Bing Gananda 23

The explosion was heard back at Pandurina's den. Tindor never stirred, but the big cat was alarmed. Bing Gananda tried to calm her. She stroked Pan's thick fur as she sang a soothing song.
Tomono rushed up and began relating what he had seen to Pandurina, upsetting her all over again. And so it was a while before Bing Gananda finally heard the story herself.
She was appalled. Something had to be done about these "men" and their evil. A first she thought about going to Kurura, on the mountain. He, also, could call forth fire. Bing Ganada did not like fire. None of the Lithorians did. They preferred the cool light of their moonstones.
Then a shadow passed in front of the moon. Bing Gananda looked up to see Kurura, on the wing.

The men on the beach saw him too, silhouetted against the moon for a brief moment.
"Mother of God!" gasped Isaac. He could not believe his eyes.
Hull stood still. His mouth hung open. The long body and bat-like wings could be only one thing. But that was impossible.
They watched in disbelief as the shadow of the dragon circled the cove, and then returned to the mountain.
They looked at the fire. A fire might ward off a lion, but a dragon was another thing. But then, of course, there were no such things, were there.
Isaac finally managed to speak.
"Did you see..." But one look at Hull's white face answered his question. This was a nightmare he would not wake up from.


Bing Gananda had seen Kurura returning to his lair. If he would not act, she would.


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