Balook

by Piers Anthony

  Thor ran to a large tree and scrambled up it. If he were lucky, they would pass this way. Like a panther, he waited, alternately savage and afraid. If only there were some better way out—but there wasn't.

  The first man came—from the wrong direction. He held a dog on a leash. Thor despaired.

  "Hey, we found it!" the man cried.

  "On my way!" another called. In a moment he walked directly under Thor's tree. He carried a rifle.

  Thor jumped. He was no panther; his takeoff was clumsy, and his shirt hung up on a broken limb. It ripped loudly, and he was jerked off his course. He fell behind his prey, landing heavily on the ground.

  The man whirled around, rifle ready. Thor lunged at him, grabbing for the weapon. He had no balance and no plan, except to get that rifle. His hands caught hold of the barrel, and he yanked as hard as he could.

  The man jerked back. Thor, offbalanced, fell—but he had it! He had the rifle! He rolled on the ground, but got his finger on the trigger. "Stop where you are!" he cried.

  The two men stopped. "Why, it's just a boy!" one said.

  "Get out of here!" Thor said, pointing the rifle at the nearest man. "Leave Balook alone!"

  "Put it down," the man said. "The animal is dying."

  There was no way to argue with that. Already other policemen were approaching.

  "Will you promise to help him?" Thor pleaded. "He didn't really do anything!"

  The men exchanged glances. "We can't promise," one said.

  "But we'll do what we can," the other added.

  What choice was there? Thor dropped the rifle and stared into the ground. Then he walked back to Balook and hugged the prostrate neck as well as he could manage. "Somehow, somehow..." he whispered to the nearest ear, the tears coming unashamedly.

  TROUBLE

  7

  "OH, THOR!" BARB cried. "What happened?"

  "Balook got shot..." He shook his head, sickened by the whole thing. "What happened to you?"

  They were in the forest, not far from Balook. Thor could not leave the rhino—not now. He had promised to take care of Balook, and Balook trusted him, and he had to carry through somehow. Two veterinarians were working on the wound. Balook was unconscious, under sedation. The loss of blood had put him most of the way out before the medication started.

  "Blooky broke his leg, but he's all right," she said. "It was more of a bend than a break, actually. He's got a splint, and he's young enough to think it's just part of life. Theria stayed put. We're all right. But you—"

  "The man in the car! Did they—?"

  "He escaped with severe bruises. The driver's compartment was specially braced. Still, it was lucky Balook didn't hit it one more time!"

  "The firecracker brat!" Thor demanded. "He started it!"

  "I don't know! They took him away so soon—"

  Thor didn't push it. They both knew that the boy was either dead or critically injured. Thor would have been satisfied to see the boy in hell, but then Balook would be guilty of murder. So he had to hope grudgingly that the brat survived.

  "How did Balook get shot?" Barb asked anxiously. "The police were under orders to shoot only in self defense."

  "We didn't know that," Thor said, horrified anew. Had he brought it on Balook by his own action? "I saw the glint from the gun, and thought they were going to shoot him right away. We charged the floater..." He trailed off. What was the use in talking about it?

  "I've got to get back to Blooky and Theria," Barb said. "She gets nervous without me. But first I've got to know about Balook!"

  They walked over to the downed animal. Open surgery was in progress. "We're fishing for the bullet," one vet told him.

  "How—how bad—?" Thor asked, finding himself squeamish. It was not the sight of the blood and instruments, but that it was the body of his friend. It could as readily have been an autopsy...

  "The intestine has been damaged, but no vital organs were hit. The main problem is loss of blood and exhaustion. Maybe some infection. If we can get the bullet out and keep him quiet, he should pull through."

  "Thank God!" Barb breathed.

  The vet looked at her. "You'd better hope that boy has similar luck," he said. Then he plunged his hand back into Balook's gut, searching for the bullet.

  They didn't answer. There was no answer to make. They walked toward the car that was waiting for Barb.

  She stopped outside it. "Thor—"

  "Yes?" He was so concerned about Balook that he wasn't really paying attention.

