“No, you have no reason,” Kerrick called out hoarsely. But the order had been given, would be obeyed. He jumped sideways, away from the weapon, stumbled against the shocked scientist at his side. In an agony of fear he seized her heavy arms and pulled her before him, crouching so her body shielded him from any dart. “I can help you, give important information!”

But they could not understand him, for they could hear only the sound of his voice; because Esspelei’s solid body blocked any view of his limbs.

“Kill it! Instantly-instantly!” Aragunukto raged.

Fafnege crouched, weapon ready, stalking him like a wild prey. Esspelei was struggling, breaking away. Once his body was exposed he was dead. He glanced over the scientist’s shoulder as he felt her break his grip and fall forward. Saw the door opening.

Saw the shocked, brown-furred face of a Paramutan appear there.

“Kill the one with the death-stick,” Kerrick screamed aloud, his body exposed now to the raised weapon.

Even as he spoke he realized that he had celled out in Marbak. He hurled himself to the floor as the hèsotsan snapped loudly. The dart came so close to his face that he felt the breath of its passage. Fafnege watched him fall, moved the weapon to follow him.

“What is happening?” Kalaleq cried out.

Fafnege spun about at the sound of his voice. Kerrick found the Paramutan words.

“Kill! The one with the stick!”

Kalaleq’s was the arm that sank the deadly harpoon into the giant ularuaq, now he hurled his spear with the same precision, the same strength. Catching Fafnege in the midriff, doubling her over with the force of the blow. The hèsotsan fired its dart into the floor as she fell.

Niumak surged through the entrance, his spear ready, Armun right behind him. Kerrick was starting to rise as she ran toward him.

“Don’t—not that one!” he cried. Too late. Esspelei screamed in pain, clutched at Armun’s spear where it had been thrust into her neck, fell still screaming out bubbles of blood, died.

“She was a scientist, I wanted to talk to her,” he said weakly, looking about. Armun had wrenched her spear free, turned to protect him.

But there was no need. Aragunukto was dead as well, Kalaleq turning from her body. The Paramutan was panting with emotion, his eyes blood red. “More?” he asked. “Are there more?”

“Yes, in the other structures. But . . .”

They were gone before he could even begin to explain about fargi. Tiredly he picked up his cut furs, looked at them. Armun touched soft fingers to the blood upon his skin, spoke quietly.

“When you did not come back I was heavy with fear. The Paramutan too. Niumak tracked you, found your spear, found the place where your prints joined those of the murgu. Then followed them here. Did they wound you?”

“No. Just these small cuts. Nothing more.”