NENITESK (Ornithischia: Triceratops elatus): Herbivorous quadruped characterized by the possession of three horns set in a bony protective shield, unchanged since the Cretaceous period. They reproduce by laying eggs. Their brain capacity is small and their intelligence even smaller. Since they are slow growing they are of little use for meat supply, but are extremely decorative.

ONETSENSAST (Ornithischia: Stegosaurus variatus): The largest of the plated dinosaurs. These immense herbivorous creatures are protected from attack by two rows of plates down the neck and back, as well as heavy spikes on the tail. They first developed in the late Jurassic and only careful preservation by the Yilanè has prevented the destruction of this living fossil.

SANDUU (Anuva: Rana catesbiana mutatus): Extensive gene manipulation has altered this animal in almost every way; only its outer skin reveals its origins. Magnification of up to 200 power is available by proper use of sunlight directed through the different organic lenses of its head.

TARAKAST (Ornithischia: Segnosaurus shiungisaurus mutatus): A sharp-beaked carnivorous dinosaur, the largest examples being over 13 feet in length. They are difficult to train and require great strength to manage, but when properly broken make a desirable Yilanè mount.

UGUNKSHAA (Squamata: Phrynosoma fjernsyna mutatus): Since the Yilanè language is dependent upon skin color and body movements, as well as sound, keeping written records is impossible; therefore writing has never developed. Historically, knowledge was passed on verbally, and the recording of this information only became possible when an organic liquid crystal display was developed for visual accompaniment of the auditory memory records.

UNUTAKH (Cephalopoda: Deroceras agreste mutatus): One of the highly modified animals used in Yilanè technology. This cephalopod digests protein matter, especially hair and modified epidermal plates with ease.

URUKETO (Ichthyopterygia: Ichthyosaurus morastrosus mutatus): This is the largest of the “fish-lizards,” a family of immense aquatic dinosaurs. Millennia of gene surgery and breeding have developed a strain of ichthyosaurs very different from the parent stock. There is a large chamber situated above the spine and centered on the dorsal fin that is used for both crew and cargo.

URUKTOP (Chelonia. Psittacosaurus montanoceratops mutatus): One of the most extensively modified of the Yilanè animals Used for land transportation, it can carry heavy loads for great distances since after gene-doubling it has eight legs.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

In writing this novel I have sought the advice of experts in various fields. The biology of the Yilanè is the work of Dr. Jack Cohen. The Yilanè and the Marbak languages are the work of Prof. T. A. Shippey. This would have been a far different and lesser book without their help and advice. My gratitude to them is infinite.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR