Breed to Come (18 page)

Thoughhe could imagine Gammage ready to make the attempt if offered the chance. He, himself, preferred to do his traveling—and any fighting—on the solid anddependable ground. But there were advantages tosuch craft. They could take a scout higher than anyspy tree. Just as the Demon was now viewing the lairsfrom above.

On the other hand, unless the Demon had some unheard-of way of looking through solid roofs and walls,he would see only the lairs and not what or whomoved in them under cover. Only in the open country,could such servants be used to advantage.

Furtig swallowed the last mouthful of meat. Nowhe raised the bowl and lapped as mannerly as he couldat the residue of good juices gathered in the bottom.The lair people lived well. They had fish, found insmall inner lakes (made it would seem for no other purpose than to hold them in readiness to be eaten).

And there were other places where birds and rabbits were preserved in runs, fed and kept safe until they were needed. ;

The cave people might well think of that. Suppose they kept alive some of the creatures they hunted ornetted, fed them in pens. Then when game becamescarce and the weather ill for hunters, there would befood at hand. Yes, there were more things thanDemon knowledge to be learned here in the lairs.

He ran his tongue along the bowl rim to gather upthe last drop, then licked upper and lower lips clean.

"What of the Barker?" he asked.

He still believed that Gammage's plan of trying tomake truce with Barkers would not work. But he wasalso wary of guessing the outcome of any of the Ancestor's plans. He had witnessed too much of whathad been accomplished here for that."Dolar has sent a party with two of the rumblers.The Rattons fear those greatly, for they run forward,crunching all in their path, and cannot be turnedaside in any way the Rattons have yet discovered.With those to break a path for our warriors we hopeto free the Barker.

In the meantime—Foskatt hasfound the other tapes, and they are being broughtback. Ku-La is out of the healing place. Soon he willgo to talk to his people."

"As I must to the Elders of the caves." Furtig stoodup. He was no longer tired, nor was his fur matted bycrawling through the dust of the ducts and thenthrough the pelting of the storm. It was sleek and smooth. He fastened on his belt neatly, seeing that inthe newly improvised loop there was still the lightning-bolt weapon of the Demons. Apparently thatwas yet his.

Such a weapon would impress the Elders. If he remembered rightly Gammage's words during that lastmeeting, he would be given other weapons to influence their decision. The sooner he took the trail tothat purpose then, the better. He said so as he finished checking his belt.

"Well enough," Liliha agreed. Her guidance wouldtake them through the lairs to the best point fromwhich to strike out for the caves.

Furtig had slept a long time, almost a full day. Itwas close on evening and shadows were painting larger and larger pools for concealment as, at last, thethree of them threaded a way through silent corridors, past echoing rooms which might not have knownlife and use since the Demons died or fled. As a guideLiliha went first, wearing a pack between her slim shoulders and around her waist the same belt of toolsand weapons as the warriors wore. Then came Furtigand Foskatt, ready to play rear guard if needed.

They must move their swiftest while under the protection of the lair roofs, Furtig thought. For he didnot forget the flyer. Why the Demon had not killedthem on the bridge was a mystery to him. And he didnot want death to strike out of the sky now. It wasdifficult enough to fight at ground level.

If Demons could see in the dark, then even thecoming of night would not aid them. To the end of thelairs they could keep under cover, descending to theunderground ways when there was need. But Furtigdid not forget that wide expanse of open between thelairs and the beginning of the growth that providednormal cover for his kind. He hoped the night wouldbe cloudy when they reached that point.

Liliha brought them to a window from which theycould see that open space. They were at the edge ofthe lairs. Furtig's sense of direction was in operation.They were to the north of that place where he hadcrossed before, but not too much so.

He studied the strip narrowly. His own fur wasdark, not far different in shade from the withered grass. And Foskatt had the same natural adaptationto the country. It was different for Liliha. Not only was her fur lighter, but it was so thin a coating of fluffthat she might well be sighted from above.

"Look you, woods warriors," she said as he commented on that. She slipped off her pack and shookout something she had taken from it. Now she heldnot a small square but a mass of something—

Furtig shook his head and tried to concentrate onwhat she held. But it was no use—his keen sightfailed him. He could not look at it directly! To do somade him queasy. He wanted to strike out, tear thatdisturbing substance from her.

