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

times the length of that sprouting from Furtig's own
tougher hide, and it was of two colors—not spotted or
patched as was often the case but a dark brown shad-
ing evenly to cream. Her tail, always groomed to a
silken flow, was also dark. Many were the fish-bone
combs patiently wrought and laid at the message rock
to the fore of Former's cave, intended by the hopeful
to catch the eye of Fas-Tan. And to know that she
used the work of one's clumsy hands was enough to
make a warrior strut for a day.

Fas-Tan would certainly have first choice, and with
her pride, her selection of mate would be he who
proved himself best. Furtig had not the least chance
of catching her golden eyes. But a warrior could
dream, and he had dreamed.

Now another thought plagued him. Fal-Kan's reve-
lations concerning the folly, almost the treachery of
Gammage, hung in his mind. He found himself look-
ing not at the females of the westerners, but at the
fringe of warriors. Most had hunting claws swinging
at their belts. However, Furtig's eyes marked at least
three who did not wear those emblems of manhood,
yet marched with the defenders. A warrior could gain
his claws in two ways, since they no longer came from
Gammage. He could put on those which had been his
father's if his sire had gone into the Last Dark, or he

22

BREED TO COME

could challenge a claw wearer and strive for a victory
that would make them his.

Furtig's claws had been his father's. He had had to
work patiently and long to hammer their fastenings
to fit his own hands. If he were challenged tomorrow
by one of the clawless and lost— He dropped his hand
protectingly over the weapons at his belt. To lose
those—

However, when he thought of Fas-Tan there was a
heat in him, a need to yowl a challenge straight into
the whiskered face of the nearest warrior. And he
knew that no male could resist the Trials when the
Choosers walked provocatively, tails switching, seem-
ing to see no one, yet well aware of all who watched.