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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..914d665 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #60839 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60839) diff --git a/old/60839-h.zip b/old/60839-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 327848b..0000000 --- a/old/60839-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/60839-h/60839-h.htm b/old/60839-h/60839-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index afd0bfc..0000000 --- a/old/60839-h/60839-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1453 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=us-ascii" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of A Pride of Islands, by C. 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Macapp. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -div.titlepage { - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} - -div.titlepage p { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; - margin-top: 3em; -} - -.ph1 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } -.ph1 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } - - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Pride of Islands, by C. C. MacApp - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: A Pride of Islands - -Author: C. C. MacApp - -Release Date: December 3, 2019 [EBook #60839] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRIDE OF ISLANDS *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" width="340" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> -<h1>A Pride of Islands</h1> - -<h2>By C. C. MacAPP</h2> - -<p class="ph1"><i>Of course a planet has a right<br /> -to be strange—but so strange<br /> -that it makes fleas of men?</i></p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Worlds of If Science Fiction, May 1960.<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Alyarsmit clung to the top of a tall swaying hair and squinted toward -the ponderous caterpillar-shaped beast way off in the very far -distance.</p> - -<p>"It's coming this way, all right," he called down to Brusmit, who was -leaning against the base of the hair. "It's moved half a length since -we first saw it."</p> - -<p>"Do you think it sees us yet?" Bru asked uneasily. From up here, six -man-lengths above the skin, he looked even shorter and pudgier than he -was.</p> - -<p>Alyar grinned down at him, then looked toward the front of their own -beast. "I think so," he said. "Our eyestalks are up and signaling. The -pincers aren't active, though. It must be a friend-beast."</p> - -<p>"I don't see how they can recognize each other this far apart," said -Bru doubtfully. "We'd better go tell Paboss."</p> - -<p>"He sees it." Alyar looked aft to where the leader of the smit clan -perched on another hair, a good shout from Alyar's.</p> - -<p>"You'd better come down," said Bru. "He clobbered Jorsmit for being in -sight, the last time we met another beast."</p> - -<p>"He doesn't care when we're this far away." Nevertheless, Alyar climbed -down; it wasn't all comfort at the top of a hair, especially when the -beast felt you and twitched. "Let's go back there. He might know who it -is."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus1.jpg" width="587" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>He started through the thick growth of shorter hair, and Bru followed. -They moved carefully, listening; it would be nip-and-tuck if only the -two of them encountered a fley. They heard a few, detoured around them, -eventually reached Paboss's outpost.</p> - -<p>The leader was down from the hair, sitting with his back against it, -munching dried meat. Three spearmen with him jumped up when they heard -Alyar and Bru coming, then, recognizing them, relaxed.</p> - -<p>Pabosssmit grunted and gestured toward the joint of meat beside him. -"Help yourself." He eyed Alyar keenly. "That you on the hair up -forward?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, boss. But I made sure I came down in time."</p> - -<p>"Don't go showing yourself again before we make contact."</p> - -<p>"I won't. Could you tell who it was?"</p> - -<p>"Looked like the jaksin beast."</p> - -<p>"Oh. We don't fight them, do we?" Alyar was a little disappointed; he'd -never been in a fight.</p> - -<p>Paboss grinned. "No, but we don't trade with them, either. Pabossjaksin -doesn't like me."</p> - -<p>Alyar remembered something he'd heard. "Was that where you stole -Maboss?"</p> - -<p>The grizzled leader filled his thick chest and chuckled. "That's right. -Stole her right out from under his nose!" He extended his arms, showing -some scars. "Here's where he got me, before I knocked him out. Here's -where Ma bit me."</p> - -<p>"She <i>bit</i> you?"</p> - -<p>"Sure. Any girl worth stealing'll put up a fight. I had to haul her -along, kicking and screaming, and fight off half the jaksin clan at the -same time. It was some party."</p> - -<p>Alyar sighed, thinking what it must be like to go raiding. "I'm old -enough to have a woman of my own," he mused.</p> - -<p>Immediately, Paboss glowered. "Don't you go getting any ideas, hear? -I don't want an open war with the jaksins. We've got enough trouble -already, with the grans and the kendies." He put a hand tentatively on -his club. "You hear?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, boss," said Alyar hastily.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>During the rest of the day the two beasts halved the distance between -them. Near evening, Alyar led Bru, protesting, up to the smit beast's -head and down over the edge where they could see forward and remain -hidden in the short hair. It was dangerous; the beast might mistake -them for fleys and reach up with a pincer-tentacle, which could move -fast, considering the size.</p> - -<p>When the slow hunching gait stopped and the beast settled down for the -night, they went back to the thickly furred spot where the clan lived. -Two of the moons were up, and with the excitement of being near another -clan, nobody wanted to sleep yet.</p> - -<p>Alyar left Bru with an audience of young people who hadn't seen the -other beast yet, and went looking for the older men. They were in a -clearing, rehashing stories about other clans, especially about the -jaksins, which was an old one with a fine repertoire of legends. -Maboss had naturally brought the stories with her.</p> - -<p>Just now, Paboss was retelling a fascinating, if ridiculous one, about -how people had originally come from another world on a beast that could -fly.</p> - -<p>Alyar sat and listened for a while, then, when the icy evening rain -broke up the session, went to his sleeping place in a patch of -protecting curly hair. After the first sleep, when it was midnight and -dry again, he sneaked to where Bru slept, hissed at him, and drew him -away. "Are you game for a little trip?"</p> - -<p>"Where? You mean up front again?"</p> - -<p>"No. Over to the jaksin beast. Just for fun."</p> - -<p>Bru was horrified. "At night? We'd freeze! Anyway, you heard Paboss!"</p> - -<p>"We can find something to put on over our own clothes, and wrap our -feet in leather. All Paboss said was I mustn't try to steal a girl. -Nobody'll miss us for one day, and the beasts will be together by -tomorrow noon. We could bring back some kind of souvenirs."</p> - -<p>"You must be crazy! What if the jaksins caught us?"</p> - -<p>"They'd only haze us a little, if we hadn't done anything. Think of -it—besides Paboss and Maboss, only seven smits have ever been to -another beast!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Bundled in extra garments, they sneaked to the curve of the beast's -side. Bru acted as if he were going to his own funeral. When they got -down to where the hair grew out horizontally, they moved out beyond -the short stuff and dropped from one coarse emergent to another; then, -finally, to the ground. Apparently no one had heard them. They ran -toward the front of the beast, staying as close to the furry belly as -possible, for warmth and concealment.</p> - -<p>The jaksin beast was due north, half-hidden by the horizon and hard to -make out against the background of the tremendous Forest where it had -been feeding. Beyond the trees and a little to the right was a volcano, -exhaling fiery clouds but not muttering audibly at the moment. East of -them was a river; to the west, on the far side of the beasts, another -Forest. It was not surprising that the two beasts had met, since they -were on a narrow strip of hardened lava between river and Forest.</p> - -<p>They traveled in long jumps, gradually closing the distance to the -jaksin beast. Near it, they saw that it was awake, with all four front -eyestalks and one pair of pincers extended toward them.</p> - -<p>They halted out of reach.</p> - -<p>"Do you think he'll know we're not jaksins?" Bru whispered.</p> - -<p>"I don't think they care <i>who</i> lives on them, just so we keep the -fleys down. Let him get a good look at us and he'll see we're people."</p> - -<p>He was right, but by the time the huge appendages began to retract, the -cold was getting through the clothing. They hurried for the shelter of -the hair. Warm again, they chewed some of the meat they'd brought along -and considered what to do next.</p> - -<p>"We'd better go along the ground to the rear," Alyar said. "The men -will be mostly near the front, on guard. Back there, there'll only be -women and children."</p> - -<p>"But we'll be a long way from home. What if the beasts don't come -together?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, they usually stop and talk, or whatever they do, for three or four -days. We'll have a chance to sneak back."</p> - -<p>"Why don't we just cut off some hairs right here for souvenirs and go -home?"</p> - -<p>"Don't you even want to spy on the clan?"</p> - -<p>Bru sighed unhappily. "You're not actually going to try to steal a -girl, are you?"