Beast Master's Ark

by Andre Norton; Lyn McConchie

  "Daughter of the wind. Child of the silver lightning." The filly's ears pricked forward. "Sister in pride. We are two, we are one. Share strength with me." The filly took a step closer to the human. Other humans had tried to master her. Their voices had been rough, harsh with demand. None had hurt her but she'd resisted the orders. This one's voice was quiet. She asked, not ordered. Without thought Tani was applying the same mental touch as she used with her team. She stroked with words, soothed and coaxed with emotions. She allowed the admiration she felt to flow over the argent filly.

  "We are two, we are one. Share speed, share joy as we race the wind."

  Tani was inside the corral now and the filly dropped her head to nibble inquiringly at a long black plait. Here there was no fear scent, no scent of anger and demand. No emotion that required domination to be content. The girl pushed the head away, gently stroking the soft muzzle. "Out there are better things to eat. Let us find them together?"

  The filly nuzzled into Tani's shirt. Teeth that could strip a hand to the bone lipped slender fingers. The horns curved out in a slight upward curve and were wickedly sharp at the points. Tani scratched around them as the filly all but purred. She studied the filly's hooves. Like the horn bases, they were black. She ran a hand down the slender iron-muscled leg and a hoof lifted obediently.

  "Good hooves," Tani told her approvingly as she rapped them. She pictured the joys of being free. "We can go for miles." In turn she received a rebellious flash. The filly hadn't liked the large heavy saddles the Larkin hands had tried on her. Nor had she approved the metal bit. Tani nodded. "No need for that, girl. Storm uses the type of bridle that doesn't have a bit, and a light saddle. He's got spares here, I know. We can use those."

  She pictured the lighter gear, the feel of it. The pleasure of riding together, sharing abilities. Unconsciously she also allowed her wistful desire for the filly to be felt. The horses she'd ridden to date could never measure up to this one. A soft nose thrust into her hands. The filly was conquered. Not by brute power but by admiration and something that could be the beginnings of love.

  Tani ran to fetch the pad-saddle and light leather-braided bitless bridle. Piece by piece she held them up to be sniffed: the saddle, bridle, and the soft woven saddle blanket. The filly graciously accepted them. Tani opened the gate a little, holding the reins, and the filly trotted out to join her, flicking the earth disdainfully under her hooves. In her was the yearning to run as she'd run with her mother. Tani reached the filly's back in a light leap. The horse whirled but the rider stayed firm, moving with the heaving body beneath her as if one with it.

  Lifting her head the filly danced a few steps, testing. Her rider swayed bonelessly and the filly was satisfied. She raised her head as Tani reached out for the mental bond with her team. She gathered the filly in as the coyotes approached. The filly should not fear; the filly did not. These things were small, she could stamp them underfoot if she wished. But her rider said they were friends. The filly lowered her nose to find it licked by each coyote in turn. It tickled and sensations both physical and emotional were pleasant.

  Tani signaled and Mandy, waiting patiently on the fence, flew silently in to land on Tani's padded shoulder. The filly screwed her head around to look. Her rider indicated no danger; the filly accepted. They moved out and no one noticed their going. Beyond the buildings the light wind brought fascinating scents to them all. It teased the filly's mane and Tani's neck. It ruffled the fur of the coyotes and Mandy's feathers. They walked into it, their speed increasing until with a small whoop Tani leaned over the neck of her mount and urged her to run.

  The answering surge of speed left her breathless, her pleasure meeting and mingling with that of the filly. The indignant paraowl was able to stay with them but Minou and Ferarre were left behind as the filly hurtled onward. They slowed by common consent once she had shaken the kinks of confinement from her legs. Tani did not realize how far they had come in that one long burst of speed. The coyotes caught up and they moved on at a swinging, ground-covering trot. It was wonderful to be out on their own. No Logan, nice as he was, to worry about how far they were going. No Storm, eyeing the mount she brought back as if he expected it to develop saddle sores overnight. No Brad fussing as if she were delicate china.

