Farmer, Philip Jose - Dare

7/30/2019 Farmer, Philip Jose - Dare

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Dare

b y P hi li p J os F ar mer

a .b .e -b oo k v 3. 0 / N ot es a t E OF

Back Cover:

Ever s ince the "lost" c olony of Roa noke was kidnapped in 1588 a nd set down 200 li ght-years

from Earth, humans and the golden-manedWiyr ha ve l ive d i n pe ac e. B ut t he n t he bl ade t ha t w as 5 00y ea rs i n f al li ng , f al ls ; a nd f ro m S la shl ar k t o F ar fr om t he r id ge s of D ar e a re l oud w it h w ar !

It is a war to the finish, and worse: for theco n t r a ct i s b ro ke n, a nd e ve n a s t he b en d- gl as s s wo rd s

a re l if te d t o he av en , a gr ea t s hi p s tr id es i n f ro m d ee pe st s pa ce . . .

C op yr ig ht 1 96 5, b y P hi li p J os F ar me r

All rights reserved

Published by arrangement with the author's agent

All rights reserved which includes the right

t o r ep ro du ce t hi s b oo k o r p or ti on s t he re of i n

any form whatsoever. For information address

Berkley Publishing Corporation

2 00 M ad is on A ve nu e N ew Y or k, N ew Y or k 1 00 16

ISBN 425-03953-6

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B ER KL EY M ED AL LI ON B OO KS ar e p ub li s hed b y

Berkley Publishing Corporation

200 Madison Avenue

N ew Y or k, N .Y . 1 00 16

B E RK L EY M E DA L LI O N B O OK T M 7 57 , 37 5

P ri nt ed i n t he U ni ted S tates o f A meri ca

Berkley Edition, FEBRUARY, 1979

Prologue

Where did they go?

One hundred and eight men, women, a nd children do not disappe ar from Earth without a trace.

The "lost" colony of Roanoke, Virginia, did. Virginia Dare, first white baby born in NorthA meri ca, w as amo ng t ho se n ev er s een again . S he and h er E ng li sh f el lo ws and s om e C ro at an I nd ians

w en t - - s om ew he re . B et we en 1 58 7 a nd 1 59 1 A .D . t he y - - t ra ve le d.

Cha rl es For t, c hr oni cl er of t he be tt er -of f- for go tt en a nd e xpl ai ne r of t he une xpl ai na bl e, kne w t he

a bo ve . B ut he di d no t k now s eve ra l ot he r t hi ngs . I t i s t oo ba d, f or he w oul d ha ve be en de li ght ed. T he

t heor ies, t he i ro ni es , t he s ar casm s, t he p ar ad ox es t hat w ou ld h av e f lo wed f ro m h is p en !

Too bad that the disappearance of the Genovese shipBuonavita w as n ot b ro ug ht t o F or t' s n ot ic e

by some South American correspondent. On May 8, 1588, she was last seen sixty leagues off the Grand

C an ar y I sl an ds b y t he S pani s h car av elTobosa.

Sailing under the Portuguese flag, she carried forty Irish and three Italian monks. They were

bound for Brazil, where they hoped to convert the heathen. Neither Christian nor pagan saw them again.



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Here.

In itself, the disappearance is not so noteworthy. Ships have long had a habit of dropping from

t he s ur face o f evi dent t hi ng s. T heBuonavita i s m en t io ned i n v ar io us chu rch h is to ri es and i n a r ecen t

B ra zi li an h is to ry b ec au se t he a bb ot o f t he m on ks w as o ne M ar co S oz zi ni , o r, a s h e i s m os t o ft en c al le d,

M ar cu s S oc in us . H e w as t he n ep he w o f t he h er et ic F au st us S oc in us , a nd a c ou ri er h ad b ee n d is pa tc he dt o B ra zi l w it h o rd er s f or M ar cu s t o c om e t o R om e, w he re h e w ou ld f ac e s om e q ue st io ns .

That courier would not have been able to deliver his message even if he had known where

Socinus was.

Another event at the same time would have made Fort sing with joy if it had been brought to his

notice.

A book published in 1886 and now long out of print contains a translation of sections of Ibn

Khulail'sHistory of the Turks. B y a F or tean coi n cid en ce, t he t r an sl ato r w as a M et ho di s t m in is ter, t heR ev er en d C ar l F or t. T ak in g t he s ame i nt er es t i n t he u no rt ho do x as h is l it er ary g rand so n, h e r ecor ds t he

Arab historian's description of the vanishing overnight of a large caravan.

In 1588 ninety Circassian beauties, destined for the harems of Mos le m lords, and forty guards of

v ar io us n at io nali ti es p as sed f ro m m an 's s ig ht . T heir h or ses w er e f ou nd h ob bl ed f or t he n ig ht . T heir t en ts

w er e s ti ll s et u p. M ea ls h ad g ro wn c ol d w ai ti ng t o b e e at en .

The only sign of disorder was a bloody scimitar lying on the ground. Stuck in the blood were a

d oz en l on g, t hi ck , a nd r ed di sh h ai rs t ha t t he e xp er ts s ai d w er e t ho se o f n o k no wn a ni ma l. S om e p eo pl e

t ho ug ht t he y m ig ht b e f ro m a b ea r, f or t he f oo tp ri nt o f a t re me nd ou s u rs in e c re at ur e w as f ou nd o n t he

campsite.

Where, asked Ibn Khulail, did all those people go? Had a djinn flown away with them to some

f lame- gu ar ded cas tl e? W er e t ho se h is h ai rs s ti ck in g t o t he b lade?

History has no more answer for him than it has for those curious about Roanoke and the

Buonavita.

Another item for Fort. The now defunct Aiguillette Press of Paris printed the essays of an

eig h teen th -cen tu ry C hi nese s ag e, H o K i. H e r em ar ks cas uall y i n h isFrost Thoughts t hat t he v il lage o f

H ung C hoo d ec id ed one n igh t t o g o f or a l on g wa lk a nd ne ve r c am e ba ck.

That is all he says, except that the year they left was 1592 A.D.

From 1592 to 2092 is five hundred years, not such a long time in Earth's life. But from Earth to

Da re i s a l ong wa y, e ve n a s l ight f li es . Da re is t he s ec ond pl ane t of a s ta r c la ss ifi ed a s Ta u Ce ti by th e

moderns.

English is spoken there, Latin, and horstel.

An old map, drawn by Ananias Dare, father of Virginia, shows the continent on which the

abd ucted T er rans w er e l an ded. A valo n t hey n am ed i t. T he o ut li nes, h as ti ly i nk ed as t he p lanet g rew

l ar ge r a nd l ar ge r i n t he v ie wp or t, i nd ic at e a r ou gh ly f ou r- lo be d s ha pe s pr aw li ng i n t he c en te r o f a g lo be o f

water.



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A cross marks the location of the first human settlement, originally titled New Roanoke. Later it

w as n am ed F ar fr om b ec au se t he l it tl e V ir gi ni a D ar e r em ar ke d t ha t i t w as " fa r f ro m w he re I w as b or n,

Papa."

Al so on D ar e' s o rig ina l c ar togr aph a re l ege nds i n di ca ti ng whe re c re at ur es s tr ang e t o Ea rt h b ut

n am ed aft er t ho se t hat r es em bl ed T er rest ri al b ei ng s, act ual o r m yt hi cal, w er e t o b e f ou nd .

"Here be unicorns. . . . Here be man-eating werewolves."

Many places, of course, are marked, simply, "Horsetails."

J ac k C age wa lke d down the ancient highway. His high-crowned broad-brimmed hat kept off the

h ot , l at e- sp ri ng s un . U nd er i ts s ha do w h is b ro wn e ye s s ea rc he d t he f or es ts o n b ot h s id es o f t he r oa d. H is

l ef t ha nd h el d a t ot um wo od l ong bo w. H is q ui ve r w as f ul l. A l ea th er s ca bb ar d h el d a s ci mi ta r o n hi s l ef t;

f ro m t he r ig ht o f h is b ro ad b el t h un g a b ag . I t c on t ai ne d a r ou nd g la ss b om b f il le d w it h b la ck g un p ow de r. A v er y s ho rt f us e j ut te d f ro m i ts t hi ck n ec k.

Beside the bag was a scabbard that sheathed a knife of red copperwood.

If the "dragon" charged down the highway or burst out of the forest, Jack was ready for it. First,

h e w ou ld l et f ly a n a rr ow a t o ne o f i ts h ug e e ye s. E ls ew he re w ou ld b e u se le ss . F li nt t ips w ou ld n' t g o

t hr ou gh t wo i nches o f h ar d h id e.

He had heard their bellies were soft, but he couldn't depend on that. Rumor could kill a cat, so

t he pr ove rb we nt . He w as n' t a c at - - wha te ve r a c at w as - - but he c oul d be ki lle d j us t a s de ad.

As if reading his thought, Samson, the giant yellow canine of the breed known as "lion," rumbled

i n h is t hr oa t. H e h al te d t en f ee t a he ad o f h is m as te r. P oi se ds ti ff -l eg ge d a t r ig ht a ng le s t o J ac k, h e f ac ed

t he t re es t o t he l ef t o f t he h ig hw ay .

Jack drew an arrow from the quiver and fitted the notch to the string. He reviewed his plan.

Sh oot a t t he e ye . Hi t or m is s, he wo ul d dr op t he b ow. Sna tc h ou t t he bom b. Tou ch of f t he f us e w it h a

l uc if er . T hr ow i t a t t he m on st er 's c he st w it h t he h op e h e' d t im ed t he c as t s o t he b om b w ou ld e xp lo de a nd

cru sh i ts chest and d ri ve t he g lass s pl in ters i nt o i ts t hr oat.

Then, without waiting to see the effect of the powder, he'd turn and run, drawing his scimitar at

t he s am e t im e. Ha vi ng ga ine d a t re e on t he op pos it e s ide of t he r oa d, he 'd s to p t o d ef end h ims el f. He

c ou ld d od ge b eh in d t he l ar ge b ol e a nd s la sh o ut w it h t he s wo rd , c ir cl in g a ro un d t he t ru nk a wa y f ro m t he



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large and presumably clumsy beast.

Meanwhile, Samson would harass the thing on its flanks.

He placed himself behind Samson. There was a slight break in the greenery. At the moment he

glanced through it, something bright flashed. Unconsciously, he sighed with relief. He didn't know who

w as b eh in d t he g li tt er in g o bj ec t, b ut h e w as f ai rl y s ur e i t w as n' t a d ra go n. I t s ho ul d b e a m an o r h or st el .

As the arrow would be useless in the entangling bushes and vines, he put it back in the quiver.

T he b ow h e h un g o n a b on eh oo k o n h is b ac ks tr ap . H e s li d t he s ci mi ta r f ro m i ts s he at h.

