Chap. 256 Jungle Hike

Chap 256 Jungle Hike

“What in the world have I gotten myself into?” K’ndar wondered.

Sweat poured down his face as he panted. Breathing was torture, the air so steamy he was in constant danger of inhaling the myriad insects that swirled around him. His backpack had seemingly doubled in weight, and his back felt as if it were melting.

The vegetation was so thick he could barely see Rand ahead of him, moving along a path alongside an invisible stream. Despite the cotholder being twice his age, Rand was setting a blistering pace up a steep, rock strewn path.

They were in what could only be termed a labyrinth of jungle vegetation. Creepers and vines snatched at his sides, and branches smacked him in the face. The sun was blazing overhead. His head throbbed, telling him he was dehydrated. No doubt, he thought, this is the biggest sauna I’ve ever been in.

Siskin clutched his shoulder, snapping at insects.

The trail snaked through the undergrowth, twisting here and there to avoid fallen trees and boulders.

He slipped on a wet rock and grabbed a branch alongside the trail. Something stabbed his finger. He yelped.

“Alright back there, K’ndar?” Rand called back.

He didn’t have the air in his lungs to respond.

The cotholder slowed and turned. His machete flashed like a beacon in the sun.

K’ndar wanted to stop, but he pushed on, til he caught up with the man. His breath was ragged.

The older man smirked.

“Is the pace too fast for ye, young man?”

K'ndar's temper flared. Was he being hazed? Yes, I’m out of shape, he thought, but this isn’t quite fair. But he had learned long ago to confront hazing.

“Yes, it is, is there a reason you’re flying along? If you’re trying to prove your bollocks are larger than mine, then, okay, you’re right.” he managed to gasp.

The smirk vanished. Rand dropped his eyes. K’ndar noted he wasn’t sweating.

“Aye, K’ndar, I’m sorry. That’s exactly what I were trying to prove, and you don’t have it coming. You’ve been fair dinkum to me, I shouldn’t be treating you badly. I’m not used to showing people my jungle, I’ve walked this trail so many times I don’t have to think where my feet are going, they knows better than my eyes.”

K’ndar bent down, his hands on his knees to catch his breath. It was useless, he felt, the air is so wet and hot I may as well forget about breathing.

“I’m not used to this, I admit, I’m out of shape, I guess. Could we slow it down a bit?” he gasped, panting.

“It won’t make much difference, we’re not that far, now.”

“From?”

“From the jungle.”

“This isn’t jungle?”

“Oh, it’s jungle, aye, but it’s not the rain forest jungle. No, this is merely the jungle’s way of weeding out the greenhorns. It’s her fence, aye, it’s her way to make sure you earn seeing the real thing,” Rand said.

“I’m a greenhorn. In fact, I don’t think I really am all that interested in seeing the rain forest. It seems quite damp enough here, it feels as if the air isn’t air, it’s rain too lazy to fall, it’s just sticking to me, as I’m the one doing the work getting wet. If I don’t find the beast’s home, I’m about ready to admit that it’s not that important to me anymore,” K’ndar snapped.

Rand frowned. “I’m sorry, K’ndar. Yes, you’re a greenhorn, but you’re not here to chop her down. I protect her, you know? And trust me, you DO want to see the rain forest. That’s where we’ll find the beast’s home, if there’s another. You do. Trust me.”

K’ndar straightened up. His heart stopped pounding. He drew in great breaths, but they were unproductive in making him any cooler.

“What does it mean when your fire lizard’s eyes are orange?” Rand asked, having been at eye level with the fire lizard when K’ndar was bent over.

“He is angry. Not furious. Not yet, anyway. If his eyes were red I’d be afraid he was going to attack you. They’re far more loyal than dogs, Rand, and twice as intelligent. He’s angry at how you’re pushing me.”

“Oh.” Rand gulped.

“In fact, he might not be interested in tracking the beast’s scent. That’s why I’m here, remember? To see if Siskin can track the beast, if there’s another in the area? But he might not want to, now.”

“Okay. I were showing off. I admit it. But we’re not far now, K’ndar, and once you see it, you’ll see why I love it here. This is the hardest part of the trail, usually it’s under water. Let’s press on.”

K’ndar relented. I won’t ever let this happen to me again, he thought. I don’t even know what’s expected of me. It wasn’t my idea to come back here, to do this!

He remembered the datalink rudely dragging him from a deep slumber.

“ ‘Lo?”

“K’ndar, I’m Jomoke, I’ve worked with Lefsa. She turned your specimen, that unusual beast over to me for examination. This is the most amazing animal I’ve ever seen, it’s totally new to science, it’s not even in the database. You weren’t asleep, were you? I was going to wait until tomorrow to dissect it but no, I had to have a crack at it right away, I’m sure you can understand! Imagine that, K’ndar!! I need something from you. I need to know if you can find a live one. Tell me what and where it lives, can you do that?”

“Um...yes, I was asleep..” K’ndar said, confused. “Jomoke? Do I know you?”

He fumbled with the datalink, trying to see the time. Jomoke? Apparently the man worked late hours. What was it with these Landing folk? Haven’t they ever lived or done anything other than research? Most Pernese know better than to call in the middle of the night after one has put in a day’s work.

“No, you don’t know me, but Lefsa transferred that amazing animal to me. Can you possibly go back and at least get some photos? Or find out what habitat it lives in? Like tomorrow?”

“Does it need to be done so...so," he grumbled, still befuddled.

“It would be nice. Just to find out where it lives,” Jomoke said, in a begging tone.

“and it’s habitat, and maybe find some samples, maybe….”

“Um…” K’ndar rubbed his eyes. What time was it?

“I’ve already talked to Raylan, your data can wait for logging later,” Jomoke had said.

“Raylan? I’m looking for what?”

“Yes, Raylan, I checked with him, the data can wait. Just find out what habitat it lives in, that sort of thing,” the man said.

Feeling trapped, but not sure if he could say no, he found himself saying, “Raylan approved it?”

“Perfect! Thank you! You’re a biologist, you know what I need. Samples. Description of the vegetation, soil samples. Fecal samples, oh, please, that would be wonderful.”

“Um, I’m..gads, I’ve not been asleep for more than two hours. Fecal samples?”

“You’ve got it! If you leave early I should think you’d be back by noon. Thank you so much. Good night.”

K’ndar allowed the datalink to slip from his hands. What the shaff had just happened? I’ve been rushed into something I have no idea the purpose? Who the bloody shaff is Jomoke? He’s got the animal, and he wants what?