But she was winding it about her. And where thatstuff covered her body, he could no longer look. Finally only her head remained free of the distortion.

"Another Demon secret, and one but lately discovered. Gammage has but two of these, cut from a singleone. When I wear this no one can look at me. Unlesshe wishes to have his eyes turn this way, that way,and his head whirl about. Now, do not worry aboutme, look to yourselves, warriors, and cross quickly.The flyer makes itself known by noise. If you hear itcoming, take what cover the land offers.

"I-shall meet you where the trees grow. Good traveling to you."

Furtig could not look at her at all now. She hadpulled a flap of the distorting stuff up over her headand become hidden. He had to turn away and knewshe slipped out the window only by the faint soundsmade by her going.

"The Demons," remarked Foskatt, "seem to havean answer for any problem. Let us hope that such answers can, in turn, be used against them. She is wellgone. It is indeed a kind of hiding I am glad we donot have to deal with often. To the trail then, clanbrother!"

The window was wide enough to let them slipthrough together. Furtig crouched on the ground almost happily. It was good to feel fresh soil and notpavement, the ways of the Demons. He did not look ahead yet, having no wish to see some eye-twisting shimmer in the moonlight covering Liliha's going. His hunter's training took over, and he fell back into thepatterns he had learned as a youngling.

It was difficult to keep on listening for the beat inthe sky, the possible return of the flyer. Once withinthe screen of the brush beyond the open, Furtig roseto his full height and gave a purring sigh of relief.

"For so far," Foskatt echoed his feeling, "we havedone well. But—"

Furtig swung around. He had picked up a scentthat was not Liliha's. No, this was strong and rank.He was downwind of a Tusker, probably more thanone. And that surprised him, for Tuskers had no interest in the lairs, very little curiosity about theirpast, and were seldom to be found hereabouts.

There was still a truce between the People and theTuskers. And they shared the same territories, sincethe Tuskers fed upon roots and vegetation. Thoughthe Tuskers were meat, they had no appeal for thePeople; they were far too formidable to be prey.

Furtig could hear now that low grunting which wasTusker speech. None of the People could imitate it,any more than Tusker throat and tongue could shapethe proper words of a warrior. But they understoodsign language and could answer it.

A warning? Did the Tuskers know of the flyer? Itmight be well to suggest that they keep under cover.Furtig uttered a low wailing cry to announce his coming. And without waiting to see if Foskatt followed,swung into the heavy, disagreeable scent which wouldlead him to the grubbing ones.

When he reached them, they were in battle formation, their big heads, weighed down by the greatcurved tusks, which named them, low to the ground.The old warriors stood still, watching with their smallred eyes. One or two of the younger ones on the backfringes of the party pawed the soil, kicking it up inwarning.

They were not a full family party as Furtig had expected. There were no females or younglings behindthat outer defense of one great Elder and such of hismale offspring as had not yet gone to start their ownfamilies. Furtig knew that Elder—the seam of an oldscar across his nose marked him. Unlike the Peoplethe Tuskers had kept to four feet, never learning towalk on two. Also they used no weapons except thosenature provided. But mind-to-mind they were no lessthan warriors of the caves or the lairs.

Furtig saw that they were deeply angered andwould have to be approached with care. For the temper of such as Broken Nose was uncertain whenhe was in such a mood. Furtig advanced no closer, butsat down, curling his tail over his feet in a peace sign.

The younger Tuskers snorted. One pawed again,wrinkling lips to show fangs. Furtig paid them no attention. It was Broken Nose who ruled here. Havingwaited for a small time to show that he had not onlycome in peace but for good reason, he held out hishands and began to try to tell the complicated storyof the Demons' landing, of the flyer, in a series ofsigns.

One of the younglings grunted and his neighborshouldered him roughly into silence. Encouraged, Furtig ran through his signs slowly, began to tell thesame tale again. This was no exchange of general news about the countryside; he must improvise signsto explain things totally new to both their peoples.

