Part 3 (1/2)
”s.p.a.cedep and Codep both sent representatives,' Todd added. ”I was a little surprised to see Varnorian there himself, instead of sending a deputy as s.p.a.cedep did.”
”A good thing you went to keep them honest,5 Kelly said, making a face. ”I've been hearing all about the two of you from my little cubbyhole in Alreldep block! You're considered to be quite a pair of heroes there.
Todd waved her words away embarra.s.sedly.
”You must tell us all about your experiences, as soon as the Hunt is over,' Hrriss said, showing his fangs in the widest Hrruban smile.
”Absolutely!” she promised them.
Kelly's mention of Alreldep brought back to Todd the full memory of his s.h.i.+p's pa.s.sage into the interdicted zone around Hrrilnorr, and the fact that two weeks had gone by and there hadn't been the least hint that their ”rescue' had been recorded, or even mentioned to the Treaty Council.
He would be interested to know if she had heard any rumors: especially one that might suggest the beacon had been planted by factions unsympathetic to the Doona Experiment. This was not the time to bring up such a sensitive topic. Riders needed their wits about them in the Hunt. Plenty of time to take her aside and get her reactions later on.
”That medical kit been renewed lately?” Todd asked her, nodding at the roll neatly strapped to the cantle.
”You bet. Mike made it up special,' and Kelly gave him a wry sideways glance, ”in case you fall off again!” Todd snorted. ”And when was the last time you saw me fall off?” he demanded in mock outrage.
”You have two to your credit,' Hrriss said, his eyes narrowing slyly. ”Did not Ken say it takes thrrree falls to make a rider?” Todd laughed and patted his sides tenderly.
”More like two hundred, friends.” The rest of Team One began to close up to the leaders. Two more old friends, Hrrin and Errala, from one of the distant Rralan villages, rode up behind and greeted them happily. The three shook hands with the Hrruban mates. Todd checked them off his list.
Places in the teams were always reserved for friends and friends of friends. The prestigious first six Hunter teams had to open further to admit high powered guests whose inexperience sometimes tested the experience and skill of their hosts. But their presence meant a healthy contribution to the success of the Hunt and thus had to be tolerated.
Hrrubans and Humans in equal numbers joined the ride every year.
Though Hrrubans required slight alterations to the standard saddle to accommodate the difference in their skeletal structure, they were keen on any opportunity to ride their beloved hrrsses. Ocelots, gifts to the Rralans from their Human friends, prowled alongside their masters' mounts, waiting for the signal t9 go. The spotted hunting cats were among the few animals that were fearless in the presence of snakes, and kept down other pests that troubled the settlements. The more skillful, working in teams of four or five, even brought down young snakes and killed them.
Hrrula skillfully guided his horse to join theirs, followed by the rest of Team Two. The sudden crowd caused Hrriss's two pet ocelots, Prem and Mehh, to go on guard. He swung off his mount to soothe them.
Hrriss found that he did not recognize most of the Hrrubans who made up Team Two.
They were undoubtedly visitors, probably from the new colony worlds. Hrrubans who lived on Rrala did not have such a wild, predatory look when discussing the Hunt, and those who still lived on Hrruba were revolted by the thought of slaying fresh meat. Though understandably excited about the pursuit and kill, Rralans were more concerned with staying alive throughout the Hunt. Hrriss calmed Prem, who seemed to have caught his agitation. The fierce little cats had been a gift from Todd and had already proved themselves in battle with the snakes. It seemed they were as eager as he was to confront them again.
Each team leader checked in with Todd as soon as he or she arrived in a.s.sembly Square. Inessa, Todd's younger sister, hailed them from Team Six, waving a throwing stick. Hrriss poked his friend in the elbow and pointed to Inessa. They both waved.
Since their older sister, Ilsa, had married and returned to Earth, Inessa and her two younger brothers, Dan and Robin, took it in turns every year to ride with the Hunt or help guard the family ranch.
