Gripping his rifle in both hands, Reeve wove rapidly through the trees at a lope. He broke through the forest, onto the rocky edge of the river which foamed and tumbled over the boulders in its bed. Where the river started to turn back again toward the village, a moving speck caught his eye. Hastily adjusting the binoculars, Reeve saw the shaggy brown body of a huge mda, pacing up and down the verge, snarling and coughing. The animal paused, started to step out onto an upthrust boulder, but the distance was too great and the current too swift. Snarling with frustration, the mda resumed its nervous pacing. The object of its interest was a small figure, crouched on a boulder some ten feet out in the stream. It was Todd, hugging his knees up under his chin, evidently hoping that if he made himself small enough he would he rendered invisible.
Frantic, Reeve checked the range. It was too great for an accurate shot and he couldn't risk a wounded mda loose in the forest so close to the Hrruban village. Todd seemed safe enough, although how he had made it to the rock was beyond Ken.
Ducking and dodging, stumbling over decayed limbs and rocks, Reeve closed the distance between himself and his son. The snarling cough of the hungry mda became louder. Reeve was grateful that he was downwind from the beast and that the rushing river covered the sound of his hell-bent advance. He paused to catch his breath, because he realized he was panting with fear and exertion. The sinking feeling, cold and heavy in his guts, constantly overrode discretion, urging him to greater speed.
He could see the mda clearly now. Again the animal put out a tentative paw, settling his hindquarters as if to spring. With a coughing snarl, he ducked his head, swaying back and forth from side to side, still undecided. Ken could now see the fallen tree trunk half-caught between the first stone and the one on which Todd crouched. God, the child had had sense enough to dislodge the log after he'd crossed it.
Suddenly the mda froze, turned his wide skull upriver. The snarling stopped. Something else was approaching from the village side and the bear had caught the smell. The predator crouched and began to slink from the edge of the river. Reeve trained his glasses on the forest but he could see nothing. Disregarding the necessity for quiet, Reeve plunged on, taking the safety off his rifle as he ran. The village could not be far away and the Hrrubans had only rudimentary weapons. Hrrula had told him they always hunted in small groups, leaving the mdas and another carnivore they called ssorasos alone. They did not, apparently, hunt for sport. A single person, a woman perhaps, coming to the river edge for water unsuspecting, would be easy, quick prey for the hungry, angry mda. Reeve, struggling for a second wind, broke out of the forest onto the ledge opposite Todd. The boy sprang to his feet with a sobbing cry of relief. Reeve waved reassurance and plunged on just as he heard the mda's charging roar. A terrible scream broke the stillness of the morning. Reeve, bursting into a small glade, took the scene in at a glance. The mda lay, writhing on the forest floor, trying to dislodge the spear in its shoulder. Just beyond it, Hrrula stood, a second spear raised and ready.
Reeve, shooting as he moved forward, emptied the rifle into the mda in a wild fit of relief, anger and fear.
Hrrula and he stood looking down at the twitching corpse, the one with spear poised, the other with a smoking rifle.
I heard the beast coughing and knew he had something trapped, Hrrula said. It filled me with concern to see it was Zodd.
Reeve, trembling with reaction, nodded weakly.
It was a deed of great bravery, he managed to say, a tremor in his voice he couldn't control, for certainly your life is worth more than that of a child.
Reeve was amazed at the savagery in his tone when he spoke of Todd. Hrrula looked at him with an expression akin to dismay.
Is it not true in your world that a leader is known early by even his childish actions?
Leader? Todd? No! Troublemaker, yes!
Hrrula smiled, leaning against the spear he had grounded.
The father of my mother's mate, Hrral, and Hrrestan, spoke most highly of your youngest.
Reeve snorted, annoyed that these natives could see something in his child that he did not.
A thin cry of Daddy, uncertain and frightened, came from the direction of the river. As one, the two moved off to rescue the child of whom the Hrrabans thought so highly.
Chapter XIII. RED LETTER DAY
BY THE TIME Ken and Hrrula had found a log and thrust it out across the supporting boulders to Todd, Hrrestan and other catmen had joined them, roused by the cries of the mda and the shots.
White-faced, Todd scrambled across the log, his rope tail dangling into the river. Reeve gripped the small shoulders tightly and gave the child a fierce shake, the urge to beat him soundly postponed by the presence of an audience.
You're lucky you weren't killed, you little fool, Reeve said between clenched teeth.
I was all right out there, Todd replied stoutly. But I got scareded that Hrrula'd get killed. He only had a spear.
"If he had been killed, young man," and Reeve broke off significantly, shaking Todd. "Can you understand what would happen?" Can you?"
We'd have to leave Doona? Todd cried, tears unexpectedly starting down his cheeks.
We'd have to leave, Reeve reaffirmed, expressionlessly. How could he explain to a six-year-old the colonists' dilemma.
I only wanted to see Hrriss, Todd cried with plaintive snuffling.
God give me patience, thought Reeve, he is only a child!
Todd sneezed, looking cold and small with the tall men of both races towering over him. Reeve's mood switched from frustrated resentment to concern.
The child is cold and must be warmed. Come now to our fire and eat with us, Hrrestan offered them graciously.
Todd planted himself squarely in front of Hrrula, looking up at the young Hrruban, tugging at his hand for attention.
Hrrula, please forgive me for nearly getting you killed. Don't make us leave Doona, he said earnestly although his teeth were chattering.
Hrrula hunkered down to Todd's eye level, one hand under the boy's chin. First, promise never to walk in the woods alone again, he demanded.
I promise, oh, I promise, Todd agreed fervently, his eyes wide and solemn.
Good, purred Hrrula, releasing the square little chin and standing up.
When they had started off toward the village, Todd wrapped in his jacket and cradled in his arms, Reeve realized that the Hrruban had made his demand to the child in good Terran. Before he could pursue this, the women had rushed out with much purring and hissing over Todd.
Reeve was glad enough to sit in front of a warm fire and let its warmth ease the tension in his body. He didn't protest the delay when the women insisted that Todd be given a warm bath and be dressed in a furry robe. He enjoyed the thick soupy beverage that was served him, delighting in its aromatic vapor and the feeling of well-being it spread through his system.
Then there was the matter of skinning and gutting the mda. Ken tried to mask the revulsion he felt during the process, particularly since the business was done under Todd's fascinated eyes. At first pleased that the boy did not disgrace them by becoming ill, Reeve turned mildly surprised at Todd's detachment as the carcass of his former hunter was butchered and hung.
Todd grinned at Hrriss with pleasure when Hrrula told him, in Hrruban now, that the skin would be cured for Todd's use.
At least, Ken thought grimly, the skin would provide enough credit to soundproof a room for Todd back on Earth.
Hrrula then cut thick steaks from the flank, rolling them up in the wide leaves of a river plant for Reeve to bring home.
Reluctant to leave this pleasant scene, Reeve was finally roused by the unmistakable roar of a blast-off. He grinned to himself in sudden relief and self-awareness; by God, he'd been procrastinating in an unconscious desire not to be jerked away from Doona a moment sooner than necessary. And now that Hu Shih hadn't been able to persuade Kiachif to remain until the Codep reply arrived, they had another reprieve.