Unaware he was being followed, the Grendler rushed back to the pit. Anticipation of a solitary blood feast ended with the discovery of uninvited guests. A large Fire worm and her numerous offspring were either dining or about to partake of the Grendler's meal. He snorted with rage at being robbed again. The beast was frustrated yet unwilling to risk a blistering attack of Fire worm venom.

On his back, Alonzo looked up. Unable to see a thing in the darkness, the pilot was unaware of what the Grendler's sharp eyes took in. A brood of worm hatchlings were crawling toward him, drawn by their mother's scent and the smell of a fresh meal.

"Please, I need help!"

The Grendler grunted, looking around for a solution.

The pilot didn't have to wait long. Alonzo jumped, startled by a heavy impact close to his head. The creature on his chest slid off. At first he thought it had just shifted from his movement. He touched himself, feeling the sticky indentation where it had been.

"It worked. Whatever you did worked." Alonzo relief was cut short as something painfully grazed his shoulder. Another smaller rock bounced off his head. "Ouch! Hey, cut it out. Stop!! It's gone you don't have to toss anything else down."

The shower of rocks continued to rain on the trapped pilot. The Grendler hoped to kill two problems with well placed stones, having learned the dead offer no resistance. He'd have his feast yet.

The worm, terrified to see the first wave of her young flattened, shaped herself into a large U and scooped the remaining babies under a crevice.

Alonzo cringed as rock chipped stone from the surrounding walls ricocheted, pelting him with deadly splinters. The barrage stopped only because the Grendler had become aware of the sounds in the tunnel. Someone had followed him.

xxx

Cameron and Devon pressed against the tunnel walls barely breathing. Whatever was coming was big. Perhaps it would have passed by and they would have gone undetected if Alonzo hadn't cried out at just that moment. What gave them away, they never knew, but Cameron was rammed against the wall by a bigger, stronger force. The MagPro pressed tighter and tighter across his chest cutting off air as he struggled against his attacker.

Devon standing close beside the big man had been knocked backward by the attack. Momentarily stunned, she fumbled with her light from a sitting position. All around her, the tunnel echoed with the clash of bodies. Something tripped over her outstretched feet and landed on top of her. Devon yelped as she was crushed under the fallen weight.

The light flared, illuminating a bruised and bloody Cameron. His finger rested on the trigger of the humming MagPro. He would have blasted the thing if he hadn't seen Devon at the last second.

Adair pushed against the weight that trapped her. Spots danced across her eyes, Alonzo screamed in the distance while the sickening smell of the creature overpowered her senses. Cameron remained frozen to the spot, a stunned expression on his face.

"For God's sake help me!"

The big man dropped to his knees, laid down his weapon and seemed about to cry. "Christ Devon, I almost fired."

Her gaze shifted to the being who looked to be from hell and back -- John Danziger.

With Cameron's help, Devon rolled the mechanic off. They propped him against the wall in a sitting position. Devon held on to his shoulders to keep him from slumping.

"John, listen to me. Alonzo is ahead of us. He needs our help. Can you stand if we both support you?"

Danziger managed to think. 'They shouldn't be here, it was too dangerous.' He tried to warn them but all that came out was incoherently mumbling.

Devon looked at Cameron in frustration. "Do you think you carry him?"

"I can try. Take the MagPro. "

Cameron hefted Danziger over his shoulder, staggering under his weight while Devon fought to control both MagPros. Together they worked their way along the twisting path, Adair leading, until the path ahead was blocked by an angry looking Grendler.

Devon stopped, uncertain how to proceed. She raised the weapons and spoke, hoping her voice conveyed a strong confidence she didn't feel. "Please step aside. We've come for our friend. I don't want to hurt you but you must allow us to help him."

The Grendler shook until his whole body bounced up and down. Something that sounded like "NO!" erupted from its mouth along with a shower of drool. He bent, picked up a good size rock and waved it menacingly over his head.

"What now?" Cameron whispered to his leader.

