Balook

by Piers Anthony

  "You look a sight!" Barb called.

  "A happy sight!" he called back.

  She turned away. He wasn't sure why. She couldn't be jealous of his restored rapport with Balook. Maybe it was that she was too formally dressed to do the same with Theria at the moment.

  SO THEY WERE reunited, and more, for now Balook had a family, and Thor was part of it, like an uncle. It was not that the rhino didn't care who played with his calf; the approach of any stranger, human or animal, brought a warning snort, and ominous stomping of the heavy feet. These were signals it was wise to heed. Balook's attitude had matured with his body and status; now he was dangerous in the way that any bull or stag was, when crossed. Thor was riding Balook once when a stray dog came near, and he felt the muscles of the rhino's powerful shoulders tense. The compound was not tight; small animals like dogs could squeeze through gaps and sneak in to raid the food. These were tolerated as long as they kept their place. But this dog looked at Blooky, and Balook was abruptly taut. Suddenly Thor was made aware of the juggernaut of destruction that this animal could become when aroused. Balook was still gentle, but now it was a selective gentleness, complemented by a new male pride. Push him the wrong way, and Balook would fight—and there was nothing living that could conceivably stand against him.

  The dog took the warning and hurried away, though Balook had never moved. Animals often understood each other in ways that human beings did not. Had Thor not been in close physical contact at the time, he would not have known of the interchange. But it was genuine; had the dog made a single threatening gesture toward Blooky, he would have been in instant peril for his life.

  Abruptly it was clear why Thor had been summoned. He could control Balook; no one else could. Balook might have followed where Theria, guided by Barb, led—but that was by no means certain. On the grounds of the Project it didn't matter; this was a controlled environment. On a trek between locations—potential disaster.

  Of course it was stretching things to believe that Thor controlled Balook. Even in the old days, Thor had only guided the rhino. It was a perpetual game Balook had loved to play. But he had always had a mind of his Own, and on occasion asserted it. Now that assertion was stronger. But Balook still did accept Thor's guidance, when there were no conflict. Now that the imperatives of mating and fatherhood had been honored, Balook was satisfied to be with Thor again. Thor remembered Barb's comment in the letter: how Balook had stood for hours at a time in the pasture, facing east. The bond between them had never been sundered; Thor had merely denied it for a time, to his shame.

  If Balook had forgiven Thor his absence, Barb had not. She hardly spoke to him now. She had been open at the start, but then shut down. The way she had turned away from him—now he understood. She had done her duty by welcoming him back to the Project, introducing him to Blooky, and seeing him reunited with Balook. She owed him no more. Thor could not argue with that; he knew he deserved it. In a way he was glad; it gave him more of a chance to get used to her as she was now. Oh, it stung; but it was right. Once he worked his way back into her favor the hard way, he would know it was genuine. Perhaps the effort would allow him to expiate some of his guilt.

  The process of closing down the site went on, while little Blooky gained his walking legs. Thor and Barb took turns exercising the baby rhino. This might have led to pleasant contacts and increasing intimacy between the two human beings, but Barb rebuffed any overtures Thor made. In fact she sniped at him with increasing rancor, for decreasing reason.

  Thor was irritated, but he was older than he had been, and he had a better basis for understanding. Two years ago he had lost his rhino, and Barb had kept them both. He had been frustrated and unreasonable. Now Barb was losing Theria, and Thor was gaining the entire family. Jealousy, loss, despair—whatever it was, Thor well understood it. He had traveled the full course himself, isolating himself until forcibly drawn back by events. Balook was being restored to him, through no virtue of Thor's. He was in no position to judge her.

  He understood—but still it wasn't fun, having Barb continually at his throat. She was an attractive girl, more than attractive, with a lot to offer—everything to offer. He had to work with her. She had tried to reach him while he sulked, before; now he had to try to reach her.

  "Barb," he called one day as she brought Blooky back from his circuit. "C'mon, let's talk!"