  "Thor, when I thought—that is, when you were gone, and the dragnet was after you—I didn't know whether you were alive or dead. Anything could have happened! I—"

  "Balook's still in trouble," he said. "We still don't know."

  "Not Balook. You. I mean, Balook too, of course. But—"

  "I'm okay. Tired, that's all. Balook took good care of me." He tried to smile, but the humor was vacant.

  "Will you shut up and listen a moment?" she flared.

  His eyes jerked from the rhino to her. "What's the matter, Barb?"

  "Can't we go somewhere and talk?"

  "I can't leave Balook. Not while he's sick."

  "Well, here, then. Thor, I—well, it's crazy, but I—" She stamped her foot in frustration. "Oh, I can't say it!"

  "Barb, did I do something? I'm sorry. It's just that I'm so concerned about Balook I hardly know what else is happening."

  "So am I," she said. "It's not that. I'm glad you're concerned."

  There was an awkward silence. "You know, Barb," he said at last, realizing that she needed time to work out what she was going to say. "I dreamed about you last night."

  "You did?" she asked, taking his arm. "What kind of dream?"

  "It's foolish. Nothing to it," he said, embarrassed.

  "So I'm nothing?" she asked with mock ire.

  "No, not that at all!"

  "What, then? C'mon, tell me." She smiled, mocking herself.

  "I'd rather not say. You'd laugh—or be mad."

  "No I wouldn't. Tell me."

  He met her gaze. Her face was beautiful, as lovely as his dream. He threw caution to the wind. "That we were—man and wife. Or about to be. At least, you were in a bridal gown. And you said 'C'mon, let's swim!' "

  She remained silent. Her expression did not change.

  He felt the flush rising. "I warned you it was foolish," he said defensively. "Just a crazy dream. I shouldn't have told you."

  "Yes, it's foolish," she agreed. "We're too young, we have so much to learn, so much growing to do. But sort of sweet. Did you really dream that, or did you make it up?"

  "I really did dream it." He had not yet fathomed her reaction. Was she amused—or not amused? "It— it's pretty transparent wish-fulfillment, I guess. That swim—it's all tied up with—I wish I'd—I don't know." He wished he had never opened his mouth!

  "Me too," she murmured.

  His head whipped around. "What?"

  "That's what I was trying to tell you. I dreamed we were at the lake and—swimming."

  "That's not the same." But his heart was beating.

  "To me it is." She glanced sidelong at him. "And to you too, I think."

  "I guess so." His chagrin was converting to relief and even to joy. "I just didn't want you to think that I just wanted to see you—you know."

  "I do know, Thor. I feel the same. The symbolism is obvious. To see each other without shame—the way married people do. We already know how similar we are, the good and the bad."

  "We have to keep it in perspective," he said, addressing himself as much as her. He felt as if he were sailing over a river on the bike, aware how quickly and devastatingly he could flip out of control if he lost his balance. "It's a time of stress, of crisis. Maybe we're just reacting to that."

  "We probably are," she agreed. "No sense getting carried away and maybe making a bad mistake."

  "No sense at all," he said, longing for her. But then he looked at Balook, and knew that nothing mad
e any sense while the rhino's fate was in doubt.

  "C'mon, kiss me," Barb said.

  Was it another dream? Thor set that question aside and seized the moment. He kissed her, not hard.

  For a moment it was strange, a repeat of the first kiss, and he feared she would push him away again, that she had been joking, that he had missed the point and ruined it by his eagerness. But then her arms came up to wrap around his neck, to draw him in closer, and it was like orbiting in space, disembodied except for that miraculous contact of their lips and the clasp of her arms.

  At last they broke. The entire forest seemed brighter, richer, like the beauty of dusk when colors were enhanced. Barb was so lovely it was almost painful to look at her.

  "I won't say I love you," she said. "But I guess I don't have to."

  "I think you just did," he remarked wryly. "Barb— can't you bring Theria and Blooky out here? So we can all be together? I can't leave him, and I don't want to leave you."

