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.Russ killed the engine, bringing the blades to a puttering halt."Can I take this off now?" Zanna asked, already unstrapping the yellow crash helmet she'd been forced to wear throughout the flight."Doesn't do much for a girl's image."Russ laughed and banged his door open, kicking out180a folding flight of steps."Come on down when you're presentable, Miss Martindale." Leaving the radio channel open, he took off the enormous set of headphones he'd been wearing, then removed his baseball cap as well, replacing it, as always, with his cowboy hat.With one foot on the doorsill, he missed the steps entirely and jumped the short drop onto the snowcaked ground.Zanna dropped her helmet onto a seat."Now's your chance, Inuk."Tootega stared back darkly at her."Give me the tooth.Don't make this awkward."From outside Russ called, "C'mon, guys, let's do this."A crowcall cracked the morning air.Tootega jumped as if the sound had pierced his heart."Hand it over," Zanna said."I know you stole it.""Go home," said Tootega, and kicked his door open.And once again Zanna had to bite her tongue.By the time she had rejoined the men, Russ had the net untied and spread."Take a tug while we shuffle him," he said to Zanna.181She picked up her side of it and took the strain.With Tootega at the hind legs and Russ at the front, they rolled the bear over onto his back, then heaved him with a twisting motion off the net."He's a big one," Russ exclaimed, ungritting his teeth.He let go and the bear flopped onto his side, staring drunkenly at the horizon, his pelt quilted into squares by the ropes.Then, with a flicker that made Zanna jolt, his eyes took a snapshot of the shallow landscape."He blinked," she said.Tootega snorted at her ignorance and started to gather in the cable and net.Russ crouched down and thumbed the eye wide open."Just the drug wearing off.Another half hour and he'll be padding around like he owns the place again.Do you want to cradle his head for me? I need to put him into the recovery position."Zanna got into place and looked at him doubtfully."What, so we're doing first aid now?"Russ gave her a grin as wide as Texas.Leaning over, he grabbed two handfuls of blubber and pulled the182bear straight, then stretched its left leg forward and out, bringing the paw up to pillow the snout."When he wakes, it's important that the first thing he smells is his own scent, not ours.Or he might panic."Zanna nodded, settling the black nose into the scarred, but creamy, white fur.She stroked the bear's head, noting with amusement that Tootega shuddered."Aw, he'll be OK," she said."Not the sort to be easily fazed, are you, Nanuk?"Russ spluttered with laughter and tipped back his hat, squinting as the sunlight caught his eyes.He was about to pass comment when the radio crackled."Tega, you wanna get that?"The Inuk, who was closest to the aircraft, didn't move.Russ leveled his hat."What is it with you today?"Zanna twisted around, making her parka crunch.On the tip of the nearest rotor blade sat the great black raven."Followed us here from Chamberlain," she said.The bird crowed loudly and mantled its wings.183Tootega stumbled back a pace, mumbling in terror."OK, OK, I'll see to it," Russ said.He stood up and patted Tootega on the shoulder, then walked on, calling to the bird to flee.The raven daggered its small, sharp beak, darkening the ice with its malevolent stare."You get it yet?" Zanna said, brushing down her clothes.She stood up, threatening the Inuk with her eyes."She's not gonna let you go.That machine's doomed unless you give up Ragnar's tooth.""What you do with it?" he snarled, turning on her.She dipped a finger."Give it back to them."Tootega gave a shriek of disbelief and shook his head.On the rotor blade, the bird gave an agitated call.The bear for which David had written the name Ingavar tightened his claws and blinked three times."Last chance, Inuk.It belongs to them.Give it."Tootega stood back again, breaking sweat.As his hand went limply to a pocket of his parka, a sharp184wind tugged at Zanna's hair, making her turn her head to the north."Well, what do you know? The boys are back in town."On the sea ice, in a mirage of gray mist and sunlight, three enormous bears were approaching.185DAVID TAKES STOCKI have a solution.""You do?" Liz said.She lowered the kitchen blind and opened the door.Bonnington tripped in and leaped onto a stool, where he sat with a look of casual absenteeism as if he was practicing yoga for cats [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]