"Quiet, Samson," he said in a low voice. "Lead."

The yellow dog padded ahead into a barely discernible path. Samson's nose bobbed up and

do wn o n t he s ce nt l ik e a c or k on a w ave . H e s ni ff ed a t t he e ar th. S om eb od y h ad l ef t t ra ck s, f or i ns te ad

o f t ak in g a s tr ai gh t p at h, t he " li on " f ol lo wed a s er p en ti ne t rack t hr ou gh t he g reen l ab yr in th .

After about thirty yards of slow and cautious approach, they came to a little glade.

Sam son s topped. The gr owl bur ie d in hi s m as sive thr oat s poke thr ough bri stl ing ha ir s and r igi d

muscles.

Jack looked past him. He, too, froze. But it was with horror.

His cousin, Ed Wang, was crouched by the body of a satyr. It lay on its side, its back to Jack.

B lo od s pr ea d f ro m t he b as e o f t he s pi ne . T he s ha gg y h ai r t ha t e nc lo se d t he l oi ns w as s oa ke d w it h r ed .

Ed had a copperwood knife with which he was cutting away the skin around the tailbone. Hes tu ck t he k ni fe i nt o t he g ro un d a nd t he n r ip pe d a wa y t he c ir cl e o f t is su e a nd t he l on g " ho rs et ai l" t ha t g re w

from it. Rising, he held the bloody trophy in the sunlight, examining it.

"Bobbing?" asked Jack, the look on his cousin's face making him shudder. His voice sounded

hoarse and phlegm-clotted.

Ed whirled, dropping the bob, and snatched up the knife . His mouth hung open. His black eyes

w er e w i de.

When he saw the intruder was Jack, he came out of the knife-fighter's crouch. Some of his color r e tu rn ed , b ut h e s ti ll h el d t he b la de r ea dy i n h is f is t.

"Holy Dyonis!" he croaked. "For a second I thought you were a horstel."

Jack nudged Samson with his knee. The dog padded out into the glade. Though he knew Ed, his

s ta nc e t hr ea te ne d a s wi ft b ou nd a t E d' s t hr oa t i f h e m ad e a n u nw is e m ov e.

Jack lowered the scimitar, but he did not sheathe it. "Whatif I ha d b ee n a h or st el ?" h e a sk ed .

"Then I'd have had to kill you, too."

Ed wat che d closel y to se e his c ousin's re acti on. Ja ck ke pt hi s fac e unr eadable. Ed shrugge d and

t ur ne d a wa y, s lo wl y, a nd w it h o ne e ye o n S ai ns on . H e s to op ed a nd w ip ed h is b la de o n t he s at yr 's t hi ck



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yellow hair.

"This is my first kill," he said in a strained voice, "but it's not my last."

"Oh?" said Jack, and he managed with that one syllable to convey a mixture of disgust, fear, and

the first intimations of just what this scene implied.

"Yes, oh!" mock-snarled Ed. His voice rose. "I said it wasn't my last!"

He glared and stood up.

Jack knew that Ed was close to hysteria. He had seen his cousin in action in tavern brawls. His

w il d b lo ws h ad end an gered h is f ri en ds as m uch as h is enemi es .

He said, "Calm down, Ed. Do I look like a horstel?"

He stepped forward to look at the corpse's face. "Who is it?"

"Wuv."

"Wuv?" ,

"Yes, Wuv. One of the Wiyr living on your father's farm. I trailed him until I was sure he was

a lo ne . T he n I g ot h im i nt o t hi s g la de o n t he p re te xt I w an te d t o s ho w h im a m an dr ak e' s n es t. T he re w as n' t

a ny, o f c our se , but w hi le h e w as w al ki ng a he ad of m e, I s ta bbe d hi m i n t he ba ck .

"It was easy. He didn't even cry out. And after all that dung I'd heard about it being impossible to

c at ch a hor st el of f gua rd! I t wa s e as y, I t el l yo u! Ea sy !"

"For God's sake, Ed! Why? Why? What'd he do to you?"

Ed cursed. He stepped up to Jack, his copperwood blade flashing red as he stabbed upward.

Sa mson' s de ep c he st r umbled, a nd he c rouc he d. Hi s mas ter , t aken una ware s, br ought up the

s ci mi ta r f or a s wi ng t o c ut o ff h is a tt ac ke r' s a rm .

But Ed had stopped. As if he'd not seen the effect of his actions, he began talking. Jack lowered

h is s wo rd , f or i t w as e vi de nt t ha t h is c ou si n h ad n' tm ea nt t o a tt ac k, b ut h ad k ni fe d t he a ir t o e mp ha si zew hat h e w as s ay in g.

"What reason should I need other than that he's a horstel? And I'm a human? Listen, Jack. You

k no w P ol ly O 'B ri en , d on 't y ou ?"

Jack blinked at what seemed a sudden change of subject, but he nodded. He remembered her

v er y w el l. S he l iv ed i n t he t ow n o f S la sh la rk . S he a nd h er m ot he r, t he w id ow o f a c he mi st , h ad r ec en tl y

mo ve d f rom t he c api ta l c it y of St . Dyo ni s t o t he f ront ie r t own. Th er e he r mo the r h ad s et up a s hop a nd

s ol d d ru gs , w in e, o in tm en ts , and , s o i t w as s ai d, l ov e- ph il ter s.

The first time he saw Polly, Jack had been impressed. She was slim, and her face was

w on derf ul ly h eart -s haped, h er eyes w er e l ar ge and an i nn ocen t- want on g ray, i f y ou w ou ld adm it s uch a

description possible.



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Jack, though he'd been going so long with Bess Merrimoth that he was ready to ask her parents

i f t he y c oul d b un dl e, w ou ld h av e c ou rt ed P ol ly , t oo . E ve n a t t he r is k o f g et ti ng h is f ol ks a nd B es s' s m ad

a t h im. He h ad he ld ba ck on ly be ca us e E d Wa ng h ad a nnou nc ed a t t he Re d H or n Ta ve rn t ha t h e wa s

s qu ir in g P ol ly O 'B ri en . A s h is f ri en d, J ack cou ld n ot d ecen tl y cut i n o n h im . R eg retf ul ly , h e' d d ecid ed t o

l eave h er alo ne.

"Sure, I know her," he replied. "You were very sweet on her."

Ed said loudly, "Jack, she's takensanctuary! She's gone cadmus!"

"Wait a minute! What's been going on? I've been up in the mountains for five days."

"Hol y Vir gi ni a, Ja ck! All hel l's br oken loos e. Poll y' s mother was turned in f or s el li ng horst el

d ru gs , a nd s he w as p ut i n p ri so n. P ol ly w as n' t a c cu se d, a t f ir st , t ha t i s, b ut w he n t he s he ri ff c am e a ft er

he r m ot he r, s he r an a wa y. N ob od y c ou ld f in d he r, a nd t he n o ld W inn ie A rc ha rd - - yo u k no w h er , J ac k,

s he 's got n ot hi ng t o d o bu t wa tc h t he r oa d i nt o Sl as hl ar k - - s aw P ol ly me et a s at yr on t he e dge o f t ow n.S he w en t a wa y w it h h im , a nd s in ce s he h as n' t b ee n s ee n a ga in , i t' s e as y t o f ig ur e s he w en t c ad mu s. "

He paused for breath and scowled.

"So?" said Jack with a coolness he didn't feel.

"So the next day the sheriff is told to arrest Polly. What a laugh! Did you ever hear of anybody

being arrested once he'd gone underground with the horstels?"

"No."

"You're damn right you didn't. I don't know what happens after they go down the cadmus.

W he th er t he h or st el s e at t he m, a s s om e s ay , o r w he th er t he y' re s mu gg le d t o S oc in ia , a s o th er s s ay . B ut I

d o k no w on e t hi ng . T ha t i s t ha t Po ll y O 'Br ie n i sn 't g oi ng t o g et a wa y f ro m m e! "

"You're in love with Polly, aren't you, Ed?"

"No!"

Ed looked up at his tall relative; then he flushed and lowered his eyes.

"All right. Yes, Iwas. But no more. I ha te her, Jack. I hate he r f or a witc h. I ha te her for lying

w it h a s at yr .

"Don' t look so damned doubtful, J ack. I mean that. She was buying drugs from the horstels, and

s he w as m ee ti ng t hi s W uv s ec re tl y t o g et t he m. S he w as m ak in g l ov e t o h im . C an y ou p ic tu re t ha t, J ac k?

A w il d, n ake d, ha ir y- lo ine d b ea st . She w as me et ing h im, a nd I - - I . . . I c ou ld t hr ow up w he n I t hi nk of

her!"

"Who laid the charges against Mrs. O'Brien?"

"I don't know. Somebody sent letters to the bis hop a nd the sheriff. The identity is always kept

s ecr et, y ou k no w. "



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Jack rubbed the side of his nose and mouth thoughtfully and said, "Wasn't Nate Reilly's chemistry

shop losing business because he couldn't compete with Polly's mother?"

Ed smil ed faintly. "You're smart. Ye s, he was. And everybody's more or less guessed who

informed. Mainly because Nate's wife has the biggest mouth in Slashlark, which is saying something.

"But what about it? If Mrs. O'Brien was trafficking in those devil-begotten drugs, she deservedto get turned in, whatever Reilly's motive."

"What's happened to Mrs. O'Brien?"

"She was sentenced to hard labor for life at the gold mines in Ananias Mountains."

Jack's thick eyebrows rose. "Sort of a quick trial, wasn't it?"

"No! She confessed within six hours of being arrested, and she was sent away two days later."

"Six hours on the rack would make anybody confess. What if the local Binder of the Contract

h ears o f t hat?"

"You sound like you're defending her. You know that when anybody is as clearly guilty as she

w as , a l it tl e t or tu re j us t h el ps s pe ed j us ti ce . A nd t he h or st el s a re n' t g oi ng t o f in d o ut a bo ut t he m ac hi ne s i n

t he p ri so n b as em en t. A nd w ha t i f t he y d o? S o w e' ve b ro ke n o ur c on tr ac t w it h t he m? S o w ha t? "

"So you think Polly's hiding in the cadmi on my father's farm?"

"Damn right I do. And I was going to corner Wuv and force him to tell me about her, but when I

w as a lo ne w it h h im , I b ec am e s o a ng ry I c ou ld n' t h ol d m ys el f b ac k. A nd - -"

He gestured toward the corpse.

J ac k, fol lowi ng t he mot ion, s udde nl y poi nte d the s ci mit ar a nd cr ied, "W ha t's t ha t?"

Wang bent down and lifted the head of the corpse by its long hair. The jaw sagged and pulled the

fleshd ow n s o t he k ni fe c ut s o n e ac h c he ek s tr et ch ed .

