dan thought. He doesn't like the presence of these technocrat off-worlders any more than I do.
X
Cisco's discovery on the beach – once humanely dispatched – had been studied, principally by Joe (former fisherman) and Ray (scientist). There wasn't a great deal to see yet, but it seemed more than likely – given Cisco's account of its aggression – that the creature had been infected and some kind of mutation was occurring.
''That's it''.
Joe was slightly surprised that the angry words had come from Iris, although her husband was nodding in agreement. In fact, the mood of the meeting in general was turning ugly.
''If I might make a suggestion'' Ray said tentatively. He was aware that he was still under suspicion - not everyone here believed Leonard had seen his twin brother. ''We -you - should take the dead - dolphin - to the base. Not everyone there is going to be unreasonable - this is their fault and at least some of them will want to help put it right''.
''He has a point'' Joe said.
''Another thing'' 'Ray felt encouraged enough to add. ''I've heard that these dolphins are intelligent. If they can be communicated with - J'onn'' he said quickly. Sara's gaze was icy, and he didn't dare look at Leonard. ''There's someone on Earth 33 - J'onn - who has telepathic ability. If he can communicate with them, they might be able to help as well''.
''I should get back to Earth 1'' Nate, there as an observer, also felt slightly hesitant about speaking as well - not least because he was only telling them part of the truth. ''I didn't have time to tell Zari where I was going. I know people who help at that end''.
The final decision was that the whole Council should go, along with Ray. He had limited hopes of being to talk some sense into Stanley, should he have a chance to see his brother, but it was worth a try. And there might be people he could reason with, scientist to scientist.
X
Dan stood at the edge of the rocky outcropping, looking down at the churning grey sea below. The seascape ahead of them was dotted with islands and islets, some no more than needles of rock, others big enough to support a family. He looked at Amy, the lead Windrider, with whom he'd outlined this part of the journey.
Surveying the scene ahead of them, they had already decided that hang gliding would be too great a risk in the current wind conditions.
So, he would get to ride an eagle. He looked at Amy's mount, perched nearby, with wings furled. He wasn't too sure how he felt about that - he had been aloft thousands of times, but he'd always been in control of his hang glider. Now, he would be no more than a passenger.
''We should go''
Amy reminded him that they still had to work out the course to the northern continent.
Ten minutes later, they were aloft, and he had to admit this was not unpleasant. He had nothing to do but relax and enjoy the view, secured in place by his harness. It was a bit hairy when Amy made her eagle hover, so she could record details of the flight course.
Amy's eagle circled over the shoreline of the northern continent and then they flew back.
She went to brief the other Windriders, while he told the others they'd found a route. Two eagles could transport a blindfolded goat, making stops at the larger islands on the way. In three days, they would all be across, with nothing but land between them and the A.R.G.U.S. base.
On the northern plains they would find what they were looking for.
X
How did we let them talk us into this, Sara wondered. On getting home from the meeting, she and Leonard had been confronted by the trio of their eldest offspring, insisting that one of them should come along.
Four of us are more than enough to look after the place, had been the argument. And this is our world too - our future. True - if she managed to overlook the slight hint that the younger Snart/Lances wanted one of them to protect their parents.
So, Mike was going with them. And so - looking around, she saw a scattering of other youngsters - were other members of the Council members offspring.