  "I'll try," she promised.

  "Damn it, I will say it!" he exclaimed. "I do—"

  She jumped to put her hand over his mouth. "No— no! We can't say anything we might regret."

  "I'll never regret it!"

  She quirked a smile. "Have you never done something you regretted?"

  "For two years!" Which brought home to him the validity of her caution.

  "Wait until we know about Balook."

  She was right. He nodded. "Come if you can," he said, turning away. He did not dare remain with her longer, lest he make a scene that would embarrass them both.

  He heard the car door close. Then the car hummed slowly along the path cleared for vehicles, headed for the nearest road. Thor turned to wave, then walked on toward Balook.

  Then he remembered that notion about the freak zoo. They had been operating under the assumption that they would separate after the rhinos were delivered to the Eastern Project site, and that there would no longer be a job for her. But the zoo needed people who related well to strange animals, and if Barb—

  "Got it!" one vet cried, holding up a bloody something. "Bullet's out. I believe he'll pull through, with proper care."

  "I'll stay with him!" Thor said.

  "He'll need more than that," the man said. "We'll have to put him on special feed, and he'll need a lot of it. Nourishment that won't aggravate the intestine. And he'll have to be kept warm."

  "But Balook doesn't have any trouble with the chill of the night," Thor protested. "He has his own ways to handle both heat and cold."

  The man glanced at him. "Such as?"

  "He allows the excess heat to accumulate in the outer layers by day, then draws on it at night. His body temperature varies far more widely than ours does. His mass is so great that it changes slowly anyway."

  "And how does he build up this heat?"

  "Why, mostly from exercise—" Thor broke off, finally getting the vet's point. Balook was sick, and could not move about and forage while he recovered from the injury. He would slowly cool off, and not be able to recharge his heat in his normal manner. "Maybe blankets—"

  The man shook his head. "Never work. Animals don't understand blankets. We'll have to put up a tent."

  Thor realized that this was going to be expensive. "I don't know if we can get a requisition in time."

  "You had better call your Project Manager and impress upon him the need," the vet warned.

  "That's not the problem. He will know the need. It's that it takes days to requisition anything out of the ordinary. The bureaucracy just doesn't move any faster."

  The man considered. "There may be another way. I'll ask the Mayor."

  "Mayor?" Thor asked blankly.

  "Mayor Caldwell of Eagle Stream."

  "You mean the town we just—?"

  "I'll handle it," the man said. He went to his truck and began talking on the radio.

  Soon he was back. "A tent's on the way, along with the other equipment and supplies we need. Be here in an hour."

  "But how—?"

  "The Mayor's coming out with the first load. He'll talk to you."

  "To me?" Thor was baffled by this development.

  "He'll update you. He's good at that."

  Thor did not pursue the subject. He could think of no optimistic reason why such a personage should make a personal call. Was the city going to sue the Project—or merely jail Thor and Barb on suspicion of homicide?

  Balook was sleeping. Thor realized that it must have taken a lot of sedation to put twelve tons to sleep, and it would take time to wear off. But the first crisis was past; the vet said the rhino would make it.

  All too soon the Mayor arrived. He was an old man, but still spry. He reminded Thor somewhat of his grandfather; he had the same gray mane, and similar lines about the face.

  "Thor Nemmen?" Mayor Caldwell inquired heartily, shaking hands. "Don't worry about a thing. We have the report on what happened; your animals were not at fault. Eagle Stream will take care of you."

  Already the tent was going up: an inflated-wall type of considerable size. It wouldn't fit in the forest, so they were pitching it in the field.

  "Thank you, sir," Thor said, looking for the catch. "But this must be very expensive—"

  "Yes, and we shall take care of that, too," the Mayor said. "The people want to see your animals. We'll rope off the area and charge admission—"

  "Charge admission!" Thor cried, shocked.

  "Now don't misunderstand, son. We're sorry about what happened, and we feel responsible. That boy should never have gotten into your right of way. But I would soon be out of office if I didn't protect the taxpayer's interest. We'll control entry, and post warnings; troublemakers won't get near your animal."