And having told it twice, he could only wait to seeif he had been clever enough to get his message into aform Broken Nose could understand. For a very longmoment he waited and his heart sank. The boar madeno move. It could be Furtig had failed. He was aboutto begin again when Broken Nose grunted.

One of the younger of his band moved forward a little. He squatted clumsily on his haunches, balancingso he could raise one hoofed foot from the ground togesture or use to draw in the leaf mold.

It was a complicated business that exchange of information. But at last Furtig thought he had the story, and his fur stiffened and he hissed.

The Tuskers had witnessed the landing of theDemon ship, though its final settling to the ground had been hidden by the lairs. The unusual flashing offire had alarmed Broken Nose. He was old and wily enough to know that suspicion and safety went handin hand. So he had sent his females and younglings into what he believed good hiding in a rock-walledplace where there was but one entrance, which would be well defended by two nonbreeding females, bothformidable opponents. Then he, with his warriors, hadset out to discover the meaning of the strange fire.

Having prowled along the edge of the flat landsbeyond the lairs, they had decided there was no danger and had withdrawn. But they had been starting out of their stronghold among the rocks only this afternoon when the flyer had appeared.

There was a sudden giddiness, a strange feeling intheir heads. Even Broken Nose had fallen as onegored. From the belly of the flyer had come what theTusker could only describe as a long root. This hadsomehow caught up two of the smallest younglings,jerked them aloft. Then the flyer had gone away.

It was Broken Nose's firm intention to track downthe attacker and wreak full vengeance—though hewas clever enough not to charge in, but to scout theenemy position first. And the fact that he had seenthe flyer disappear into the lairs had shaken him. Forthat was country he did not know, and many dangersmight lurk there.

"Hunters—at least of Tuskers—" Foskatt spoke forthe first time.

The soft growl in Furtig's throat grew louder. Notthat he had any kin ties with the young of the Tuskers. But if today it had been those of Broken Nosewho disappeared into the flyer, tomorrow that mightappear at the caves and lift some youngling Furtigknew.

That there was any hope of freeing the captives hedoubted. And Furtig thought the old Tusker knewthat, knew also that his proposed expedition againstthe lairs would be hopeless.

Alone, yes. But what if Gammage's urging couldnot only bring the People, but the Tuskers as well?Furtig rubbed his hands across his chest, triedto think out telling signs for communication.

Furtig was startled by a sharp grunt from one ofthe young Tuskers. A moment later the familiar scentof Liliha filled his nostrils. She came to sit down beside him, no longer muffled in that distorting material. And her coming gave him an idea of how to approach the Tusker Elder. Swiftly he began to sign, trying to put all themeaning he could into that flexing of fingers, wavingof hands, drawing on the ground. The moon was fulltonight, and this small clearing was well lighted.

The Tuskers appeared to follow the explanationthat this female was one who lived in the lairs, onewho sought the secrets of the Demons in order to defeat them with their own weapons. Having finished,Furtig spoke to Liliha without turning his head:

"Show them something to prove the powers of the lairs."

There on the ground where he had drawn suddenlyshone a round of yellow light. The Tuskers grunted.Furtig could hear the youngsters stamp nervously,though Broken Nose betrayed no sign of surprise. AsElder he must so assert his superiority.

"This"—Furtig moved his hands into that light—"is one of the secrets of the lairs. We have others, many others. So that this time the Demons will notfind us defenseless. There is one ship of them only,and we have counted but four Demons."

"Scouts may run before the tribe," pawed out theyoung boar. "There may be many more coming."

"True. But now we are warned. There are manyhiding places in the lairs." Furtig was getting a littleexcited. It seemed he was going to win allies forGammage even before he reached the caves and had to face the skepticism of his own Elders.

"And no dangers?"

"There are Rattons there, on the lower levels."This time Broken Nose himself grunted. Rattons could be understood better than Demons. If the Tuskers had not seen Rattons, they had heard of them and their devilish traps. Then Foskatt spoke softly:

"We have little time to argue with the Tuskers.This is a matter of our own people."

He was right. They had delivered a warning to theTuskers, who must now make their own decision toflee beyond the range of the flyer or to stand andfight. Furtig began the last signs—