His paternal Uncle Fland swam into his memory. Now I understand you, Fland, when you said, “I feel like I’ve been shot at and missed, shit at and hit.”

He shook his head as he returned to his present situation. I’m somewhere in the jungle that isn’t jungle. I really am beginning to loathe Jomoke and this green baking oven.

“You okay, lad?” Rand said, dragging his attention to the now.

Maybe I wasn’t so lucky in finding you trimming the clearing, he thought, looking at the cotholder. I could honestly have said, I couldn’t find the clearing, the vegetation had recovered from burning in just a few days. Just a few!! Then I could have had time to figure out if I’d been shanghaied into a frivolous excursion, and wouldn’t be sweating my life out in this miserable jungle.

But no, Rand had seen Raventh appear from between and signaled him to land.

“I’m okay, now. I..I was just catching my breath.”

Rand motioned at his hand.

“Look at your hand, I heard you yelp. It’s all red. Is it hurting yet?”

“Is what hurting...oh. My hand.” He extended his right hand.

“Um…” The pinkie finger had taken the brunt of the sting, and was beginning to swell. Now that he was paying attention to it, he realized that yes, it was beginning to hurt.

“Looks like you’ve been stung. In a while it will start to burn. If we hurry...I know, we’ve BEEN hurrying, now we’ve a good reason. I have some salve at my hold, it will keep the pain down to nothing. It’s just numb weed, with an antivenin for the venom.”

“Venom?”

“Aye, that beastie is a nasty. It’s called a vespid, but that’s from what the Ancients called ‘em. They’s all over Southern. They’s tiny but they has a mean sting. Iffen that’s what got you, and I think I’m right. So, let’s go. We’ll dab it on you, and then..you’ll meet my jungle.”

 

Chap. 255 The Smell

Chap. 255 The Smell

I wonder if I know what I’m doing, he thought.

The night raider, as he’d taken to calling the beast, lay splayed out in a very cold room. The cold kept the smell of the beast-which had been dead for several days, from being too annoying.

Not much of a biologist, am I, to be bothered by a little stink, he thought.

Siskin walked all around the animal, sniffing. He began to scratch at it. K’ndar reached out to gently push the fire lizard away.

Siskin evaded his hand and returned to scratching at the animal.

He’d never seen the fire lizard evince such interest. But then, he hadn’t done much in the way of describing odd beasts such as this!

“Siskin, you need to move out of the way, please? I need the room,” he said.

Siskin chittered and flew to a ledge high up on the wall. After a moment, he launched and disappeared.

He’s here with me. You’ve hurt his feelings Raventh said. He was in their quarters.

Really? Tell him not to be insulted, I didn’t want him clawing the specimen up.

He doesn’t understand that. He’s very interested in it.

I understand. But I don’t want him to claw it up. I’ll make it up to him when I am finished.

The scent was odd. It wasn’t just the smell of a dead animal, there was something else about it, a subtle, musky smell.

He stood, contemplating just what he was supposed to do. Do I cut it open? Weigh organs, dissect each one, try to examine stomach contents, intestines, slice up the brain into neat slices, suitable for a microscope?

I’m all at sea with this beast, he thought. If I butcher it, I’ll lose data.

Rather than destroy the only sample ever seen on Pern, he decided he was truly out of his depth. A taxonomist, someone skilled in physiology, is probably the better person for this.

Ah. Lefsa, Landing’s former biologist and now, taxonomist.

“Thank you, Lefsa, for coming. I need some help with this animal. I hope I didn’t interrupt your evening?”

“Not to worry, K’ndar, I don’t mind, especially when I get to see this most interesting beast!! What is it? I’ve never seen anything like it. Where did you get it?” the girl said.

“I haven’t the slightest idea WHAT it is,” he started out, and told her the whole story. “I know it’s not a dragon, or a fire lizard, or a wherry of any type. It’s not avian, of course, or a reptile. It’s saurian. That’s all I can see at the moment.”

“Interesting,” she said, stroking the animal. “It’s got an odd scent. Look at those muscles!! This thing is all steel and sinew, what?”

“No doubt!

They measured and weighed it, Lefsa dictating to the datalink K’ndar had set up. K’ndar took photos and wrote up the initial findings in his notebook.

“Whew,” she said, shivering, “I’d forgotten how cold it can get in here. I’m glad you’re the biologist now, K’ndar. I’ve no meat on my bones! My goodness, it’s an odd looking beast. Look at the mandibular muscles! And those claws! I can tell right off it’s something new.”

“Lefsa, I think it’s a new genus. Completely,” he said.

She bit her lip, running over the catalog in her mind. Nothing jumped up to disagree with the idea. Excitement lit up her eyes.

“Don’t hold me to it, K’ndar. We’ll know better after a complete DNA assay, but for the moment, yes, I think you’re right. Isn’t that exciting?”

“It is! I am expecting the insides to be fairly orthodox, but, Lefsa, how deep do you want me to go? Because, I’ll be honest, I know what the innards should be, but doing all the measuring, deciding what hormone affects what, that’s beyond my skill level,” K’ndar said.

The girl laughed.

“We’ll make a good team, then, K’ndar, because that stuff is what I’m learning to do, and I like it. I don’t mind if you do just the external exam, and I’ll take over from there. Take pictures, of course. I’ll access your datalink tomorrow, so continue dictating. I’ll come in tomorrow and dissect it down to the bones. I can take samples of skin, muscle, etc. I’ll work on that level, and the even finer stuff, I’ll pass on to Miklos. I don’t care for him, but he’s sharp as a razor on the microscopic work, especially the DNA, hormones, etc. I’m sure he won’t be bothered by the smell,” she said, with a wicked expression.

K’ndar laughed. Miklos, the staff microbiologist and geneticist, wasn’t known for his personal hygiene.

“So you don’t mind me passing this work on to you?”

“Oh, of course not, K’ndar! This is precisely what I had hoped would happen, you bring in the animals or plants, and I do the examining. I’m not a field biologist like you, K’ndar, I just don’t like staying out in the wilderness for weeks and weeks. And I don’t have a dragon to take me there! Take good notes, good dictation, and we’ll work together to create a proper scientific description. If we’re right, if it’s truly a new genus and species, we get to name it, so put your brain to finding a good descriptive name,” she said.

“Think Jansen will want it for her new museum?”