  "Don't get smart!" she snapped.

  "Look—I know I was a heel to refuse your calls and not to read your letters. I was mad. I don't blame you. But we've got to work together now."

  "Sure," she said acidly. "Just like that!"

  "I know how you feel. I felt that way for two years. Please—I apologize for the way I was. I was a freak! I'm sorry."

  "You're sorry!"

  "Let's go out to the lake and talk."

  "And skinny-dip. You'd like that!"

  Thor considered. "Yes, I suppose I would."

  She turned away. "Forget it!"

  He caught hold of her arm. "I don't care where we talk! Just so we get this straightened out. We can't—"

  Barb whirled, her free hand swinging up. She slapped him across the cheek.

  It was no weak stroke. She was a vigorous, healthy girl, as she had always been, accustomed to brushing down Baluchitheria and hoisting herself on Theria's back. Thor's head rocked back, and for a moment he saw red. He was surprised to discover that there really was an optical effect; it was not merely poetic license.

  But he was older than he had been, and had learned the futility of violence. He grabbed her again, turned her about to face him, and pulled her close. She struggled, but he had grown a bit physically too, and was stronger. She lifted her hand to strike him again—but before she completed the motion, he kissed her.

  For a moment she was stunned, unresponsive. But only a moment. Then she reacted. She shoved him violently away.

  "Of all the nerve!" she cried. "What do you think you're doing?"

  "Something I've wanted to do for two years," he said soberly. "Only I didn't know it."

  "You think I'm going to play up to you just because you've got them all now!" she said furiously. "All the Balooks!"

  "No, I—"

  "You think I'm in heat or something, and—"

  "No!"

  "You've got the rhinos but you're not satisfied! You want everything!"

  Now it was coming into the open. She was jealous in the same way he had been, and was close to admitting it. "I guess I do," he said. "I thought all I wanted was Balook, but now—"

  "One amateurish kiss!" she snorted disdainfully.

  "I sort of hoped you'd like me a little for myself," he said. "I think you're a great girl, and I wish I'd answered your—"

  "Oh, shut up!" She took Blooky and marched off.

  Thor shook his head. "You sure are pretty when you're mad," he muttered inaudibly. "You're pretty anytime!"

  Perhaps the kiss hadn't shown Barb anything, but it had shown him something. Thor had never been in love—not with a human being—but suddenly it was easy to imagine the condition.

  Except that it was obviously a one-sided sentiment.

  THINGS WERE NOT perfect between the rhinos, either. Now that Thor had opportunity to work closely with all three of them, he saw that there were times when they got snappish with each other. When Blooky became too venturesome, Theria would nip him so it hurt. He would go crying to Balook, in his fashion playing one parent off against the other.

  All three of them seemed fussier than they should be. Thor wasn't certain whether this was because the stress of the incipient move was communicated to them, or whether it was simply that they had some empathy for the problem between him and Barb. If it was the former, there was little that could be done; if the latter, then it was another reason to straighten things out.

  But it did require two to straighten. Thor himself had been foolishly adamant for two years; evidently it was an example Barb intended to follow. He wished she was not so like him, in this re
spect! But he could hardly condemn her for it.

  Next day Barb came to him. Her hair was loose, her tresses longer and less curly than they had been two years before. She wore close-fitting blue jeans and a bright green halter. It was obvious that she suffered no embarrassment of underdevelopment any more. "I'll go to the lake, now," she said tightly.

  Thor realized that this constituted an apology. He was more than ready to accept it. "We don't have to go there," he said. "All I want is to see you smile."

  She looked at him, her brows furrowed. "You've changed."

  "I guess I have," he agreed, thinking of the creatures he had seen in the freak zoo. What was Pooh doing now? The bear would be well cared for, of course, but surely it missed Thor. His loyalties had become to a degree divided. Balook was not the only animal that required companionship. "I have suffered for my attitude. I brought it on myself; I know that. I don't want to do that any more. There is too much unavoidable suffering already."

