Return to Eden by Harry Harrison

Author:Harry Harrison [Harrison, Harry]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 9780743423748
Google: ySIMAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0743423747
Publisher: ibooks
Published: 1987-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

Kerrick stepped reluctantly forward, searching for a way out, finding none. This Yilanè was a hunter, he could tell that, knew he would be killed instantly if he tried to attack. She signed with her top thumbs as she stepped forward. Then shivered and almost fell.

The arrow made a thunking sound as it struck deep into her back.

She raised the hèsotsan, her hands shaking, pointing it towards Kerrick. It cracked once, the dart missed.

She raised it higher.

The second arrow took her in the neck and she fell. Herilak ran silently up the path, looked down at the two bodies.

"I did not see the marag until it killed the boy. I did not have a clear shot until it moved into the track."

"You followed us."

"I did. I did not bring a death-stick but I followed you. There was a danger just the two of you alone. We must get rid of the bodies. Into the pit…"

"No, no need," Kerrick said wearily. "I talked to that one before you killed her, you heard me. She had guards posted to watch this track. They told her that we were coming."

"We must leave quickly!"

"No, she is a hunter, she came here alone. It is too dark now for others to follow her. But the watchers who saw us come and told her, they are in the city. Others will be here in the morning. We cannot hide the fact that we were here. They know now. I didn't want any killing, I thought it would be better without you. But you followed anyway. We should bury Harl."

'Foolish, waste of time. His tharm is in the stars and he cares not for the meat left behind. I will cut out my arrows, we will take the death-sticks and leave. By morning when they come here we will be far down the track."

Kerrick felt a great weariness. He knelt beside the dead boy and removed the bundle of hèsotsan. Then straightened Harl's limbs and closed his eyes. He rose slowly to his feet.

"I killed him," he said, bitterly. "I brought him here."

"The marag killed him. We have new death-sticks. Leave him now—and leave all thought of him. He was young but he was a good hunter. I will take his spear and bow. Another boy who wishes to be a hunter will get great strength from them."

Tbere was nothing more to say, nothing that could be said. They had the weapons. With the bundles slung across their shoulders they started north, were quickly out of sight. It grew dark under the trees and shadows stretched across the two bodies, so alien to each other, now united in the inescapable bond of death.

There were no large carrion eaters here within the city, so the corpses were undisturbed during the night.

At dawn the crows found them. Landed hesitantly and hopped forward, very suspicious of the large and unexpected gift. They were beginning to tear at the flesh when loud shouts disturbed them and they flapped away. The first fargi, hèsotsan held hesitantly before them, approached down the path.

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