“Then he will show us how to kill murgu the same way. We will learn to make takkuuk. That is the black poison in the bladders that makes you sick if you smell just a little bit of it. But on the spears it kills the largest marag. Do you not see the difference? Things that we know how to make can never die—like the death-sticks which sicken and die. The knowledge of the making cannot die either because many have it. We will make the takkuuk and live where we wish.”

“I think that I understand now—understand that this is a very important thing for you. But maybe we will not be able to make takkuuk. Then what?”

He pulled her to her feet beside him. “We will be able to understand how it is done. We will ask now. Because what one can make another can make. We are not murgu, remember. And we must not try to be like them. Perhaps some day we will have their knowledge of the way living things are. Some day. But we do not need this knowledge now. Let us ask Kalaleq.”

The Paramutan was lying back on the sand, gasping as he chewed a bit of raw liver, blood on his hands and face. His stomach was distended with feasting—but he wasn’t going to give up yet.

“Greatest eater among all the Paramutan!” Kerrick called out.

“It is true! You have said it. And I am the greatest hunter as well . . .”

“Then you can do anything?”

“Anything!”

“You know how to make takkuuk?”

“Kalaleq knows everything there is to know, makes takkuuk that kills the biggest ularuaq.”

“Will furry Paramutan of wisdom then tell simple Tanu how it is done?”

“Never!” he shouted, then roared with laughter and fell feebly back onto the sand. Neither Kerrick nor Armun thought this was very funny. Only when the laughter had died away and he had finished chewing and swallowing the last of the liver, did he explain.

“It is important and very hard to do. My father taught me, I will show my son Kukujuk how to do it when he is older. You are old enough to learn now. But you must trade for this secret knowledge.”

“That is fair. What do you want?”

“The price is high. It is—one knife of stone with sharpest blade.”