</p> - -<p>"Well—no. But it would be fun, wouldn't it?" His imagination began to -percolate. "We're not far from the Warm Ground. That's what the first -smit did. He stole a girl and couldn't get home with her, so they lived -for a whole season on the Warm Ground until they found a young beast -and started their own clan."</p> - -<p>"If you've got any crazy ideas like that, you can count me out. People -who get lost from their beasts get caught by Demons, or outlaws, or -eaten by terrible animals. Next you'll be talking about going to Iron -Mountain and fighting the Iron Fley!"</p> - -<p>"Huh. The explorers who came back with all those stories probably -exaggerated to make themselves look braver. Anyway, all I'm asking you -to do is climb on the back end of this beast and spy on the jaksins."</p> - -<p>It took the rest of the night to reach the blunt rear end, which had -only one pair of eyestalks and one of pincers. They went through the -process of letting the beast see them again, so it wouldn't think they -were fleys when they began to climb, then picked a low rigid hair to -start on.</p> - -<p>It was a good four man-lengths up, too much of a jump even in this -light gravity for Bru, who missed and floated back to the ground, -contorting, while Alyar tried to control his laughter. He uncoiled a -rope. "You need a good lively girl to work some of that fat off you," -he chuckled as he hauled Bru up.</p> - -<p>Panting, Bru pulled himself onto the hair. "You'll get me killed before -I ever have a chance to get married. Do you think they heard us?"</p> - -<p>"No. We haven't heard <i>them</i> yet, and they're bound to be jabbering -like women always are." He coiled the rope and they began to climb.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When they were halfway up, there were squeaks and rumbles below them. -They stopped, holding their breaths, while the tentacle curled toward -a spot only thirty or forty man-lengths away and the great claw -began digging at the fur. Evidently something itched there; and in a -few moments, they did hear the screech of a hurt fley. They resumed -climbing.</p> - -<p>When the skin was level enough to walk on, they began hearing -voices—the giggling of girls and the drier chatter of older women, but -no men's voices. They crept forward, parted the hair very carefully, -and peered out.</p> - -<p>They must have found the quarters of a very important family, for the -clearing was freshly cut and expensive woven rugs covered the skin. -The walls were evenly trimmed, with several hung paintings. Sleeping -places had been cut into one side and lined with soft leather from the -underparts of fleys.</p> - -<p>Alyar had only a glance for all this luxury, though, for within two -man-lengths of him sat a pair of eminently stealable girls. Temptation -battered at him. One, evidently the older sister, was well muscled -and lithe, but plump enough to have curves everywhere. The other was -beautiful too, but more slender. They had the black hair and tawny -smooth skin of the jaksins. Each wore a short lounging skirt of dainty -leather which left few secrets.</p> - -<p>Prudence, overwhelmed, hardly put up a fight.</p> - -<p>Alyar maneuvered Bru carefully back until he could whisper. He ignored -the desperate protests. "Shut up. All you have to do is stay here and -wait for me, and when you hear a commotion, screech like a fley. You -can do that much, can't you?"</p> - -<p>Bru, groaning, finally nodded.</p> - -<p>A length from the clearing, Alyar chose a young hair-shoot and put the -point of his spear in the tender spot at its base. He jabbed with all -his weight, then dove for the clearing. The beast's involuntary twitch -came as he broke into the open.</p> - -<p>The women were scrambling to their feet, with cries of "Beastquake!" -and right on schedule Bru cut loose with a fine series of fley -screeches. In the confusion nobody noticed that Alyar was a stranger -until he scooped up the two girls, one under each arm, and jumped for -the fur.</p> - -<p>It was hard going, with both of them grabbing at hairs to hold them -back, scratching him, and in general being uncooperative. He was -panting when he reached Bru.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus2.jpg" width="370" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>"Here!" he gasped, considerately tossing him the slender one who'd be -easier to carry. "This one's yours."</p> - -<p>The plump one knew by now what was happening. Slyly, she went limp -until Alyar relaxed; then she twisted suddenly and got her teeth at his -left shoulder. He yelled as she took out a respectable divot of flesh, -and spun her around so she couldn't reach him again.</p> - -<p>There was much screaming behind them, but no pursuit yet. Alyar urged -Bru to the base of the nearest eyestalk. "Start climbing!"</p> - -<p>"But we'll be trapped up there!"</p> - -<p>"No, we won't. Go on!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>They were ten man-lengths up before a few old men and a crowd of -women and children appeared at the base of the stalk. Seeing Alyar's -spear-hand free part of the time, none acted anxious to follow them.</p> - -<p>Now they were high enough to be hurt in a fall, and the girls had -prudently stopped struggling. Alyar's twisted her head and glared at -him. "My father will feed you to the fleys!"</p> - -<p>Alyar grinned. "He'll have to catch us first. What's your name?"</p> - -<p>"Go to hell."</p> - -<p>He let go of the scale he was clinging to with his right hand, and -pinched her in a vulnerable spot. She shrieked.</p> - -<p>"If I have to keep pinching you," he said, "we'll probably fall. You'd -better tell me your name."</p> - -<p>She hesitated, then said icily, "Janeejaksin."</p> - -<p>"Hm. You seem to be rich girls. You wouldn't be the Paboss's daughters, -would you?"</p> - -<p>Janee wouldn't answer, but the other girl did, rather cordially. "Yes, -and my name's Marisujaksin. Are you going to steal us and make smits of -us?"</p> - -<p>"They'll never get off this eyestalk," Janee said scornfully.</p> - -<p>Alyar motioned Bru higher. The figures around the base grew tiny and -the stalk tapered to only half the girth of a man. It swayed a little, -and they moved around to what would be the upper side if it bent.</p> - -<p>Shouts could be heard now from farther forward; undoubtedly the -fighters would arrive soon. Bru looked nervously in that direction. -"What are we going to do—bargain with them?"</p> - -<p>"No. Listen carefully. You know about people riding a pincer. We're -going to get one up here, and when it's close enough, jump onto it -and ride it to the ground." Alyar grinned at the protests, put his -spear-point between two scales, and jabbed.</p> - -<p>In a minute the eyestalk began to bend ponderously downward. Far below -they could see the pincer-tentacle starting up to meet it.</p> - -<p>"Be lively, now!" Alyar warned.</p> - -<p>It took a while for the pincer to arrive. They jumped from two -man-lengths, landed on the slanting horny surface, and slid. Alyar, -hanging onto Janee with one arm, managed to get the other around a -small prong. He threw a glance toward Bru and saw that he'd made out -all right too. They waited.</p> - -<p>Even though the irritation had stopped, the beast was going through -with the scratching after hauling all that weight to such a height. The -tip of the pincer sawed deliberately at the place Alyar had jabbed, and -then they started down.</p> - -<p>The movement was faster than it looked from a distance; still, it was a -long way to the ground. Partway down, the beast saw them and the claw -halted. They crouched while the stalk bent to bring the immense eye -directly over them, but evidently the creature was only wondering what -they were up to now, for after a while the tentacle started down again.</p> - -<p>Three man-lengths from the ground they jumped, landed, and bounded away -out of reach.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Men, shouting, were clinging to long hairs, but nobody was climbing the -eyestalk. Perhaps no one wanted to imitate the novel descent. Closer -shouts indicated a group coming down through the fur.</p> - -<p>"What now?" Bru asked.</p> - -<p>It was a reasonable question. Even if they dared go home, they'd have -to parallel the whole length of this beast and could hardly avoid -interception. Alyar and Bru had discarded their extra clothing, while -the girls were almost bare, so warmth would be an absolute necessity -when night came.</p> - -<p>Alyar looked northward toward the volcano. The Warm Ground was supposed -to surround it for some distance; maybe they could reach that before -night. There wasn't much time to ponder. Men were already dropping to -the ground. He picked up Janee and ran for the nearest cover, which was -the Forest. "Come on, we can't stay here!"</p> - -<p>Bru didn't have to carry Marisu—she was evidently coming along -regardless, even though she wailed a little—so he was able to keep up. -"We're not going into the Forest, are we?" he panted.</p> - -<p>"Just into the edge to get out of sight. Then we'll decide."</p> - -<p>They were still a medium shout ahead when they came to the first -colossal uprights; trunks so thick it would take a man many breaths to -run around one; towering so high one tended to forget there were any -tops. In between were smaller plants, some with flowers, that formed a -thicket as dense as fur.</p> - -<p>Alyar paused, thinking of the stories he'd heard about the Forest. But -there was no doubt about how real the danger was behind them, so he -held his spear at the ready and plunged into the growth.</p> - -<p>Janee opened her mouth to scream, and he hastily muffled it with his -hand. "Do you want to attract every Demon in the Forest?"</p> - -<p>Her eyes widened and she quit struggling.</p> - -<p>He listened to the shouts from outside, then pointed north. "That way."</p> - -<p>Bru gaped. "But that's away from home!"</p> - -<p>"We can't go home yet. Anyway, the jaksins'll expect us to. They're -moving south already. Hear them?"