"See those letters? HK? You're going to see a lot of those from now on. Someday you'll see

t he m o n t he c he ek s o f e ve ry h or st el i n D yo ni s. Y es , a nd i f w e c an g et c o- op er at io n f ro m t he o th er n at io ns , all o ver A valo n. E very h or st el m ar ked, and every h or st el d ead! "

Jack Cage said slowly, "I've heard some talk in the taverns about a secret society dedicated to

k il li ng ho rs te ls . B ut I d id n' t b el ie ve i t. I n t he f ir st p la ce , i t c ou ld n' t be m uc h o f a s ec re t i f a ll t he d ru nk s

k ne w a bo ut i t. I n t he s ec on d p la ce , I j us t t ho ug ht i t w as t he k in d o f t al k y ou 'r e a lw ay s h ea ri ng w he n m en

t al k abo ut T he P ro bl em . A lw ay s t al k. N ev er acti on ."

"By all that's human and holy, you're going to see action now!"

Ed removed the bag hanging by a rope from his shoulder. "Come on. Help me bury this carcass."

He pulled from the bag a short-handled shovel with a scoop made of the new Hardglass. The

s ig ht o f i t h or ri fi ed J ac k a lm os t a s m uc h a s t he b od y h ad . I ts p re se nc e s ho we d s uc h c ol d- bl oo de d



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planning.

Wang sta rted cut ting out divots of the shor t-bladed cropgras s a nd pla cing them to one s ide.

W hi le h e w as d oi ng t ha t h e t al ke d, a nd h e d id n ot s to p a ll t he t im e h e w as d igg in g t he s ha ll ow g ra ve .

"You're not a member of the society yet, but you're in this just as much as I am. I'm glad it was

y ou and n ot s om e o th er h um an t hat f ou nd m e. S om e o f t ho se l icks pi tt le y el lo w- li vered h or st el -l ov er sw ou ld r un s cr eami ng t o t he s heri ff i ns tead o f s haki ng m y h an d.

"Of course, if they did, they wouldn't last long. It isn't only horstels that can get their cheeks

m ar ked. H um an f lesh , t rait or f lesh , w il l cut j us t as eas il y. Y ou u nd er st an d?"

Numbly, Jack shook his head. He had to declare himself either for Ed, who identified himself

wi th the hu ma n r ac e, o r a ga in st h im . A nd h e c ou ld n ot d o t he l at te r. H e w as s ic ke ne d b y w ha t h ad

ha ppe ne d; he w is he d t ha t Sa ms on h ad not c au ght t he s ce nt of de at h a nd t ha t he 'd n ot s ee n t he f la sh of

t he knif e i n t he br ea k. He woul d ha ve l iked to tur n a nd r un a wa y a nd t ry t o f orge t a ll a bout thi s; de ny i t, i f

possible, tell himself it had never happened, or if it had, that he had nothing to do with it. But he couldn'tdo that. And now. . .

"Here, grab his leg," Ed said. "I'll take the other, and we'll drag him to the grave."

Jack put the scimitar in its scabbard. Together, he and Ed pulled the body across the glade, its

l im p a rm s t ra il in g b eh in d l ik e i dl e o ar s b es id e a d ri ft in g b oa t. B lo od l ef t a r ed w ak e o n t he c ru sh ed g ra ss .

"We'll have to clip off that grass and throw it in the grave, too," Ed spoke. He was panting.

Cage nodded. He had wondered why Ed, a short but very strong man, had wanted him to help

ha ul the c or ps e t he me re t hi rty f ee t t o t he hol e. N ow he s aw . Hi s he lpi ng t o bur y t he vic ti m woul d be hi ss hare i n t he g ui lt .

The worst of it was that he couldn't refuse to join. Not that he was forced to because he was

a fr ai d, h e h as te ne d t o a ss ur e h im se lf . H e h ad n o f ea r o f E d o r o f t he v as te r, i f m or e s ha do wy f ig ur e

behind him, the HK Society. It was just that horstels weren't human. They didn't have souls, even if they

d id , h ai r d is tr ib ut io n apart , l oo k l ik e m en .

It wasn't murder to kill one, not murder in a real sense; legally, it was. But no human thought of it

a s a ct ua l m ur de r. K il li ng a d og w as n' t m ur de r. W hy s hou ld s la yi ng o ne o f t he W iy r be ?

There were a number of reasons why the courts considered it so. The strongest was that they

w er e c om pe ll ed t o d o s o. T he D yo ni sa n g ov er nm en t h ad a c on tr ac t t ha t s et u p j ud ic ia l p ro ce du re f or j us t

s uch m an -h or st el d eali ng s. B ut n o h um an s ho ul d f eel asens e o f g ui lt , o f h av in g o ff en ded h is G od b ecau se

o f t he d ea d.

Why, then, this twisting inside himself?

Automatically, he said, "Do you think the grave is deep enough? Wild dogs or werewolves could

dig him up easily."

"That's using your head, Jack. For a moment I thought. . . Well, never mind. Sure, the dogs can

g et a t h im . B ut t he y w on 't . W at ch ."



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He dipped into his bag and brought out a small bottle of clear fluid.

"Nodor. It' ll cove r up a ny smel l for t we nty- four hour s. By t he n t he s extons wil l ha ve fi ni shed hi m.

Nothing but bones left."

He sprinkled the bottle's contents over the corpse. The fluid spread in a thin film over the body

until it disappeared.

Ed walked around the glade, letting fall a drop or two wherever he saw blood or crushed grass.

S at is fi ed h e' d f ai rl y w el l d eo do ri ze d t he p la ce , h e p ic ke d u p t he l on g b lo nd b ob f ro m t he g ro un d, t hr ew a

c oupl e of dr ops on i t, a nd s tu ff ed i t i nt o hi s ba g.

He said, casually, "Do you want to cover up the body?"

Jack gritted his teeth and stood motionless for a minute. Refusal trembled on his tongue. He

w an ted t o y el l o ut , " Ki ll er ! K il ler! " and w al k away. B ut r easo n h el d h im s il en t. E it her h e w en t alo ng w it h

Ed no w, h opi ng f or a br ea k l at er on, o r - - a nd h is m ind di d n ot r ef us e t he pi ct ur e a s t he ne xt pl aus ibl es te p, t ho ug h h is s to ma ch d id - - h e c ou ld k il l E d a nd t um bl e h is b od y i nt o t he h ol e.

Monstrous as it seemed, that would be the only way to prevent the entanglements sure to come.

He had to join the HK, or else he had to die.

Sighing, he began scooping dirt on the body. "Hey, Jack, look at that!"

J ac k l ooke d pas t Ed' s e xte nded f inge r and s aw asexton crouching beneath a fallen leaf. It was no

l on ger t han t he k nu ck lebo ne o f h is t hu mb , and i ts l on g t hi n n os e q ui vered ceaseless ly . T hen i t w as g on e,

s wi ft er t han h is eye cou ld f ol lo w.

"How much do you want to bet that by tonight he and his thousand brothers will have all the meat

o ff t he s at yr 's b on es ?"

"Yes," replied Jack sourly. "And when those scavengers are through, the dirt over the bones will

s in k dow n a nd l ea ve a d epr es si on . I f i t' s no ti ce d a nd he 's d ug up by t he W iyr , t he y' ll kno w he 's b ee n

m ur d er ed . Y ou 'd h av e b ee n s ma rt er i f y ou 'd j us t l ef t t he b od y a bo ve g ro un d. T ha t w ay , t he y' d h av e n o

w ay o f t el li ng f ro m t he b on es w ha t h ad h ap pe ne d t o h im . H is d ea th w ou ld b e c on si de re d a cc id en ta l, o r a t

l east f ro m cau ses u nk no wn . T hi s w ay , t hey k no w i t' s m ur d er ."

"You should have planned this, Jack," said Ed. "You're smart. I can see you're going to be a biga ss et t o t he s oc ie ty ."

Jack grunted and then said, "On second thought, that half-severed spine would give it away.

M ay be i t 's b et t er h e' s b ur ied. "

"See what I mean? You'd have sense enough not to touch his backbone when you stabbed him. I

c an t el l y ou' r e go ing t o m ake a gr ea t k il le r, J ac k.' '

Jack didn't know whether to laugh or weep.

Ed watched his tall cousin as he smoothed out the grave to make it level with the surrounding

g ro un d. H e s po ke h ar sh ly , a s i f h e w er e t ry in g t o g et s om et hi ng o ut b ef or e h e c ha ng ed h is m in d a nd k ep t

i t i n.



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"Jack, you want to know something? I like you, but personal feelings don't enter. When I first

s aw you, I t hought I mi ght ha ve to ki ll you, t oo, i n orde r to s hut you up. But you' re a ll r ight . You' re al l

human."

"I'm human," ans wered Jack. He kept on working. While Ed clipped off the bloodstaine d gra ss

e nd s, J ac k c ar ef ul ly r ep la ce d t he d iv ot s o ve r t he n ak ed e ar th . T ha t d on e, h e r os e t o e xa mi ne h is w or k.

He wasn't satisfied. If the forest-wise Wiyr got close, they'd detect the artificiality of the replaced

c ro pg ra ss . T he o nl y c ha nc e t o e sc ap e n ot ic e w ou ld b e i f t he h un te rs o ve rl oo ke d t he g la de o r i f t he y w en t

o ver i t car el es sl y. K no wi ng t he abo ri gi nes' t ho r ou gh ness , h e d id n ot f eel eas y.

He said, "Ed, is this the first murder for you? Or for other HK members?''

"It's not murder! It's war! Remember that! Yes, it's the first for me. But not for others. We've

s ecretl y k il led t wo o th er h or st el s h er e i n S lash lark C ou nt y. O ne w as a s ir en ."

"Have any HK members disappeared mysteriously?"

Ed jerked as if struck. "What makes you ask that?"

"The horstels are smart. You think for a minute they won't figure out what's going on? And play

the game themselves?''

Ed Wang swallowed. "They wouldn't do that! They have a contract with our government. If they

c au gh t u s, t he y' re b ou nd b y t he ir w or d t o l ea ve u s t o t he h um an c ou rt s. "

"How many government officials are HK members?"

"Know what, Jack? There is such a thing as being too smart."

"Not really. What I'm getting at, though, is that the Wiyr are realists. They know that, legally, a

h um an k il le r o f a ho rs te l i s s ub je ct t o t he d ea th p en al ty . T he y a ls o k no w t ha t, a ct ua ll y, i t' s a lm os t

i mp os si bl e t o c on vi ct a m an i n o ur c ou rt s o n s uc h a c ha rg e.