  "Sometimes I dream—daydream—about Theria," she said, changing thoughts as was her way. "I go into some kind of trance, and it's as though she and I go home. Home to the Miocene Epoch, I mean: her home. I see the animals as her kind knew them, maybe twenty million years ago. It's all—" She shrugged. "Then I come out of it, and I'm so sad."

  "Me too," he said. "It was a better world, in its way. No people, no freaks."

  "I never did go in for pro-style romance," she said. "I'm sort of amateur myself." Then she smiled, and it was well worth it.

  They were friends again.

  TREK

  5

  AT LAST THE trek began. They rode astride the giants, guiding them on what was to be a five hundred kilometer haul. Thor was on Balook, Barb on Theria, with baby Blooky tagging along behind his mother. It was Blooky they were most concerned about; the little rhino was small enough to carry on a truck, but would not leave his mother for any extended period. The hustle and bustle of the trek excited him, making him stay closer than usual to Theria. Theria, like Balook, distrusted machinery.

  They could have drugged Blooky and trucked him across in a few hours. But Theria's journey would require several days, and she was not about to let her calf go that long. When she became upset, so did Balook. Whereas Theria could balk when annoyed, Balook was liable to attack. So it was essential that the rhinos be kept satisfied, and the entourage was limited by Blooky's pace. The grown animals would have to be given foraging time in the evenings, too; they existed mainly on high green leaves and twigs, and ate hugely.

  All of which meant a long, slow journey, with many rests. Thor looked forward to it, because there was nothing he liked better than being with the rhinos and Barb; the other Project personnel did not. As it turned out, their wisdom was greater than his.

  Balook led the way, stepping out as though proud to show himself outside the compound. Thor perched lazily on the massive shoulder, every bit as proud. The route had been carefully planned, and a yellow line had been painted on the ground to make quite sure no one got lost. A billion dollars had been invested in the Baluchitherium family; no one wanted to expose the rhinos to any unnecessary hazards.

  Thor waved to Barb, and she waved back. The other Project personnel stood behind; they could not come with the animals because Balook and Theria were not so tolerant of them. They normally did routine work around the rhinos: when the rhinos were in other areas of the compound. When one had to approach an animal directly, Thor or Barb served as escorts, even for the vet. It would be pointless to have others along on the trek; they would serve only to aggravate the rhinos. This was just the five of them: two human, three Baluchitherium.

  As soon as they cleared the compound, Balook swerved to nibble foliage. "Uh-uh!" Thor said, nudging the neck with a knee. "There's no end to that, and you know it! Keep moving."

  Balook made a little grumbling snort, and his back muscles tensed. But he returned to the yellow line. He knew the rules of this game. The relationship between them was not that of master and servant, it was more like weak and strong, with the latter humoring the former. Balook wanted Thor to be happy, perhaps concerned that he might disappear for another two years if affronted. So Balook made small sacrifices, however nonsensical they seemed. Such as passing up perfectly good greenery in order to walk along a barren path.

  That was why Thor had had to come. Balook would not have obliged anyone else. As the male, Balook had to lead; Theria would follow him. But even Barb could not have controlled Balook; she had not associated with him during those critical formative years. He would tolerate her as a rider, but would not obey her.

  The pace was measured. What a contrast to the headlong rush toward this site, two years before!

  BLOOKY HELD UP well, the first day, and by nightfall they had progressed thirty kilometers. A good start!

  They camped in a forested region with a clean stream, marked by the Project personnel for this purpose. The stream was vital, for the rhinos had a huge thirst after exertion. Everything was perfect, so far. The worries of Mr. Duke seemed groundless.

  Thor and Barb ate supper from their packs, washed in the stream, and settled down in warm sleeping bags next to Blooky. The big animals were out foraging; Blooky, too small to reach the edible treetops, lived mostly on Theria's milk. He eagerly accepted tidbits from their supplies, but this was more entertainment than sustenance for him. So Blooky lay down and relaxed, happy to have company.