</p> - -<p>Inside the Forest, in the deep shade, there was less vegetation so that -they were able to move easily. Whenever Janee looked ready to scream, -Alyar pretended to see or hear something, and by the time she was wise -to that, they were out of earshot.</p> - -<p>Their luck didn't last long, though. They heard a sound, whirled, and -saw a small being on a branch, watching them with malevolent yellow -eyes.</p> - -<p>The girls whimpered, and Bru moaned, "A Demon!"</p> - -<p>It had taken a strange shape, with four limbs and one other appendage -that looked like a tentacle. It was covered with short black fur, very -thick and fine. Just now it had a set of claws for clinging to the tree.</p> - -<p>Before they could run, it opened its mouth and uttered a curse, which -sounded like "Meow!"</p> - -<p>"Let's get out of here!" Bru whispered.</p> - -<p>Alyar knew better. "There's no use running; we're already cursed. The -only thing is to try to appease it."</p> - -<p>"Maybe we could give it the girls?"</p> - -<p>Alyar wavered. He'd become quite attached to Janee, though he was a -little tired of being bitten and scratched, and he <i>had</i> gone to a lot -of trouble to get her. "Let's try meat first," he decided.</p> - -<p>He got a small piece out of his pouch and extended it on the end of his -spear. Heart pounding, he moved closer. The Demon tensed as if to jump -at them, then seemed to change its mind. It wrinkled its nose (which -Alyar hoped was a sign of favor) and finally stretched out its head and -took the meat. It chewed daintily and swallowed.</p> - -<p>Alyar let out his breath. Nothing was guaranteed, of course, but -possibly....</p> - -<p>The Demon said, "Meow," in a different tone.</p> - -<p>Carefully, they edged toward the open. After a few steps Bru began to -run. Immediately, there was a loud "MEOW!" and he stopped.</p> - -<p>In a moment the Demon came into sight, walking on the ground. Alyar -noticed that it had ungrown the claws. As he looked (no doubt reading -his thought) it grew them again, stretched out its two front limbs, -lengthened its body, and yawned.</p> - -<p>They started on, but weren't able to make much time until they found -that the Demon wanted to be carried.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>At the edge of the Forest, it was disappointing to see how little -distance they had covered. The nearest end of the jaksin beast, -hunching slowly away now toward the smit beast, was still within three -shouts. However, no jaksins were in sight.</p> - -<p>Again, Alyar hesitated; troubles seemed to be piling up. Still, he -didn't see any choice. "We'll have to go to the Warm Ground," he said.</p> - -<p>The girls sobbed a little, and he frowned at them. "<i>Now</i> what's wrong?"</p> - -<p>"There are terrible outlaws there, and Demons, and—and things."</p> - -<p>His patience ran out. "To hell with them! We already have one Demon; do -you think it's going to share us with everything on the planet? Come -on!"</p> - -<p>Janee didn't insist on being carried now; evidently she felt -compromised enough to come along. They hurried, stopping only once to -finish up their food. They were thirsty, but Hot Water was supposed -to come up out of the Warm Ground, and anyway they could wait for the -evening rains.</p> - -<p>It was dusk, and already beginning to drizzle, when they noticed that -the ground under their feet was warm.</p> - -<p>This was mostly hardened lava, sloping upward toward the volcano, but -with small streams and patches of vegetation.</p> - -<p>Before they found a good place to stop for the night, Bru pointed -ahead. "Look! That glow!"</p> - -<p>They went forward cautiously until they could see what must be a Fire, -with people sitting around it. Fascinated, Alyar went closer. Suddenly -he heard the girls scream, and simultaneously two pairs of rough hands -seized him from behind. He wrenched desperately, throwing himself and -the two husky men around, but not getting free. More came shouting, to -help pin him down and tie him with ropes. It sounded as if Bru and the -girls were being similarly treated.</p> - -<p>A man who acted like the leader came running from the Fire. "What -have we got here? Scouts?" He began directing squads of spearmen as -if he expected an attack. "Two women with them? Funny. All right, -you—who're you spying for?"</p> - -<p>"What are you talking about?" Alyar demanded, as indignantly as his -position allowed. "We're from the smit clan and we're—trying to get -home," he finished lamely.</p> - -<p>"Clan? From a beast? What are you doing up here, then?"</p> - -<p>"We came to keep warm."</p> - -<p>"Keep warm? Why didn't you build a Fire?"</p> - -<p>"I—we don't believe in Fires."</p> - -<p>Laughter arose. "Let him up," the leader said. "He must be telling the -truth. Only a fley-eater would be so ignorant."</p> - -<p>They took off some of the ropes. Alyar rubbed at various bruises and -abrasions, wondering whether he and Bru would be killed or made slaves. -The outlaws would surely keep the girls. He wondered whether the Demon -were going to give up its property so easily.</p> - -<p>As if in answer to the thought, it came strolling into the light, and -the leader made a sign nervously. "Damn! A black cat! Is it yours?"</p> - -<p>"A black what? It captured us in the Forest."</p> - -<p>"It ... captured you? In the Forest? Then it's a real Demon!"</p> - -<p>"Of course! How can you be so ignorant?"</p> - -<p>"And you're still alive?"</p> - -<p>"It hasn't hurt us yet, but it won't let us get away and it makes us -carry it. I think we're uncursed right now. I'm not sure; I sort of -lost track."</p> - -<p>The man gulped and faced the Demon. "Please forgive us, Demon. We -didn't know these people were yours."</p> - -<p>The Demon looked at him scornfully and uttered a curse. People moved -away, except one young spearman who stood his ground. "It—it sounds -just like a cat," he quavered.</p> - -<p>The leader knocked him spinning with the sweep of a forearm. "Of course -it sounds like a cat! How do you think it would sound when it's in cat -form? Do you expect it to speak ingils to us?" He beckoned to several -women. "Bring food for the Demon, and offerings of iron and jewels!" He -glanced at the four captives, and added, as an afterthought, "Better -feed its slaves, too."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Cooked meat was easy to chew, but it tasted odd, and the fruit was -completely baffling. Still, they were filling.</p> - -<p>The outlaw leader eyed the Demon, which had pre-empted Janee's ample -lap. "Where is it taking you?"</p> - -<p>Alyar didn't want to admit how little he knew of the nature of things, -so he said the most awesome thing he could think of. "To Iron Mountain."</p> - -<p>There were gasps. "Oh, what unfortunate people you are!" the leader -said. Then, eagerly, "When will you go?"</p> - -<p>Alyar thought he'd better press his luck. "It wants us to start -right away. It only pretends to be asleep like that, to see if we're -obedient. Er—I seem to have gotten turned around. Which way is Iron -Mountain from here?"</p> - -<p>The man pointed with alacrity. "That way! A third of the distance -around the volcano. Here, we'll help you get loaded up."</p> - -<p>The girls were festooned with necklaces and pendants of rare stones, -while Bru and Alyar toted the food and the oddments of iron. The -outlaws had hastily gathered a fabulous treasure of the metal—whole -spearheads, and even a knife, of it!</p> - -<p>Alyar waved and smiled at the outlaws just before they were out of -sight, then turned north.</p> - -<p>"We'll go upcountry," he said. "They won't look for us there. I'm not -sure they won't follow; they probably don't know what this Demon will -do any more than we do." He saw some huge rocks not far away, with -bushes growing on top. "Let's climb up there."</p> - -<p>When they were halfway to the rocks, incredible good fortune struck. -The Demon with one hurried "Meow!" scrambled away from Janee and ran -back toward the outlaw camp.</p> - -<p>"Come on!" Alyar exclaimed. "Maybe we can get out of its circle of -influence!"</p> - -<p>They climbed the rocks and found they could see the Fire. Presently -they knew the Demon had arrived there, for the distant figures -scattered. Moments later, faint laments drifted to them.</p> - -<p>They spent the rest of the night awake and watchful. "The outlaws will -surely be after us now," Bru said, "to get back all this treasure."</p> - -<p>"Marisu and I want to be near our clan," said Janee. "Even if—" she -blushed—"you make smits out of us, the two beasts would meet once in a -while and we could visit."</p> - -<p>Alyar looked eastward, where numerous glows marked other outlaw camps. -The volcano was a barrier to the north. The outlaws would bar the way -to the south, expecting them to head home to the beasts. The only -direction left was west, and he found that it pleased him.</p> - -<p>"I guess we'll just have to visit Iron Mountain," he said. "Then we'll -be such heroes that Pabosses smit and jaksin will have to forgive us."</p> - -<p>The girls looked at him with awe while Bru moaned.</p> - -<p>When the sun came up they could see the northern end of the Forest, -south of which the jaksin beast had been feeding. Past it, surprisingly -visible from this altitude, were the two beasts, head-to-head with -eyestalks touching.</p> - -<p>The Forest ran up close to the steep side of the volcano, leaving only -a narrow pass. Beyond that was the river which, turning south, passed -the two beasts. Farther up the river, according to legend, was Iron -Mountain.</p> - -<p>They stayed long enough to see what kind of animals prowled the country -and to lay out a course, then climbed down and got started. They walked -all day with only a few halts and some minor adventures with strange -animals, then found another high place to spend the night. In the -darkness they spotted a single Fire west of them. The next morning they -detoured around that spot, and entered the narrow pass. Before noon -they stood looking down at the river.