"It's true that a horstel's word is his bond. But they have a clause that says that if the other party

proves to be of bad faith, the contract is automatically broken."

"Yes, but they have to give the other party notice."

"True. But tension is getting high. One of these days, there's going to be a bad break. The

h or st el s k no w t hat. M ay be t hey' re g oi ng t o o rg an ize t heir o wn H K - - t he H um an K il lers ."

"You're crazy! They wouldn't do anything like that. Besides, no HK men are missing."

Jack decided he was getting no place. He said, "There's a brook close by. We'd better wash.

A nd t he n p ut o n s om e o f t ha t N od or o ur se lv es . Y ou k no w w ha t a s en si ti ve n os e a h or st el h as ."

"Like an animal's. They're beasts of the field, Jack."

After they'd washed themselves and smoothed out the footprints they'd made in the mud banks,



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t he y d ec id ed t o s ep ar at e.

"I'll give you the word when we have our next meeting," promised Ed. "Say, what about bringing

y ou r s wo rd t o i t? O ut si de o f L or d H ow 's , i t' s t he o nl y i ro n w ea po n i n t he c ou nt y. I t' d m ak e a w on d er fu l

symbol of our organization, a sort of rallying point."

"It's my father's. I took it without his permission when I went dragon hunting. What he'll say whenI ge t bac k, I don't know. But I'll bet he loc ks it up wher e I can't ge t it again."

Ed shrugged, smiled an unreadable smile, and said good-bye.

Jack watched him go. Then, shaking his head like a man trying to wake himself up, he walked

away.

Walt Cage strode from the barn and through the yard. His boots stomped into the wet grounda nd s qui she d a s h e p ul le d t he m o ut . T he ga gg le rs i n h is p at h f le d, g iv ing v ent t o a n er ve -s cr api ng c ry .

A way f ro m h is d an gero us f eet, t hey s to pp ed t o l oo k w it h t heir b ig d ou bl e- li dd ed b lu e eyes. T hey

t eetered o n t wo l on g t hi n l eg s and f lapp ed t heir r ud im en tary w in gs - - m em br an es s tr et ch ed o n l on g

f in ge r- bo ne s - - a nd c oc ke d t he ir s me ar -n os ed h ea ds . T he n ur se rs g av e a s er ie s o f t hi n b ar ks t ha t c al le d

t heir chi ck s t o f eed f ro m t wo s wo ll en m am mari es h an gi ng b et ween t heir l eg s. T he egg -h en s j ealo us ly b it

a t t he nur se rs w it h t iny s ha rp t ee th a nd t he n f le d a s t he b ig c oc ks c ha se d t he m b ac k t o t he ir n es ts . N ow

a nd t he n, t he m al es l un ge d a t e ac h o th er a nd n ip pe d, b ut t he y d id n' t m ea n i t. T he ir s tu d- fu ry h ad b ee n

watered with centuries of domestication.

All shared a powerful odor that was a cross between that of an open garbage can in the hot sun

a nd t ha t o f a w et d og . I t i ns ul te d a nd i nj ur ed e ve n t he m os t t ol er an t n os e. S er en e, t he y d we lt i n t he m id stof i t and minde d not at a ll .

Walt Cage snarled "Aggh!" and spat at them. Then he felt mildly ashamed of himself. After all, the

d um b b ru te s c ou ld n ot h el p t he ir s te nc h. A nd t he ir m ea t a nd e gg s d id t as te d el ic io us a nd w er e q ui te

profitable.

He was headed for the front porch of his house when he remembered the mud on his boots.

K at e w ou ld k il l h im i f h e t ra ck ed di rt on ce a ga in i nt o t he f ro nt r oo m. H e s te er ed t ow ar d h is o ff ic e. B il l

K am el , h is o vers eer, w ou ld p ro babl y b e w ai ti ng t here, any way.

Bill was sitting in his boss's chair, smoking a pipe and resting his muddy boots on Walt's desktop.

W he n t he o wn er b ur st t hr ou gh t he d oo r, B il l j um pe d u p s o f as t t he c ha ir f el l b ac k a nd o nt o t he f lo or .

"Go ahead," Walt barked. "Don't mind me."

When Kamel made an irresolute move to pick up the chair and sit down, Walt brushed by him

and s eated h im self , h ar d.

He groaned, "What a day! I couldn't get anything done. I hate shearing unicorns, anyway. And

t ho se h or st el s! A lw ay s s to pp in g t o s am pl e t hat n ew b at ch o f w in e. "

Bill coughed self-consciously and blew smoke to one side.



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"Don't worry about my smelling your breath," Walt growled. "I had a glass or two myself."

Bill blushed. Walt leaned forward and picked up a pencil. "All right. Let's have it."

Bill closed his eyes and began the report. "All plows are now fitted with new copperwood

blades. Our agent in Slashlark says he can get one of those Hardglass blades for experimental purposes.

C he ap. I t s ho ul d b e he re i n a bo ut a w ee k s inc e i t' s c om ing b y b oa t. T he y' re s upp os ed t o k ee p t he ir e dg et wi ce a s l ong a s t he woode n. I t ol d hi m you s ai d you' d re pl ac e a ll our bla de s w it h t he m if t he gl as s

wor ke d out like i t was s uppos ed to. . . right? And he sa id he 'd knoc k off t en pe rc ent of the pric e i f we' d

r ecom mend t he b lades t o o ur n ei gh bo rs .

"The Herder of the Unicorns says the thirty foals he started working with are narrowed down to

f iv e. T hey m ig ht b e g oo d p lo wers , and t hey m ig ht n ot . Y ou k no w h ow n er vo us and u nr el iabl e t ho se

beasts are."

"Of course, I know!" said Walt Cage impatiently. "You think I've been farming for twenty years

f or n ot hi ng ? D yon is , h ow I h at e s pr ing p lo wi ng, a nd h ow I ha te un ic or ns ! O h, i f w e o nl y ha d a n a ni ma lt ha t c ou ld p ul l a pl ow w it hou t t ry in g t o r un a wa y e ve ry t im e a l ar k f li es o ve r a nd t hr ow s i ts s ha do w! "

"The Counter of the Bees reports there's a lot of noise in the hives. He estimates we've about

f if teen t ho us an d b ees. T hey o ug ht t o b e com in g o ut b y n ex t w eek. T he w in terh on ey cro p w il l b e s mall er

t hi s y ea r b ec au se t he re 's b ee n m or e y ou ng t o f ee d. "

"That means less money for all. Isn't anything going right?'' demanded Walt.

"Well, next spring there'll be more honey because there've been more young this winter."

"Use your head, Bill. Those young'll produce more young and eat up all the winterhoney. Don'tt ell me how big t he c rop's goi ng t o be !"

"That isn't what the Counter says. He says that every third year the queens eat up the surplus

brats so the honey crop'll be larger. Next year's the third."

"Good!" broke out Walt. "I'm glad something's going to go right around here. But the taxes next

ye ar a re go ing up, a nd I 'l l h ave a h ar d t ime pa yi ng a t ax on a l ar ge r c rop. L as t ye ar 's hu rt m e, a s i t wa s. "

Bill looked blankly at him and continued. "The Catcher of the Larks says the egg collection will

be about the same as last year's, about ten thousand. That is, unless the werewolves and the maskersi n cr ea se , i n w hi ch c as e w e' ll b e l uc ky t o g et h al f t ha t. "

"I knew it," groaned Cage. "I knew it, and I was depending on the egg profits to pay for the new

plow blades. And buy a new carriage."

"We don't know the collection won't be up to last year's," Bill said.

"Listen, those satyrs sleep with Old Mother Nature. They know her as a man knows his wife.

B et te r, " a dd ed W al t, a s c er ta in d ou bt s a bo ut h is K at e c am e t o h is m in d.

"If the Catcher thinks the werewolves'll increase, they will. And that means I'll have to hire some

g ua rd s f ro m S la sh la rk a nd m ayb e p ay f or a b ig h un t. "



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Kamel's brows rose, and he puffed angrily as he restrained himself from showing the boss how

he was contradicting himself about the horstels' reliability.

Cage's eyes narrowed as he pulled at the hairs of his thick black beard as if they were ripe

t ho ug ht s t o b e p lu ck ed .

"Lord How has a stake in keeping the werewolves down. Maybe he could foot the bill. If I couldonlyd ro p a f ew wo rd s a bo ut i t t o hi m a nd l et hi m m ul l i t ov er un ti l he t hi nk s i t' s hi s o wn i de a, h e m ig ht

or ga ni ze one . I f I di dn 't ha ve t o pa y f or f ood f or t he hu nt er s a nd d ogs . . . "

He licked his lips, smiled, and rubbed his big hands. "Well, we shall see. Go on."

"The keeper of the Orchard says the totum crop should be bigger than ever. Last year we

collected sixty thousand balls. This year the Keeper estimates seventy thousand. Providing the slashlarks

don't increase."

"What next? Every time you tell me something, I'm a rich man in one breath and a poor in thene xt . W el l, d on' t j us t s it t he re a nd s mok e. T el l m e, w ha t d oe s t he Ca tc he r of t he L ar ks s ay? "

Bill shrugged. "He says there should be an increase by at least a third."

"More expense!"

"Not necessarily. The Blind King remarked to me last night that he can get help from a nomadic

g ro up o f h is p eo pl e, a nd i t w on 't c os t a ny th ing e xc ep t t he ir f oo d a nd w in e. A nd h e' ll s pl it t he b il l w it h

you."

Bill paused and wondered if he should give Walt the bad news he'd been saving. He wasn't givena c ha nc e, f or t he bo ss s ai d, " Di d yo u c he ck u p o n t he K ee pe r o f t he O rc ha rd' s t al ly ?"

"No, I didn't think it was necessary. The Wiyr don't lie."

His face red, Walt roared, "Of course not! Not as long as they know we'll always check up on

them."

Ka mel' s cheeks refl ected the he at in Cage's , and he opened his mouth to reply. Then he shrugged

and clo sed h is l ip s.

Walt spoke in a softer tone, "Bill, you're too easygoing. Trusting the horstels can get you in

trouble."

Bill focused his eyes on a spot above Cage's balding head and meditatively blew smoke.

"For heaven's sake, Bill, quit shrugging every time I say something. You trying to make me mad?"

"No. I don't have to try."

"All right. So I asked for that. Maybe I do fly off the handle now and then. But I'm not the only

o ne . T he v er y a ir s ee ms t o q ui ve r l ik e a t ig ht rop e. E nou gh o f t ha t. W ha t' re y ou d oi ng a bo ut s et ti ng a n ig ht

w at ch f or t hat d rago n?"



15/123

"The horstels say the dragon'll take a few unicorns and then won't be back until next year.

Nobody'll get hurt as long as it's not attacked. Just leave it alone."