“I guarantee it. It’s really coming along, if you have time, go ask her for a tour. She’s done a fabulous job, although I have to buffer that by saying I’ve never been in a ‘museum’ before. She’s very proud of it and she deserves the credit.”

After she left, he set to work. He wrote his notes in his own crabbed hand, but also dictated to the datalink.

“Definitely saurian, but unlike any saurian in the literature. The hide is a deep dark green, with spots of creamy yellow, generally 1.5 to 1 cm, scattered over the entire body. Most of the spots are round, with ragged edges. This appears to be protective coloration or, more likely, camouflage. There are several yellow stripes, primarily over the scapulars. The stripes continue on up the neck, not completely circling it. They end at the poll. The backs of the ears are yellow. Above each eye is a vertical stripe of yellow, quite similar to the forehead stripes on a tabby cat. The tail is striped with”...he counted...”eight stripes, alternating between yellow and green. The hide itself is smooth and supple, not unlike that of a dragon.”

The beast looked at him, despite it’s eyes being closed and it being extremely dead. What ARE you, you handsome beast?

He spent several moments writing his notes and sketching the animals head.

“The head is angular. A thin crest runs along the top of the skull, probably could be called an occipital crest. It ends just between the ears. Two ears are pointed, and appear to be able to be swiveled.” He gently pried open the eyes. Two great orbs, now desiccated and lifeless in death, looked back at him.

“The large eyes lead me to believe it is nocturnal. They were probably bright yellow in life and have unusually shaped irises. The lower mandible is heavily muscled. The dentition is very obviously that of an obligate carnivore, with long upper and lower fangs. There are no molars, merely carnissals. Not counting the fangs, each side of the mandibles have six carnissals. They appear very similar to those of a feline.”

As he worked, he grew more intrigued.

“The mouth-there are no lips-is surrounded by bristles that probably serve as whiskers. A flat nose, just above the mouth, appears to be like most other saurian noses.

The neck is heavily muscled. That makes sense, being that Rand witnessed the animal lifting and carrying a full grown pig. The four shoulder blades are flat.”

Like most of Pern's animals, this animal had six limbs.

Why is it Terran animals and birds all have four limbs, and Pern's all have six? For that matter, why are there no Pernian mammals? It’s not as if they can’t live here, after all, we’re here, and doing fine, he thought. True, it took a bit of genetic tinkering for us mammals to adapt to living here. To include us humans, we had to be tweaked, just like any cow or cat.

He dragged his attention back to work.

“The back end, the caudal end of the animal ends in a pointed tail, rounded on the dorsal side and flat on the ventral. It is almost as long as the body of the animal. At the end of the tail, on the ventral side, is a yellow patch of rough, corrugated skin. It is 11 centimeters long and half that wide.”

He wondered if it was normal, or the result of an injury.

“The fore paws, padded on the underside, have three digits. The digits themselves are unpadded. They have ridges along the inside, probably to increase their traction on wriggling prey. They are almost finger like, ending in long, sharp talons that are retractable.

The middle set of legs end in paws that appeared to be claspers. The digits are long and narrow, with small claws more suited to securing a purchase than for capturing prey. The pads on the middle and end paws continue to the tips of the digits. I’m assuming it assists with grasping, or climbing.”

The hind legs were even more amazing. He didn’t realize it until he twisted one of the hind legs while struggling to turn it over.

“The hind legs have a rotating joint, one that allows the leg to be turned almost completely backwards. The paws are also clawed, similar to the middle ones.”

I want to see what this hip joint looks like when it’s just bare bone, he thought. How does it affect how you move, beast? Oh, wait, Rand told me.

“Rand described the animal as ‘running up the tree like a quorl’. Judging by its feet, I have to agree. I believe this animal to be arboreal. I would assume it can easily and quickly move up or down a vertical surface such as a tree, especially with hind legs that can rotate backwards.”

He rolled the animal over onto its back.

“The rib cage looks unremarkable, probably fenestrated, like other Pernese saurians.

However, there is a bulge behind the rib cage. It starts at the back side of the middle legs and ends before the hind ones.”

He ran his hands over the belly.

“I feel protuberances, one, two, three on either side of the axis of the belly, for a total of six. Each is about ten centimeters long and eight wide. I am pressing on one and there is some slight give to the pressure.”

He looked closer.

“It appears that there is a slit, an opening, to each protuberance. I am trying to fit my finger through it but I...just can’t..oh, this one allows...”

The body of the creature had passed through rigor mortis and was now limp again. The protuberance was firmly sealed, but he was just barely able to push a finger into the bump.

He felt something odd. Okay, I have to see what this is.

I should have had some sort of tool, something to spread it open. Healers have them but I can’t remember the name of the tool.

So he used two fingers to open it up. It gave after some resistance. He felt a small mass. It moved back from his pressure. Can it come out?

He reached in with his thumb and gently took hold of the thing. He pulled, gently, half expecting the dead animal to protest. This is like pulling a stuck calf out of cow, he thought.

He was astounded.at what emerged.

It was a tiny replica of the animal, complete with claws. It was an almost fully developed baby.

After several amazed moments, he sketched and photographed it. He felt a pang of guilt...this baby whatsithad died in its mother’s..womb?

But Pern’s animals are all egg layers!

He felt around in the opened protuberance for an eggshell.

Nothing. Not a bit of shell.

“Lefsa,” he said to the datalink’s recorder, “It’s female, and pregnant. I pulled an embryo out of one of the protuberances. I don’t see any indication of an eggshell. I see nothing that indicates it ever developed in an egg shell.

I think it’s a live bearer, I think it’s viviparous, just like mammals!” he added. “If it is, it will be the first Pernese creature to be viviparous!”

He half expected Lefsa to respond, but the datalink merely waited for his next comment. He straightened up, and glanced at the clock. She was probably getting ready for bed!

By the way, his stomach grumbled, you missed dinner.

Thankfully, he’d seen to Raventh and Siskin before setting to work.

I’ve done enough for one day, and I don’t feel like cooking. I think I’ll go get something at the dining hall. They always have something set out for people working late, he thought. I’ll cover this beast up and continue in the morning.

A viviparous Pernese creature would be an incredible find, and one that would put my name, Lefsa’s name in the science books forever. Like I need that? I don’t, but..still.

He pondered the animal on the table. I have to go back to Rand’s, see if we can find another like you, he thought.

“You’re an odd one,” he said to it, as he covered it with a small piece of canvas. No human would disturb it, but there were times when crawlers and other little creatures, or insects, would find their way into homes and offices. Who knew what they might do to the specimen?

