Breed to Come Read Online Free PDF Page B

all fours, Furtig advanced with the stealth of ahunter creeping up on unwary prey, alert to sounds.There was a swishing which was the wind in the grass,some rustlings born of his own movements, whichcould not be helped unless one could somehow treadair above the blowing fronds. A frantic scurrying to his left—rabbit.
    The grass came to an end. Before him was a stretchof smooth stone—almost as if the lairs had opened amouth, extended a tongue to lap him in. There was nohiding place beyond. He would have to walk acrossthe open. Reluctantly, Furtig rose on hind feet.
    It was well enough to creep and crawl when onehad the excuse of keeping to cover. But he did not intend to enter the lairs so. There was something in himwhich demanded boldness now.
    He paused only to slip the claws over his hands.They were inferior, and did not fit his hands smoothly, but he had worked them into the best condition hecould. And, while he never ceased to regret the loss ofhis own fine weapons, he was deeply grateful to Eu-Lafor her gift. Armed, he was now ready.
    A quick dart took him across into the shadow bythe first wall. There were regular breaks in that, butset so high he could not reach any. Surely there mustbe some guide to Gammage, some trail markings tolead in a newcomer. For it was well known that Gammage welcomed those who came to him.
    Furtig continued to sniff for such a marker. Therewas a smell of bird. He could see streaks of droppingson the walls. But nothing more than that.
    With no guide he could only work his way into theheart of the lairs, hoping to pick up some clue to thosehe sought. However, he went warily, making use of allshadows he could.
    And, as he went, awe of those who had built all thisgrew in him. How had they piled up their cliffs? Forthese erections were not natural rock. What knowledge the Demons had had!
    Sunrise found him still wandering, at a loss for aguide. He had come across two open spaces enclosedby the buildings. They were filled with tangles of vegetation now seared by fall. One surrounded a smalllake in which water birds suddenly cried out and rosewith a great flapping of wings.
    Furtig crouched, startled. Then he realized that hecould not have been the reason for that flight.
    Then—what had?
    At that moment he caught the hot scent, rank,overpowering. And he snarled. Ratton! There was nomistaking its foulness. Rattons—here? They clung tothe lairs of Demons, which was true, yet it was thoughtthey had not spread far through those.

    Furtig edged back into the hollow of a doorway. Athis back the door itself was a great-unbroken solidslab, and it was closed. As it was about six times hisown height and gave the appearance of strength, hehad no hope of opening it. And if he were sighted, orscented, in this place he would be comered.
    The Rattons did not fight as the People did butmore like the Barkers, sending many against one.
    Though Furtig was much larger than any of theirkind, he could not hope to stand up to a wholecompany of them. His tail twitched sharply as hewatched the bushes about the lake and used his noseand ears to aid his eyes in locating the foe.
    Though most of the water birds had flown, at leastthree of their flock were in difficulty. For there was abeating of wings, harsh cries at the far end of the lake.Furtig could not see through the screen of bushes,and he was not about to advance into what might beenemy territory. Suddenly the squawking was cut on,and he thought the hunters must have finished theirprey.
    His own plans had changed. To go into Ratton-heldlairs—no! And he imagined now what might havebeen Gammage's fate—well-picked bones!
    But could he withdraw without being hunted? Furtig was not sure whether the Rattons hunted by scentor by ear and eye. His only recourse was to befuddlehis trail as well as he could. And in the open he couldnot do that.
    Furtig tried feverishly to remember all he hadheard concerning the Rattons. Could they leap, climb,follow the People so? Or