West of Eden

be sure that it does not."
    They proceeded along the coast for four days more in this manner, until the fifth day when Kerrick hurried back to the campsite at dawn. The hunters heard his running footsteps and seized up their weapons.
    "There is no alarm, the murgu are not here. But I have looked at the coast ahead and there is something we can do." He waited until the two sammadars and Herilak were present, then explained. "The hunting is good now and there is much fish in the sea here. You must agree not to break camp today but to stay in this place and fish, while the hunters bring in meat for smoking. South of here there are cliffs, then a long stretch of beach with a thick birch wood that extends down almost to the shore. The distance is right. If the murgu come, when they come, they will not be able to find a landing place where the cliffs are, so they are sure to come ashore on the beach below the forest."
    Herilak nodded agreement. "When we attack we can approach them unseen under the cover of the trees.
    Good. It will be done that way. Are we all of the same mind?"
    There was some discussion, but no disagreement. Kerrick returned to the spot where Ortnar and the other two hunters were lying under cover and watching the sea.
    The long wait began.. They filled their time during the next days in constructing a birchbark shelter deep in the woods. The nights were cooler now and there was some rain. But two of them were always on the ridge above the ocean during the day, hidden but watching. By late afternoon all four of them would be there, for that was the time of most danger. It was at this time, after many days of watching, from full West of Eden - Harry Harrison
    moon to full moon, that Herilak came to join them on the ridge.
    "What have you seen?" he asked, standing under the trees beside them.
    "Nothing. Just what you see out there. The empty sea. The same as always," Kerrick said.
    "The hunters in the sammads have decided that there is enough meat now. They are grateful that we showed them these hunting grounds. They are ready to leave."
    "That is a good decision," one of the watching hunters said. "None of us want this murgu attack." Kerrick agreed strongly with these feelings and felt a leap of hope, yet kept silent.
    "You speak for yourself," Herilak said bitterly. "Yes, the trek has been successful. There is food enough now for the winter so I can understand why they are so eager to return. With their stomachs full they can forget their hunger and remember instead what happened to the two other sammads on this shore. This is to be the last night. They are eager to leave tomorrow at dawn. We stay here and march one day behind them in case the murgu attack after all."
    "We will move fast," the second hunter called out. "They will not catch us now."
    Herilak turned away from them scornfully. Ortnar was as bitter as he. "We did not do this just to fill your stomachs. We came to kill murgu."
    "We cannot do it alone," Herilak said.
    Kerrick turned and looked out to sea so they could not see the relief on his features. They might argue, but in the end the sammads would go. There was nothing to keep them here and every reason to leave.
    There would be no battle. Small white clouds drifted in the clear sky above, casting dark shadows on the clear water. Large shadows. Moving shadows.
    He stood still, gazing at the shadows, and did not speak until he was absolutely sure. His voice was tight and he could not stop it from trembling.
    "They are out there. The murgu are coming."
    It was just as he said. The black boats were clearly visible now as they moved out from under the shadow of the clouds. They were going rapidly north.
    "Are they not stopping?" Herilak cried out. "Are they going on to attack the sammads?"
    "We must warn them—there is little time!" Kerrick said. One of the hunters turned to run with the West of Eden - Harry Harrison
    warning, but Herilak stopped him.
    "Wait. Wait until we are sure."
    "They are turning towards shore now!" Ortnar said. "Coming towards the beach below us."
    The hunters lay in silent concealment, filled with horror as the boats came close, bobbing in the gentle surf. There were loud orders and the armed fargi splashed out of the boats and made their way onto the beach. There was no doubt that a landing was being made when they began to pass supplies ashore.
    "Now go," Herilak whispered to the two hunters. "Both of you. Go different ways so that one of you will be sure to bring