The canvas wasn’t long enough to cover the tail. Thinking to tuck it under the canvas, he ran his hand down its length. His fingers stroked the odd pad of skin at its end.

With a slight ‘pfft’, a pungent cloud of scent erupted from the pad. The smell immediately filled the entire room.

Gagging, he jumped backwards, astounded at its potency. It wasn’t so much stink as it was overpowering. Gasping, he remembered to grab the datalink and camera and fled the room.

The door slid shut behind him. The cool night air was like a dash of cold water. He coughed, spit the taste out of his mouth, and took in several deep lungfuls, hoping he hadn’t inhaled the stuff. He felt better. Whew. That stuff has to be for defense, he thought, his eyes watering. He could smell it all over him. Maybe walking will dispel it, maybe evaporate it?

He started to walk towards the dining hall. A woman approached him from the opposite direction. When she came even to him she froze for a moment, her face shocked. Then, she covered her nose and mumbled, ’Scuse me!” and ran past.

Shards. I stink. I STINK! No way will I be allowed into the dining hall, smelling like this!! They’d run me out in a moment!

He hurried towards his quarters, hoping not to meet any others. What IS this stuff, how do I get it off me? Soap and water? Hydrogen peroxide? I don’t have any idea the chemistry of this stuff.

He made it to his quarters without seeing another soul.

He paused at the door into his home. Do I go into MY home smelling like this?

Um he said to Raventh, Do you mind if I come into your weyr, smelling like I do?

Raventh said, solemnly, I don’t think it will bother me.

K’ndar could hear just the slightest bit of amusement in Raventh’s tone.

I’ll strip in his bay. I hope most of the stuff is on the clothes. I have to get a shower, do SOMETHING.

He went around the corner of the building and pressed the pad to open the bay door into Raventh’s weyr.

His brown dragon, eyes whirling an amused green, was curled up on the couch he’d made for him. He inhaled deeply.

Oh, you definitely smell. It’s not bad, at least I don’t find it ….Raventh began.

They both heard Siskin emit the weirdest noise ever. The blue fire lizard darted down from his shelf and landed on K’ndar shoulder.

He began to rub his head along any part of K’ndar’s body he could reach. His eyes whirled a dozen different shades of green and blue. He began to send confusing images, none of which were more than swirling colors and odd sounds. He clawed gently at K’ndar’s sleeve...and began to purr. Purr!!

“Siskin, stop!” K’ndar said, dismayed at the fire lizard’s odd behavior. The lizard’s claws penetrated the shirt to just barely score his arm. He pushed the lizard away. Siskin paid him no attention whatsoever. His purring got louder. K’ndar tried to pry him loose, but the lizard’s talons were firmly set in the fabric of the shirt.

“What in the world is WRONG with you?” he shouted. Siskin was beyond hearing. He struggled out of the shirt and dropped it, not too gently. Siskin never let go.

Raventh began to laugh.

Dismayed, K’ndar watched as the fire lizard writhed in what could only be called ecstasy on his shirt. The fire lizard tore at the shirt, hissing and warbling.

You’re laughing, what is so funny? he snapped at Raventh. The brown dragon was so amused he could barely get the words out.

He is in mating frenzy. I’m sure in a few moments, he’ll mate with your shirt. It’s the smell...it’s making him crazy.

That’s...that’s..tell him to stop!

He’s beyond hearing, oh, there he goes!

Siskin proved Raventh correct. Raventh roared in laughter.

It’s not funny.

It is, it is so. Look at him, he’s like a bronze with a gold

Somehow it felt voyeuristic, seeing Siskin mating his shirt.

Shards...he’s tearing up my shirt!

It could be worse. It could be YOU he’s tearing up!

 

Chap. 254 Insult upon Injury

 

Chap. 254 Insult on injury

"This be the second time I've ever been on a dragon," Rand, the cotholder said.

"This is Raventh, sir. We've been together, oh, four years now? Funny, it's gone so quickly, from Impression to now," K'ndar said.

He stowed a bundle that Leana had asked him to transport to Southern Weyr. Then he helped Rand mount Raventh and buckled the man in. As he did, Siskin arrived, warbling happily.

"A fire lizard! I've never seen one before," Rand said, surprised. "I thought they'd be much bigger."

"No, sir, he's about the size of a full grown cat. Unlike their big cousins, all fire lizards, no matter their color, run much the same size," K'ndar said.

Siskin swooped around the man's head, regarding him with slight suspicion, then took his position proudly just behind Raventh's head.

"And you've trained him to ride up there?"

K'ndar grinned. "No, sir, it was his idea. Siskin LOVES to go nomading, I call it. He goes off on his own, at times, to hunt, or to chat up the girls, but when it's time for us to go somewhere, he's ready. As for training him, they're awfully smart, sir. One of the staff members here has three of them and she teaches them tricks to do at Gathers. I've trained Siskin to do some things, like take messages to other people, but most of them, he comes up with by himself."

Rand looked at Siskin thoughtfully. "They're good hunters?"

K'ndar mounted Raventh. "Yes, sir. They're like a dog in someways, but they're far smarter. My weyr has an entire wing composed of riders with fire lizards. We've used them to track raiders, for instance, or flush them out of their caves. They're just as loyal to their owners as any dog. They can be dangerous, too, unlike dragons, they have been known to attack humans on command or if they think their owner is in trouble."

"Dragons don't hurt humans?"

"Never. At least, there's no record of any dragon ever hurting a human, unless, I suppose, by accident. They're fairly clumsy when they're young. But as for purposefully hurting a human, it's just not in them."

What is clumsy? Raventh asked.

It..well, remember when you first hatched and your feet and wings would get all tangled? That's 'clumsy'.

Rand regarded Siskin with a discerning eye. "Hmmm. Do you think a fire lizard could live in the jungle?"

"Um...I don't know. It's not their natural environment, at least, I don't believe it is. But...that's a hard one to answer, Rand. I don't know a thing about the jungle."

"Where do you get one?"

"Some folks just happen to find a clutch. They impress like dragons. When they hatch, they impress on the first creature they see. Normally that's another fire lizard, but if there's a human present when they hatch, they'll impress on that person. That's how I impressed Siskin. He was still in the egg when I got him, and when he hatched, Raventh and I were there, so he bonded to both of us. He sends me images and sounds...they don't talk to humans like dragons do. Being able to ''see through his eyes", has been advantageous at times. Normally they don't send images, you have to ask for them. Which makes life a lot easier, I'd probably get sick having more than one visual input at a time. But when I DO, it's fascinating, seeing through a different set of eyes," he said.

