（外文电子版资料）TITAN-JohnVarley_ch05-ch.docVIP

CHAPTER FIVE Gaby insisted on turning back. Cirocco didnt protest; it sounded good to her, though she could never have suggested it. She walked downstream, often passing the marks Gaby had made. At one point she had to leave the sandy shore and go up onto the grass to avoid a large pile of boulders. When she reached the grass she saw a series of oval brown spots spaced like footprints. She knelt and touched them. They were dry and brittle, just like the grass where she had slept. Ive found part of your trail, she told Gaby. Your feet couldnt have touched the grass more than a second, and yet something in your body killed it. I saw the same thing when I woke up, Gaby said. What do you think of it? I think we secrete something thats poison to the grass. If thats true, we might not smell very good to the kind of large animals that might normally take an interest in us. Thats good news. The bad part is that it might mean we have very dffierent sorts of biochemicals. Thats not so good for eating. Youre so much fun to talk to. *********** Is that you up ahead? Cirocco squinted into the pale yellow light. The river ran straight for a good distance, and just where it started to bend was a tiny figure. Yep. Its me, if thats you waving your arms. Gaby whooped, a painful sound in the tiny earphone. Cirocco heard the sound again a second later, much fainter. She grinned, and then felt the grin getting bigger and bigger. She hadnt wanted to run, it was so like a bad movie, but she was running anyway and so was Gaby, taking absurdly long hops in the low gravity. They hit so hard they were both breathless for a moment. Cirocco embraced the smaller woman and lifted her off her feet. D-d-d-damn, you look s-s-so good! Gaby said. One of her eyelids was twitching, and her teeth chattered. Hey, hold on, take it easy, Cirocco soothed, rubbing Gabys back with both hands. Gabys smile was so wide it hurt to look at it. Im sorry, but I think Im going to be hysterical. Isnt th