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Show "'Twill be better on the morrow," Dr'Anya said, without conviction. She switched off the handglow and they fell asleep against the animals. Hours later, Janni's MiniComp alarm went off and she, her good mother, and the JackPonies swam up to consciousness. Dr'Anya made a questioning grunt. The JackPonies stirred and made to get up in the blackness. Janni switched on the handglow and looked around. Then she looked at her MiniComp. "TwinUp anon," she said. Animals and women got up on their feet. Dr'Anya and Janni gathered up their packs and then coaxed the JackPonies out of the side chamber and through to the cave mouth. Then they stood there, looking out. A rosy glow was lighting the mountains, very high up. Below, the trail was in darkness. Janni switched off their handglow, tucked it in her pony's pack, and looked at the saddle which she could see-just barely now-in the early dawn. She whimpered. Dr'Anya looked around at her, concerned. "Thinkest thou I could walk the whilst?" Janni asked piteously. Her mother made a sympathetic noise with her mouth. '"Twould be over dangerous, child. Thou hast not the feet for it." She made to pat the girl's shoulder, then thought better of it. "And we have but a few more hours left," she said, "couldst thou but stand it a little longer. The worst is well over, my pearl." Janni waved a hand at Dr'Anya in resignation and started to mount, then stopped, frozen. Two heads were rising menacingly from behind a rock to her right, one helmeted and sporting on the helmet a bright red plume. 182 |