"You found a clutch?"

"No, sir, I was given an egg as a gift. The man who gave me the egg makes a life trading things, among them are fire lizard eggs. He sells them, usually. He has a mated pair that produce about twice a year."

Rand nodded, thinking.

"I'd like to have one, I think. How much does an egg cost?"

"That, sir, I have no idea. I'd have to ask my trader friend," K'ndar said.

"His name?"

"He goes by Fire Lizard Man," K'ndar said.

Rand laughed. "Aye, I guess that'd tip me off as to what he sells. Is he here on Southern?"

"Yes, sir. I know he goes up North on occasion, but for them most part he wanders from one edge of Southern to the other. He's even been down to where I grew up, on the steppe."

"Iffen you ever sees him, let him know Rand would like to buy a fire lizard egg."

"I shall. For now, though, let's head to Southern Weyr, I'll get the coordinates to your cothold there."

__________________________________________________________________________

Southern's Weyrleader took the bundle without comment other than, "Thank you."

Resentment welled in K'ndar's mind, but he stuffed it away with a curt, 'shut up'. He was just a dragonrider, after all, and Weyrleaders were busy men. He HAD interrupted the man and several of his riders. Ah, well. He turned to go.

"I'm sorry, K'ndar, didn't mean to be rude. Is there anything more? You have the look of something else," the Weyrleader said.

Something was odd, he thought, it was almost as if he was intruding. Maybe I am, he thought.

"Yes, sir. I'm transporting Rand, one of Southern Hold's cotholders. He told me that he'd put up a sweep flag and a dragonrider stopped to provide transport. The dragonrider charged him three marks, sir."

"AGAIN!" the man shouted, slamming his fist on the wooden table.

"We've got to find that bastard, sir. This is wrong, it's giving us a bad name," said a woman.

"That's for certain, just the other day, someone took a shot at me. Arrow went way off, but still...this yob is turning the people against us," a man said.

"You...you've had this problem before?" K'ndar said.

"Aye. Would your client want to tell us in his own words?"

"I'm certain he would, sir, he's right outside. He didn't feel he needed to bother you."

The Weyrleader tugged his hair in frustration.

"He's not bothering me, K'ndar, it's this rogue who's been roaming my weyr's area for weeks now, harassing cotholders, stealing food, fleecing them when they ask for transport, as happened to your client."

The green rider got up, saying, "I'll fetch him. I saw him outside when you came up."

Rand came in, blinking from the bright sunshine. He tugged his forelock and said, "Begging your pardon, my lord, but I'm Rand. I'm a cotholder of Toric's."

"Sorry to hear that," said someone, sotto voce. The Weyrleader shot him a glance that said, yes, we all know.

He pushed a mug of klah towards Rand. "Klah?"

"No sir, thank you, I'd like to tell you my story, if I may?

"Carry on," the Weyrleader said. As Rand related it, K'ndar could see the riders growing angry. This rogue was a menace, every dragonrider could see it.

Rand had finished his tale. The Weyrleader looked through him for several minutes, tapping his fingers on the table as he thought.

"Do you remember the color of the dragon, sir?"

Rand said, "It's fairly dark in the jungle sir, but I'd say it were a brown, like K'ndar's, only bigger."

"If I were to let you meet my riders, would you be able to identify the one who overcharged you?

As one, his riders jumped to their feet, roaring in protest. "WE DON"T DO THAT," they shouted as one.

The Weyrleader raised his hands to quiet them.

"I don't believe for a single moment that any of my weyrfolk would do such a thing. But, this is serious, this rogue has been a thorn in my side for weeks, now. I HAVE to be able to say to Toric-and the Council-that Rand met all my male riders and didn't see the man who did this," he said, mollifying them.

He turned to one of the riders.

"Would you please summon all my male riders? Luckily, everyone is in the weyr at the moment."

_____________________________________________________________________

Discipline is good here, K'ndar thought. Southern Weyr's male riders, blue, brown and even two weyrlings who'd impressed bronzes, stood in quiet formation, wondering what this was all about.

Rand, nervously plucking at his own sleeves, was led past every one of them with their Weyrleader. He looked hard at each one, and the riders looked past him, as if in inspection. The Weyrleader, however, looked at each man or boy's face as Rand inspected them, watching for a reaction from the rider. In his heart, he begged them, no, don't you be the one. I know you people. I KNOW you're all innocent. Please don't prove me wrong.

He saw nothing but indifference, or boredom.

Finally, Rand turned and shook his head.

"No, sir. None of your men are the one."

"Thank you, Rand. Gentlemen, you are dismissed. I'll explain it later," the Weyrleader said, his relief plain.

The male riders left in small groups. K'ndar heard snatches of their conversation as they entered the sunshine..'What was that all about?" "Don't know, mate, but we'll know, soon enough."

"Thank you, Rand, if for no other reason than to set my mind at rest. This rogue has been doing this sort of thing for a month or more, and it is making for bad feeling amongst the holders we're supposed to be assisting. Thank you, too, K'ndar, for bringing Rand to me. You've been enormously helpful. I think I'll be heading for Landing, to talk to the Council. We have to catch this fellow. Have you said anything to your Lord Holder, Rand?" the Weyrleaders said.

Rand ducked his head.

"No, sir, I tries to steer clear of my Lord Holder iffen at all possible," the cotholder said.

K'ndar caught the Weyrleader's eye. He rolled his eyes. The Weyrleader allowed himself a quick grin. Everyone on Pern 'steered clear" of the cantankerousToric.

"I understand,sir. No matter. Again, thank you, gentlemen. If you would excuse me, I was in the midst of a planning session with my wingleaders," he said.

K'ndar took Rand's arm and led him out, down to the dragon bowl. Raventh was waiting, patiently. He pushed the cothold's coordinates to the brown dragon.

Lightning struck tree, that should be easy Raventh said.

They can fall down, remember. We'll find a more permanent one when we get there. I think I'll want to come back, to see what sort of place that animal calls home.

He patted Raventh's thigh as he helped Rand up the dragon's side.

"You did well in there, sir. I wouldn't have thought to have you check his riders," K'ndar said.

"Thank you, K'ndar. I get nervous when talking to higher ups, you know? It's why I don't want to talk to Toric," he said.