"Devon? Is that you?" A voice sounded somewhere behind the enraged animal.

"Yes, Alonzo. Cameron and Danziger are here with me. There's a Grendler blocking our way. Are you all right?"

"No" Alonzo's voice was weak and slurred.

"Can you come to us?"

"I'm trapped in some kind of pit with no way out."

"Hang on, we'll be there soon."

As if it understood what Devon was saying, the Grendler made a move to launch his missile.

Cameron was stunned when Devon instantly reacted to the threat by firing the MagPro. The shot hit the rock dead center, blowing it into a million pieces. The impact shook the creature. Rock crumbled and rained down from its upraised arms. With a painful wailing bellow, the Grendler shuffled off, retreating into the darkness.

"What a shot!" Cameron's beamed with admiration as they rushed forward.

Devon just nodded. She decided not to tell him she had aimed above the beast. One arming the weapon's weight had been a mistake. She fired in desperation when her strength failed to hold the target. She hoped Alonzo was in better shape than Danziger or it would take more than a lucky shot to pull off his rescue.

"Alonzo?"

"Here, I'm here." His voice was close.

The woman stopped and played her light around.

"Devon, I can see your light." The pilot directed her to his prison using the beam's intensity and the sound of his voice as a guide.

Her relief at seeing him standing below her was matched only by the joy in finding Danziger. There was no time to savor the victory however, Alonzo had to be extricated and they still had to find Julia. Devon's anxiety about the doctor's welfare had been increasing ever since John had surfaced in such bad shape without her. Devon had expected them to be found together. Alonzo, looking deathly pale but determined, relieved Devon of one of the weapons and took the position of rear guard.

As they worked their way back to the entrance, she filled him in on all she knew. "I want you to take Danziger and one of the vehicles back to camp. Cameron and I will stay and search for Julia."

"No way Devon. You and Cameron can decide who takes John back. I'm staying until I find Julia."

Alonzo's words penetrated the fog that engulfed Danziger's brain. John slowly pulled the puzzle together, the words, the tone, the long silence that followed. None of them knew what he knew, couldn't know until he told them everything, explained why it was useless to stay. No one would ever find Julia. He didn't want to be the one to break the news but he was the only one who could and he couldn't do that until he was coherent. And so began the long struggle back.

Later he would think it ironic that he abused his body in ways he would never abuse his machines but then machines were mindlessly unforgiving. Once they depleted the necessary elements to run, they simply quit. The brain on the other hand could drive the human engine well beyond conceivable expectations sometimes extracting a terrible toll in exchange.

Danziger knew Cameron's labored breathing would cause a halt soon. His chance came when his bearer slid him off and braced him against the wall. John was ready to will his thoughts into speech. "Lisen t'me."

"John?" Devon was by his side instantly, shining the damn light in his face.

He weakly pushed it away, ashamed to have her see him like this, filthy, battered and thoroughly beaten. Leaning heavily against the wall, he tried to gather the strength he'd need to proceed. Thoughts remained scattered and remembering was difficult. There was an overwhelming desire to let it all go and surrender himself to the sleep he so desperately needed.

He was aware of the sound of someone rummaging in a backpack. The mechanic jerked at the sound of hypo-spray.

"It's just a synaptic enhancer. It will help speed your recovery."

He could feel it speeding through his system, jump starting his brain like some huge defrag program. Disoriented thoughts fell into place and the mental nightmare became a physical reality. Eyes began to focus, turning blurred images into concerned familiar faces.

Danziger solved their dilemma with a minimum of words. "No one's stays." He silenced Alonzo's protest with a wave of his hand. It took time to put a longer sentences together. "You don't know what they've done. Julia and I, we found their den, barely escaped with our lives."

The others shared uneasy glances. Sure it sounded crazy but he had to tell them what they were up against.

"These Grendlers are murders of the worst kind; they kill to drink the blood of their victim."

There was no response from Alonzo as he remembered the dream. Gaal had something to do with all this.

