“We passed a large herd of the duck-billed murgu today,” Kellimans said. “I would very much like to taste one.”

“My spear hand twitches,” Ulfadan said, squinting into the distance across the river. “We have not hunted for many days.”

“Then I say let us stop here.” Herilak looked around and the hunters nodded agreement.

“I am thinking of the murgu-who-walk-like-men,” Kerrick said. “They must never be forgotten.”

Ulfadan snorted. “We have seen none of their great birds. They cannot know that we are here.”

“We can never be sure what they know or do not know. They stalked and killed sammad Amahast and they did not have the birds then. Wherever we are, whatever we do, we must never forget them.”

“What is your thought then, margalus?” Herilak asked.

“You are the hunters. We will stay here if that is to your liking. But there must be a guard at this spot, night and day, to watch the river in case of an attack. See how wide the river has become here? It must reach the ocean somewhere south of us. The ocean and the river can be a path for the murgu if they know that this is our camping place.”

“The margalus is correct,” Herilak said. “We will take this precaution as long as we are here.”

Ulfadan was looking down the bare slope, frowning at it. “Always before we have camped among the trees. It is too open here.”

Kerrick remembered the city of Alpèasak which was also on a river, but well guarded.

“There is a thing that the murgu do. They grow strong trees and thorn bushes to protect their camp. We cannot grow trees, but we could cut thorn bushes and pile them in a line for protection. It will keep the small beasts out—and we can kill anything large enough to break through.”

“We have never done it before,” Kellimans protested.

“We have never come this far south before,” Herilak said. “We will do as the margalus tells us.”

Although they had meant to stay just a night or two at this place, many days passed and still they did not move on. There were fish in the river and the hunting was very good here, better than they had ever known before. The duck-bills were so numerous that many times the far side of their herds could not be seen. They were very fast—but were also very stupid. If a group of hunters appeared suddenly they fled away. If this was done correctly the other hunters would be waiting in hiding ahead of them with spears and bows ready. Not only were the creatures fast and stupid—they also made very tasty eating.