The Inferior Read Online Free PDF

Stopmouth had been slicing fragments of shell from dead Armourbacks. He wrapped all he could carry in Linebrow’s loincloth. The poor man wouldn’t be needing it now.
    Just then the hunters heard sounds of running feet. Before they could react, a dozen Hairbeasts loped into the square. They carried clubs with rocks tied to the ends–a good weapon for fighting Armourbacks if you were as large as they. Blood matted their fur. They boomed and hooted at the humans. One of them approached Rockface, bellowing their word for flesh. It butted him out of the way with its chest. Then it threw Waterjumper’s body over its shoulder and loped off. Others stepped forward to claim Linebrow and, shockingly, the Armourback corpses too. Then they were gone again, running down the alleyway from which the humans had emerged.
    ‘It seems,’ said Burnthouse, ‘the Hairbeasts are no longer at peace with the Armourbacks.’
    ‘Or with us,’ said Rockface. ‘They took our kills too. Let’s get out of here.’
    ‘Wait,’ said Burnthouse as Stopmouth helped him to his feet. ‘We need to know what’s going on. The Hairbeasts didn’t seem too worried about the treaty. That’s not like them.’
    ‘S-scared,’ said Stopmouth.
    ‘What are you scared of, boy?’ asked Rockface. ‘We won, didn’t we?’
    ‘N-n-no, th-th—’
    ‘He means the Hairbeasts,’ said Burnthouse. His arm seemed to be causing him great pain. ‘Those big hairies were terrified. And so am I! I’ve changed my mind about finding the cause. Just get me home.’
    They went back to the alleyway where they’d left the volunteers, but found only blood and signs of a struggle. They could easily have tracked the trail leading away from the scene but knew that it was too late for the volunteers now anyway. The Tribe had to be told what was going on.
    In the distance the men could hear a roar, as if giant hunting parties were clashing with each other. They ran until they came to a crossroads less than five hundred paces from the empty zone between human and Hairbeast territory. At the end of one of the roads they saw a group of Armourbacks and grey-furred Hoppers surround some Hairbeasts and spear them to death. The three men had heard rumours of this. But who could believe such a thing? It was as if two distinct races, Armourbacks and Hoppers, had found a way to talk to one another and had planned an invasion of the district together. Impossible and shocking.
    The humans hurried on, hoping they hadn’t been seen. They reached no-man’s-land near the crossing over the Wetlane. A guard waved frantically at them from the first tower. Stopmouth turned to look. Two hundred paces behind them, a troop of Hoppers burst from between buildings and approached at great speed. Powerful hind legs drove the creatures forward at twice the length of a man with every leap. Grey fur streamed behind them and long arms were constantly moving to keep them balanced. They were not strong, these beasts, but no faster creature lived in the city and few were more dangerous on open ground. Frantically Stopmouth and Rockface reached for weapons while the injured Burnthouse stumbled on alone. ‘Sling first!’ said Rockface over the high, excited cries of their enemies. ‘We’ll get a shot in!’ And they did, both stones finding their mark on the lead Hopper, which fell back. Its fall tripped two others while the rest leaped over the pile-up and came on at speed. Their human-like hands held short stabbing spears; their little eyes glinted.
    Stopmouth heard a horn blowing back at the guard tower. Shouts told him his people were coming. Too late, too late! Rockface flung his spear when the Hoppers were no more than twenty paces away. He wounded one and knocked another off balance so that its next hop took it into the Wetlane. It screamed in a high voice as the water around it thrashed and turned red. Another Hopper leaped at Stopmouth. He managed to push its spear aside with one hand while the