Devon asked the next question, speaking slowly, emphasizing its importance. "John, you said you were with Julia. We need to find her. Can you help us? Do you know where she is?"

He looked away, reliving it all again in his mind. They saw him weaken, heard the break in his voice.

"She's gone. No one will ever find her."

Danziger found the pilot's dark, unbelieving eyes. "I'm sorry. Julia didn't make it."

xxx

If there was any doubt about the Grendlers, it ended with an all-out assault by the creatures at the cave entrance. Any further thought of staying ended as they were forced to fight their way clear. Luckily rocks and stones were no match for MagPros.

It was only after they gained the vehicles and sped off toward camp that the real meaning of Danziger's words hit home. Julia wasn't returning with them -- ever. According to Danziger they might never know the tragic circumstances of her death but he needed to tell the story of the events leading up to it while Devon drove the DuneRail in silence.

Alonzo sat stiffly in the back not wanting to hear the details. Denial was useless. Back in the pit, while he laid unconscious, some part of the terror of Julia's last moments had reached him on the Dreamplane. It was a feeling that the world had fallen out from under him that shocked him back into consciousness. As he remembered, he knew Danziger was right in believing Julia was dead.

xxx

The old Grendler scooped handfuls of the sparkling, clear, spring-fed water into his monstrous mouth. Here in the middle of a blazing, barren desert, underground water flowed to the surface from subterranean channels and formed small scattered pools, all of which were part of the same huge aquifer. In the past, some of the pools had dried up but this old Grendler knew every one that hadn't. He guarded his secret well for water was
wealth to a desert trader.

This pond was by far his favorite. Feed by a deep underground stream, the water was always cool and lacked sediment. Under a cloudless sky, it took on the aquamarine color of a tropical sea. Toward the center, long stem water lilies shaded schools of tiny multicolored fish. The Grendler sighed, life was good. He began to dip for seconds when something below the water's surface caught his attention. Something, that only moments before had not been there.

As he watched, the form took on definition. A wave of gold billowed at the spring head. A tiny stream of tiny bubbles danced to the surface. Mesmerized he reached for a fist full of gossamer, half expecting it to vanish as any mirage should. Instead, it clung to the rough texture of his skin, feeling like soft silk beneath his callused palm. He pulled but met resistance. The Grendler laid on his belly. Head first, half submerged, he dug furiously around the soft sand of the spring head's opening.

The Grendler worked mostly by feel. The bottom was so churned with his digging there was no visibility to see what he pulled free. When he did finally shake, snort and blow the water from his nose and eyes, the sight that greeted him wasn't one he expected.

He scratched his head perplexed. How had a fully grown human female become wedged in so small an area? One where the water's force continually pushed out and never sucked in. Whatever the reason, he had to do something quickly.

Despite his years, he lifted her easily by the ankles, holding her upside down so that her head cleared the ground. In this position, any fluid in her lungs would spill freely from her nose and mouth. When it had, he shook her a few times for good measure before laying her down. A few seconds passed before a small cough turned into a choking fit. She groaned and heaved on her side, vomiting water ingested into her stomach.

The beast made a face at the mess he was confronted with. What was he going to do with this poor, half dead creature? It wasn't like he could throw her back. Anything this large would spoil the quality of the water as it decomposed. Maybe she was worth something to her own kind. He'd trade her back, probably taking something worthless in exchange just to be rid of her.

The old Grendler had traded with humans before. He found them ridiculously stupid. Not only could any Grendler worth his salt steal their possessions but they would actually hand over more to get a few of the same back.

A fellow Grendler told him a story, swearing that it was true. Once a human traded the clothes off his back for some spit in a bottle. They had laughed all night about that one even though it was too ludicrous to believe.

He chuckled as he pulled a tattered blanket from his sack. He would trade her to the group of humans he had been following but first he wanted to salvage anything worthwhile. He also had to be sure she would have no memory of this place.