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The canyon was deeper and wider than Alyar could have imagined, and -there was more water at the bottom. The country ahead, though, was so -rough that it seemed the easiest way was to climb down and go along the -river. It took them half the afternoon to get down.</p> - -<p>Not very long after that, Alyar put out his hand. "Wait! I hear voices!"</p> - -<p>They were men's voices and seemed to be coming downstream.</p> - -<p>He pushed the other three to a hiding place behind some rocks and -bushes. When the owners of the voices came into sight around a turn, -he gasped. They weren't walking, but riding on the water itself, in -something like a big dish.</p> - -<p>"Magicians!" Bru whispered.</p> - -<p>Two of the men (there were seven) were stroking the water with some -kind of wands, flattened at the ends. They acted as if they were -fleeing from something, talking in low voices and staring back -upstream. Just before they came opposite, it caught up with them.</p> - -<p>The first thing Alyar heard was a loud voice, distorted and with an odd -accent. He had trouble making out the repeated words. "Halt or I'll -shoot. Advance and be recognized. Halt or I'll shoot. Advance—"</p> - -<p>The thing came into sight—flying! He gripped Bru's shoulder. "The Iron -Fley!"</p> - -<p>It was made of the kind of iron that didn't rust, and had only eight -legs, not ten. All of them were folded to its sides except one with a -larger, oblong foot; that one was extended toward the fugitives.</p> - -<p>When they saw it, they jumped out of their dish and sank into the water.</p> - -<p>"Halt or I'll shoot," said the Iron Fley again, then hurled its spell. -The dish shattered abruptly into small bits and a hissing cloud burst -out of the water.</p> - -<p>The terrible creature circled over the floating fragments for a few -minutes, then flew off upstream. When it was gone the seven magicians -appeared, climbing out of the river on the far side.</p> - -<p>"Damn it!" said one. "A good boot lost, and not a bit of iron. I <i>told</i> -you we ought to wait for night!"</p> - -<p>"It doesn't make any difference," said another gloomily. "It's always -on watch. Nobody's gotten away with any iron for three or four seasons."</p> - -<p>"Well," said Alyar, after the magicians had straggled off down the -river, "now we've seen it. It certainly put a powerful spell on that -floating dish, but it didn't hurt the magicians. Maybe if we're careful -it won't bother us."</p> - -<p>They followed the twisting canyon and eventually began to hear a -roaring noise ahead. It turned out to be the water falling over a -cliff, and to go any farther they had to climb out of the canyon -again. When they were on top they could see, ahead of them, what was -undoubtedly Iron Mountain.</p> - -<p>Parts of it were broken or rusted, but most of it was the non-rusting -kind. Its shape was a surprise. It didn't look like a mountain, but -something made by giants, broken off and stuck into the ground.</p> - -<p>It was wonderful to stand here, beholding the mightiest magic in the -entire world. Still, Alyar wasn't satisfied. He felt he must go closer, -even—possibly—touch it.</p> - -<p>"You'd better stay here. Bru, if anything happens to me, take the -girls and run. You can get back to the beasts by going down the river."</p> - -<p>Bru was dismayed. "Don't go any closer! You saw what happened to the -magicians' dish!"</p> - -<p>"They were trying to steal iron." He unloaded the metal he was -carrying, smiled at them, and went on.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He'd only covered a hundred man-lengths or so when he heard the -distorted voice, coming from over his head. He looked up, then stood -rooted as the Iron Fley came spiraling down toward him. He tried to -think the purest, most serene thoughts he could, though the fervent -wish to be somewhere else kept intruding.</p> - -<p>The thing paused a few lengths away. "Advance and be recognized," it -said.</p> - -<p>He took a faltering hop forward. "Halt or I'll shoot," it said, and he -stopped.</p> - -<p>"Advance."</p> - -<p>He did.</p> - -<p>"Halt."</p> - -<p>He did.</p> - -<p>Finally he was very close to it, and he waited for a spell to hit him.</p> - -<p>"Name, rank, and serial number," it demanded. Then, as he was silent -"Speak or I'll shoot."</p> - -<p>"I—I'm Alyarsmit! I don't think I'm rank, and I don't know what a -serial number is."</p> - -<p>"Friend or foe?"</p> - -<p>"F-friend. I haven't stolen anything. Just some girls."</p> - -<p>The thing made a buzzing sound. "You speak, and you have the requisite -number of limbs, and one head. Are you human?"</p> - -<p>"Y-yes, I'm human."</p> - -<p>"Name?"</p> - -<p>"Alyarsmit."</p> - -<p>"Smith? Smith?" It buzzed some more. "There was a Colonel John Smith on -the roster. Are you his descendant?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," Alyar hazarded.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Smith, sir, Robojeep twenty-seven four nine reporting. All other -jeeps inactivated, sir. No ship's personnel or other passengers -accounted for in the last three hundred and seventy-four planetary -cycles. Damage to ship unrepairable without human direction. Sporadic -raids by savages, possibly degenerate humans, repelled successfully. -Will you assume manual control, sir?"</p> - -<p>Alyar stuck with "Yes."</p> - -<p>"Very well, sir." The Iron Fley descended and walked toward him on six -of its legs, then squatted.</p> - -<p>He stared at its back. Actually, it didn't have one; it was hollowed -out from the top, and in the hollow were—seats! Four of them!</p> - -<p>Unable to mistake the meaning, he climbed in and sat down. Nothing -happened for a while. Then the creature began to buzz again. "Have you -forgotten the controls, sir? The lever on the left is for elevation; -the other one for horizontal motion. Would you prefer vocal control?"</p> - -<p>"N-no, this is all right."</p> - -<p>"Very good, sir." The buzz stopped.</p> - -<p>The levers were just in front of him. Gingerly, he reached out and -gave the left-hand one a twitch, then yelled and let go of it as they -shot upward. They stopped, and he tried again gently. They rose more -smoothly.</p> - -<p>He experimented with the other and moved forward, backward, and to the -sides. He lowered to a height where he was less frightened. "Er—Fley?"</p> - -<p>"You spoke, sir?"</p> - -<p>"I can go wherever I want?"</p> - -<p>"Except into obvious danger, sir. I'm programmed to avoid that."</p> - -<p>Alyar flew toward where he'd left his companions. They lay face down, -lamenting, Janee loudest of all. He eyed her posterior, and Bru's, with -some misgivings. The Fley's seats were a little skimpy.</p> - -<p>He landed beside them, cleared his throat, and waited until they raised -dumfounded faces.</p> - -<p>"Get in," he said.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Against feeble protests from the others, he maneuvered the creature -(which preferred to be called "Jeep") toward Iron Mountain. When they -were close Jeep woke up, buzzed, and hovered while a great doorway slid -open. It carried the four, clinging together, into the hollow blackness -within.</p> - -<p>Then, quite suddenly—even though the door slid shut behind them—it -was light as day inside.</p> - -<p>What a cave! Cylindrical, all of fifty man-lengths across, it slanted -down until it must reach far below ground. Far down there, where Jeep -was taking them, were some level platforms.</p> - -<p>As soon as they settled on one, a terrible, huge, clanking monster, -also of non-rusting iron, flew toward them. They huddled while it -spoke. "Mr. Smith, sir, Roborepairunit seventeen reporting. Ship's -power and drive in order. Unable to complete hull repairs, or repair -other working and scouting units, without cannibalizing part of living -quarters. Do I have Mr. Smith's permission to proceed?"</p> - -<p>Alyar gulped several times, and got out "Yes."</p> - -<p>"Thank you, sir. The job will require arc cutting and welding and other -high-temperature processes. Will you be here very long?"</p> - -<p>"We hope not."</p> - -<p>"Very well, sir. I'll begin as soon as you leave."</p> - -<p>They sat for a while, wondering what to do. Finally Alyar said, "Jeep?"</p> - -<p>"Sir?"</p> - -<p>"Would we be permitted to leave?"</p> - -<p>"At once, sir."</p> - -<p>More buzzing, and the door opened again.</p> - -<p>As they flew away, Jeep said, "Sir, Roborepair wants to know whether to -repair ship in its present position or move it elsewhere."</p> - -<p>Alyar was beginning to feel more confident. "In its present position, I -think. For now."</p> - -<p>As they turned south, Janee began to sniffle.</p> - -<p>"What now?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>"I miss my Demon."</p> - -<p>Alyar turned to Bru. "Isn't that just like a woman? She wants a Demon -again!"</p> - -<p>She raised her head and glared at him. "He was cute and soft, and he -cuddled against me and made happy sounds. You tamed the Iron Fley, -and if you really loved me, you could surely handle one little fluffy -Demon!"</p> - -<p>Alyar let Jeep stop and hang there while he tried to cope with the -effrontery of it. After all he'd been through, stealing her, to have -her suggest that he go into more danger just to satisfy her crazy whim!</p> - -<p>His hands reached out for the levers again. Shaking his head dazedly, -he started northeast to look for the outlaws.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Some time later, they were headed south again, Janee's Demon asleep in -her lap. Jeep was loggy with iron and other treasures extorted from -various bands of outlaws. In the two rear seats, Bru and Marisu were -holding hands.</p> - -<p>He was startled to see two more beasts hunching up from the south, -beyond the smits and jaksins. Four of them together at one time!</p> - -<p>When they circled down, they found Pabossmit on his hair, scowling -southward. He cringed when he saw the Iron Fley, then managed to look -both dumfounded and furious when he recognized Alyar and Bru.