Cage brought his fist down hard on the desktop. "Oh, so I'm to sit on my fat butt and watch that

m on st er r un o ff w it h m y s to ck ! Y ou p ut J ob a nd A l t o b ui ldi ng a t ra p. "

Bill said, "What about Jack? Maybe he's killed it."

"Jack's a fool!" roared Walt. "I told him to wait until a hunting party was organized. After the

u ni co rn s he ar in g a nd t he s pr in g p lo wi ng , o f c ou rs e. I c an 't s pa re a m an o r h or st el n ow .

"But that a cc ur se d fool , t ha t bra inl es s romanti c idiot s on of mi ne has to go ga lli va nt ing af te r

something that could crush him with a flick of its tail. Why, that hulking overgrown good-for-nothing is

s en seless eno ug h t o att ack t hat t hi ng all b y h im self ! A nd g et h is h ead b it ten o ff ! H e w il l b ri ng g ri ef t o h is

m ot he r a nd m ak e a n o ld m an o f h is f at he r! "

Te ar s ran down his c he eks and sopped his bear d. Choking, ha lf-blinde d, he r os e and lurchedf ro m t he o ff ice. K am el w as l ef t s tari ng emb ar rass ed ly at h is p ip e and w on deri ng w hen h e cou ld t el l h im

t he r ea ll y b ad n ew s.

In the washroom, Walt Cage poured out a pitcher of freshly drawn well water into a bowl and

s lapp ed w at er o n h is f ace. T he t ears q ui t f lo wi ng ; h is s ho ul ders ceased s haki ng . T ak in g o ff h is s leev el es s

jacket, he cleaned his arms and torso thoroughly.

The mirror reflected the puffy and bloodshot eyes, but he could blame that on the little hairs

f lo at in g a ro un d i n t he s he ar in g s he d. B il l w as a g oo d f el low a nd w ou ldn 't s ay a w or d a bo ut hi s b re ak ing

d ow n. N ob od y e ls e n ee d k no w. I t w ou ld n ev er d o f or h is f am il y t o f in d o ut , f or t he n t he y m ig ht h av e l es s

r es pe ct f or h im . T he y w er e g et ti ng h ar d e no ug h t o h an dl e a s i t w as . A m an n ev er c ri ed ; t ea rs w er e f or women. . .

He combed his beard and thanked God he hadn't succumbed to the new foppery and shaved off

hi s w hi ske rs . He di dn' t l ook l ike a w om an or a ba re fa ce d s at yr . I t wa s a f as hi on t ha t i nd ic at ed t he

insidious horstel influence.

As he was putting on a clean flannel vest, sleeveless and tied loosely across the front so his hairy

c he st a nd b el ly s tuc k out br ow n a nd bl ac k a nd gr ay, he he ar d t he di nne r dr um . He t ook of f hi s di rt y

boots and put on clean slippers. Then he strode into the dining room and there paused to look around.

His children were standing behind their chairs, waiting until he seated their mother at the foot of

t he t ab le b ef or e t he y s at d own . Hi s qu ic k gr ee n e ye s t ook i n hi s s ons Wa lt , Al ec , Ha l, B or is , a nd J im ,

and h is d au gh ters G in ny , B et ty , M ar y, and M ag dalene. T wo chair s w er e emp ty .

Kate, anticipating his question, said, "I sent Tony down the road to look for Jack."

Walt grunted and seated Kate. He noticed that the rash that had broken out on her several days

a go w as g et ti ng w or se . I f i t c on ti nu ed t o r id ge a nd r ed de n h er u su al ly c re am -s mo ot h s ki n, h e w ou ld t ak e

h er i nt o Sl as hl ar k a nd l et Dr . C ha nde r l ook a t he r. A s s oon a s t he s he ar ing w as d on e, t ha t w as .

When he had seated himself at the head of the table, Lunk Croatan, the house servant, lurched

f ro m t he k it ch en . H e alm os t t ip ped t he p latt er o f s team in g u ni co rn " mu tt on " o nt o h is m as ter' s l ap .



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Walt s nif fed a nd s aid, "Been sampl ing t he totum wine a gai n, eh, Lunk? Ha nging a round wit h the

satyrs?"

"Why not?" replied Lunk in a rough voice. "They're getting ready for a big celebration. The Blind

K in g' s j us t l earn ed h is s on and d au gh ter are com in g b ack t on ig ht f ro m t he m ou nt ai ns . Y ou k no w w hat

t hat m eans . L ot s o f m us ic, s in gi ng , b ar becu ed u ni co rn and r oast ed d og , w in e, b eer, s to ry tell in g, and

dancing.

"And," he concl ude d ma li ci ous ly, "no s he aring. Not for t hr ee days, a nywa y."

Walt s topped carving the mutton. "The y c an't do that! They've a cont ract to help shear. Why,

t hr ee d ay s' d el ay w il l m ea n w e' ll l os e h al f o ur w oo l. B y t he e nd o f t hi s w ee k, t he b ea st s' ll s ta rt s he dd in g.

Then what?"

Swaying, Lunk said, "Nothing to worry about. They'll call in the forest dwellers to help. And

every th in g' ll b e f in is hed o n s ch ed ul e. S o w hy g et h ys teri cal? W e' ll all h av e a g oo d t im e and t hen w or k

h ar d t o c at ch u p. "

"Shut up!" growled Cage.

"I'll speak when I want to," Lunk said with a dignity that was lessened somewhat by the

back-and-forth movement of his body. "I'm no longer an indentured servant, I'll remind you. I've

wor ke d m ys el f o ut of de bt , a nd I ma y l ea ve a ny t ime I wa nt t o. So wha t do y ou t hi nk of t ha t? "

He walked slowly from the room.

Walt jumped up so fast his chair fell back and struck the floor. "What's the world coming to?

T he re 's n o r es pe ct a ny l on ge r f or t ho se w ho d es er ve i t. S er va nt s. . . t he y ou ng er g en er at io n. . . "

He struggled for words. "No beards. . . all the young men smooth-shaven and letting their hair

g ro w l on g. . . t he w om en a t c ou rt w ea ri ng l ow -c ut b od ic es , e xp os in g t he ir b re as ts a s i f t he y' re s ir en s.

E ve n s om e o f t he o ff ic ia ls ' w iv es a t S la shl ar k a re i mi ta ti ng t he c us to m. . . n on e o f m y d au gh te rs , t ha nk

G od , w ou ld h av e t he d ar in g a nd i nd ec en cy t o w ea r s uc h g ow ns !"

He glared about the table. His girls glanced at ea ch other from under downcast lids. They'd never

be able to wear those new costumes to the Military Ball now! Not unless they added much more lace to

t he o pe n d ee p V s. T ha nk g oo dn es s t he d re ss ma ke r h ad n' t b ro ug ht t he m o ut t o t he f ar m y et !

Their father waved his knife and threw juice on Boris' new vest and shouted, "It's horstel

i nf lu en ce , t ha t' s w ha t i t i s! B y G od , i f t he h um an r ac e h ad i ro n t o m ak e g un s, w e' d w ip e o ut t he g od le ss ,

s av ag e, n ak ed , i mm or al , i nd ecen t, l azy, d ru nk en , arr og an t, con tr act- maki ng r ace! L oo k at t he eff ect

t he y' ve h ad o n J ac k. H e' s a lw ay s b ee n t oo f ri en dl y w it h t he m. H e' s n ot o nl y l ea rn ed c hi ld -h or st el , b ut h e

k no ws m uch adu lt -t al k. H e' s b een s ed uced b y t heir d ev il -i ns pi red w hi sp er in gs t o g iv e u p w or ki ng t he

f ar m - - my f ar m! - - t he f ar m of hi s gr andf at he r, ma y he r es t i n pe ac e!

"Why do you think he's risking his life by hunting that dragon? To get the bounty for the head so

h e c an g o t o F ar fr om a nd s tu dy u nd er R oo dm an , a m an w ho 's b ee n i nv es ti ga te d f or h er es y a nd

demon-dealings. . .

"Why, why, even if he does bring back the dragon's head, though probably his body is torn to

pieces and lying scattered in some lost thicket. . ."



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The highway that ran by the farm could be traced in most of its wanderings until it reached the

c oun ty s ea t o f S la sh la rk . T he t ow n i ts el f w as h id de n b y a r is e o f h ea vi ly w oo de d h il ls .

He was recalled to his immediate surroundings when the siren stood up to launch her final

g reet in gs t o t he cou nt ry t o w hi ch s he and h er m al e com pani on w er e r et ur ni ng aft er t hr ee y ears o f " ri tes" i n

the remote mountains.

A notch in the trees outlined her against the light-blue sky. Jack sucked in his breath in sudden

ad mi rati on . S he w as a s pl en di d s peci men - - b eaut if ul f ro m a t ho us an d y ears ' b reed in g. L ik e all W iy r,

s he w or e n ot hi ng e xc ep t a c om b i n h er h ai r. A t t he m om en t, s he w as p as si ng i ts t ee th t hr ou gh t he t hi ck

r ed -g ol d s warm . T he l ef t b reas t, f ol lo wi ng t he arm 's m ov em en ts , t il ted and d ip ped l ik e t he m uzzl e o f

s om e E ucli dean ani mal f eedi ng u po n t he air . A nd J ack' s eyes f ed u po n i ts b eaut y.

A breeze lifted a tress and revealed a humanlyshaped e ar. She turned slightly and disclos ed a

q ui te u nh um an d is tr ib ut io n o f h ai r. A t hi ck , alm os t m an el ik e g ro wt h s pr ou ted f ro m t he b as e o f h er n eck

a nd gr ew i n a s pi na l r oa ch . F rom t he t ip of h er ba ck bo ne i t f el l i n a c as ca de - - t he h or se ta il .

Her broad shoulders were as hairless as a woman's, as was the rest of her back except the

v er ti br al c ol um n. J ac k c ou ld n ot s ee h er f ro m t he f ro nt , b ut h e k ne w h er l oi ns w er e t uf te d. A h or st el 's

pubic hair was long and thick enough to satisfy the humans' desire for genital covering; it hung like a

loincloth halfway down the thighs.

The males were as shaggy between navel and mid-thigh as the mythic satyr from whom they

d er iv ed t heir n am e. T he f em al es , h ow ev er , h ad h ip s n ak ed excep t f or t he p ub ic t ri an gl e, w hi ch w as r eall y

a d ia mo nd , a s t he b as e o f a no th er t hr ee -c or ne re d s ha pe g re w f ro m i t, s lo pe d u p t he b el ly , a nd t ap er ed

o ff a t t he h ai r- ri ng ed n av el , w hi ch l oo ke d l ik e a n e ye b al an ce d o n t he a pe x o f a s hi ny g ol d p yr am id .

