Brion Brandd #02 - Planet of No Return by Harry Harrison

Author:Harry Harrison [Harrison, Harry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780812539813
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 1981-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

PLANET OF NO RETURN

make a run for it. I've been waiting for this. I'll give him a bit of a lead

before I grab him. I want him to run and to feel that he is getting away from

us at last. Then, when I grab him again, he should be in despair. Perhaps I

can get through to him then when his defense are down, convince him to talk to

me. I haven't wanted to force it up until now. But if he has this much energy

I think that he can use some shaking up."

"Give him an extra shake for me. Whenever he looks at me he has that same

disgusted expression that he had when you gave him the cooked meat to eat."

"His is a very stratified society, you saw that for yourself."

"Yes. With women somewhere below the bottom. Ahh, there he goes. He's getting

to his feet now, looking in this direction."

"Turn away as though you don't see him. I want him to have some hope of

escape—before I take it away from him. This should be a traumatic situation

that might very well get him off his guard."

Ravn knew that the Old One Who Talked would not pursue him. He sat always in

the same place. And of course the She was of no importance. It was only the

big Hunter he feared, for this one's strength was like that of two men. Yet

the chance must be taken now, when the Hunter was not looking. Ravn had eaten

and rested. He was the Ravn and still strong in the legs since for many years

he had pursued and killed Meat-things. He had outrun them—and now he would

outrun the Hunter as well. The Hunter was stupid, not even looking. The Old

One was stupid too for he just sat there and gave no alarm. Slowly at first,

this was the way, he crept

Taking Charge

127

away through the grass—now leap up, fast! Like the wind, like the Meat-things—

he would never be caught now.

Lea watched the old man running fleetly across the plain, further and further

away. "Aren't you taking a risk?" she asked. "The old bastard has a good turn

of speed. It would be a shame to lose him now. There could be trouble, you

might have to fight with his friends. They could be waiting for him out

there."

"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.

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