The man slid forward, bumping her head. She ignored the new pain. "I said get up!"

"What? I'll—oh damn damn damn!"

"What is it?"

"My arms. I can't move them."

"Nomad? Is it you?"

"I'll have a committee study the subject. Of course it's me, Joanna."

"Do not address me familiarly."

"Joanna, we are rammed together on a hillside, both of us in bad shape. It's no time for formalities."

"I will put you on report."

"Do what you will. Oh, damn!"

"Why are you so profane?"

"You would let out a few profanities, too, if both your arms were in pain. I can't move them. Therefore, I cannot get up. I can tell by the way my legs are resting at a higher level than my head that we are on a hill. My body is twisted in such a way that I have a steady ache in both sides. I can move my legs, but there seem to be things on either side of them, preventing them from doing anything helpful. That is my report, Star Captain. Your move."

Joanna tested everything in her body that was supposed to move but obtained only infinitesimal responses from them.

"You cannot move your arms, Nomad?"

"I have been trying. One arm is getting numb, but I can get some movement from the other. What's hurting there is my hand. Each time I move the arm, there is a sharp—oohh, there it is again. Okay. Okay. I think if I—I think I can. There. Well, that was something."

"Whatwas something?"

"I am propping myself up on my elbow. I can twist onto my side, but I'm afraid that is about all. Now what?"

"You stupid fool!"

"Insults are not of much use just now, Joanna. Why don't you let off another of those yells or whatever it was?"

"I would strangle you if—"

"If you had the use of your arms."

"I have one arm free. I could do it with that, your neck is so scrawny."

"The way I feel right now, I might rest my neck in your hand and let you do it."

Joanna almost laughed. She had to admit that he had the advantage on her.

"A jade falcon," she said.

"What was that?"

"The yell. I imitated a jade falcon yell."

"Not even close."

"And you would know?"

"Yes. I have heard several."

"Perhaps you were lying too close to my mouth, and the sound was distorted."

"A possibility. Why are we talking about bird calls when we are in such jeopardy?"

"Do you have a way out of this?"

"Not for the moment. Perhaps when daylight comes ..."

"Then it does not matter what we talk about, quineg?"

"I suppose you are right."

"That is it. Avoid the contractions. This time. I can only hear your voice, and only your voice. Do not torture me all night. I think I will try to sleep."

"No!"

She was surprised by the vociferousness of his response.

"Are you the Star Captain here, Nomad? Do you give the orders now?"

"For the moment, yes. I can move a little bit. Apparently you cannot. We do not know what is wrong with you. It may be a concussion or something worse. You must not sleep."

"How will you stop me, idiot?"

"I will tell you stories, Star Captain. It will keep my mind off my own . . . troubles."

"I am too sleepy for stories."

"I know some pretty lively ones, Star Captain. Listen."

Joanna was startled by how bawdy were the tech's stories. It was her first glimpse ever at life below her caste, at least that part of it that warriors never saw. Many of Nomad's yarns, in fact, illustrated lower-caste customs. She was fascinated in spite of herself.

It seemed not long before some light gradually forced its way to them through the canopy of jungle. It was not bright light, but at least they could divide up the world around them into shapes and shadows. Most of the shapes were clearly flora, while most of the shadows hinted at hidden fauna.

"Curious," Joanna said. "This place is very still. I wish I could hold my head up higher. I cannot see much."

"Neither can I. Over there, though, a piece of metal."

"Metal? Part of the DropShip, do you think?"

"Possibly."

"We crashed. But where are the others? Where is the ship? Should it not be nearby? Should we not hear something?"

"I am afraid I do not know, Joanna."

"Please ..."

"Star Captain."

"That is better. I will excuse last night as the offshoot of pain."

"If you wish. To consider your questions, I think we may have been thrown clear. And that is a larger piece of the ship that is holding you down,' I believe. I cannot see well from this angle, but it looks metallic. And charred."

"Can you get it off me?"

"Well, not with my left arm. But maybe. I feel better. Let me see if I can do something about my legs. At least I can look back and see that it is only a couple of rocks obstructing them. It is hard, but I think I can . . . yes, that's it. Excuse me. That is it."

"What have you done?"

"Do not ask. My leg is more maneuverable now. If I can just lift it up here. Yes. Good. Now, this is going to take an effort. Do not say anything humorous for a moment."

"I never speak in a humorous fashion."

"I have noticed that. Okay, now. Here goes." Then came much grunting, along with a couple of screams of pain and a movement Joanna could not see well. Finally, after what seemed like an agonizingly long time, Nomad seemed to rise above her.

"All right. You may speak now, Star Captain. I am, for your information, on my knees. My right arm is better, but it looks like my wrist was smashed. Otherwise, it is quite movable."

"Does it hurt when you move it? The wrist, I mean."

"Well, yes, it does. Severely. But I am to serve, quiaff?"

"Was that sarcasm, Nomad?"

"In this situation, I cannot be sure. Here, let me see what I can do. It will take some time regardless."

There was a shuffling sound as Nomad came forward in a kneeling position. It took him a long while to close the very short distance between them. The act was punctuated by almost-whispered groans. Joanna could tell he was in great pain, but trying not to reveal it in his voice.

"What do you see, Nomad?"

"Well, I have found another part of the DropShip. It is across your torso and upper legs. It is not large, but it is pressing down on you at an angle and that is why you cannot move. I know what I will do."

"What?"

"If I lean in from your left side, I can get my shoulder under part of the piece. I am going to try to lift it. If I can, you can scramble out. Maybe. That is, if you are not hurt too much, and no body part is severely damaged."

"Do not try to cheer me up, Nomad."

Nomad made an odd sound in his throat, but said little during his laborious shuffling moves to her left side. Unable to turn her head that way, all she could do was listen to his labors.

"All right now," he said finally. "I am in position. When you hear a scream that will put your own jade falcon yelp to shame, you begin to crawl uphill as well as you can. Your other arm should be freed first. Get both arms pulling you up the hillside if that is the only way. You are ready, quiaff?"

"Aff. Do it."

He was right about the scream. It was loud, piercing, frightening. It was completely filled with pain.