That was the Wiyr symbol for a female -- omicron speared by a delta.

Lost in admiration, Jack waited until the lyret m m m e d i ts f in al n ot e and t he s ir en 's cream y

c on tr al to c as t t he e nd p hr as e d ow n t he g re en a is le .

For a moment, there was silence. She stood poised like a bronze statue topped with gold; the

s at yr cro uched o ver h is i ns tr um en t, eyes clo sed and b ro od in g.

Jack stepped from behind a spearnut tree and clapped his hands. The explosion was like an

unwarranted, even profane, intrusion upon the semireligious silence that had followed the music.P ro babl y t he t wo h ad s un k i nt o o ne o f t heir v ol un t ar y, h al f- my st ic s tates.

Nei ther seemed s tartled or even sur prised. J ack, maliciously, ha d hoped the y would be. But their

cal m t ur ni ng o f eyes t ow ar d h im and t he g race o f t heir b od ies i n f ol lo wi ng t he eyes t wi ng ed h im w it h

an no yance and f ain t s hame. D id t hey n ev er app ear awk war d o r em bar ras sed?

"Good afternoon, Wiyr," he said.

The satyr stood up. His fingers ran over the lyre strings in simulation of an English voice. "Good

afternoon," the strings spoke.

The female stuck the comb into her hair, poised like a diver on the rock, and jumped to the

g ro un d. H er b en t k ne es t oo k t he s ho ck e as il y; t he i mp ac t b ou nc ed h er l ar ge , c on oi d b re as ts i n a



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m ov em en t t ha t d is co nc er te d J ac k. B ef or e t he q ui ve ri ng h ad c ea se d, s he h ad w al ke d u p t o h im . H er

purple-blue irises contrasted pleasingly with the sinister cat-yellow of her brother's.

"How are you, Jack Cage?" she said in English. "Don't you know me?"

Jack blinked down at her with a start of recognition. "R'li! Little R'li! But you -- holy Dyonis! --

how you've changed! Grown!"

She ran a hand through her hair. "Naturally. I was fourteen when I went into the mountains three

y ears ago f or t he r it es . S ev en teen m eans I 'm an adu lt . I s t here any th in g s ur pr is in g i n t hat?''

"Yes. . . no. . . that is. . . you were built like a broom. . . that is. . . and now. . ." Automatically,

h is h an d d es cr ib ed a c ur ve .

She smiled and said, "You needn't blush so. I know I have a beautiful body. However, I like

c om p li me nt s, a nd y ou m ay g iv e m e a s m an y a s y ou w an t t o. P ro vi de d y ou 'r e s in ce re a bo ut i t. "

Jack felt his face warming. "You. . . you misunderstand. I. . ." and he choked, helpless before

t he t er ri bl e cand or o f t he h or st el.

She must have felt sorry for him, for she tried to divert the talk away from them. "Do you have a

s moke o n y ou? " a ske d R' li . " We r an out a f ew d ays a go ."

"I've three. Just enough."

He took a case out of his jacket pocket. It was made of expensive copper and had been given to

h im b y B es s M er ri mo th . F ro m i t h e s ho ok o ut t hr ee r ol ls o f c oa rs e b ro wn p ap er c on ta in in g t ob ac co .

U n co ns ci ou sl y, h e o ff er ed t he f ir st t o R 'l i b ec au se s he w as a f em al e. H is h an d f or go t t o p la y t hecus to mary r ud e r ol e o f t he h um an d eali ng w it h t he h or st el .

He did, however, stick a roll in his own lips before he offered her brother one. The satyr must

h av e n ot iced t he s li gh t, f or h e s mi led i n a p ecul iar f as hi on .

When R'li bent over to light her roll on the lucifer Jack struck for her, she looked up. Her

purple-blue eyes were as lovely as -- he could not help thinking -- Bess Merrimoth's. He'd never been

a bl e t o s ee w ha t hi s f at he r m ea nt by s ay in g t ha t g az in g i nt o t he ir e ye s w as g az in g i nt o a b ea st 's .

She drew smoke deep into her lungs, coughed, and blew clouds from her nostrils. "A poison,"s he s ai d. "B ut I l ike i t. One of t he gi ft s you h uma ns br ough t f rom Te rr a w as t ob ac co. I wo nde r h ow w e

got along without it?"

Was she being sarcastic? If so, she was so subtle about it that he couldn't be sure. "That seems

t o b e a bo ut t he o nl y v ic e y ou p ic ke d u p f ro m u s, " h e r ep li ed . " It 's t he o nl y g if t y ou 'v e t ak en . A nd t ha t i s

something nonessential.''

She smiled. "Oh, not the only gift. We eat dogs, you know."

She looked at Samson. He, as if sensing what she was talking about, edged closer to his master.

J ack cou ld n ot k eep f ro m s ho wi ng h is d is gu st .

"You needn't worry, big lion," she called out to Samson. "We never cook your breed. Just fat



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and stupid frydogs."

She turned back to Jack.

"As to what we were talking about, you shouldn't feel that you Terrans came to us barehanded.

We'velearned much more from you than you think."

Again she smiled. Jack felt foolish -- as if the lessons administered by the human beings had been

n eg at iv e. M rr n, h er b ro th er , s po ke t o h er i n r ap id a du lt -t al k. S he a ns we re d t he f ew s yl la bl es n ee de d

( tr an sl at ed i nt o E ng li sh , J ack s us pect ed , t he con v er sati on w ou ld h av e t ak en m uch m or e t im e) , and t hen

s ai d i n t he h um an t on gu e, " He w an ts t o s ta y h er e a nd w or k o n a n ew s on g h e' s b ee n t hi nk in g a bo ut . H e' ll

play it tomorrow at our homecoming. I'll accompany you as far as my uncle's. That is, if you don't mind?"

He shrugged. "Why should I? "

"I can think of half a dozen reasons. First and foremost, some human might see us and turn you in

for fraternizing with a siren."

"Walking on a public highway with one of you doesn't lega lly constitute fraternizing."

They walked silently down the leafy corridor to the road. Samson walked a little ahead. Behind

t he m, t he n ot es c ha rg ed f ro m t he l yr e i n a p ha la nx o f f ur y. W he re h is s is te r' s s in gi ng h ad b ee n s we et a nd

happy and tinged with a certain spriteliness, Mrrn's playing was Dionysiac, frenzied.

Jack would have liked to stay to hear it. Though he had, of course, never confessed it, he thought

h or st el m us ic w as w on derf ul . N o r easo nabl e excus e f or l in geri ng cam e t o h is m in d, s o h e k ep t o n g oi ng

d ow n t he f or es t a is le . W he n t he y r ea ch ed t he r oa d a nd t ur ne d t he c or ne r, t he n ot es , b ec am e f ai nt . T he

towering trees and heavy foliage blanketed them.

The road curved around the gently sloping mountain -- a fifty-foot broad highway at least a

t ho us an d y ea rs o ld . I t w as c om po se d o f s om e v er y t hi ck g ra y s tu ff t ha t m us t h av e b ee n p ou re d o ut i n

l iq ui d f or m a nd t he n h ar de ne d, f or i t w as n ot l ai d d ow n i n b lo ck s b ut p re se nt ed a c on ti nu ou s s tr ip .

Resembling stone, it felt slightly rubbery and gave the illusion of sinkinga little beneath one's weight.

Th ou gh t he s un w as h ot , t he r oa d f el t c oo l t o t he n ak ed f oo t. S om eh ow , i t pa ss ed he at t hr oug h t he u ppe r

s id e a nd s to re d i t b en ea th , f or d ur in g t he w in te r t he p ro ce ss w as r e ve rs ed . T he n t he s ur fa ce r ad ia te d

w ar mt h, e no ug h t o k ee p t he u ns ho d f oo t f ro m f re ez in g e ve n i n t he c ol de st w ea th er . S no w a nd i ce m el te d

a nd r an o ff t he s ubt ly t il te d s lo pe .

It was one of t he t hous ands that s pi de r-webbe d the cont inent of Ava lon, a ne twor k whose re ady

t rans p or t at io n h ad h el ped h um an ki nd s pr ead s o r api dl y acr os s t he l and .

He was silent so long that R'li, probably seeking a hook on which to hang conversation, asked to

s ee hi s s ci mi ta r. S ur pr is ed, h e u ns he at he d i t a nd h an de d i t t o h er . H ol di ng i t b y t he h il t w it h o ne h an d, s he

f eath er -t ou ch ed t he s harp edg e w it h t he f in gers o f t he o th er .

"Iron," she said. "That is a terrible word for a terrible thing. I wonder what kind of world we'd

ha ve i f t he re we re muc h of it le ft . N ot s o good, I th ink. "

Jack watched her handle the metal. One of the tales he'd heard in his childhood about horstels

h ad j us t b een p ro ved f al se. T hey cou ld t ou ch i ro n. T heir f in gers d id n' t w it her, t heir arm s d id n' t b ecom e

paralyzed, and they didn't scream with agony.



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She pointed to the inscription on the hilt. "That means what?"

"I don't really know. It's said to be Erbic, one of the languages of Earth."

He took the weapon back from her and turned the hilt to show her two inscriptions on the other

s id e. " On e A .H. D. On e of t he ye ar o f Ho mo D ar e. T he ye ar e w e c am e. Cu t b y A na ni as D ar e h ims el f, s oi t' s s ai d. Thi s s wor d wa s g ive n b y K am el t he T ur k t o J ac k Ca ge t he F ir st , one of hi s s ons -i n- la w,

because the Turk had no sons to hand it on to."

She said, "Is it true that your scimitar is so sharpthat it will cut a floating hair in half?"

"I don't know. I've never tried it."

She plucked one of her long hairs out and let it drift down.

Swish!

Two red-gold threads fell to the ground.

"Do you know," she sa id, "you mi ght ha ve gi ve n that dra gon somet hing t o think about, af te r all ."

His jaw fell, and he goggled while she ground the glowing butt of her smoke into dead ashes with

her callused heel.

"How -- how did you know I'd been trailing that dragon?"

''The dragon told me."

" T h e d r a g o n - -told you?''

"Yes. You didn't miss her by much. She was with us for a while but left about five minutes before

y ou s ho we d u p. S he w as g et ti ng t ir ed o f r un ni ng . S he 's p re gn an t, a nd s he 's h un gr y, a nd s he 's e xh au st ed . I

a dvi se d h er t o go up t he m ou nt ai ns t o t he r oc ky pa rt s, w he re yo u wou ldn 't b e a bl e t o f in d a ny t ra cks ."

"Well, now, isn't that nice!" His voice shook. "And just how the hell would you know she knew I

knew -- I mean -- she knew I was coming and she was going. . . I mean, how did you know where she

w as g oi ng ? I s up po se y ou s po ke t o h er i n d rago n- talk ?" h e con cl ud ed s arcas t ical ly .

