West of Eden

and stamp in. Kerrick would carefully control his loathing of the violent creature. Even though he no longer fought back the hunter would still hurl him to the floor and kneel painfully on his back as it put the living shackles on his ankles and wrists. Stallan would then rub a string-blade over his head to remove the stubble of hair, usually cutting his skin at the same time. Enge would arrive later with the fruit and the gellid meat that he had finally forced himself to eat. Meat meant strength. Kerrick never spoke to Stallan, unless the creature struck him and demanded an answer, which was very rare. Kerrick knew better than to expect any compassion from this ugly, hoarse-voiced creature.
    But Enge was a different matter altogether. With a boy's sharp eyes he watched closely and saw that Enge reacted differently from the other murgu. For one thing she had expressed pain and sorrow when the girl had been killed. Stallan had enjoyed it greatly and had applauded the action. Once in a great while Enge would arrive with Stallan. Kerrick's speaking improved and when he was sure he could say exactly what he wanted, he began to watch patiently each day as the door opened. When Stallan entered alone he forgot the matter completely until the following morning.
    This went on until the morning when Enge entered as well. Kerrick said nothing, but he stiffened his body so that Stallan was more brutal than usual in handling him. As his arms were pulled out before him and the cool shackle was being slapped into place he spoke.
    "Why do you hurt me and bind me? I cannot hurt you."
    Stallan's only answer was a gesture of disgust and a blow across the head. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw that Enge was listening.
    "It is hard to talk when I am bound," he said.
    West of Eden - Harry Harrison
    "Stallan," Enge said, "what the creature says is true."
    "It attacked you, have you forgotten that?"
    "No, but that was when we first brought it in. And you will remember it bit me only when it thought I was hurting the female." She turned to Kerrick. "Will you try to injure me again?"
    "Never. You are my teacher. I know if I speak well you will reward me with food and not hurt me."
    "I marvel that an ustuzou can talk—but it is still a wild creature and must be secured." Stallan was adamant. "Vaintè put it in my charge and I will obey my orders."
    "Obey them, but bend them a slight amount. Free its legs at least. It will make talking easier."
    In the end Stallan reluctantly agreed and that day Kerrick worked especially hard, knowing that his secret plan had moved ahead just that single step.
    There was no way to count the days, nor did Kerrick particularly care how much time had passed. When he had been in the north, with his sammad, winter and summer had been markedly different and it had been important to know the time of year for the hunting. But here, in the endless heat, the passage of time did not matter. Sometimes rain would drum on the transparent skin above the room, while at other times it would be darkened by clouds. Kerrick knew only that a long time had passed since Ysel's death, when there was an interruption to their daily lesson. The rattle of the outside lock drew the attention of both of them so that they turned to look when the door swung open. Kerrick welcomed the novel event until Vaintè entered.
    Although the murgu were very similar one to the other he had learned to notice differences. And Vaintè was one creature whom he would never forget. He automatically signaled submission and respect as she stamped across the floor towards them, was pleased to see that she was in a good mood as well.
    "You have done well in your animal-training, Enge. There are stupid fargi out there that do not respond as clearly or as quickly as this one. Make it speak again."
    "You may converse with it yourself."
    "Can I? I don't believe it. Why it is like giving instructions to a boat and having it answer you back." She turned to Kerrick and said clearly. "Go left, boat, go left."
    "I am not a boat, but I can go left."
    He walked slowly about the room while Vaintè expressed disbelief and pleasure in equal portions.
    West of Eden - Harry Harrison
    "Stand before me. Tell me the name you have been given."
    "Kerrick."
    "That means nothing. You are a ustuzou so you cannot say it correctly. It must be said this way, Ekerik."
    Vaintè could not realize that it was the sounds alone that made up his name. She added the physical modifiers so that