Andre Norton by The Sioux Spaceman

Author:The Sioux Spaceman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-08-27T20:01:32+00:00

CHAPTER 8

"THAT'S rr, not one of them will willingly go near the horses," Santoz sounded as if he were relishing Kade's discomfiture. "This situation could blow up into real trouble."

"If," Abu answered from the head of the council table, "we don't fulfill our contract with the Pac well also be in trouble."

"What I am asking," Che'in struck in mildly, "is how this 'devouring demon' rumor ever got started in the first place. We've imported other, and much more potentially dangerous beasts in the past and never aroused more than some curiosity. Why this sudden antipathy for horses?"

Kade wanted an answer to that himself. It was almost as if someone—or something—had picked the plan out of his brain and set about an effective counterattack even before he had a chance to get started.

"Those other animals were smaller," Santoz pointed out with irritating reasonableness. "The only large animals native to Klor— the kwitu and the susti—are dangerous."

"So is the farg and that is just about the size of a half-grown bear. These Ikldnni were hunters before they were captured, we don't have any of the slaves from the breeding pens here. No, I would say that the rumor of demons did not spring full bom from one of their crested skulls. I'd say it was planted."

"But why?" demanded Santoz.

Che'in smiled gendy. "Oh, for any number of reasons, Manual. Say that such a story could be used to inflame the post laborers into a revolt—"

Santoz sneered. "Revoltl With Buk having their lives under his finger tips every second of the day and night? They're not fools?"

But, Kade's own thoughts raced, a revolt with a method of handling Buk and his box, however risky, was possible. Was this the time to make a general confession? His lips parted but Che'in was already speaking.

"I don't believe that any of us are experts in Ikkinni psychology. The Styor have not encouraged such research. Perhaps our best piove—"

Abu cut in. "Our best move, since we can not lift a contracted order off-world again, is to get these animals into Styor hands as quickly as possible."

Che'ki grinned. "Give the 'demons' into the keeping of those already granted such propensities by the Ikkinni. But, of course!"

That made good sense according to trade reasoning, yes. But Kade did not want a fast move in that direction.

"Well have to take them overland," he pointed out. "And if the Ikkinni have to be forced to act as drivers—"

Abu frowned. "Yes, they might turn against the animals. Well, have you anything helpful to contribute?" His glance to Kade was direct; cold and demanding.

"Let me have one native to begin with, and no Buk. Two days of work about the corral may bring us a convert."

"I don't see howl" Santoz objected. "Any native would have to be collar-shocked to get him there and, without Buk, he could turn on youf

"You have someone in mind?" Abu asked.

"Well, there is Dokital. He asked questions about the bear. He might just be interested enough in horses to stay around until he saw that they weren't dangerous.

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