Read Online Enemies of the System by Brian W. Aldiss - Free Book Online Page A

never lifting his scrutiny from the tourists standing on the road above him. One of his men turned in leisurely fashion, lifted his fingers to his painted lips, and whistled. Two notes. Pause. Then the two notes repeated.
    The landscape filled with dogs. Yapping shrilly, they rose from the ground on all sides, a ferocious hunting pack. Their coats were stiff and bristling like those of their masters. Some of them had faces like wolves, some were blunt-faced and more human. Some ran only on four legs, some went sometimes on two. All converged on the party at bay on the road.
    Within seconds, the tourists were surrounded.
    â€œFlares?” asked Dulcifer. “I’ll shoot the first hound to nip my ankles.”
    â€œWait,” said Burek. “They’re not attacking us.”
    The leader of the hunters moved forward, striding through the snarling pack. He jumped effortlessly on to the road and confronted the tourists, standing as solid as a great barrel. He pointed at them and spoke.
    The series of guttural noises he made was rapid and without meaning for them. They cringed before him until Kordan took a deep breath and stepped forward.
    â€œWe are people of importance,” Kordan told him. “World Unity and the System are behind us. We demand that you help us return to Unity Hotel. Understand?”
    â€œYou’re welcome to your stinking planet,” shouted Takeido, when the other made no sign. “We just want to get home.”
    Sygiek held out her hand. In it was a packet of bread rolls with vegetable filling, made up by the hotel that morning. She offered it to the chief.
    â€œA gift,” she said. “You take it, you aid us.”
    The hunter chief turned, came close, and regarded her, ignoring her outstretched hand to stare into her eyes.
    A strong psychic shock overcame her as her gaze met his. He was lean, arrogant, ruthless; those characteristics beamed from his attitude, from his narrow eyes. And some other quality that she had never met before, some mysterious mainspring of life which assaulted her, before which she felt humble. Of that unwanted humility she was ashamed; but she dropped her eyes submissively before his slitted gaze.
    He snatched the bread package and hurled it to the dogs. Constanza clutched Takeido, who put an arm protectively round her. Seeing the movement, the leader flicked his head round and glared at them. Then he made an imperious gesture which there was no mistaking. They were to follow him.
    From his henchman came more whistles. Additional hunters appeared from cover. They leaped on zebra-creatures and galloped forward, often accompanied by dogs. Yelping with excitement, they poured up to the road and overran it. The tourists were surrounded by milling men and hounds. Other warriors kept appearing.
    More imperious gestures, more snarled commands.
    â€œWe have no choice but—” began Kordan, pale of face, when Takeido fired his flare-gun at the chief hunter.
    The range was less than four meters. The chief had half-turned to summon his companions. The flare struck his shoulder and exploded, sending him tumbling among his hounds. Showers of green light burst among the wolf-pack. Snarling creatures fled in all directions.
    â€œEveryone fire,” cried Sygiek. “It’s our only chance.” Her flare-gun exploded as she spoke. Her five comrades followed her example.
    Green dazzle filled the dun world. Several hunters fell, some ran away, the zebras galloped about shrieking. It made no difference. Fresh hunters materialized from the barren ground. They hurled themselves on the tourists and bore them to the ground by force. This was accompanied by savage yelling, intimidating in itself.
    Bruised and frightened, disarmed, the tourists lay where they had been thrown. Hunters and dogs executed an angry parade round them, stamping spears or feet against the road surface. The tourists were able to make an unpleasantly close inspection of the