</p> - -<p>"You young hoodlums! I'm glad that thing caught you! Look there—those -are the grans and the kendies coming, and Pabossjaksin's so mad he'll -join them against us!" His face softened into the start of a grin as he -sized up the two girls, but then hardened again. "I hope you're proud -of yourselves, getting your whole clan killed or made slaves!"</p> - -<p>Alyar started toward a clearing. "Come on down, Paboss. We've got so -much magic now, we could laugh at all the clans in the world." And, to -Jeep, "Jeep, can we bring Iron Mountain over here and fly it around and -show these savages they better behave?"</p> - -<p>"A bloodless demonstration? Certainly, sir. I'll go aloft at once and -radio."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The four stood in a clearing, with awed smits around them at a -respectful distance. Paboss came pushing through the hair, as awed as -any, but less scared.</p> - -<p>"Tamed the Iron Fley!" He began to guffaw. "Stole Pabossjaksin's -own two daughters! Haw, haw! Young man, when I retire...." His eyes -covered Janee approvingly, then turned back to Alyar. "You're wounded! -What—oh, toothmarks!" He laughed some more. "Didn't I say any girl -worth stealing would put up a fight?"</p> - -<p>Alyar happened to be looking toward Bru, who had his own knot of -admirers. Marisu was standing a little behind him, as a bride should. -At Paboss's words, she frowned and her eyes fixed on Bru's smooth -shoulder. Her gaze grew more intent. She moved slowly forward, her eyes -crossing as they remained on the spot.</p> - -<p>Closer....</p> - -<p>Closer....</p> - -<p>Bru yelled.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Pride of Islands, by C. C. MacApp - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRIDE OF ISLANDS *** - -***** This file should be named 60839-h.htm or 60839-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/8/3/60839/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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C. MacApp - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: A Pride of Islands - -Author: C. C. MacApp - -Release Date: December 3, 2019 [EBook #60839] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRIDE OF ISLANDS *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - A Pride of Islands - - By C. C. MacAPP - - _Of course a planet has a right - to be strange--but so strange - that it makes fleas of men?_ - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Worlds of If Science Fiction, May 1960. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Alyarsmit clung to the top of a tall swaying hair and squinted toward -the ponderous caterpillar-shaped beast way off in the very far -distance. - -"It's coming this way, all right," he called down to Brusmit, who was -leaning against the base of the hair. "It's moved half a length since -we first saw it." - -"Do you think it sees us yet?" Bru asked uneasily. From up here, six -man-lengths above the skin, he looked even shorter and pudgier than he -was. - -Alyar grinned down at him, then looked toward the front of their own -beast. "I think so," he said. "Our eyestalks are up and signaling. The -pincers aren't active, though. It must be a friend-beast." - -"I don't see how they can recognize each other this far apart," said -Bru doubtfully. "We'd better go tell Paboss." - -"He sees it." Alyar looked aft to where the leader of the smit clan -perched on another hair, a good shout from Alyar's. - -"You'd better come down," said Bru. "He clobbered Jorsmit for being in -sight, the last time we met another beast." - -"He doesn't care when we're this far away." Nevertheless, Alyar climbed -down; it wasn't all comfort at the top of a hair, especially when the -beast felt you and twitched. "Let's go back there. He might know who it -is." - -He started through the thick growth of shorter hair, and Bru followed. -They moved carefully, listening; it would be nip-and-tuck if only the -two of them encountered a fley. They heard a few, detoured around them, -eventually reached Paboss's outpost. - -The leader was down from the hair, sitting with his back against it, -munching dried meat. Three spearmen with him jumped up when they heard -Alyar and Bru coming, then, recognizing them, relaxed. - -Pabosssmit grunted and gestured toward the joint of meat beside him. -"Help yourself." He eyed Alyar keenly. "That you on the hair up -forward?" - -"Yes, boss. But I made sure I came down in time." - -"Don't go showing yourself again before we make contact." - -"I won't. Could you tell who it was?" - -"Looked like the jaksin beast." - -"Oh. We don't fight them, do we?" Alyar was a little disappointed; he'd -never been in a fight. - -Paboss grinned. "No, but we don't trade with them, either. Pabossjaksin -doesn't like me." - -Alyar remembered something he'd heard. "Was that where you stole -Maboss?" - -The grizzled leader filled his thick chest and chuckled. "That's right. -Stole her right out from under his nose!" He extended his arms, showing -some scars. "Here's where he got me, before I knocked him out. Here's -where Ma bit me." - -"She _bit_ you?" - -"Sure. Any girl worth stealing'll put up a fight. I had to haul her -along, kicking and screaming, and fight off half the jaksin clan at the -same time. It was some party." - -Alyar sighed, thinking what it must be like to go raiding. "I'm old -enough to have a woman of my own," he mused. - -Immediately, Paboss glowered. "Don't you go getting any ideas, hear? -I don't want an open war with the jaksins. We've got enough trouble -already, with the grans and the kendies." He put a hand tentatively on -his club. "You hear?" - -"Yes, boss," said Alyar hastily. - - * * * * * - -During the rest of the day the two beasts halved the distance between -them. Near evening, Alyar led Bru, protesting, up to the smit beast's -head and down over the edge where they could see forward and remain -hidden in the short hair. It was dangerous; the beast might mistake -them for fleys and reach up with a pincer-tentacle, which could move -fast, considering the size. - -When the slow hunching gait stopped and the beast settled down for the -night, they went back to the thickly furred spot where the clan lived. -Two of the moons were up, and with the excitement of being near another -clan, nobody wanted to sleep yet. - -Alyar left Bru with an audience of young people who hadn't seen the -other beast yet, and went looking for the older men. They were in a -clearing, rehashing stories about other clans, especially about the -jaksins, which was an old one with a fine repertoire of legends. -Maboss had naturally brought the stories with her. - -Just now, Paboss was retelling a fascinating, if ridiculous one, about -how people had originally come from another world on a beast that could -fly. - -Alyar sat and listened for a while, then, when the icy evening rain -broke up the session, went to his sleeping place in a patch of -protecting curly hair. After the first sleep, when it was midnight and -dry again, he sneaked to where Bru slept, hissed at him, and drew him -away. "Are you game for a little trip?" - -"Where? You mean up front again?" - -"No. Over to the jaksin beast. Just for fun." - -Bru was horrified. "At night? We'd freeze! Anyway, you heard Paboss!" - -"We can find something to put on over our own clothes, and wrap our -feet in leather. All Paboss said was I mustn't try to steal a girl. -Nobody'll miss us for one day, and the beasts will be together by -tomorrow noon. We could bring back some kind of souvenirs." - -"You must be crazy! What if the jaksins caught us?" - -"They'd only haze us a little, if we hadn't done anything. Think of -it--besides Paboss and Maboss, only seven smits have ever been to -another beast!" - - * * * * * - -Bundled in extra garments, they sneaked to the curve of the beast's -side. Bru acted as if he were going to his own funeral. When they got -down to where the hair grew out horizontally, they moved out beyond -the short stuff and dropped from one coarse emergent to another; then, -finally, to the ground. Apparently no one had heard them. They ran -toward the front of the beast, staying as close to the furry belly as -possible, for warmth and concealment. - -The jaksin beast was due north, half-hidden by the horizon and hard to -make out against the background of the tremendous Forest where it had -been feeding. Beyond the trees and a little to the right was a volcano, -exhaling fiery clouds but not muttering audibly at the moment. East of -them was a river; to the west, on the far side of the beasts, another -Forest. It was not surprising that the two beasts had met, since they -were on a narrow strip of hardened lava between river and Forest. - -They traveled in long jumps, gradually closing the distance to the -jaksin beast. Near it, they saw that it was awake, with all four front -eyestalks and one pair of pincers extended toward them. - -They halted out of reach. - -"Do you think he'll know we're not jaksins?" Bru whispered. - -"I don't think they care _who_ lives on them, just so we keep the -fleys down. Let him get a good look at us and he'll see we're people." - -He was right, but by the time the huge appendages began to retract, the -cold was getting through the clothing. They hurried for the shelter of -the hair. Warm again, they chewed some of the meat they'd brought along -and considered what to do next. - -"We'd better go along the ground to the rear," Alyar said. "The men -will be mostly near the front, on guard. Back there, there'll only be -women and children." - -"But we'll be a long way from home. What if the beasts don't come -together?" - -"Oh, they usually stop and talk, or whatever they do, for three or four -days. We'll have a chance to sneak back." - -"Why don't we just cut off some hairs right here for souvenirs and go -home?" - -"Don't you even want to spy on the clan?" - -Bru sighed unhappily. "You're not actually going to try to steal a -girl, are you?" - -"Well--no. But it would be fun, wouldn't it?" His imagination began to -percolate. "We're not far from the Warm Ground. That's what the first -smit did. He stole a girl and couldn't get home with her, so they lived -for a whole season on the Warm Ground until they found a young beast -and started their own clan." - -"If you've got any crazy ideas like that, you can count me out. People -who get lost from their beasts get caught by Demons, or outlaws, or -eaten by terrible animals. Next you'll be talking about going to Iron -Mountain and fighting the Iron Fley!" - -"Huh. The explorers who came back with all those stories probably -exaggerated to make themselves look braver. Anyway, all I'm asking you -to do is climb on the back end of this beast and spy on the jaksins." - -It took the rest of the night to reach the blunt rear end, which had -only one pair of eyestalks and one of pincers. They went through the -process of letting the beast see them again, so it wouldn't think they -were fleys when they began to climb, then picked a low rigid hair to -start on. - -It was a good four man-lengths up, too much of a jump even in this -light gravity for Bru, who missed and floated back to the ground, -contorting, while Alyar tried to control his laughter. He uncoiled a -rope. "You need a good lively girl to work some of that fat off you," -he chuckled as he hauled Bru up. - -Panting, Bru pulled himself onto the hair. "You'll get me killed before -I ever have a chance to get married. Do you think they heard us?" - -"No. We haven't heard _them_ yet, and they're bound to be jabbering -like women always are." He coiled the rope and they began to climb. - - * * * * * - -When they were halfway up, there were squeaks and rumbles below them. -They stopped, holding their breaths, while the tentacle curled toward -a spot only thirty or forty man-lengths away and the great claw -began digging at the fur. Evidently something itched there; and in a -few moments, they did hear the screech of a hurt fley. They resumed -climbing. - -When the skin was level enough to walk on, they began hearing -voices--the giggling of girls and the drier chatter of older women, but -no men's voices. They crept forward, parted the hair very carefully, -and peered out. - -They must have found the quarters of a very important family, for the -clearing was freshly cut and expensive woven rugs covered the skin. -The walls were evenly trimmed, with several hung paintings. Sleeping -places had been cut into one side and lined with soft leather from the -underparts of fleys. - -Alyar had only a glance for all this luxury, though, for within two -man-lengths of him sat a pair of eminently stealable girls. Temptation -battered at him. One, evidently the older sister, was well muscled -and lithe, but plump enough to have curves everywhere. The other was -beautiful too, but more slender. They had the black hair and tawny -smooth skin of the jaksins. Each wore a short lounging skirt of dainty -leather which left few secrets. - -Prudence, overwhelmed, hardly put up a fight. - -Alyar maneuvered Bru carefully back until he could whisper. He ignored -the desperate protests. "Shut up. All you have to do is stay here and -wait for me, and when you hear a commotion, screech like a fley. You -can do that much, can't you?" - -Bru, groaning, finally nodded. - -A length from the clearing, Alyar chose a young hair-shoot and put the -point of his spear in the tender spot at its base. He jabbed with all -his weight, then dove for the clearing. The beast's involuntary twitch -came as he broke into the open. - -The women were scrambling to their feet, with cries of "Beastquake!" -and right on schedule Bru cut loose with a fine series of fley -screeches. In the confusion nobody noticed that Alyar was a stranger -until he scooped up the two girls, one under each arm, and jumped for -the fur. - -It was hard going, with both of them grabbing at hairs to hold them -back, scratching him, and in general being uncooperative. He was -panting when he reached Bru. - -"Here!" he gasped, considerately tossing him the slender one who'd be -easier to carry. "This one's yours." - -The plump one knew by now what was happening. Slyly, she went limp -until Alyar relaxed; then she twisted suddenly and got her teeth at his -left shoulder. He yelled as she took out a respectable divot of flesh, -and spun her around so she couldn't reach him again. - -There was much screaming behind them, but no pursuit yet. Alyar urged -Bru to the base of the nearest eyestalk. "Start climbing!" - -"But we'll be trapped up there!" - -"No, we won't. Go on!" - - * * * * * - -They were ten man-lengths up before a few old men and a crowd of -women and children appeared at the base of the stalk. Seeing Alyar's -spear-hand free part of the time, none acted anxious to follow them. - -Now they were high enough to be hurt in a fall, and the girls had -prudently stopped struggling. Alyar's twisted her head and glared at -him. "My father will feed you to the fleys!" - -Alyar grinned. "He'll have to catch us first. What's your name?" - -"Go to hell." - -He let go of the scale he was clinging to with his right hand, and -pinched her in a vulnerable spot. She shrieked. - -"If I have to keep pinching you," he said, "we'll probably fall. You'd -better tell me your name." - -She hesitated, then said icily, "Janeejaksin." - -"Hm. You seem to be rich girls. You wouldn't be the Paboss's daughters, -would you?" - -Janee wouldn't answer, but the other girl did, rather cordially. "Yes, -and my name's Marisujaksin. Are you going to steal us and make smits of -us?" - -"They'll never get off this eyestalk," Janee said scornfully. - -Alyar motioned Bru higher. The figures around the base grew tiny and -the stalk tapered to only half the girth of a man. It swayed a little, -and they moved around to what would be the upper side if it bent. - -Shouts could be heard now from farther forward; undoubtedly the -fighters would arrive soon. Bru looked nervously in that direction. -"What are we going to do--bargain with them?" - -"No. Listen carefully. You know about people riding a pincer. We're -going to get one up here, and when it's close enough, jump onto it -and ride it to the ground." Alyar grinned at the protests, put his -spear-point between two scales, and jabbed. - -In a minute the eyestalk began to bend ponderously downward. Far below -they could see the pincer-tentacle starting up to meet it. - -"Be lively, now!" Alyar warned. - -It took a while for the pincer to arrive. They jumped from two -man-lengths, landed on the slanting horny surface, and slid. Alyar, -hanging onto Janee with one arm, managed to get the other around a -small prong. He threw a glance toward Bru and saw that he'd made out -all right too. They waited. - -Even though the irritation had stopped, the beast was going through -with the scratching after hauling all that weight to such a height. The -tip of the pincer sawed deliberately at the place Alyar had jabbed, and -then they started down. - -The movement was faster than it looked from a distance; still, it was a -long way to the ground. Partway down, the beast saw them and the claw -halted. They crouched while the stalk bent to bring the immense eye -directly over them, but evidently the creature was only wondering what -they were up to now, for after a while the tentacle started down again. - -Three man-lengths from the ground they jumped, landed, and bounded away -out of reach. - - * * * * * - -Men, shouting, were clinging to long hairs, but nobody was climbing the -eyestalk. Perhaps no one wanted to imitate the novel descent. Closer -shouts indicated a group coming down through the fur. - -"What now?" Bru asked. - -It was a reasonable question. Even if they dared go home, they'd have -to parallel the whole length of this beast and could hardly avoid -interception. Alyar and Bru had discarded their extra clothing, while -the girls were almost bare, so warmth would be an absolute necessity -when night came. - -Alyar looked northward toward the volcano. The Warm Ground was supposed -to surround it for some distance; maybe they could reach that before -night. There wasn't much time to ponder. Men were already dropping to -the ground. He picked up Janee and ran for the nearest cover, which was -the Forest. "Come on, we can't stay here!" - -Bru didn't have to carry Marisu--she was evidently coming along -regardless, even though she wailed a little--so he was able to keep up. -"We're not going into the Forest, are we?" he panted. - -"Just into the edge to get out of sight. Then we'll decide." - -They were still a medium shout ahead when they came to the first -colossal uprights; trunks so thick it would take a man many breaths to -run around one; towering so high one tended to forget there were any -tops. In between were smaller plants, some with flowers, that formed a -thicket as dense as fur. - -Alyar paused, thinking of the stories he'd heard about the Forest. But -there was no doubt about how real the danger was behind them, so he -held his spear at the ready and plunged into the growth. - -Janee opened her mouth to scream, and he hastily muffled it with his -hand. "Do you want to attract every Demon in the Forest?" - -Her eyes widened and she quit struggling. - -He listened to the shouts from outside, then pointed north. "That way." - -Bru gaped. "But that's away from home!" - -"We can't go home yet. Anyway, the jaksins'll expect us to. They're -moving south already. Hear them?" - -Inside the Forest, in the deep shade, there was less vegetation so that -they were able to move easily. Whenever Janee looked ready to scream, -Alyar pretended to see or hear something, and by the time she was wise -to that, they were out of earshot. - -Their luck didn't last long, though. They heard a sound, whirled, and -saw a small being on a branch, watching them with malevolent yellow -eyes. - -The girls whimpered, and Bru moaned, "A Demon!" - -It had taken a strange shape, with four limbs and one other appendage -that looked like a tentacle. It was covered with short black fur, very -thick and fine. Just now it had a set of claws for clinging to the tree. - -Before they could run, it opened its