"Andre Norton - Breed To Come - uc" - читать интересную книгу автора (Norton Andre)

17




BREED TO COME

Furtig spoke—first of the Barkers and then of the
strange boundary sign. With a gesture Fal-Kan dis-
missed the Barkers, They were what one could expect
from time to time, and scouts would be sent to make
sure the Barkers were not pack forerunners. But at
the story of the slash marks Fal-Kan set aside his
claws and listened intently. When Furtig told of his
counter-marking, the Elder nodded.

"That was well d6ne. And you say that these
slashes were not deep. Perhaps no more deeply set
than these could do?" He held out his hand, extend-
ing his natural claws.

"So it looked." Furtig had long ago learned that
caution was the best tone to take with Elders. They
were apt to consider the opinions of the young as
misled and misleading.

"Then this one did not know Gammage."

Furtig's open astonishment brought him to the dis-
courtesy of actually interrupting an Elder.

"Know Gammage! But he is a stranger—not of the
Five Caves—or of the western People. Gammage
would not know him."

Fal-Kan growled softly, and Furtig, in confusion,
recognized his error. But his surprise remained.

"It is time," Fal-Kan said in the throat-rumbling
voice used for pronouncements against offenders of
cave custom, "that one speak clearly about the Ances-
tor. Have you not wondered why we have not been fa-
vored by his attention lately, during this time of your
growing—though it would seem by your actions that
you have not in truth progressed far beyond a young-
ling?"

BREED TO COME

Fal-Kan waited for no answer but continued with-