The talkers must have well-developed psi facilities, that was obvious now. There is no barrier of race or alien form when two creatures share each other’s emotions. Empathy first, so there would be no hatred fear. After that direct communication. The talkers might have be the ones who first broke through the barrier of hatred on Pyrrus and learned to live with the native life.

Others could have followed the example-this might explain how the community of “grubbers” had been formed.

Now that he was concentrating on it, Jason was aware of the silent flow of thoughts around him. The consciousness of the dorym was matched by other like patterns from the rear of the barn. He knew without going outside that more of the big beasts were in the field back there.

“This is all new to me,” Jason said. “Have you ever thought about Naxa? What does it feel like to be a talker? I mean, do you know what it is you can get the animals to obey you while other people have luck at all?”

Thinking of this sort troubled Naxa. He ran his fingers through his thick hair and scowled as he answered. “Nev’r thought about it. Just do it. Just get t’know the beast real good, then y’can guess what they’re going t’do. That’s all.”

It was obvious that Naxa had never thought about the origin of his ability to control the animals. And if he hadn’t, probably no one else had. They had no reason to. They simply accepted the powers of talkers as one of the facts of life.

Ideas slipped toward each other in his mind, like the pieces of a puzzle joining together. He had told Kerk that the native life of Pyrrus had joined in battle against mankind, he didn’t know why. Well, he still didn’t know why, but he was getting an idea of the “how.”

“About how far are we from the city?” Jason asked. “Do you have an idea how long it would take us to get there by dorym?”

“Half day there-half back. Why? Y’want to go?”

“I don’t want to get into the city, not yet. But I would like to get close to it,” Jason told him.

“See what Rhes says,” was Naxa’s answer.

Rhes granted instant permission without asking any questions. They saddled up and left at once, in order to complete the round trip before dark.

They had been traveling less than an hour before Jason knew they were going in the direction of the city. With each minute, the feeling grew stronger. Naxa was aware of it, too, stirring in the saddle with unvoiced feelings. They had to keep touching and reassuring their mounts which were growing skittish and restless. -

“This is far enough,” Jason said. Naxa gratefully pulled to a stop. The wordless thought beat through Jason’s mind, filling it.