Hrriss, the only offspring of his parents, used to envy Todd his many siblings until he found that they regarded him as an extension of Todd.
Suddenly Todd groaned. ”Will you look at that?
Spare me!” He tossed his head in the direction of the a.s.sembly Hall, to their left.
Obediently Hrriss and Kelly glanced that way.
From the doorway, a young man swaggered out wearing the very latest in hunting pinks, and boots that had to have cost the equivalent of starfare between Earth and Proxima Centauri. He swung a six-foot length of polished wood between his fingers.
”Don't they ever read the advisories we send out on what kind of protective clothing to wear for rough riding?” Todd said in a low but disgusted tone.
”But, Todd, he's trying. I heard him tell me that he researched both hunting garb and polo accoutrements and decided on this compromise as being appropriate,' Kelly said, her eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with devilment.
”I heard him every mealtime, in fact.”
”And you didn't warn him?” Todd shot her an aggrieved glance.
”What? And ruin our fun?”
”He was on the ssshuttle with you?” Hrriss asked.
”Indeed, and at my table. That, dear hearts,' Kelly said, amused, sitting back in her saddle to watch their expressions, ”is Jilamey Landreau, s.p.a.cedep's nephew. He's harmless.” I'll give you any odds, Kelly dear old thing, that he's going to be trouble for whatever Team he's on,' Todd said, summing up the stranger with a practiced eye, as Jilamey mounted the horse chosen for him with a modic.u.m of expertise, though the quarterstaff proved an immediate enc.u.mbrance. ”I don't like the stable he comes from.”
”It is not the stable he comes from that should concern us, Zodd,' Hrriss a.s.sured him, his eyes glinting mischievously, ”and his trouble will be in conzrolling his hrrss. He will not be in our way.”
”Ah, but he said he's on Team One,' Kelly replied, delighted at the shock on Todd's face.
He fumbled for the Team list in his pocket. ”I've got a J.
Ladrulo. . . Oh, no.”
”I wondered at him being on Team One,' Kelly said, her face full of mischief. ”I thought you knew what you were doing. However, don't worry about him. I'll make him my responsibility. I owe him a couple.” Now her eyes took on a gleam similar to Hrriss's, her expression bland. ”For aspersions cast like bread upon the surface of our table.”
”You're mixing metaphors again,' Todd said, ready for the banter they always enjoyed. ”Didn't they teach you anything useful at Alreldep?”
”How to manage little men like Jilamey, sweetheart,' she said, giving him a coy and insincere smirk.
But she sighed as Jilamey urged his animal over to Todd and Hrriss.
He threw them a jaunty salute and banged the quarterstaff painfully against his knee. The horse snorted, flicking an ear at such an unusual appendage. ””Lo, Kelly. Didn't think I'd have the pleasure of your company so soon again, much less with Team One. Jilamey Landreau, at your service.
Nearly missed my chance-shuttle was late. I've heard all about your local menace. Read up on the subject, too. I'm expecting great things of this day.
I want to catch a really big snake. I'm a.s.sured that you're the best. My friends'-he threw a sly glance over his shoulder at his s.h.i.+p companions-'could only get on Teams Three and Four.” And why he wasn't with them, instead of complicating Team One, Kelly did not know. She'd have a small talk with the village elders later, she a.s.sured herself.
Punctiliously, she introduced Todd, Hrriss, Hrrin, and Errala to Jilamey. At least he had enough manners not to gawk at the Hrrubans.
”Landreau, you say?” Todd asked with cool courtesy. ”Not any relation to Admiral Landreau, by any chance?”
”The Admiral's my uncle.
That's why I got on your team.” Jilamey grinned amiably.
”Isss zat so?” Hrriss said, taking up Todd's lead.
”I find it amazing that he would perrmit one of his kin to take parrt in a Snake Hunt.”
”Why not?” Jilamey appeared surprised.
”Supposed to be the best hunting available.”
”The Admiral told you that?”