mouth and uttered a curse, which -sounded like "Meow!" - -"Let's get out of here!" Bru whispered. - -Alyar knew better. "There's no use running; we're already cursed. The -only thing is to try to appease it." - -"Maybe we could give it the girls?" - -Alyar wavered. He'd become quite attached to Janee, though he was a -little tired of being bitten and scratched, and he _had_ gone to a lot -of trouble to get her. "Let's try meat first," he decided. - -He got a small piece out of his pouch and extended it on the end of his -spear. Heart pounding, he moved closer. The Demon tensed as if to jump -at them, then seemed to change its mind. It wrinkled its nose (which -Alyar hoped was a sign of favor) and finally stretched out its head and -took the meat. It chewed daintily and swallowed. - -Alyar let out his breath. Nothing was guaranteed, of course, but -possibly.... - -The Demon said, "Meow," in a different tone. - -Carefully, they edged toward the open. After a few steps Bru began to -run. Immediately, there was a loud "MEOW!" and he stopped. - -In a moment the Demon came into sight, walking on the ground. Alyar -noticed that it had ungrown the claws. As he looked (no doubt reading -his thought) it grew them again, stretched out its two front limbs, -lengthened its body, and yawned. - -They started on, but weren't able to make much time until they found -that the Demon wanted to be carried. - - * * * * * - -At the edge of the Forest, it was disappointing to see how little -distance they had covered. The nearest end of the jaksin beast, -hunching slowly away now toward the smit beast, was still within three -shouts. However, no jaksins were in sight. - -Again, Alyar hesitated; troubles seemed to be piling up. Still, he -didn't see any choice. "We'll have to go to the Warm Ground," he said. - -The girls sobbed a little, and he frowned at them. "_Now_ what's wrong?" - -"There are terrible outlaws there, and Demons, and--and things." - -His patience ran out. "To hell with them! We already have one Demon; do -you think it's going to share us with everything on the planet? Come -on!" - -Janee didn't insist on being carried now; evidently she felt -compromised enough to come along. They hurried, stopping only once to -finish up their food. They were thirsty, but Hot Water was supposed -to come up out of the Warm Ground, and anyway they could wait for the -evening rains. - -It was dusk, and already beginning to drizzle, when they noticed that -the ground under their feet was warm. - -This was mostly hardened lava, sloping upward toward the volcano, but -with small streams and patches of vegetation. - -Before they found a good place to stop for the night, Bru pointed -ahead. "Look! That glow!" - -They went forward cautiously until they could see what must be a Fire, -with people sitting around it. Fascinated, Alyar went closer. Suddenly -he heard the girls scream, and simultaneously two pairs of rough hands -seized him from behind. He wrenched desperately, throwing himself and -the two husky men around, but not getting free. More came shouting, to -help pin him down and tie him with ropes. It sounded as if Bru and the -girls were being similarly treated. - -A man who acted like the leader came running from the Fire. "What -have we got here? Scouts?" He began directing squads of spearmen as -if he expected an attack. "Two women with them? Funny. All right, -you--who're you spying for?" - -"What are you talking about?" Alyar demanded, as indignantly as his -position allowed. "We're from the smit clan and we're--trying to get -home," he finished lamely. - -"Clan? From a beast? What are you doing up here, then?" - -"We came to keep warm." - -"Keep warm? Why didn't you build a Fire?" - -"I--we don't believe in Fires." - -Laughter arose. "Let him up," the leader said. "He must be telling the -truth. Only a fley-eater would be so ignorant." - -They took off some of the ropes. Alyar rubbed at various bruises and -abrasions, wondering whether he and Bru would be killed or made slaves. -The outlaws would surely keep the girls. He wondered whether the Demon -were going to give up its property so easily. - -As if in answer to the thought, it came strolling into the light, and -the leader made a sign nervously. "Damn! A black cat! Is it yours?" - -"A black what? It captured us in the Forest." - -"It ... captured you? In the Forest? Then it's a real Demon!" - -"Of course! How can you be so ignorant?" - -"And you're still alive?" - -"It hasn't hurt us yet, but it won't let us get away and it makes us -carry it. I think we're uncursed right now. I'm not sure; I sort of -lost track." - -The man gulped and faced the Demon. "Please forgive us, Demon. We -didn't know these people were yours." - -The Demon looked at him scornfully and uttered a curse. People moved -away, except one young spearman who stood his ground. "It--it sounds -just like a cat," he quavered. - -The leader knocked him spinning with the sweep of a forearm. "Of course -it sounds like a cat! How do you think it would sound when it's in cat -form? Do you expect it to speak ingils to us?" He beckoned to several -women. "Bring food for the Demon, and offerings of iron and jewels!" He -glanced at the four captives, and added, as an afterthought, "Better -feed its slaves, too." - - * * * * * - -Cooked meat was easy to chew, but it tasted odd, and the fruit was -completely baffling. Still, they were filling. - -The outlaw leader eyed the Demon, which had pre-empted Janee's ample -lap. "Where is it taking you?" - -Alyar didn't want to admit how little he knew of the nature of things, -so he said the most awesome thing he could think of. "To Iron Mountain." - -There were gasps. "Oh, what unfortunate people you are!" the leader -said. Then, eagerly, "When will you go?" - -Alyar thought he'd better press his luck. "It wants us to start -right away. It only pretends to be asleep like that, to see if we're -obedient. Er--I seem to have gotten turned around. Which way is Iron -Mountain from here?" - -The man pointed with alacrity. "That way! A third of the distance -around the volcano. Here, we'll help you get loaded up." - -The girls were festooned with necklaces and pendants of rare stones, -while Bru and Alyar toted the food and the oddments of iron. The -outlaws had hastily gathered a fabulous treasure of the metal--whole -spearheads, and even a knife, of it! - -Alyar waved and smiled at the outlaws just before they were out of -sight, then turned north. - -"We'll go upcountry," he said. "They won't look for us there. I'm not -sure they won't follow; they probably don't know what this Demon will -do any more than we do." He saw some huge rocks not far away, with -bushes growing on top. "Let's climb up there." - -When they were halfway to the rocks, incredible good fortune struck. -The Demon with one hurried "Meow!" scrambled away from Janee and ran -back toward the outlaw camp. - -"Come on!" Alyar exclaimed. "Maybe we can get out of its circle of -influence!" - -They climbed the rocks and found they could see the Fire. Presently -they knew the Demon had arrived there, for the distant figures -scattered. Moments later, faint laments drifted to them. - -They spent the rest of the night awake and watchful. "The outlaws will -surely be after us now," Bru said, "to get back all this treasure." - -"Marisu and I want to be near our clan," said Janee. "Even if--" she -blushed--"you make smits out of us, the two beasts would meet once in a -while and we could visit." - -Alyar looked eastward, where numerous glows marked other outlaw camps. -The volcano was a barrier to the north. The outlaws would bar the way -to the south, expecting them to head home to the beasts. The only -direction left was west, and he found that it pleased him. - -"I guess we'll just have to visit Iron Mountain," he said. "Then we'll -be such heroes that Pabosses smit and jaksin will have to forgive us." - -The girls looked at him with awe while Bru moaned. - -When the sun came up they could see the northern end of the Forest, -south of which the jaksin beast had been feeding. Past it, surprisingly -visible from this altitude, were the two beasts, head-to-head with -eyestalks touching. - -The Forest ran up close to the steep side of the volcano, leaving only -a narrow pass. Beyond that was the river which, turning south, passed -the two beasts. Farther up the river, according to legend, was Iron -Mountain. - -They stayed long enough to see what kind of animals prowled the country -and to lay out a course, then climbed down and got started. They walked -all day with only a few halts and some minor adventures with strange -animals, then found another high place to spend the night. In the -darkness they spotted a single Fire west of them. The next morning they -detoured around that spot, and entered the narrow pass. Before noon -they stood looking down at the river. - - * * * * * - -The canyon was deeper and wider than Alyar could have imagined, and -there was more water at the bottom. The country ahead, though, was so -rough that it seemed the easiest way was to climb down and go along the -river. It took them half the afternoon to get down. - -Not very long after that, Alyar put out his hand. "Wait! I hear voices!" - -They were men's voices and seemed to be coming downstream. - -He pushed the other three to a hiding place behind some rocks and -bushes. When the owners of the voices came into sight around a turn, -he gasped. They weren't walking, but riding on the water itself, in -something like a big dish. - -"Magicians!" Bru whispered. - -Two of the men (there were seven) were stroking the water with some -kind of wands, flattened at the ends. They acted as if they were -fleeing from something, talking in low voices and staring back -upstream. Just before they came opposite, it caught up with them. - -The first thing Alyar heard was a loud voice, distorted and with an odd -accent. He had trouble making out the repeated words. "Halt or I'll -shoot. Advance and be recognized. Halt or I'll shoot. Advance--" - -The thing came into sight--flying! He