"Right."

"What?"

He looked into her eyes for a sign she was pulling his leg. You never knew about Wiyr.

She returned his gaze with two cool purple-blue enigmas. There was a swift exchange, voiceless

but intelligible. R'li put out her hand as if to place it on his arm and then stopped it midway as if suddenly

r em em beri ng t hat h um an b ei ng s d id n ot car e t o b e t ou ch ed b y h er p eo pl e. S am so n g ro wl ed w ar ni ng ly an d

crouched facing her, yellow hair bristling.

They continued walking. She chattered blithely on as if nothing untoward had happened. To add



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t o h is a nn oy an ce , s he u se d c hi ld -h or st el . A n a du lt u se d t ha t t on gu e t o a no th er o nl y i n a ng er o r c on te mp t

or t o a l ove d o ne . S he c oul dn' t be i n l ove wi th hi m.

She spoke of her happiness at coming home and seeing her friends and parents again and

r oami ng t he b el ov ed f ield s and f or es t o f S lash lark C ou nt y. S he s mi led o ft en ; h er eyes g lo wed w it h i nt en se

f ee li ng; he r ha nds f le w a s i f s he we re ba tt ing t he w or ds out of t he wa y in or de r t o m ake r oom f or mor e;

h er r ed m ou th s haped i ts el f i nt o f as ci nati ng s po ut s as s he s pi ll ed o ut t he l iq ui ds o f h er s peech.

A strange and unexpected thing happened to him as he watched the writhing mouth. His anger

s hi ft ed t o d es ir e. H e wa nt ed t o c ru sh he r t o h im , g ra b t he r ed- go ld c at ar ac t d ow n he r b ac k, a nd bu ry

t ha t m ou th b en ea th h is . I t w as a s wi ft a nd t re ac he ro us t ho ug ht , a nd i t s ur ge d t hr ou gh h is b lo od s tr ea m,

r oar ed i n h is h ead, and al mo st o verp ow er ed h im .

He turned his head away so she wouldn't see his face. His chest swelled until it seemed it would

ex pl od e f ro m t he h al f- hu rt , h al f- th ri ll . W hatever w as s tu ck b eh in d h is b reas tb on e w an ted t o g et o ut , and

i t w ant ed t o ge t o ut f as t.

But he wouldn't allow it.

Had he felt that way about one of the girls he'd squired around Slashlark -- and there had been

s ev er al - - he w oul d ha ve a ct ed wi th t he t ho ught . R' li , h owe ve r, wa s a t on e a nd t he s ame t im e a n

a tt ra ct io n a nd a n o bs ta cl e. S he w as a s ir en , a f em al e t ha t m en r ef us ed t o n am e w om an . U nh um an ,

d eadl y, b el ieved t o h av e all t he att ri bu tes o f t he l eg en dary h al f- an im al charm er s o f t he l eg en dary

M ed it er ra ne an a nd R hi ne , s he c ou ld n ot b e a pp ro ac he d w it ho ut p er il o f l if e a nd s ou l. T he S ta te a nd t he

C hu rc h, i n t he ir v as t w is do m, f or ba de m an t o t ou ch a s ir en .

But State and Church were far-off and shadowy abstractions.

R' li wa s ne ar a nd golde n- br own f le sh a nd pur pl e-bl ue eye s a nd sc ar le t mout h and gl it te ri ng ha ir

a nd m ag ne ti c c ur ve s. S he w as l oo k a nd l au gh a nd b ou nc e a nd s wa y a nd f la sh a nd s ha do w a nd c om e- on

an d g et- away an d I - kn ow - yo u an d y ou -d o n' t -k no w- m e.

She broke into his tight-lipped silence.

"Whatever are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"Wonderful! How do you manage to concentrate so fiercely on nothing?''

Her joking helped him regain his balance. His chest quit hurting, and he was able to look R'li in

t he f ac e. She n o l ong er s ee me d t he mo st de si ra bl e c re at ur e i n t he wor ld; s he w as m er el y a - - a f em al e

w ho h app ene d t o e mb ody - - a nd e mbo dy wa s t he r ig ht w or d - - e mbo dy w ha t a m an d re am ed of w he n

he dr ea med of a -- t he re was no get ting a wa y f rom the word - - of a body.

But he had been close to. . . no. Never. He would not even think of it. He must not have thought

of i t. Ho w c oul d he ? A f ew s ec on ds b ef or e t ha t bl ac k a nd a chi ng f ir e f la re d up, he ha d b ee n a ngr y

e no ug h t o s tr ik e h er . T he n f ir e o n a ng er h ad m et am or ph os ed i nt o t he s ha pe o f d es ir e.

What had happened? Had she cast a spell over him?



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Jack laughed, but he would not tell her why when she asked what was so funny. When he tried

t o b lame h is f eeli ng o n s ir en 's m ag ic, h e w as n ot b ei ng h on es t w it h h im self . H e w as s kept ical abo ut

s or ce ry , a ny wa y, t ho ug h, o f c ou rs e, h e n ev er m en ti on ed i t. N o. S he 'd t hr ow n n o s pe ll . U nl es s i t w as t he

witchcraft any good-looking female could practice without calling in the devil.

Name the thing and let it die. Lust it was called, and it was nothing else.

Swiftly, he crossed himself and swore silently that he would tell Father Tappan about his

t em pt at io n a t t he n ex t c on fe ss io n. A nd t ol d h im se lf t ha t h e l ie d a nd t ha t h e w ou ld n ev er s ay a w or d o f i t

t o a ny bod y. H e w as f ar t oo a sh am ed .

As soon as he got home and was able to settle things with his father, he'd drive into town and see

B es s M er ri mo th. H e c ou ld f or ge t a bo ut R 'l i w he n he w as w it h a n ic e l ea n h um an g ir l, t ha t i s, i f, a ft er s uc h

t ho ug ht s, h is t ou ch w ou ld n' t b ef ou l h er . . . N o! T ha t w as n on se ns e, h e m us tn 't t hi nk l ik e t ha t. H e l oa th ed

t ho se w ho w en t a ro un d f ul l of s el f- im po se d g ui lt a nd w ou ld n ot a ll ow G od o r a ny bo dy t o f or gi ve t he m. I t

w as a f or m of s el f- pi ty, w hi ch , i n t ur n, w as a m ea ns o f g et ti ng a tt en ti on.

Realizing he had to get out of the tightening spiral of introspection, he made an effort to talk again

t o R 'l i. Sh e ha d, h e k ne w, b ee n e va di ng t he s ubj ec t o f t he dr ag on . So h e a sk ed he r a bo ut i t.

"It's just this," she replied. "You really owe your life to us, you know. The dragon told me you

w er e t rail in g h er w it h i nt en t t o k il l. S ev er al t im es s he cou ld h av e cir cl ed y ou and t ak en y ou f ro m b eh in d.

B ut s he di dn' t. H er c ont ra ct w it h us s ays t ha t o nl y i n c as e of d ef ens e, a nd a s a l as t r es or t, m ay s he - -"

"Contract?" croaked Jack.

"Yes. Perhaps you've noticed a patte rn in her so-called maraudings on the farms around

S la sh la rk . O ne u ni co rn f ro m L or d H ow 's e st at e o ne w ee k. N ex t w ee k, o ne f ro m t he C hu ck sw il ly f ar m.T he f ol l ow in g, o ne f ro m O 'R ei ll y' s. S ev en d ay s l at er , a b east f ro m t he P hi li pp ian m on as tery h er d. T hen

o ne f ro m y ou r f at her' s p lace.

"After which the cycle starts again with Lord How, and so on, ending up with the stallion taken

f iv e n ig ht s a go f ro m y ou r f at he r' s p en s. A si de f ro m t he p at te rn o f r ot at io n, t he t er ms a re : N o p lo w o r m il k

u ni co rn s t o b e t ak en . N o p re gn an t m ar es . O nl yt ho se t ag ge d f or t he m ea t m ar ke t. D og s a nd h um an s

a vo ide d a s muc h a s po ss ibl e. N o m or e t ha n f ou r un ic or ns a ye ar f rom e ac h f ar m. O nl y one dr ago n t o a n

area. S am e con tr act n ex t y ear, b ut s ub ject t o alt er ati on i f cir cu ms tances d em an d i t. "

"Wait a minute! Who said you horstels" -- the word sounded as if he spat it -- "could dispose of ou r p ro pe rt y a s i f i t w er e yo ur s? ''

She glanced down. Only then did he realize his hand was on her arm. The skin was so smooth it

s eemed h al f l iq ui d, s mo ot her even ( he cou ld n ot h el p t he t reachero us t ho ug ht ) t han B es s' s.

Her eyes flickered down to the withdrawing hand, then up to his flushed face as she said, coolly,

" Yo u f or get t hat, accor di ng t o t he con tr act y ou r g rand f at her m ad e w it h m y f ol ks w hen t hey agr eed t o

s ha re t he f ar ml and, y ou m en w er e t o gi ve us f our u ni cor ns a ye ar . T ha t h as not be en done , b y t he wa y,

f or t he l as t t en ye ar s b ec aus e we h or st el s ha ve h ad e nou gh f rom ou r o wn he rds t o e at . W e ha ve n ot

demanded our rights becausew e a re n ot g re ed y. ''

She paused and then added, "Nor have we said anything to the tax collector about the

u narg uabl e f act t hat y ou r f at her h as b een claim in g exemp ti on f or t ho se f ou r u ni co rn s even t ho ug h h e' s



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kept them for himself."

Jack was not too annoyed to miss her attachment to thewe of what human grammarians called

the Particle of Ambiguous Contempt.

Jack thought there was a flaw in R'li's explanation of the dragon's raids. If a contract had been

m ad e, w hy d id n' t t he y s im pl y t ak e t he f ou r u ni cor ns a nd ha nd t he m o ve r t o t he m on st er ? W hy g o t hr ou ght he r ig maro le o f all ow in g t he b east t o m ak e h er d an gero us n ig ht f or ay s? T he s to ry d id n' t m ak e s en se.

True, horstels seldom lied. But they did now and then. And their adults used child-talk when

telling fiction;she h ad us ed i t w it h h im .

That didn't necessarily mean she was lying, for she had taught it to him when they played together

as chi ld ren o n t he f ar m, and i t w as o nl y n at ur al s he s ho ul d con ti nu e u si ng i t.

Egstaw, the Watcher on the Bridge, was standing on the road, close to the tall round tower of

q ua rt z- sh ot s to ne t ha t w as h is h om e. H e w as p ai nt in g o n a l ar ge c an va s s up po rt ed b y a n e as el .