  "That's why they tolerate us," Barb murmured. "We're baby-sitters."

  Thor chuckled. "There's no better job." Indeed, it was a significant signal of trust on the part of the adult animals; they would never have left Blooky alone unguarded, but knew that the human beings would guard him. That freed them to forage and sleep at night, and therefore to travel by day. Had any other human beings been present, they would not have done so. Thor knew that the personnel of the Project were keeping anxious track from a distance, unable to participate. Traffic had been rerouted and the local folk warned away; this trek was to be as isolated as possible. If any creature, human or animal, approached in the dark, Balook and Theria would close right in; they were browsing but alert, and they could both hear and smell very well. They could see well, too, at night—perhaps better than they could by day.

  Blooky, aroused by their voices, came over to nuzzle Barb. She reached her arms up to encircle his head. "Yeah, you big baby!" she murmured. "You get your rest; we've a long way to go tomorrow!"

  "Say—are you giving out free hugs?" Thor asked.

  "Only to babies."

  Thor gazed up at the dark sky. The Baluchitherium family had brought him and Barb together, and that was all that kept them together. Maybe if he had not sulked for two years, he would now be in a position to associate with Barb on his own merits. He had brought it on himself. She was being polite to him, working with him, but showed no inclination to be more than friends. "I guess I was one," he muttered disconsolately.

  There was a pause. He was afraid she had heard, and that he had angered her again. He wished he could apologize for those two years, but he couldn't, because he had already done so, and it would seem like belaboring a point. He cursed himself yet again for his past intransigence.

  "Maybe we'll pass a lake," Barb said.

  A lake! Thor remembered their ancient date to go swimming. Was it still on? The more he thought about it, the less he dared inquire. There was no doubt that Barb's prior objection no longer applied; she had certainly filled out.

  "Because you certainly need washing off," she continued.

  What? He remained tongue-tied.

  "You have dirt all over your face."

  Thor surreptitiously felt his guilty face.

  "And on your fur, Blooky," she concluded. "Now get to sleep."

  Thor blushed in the night. She had been talking to the rhino all the time!

  NEXT DAY THEY had to cross a major highway—and they had a surprise. A score of curious people had collected to watch the passage of the great animals. Their bic
ycles were parked on either side, and more were pedaling in. This was not supposed to happen; these must be ones who were deliberately violating the guideline, and had sneaked by the authorities.

  Balook tensed up immediately, not liking the strangers. "Easy, Balook!" Thor said, patting the neck. "I don't like them either, but they're harmless."

  Balook relaxed. Thor was not sure whether his words had the effect, or whether the animal was responding to Thor's empathy. Perhaps if Thor was angry, Balook didn't have to be; the situation was under control.

  In a minute they were across, Blooky walking between the two grown rhinos, shielded from the spectators. They plunged into the brush, leaving the people behind. There had been no incident, but this was clear warning.

  "We've got to keep the crossings clear of people," Thor called to Barb. "Balook was ready to bolt; he doesn't like them."

  "Right. I'll radio Mr. Duke." She put through the call immediately on her mobile unit.

  After a dialogue with the Project Manager, Barb was grim. "They didn't anticipate this, Thor," she said. "They planned the most direct route that included enough suitable forest. But they can't police every meter of it, and where they don't, the gawkers can get in. Somehow news of this trek has spread to everybody despite the news blackout. That yellow line shows them exactly where we'll pass."

  "We need that line," Thor said. "Balook is following it; it's a game to him. And I sure wouldn't know the route without it."

  "There's a thirty kilo stretch along a truckway," she continued. "They'll cordon it off, but it's too late to change it. And we'll pass right through the center of one town."

  "The center of a town!" Thor yelped.

  "It has to do with the conjunction of a rail line with a large river; impassable for them and impossible for Blooky. A detour would avoid that but get us into worse development. So we have to use the town, where they have a multi-level tunnel big enough for—"

  "A tunnel! Balook'll never—"