A quick examination of the woman's body netted him a few shinning trinkets, rings from her fingers and chain from her neck. The clothing was in rags, beyond useless. He pulled the one remaining boot free and jumped back when she whimpered in pain. Her limb looked deformed, perhaps he had broken it. Small wonder. Humans were such frail creatures, nothing but skin and bones, truly ugly and totally unsuited for this world.

This setback complicated his plans. He couldn't creep silently across the desert with her screaming her head off. Rummaging in his sack once more, he pulled out a circular fibered husk. Pulling off the top, he scooped out two heaping fingers of thick blue paste.

Now came the trick, it wouldn't help to keep damaging the merchandise so as delicately as possible he pinched her nostrils shut. Just as he expected, her mouth flew open. He shoved both fingers half way down her throat, wiping the paste against the soft tissue.

Her struggle to ward off this attack ended in a flutter as the drug took effect. Wasting no time, the Grendler stuffed her in his sack and slung her over his shoulder. There was ground to cover and he intended to drop this burden in someone else's lap by nightfall.

xxx

Late in the day, a guard at Eden's camp spotted something in his Jumpers. "Hey Baines, come check this out." While he waited for his friend to join him, Walman adjusted the lens magnification to bring the object closer.

"What?"

"Look down there, about two klicks out, 3 o'clock."

Baines raised his own glasses. A gypsum dune field, white as snow, stretched below their position. At first, his scope caught only a dust trail. Upon following it, he found the source. A heavily burdened Grendler was working his way across the wind swept sand. Occasionally, the animal would disappear behind small patches of scrub. Baines had a feeling the Grendler was using it as cover.

"Think he might be one of them?"

"One of Grendlers that attacked our group? Nah, the cave is west of here. This old guy's coming from the south. It looks to me like he's headed due North. I'd say he's not even going to stop by for a visit."

"Too bad."

"Why's that?"

"I'd feel better if I could blast one of them. You know, even the score for Julia."

Incredulous, Baines snorted. "Let me gets this straight Walman; you think killing some mangy old Grendler will make you feel better about Julia."

The big blond thought about it. "When you put it that way, I guess it does sound kind of stupid."

"Yea, it does, even coming from you."

Walman decided to ignore what sounded like an insult. He focused the glasses back on the Grendler . "Wonder what he's got in that pack? It sure looks heavy."

Baines was looking too, studying the bag with interest. "Something big from the looks of it. You know, the shape and all, reminds me of someone."

"Yea? Who?"

"Never mind, it's too crazy. You'd laugh."

Seeing that Baines was serious, Walman tried to reassure him. "No I won't."

"Yes, you will."

"I won't, I promise."

"Word of honor?"

"Word of honor, cross my heart."

Baines scrutinized the other man, finally deciding to trust him. "I swear...that old Grendler, the way he's carrying that sack, he reminds me of Santa Claus."

Walman snickered.

xxx

Across camp, Devon's immediate concern was for Alonzo. The pilot had passed out after exiting the DuneRail. His crewmates carried him to a cot in the med-tent where Devon began to care for him. Off to the side, Danziger was trying his best to tend to his own wounds. He was concerned for Alonzo, appreciating the fact that the pilot had risked his life trying to help.

Yale entered the tent. Without a word, he evaluated the pilot's condition then began searching through Julia's computer files. "This seems to be the one I need"

The tutor slipped the chip into his mechanical arm and Julia's holographic image appeared above it. The doctor began directing the viewer on the proper technique for blood transfusion.

Glancing up, Yale saw Devon and John staring at the transparent figure. Both were clearly distressed by the visualization. The elderly man immediately shut the program down. "I am sorry, It never occurred to me..."

Her eyes filling, Devon waved his apology away, not trusting her voice.

Yale crossed the tent to comfort her. "Julia has been dictating step by step procedures for the medical emergencies not covered in my library function. Not long ago, we talked about the possibility of what happened today. Julia realized how tenuous life is on this planet. She wanted us to be prepared, to be able to carry on without her if need be."

"I didn't know." Devon looked sadly left out.

"I doubt she told anyone. I was only informed because she needed to know the information contained in my files so they would not be unnecessarily duplicated.

