enough to do that, brave Ortnar, and I believe that you are also very brave to risk Herilak's wrath in this manner, because he is sure to find out what has happened."
"I will tell him myself," Ortnar said with grim determination.
Armun left him then, but returned when it was dark to meet him and get the death-stick and all the darts that he had made that winter.
Because her tent was away from the others, and she did not move among the sammads very much, Armun's tent was laced tight and silent for two days before it was discovered that she was gone.
After some days the hunters that Herilak had sent out to find her returned empty-handed. Her woodcraft was too good; there was no trace of her to be found, no trace at all.
CHAPTER FIVE
Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
"I have something to show you of great interest," Kerrick said. The two Yilanè expressed concerned desire for new information, curiosity and gratitude, all without a sound as they chewed on the raw meat that Kerrick had brought them. "But to see it you are going to have to leave the hanalè."
"Safety and warmth here, cold death there," Imehei said, shuddering delicately at the same time. He looked at the empty leaf and expressed a small desire-for-more-food which Kerrick ignored. Both males liked to overeat and had a tendency to add weight.
"There is nothing to be afraid of outside, I can assure you of that. Follow me and stay close."
They followed him just as closely as they could, almost treading on his heels while they looked about them with frightened eyes. They communicated fear and unhappiness at all of the burnt areas, shuddered away in even greater fear from the hunters they passed, as well as showing loneliness at the sight of the empty city. Only when they were inside the place of the models did they begin to feel more secure.
The model of the city of Alpèasak—Kerrick always thought of it by that name, though aloud he called it Deifoben like the others—was a physical description only. All of the groves and fields were clearly marked, but no indication was given as to what they contained. Many of them Kerrick knew from his days in the city, almost all of the nearest ones. While the Sasku explored these, and marveled at their wonders, Kerrick wanted to see the parts of the city that had been grown since his departure. He pointed now to a series of canals and swamps.
"We are going here. Not a long way and the exercise will be good for you."
Both males lost their fear as they went, reveling in their unaccustomed freedom, looking at parts of the city they had never known existed. Fields of grazing beasts and swamps and walled stands of jungle with even more animals, both native and imported. In the early afternoon they came to a dike-walled swamp that aroused Kerrick's curiosity. A well-beaten track led along its base, then went up a ramp to the flattened top. From here they could look down into the reed-filled swamp below, on past the reeds to the small lake at the far end. Creatures of some kind stirred the reeds, but they could not make out what they were.
"Emptiness of interest, boredom of watching," Imehei signed.
"Pleasure of companionship, warmth of sun," Nadaske said, always the more genial of the pair. Kerrick ignored their communication because they seemed to do it most of the time, unlike the female Yilanè who talked only when there was something important they wanted to say. Yet Imehei was right; there was little of interest here. He turned about to leave when Nadaske called for attention and pointed down at the reeds.
"Movement of interest; some creature there."
Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
They watched as one of the reptiles emerged cautiously from the swamp's edge. It was sinuous and snake-like, looking up at them with tiny eyes. Then there was another and still another. They must have been drawn by the forms outlined against the sky. Kerrick looked more closely now and saw the white bones at the swamp's margin. Perhaps
"I will tell him myself," Ortnar said with grim determination.
Armun left him then, but returned when it was dark to meet him and get the death-stick and all the darts that he had made that winter.
Because her tent was away from the others, and she did not move among the sammads very much, Armun's tent was laced tight and silent for two days before it was discovered that she was gone.
After some days the hunters that Herilak had sent out to find her returned empty-handed. Her woodcraft was too good; there was no trace of her to be found, no trace at all.
CHAPTER FIVE
Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
"I have something to show you of great interest," Kerrick said. The two Yilanè expressed concerned desire for new information, curiosity and gratitude, all without a sound as they chewed on the raw meat that Kerrick had brought them. "But to see it you are going to have to leave the hanalè."
"Safety and warmth here, cold death there," Imehei said, shuddering delicately at the same time. He looked at the empty leaf and expressed a small desire-for-more-food which Kerrick ignored. Both males liked to overeat and had a tendency to add weight.
"There is nothing to be afraid of outside, I can assure you of that. Follow me and stay close."
They followed him just as closely as they could, almost treading on his heels while they looked about them with frightened eyes. They communicated fear and unhappiness at all of the burnt areas, shuddered away in even greater fear from the hunters they passed, as well as showing loneliness at the sight of the empty city. Only when they were inside the place of the models did they begin to feel more secure.
The model of the city of Alpèasak—Kerrick always thought of it by that name, though aloud he called it Deifoben like the others—was a physical description only. All of the groves and fields were clearly marked, but no indication was given as to what they contained. Many of them Kerrick knew from his days in the city, almost all of the nearest ones. While the Sasku explored these, and marveled at their wonders, Kerrick wanted to see the parts of the city that had been grown since his departure. He pointed now to a series of canals and swamps.
"We are going here. Not a long way and the exercise will be good for you."
Both males lost their fear as they went, reveling in their unaccustomed freedom, looking at parts of the city they had never known existed. Fields of grazing beasts and swamps and walled stands of jungle with even more animals, both native and imported. In the early afternoon they came to a dike-walled swamp that aroused Kerrick's curiosity. A well-beaten track led along its base, then went up a ramp to the flattened top. From here they could look down into the reed-filled swamp below, on past the reeds to the small lake at the far end. Creatures of some kind stirred the reeds, but they could not make out what they were.
"Emptiness of interest, boredom of watching," Imehei signed.
"Pleasure of companionship, warmth of sun," Nadaske said, always the more genial of the pair. Kerrick ignored their communication because they seemed to do it most of the time, unlike the female Yilanè who talked only when there was something important they wanted to say. Yet Imehei was right; there was little of interest here. He turned about to leave when Nadaske called for attention and pointed down at the reeds.
"Movement of interest; some creature there."
Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
They watched as one of the reptiles emerged cautiously from the swamp's edge. It was sinuous and snake-like, looking up at them with tiny eyes. Then there was another and still another. They must have been drawn by the forms outlined against the sky. Kerrick looked more closely now and saw the white bones at the swamp's margin. Perhaps
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