  "Balook's no freak!"

  "Of course not, son, of course not. But he is impressive. Long time since the citizens of Eagle Stream have seen a horse that size."

  "He's a rhino, not a horse!"

  "Of course. We'll explain that the fee goes directly to the support of the animal. That way, the town can make it up to you."

  "This is ridiculous! Balook doesn't like crowds!"

  "Son, you've got to understand. The citizens are sorry, and they want to help. My phone's been busy all morning. Give them a chance to salve their consciences. Your animal will like them, when he sees how decent they are."

  The prospect appalled Thor, but beneath the Mayor's homey manner there was a genuine financial imperative. Balook did need help, and needed it now, not days from now when the Project authorization came through. The Project personnel had not even been able to get here yet; they were evidently helpless.

  "Could you bring the others here—Theria and Blooky?" Thor asked.

  "We intend to. Is the calf amenable to petting? That would be a great attraction for the children."

  "Look, Mayor Caldwell—if someone hurts Blooky, the same thing will happen all over again!"

  The Mayor looked Thor in the eye. He had a remarkably level gaze. "Son, trust me. No one will hurt any of your animals. There will be no trouble. I know how to organize these things. Just sign this release—"

  "I already saw how you organize things! That's why Balook's hurt!"

  "I see we have a slight misunderstanding," the Mayor said. "Several, in fact. First, I did not organize your journey through Eagle City; I was against it, for reasons that are obvious now. But I was overruled by the City Council, some of whose members may discover themselves seeking new employment before long. Second, you need the help I'm offering; your animal will surely die if left untended, and your Project is unable to make the necessary arrangements quickly enough. Third, you lack legal status; your animal is trespassing on private property. Fourth, there are certain criminal charges—"

  "I'll sign the paper," Thor said. He wasn't certain how binding his signature would be, because he was only Balook's guide, technically, as well as being underage, but he had lost his taste for quibbling. The Mayor had evidently thought things out better than Thor had.
r />   "A very reasonable attitude," the Mayor said, presenting him with a pen.

  AS IT TURNED out, the Mayor was right and Thor's worries wrong. The cordon about the area prevented random intrusions, and unarmed police kept the sightseers subdued. There were many children, but they were well behaved. Hours of visitation were limited, with regular breaks for the rhinos. Barb stayed in a little pen with Blooky, who was wearing a plastic cast on his leg. The little rhino took quite a liking to the attentions of the children, who invariably brought treats. (The Treat Concession was adjacent; the city was making money there, too.) Even Theria condescended to give rides when properly bribed by flavorful leafy branches imported for the occasion, though only when Barb was aboard with the children. The animals were in danger of becoming spoiled.

  Balook was left alone in his heated tent, except for the attention of the vets. In a few days he was on his feet again, supplementing the concentrated feed with selective browsing. Spectators were permitted reasonably close, and Balook became accustomed to them. Adults and children goggled at the dispatch with which the huge rhino crunched whole branches as his digestion mended.

  Things were looking up. Soon Balook and Blooky would be well enough to travel again.

  Then the firecracker boy died.

  "They're going to put Balook on trial for manslaughter," Barb said. "You know what that means."

  "It means they'll kill him," Thor said.

  "Not if we put up a good enough defense!"

  "You know the law," Thor said grimly. "If a man kills an animal, the man is fined or imprisoned. If an animal kills a man, the animal dies."

  "But it was an accident!" she cried. "The boy was tormenting them! Everyone saw it!"

  "Everyone saw Balook hit him. That's evidence enough."

  "Look," she said determinedly. "Balook never saw that boy. He was running toward Blooky and the car, and the boy just got in the way. If a man drives a car too fast and hits someone in the street, it's just an accident. Manslaughter."

  "Like a car..." Thor said, something nagging at his mind.

  "Balook's not a car!" Barb snapped. "I just meant—"

  "Oh, now I've lost it," Thor said, frustrated.

  "Lost what?"

  "The thought. Something about Balook."