gripped Bru's shoulder. "The Iron -Fley!" - -It was made of the kind of iron that didn't rust, and had only eight -legs, not ten. All of them were folded to its sides except one with a -larger, oblong foot; that one was extended toward the fugitives. - -When they saw it, they jumped out of their dish and sank into the water. - -"Halt or I'll shoot," said the Iron Fley again, then hurled its spell. -The dish shattered abruptly into small bits and a hissing cloud burst -out of the water. - -The terrible creature circled over the floating fragments for a few -minutes, then flew off upstream. When it was gone the seven magicians -appeared, climbing out of the river on the far side. - -"Damn it!" said one. "A good boot lost, and not a bit of iron. I _told_ -you we ought to wait for night!" - -"It doesn't make any difference," said another gloomily. "It's always -on watch. Nobody's gotten away with any iron for three or four seasons." - -"Well," said Alyar, after the magicians had straggled off down the -river, "now we've seen it. It certainly put a powerful spell on that -floating dish, but it didn't hurt the magicians. Maybe if we're careful -it won't bother us." - -They followed the twisting canyon and eventually began to hear a -roaring noise ahead. It turned out to be the water falling over a -cliff, and to go any farther they had to climb out of the canyon -again. When they were on top they could see, ahead of them, what was -undoubtedly Iron Mountain. - -Parts of it were broken or rusted, but most of it was the non-rusting -kind. Its shape was a surprise. It didn't look like a mountain, but -something made by giants, broken off and stuck into the ground. - -It was wonderful to stand here, beholding the mightiest magic in the -entire world. Still, Alyar wasn't satisfied. He felt he must go closer, -even--possibly--touch it. - -"You'd better stay here. Bru, if anything happens to me, take the -girls and run. You can get back to the beasts by going down the river." - -Bru was dismayed. "Don't go any closer! You saw what happened to the -magicians' dish!" - -"They were trying to steal iron." He unloaded the metal he was -carrying, smiled at them, and went on. - - * * * * * - -He'd only covered a hundred man-lengths or so when he heard the -distorted voice, coming from over his head. He looked up, then stood -rooted as the Iron Fley came spiraling down toward him. He tried to -think the purest, most serene thoughts he could, though the fervent -wish to be somewhere else kept intruding. - -The thing paused a few lengths away. "Advance and be recognized," it -said. - -He took a faltering hop forward. "Halt or I'll shoot," it said, and he -stopped. - -"Advance." - -He did. - -"Halt." - -He did. - -Finally he was very close to it, and he waited for a spell to hit him. - -"Name, rank, and serial number," it demanded. Then, as he was silent -"Speak or I'll shoot." - -"I--I'm Alyarsmit! I don't think I'm rank, and I don't know what a -serial number is." - -"Friend or foe?" - -"F-friend. I haven't stolen anything. Just some girls." - -The thing made a buzzing sound. "You speak, and you have the requisite -number of limbs, and one head. Are you human?" - -"Y-yes, I'm human." - -"Name?" - -"Alyarsmit." - -"Smith? Smith?" It buzzed some more. "There was a Colonel John Smith on -the roster. Are you his descendant?" - -"Yes," Alyar hazarded. - -"Mr. Smith, sir, Robojeep twenty-seven four nine reporting. All other -jeeps inactivated, sir. No ship's personnel or other passengers -accounted for in the last three hundred and seventy-four planetary -cycles. Damage to ship unrepairable without human direction. Sporadic -raids by savages, possibly degenerate humans, repelled successfully. -Will you assume manual control, sir?" - -Alyar stuck with "Yes." - -"Very well, sir." The Iron Fley descended and walked toward him on six -of its legs, then squatted. - -He stared at its back. Actually, it didn't have one; it was hollowed -out from the top, and in the hollow were--seats! Four of them! - -Unable to mistake the meaning, he climbed in and sat down. Nothing -happened for a while. Then the creature began to buzz again. "Have you -forgotten the controls, sir? The lever on the left is for elevation; -the other one for horizontal motion. Would you prefer vocal control?" - -"N-no, this is all right." - -"Very good, sir." The buzz stopped. - -The levers were just in front of him. Gingerly, he reached out and -gave the left-hand one a twitch, then yelled and let go of it as they -shot upward. They stopped, and he tried again gently. They rose more -smoothly. - -He experimented with the other and moved forward, backward, and to the -sides. He lowered to a height where he was less frightened. "Er--Fley?" - -"You spoke, sir?" - -"I can go wherever I want?" - -"Except into obvious danger, sir. I'm programmed to avoid that." - -Alyar flew toward where he'd left his companions. They lay face down, -lamenting, Janee loudest of all. He eyed her posterior, and Bru's, with -some misgivings. The Fley's seats were a little skimpy. - -He landed beside them, cleared his throat, and waited until they raised -dumfounded faces. - -"Get in," he said. - - * * * * * - -Against feeble protests from the others, he maneuvered the creature -(which preferred to be called "Jeep") toward Iron Mountain. When they -were close Jeep woke up, buzzed, and hovered while a great doorway slid -open. It carried the four, clinging together, into the hollow blackness -within. - -Then, quite suddenly--even though the door slid shut behind them--it -was light as day inside. - -What a cave! Cylindrical, all of fifty man-lengths across, it slanted -down until it must reach far below ground. Far down there, where Jeep -was taking them, were some level platforms. - -As soon as they settled on one, a terrible, huge, clanking monster, -also of non-rusting iron, flew toward them. They huddled while it -spoke. "Mr. Smith, sir, Roborepairunit seventeen reporting. Ship's -power and drive in order. Unable to complete hull repairs, or repair -other working and scouting units, without cannibalizing part of living -quarters. Do I have Mr. Smith's permission to proceed?" - -Alyar gulped several times, and got out "Yes." - -"Thank you, sir. The job will require arc cutting and welding and other -high-temperature processes. Will you be here very long?" - -"We hope not." - -"Very well, sir. I'll begin as soon as you leave." - -They sat for a while, wondering what to do. Finally Alyar said, "Jeep?" - -"Sir?" - -"Would we be permitted to leave?" - -"At once, sir." - -More buzzing, and the door opened again. - -As they flew away, Jeep said, "Sir, Roborepair wants to know whether to -repair ship in its present position or move it elsewhere." - -Alyar was beginning to feel more confident. "In its present position, I -think. For now." - -As they turned south, Janee began to sniffle. - -"What now?" he demanded. - -"I miss my Demon." - -Alyar turned to Bru. "Isn't that just like a woman? She wants a Demon -again!" - -She raised her head and glared at him. "He was cute and soft, and he -cuddled against me and made happy sounds. You tamed the Iron Fley, -and if you really loved me, you could surely handle one little fluffy -Demon!" - -Alyar let Jeep stop and hang there while he tried to cope with the -effrontery of it. After all he'd been through, stealing her, to have -her suggest that he go into more danger just to satisfy her crazy whim! - -His hands reached out for the levers again. Shaking his head dazedly, -he started northeast to look for the outlaws. - - * * * * * - -Some time later, they were headed south again, Janee's Demon asleep in -her lap. Jeep was loggy with iron and other treasures extorted from -various bands of outlaws. In the two rear seats, Bru and Marisu were -holding hands. - -He was startled to see two more beasts hunching up from the south, -beyond the smits and jaksins. Four of them together at one time! - -When they circled down, they found Pabossmit on his hair, scowling -southward. He cringed when he saw the Iron Fley, then managed to look -both dumfounded and furious when he recognized Alyar and Bru. - -"You young hoodlums! I'm glad that thing caught you! Look there--those -are the grans and the kendies coming, and Pabossjaksin's so mad he'll -join them against us!" His face softened into the start of a grin as he -sized up the two girls, but then hardened again. "I hope you're proud -of yourselves, getting your whole clan killed or made slaves!" - -Alyar started toward a clearing. "Come on down, Paboss. We've got so -much magic now, we could laugh at all the clans in the world." And, to -Jeep, "Jeep, can we bring Iron Mountain over here and fly it around and -show these savages they better behave?" - -"A bloodless demonstration? Certainly, sir. I'll go aloft at once and -radio." - - * * * * * - -The four stood in a clearing, with awed smits around them at a -respectful distance. Paboss came pushing through the hair, as awed as -any, but less scared. - -"Tamed the Iron Fley!" He began to guffaw. "Stole Pabossjaksin's -own two daughters! Haw, haw! Young man, when I retire...." His eyes -covered Janee approvingly, then turned back to Alyar. "You're wounded! -What--oh, toothmarks!" He laughed some more. "Didn't I say any girl -worth stealing would put up a fight?" - -Alyar happened to be looking toward Bru, who had his own knot of -admirers. Marisu was standing a little behind him, as a bride should. -At Paboss's words, she frowned and her eyes fixed on Bru's smooth -shoulder. Her gaze grew more intent. She moved slowly forward, her eyes -crossing as they remained on the spot. - -Closer.... - -Closer.... - -Bru yelled. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Pride of Islands, by C. C. MacApp - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRIDE OF ISLANDS *** - -***** This file should be named 60839.txt or 60839.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/8/3/60839/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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