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Jason didn't try to press the point。 The effort of forcing Rhes change his basic attitudes wasn't worth it…even if possible。 He had succeeded in convincing anyone in the city of the lethal mutations ev when they could observe all the facts。 Rhes could still supply inforri tion though。
〃I suppose it's not important who started the battle；〃 Jason said the other man's benefit； not meaning a word of it。 〃But you'll have agree that the city people are permanently at war with all the local ii
Your people； though； have managed to befriend at least two species that I have seen。 Do you have any idea how this was done？〃
〃Naxa will be here in a minute；〃 Rhes said； pointing to the door； 〃as soon as he's taken care of the animals。 Ask him。 Fle's the best talker we have。〃
〃Talker？〃 Jason asked。 〃I had the opposite idea about him。 He didn't talk much； and what he did say was； well…a little hard to understand at times。〃
〃Not that kind of talking；〃 Rhes broke in impatiently。 〃The talkers look after the animals。 They train the dogs and doryms； and the better ones like Naxa are always trying to work with other beasts。 They dress crudely； but they have to。 I've heard them say that the animals don't like chemicals； metal or tanned leather； so they wear untanned furs for the most part。 But don't let the dirt fool you； it has nothing to do with his intelligence。〃
〃Doryms？ Are those your carrying beasts…the kind we rode ing here？〃
Rhes nodded。 〃Doryms are more than pack animals； they're really a little bit of everything。 The large males pull the plows and other machines； while the younger animals are used for meat。 If you want to know more； ask Naxa； you'll find him in the barn。〃
〃I'd like to do that；〃 Jason said； standing up。 〃Only I feel undressed without my gun…〃
〃Take it； by all means； it's in that chest by the door。 Only watch out what you shoot around here。〃
Naxa was in the rear of the barn； filing down one of the spade…like toenails of a dorym。 It was a strange scene。 The fur…dressed man with the great beast…and the contrast of a beryllium…copper file and electroluminescent plates lighting the work。 The dorym opened its nostrils and pulled away when Jason entered。 Naxa patted its neck and talked softly until it quieted and stood still； shivering slightly。
Something stirred in Jason's mind； with the feeling of a long unused muscle being stressed。 A hauntingly familiar sensation。
〃Good morning；〃 Jason said。 Naxa grunted something and went back to his filing。 Watching him for a few minutes； Jason tried to analyze this new feeling。 It itched and slipped aside when he reached for it； escaping him。 Whatever it was； it had started when Naxa had talked to the dorym。
〃Could you call one of the dogs in here； Naxa？ I'd like to see one closer up。〃
Without raising his head from his work； Naxa gave a low whistle。 Jason was sure it couldn't have been heard outside of the barn。 Yet
within a minute one of the Pyrran dogs slipped quietly in。 The talk rubbed the beast's head； mumbling to it； while the animal looked i tently into his eyes。
The dog became restless when Naxa turned back to work on t＇ dorym。 It prowled around the barn； sniffing； then moved quickly ward the open door。 Jason called it back。
At least he meant to call it。 At the last moment he said nothir Nothing aloud。 On sudden impulse he kept his mouth closed…on he called the dog with his mind。 Thinking the words e here； dire ing the impulse at the animal with all the force and direction he Is ever used to manipulate dice。 As he did it； he realized it had been a loi time since he had even considered using his psi powers。
The dog stopped and turned back toward him。
It hesitated； looking at Naxa； then walked over to Jason。
Seen this closely； the beast was a nightmare hound。 The hairlc protective plates； tiny red…rimmed eyes； and countless； saliva…drippii teeth did little to inspire confidence。 Yet Jason felt no fear。 There was rapport between man and animal that was understood。 Without cc scious thought； he reached out and scratched the dog along the bac where he knew it itched。
〃Di'nt know y're a talker；〃 Naxa said。 As he watched them； thc was friendship in his voice for the first time。
〃I didn't know either…7'tntil just now；〃 Jason said。 He looked into t eyes of the animal before him； scratched the ridged and ugly back； a' began to understand。
The talkers must have well…developed psi facilities； that was obvio now。 There is no barrier of race or alien form when two creatures shr each other's emotions。 Empathy first； so there would be no hatred fear。 After that direct munication。 The talkers might have be the ones who first broke through the barrier of hatred on Pyrrus ai learned to live with the native life。 Others could have followed th~ example…this might explain how the munity of 〃grubbers〃 h been formed。
Now that he was concentrating on it； Jason was aware of the s flow of thoughts around him。 The consciousness of the dorym w matched by other like patterns from the rear of the barn。 He knew wil out going outside that more of the big beasts were in the field ba there。
〃This is all new to me；〃 Jason said。 〃Have you ever thought about Naxa？ What does it feel like to be a talker？ I mean； do you know w it is you can get the animals to obey you while other people have luck at all？〃
Thinking of this sort troubled Naxa。 He ran his fingers through his thick hair and scowled as he answered。 〃Nev'r thought about it。 Just do it。 Just get t'know the beast real good； then y'can guess what they're going t'do。 That's all。〃
It was obvious that Naxa had never thought about the origin of his ability to control the animals。 And if he hadn't； probably no one else had。 They had no reason to。 They simply accepted the powers of talkers as one of the facts of life。
Ideas slipped toward each other in his mind； like the pieces of a puzzle joining together。 He had told Kerk that the native life of Pyrrus had joined in battle against mankind； he didn't know why。 Well； he still didn't know why； but he was getting an idea of the 〃how。〃
〃About how far are we from the city？〃 Jason asked。 〃Do you have an idea how long it would take us to get there by dorym？〃
〃Half day there…half back。 Why？ Y'want to go？〃
〃I don't want to get into the city； not yet。 But I would like to get close to it；〃 Jason told him。
〃See what Rhes says；〃 was Naxa's answer。
Rhes granted instant permission without asking any questions。 They saddled up and left at once； in order to plete the round trip before dark。
They had been traveling less than an hour before Jason knew they were going in the direction of the city。 With each minute； the feeling grew stronger。 Naxa was aware of it； too； stirring in the saddle with unvoiced feelings。 They had to keep touching and reassuring their mounts which were growing skittish and restless。 …
〃This is far enough；〃 Jason said。 Naxa gratefully pulled to a stop。 The wordless thought beat through Jason's mind； filling it。 He could feel it on all sides…only much stronger ahead of them in the direction of the unseen city。 Naxa and the doryms reacted in the same way； restlessly unfortable； not kno