Close to Critical by Hal Clement

Author:Hal Clement [Clement, Hal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780345291684
Publisher: Orion
Published: 1964-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

"You've been around here, and I haven't. Is it possible to go down the south or east side of this hill we're on and make a long circuit so as to get on the other side of him without being seen?" Both John and Betsey thought for several seconds, reconstructing in their minds the regions they had mapped in the last day and a half. They spoke almost together, and in almost the same words.

"Yes, from either side."

"All right, do it. Leave the group here casually - you'd both better go together; the herd is on the south side of the hill, and I would judge that some of the beasts are in his line of vision. You can go down and drive them around out of his sight, and we'll hope he thinks you're just doing an ordinary herding job. Once you and, the cattle are out of his sight, get around behind him as best you can, and bring him here, preferably alive. I'd like to know how he got here so soon, and so would Fagin, I'm sure." "Are you going to tell him, or the others?"

"Not yet. They'll act more natural if they don't know. Besides, there are still a couple of reports to be given, and Fagin never likes that to be interrupted, you know."

"I know he usually doesn't, but this seemed a sort of special case."

"Special or not, let's surprise him with your prisoner. Take axes, by the way; they seemed to impress those folks a lot, and maybe he'll give up more easily."

"All right." John and Betsey pulled up their resting legs and started casually downhill toward the herd. None of the others appeared to notice them, and Nick did his best to imitate their attitude as the two scouts disappeared from sight.

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