"I keep second guessing myself, wondering what more I missed. Maybe something that would have prevented this from happening."

Danziger stood listening. Her last remark made him angry and he was too tired for that much emotion. "How do you think I feel? Don't you think everyone out there will look at me from now on and wonder why I survived and Julia didn't?"

"John, no one is blaming you."

"How do you know?"

"I know from what you've told me. What more could you have possibly done?"

"Drown" The big mechanic slipped outside and found True waiting patiently.

She hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry about Julia but I'm glad you didn't die."

"That makes two of us, baby." Danziger closed his eyes, finding a great deal of peace and comfort in his daughter's embrace.

xxx

By the time the Grendler found the humans, it was well past dark. He squatted, observing these strange creatures of the day who huddled around a circle of light for warmth and protection. The old beast wailed a warning and watched as the group scattered in panic. Only one man came forward to lift a burning torch and calm the others. The Grendler knew this tall figure would be the one he would deal with just by the way he took charge.

The beast waited for the man to come closer before he snorted, giving away his position. Better to be submissive than shot. The flickering light brushed back the darkness, finally settling on the dusty creature who blinked against the glare that hurt his eyes. The old Grendler swung his full sack into view and waited for an invitation to show his goods.

"Bit late to be out trading isn't it?" The man looked about warily as he spoke, evaluating the situation.

The creature looked at him with expectation, shaking his bag impatiently.

"All right then. Come into the light. Let's see what you're so anxious to be rid of that it can't wait till morning."

Slinging the pack over his shoulder, the animal shuffled along close beside the man until they stood beside the fire. It's eyes rolled, taking in the others as they crowded around. The Grendler gripped the bag tighter and grunted.

A small smile crossed the leader's lips. "Everyone, move back. You're making our guest nervous. We'll need to have some room if we're to do this properly."

Both waited until space was given. Standing opposite one another, the man spoke first.

"Now, Grendler, what do you have in that heavy sack that you wish to trade."

To his credit, the old creature knew how to play his cards. He never took his eyes off his customer's face and so caught that critical spark of desire that guaranteed the exchange of what he had dumped at his feet. The human might feign disinterest but the Grendler knew better. He had seen the man's true feelings before the mask slipped into place.

The woman lay on her side facing the fire. The dancing flames beside her captured the golden highlights of her hair, the pale porcelain skin.

She was dazed. The Gendler's potent mixture had taken away the pain but it also robbed her of memory. She existed without history, folded, cramped, unable to move or speak, in a hellish world of heat and dust that seemed suspended in time.

During their journey, hours had passed. The bone healer vaccine had gone to work, hardening the break in her leg already twisted into an unnatural shape. The limb was now deformed and totally crippled.

Upon impact with the hard ground, the pain returned with a vengeance awakening dulled nerves and sleeping muscles. The woman whimpered and twisted at the human male's feet.

The Grendler felt the change. The air became thick with tension.

Another voice spoke out, the tone full of venom. "We don't need another mouth to feed, Ethan."

The anger that momentarily flared in Ethan's eyes didn't reflect in his tone. He ignored the female voice and spoke only to the Grendler. "Your goods are damaged. I'd be a fool to trade for something that might not survive the night."

The beast grunted in disgust and rummaged in his sack. He pulled out a container, shoving it into the man's hands.

"What's this?"

'Stupid human', the Grendler thought, 'I have to show him everything.' Reaching over, he took the case back and opened it. Dipping fingers into the gooey mixture he demonstrated how to use it.

The man frowned as the beast shoved its thick fingers down the woman's throat. She retched and gagged as he dosed her, then grew still..

Ethan bent over and studied the girl's face, noting the pulse beat in the hollow at the base of her throat. He touched it, felt it hammering beneath his finger tips like some trapped animal. It triggered an emotional response in his own body.

"So you're offering the girl and the medication to cure her?"

This isn't what the Grendler intended but he'd consider it. The beast understood the question to mean that the man was ready to deal so he moved off and began searching for something of equal value.