  They were free to explore, to travel to the very edge of the Basin if they wished. Maybe they'd meet some of the Norbies. She'd been here days now and never met one. Tireless, the filly moved in her long, smooth trot. After two hours, Tani glanced back and was startled.

  "We've come a long way. I guess we should think about going back in another hour or two." The filly's flash of protest merged with those of the team. It had been too long since they'd been free of ship confines and alone with their human friend. They could camp and have a night away? A half-memory of her nightmare drifted across the girl's mind and was met by reassurance from the paraowl. No bad dreams. Mandy would hunt them from her.

  Tani looked across the land wistfully. It would be a shame to go back so early. She might not be able to get away on her own again. Even if her aunt and uncle accepted that she could care for herself, the Quades had been firm that she was not to ride alone. It was nonsense, Tani decided. They just fussed because she was new to the planet. She'd watched the education tapes about Arzor. Apart from the yoris lizards there wasn't much danger in the lower lands. In the Big Blue's mountains there were predators like the Mountain Flyer, but she didn't plan to ride that far. Her aunt and uncle would scold a little if she were away too long, but they wouldn't really worry. She'd left a message so that they'd know nothing had happened to her.

  But she wouldn't stay out for the night. It would be unfair to upset everyone. She would ride a few hours, enjoy the time with her team and the filly. She sighed softly. Then she'd come back to the ranch again. She rode on, at a walk but occasionally breaking into a canter at rider or mount's whim. By midday she was ascending the last slope of the Basin. She should turn back now but the wild land beyond drew her. Something out there called, and Tani ached to answer it. The team agreed. They wanted to hunt the desert, so like that their ancestors had known. The filly's ancestral lands had been green. But she enjoyed the strangeness of this desert land and the freedom. She walked on down the rim and her rider did nothing to halt her direction.

  Just one hour into the desert, Tani thought. She could give everyone a rest and something to eat, then she could ride for home. She was hungry and the team reinforced that, telling her they were hungry as well. Tani had taken ration bars, but they would do only if nothing else appeared. She'd read about grass hens in the tapes and down here she could see places where they might be found. If she brought back a couple of the plump grass hens, Mr. Quade would be more likely to forgive her long absence. She dismounted and searched for stones, gathering a dozen or so that fitted her hand. Then she walked ahead, the filly following. In a patch of long sun-seared grass Minou circled, relaying the scent: edible and interesting. Tani waited until both coyotes were in position, then she signaled. The coyotes advanced delicately. A covey of grass hens exploded from the tangled grass and Tani threw as the coyotes leaped high..

  Ferarre had a hen, Tani's stones had brought down two more. The second was still fluttering until Minou seized it. She crunched once and the flapping ceased. Mandy side-slipped in for a landing on Tani's shoulder. In her mind was the picture of rocks only a small distance ahead. They curved and a tree and other debris had collected over them. They'd make a suitable shelter to build a fire. One hen; just one to eat? They rounded the boulders and Tani approved. She dug out the tiny waterproof box from her belt and lit quickly gathered dry sticks.

  With the fire lit she unsaddled and rubbed down the filly. It would not be fair to leave her mount saddled while Tani ate. But they must go back as soon as the grass hen had been shared. It was light late into the evening, but once everyone had eaten and rested, they'd have to race to make it home before it was completely dark. Tani hurriedly collected larger branches to st
ack by the flames.

  With the coyotes contentedly eating their prey and the filly grazing the tough grass nearby, Tani could turn her attention to herself and Mandy. She half filled the pot and placed it to boil, then she plucked the grass hen and spitted it over the flames. Food for the paraowl was easy to find. It was still light enough to hunt and the girl could act as a beater. She moved quietly to the grass and stamped through it suddenly. Mandy floated silently in on the small movements. Seconds later she held a small plump rodent in her claws. She bit once, then waited. Tani stamped some more and a second rock-mouse was seized. That, Tani informed her paraowl, would do. If Mandy was still hungry after them, there was some of her food-mix.