"It can be that way, Rand. Don't worry, even I felt nervous. One doesn't just go barging into a Weyrleader's staff meeting, but I felt he needed to know," K'ndar said. "I don't envy those riders, sitting around making decisions with the weyrleader. I don't want to ever be in that sort of position. I'm just happy being a plain dragonrider, no high positions for me!"

"I dunno 'bout that, K'ndar, seems you's pretty high up yourself, being a staff member at Landing? People asking YOU what you think that creature is?"

K'ndar was flabbergasted. "Me? No, sir, I'm just a...a..well,"

"You're not a drudge, you ride a dragon independently, you're a scientist at Landing. That's pretty high up iffen you ask me! But you treat me as an equal."

"What? Of course I do, I'm not important, you're...oh, get on with you, Rand!! Not only are dragonriders required to treat everyone with respect, it was how I was raised. Even being two heads taller than my mum, she'd whip my arse if she caught me treating anyone badly. And my brothers and uncle would hold me down to let her," he said.

Rand laughed. "Thank you anyway, K'ndar. I am just very happy that I don't need to talk to Toric."

_________________________________________________________________________

They appeared out of between high up above Rand's cothold. Below them, the jungle canopy was a solid mat of immense tree tops, spread out like a living carpet. He could see animals and avians moving through the canopy. The jungle was raucous with the sound of avians, wherries, and millions of insects. So different from the steppe, he thought, where the silence was so immense you could virtually hear your own heart beat.

A scent hit him immediately, one so very familiar and yet one he'd not smelled in a long time.

Firestone. Someone has been flaming here Raventh said.

Yes. add to that the scent of burnt vegetation.

The coordinates were right. The view was wrong. Below them, a black circle had been burnt into the solid green canopy, right to the ground.

"What the bloody shaff..." Rand began, looking down from Raventh's back.

Raventh circled, looking for the landing spot he'd been shown by a Southern Weyr dragon.

It's been flamed. A dragon did this he said.

"Um...."

"Shaff it, that dragonman, he torched my place! He torched it!!" Rand shouted.

Can you land?

I think so. I'm sending Siskin down to see if it's still hot, but I do see the outlines of the original clearing, made for dragons.

Siskin launched. Only later did K'ndar reflect that Raventh had had the initiative to use the blue fire lizard as a scout before he'd thought of it.

The blue swooped down, tentatively touched the bare ground, and warbled an okay.

It's safe. Landing now.

The clearing was definitely a clearing, now, the vegetation having been burned to a crisp. Tendrils of smoke rose from wood that'd been green that morning. He saw a dead bird on the ground, its feathers burnt off. His heart twisted. I hope it didn't suffer, he thought.

K'ndar felt responsible, despite common sense saying he was blameless. embarrassment...and shame.

"Rand, this isn't what we dragonriders do."

The cotholder stood, hands on hips, surveying the damage.

"I knows that, K'ndar, you 'n the Southern Weyr dragonriders, they're all decent folks. No, this was that bastard's doing. The Wanderers warned me, they did, said he'd be back to exact revenge if he didn't get payment immediately. Guess they were right," Rand said, reassuringly.

Feeling responsible, even though he wasn't, K'ndar wondered what to say. The man was suddenly homeless.

"Do..um, do you need a place to stay? I can put you up in my quarters," he said, wondering if he really could.

Rand laughed. It was a decidedly odd thing to do for someone who'd just had his home burnt to the ground.

"No, thank you, K'ndar. Don't you worry. I've lived in t'jungle long enough, dealt with lowlifes often enough, to have more than just one place to lay me head. Nay, K'ndar, this was just my 'office', my reception area, like you have at Landing? I kept a small hut here, to make it easier to find, you know? But it weren't home. To be honest, the bastard did me a favor, opening up the clearing. I would have had to cut it again, like I do every six weeks. Iffen I don't, it gets swallowed up like that!

He laughed, struck by a sudden thought. "Guess this makes us even, that bastard and me? He did me a favor and now I don't feel the need to pay him the mark and a half I owed him. He thought he'd hurt me? Ha! K'ndar, my home, my REAL cothold, where I sleep? It's hidden away in the jungle, safe from any rogue dragonrider's revenge. If you don't mind, I won't even show YOU where it is. What you don't know, you can't spill."

K'ndar felt a surge of relief...and fury. This arson had been done out of pure spite. That's shameful. Now it's become personal, he thought, this harmless old man, cheated and burnt out of his home? The rogue needs to be brought to heel and tried.

"I'm sorry, Rand," K'ndar said.

Rand patted his arm. "I'll be fine, K'ndar. Don't you worry none 'bout old Rand, what? You come on back iffen you want, I'm betting you'll want to see how that beast lived, eh?"

"Yes, I do. But for now, I'll have to go back to Southern, to report this," he said.

Chap. 253 The Night Raider

 

Chap. 253 The Night Raider

K'ndar stood up and stretched. He wasn't used to sitting for so long. There were parts of his job that entailed piloting a desk...and he wasn't so sure he liked it.

The last few weeks had been unexceptional, almost boringly quiet. I've actually been able to get a lot of things done, he thought. Somehow that wasn't comforting.

No flitting here and there across the continent like a flutter! No matter, it's dragon maintenance time! The rest of the day, devoted to Raventh and Siskin!

He'd just finished putting away his work when his datalink spoke up. "K'ndar of Landing. K'ndar of Landing."

Hmmph. Maybe I thought too soon?

"K'ndar here."

"Leana here, K'ndar. If you have a moment, would you please come up to Admin, to Acquisition? I've a strange beast I'd like you to identify, please," Leana, a green rider who had been made Chief Acquisition officer, said.

Grateful for the opportunity to stretch his legs, he said, "On my way!"

On the way out, he scanned his meager bookshelf..one he was gradually filling. "The Natural History of Pern" was there, already well thumbed and bookmarked. He tucked it under his arm and headed for Admin.

It was of no use.

A grizzled man stood before Leana's reception table. K'ndar felt just the slightest bit of pride when he entered through the main door to join Leana across from the man. I'm staff, now, he thought.

Then he saw the animal on the table. It was very obviously dead...and equally obviously something completely unknown.

He stared, jaw dropping.

" 'Ello, and you might be?" the man said.

"Oh, I beg your pardon, sir, I'm K'ndar, rider of brown Raventh and Staff Biologist. I didn't mean to be rude, but what in the world is this?"

The man laughed. " "Ere and I thought you'd be telling me, sir. Me name's Rand. I'm from Southern Hold. Well, mebbe not the Hold, you know. I'm a cotholder o' Toric's, but truth be known, sir and madam, I'm happiest not ever seein' Lord Toric. He can be...difficult."

