«You tell the story better than a priest,” he said.
«The kikihuahuas are real. They were here on Earth once, and they’ll come again.»
Above Raoul’s bed hung a small hardwood board, and into the wood someone had laboriously scratched characters with a sharp stone. The writing was in the imprecise, abbreviated hieroglyphics of those times, and roughly translated it said:
THE EXAMPLES OF THE KIKIHUAHUAS
«The kikihuahuas do not command or even instruct, for that is not their way. Rather, they set an example and leave others to follow or not follow as they think fit. The Kikihuahua Examples are great and complex and involve many creatures throughout the Greataway. They are a way of life and death, and it is the Will of God that human beings of all Species and Varieties work towards achieving their state; in particular the Prime Examples:
I will not kill any mortal creature
I will not work any malleable substance
I will not kindle the Wrath of Agni.
In this way you will take a step towards living in accord with your world and the creatures in it, which will be a step nearer to the Example of the kikihuahuas, and the Will of God.»
In more simple terms, the Examples were translated by the irreverent as ‘don’t bash, bend or burn.’ Naturally, it was the humans of the first variety of the Second Species — the True Humans — who had appointed themselves keepers of the faith. Periodically they sent priests into the felino camps and onto the tumpfields, and even into the mountains, to ensure that the Word was kept.
So Astrud stood, ruffled Raoul’s hair — a thing he wished she wouldn’t do — and went downstairs to prepare the supper.
Tonight they were having early tortugas, baked.
The grupo without Karina
The El Tigre grupo, minus Karina, had stalked Iolande’s grupo into the foothills. The huge sighing of the tumps hid any sound they might make. Above, the tumpiers dozed on their mounts; tiny human figures against the night sky.
«They went south, I think,” said Runa.
«I really think I heard them heading west,” ventured Saba breathlessly. She was having trouble keeping up, as usual.
«What can they be doing?» asked Runa.
«Poaching tumpmeat,” Teressa stated positively. «There’s been talk about this at the camp. Somebody’s been creeping into the fields at night and stealing slices from the tumps. The tumps can’t feel it and the tumpiers are asleep. Then in the morning they find fresh wounds.»
«I’m hungry,” said Runa. The talk of flesh was getting to her.
«Forget it, sister. We’re going to catch them in the act, so you’d better make up your mind whose side you’re on.»
«But raw …?» Saba was disgusted.
«It’s better that way,” said Runa with relish. «Haven’t you ever tried it? Cold and juicy and full of flavor.»
«Runa!»
«They frown on it at the camp, of course. They think if the True Humans ever saw us eating raw flesh, it would really convince them we’re animals. But so what? If it tastes good, eat it, that’s what I say.» Runa’s eyes shone in the moonlight.
«I think I can smell blood,” said Teressa. She sniffed the air and smacked her lips. «The wind’s from the east. That’s where they are — they must have circled behind us.» She swallowed. Her mouth was watering.
«Raw.…» said Saba thoughtfully.
«Hold it!» Teressa decided this had gone far enough. «Tonight we’re on the side of law and order, for a change. We suspect Iolande’s grupo is guilty of antisocial behavior, and we’re going to confront them.»
«Confront them?»
«Sneak up on them —” A vast sigh like the exhalation of a whale sounded from almost overhead, interrupting her “— and confront them. Point out how they’re cheating the whole camp — in fact how they’re cheating felinos everywhere, giving them a bad reputation with True Humans.»
«Personally I don’t give a shit what True Humans think of us,” said Runa.
«Well, no. But it makes us look good in front of our own people. I mean.… Torch will probably put in a good word for us at the next meeting. We have a few things to live down, you know.»
«Torch? To hell with Torch!»
The scene was set for one of those frequent clashes between Runa and Teressa.
«You’d better not say that when he’s heading up our grupo!»
«He’ll never head any grupo I’m a member of!» snapped Runa.
«You won’t have any choice in the matter, sister!»
«Who’s going to make me? You? Are you sweet on that swaggering goon, Teressa?»
«By Agni, I’m going to kill you, Runa!»
Runa sprang. Teressa sidestepped and Runa found herself clawing uselessly at the tough hide of the tump. As she turned, Teressa’s kick caught her full in the stomach and she dropped, the air whistling out of her.
«You’ll have to be quicker than that!» Teressa taunted her. «Torch is a big man. He’ll kill you on the first night!»
«Stop it! Stop it! shouted Saba. «I wish Karina was here!»
«What’s going on down there?» came a sudden shout from above.
«Now you’ve done it, you two,” Saba whispered. «The tumpier’s woken up.»
«Let’s get out of here.»
They crept away, Teressa supporting the staggering Runa who was having difficulty breathing; and headed east, downhill. Far below them the sea glittered coldly and the polished hardwood of the sailway showed as a silver thread across the plain. The wind was cold, and bore the strengthening scent of blood.
Suddenly, Runa fell.
Instantly Teressa was kneeling beside her. «Are you all right?»
«I’m … fine.» She tried to struggle up.
«No, lie there a moment. Saba! Go and scout out that smell. Don’t let anyone see you. Just keep your head down and find out what’s going on.» When Saba was out of earshot, Teressa said, «I wanted to say I’m very sorry I hurt you, and I’ll try not to let it happen again.»
«I … I.…» Runa gulped, snuggling her head against Teressa’s breasts.
«Tell me.»
«It’s so hard. The other grupos often have mothers or boys leading them and they know so much, and they just seem to run rings round us. I want us to mate well but Torch drives me insane, always creeping round father.… But he’s well thought of in the camp. I don’t know what to think.»
«Well, we’re well thought of too — you know that. We’re pretty much the top grupo of our generation.»
«A lot of that is due to Karina,” said Runa.
«So where is she now?» It had been annoying Teressa for hours. «A grupo should be together. That’s what grupos are all about. Suddenly she keeps going off on her own.»
«We all need one another, I think,” said Runa pacifically.
When Saba returned, she found Runa and Teressa curled up together like kittens, half asleep. «I’m glad you’ve settled your differences,” Saba said with some asperity, «because Iolande’s grupo’s down there feasting on a tump like they haven’t eaten for months, and if we don’t hurry up they’ll strip it to the bone and start in on the lumpier.»
Teressa stood, «Right. Runa, you circle south around that knoll. Saba, north through the gully. I’ll take them from the front — you’ll have to keep your head down; the moon will be in our faces. Don’t move in until you hear me yell.»
Saba said, «I wish Karina was here.»
The Purpose
Many years before, the handmaiden, then a young girl, had asked the Dedo, «What is the Purpose?»
The Dedo walked across the bare floor of the cottage and laid her palm against the Rock. Since the Rock gave access to most areas of the Greataway, it followed that much of the knowledge of the Rainbow could be tapped into. After a moment the Dedo nodded.