  The girl returned to the fire to find the water in her lidded pot boiling nicely. She added swankee powder, stirring it with her spoon. She seemed to have made rather a lot, but if she didn't drink it she could clip the lid down hard and take it back with her. The grass hen was roasting delectably over the fire. It dripped fat, which sizzled and smelled wonderful. Tani waited as her dinner cooked. In the small circle by the boulders all was peaceful.

  Well fed, tired by the hours of riding, Tani leaned back against the fire-warmed boulders. Her eyes closed slowly. The light was fading from the sky when she woke again with a jump. She looked upward.

  "Damn!" The explosive word made her team turn to look at her. "Yes, you may well stare. It's too late to go back now." She glanced over to where the filly grazed. "I can't risk your legs on rough ground after dark. I guess we're all here for the night."

  The girl ate again. Then with the filly's saddle blanket wrapped around her, travel pouch under her head, she lay down and fell quickly asleep. The team would be alert. They would wake her if there were danger. But danger must be recognized. Tani had told the team that the natives were friendly. Logan had not mentioned the Nitra. The wild tribes normally lived many days' travel away. And if of late they'd begun to press closer to human-held lands, the Basin had not seen them. Neither Storm nor his stepfather and halfbrother had expected Tani to go far enough to encounter them. Tani knew nothing of the Nitra; the information tapes had not spoken clearly of the distinction between the Nitra and the more friendly Norbie clans.

  She slept quietly. Once she began to dream but the linked team woke her at once. She sighed, turned over in her blanket, and fell back into sleep. With the interruption she did not rejoin a linkage that would have held her to the death of another. Through her the team sensed the death but did nothing. It was not relevant and it was far away. Nearer was a camp of not-people. But Tani had said there was no danger. The team drowsed. If danger appeared they would act.

  Tani slept the dark hours away, waking finally just as the sky paled to lavender light. The fire had died to coals. Working quickly she added wood, placed the swankee pot over the flames, and kicked up a couple of rock-mice for Mandy. Grass hens would do again. After that she must head back to the ranch. She hadn't really meant to be out all night. Kady would scold and Brion would be annoyed. Tani picked up her unused stones and shifted her focus to a fresh patch of grass. The covey exploded again as she advanced, and she brought down two of the grass hens. More walking and two more were coyote prey, a third hers. She could cook a hen and eat it. She would take the other two back. It might help her in placating irritated adults.

  She plucked all of the birds quickly, spitted one, then tucked the others in her travel pack. Tani placed the swankee pot on the coals, inhaling the aroma with pleasure. There was a sort of sweet chocolaty scent to good swankee. She'd enjoyed the taste from the first cup of it offered to her. Brad had laughed and said she must be born for Arzor. Here the humans drank gallons of it. They'd learned the habit from the natives, who loved it and with whom it was a valuable trade item.

  Minou yapped sharply. Tani stiffened, sliding back further into the boulders and unsheathing her knife. From a different point Ferarre yapped. Riders were incoming. Not-humans. Be alert. Tani smiled then. She shifted back to the fire and added enough water and swankee powder to fill the small pot. The grass hen was spluttering juicily. The girl pulled the others from her pack, adding them to the spit. She sat back to wait eagerly. She was about to see natives. She'd show them she knew the way to behave when they visited.

  A short distance from her shelter four Nitra warriors conferred. They'd been sent to find someone. The medicine woman hadn't said whom. They'd just been told they would know the right person when they were found. Once they found this person they were to bring them back alive and undamaged to the main camp two days' hard-riding away. They were warriors, not fools. They knew that humans fought like a yoris at mating time. They'd find one alone. It was a difficult and dangerous task, since the Norbies were out as well.

  One of the Nitra out scouting at daybreak had cut tracks. Very strange ones. There was a ridden horse, but also the tracks of two animals unlike any he'd ever seen. The tracks were recent and the rider would have camped for the night. The Nitra had eaten and broken camp to follow. Now they conferred just before the heap of boulders they knew sheltered their target. Their soft twittering speech was growing agitated. Finally the senior of the four spoke. They would go openly to the camp, following custom. It would be their quarry's response that would tell them if it were the one sought.

