Planet Of No Return by Harry Harrison

Author:Harry Harrison [Harrison, Harry]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-05-17T22:30:50.305000+00:00

"Please don't be concerned. There's no one waiting, I'm sure of that." Brion looked after the fleeing man, then stood and stretched. "Sprinting is good exercise. I don't get enough of it."

As she watched him, Lea knew that she has been foolish to worry. When Brion began to run she realized that she had never seen him move at top speed before. She had forgotten that he was a world champion athlete, a victor in twenty sports—and this had to have been one of them.

For Ravn it was an unwelcome shock. One instant he had been ready to sing a victory song, having run so far and so fast that he knew that he could never be caught. When he looked back and saw the Hunter beginning to chase him he laughed, going faster himself in order to open the distance. But when he looked again the Hunter had halved the distance— and was still coming on. Ravn wailed in despair and ran, but he could not escape. Heavy footsteps pounded close behind him while the trees were still too distant. His lungs ached, his heart was bursting—a heavy hand fell onto his shoulder and he shrieked aloud and fell.

Brion felt no pity as he looked down at the old man writhing and wailing in the grass. He felt his heart

Taking Charge

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beating strongly after the run, and with each pulsation the stump of his amputated finger throbbed with pain. An uncomfortable reminder that this groveling creature was the very one who had amputated it. Anger cut through Brion's pain as he saw that same finger around the filthy creature's neck, saw the man clutch to the necklace of bones with both hands as he lay there screeching with self pity. Holding on to it as if it gave him strength.

When he saw this, Brion knew what he had to do. He remembered that the ragged lizard skin clothing and crude stone weapons were the only artifacts that these people appeared to have. Other than this necklace. It must be valued highly, or was some kind of honor to wear. Good! In that case he was the one who was going to have it.

Ravn wailed even louder when Brion tried to take the necklace from him, clutching to it desperately with both hands. But Brion's strength could not be resisted. He seized Ravn's wrists with his mighty hands and squeezed, numbing them instantly so that the fingers lost their strength and simply fell open. Brion pulled the necklace off over Ravn's head, then put it slowly on himself. The old man's waitings gave way to screamed entreaty.

"Mine—give me! I am the Ravn, mine to wear, mine ..."

He spoke in his own language and Brion found that he could understand it easily enough. The Heuristic Language Programmer had done its work well. Brion stepped back and placed his hand on the necklace, speaking slowly in the same language.

"It is mine now. I am Brion. While I wear it I am the Ravn." If Ravn were a title as well as a name this should make sense to the man.

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