Book 1 - Doomstalker by Glen Cook Read Free Book Online Page A

increased
exponentially.
    The central thread of pack education was the Chronicle, a record
that traced pack history from its legendary founder, Bognan, a
rogue male who carried off a female and started the line. That had
happened many hundreds of years ago, far to the south, before the
long migration into the upper Ponath.
    The story, the Wise assured the young, was entirely mythical. A
tale wilder than most, for no male would dare such a thing. Nor
would any be capable, the sex being less smart, weaker, and
emotionally more unstable than the female. But it was a tale fun to
tell outsiders, whom it boggled. Every pack had its black
forebears. Once they drifted into the mists of time, they became
objects of pride.
    Six books in Skiljan’s loghouse. Almost as many in the
rest of the packstead. And the Degnan packstead possessed more than
all the other packs of the upper Ponath. Ragged as the packstead
was, it was a center of culture and learning. Some summers other
packs sent favored female pups to study with the Degnan.
Friendships were made and alliances formed, and the Degnan
strengthened their place as the region’s leading pack.
    Marika was proud to have been born into such an important
pack.
     
    The lessons were complete and the morning was well advanced. The
angry excitement of the night before had degraded, but the diehards
were at it still. Rested huntresses returned from other loghouses.
Tempers were shorter than ever.
    The prisoner, unable to sustain his terror forever and overcome
by exhaustion, had fallen asleep. He lay there ignored, huntresses
stepping over and around him almost indifferently. Marika wondered
if he had been forgotten.
    Some common ground did exist. A watch was established in the
watchtower, a task which rotated among the older pups. Most of the
less interested adults began preparing for possible siege.
    All those precious iron-tool treasures, so long hoarded, came
out of hiding. The edges of axes and knives received loving
attention. Arrows were mated to iron heads fearsome with many
barbs. Marika noted that the heads were affixed to strike
horizontally instead of vertically, as hunting arrows were. Meth
ribs ran parallel to the ground rather than perpendicular.
    More arrows, cruder ones, were made quickly. More spears were
fashioned. Scores of javelins were made of sticks with their points
hardened in the firepits. The older pups were shown basic fighting
techniques. Even the males trained with spears, javelins, tools and
knives—when they were not otherwise occupied.
     
    Skiljan, exercising her prerogative as head of loghouse,
supported by Gerrien and most of the Degnan Wise, ended the
everlasting debate by evicting all outsiders from her loghouse.
    The Wise of the pack were more in concert than the huntresses.
They issued advices which, because of the near unanimity behind
them, fell with the force of orders. What had been preparations
made catch-as-catch-can became orderly and almost organized. As
organized and cooperative as ever meth became.
    They first ordered a short sleep for the cooling of
emotions.
    Marika wakened from hers uneasy. Kublin was snuggled against
her, restless. What was wrong? The psychic atmosphere was electric.
There was a stench in it . . . Pain. And fear.
Like that touch when the huntresses were out seeking the source of
the scream she had heard.
    A true scream ripped up from the ground level. She and Kublin
scrambled to the ladder’s head, making no friends among pups
already crouched there.
    They were questioning the prisoner. Pohsit was holding his paw
in the huntress’s firepit. Another of the Wise sat at his
head, repeating a question over and over in a soft voice. He did
not repsond, except to howl when Pohsit thrust his paw into the
coals again.
    The pups were neither upset nor disgusted, only curious. They
battled for the best spots around the ladderhead. Marika was sure
one would get pushed through the hole.
    The torment went on and on. Marika