Jupiter pulled back from the edge and drew Tamm after him. ‘Leave them the dhomqari. They need them more than us.’

‘So what will we do? We can not stay here on this roof.’ Tamm said. ‘The wind rises.’

‘We follow them. When they leave.’

‘How?’

‘You and Pari-pari pull us over the roofs. Then when we get to the last building you and she can tow us along the way. And while you do that I’ll get the mast up.’

‘We can’t. The wind will drag us from the path.’

‘It’s just for a short while. But move it. Let’s get going while they still get ready to leave.’

Jupiter got aboard the outrigger, and sat at the tiller. He would raise the mast and sail once they had got under way. Tamm pulled them from the roof, while Pariqhamtu leapt ahead with the loose end of the tow rope to pull them to the next building.

All the while Breeze spun the kheel, and Jupiter tried to steer with the vanes as best he could. But the mast laid across the outrigger platform got in the way until he edged it to one side. Over his shoulder he saw the approaching lights of Berg’s pursuers.

The entire way must be in an uproar with a hunt for me. And they’re after now Berg too.

The Jupiter reached the last building just as Berg and his two companions passed beneath them. Two on one moasaur, Berg to his own. Following a little behind were two sinthava manisaur youths on a moasaur each.

‘Those jerks will do anything to get some little gain.’ Maggie said.

‘Hush.’ Jupiter said. But the sinthava did not notice them. ‘Breeze, ease up the kheel. Let us get lower. And then when we’re close and over them…’

Yes… Good… Fun…

‘Yeah. Fun happens. Get ready to jump. Now.’

Breeze leapt from the stern of the Jupiter and landed on the head of the leading sinthava, they screamed in surprise and fell off their mount. The moasaur bucked ran back to the wayhouse leaving Breeze riding the remaining moasaur.

Tamm stepped up and took hold of the moasaur’s reins, while Pariqhamtu pulled The Jupiter on the rope behind and tied on. Then Tamm and Pariqamtu ran with the moasaur with The Jupiter in their wake. Breeze climbed the tow rope and resume spinning the kheel. Despite their best efforts they could not catch Berg. He had fresh mounts, and the sinthava’s moasaur had already been run ragged in the initial run along the way. Pulling The Jupiter had become too much for them.

Ahead the ridge turned sharply and Jupiter had an idea.

‘Release the rope.’

‘No. You will be lost,’ Tamm called up to Jupiter as he struggled to control the moasaur as the outrigger’s hull caught the wind.

‘Release it Tamm.’ There must have been some little imprinting still within Tamm for he obeyed and The Jupiter shot free. Jupiter steered across the curve, cut across in front of Berg and his companions. They now drifted above and in front of them.

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The full moon gave enough light for Jupiter to see, but with the manisaur’s better vision the arrival of The Jupiter floating above them startled the trio.

‘Berg. It’s me. Grab the rope before I drift off.’

‘Liruq! What is this? How is it you fly?’ Berg said.

He motioned for this companions to slow and dismount. One caught up The Jupiter’s two rope and they were jerked to a stop. But the wind dragged them close to the edge of the way until they secured the rope to their two moasaurs.

Breeze slowed the kheel and The Jupiter settled to the way.

‘There is no time for this Liruq. I do not care for a renewed meeting.’

‘You will. When I can give you a ride.’ Jupiter grinned at the Thaluk name - Liruq. He understood then the translation from his name Peter — The Rock.

‘Your craft is surprising strange, but slow if it needs to be towed.’

Tamm and the others rode up. Berg and his companions their drew long blades and took a defensive position.

‘No. They’re friends.’ Jupiter stood between the two groups who stared at each other. In the moon light made it hard to see but Jupiter saw their auras flash as they confronted each other. A recognition pattern he realized.

But how can that work with only the light of the moon?

‘Pariqhamtu!’ The manisaur with the red sash exclaimed in surprise.

‘Well met Mahavriq.’ Pariqhamtu gripped forearms with them. ‘I thought you lost when we set that decoy adrift. So this is the same difficult old trium. I thought him old and senile and you a good match for him at the time?’

‘There’s no time for talk,’ Berg sheathed his long blade. ‘We must flee. Our pursuers will not delay.’

‘Yeah, yeah. Working on it.’ Jupiter had his sail spanner out and had started to set the mast in its step ready to raise. He huffed as he got the mast up. Tamm held the spar steady while Jupiter tightened the forestay.

‘I can see them now.’ Berg insisted. ‘They are but a short distance away from us. We must fly. Get away along the way.’

‘This ship can fly. And we need no road or way.’ Jupiter hauled the sail up and tied off the halyard.

‘Quick now Breeze. Spin up the kheel.’ Jupiter jumped aboard and busied with the last of the rigging. Maggie sat in front of the mast, with Tamm at the rear at the tiller.

‘Hold her facing into the wind Tamm. Berg. Get on.’

‘What is this foolishness?’

‘It is truth.’ Tamm spoke for the first time. ‘This small craft flies faster than the wind.’

‘I will not leave my companions.’

‘We can run faster without you,’ said the large manisaur Mahavriq. ‘If you can fly. Then do so. We will lead them away.’

‘And I will stay with Mahavriq,’ said Pariqhamtu.

‘So you bid me leave you? To be left with human children, and a turned blade for travel companions?’

Pariqhamtu stepped to Berg as the manisaur’s gave a flashing exchange of auras that Jupiter could not see even in the bright light of the full moon.

‘Trust this human. He has never failed me, nor failed in courage. And did they not save you once before?’

‘If you’re coming, then now is the time.’ Jupiter tightened the kicker rope to set the sail shape for speed in the conditions.

Berg hesitated as he watched Jupiter’s expert preparations, then climbed aboard. He sat behind the mast next to the kheel.

Jupiter realized that there were now moasaurs enough for the three who remained. ‘Safe travels,’ he said. The others bobbled their head in manisaur laughter. ‘Breeze, Full spin. Tamm, Get up front and coil that tow rope.’ Jupiter scooted back to the tiller as the outrigger rose in the air. The sail flapped in a rocking movement until they settled into their crew stations, then everything steadied as the wind filled the sails.

‘I had better not regret this Liruq.’ Berg said.

‘I’m not a stone any more Berg. I’m a star. Jupiter. Upariqami…’ He angled The Jupiter away from the wind. ‘Watch this.’

Jupiter leaned towards the kheel, the outrigger tilted forward, and the craft fell racing down the slope as it gained speed, distance.

Jupiter whooped.

His cry echoed off the cliffs and Jupiter thought he heard the call of manisaurs and moasaurs in reply. But the rush of wind dashed all sounds away. He pulled The Jupiter out of the dive and pointed the nose of The Jupiter at the Southern Cross.

‘South?’ Jupiter said to Berg. ‘I’m guessing south from here?’

‘Indeed Upariqami. South. Upon a shooting star.’