Ethan followed. "Where are you going? What do you want?"

A female rushed through the crowd and grabbed her leader's arm. "Ethan, are you blind? Can't you see she's crippled. She can't even carry her own weight so what use is she?."

He shook the woman off. "When I want your opinion, Sully, I'll ask for it."

"Well, don't expect me to take care of her."

"Why should I do that, you can barely manage to take care of yourself."

A few amused glances were exchanged among those who followed the trio.

The Grendler stopped in front of a bedroll and indicated the carved bow beside it. Sully smirked as Ethan recoiled.

"No. Absolutely not."

The Grendler was disappointed but not surprised

"Here, how about this."

A wooden drinking mug was shoved into the creature's hand.

The beast shook his head. It was enough for the woman but not the medicine. His eyes settled on the woman who was so outspoken. Around her throat, she wore a necklace. A leather string held an intricately carved figurine. The Grendler cooed in admiration. Ethan and Sully followed his gaze.

"Oh no. It's mine. He can't have it."

Ethan's hand was quicker. Before Sully could protect her treasure, he ripped it off and handed it to the old trader.

"You bastard!" She hammered the man with her fists but he flicked her off, signaling some of the men to get rid of her. "I'll get even with you for this." Her threats faded as she was pulled away.

"It seems we have a deal."

Leaving the animal slobbering over his new toy, Ethan went back to the woman he now owned. One of his men was pawing at her already. He struggled to control a murderous impulse.

A hardened face looked into his own. "She's not one of us, Ethan."

"What are you talking about?" he snapped.

Pushing the woman's hair to the side, the other man exposed an area of skin beneath her left ear which was smooth and unblemished.

Unconsciously, Ethan reached for the same area of his own neck and felt the thick, scarring of seared flesh. Criminals of the worst sort, they all had been sentenced, banished, and branded with the planet's symbol -- E2. Not this woman. That alone was worth the trade. He needed to know who and where she came from.

The mark was more then scarred flesh, it also scarred his soul with hate. Ethan remembered the day he had been sentenced. His crime was one of passion, a storm of rage so fierce it only ended when there was no one left to kill. The bodies had been mutilated past recognition. The atrocity had stunned even the most hardened judges for he was so young, barely into his teens. Nothing he said in his defense had mattered. After a brief internment, he was hustled into a room. He remembered as if it were yesterday, the screams and stench of burning flesh from those who had gone before. The guards had chosen to brand with a hearted iron rather than the more humane laser method. Perhaps they thought they were extracting some form of justice for the victims of the lawbreakers. The guilty would disappear so who was there to know or complain?.

He shivered remembering. It took four of them to hold him down, and they prolonged the ceremony, letting him focus on the approaching guard holding the glowing metal. He felt the heat from a distance and promised himself he wouldn't scream and give his tormentors satisfaction but he had...

"Ethan...?"

Pulling his mind back to the present, he answered. "Don't tell anyone else of this. Leave it to me. I'll find out who she is and what she's doing here."

"But what if she's from the Council. If they've sent more troops, they could be looking for her. What if they follow the Grendler here?"

"You worry too much, Barkley. If it turns out she's one of them, I'll chop her into to little pieces and feed her to you. That way, no one will be able to find a trace."

Ethan laughed as the fellow's eyes grew larger. They had all been subject to his rages. No one knew what to expect for he seemed at times to cross over the line of sanity.

Then there were the times when those too sick or injured to help themselves would suddenly disappear during the middle of the night. The next day Ethan would add something new to the group's supplies. It was no secret he traded with the cave Grendlers but whatever became of the missing people, no one knew. They were never seen again.

Because he kept them so off balance, they feared him. All except Sully who lacked sense. She loved the thrill of living on the edge and was the only one crazy enough to willingly take Ethan as her lover.

The convict leader bent and lifted the woman, giving final instructions to his man. "See that I'm not disturbed." Then he carried her into the darkness, away from the camp so no one would hear or see what he did.

xxx