They prepared to retire, but as the night came on with tropical density they became aware of an intense glow in the night sky. It centered above the beach down by the Grook villages where Morten had turned off when he was first captured.
“Something big is going on,” said Arlee. “I wonder if Free is there.”
“Most likely.” Morten procured the binoculars and went back to the upper level of the ship. He opened the work hatch and stood on the parapet. Arlee came up beside him. “Can you tell what’s going on?”
“Take a look,” he said.
Arlee took the glasses and steadied herself against the hull of the ship. In the glow of intense firelight she could see the activities on the beach quite clearly. A kind of procession was moving slowly about the immense fire. Figures outside the procession were