His wife, Wigtwa, was crouching about thirty yards away on the creek bank. She was skinning a

s ca ly t wo -l eg ge d s qu am ou s a bo ut t wo f ee t l on g t ha t s he 'd j us t h oo ke d f ro m t he w at er . N ea r b y, t hr ee

y ou ng st er s p layed i n t he w at er . A na, f iv e y ears o ld , cou ld n ot b e d is ti ng ui sh ed f ro m a h um an i nf an t o f h er

age excep t b y v er y car ef ul s cr ut in y. T hat w ou ld h av e s ho wn t he b eg in ni ng s o f a f uzz r un ni ng f ro m t he

back of the neck and down the valley of the spine.

Krain, a boy of ten, had a backbone that flashed golden when it was at a certain angle to the sun.

Li da , j us t t hi rt ee n, i ll us tr at ed t he ne xt -t o- the -l as t s ta ge of h or st el ha ir ine ss . O ra nge -r ed,

i nc h- lo ng , a r oa ch d iv id ed h er b ac k a nd c on ti nu ed t o h an g a f oo t b ey on d h er c oc cy x. H er p ub es b or et he f ir st i n ti mati on s o f t he d iamo nd and t he d is c. W at er -d ar kened, t hey, p lu s t he f ai nt s well o f b reas t,

h in ted at t he com in g g lo ry o f t he s ir en .

R'li gave a delighted shriek at seeing her aunt and uncle and cousins and ran to them. Egstaw put

d ow n h is p al et te a nd b ru sh a nd t ro tt ed t ow ar d h er ; W ig tw a d ro pp ed t he s qu am ou s a nd k ni fe a nd r ac ed

t ow ar d t he b ri dg e. B eh in d h er , t he chi ld ren, s cr eami ng w it h j oy , s pl as hed t hr ou gh t he creek .

All embraced and kissed R'li many times, laughing and crying and hugging her and each other. In

t he m ids t of i t, s he b ega n t al ki ng a nd w av ing h er h and s w il dl y a s s he t ri ed t o c om pr es s i nt o a f ew m in ut es

h er e xp er ie nc es o f t he l as t t hr ee y ea rs .

Jack hung back until her uncle came up to him and asked, in English, if he would care for fresh

bread and a stein of wine or beer. Later they would have barbecued squamous.

Jack replied he did not have time to wait for the meat. He would take a drink of wine and some

bread, however.

Egstaw said, "You won't be lacking human company, either. We have another guest."

He waved at a man who had just stepped out of the bridge tower. Jack was surprised. Strangers

i n t hi s f ro nt ier cou nt y w er e alw ay s r eg ar ded w it h cur io si ty o r s us pi ci on o r b ot h; esp eciall y o ne f ri en dl y

enough with the natives to enter their dwelling.



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Egstaw said, "Jack Cage, meet Manto Chuckswilly."

As they shook hands, Jack said, "Any relation to Al Chuckswilly? He has a farm close to ours."

"All human beings are brothers," said the stranger gravely. "However, he and I could probably

t ra ce o ur a nc es tr y b ac k t o t he o ri gi na l C ir ca ss ia n w ho se n am e w as , I b el ie ve , D ju ga sh vi li . J us t a s I c an

t ra ce m y f ir st n am e b ac k t o M an te o, o ne o f t he C ro at an I nd ia ns w ho c am e w it h t he R oa no ki an s. W ha tabout you?"

Jack said mentally, "Damn!" and resolved to quit talking with the fellow as soon as possible.

E vi de nt ly h e w as o ne o f t ho se w ho c ar ri ed i n t he ir h ea ds t he w ho le f am il y t re e a nd w ho t oo k g re at p ri de

and m uch t im e i n l eapi ng f ro m l im b t o l im b and i ns pect in g every t wi g, every l eaf, and t he v ei ns and

t raceri es i n t he l eaves t hems el ves. J ack t ho ug ht i t a f ut il e p iece o f k no wl ed ge. A ll h um an s cou ld claim

d es cent f ro m each and ever y o ne o f t he o ri gi nal k id napees .

Chuckswil ly was ve ry da rk, about thirty, was c lean-shaven, and had a long jaw, thick lips, and a

l ar ge, h ig h- br id ged n os e. H is clo th es w er e exp en si ve: a w hi te f el t h at , b ro ad -b ri mm ed and t al l- cr ow ned;a j ack et o f d ark - bl u e w erew ol f p elt ; a co pp er- s tu dd edb ro ad belt f ro m w hi ch h un g a cop perw oo d k ni fe

a nd a r ap ie r. H is s ho rt ki lt w as l in en , w hi te w it h s ca rl et p in s tr ip es . K il ts h ad l on g b ee n w or n i n t he c ap it al

cit y, b ut t hey h ad n ot y et b ecom e p op ul ar i n t he o ut ly in g r us ti c d is tr icts . C al f- leng th b ro wn b oo ts

completed his garb.

Jack asked to see the rapier. Chuckswilly whipped it from its sheath, threw it in the air, and left it

t o J ac k t o c at ch. Smo ot hl y, J ac k s ei ze d i t by i ts hi lt . H e di d not l ike t he s tr ange r' s ge st ur e of t ryi ng t o

cat ch h im o ff g uard and m ak e h im l oo k clu ms y. B ig -cit y air s, h e t ho ug ht , and s hr ug ged.

The shrug did not esca pe the keen black eyes, for Chucks willy's thick lips lifted to expose teeth

as u nh um an ly w hi te as a s ir en 's .

Jack ass ume d the pose he'd be en t aught in the Sla shlark Ac ademy for Blade smen, salute d t he

s tr an ge r, a nd t he n l un ge d a t a n i ma gi na ry f oe . H e s ha dow -f en ce d f or a w hi le , t ryi ng i t o ut u nt il h e h ad i ts

f ee l. T he n h e t ur ne d t he r ap ie r.

"Wonder ful ly fl exi ble ," he c omment ed. "M ade out of tha t ne w Be ndgl as s, is n't it ? I' d s ure li ke t o

g et o ne . I 'v e n ev er s ee n a ny a ro un d h er e. B ut I 'v e h ea rd t he S la sh la rk g ar ri so n i s g oi ng t o b e e qu ip pe d

w it h all t he n ew es t i nv en ti on s. G lass h el mets , cui rass es, j am bs , and s hi el ds ! S pear s and arr ow head s, t oo !

A nd I 'v e h ea rd t ha t t he y' ve m ad e a g la ss t ha t' ll s ta nd u p t o p ow de r c ha rg es ! T ha t m ea ns g un s! T ho ug h I

un de rs ta nd t he ba rr el s c an o nl y be us ed a d oz en or s o t im es b ef or e t he y ha ve t o b e t hr ow n a wa y."

He stopped short at a barely perceptible nod of the stranger's head in the direction of the

approaching Watcher.

"Only rumors," said Chuckswilly. "But the less the horstels know about it, the better."

"Oh, I see," mumbled Jack. He felt as if he'd betrayed a state secret. "What did you say you

were doing?"

"As I was telling Egstaw here," the dark man spoke smoothly, "I am one of those fools who like

t o s ee k t he H ol y G ra il , t he U na tt ai na bl e, t he N ev er -t o- be -f ou nd . I n o th er w or ds , I 'm a p ro sp ec to r, a n

i ro n- sn if fe r. T he Q ue en p ay s m e t o s ea rc h f or t ha t f ab ul ou s m in er al . S o f ar , a s m ig ht b e e xp ec te d, I 'v e

n ot s ee n e ve n a s ha vi ng o f i ro n a ro un d h er e. O r a ny p la ce ."



26/123

He cocked his head and smiled at Jack so that big crinkleflowers grew around his eyes.

"By the way, if you were thinking of turning me in for having entered a horstel dwelling, save your

breath. As a Government mineralogist, I'm legally empowered to do so, provided, of course, the Wiyr

concerned invites me."

"I wasn't thinking of any such thing!" said Jack, flushing.

"Well, you should have. It's your duty."

Cage almost turned and walked away. What an unpleasant fellow! But the desire to save face

a nd t o i m pr es s t he s tr an ge r s topp ed h im. A s a r ep ly, he whi ppe d out hi s s ci mi ta r a nd he ld i t up s o t he

s un b ou nced o ff i t.

"What do you think of that?"

Chuckswilly looked envious and a trifle awed. "Iron! Let me touch it, hold it!"

Jack threw it up in the air. The dark man caught it deftly by the hilt, thus disappointing Jack, for

h e' d h op ed C hu ck sw il ly w ou ld m is s i t a nd g ra b i ts e dg e a nd c ut h is ha nd . W ha t a s tu pi d a nd c hi ld is h

t ri ck ! H e s hou ld b e t oo bi g t o a pe c it y ge st ur es .

Chuckswilly slashed the air around him. "This would take off the heads! Snip! Snip! What the

Q ueen 's m en cou ld n' t d o i f t hey h ad w eapo ns l ik e t hi s! "

"Y es, c ouldn' t t he y," s ai d Egs taw dr il y. He wa tc hed the sc imi ta r r etur ne d t o i ts owne r. " Fr ankl y,

I 'm ve ry do ub tf ul of a ny g oo d r es ul ts i fy ou s ho ul d f in d a n i ro n m in e. H ow ev er , a s I u n de rs ta nd i t, t hegeneral contract made with the Dyonisan government says that any qualified humans may search

a ny wh er e f or m in er al s, p ro vi de d t he y g et c on se nt f ro m t he l oc al W iy r. A s f ar a s I 'm c on ce rn ed , y ou m ay

g o u p i nt o t he T hr ru k M ou n ta in s a nd l oo k.

"But we rewolves are numerous there, and dr agons are allowed by contract to attack any human

t he y f in d t he re . M or eo ve r, i f a ny W iy r y ou m ee t c ar es t o k il l y ou , h e m ay d o s o w it ho ut f ea r o f r et al ia ti on

f rom hi s own ki nd. The T hr ru k i s, i n a s ens e, s ac re dt o u s.

"In other words, no one will hold you back from the mountains. But neither will anyone help you.

You understand?''

"Yes, but what about companions? How large a group may go?"

"No more than five. Any more automatically breaks the agreement. I may as well tell you that

s eve ra l t im es i n t he p as t, l ar ge b and s h av e i ll eg al ly g on e u p i nt o t he Th rr uk. N one w er e e ve r s ee n a ga in ."

"I know. And you say you can't tell me if you Wiyr have found any traces of iron there?"

"Not can't. Won't."

Egstaw smiled as if he knew he were being exasperatingly mysterious.

"Thank you, O Watcher on the Bridge."



27/123

"You are welcome, O Smeller-Out of Trouble."

Chuckswilly frowned. Stepping closer t

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