page87 (1/2)

"While it has you for lunch"

"I'ristly"

"The thing eats stone"

"Take the light," said Sel, "and get out of here"

Po hesitated a er, then took it Sel was relieved that the boy would keep his promise of obedience

Either that, or Po was convinced the larva would follow the light

It was the right guess--as Sel slowed down and watched the larva approach, he could see that it was not heading directly toward hi for Po And as Po ran, the larva began speeding up

It went right past Sel It was more than a half-meter thick Italong the floor, shaping itself exactly like the colu

It was going to reach Po while he was scrah the tunnel

"Leave the light!" shouted Sel "Leave it!"

In a few ainst the wall of the cavern, beside where the low tunnel began, leading toward the outside world Po must already be inside the tunnel

The larva was ignoring the light and heading into the tunnel behind Po The larva didn't have to crawl or walk bent over--it would catch Po easily

"No No, stop!" But then he thought: What if Po hears , Po! Run!"

And then, wordlessly, Sel shouted inside his mind: Stop and come back here! Come back to the cavern! Come back to your children!

Sel kneas insane, but it was all he could think of to do The fore insectoid life form from the formics' home world Maybe he could speak to it the way the hive queens spoke to the individual worker and soldier formics