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Updated: May 11, 2025
Following the example of the Salariki they faced seaward but Dane did not know what to watch for. Cam had left only the vaguest general descriptions of gorp and beyond the fact that they were reptilian, intelligent and dangerous, the Terrans had not been briefed. Once the warriors had taken up their stand along the reef, the younger Salariki went into action once more.
Though the Cargo-apprentice was sure that Kamil was more alert than his comrades, as if he waited for something he thought was soon to occur. Dane dreamed. Once more he trod the reef rising out of Sargol's shallow sea. But he held no weapon and beneath the surface of the water a gorp lurked.
Until his chieftain father was avenged in blood he could not assume the high seat of his clan nor the leadership of the family. And now, following custom, he was inviting the friends and sometimes allies of the dead Paft to a gorp hunt. Such a gorp hunt, Dane gathered from amidst the flowers of ceremonial Salariki speech, as had never been planned before on the face of Sargol.
As a fitting climax to their horrific display, three of the men who had been with them on the reef entered, dragging behind them still enmeshed in the hunting net the gorp which Dane had stunned. It was uncurled now and very much alive, but the pincer claws which might have cut its way to safety were encased in balls of hard substance.
And these gorp are tough from all accounts. You'll just have to use your own judgment about springing your rods on them " He looked distinctly unhappy at that thought. Ali was grinning and little Weeks tightened his weapon belt with a touch of swagger he had never shown before.
Holding it before him the young chieftain leaped to the table top and so to stand before the high seat. There was a hush throughout the enclosure. Now even the gorp had ceased its wild struggles and hung limp in its bonds. Groft raised the cup above his head and gave a loud shout in the archaic language of his clan.
The fight broke into a series of individual duels carried on now by the light of the torches as the evening closed in. The last of the purple patches had burned away to nothing. Dane crouched by his standard torch, his eyes fastened on the sea, watching for an ominous vee of ripples betraying another gorp on its way to launch against the rock barrier.
Rip was his usual soft voiced self, dependable as a rock and a good base for the rest of them taking command without question as they marched off to join Groft's company. The gorp hunters straggled through the grass forest in family groups, and the Terrans saw that the enterprise had forced another uneasy truce upon the district, for there were representatives from more than just Paft's own clan.
Instead the gorp drew in upon itself until it resembled an unwieldy ball of indestructible armor and there it remained. The Salariki on either side of Dane let out cries of triumph and edged closer. One of them twirled his net suggestively, seeing that the Terran lacked what was to him an essential piece of hunting equipment.
"Polite, aren't they?" asked Weeks mildly. "What do you expect of Eysies?" Ali wanted to know. "To them Free Traders are just rim planet trash. Let's report back where we are appreciated." They took a short cut which brought them back to the Queen and they filed up her ramp to make their report to the Captain. But they were not yet satisfied with Groft and his gorp slayers.
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