K'ndar laughed, liking the man immediately. He kept his opinions to himself about Toric, though.

Leana said, "K'ndar, Rand just brought me this animal."

K'ndar reached out and touched it. What in the world was it? Plank's "Natural History" would be useless. He'd been through it so many times he knew this animal wasn't in the book. Nor was it a mammal, so "Walker's Mammals of the Galaxy" would be just as useless.

"Leana, ma'am, do you have a measuring tape?"

"Of course, K'ndar, right here," she said. She opened a drawer and pulled it out. "If you dictate, I'll copy," she said.

"Thank you. I hope there's a scale in there, as well?"

"Aye, but this animal is probably too big for it, we'll have to measure it in the lab. Why don't we wait to examine it after Rand tells us how it is he's brought it to us," she said.

"Yes, ma'am. Rand, tell me what you know about this animal. How did you get it? Do you have a name for it?"

Rand laughed. "Aye, but they's not polite 'uns. This is the beast that's been killing me small animals. Roasting piglets, mostly, but I've been raising chickens, too, mostly for the eggs, you know? 'Bout two months ago,I started losing them. Middle of the night, something'd get into me pens. I lives in the jungle, K'ndar, so I've built a boma almost two meters high, from the bigthorn. That plant, it's like needle thorn but don't shoot its thorns, them thorns're long as your fingers and SHARP. You have to wear wherhide gloves to even handle it and don't let it get near your eyes! It keeps the jungle wherries out, even though they's smart, they don't try to get past them thorns.

But I weren't smart enough to put bars over the top. Pigs nor chickens don't fly, at least not very well. I've been raising them a couple turns now, ever since I got me cothold approved by Toric. Long as I don't let them pigs roam, he don't mind, an' tithing a few of 'em keeps him off my neck. Pigs'll do an awful thing to the 'vironment if they's allowed to run free, but the jungle wherries are death on pigs. It's no surprise they've never gone wild, not like herdbeasts.

Anyway, I started seeing fewer chickens. Then the piglets started turning up missing until all I have left is the sow. Them chickens, they're not too smart, but the sow, she tells me something dangerous is after 'em. She was losing weight from fretting.

So I put me dog in the pen, thinking, oh, it's a big snake. We get some big 'uns in the jungle, we do, they's quiet. I put up a lot of fencing at the bottom, them snakes, they's too big to climb. It were a dirty trick on the dog, he weren't too happy being in with the pig, but he's a good dog and murder on snakes.

So a few nights ago, I hear a ruckus, the dog, he's carrying on. Then he stops barking and starts yelling for help. Then he shut up. By the time I get out there, mind you, it's blacker'n the inside of a cow, all I gots is a glow to see by, but I seen this beast with me last pig, me sow, in its jaws. And the dog all clawed up, he tried his best, he did, fighting off this beast. Poor lad..."

The man stopped, obviously stricken.

"The dog...didn't make it?" Leana said, grimacing.

"Nay, ma'am, he were too cut up. Torn to ribbons, poor lad. He were a good dog."

Rand paused, and heaved a sigh.

"So now this beast, he's killed all me pigs and me dog. I knows he's going to be back. I never seen this beast in the daylight, mind you. Just this 'thing' in the dark, carrying a 30 kilo full grown sow in his jaws like it were nothin', going straight up like a dragon. Hit the tree trunk and run up it like he were a quorl and was gone."

K'ndar shook his head. He looked at the animal on the table. It was lithe, and muscled. Even in death, it seemed to made of steel. The hide was a deep, dark green, speckled all over with pale yellow spots. Camouflage, he thought.

Rand continued. "So last night, I set him a trap. I put my last few chickens in a tiny cage, no openings so that he can't get them, and put up a snare. The beast jumps down from the overhanging branches, gets hung up in the snare, and it's screeching, fighting, bending double while upside down! but the snare's got him, sure as sunrise.

I go out there, set the fire to goin' so I can sees what I've caught. It's spinning on the end of the snare line. It's spitting and hissing. I'm telling you, sir, I've been through some tough fights, I've hunted wherries with just a dagger and a spear, gone through the jungle after dark, but this things' got me scared spitless. I suddenly realizes, there's no way I'm going to be able to release this thing without being killed by it. But he's crossed the line, pushed me over t'edge. He's killed me livelihood, how I'm going to tithe Toric? And that makes me mad.

So I get my spear, and goes to stab him. This beast, he's grabbing at the spear with his front feet, and trying to get loose with the middle pair, and hung up by his back un's. That tail, it's lashing, and this things' screeching to part your hair from the inside. I'm stabbing but not getting nowhere, just pissing him off and setting him to spinning faster. Suddenly, I hit the snare by mistake and cut it, and the beast falls onto the ground. Now I'm really scared, I'm stabbing like a madman, knowing he's coming for me. And he did, even with his hind legs all tangled up in the line, he come at me, scrabbling like, them front feet with claws like scythes. I were lucky, sir, I got him right behind t'head, just about cut his spinal cord, and that put him out o' action," Rand said. "Even then, he kept hissing for a while, can't move,his eyes just a burnin'-but it were with terror! I felt bad, isn't that crazy? Even all he'd done to me? Then he was dead. I was shaking afterwards, I'm not afraid to admit."

Leana and K'ndar both gulped.

"Whew," Leana said, "And so you brought him to us?"

"Yes'm. I'm thinking, I've never seen this beast in my life and I've spent most of it in this jungle. This beast needs to go to Landing, they'll want to see it."

He sighed.

"I have a horse, but she took one whiff of this beast and said No SIR I'm not letting you pack that thing on me!! And I realize, it'd be a week? afore I can get it to you by horseback. So's I bundle this thing up in a bag, and run up a sweep signal for the next dragon what comes by. I wanted to get it to you quicklike, afore it goes off. It's already starting to stink! I was lucky, ma'am, not a couple hours later, here comes a big dragon, he sees me signal and lands in the spot I've cut for wagons and dragons.

Dragonman hops off, says,what's your problem and I says, I need to take this bundle to Landing, and he says, right, mate, that's three marks."

"THREE marks! That's outrageous!" K'ndar almost shouted in fury. Then, "Sorry! Please continue."

"Aye, sir, it surprised me, too. I've not needed transport before but I had no idee it cost money!

I says, I'm sorry, I don't have but one and a half. The dragonrider says, "done, you can owe me, I'll be by to collect it later." So I pays him, he puts me aboard his dragon and just like that, we're here. Now I know what 'between' means, it didn't take but a few breaths but it were COLD. He dropped me off 'bout a kilometer south of here, I don't know why, as I see you've got a dragon meadow and even some dragons in it. Then he's off without a word, and I carried this beast up here, he's heavier than he looks. Someone stops me and asks me what would I like to do, and I told her and she led me here. And that's my story," Rand said. He looked at them with a combination of embarrassment and hope. Leana could feel his reluctance to ask for remuneration.

"Three marks? Three? That's robbery," K'ndar said. "The going rate for unscheduled transport is two, all the weyrs agreed to it."

Leana touched his arm, her unspoken reassurance to K'ndar. "You're correct, Rand, we will be more than happy to take this specimen. Thank you for thinking of us! You've lost a lot, and I'd like to make you whole. If you would excuse me, I've got to get some money," Leana said, and left the intake office.

Rand's face lit up in relief.

K'ndar reached out to touch the animal. It had been dead long enough for rigor mortis to set in. It was starting to smell, but it was more than just the smell of deterioration. I'll have to put it somewhere cool, so it doesn't get any worse.

"Sir, this all happened this morning?"

"Before dawn, yes sir," Rand said.

"You said you live in the jungle? Toric's Holdlands?"

"Aye, I do, dragonrider," Rand said, "lived in it most of my life, but only recently got the money for a cothold of me own. That mark and a half was all I had."

K'ndar felt excitement growing in him. I've wanted to do some exploring in the jungle for a long time. Imagine finding more of these creatures! Imagine being the first one to describe it!

"And you've never seen this beast before?"

"No, sir. Not once. Never even heard talk of it, but, dragonrider, more and more people be coming to Southern Hold. Most of 'em from North and they don't know diddly about living in the jungle, or how to make a living from it. Me parents were woodsmen from Northern, and I were just barely 9 when we moved here to Southern. I turned into a jungle beast myself, spent all day in it when I weren't doing my chores. The jungle taught me what's safe to eat, how to navigate. Sir, there's places in the jungle where you can't stretch your arm out without it being tangled up, tripping you up with vines that grab you and hold on, and big trees everwhere. And snakes, thick as your leg. I've gone through a lot of machetes, carving my place out of the jungle, but I'm respectful of her, and she takes care of me. She feeds me, she feeds me livestock, and I respect her. I don't take more than I need, and I try to keep me cothold small. Truth be told, sir, I don't like seeing all them folks coming here. They don't respect the jungle, they treat it like it's something to kill, something to fight. They don't seem to know you can't fight her. They're pushing further into the jungle, 'n I don't think she likes it. I think this beast is her way of saying, stay out, this is my home."

"I know the feeling. I feel the same way about my steppe," K'ndar said.

Leana emerged, with a small pouch in her hand. She looked troubled, though.

"Rand, I'm prepared to pay you for this beast, but before I do, tell me again...the dragon rider CHARGED you?"

"Aye, ma'am, wanted three marks up front. No discussion, not even a chance to barter. Like it were a contract," he said.

"Did he tell you who he was?"

"No, ma'am. Not a word. Not polite, at all."

"Was he from Southern Weyr? Because they usually provide transport for no fee if they're sweeping," she said. K'ndar could tell she was upset at the anonymous dragonrider's usury.

"I don't think he were from Southern Weyr, ma'am. I've talked with Southern Weyr's dragonriders on occasions, they stop sometimes. They're always civil, always polite. Not like this yob. He had the look of a brigand, like he was a raider, but I've never heard of a dragonrider turning rogue. I want to think he were Toric's man. Same attitude. I see that a lot with Toric's men. Lord Toric, he seems to attract the low lifes. You'd think at his age, he'd have changed? But I shouldn't be saying things about him, he IS my Holder. So this is between us, please? I keep my nose outa Toric's business. He's not a man to cross, not when you're like me, a nobody. With Toric, the wise man keeps his mouth shut and his eyes elsewhere."

Toric has his own dragonriders? Or was this dragonrider a true nomad, a free lancer? If so, he's giving the rest of us a bad name. Three marks is much too much, K'ndar thought.

Leana sighed. This was something that would have to be discussed with higher ups, she thought. Weyrs and Holders were autonomous and for the most part, kept out of each other's business...but this was different.

"Rand, I'm prepared to pay you for this beast, as well as cover your transportation both here and back to your cothold. In addition, can you tell me how many animals you lost?"

The man raised his eyes to the ceiling. K'ndar watched as he clenched his fists then raised eight fingers, one after another.

He met Leana's eyes. "Six pigs, including the sow, two chickens. One I don't know if it got et by a snake or what, it were the first one to go missing."

"So, nine in all?"

"Eight I'm sure of, ma'am."

"Let's call it nine. I would like to reimburse you for your nine animals lost. AND your dog."

Rand looked surprised-and grateful.

"That would be wonderful ma'am but it t'aint necessary," he said.

"I insist. Will fifteen marks be enough?"

Rand's eyes flew open in amazed appreciation.

"That would be more than fair," he sputtered.

She counted out fifteen one mark coins. She and K'ndar both appreciated that he didn't snatch them up, but picked them up with dignity.

"Thank you, ma'am, thank you," Rand said.

"Rand, would you be willing to show me where it lives?" K'ndar asked.

"You mean, back at my cothold?" Rain asked.

"Yes, sir. Once I know where it lives, I'll be coming back later on, to see what I can learn about it. For now, I'd be happy to take you back to your cothold on my dragon-at no charge, of course," K'ndar said, his mind still whirling with the implications.

"I'd be glad to take you into the jungle, I'll even put you up, if that's your wish. I was wondering how I was going to get back home. It'd be a long, long walk," Rand said.

"If you'll give me about half an hour to harness my dragon and get my gear ready, I'll take you home. I'll have to go to Southern Weyr to get the coordinates for your cothold but that shouldn't be too difficult." He was already visualizing Southern Weyr's dragonstones.

Leana said, "By the way, sir? Don't let on how much money we paid you for the beast. I don't want people going out and killing them for what they would consider a bounty."

The man put the coins in a pouch tied to his side.

"Yes,'m. I wouldn't have said a word, anyway, it don't pay to let on that one has money," he said.

He paused, then reached out to the animal on the table. He ran his hand over its side.

"I don't blame this beast. He were just trying to make a living, just like me."