as well as of life. And at last their own learning turnedagainst them."
"But if they are all dead, why then do you speak oftheir return?" Furtig dared to ask. His initial awe, atseeing Gammage had eased. It was like climbing amountain to find the way not so difficult as it hadlooked from the lowlands. That Gammage could impress, he did not doubt. There was that about him which was greater than the Elders. But he did not useit consciously as they did to overawe younger tribesmen.
"Not all died," Gammage said slowly. "But theyare not here. We have tracked them through this, their last lair. When I first began that search wefound their bodies, or what was left of them. But oncewe discovered the knowledge banks we also uncoveredevidence that some had withdrawn, that they would come again. It was more concerning that second coming that Foskatt sought. But you will learn, Furtig—
There is so much to learn—" Again Gammage gazedat the wall, rubbing one hand on the other. "So much to learn," he repeated. "More and more we uncoverDemon secrets. Give us time, just a little more time!"
"Which the Rattons threaten now." Liliha brokeinto the Ancestor's thoughts, amazing Furtig even more. The fact that she had not withdrawn at Gammage's arrival had surprised him. But that she would speak so to the Ancestor, almost as if to an unlessonec1 youngling, bringing him back to face some matter which could not be avoided, was more startlingyet.
However Gammage appeared to accept her interruption as proper. For he nodded.
"True, Liliha, it is not well to forget today in considering tomorrow. I shall see you again and soon,cave son. Liliha will show you this part of the lairswhich we have made our own."
He pulled the fabric tighter about him and wasgone with the speed of a warrior years younger.
Furtig put down the bowl and eyed the female uncertainly.
It was plain that the customs of the caves did nothold here in the lairs. Yet it made him uncomfortableto be left alone with a Chooser.
"You are not of the caves," he ventured, not knowing just how one began speech with a strange female.
"True. I am of the lairs. I was born within thesewalls."
That again amazed Furtig. For all his life he hadheard of warriors "going to Gammage," but not females. But that they carried on a normal manner oflife here was a minor shock. Until he realized the limitof his preconceptions concerning Gammage's people.Why should they not have a normal life? But whencehad come their females?
"Gammage draws more than just those of his owntribe," she went on, as if reading his thoughts.
"Thereare others of the People, on the far side of the lairs,distant from your caves. And over the seasons Gammage has sent messengers to them also. Some listento him more closely than his blood kin seem to."
Furtig thought he detected in that remark the natural airof superiority which a Chooser would use 'cm occasionwith a warrior.
"There is now a new tribe here, formed from thoseof many different clans," she continued in the samefaintly superior tone. "It has been so since my mother's mother's time. We who are born here, who learnearly the knowledge of the Demons, are different inways from those outside the lairs, even from thosewho choose to join us here. In such ways as this dothe In-born differ." She put forth her hand, holding itin line with Furtig's. Not with their flesh making contact, but side-by-side for comparison.
Her longer, more slender fingers, were in evengreater contrast when held against his. Now she wriggled them as if taking pride in their appearance.
"These"—she waved her hand slightly—"are better able to use Demon machines."
"And being born among those machines makes youso?"
"Partly, Gammage thinks. But there are also placesthe Demons use for healing, such as that in which Foskatt now lies; When a mother is about to bear heryounglings she is taken there to wait. Also, when shefirst knows she has young within her, she goes to thatplace and sits for a
"But if they are all dead, why then do you speak oftheir return?" Furtig dared to ask. His initial awe, atseeing Gammage had eased. It was like climbing amountain to find the way not so difficult as it hadlooked from the lowlands. That Gammage could impress, he did not doubt. There was that about him which was greater than the Elders. But he did not useit consciously as they did to overawe younger tribesmen.
"Not all died," Gammage said slowly. "But theyare not here. We have tracked them through this, their last lair. When I first began that search wefound their bodies, or what was left of them. But oncewe discovered the knowledge banks we also uncoveredevidence that some had withdrawn, that they would come again. It was more concerning that second coming that Foskatt sought. But you will learn, Furtig—
There is so much to learn—" Again Gammage gazedat the wall, rubbing one hand on the other. "So much to learn," he repeated. "More and more we uncoverDemon secrets. Give us time, just a little more time!"
"Which the Rattons threaten now." Liliha brokeinto the Ancestor's thoughts, amazing Furtig even more. The fact that she had not withdrawn at Gammage's arrival had surprised him. But that she would speak so to the Ancestor, almost as if to an unlessonec1 youngling, bringing him back to face some matter which could not be avoided, was more startlingyet.
However Gammage appeared to accept her interruption as proper. For he nodded.
"True, Liliha, it is not well to forget today in considering tomorrow. I shall see you again and soon,cave son. Liliha will show you this part of the lairswhich we have made our own."
He pulled the fabric tighter about him and wasgone with the speed of a warrior years younger.
Furtig put down the bowl and eyed the female uncertainly.
It was plain that the customs of the caves did nothold here in the lairs. Yet it made him uncomfortableto be left alone with a Chooser.
"You are not of the caves," he ventured, not knowing just how one began speech with a strange female.
"True. I am of the lairs. I was born within thesewalls."
That again amazed Furtig. For all his life he hadheard of warriors "going to Gammage," but not females. But that they carried on a normal manner oflife here was a minor shock. Until he realized the limitof his preconceptions concerning Gammage's people.Why should they not have a normal life? But whencehad come their females?
"Gammage draws more than just those of his owntribe," she went on, as if reading his thoughts.
"Thereare others of the People, on the far side of the lairs,distant from your caves. And over the seasons Gammage has sent messengers to them also. Some listento him more closely than his blood kin seem to."
Furtig thought he detected in that remark the natural airof superiority which a Chooser would use 'cm occasionwith a warrior.
"There is now a new tribe here, formed from thoseof many different clans," she continued in the samefaintly superior tone. "It has been so since my mother's mother's time. We who are born here, who learnearly the knowledge of the Demons, are different inways from those outside the lairs, even from thosewho choose to join us here. In such ways as this dothe In-born differ." She put forth her hand, holding itin line with Furtig's. Not with their flesh making contact, but side-by-side for comparison.
Her longer, more slender fingers, were in evengreater contrast when held against his. Now she wriggled them as if taking pride in their appearance.
"These"—she waved her hand slightly—"are better able to use Demon machines."
"And being born among those machines makes youso?"
"Partly, Gammage thinks. But there are also placesthe Demons use for healing, such as that in which Foskatt now lies; When a mother is about to bear heryounglings she is taken there to wait. Also, when shefirst knows she has young within her, she goes to thatplace and sits for a
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