  Anyone other than Tani who saw them approaching would have reacted violently. The Nitra were enemy to the Norbies and to humans. Mostly they were enemy to any other Nitra tribe as well. The usual response was to take cover and start shooting. Tani merely looked up as they rode toward her camp. Well short of her boulders all four warriors dismounted. They selected smooth sticks from quivers and at a signal fired each into the air. A Nitra did not waste a real arrow in ceremony as did the Norbies.

  Tani beamed at them. They'd followed custom, just as the tapes said. She raised her hands, signing slowly and carefully. "The fire is waiting. Share food, drink. A knife is sheathed before friends."

  Four Nitra stared at her. They saw a small slender human female, unafraid and offering hospitality. In their savage desert females were scarce and respected. A young female was unprotected once only in her life. When, before she mated, she went alone into the desert for eight days and nights. She went without food or weapons save a knife. Without shelter save a blanket. She could take no more of her gear than she could bear on foot, although she might take a mount if her family had one to spare.

  No one would accompany her; she must go and survive alone. If she returned she would be counted as a member of the tribe. The land had taken her to itself in acceptance. If she did not return her body would be found and burned where it lay, returning to the heart of the land that had claimed it. For the living female the Thunder-Drummer would listen to her adventures and from them chose her true name. From that day of her return she would never be unprotected again. Male warriors of the Nitra fought and died. Females were rarely harmed, and even then it was almost always by accident.

  The warriors sat on the other side of the fire, accepted cups of the brew they loved, tore at well-cooked grass hen with strong teeth. Tani was discussed in the sounds no human could speak. This human female must be on her name journey. They studied the single blanket, the sheathed knife. She carried no bow or stunner. It was allowable to take drink—if one's family could provide. But the grass hen was fresh. As they approached by the grass patches, they had seen the marks where she had taken it.

  Tani admired them. She studied the height and the slenderness. The oldest native must be over seven feet tall. Their skin was of a similar color to Arzoran soil, a sort of reddish-yellow. She saw the small curving horns on the hairless, well-shaped skulls and hid a giggle. They could almost be related to the filly. The warriors wore wide bands of yoris hide from armpit to just below the crotch, with splits over the narrow hips to allow movement. High boots covered their legs, and like her they had belts that carried a number of pouches and a knife each.

  The latter caught her attention. Each knife rode in a fringed and deco
rated sheath similar to hers. She loved the colorful designs in red, gold, and blue beads. Perhaps they'd let her look more closely once they knew her. The senior of the four knew the finger-talk. He signed slowly in case she needed the slower movement to catch his meaning.

  "Others travel with you, who?"

  From behind him a coyote yapped softly. The warriors turned to see the coyotes watching. Minou and Ferarre faded back into cover and the Nitra were amused. The female had warrior sense. From above them came the vibration of great wings, more felt than heard. Tani stood as the paraowl dropped lightly to the girl's padded shoulder. Tani's fingers wove slow signs.

  "Friends travel with me. Gifted by the spirits to be my companions." She signaled and Mandy rose quietly into cover again. It did no harm to be cautious. The natives might shoot if they were frightened by the animals.

  The Nitra nodded to each other. This was the one; they were sure of it. The Thunder-Drummer would be pleased at their success. They must take her to the camp. The oldest warrior spoke firmly. The female must be persuaded without violence. To drag one unwillingly from her name-trial would bring great ill fortune upon the clan. The others agreed hastily. On the other side of the fire Tani drank and smiled happily at her guests. It was all just like the tapes. She wished Storm could see her now.

  Chapter Seven

  Storm had troubles of his own. The first to enter the cave where the dead Nitra lay was also Nitra: an older warrior who turned to glance at Storm almost casually. Storm froze. Fight? No, better to wait. They didn't seem hostile as yet. Something very unusual. Three other Nitra entered and fanned out, watching him, as the oldest of their number examined the body slowly and carefully. Then he stood, signing to Storm.

  "You find, how?"

  Storm signaled and Hing ran to him, swarming up his breeches to the crook of his arm.