Burning Tower by Larry Niven Read Free Book Online Page A

what these things are? “Turning. Slow, slow, you beauties, slow.”
    The horses didn’t want to slow to a trot. They wanted to run flat out. It was all Sandry could do to slow them.
    â€œI’m ready—here it goes. Go, sir.”
    The horses leaped ahead without waiting for orders. They could sense the urgency in Chalker’s voice.
    â€œGot him!” Chalker shouted. “And here come the Lordkin! They’re on the wounded one! Hacking him up!”
    â€œWhere’s the last one?”
    â€œAbout twenty feet behind us, sir.”
    â€œGet a rope out.”
    â€œSir?”
    â€œRope. I’m going to wheel. Try to lasso it.”
    â€œDon’t know how.”
    â€œBlast. Me either,” Sandry said. But I thought you knew everything! He continued to lead the remaining bird in a wide loop. “What are the Lordkin doing?”
    â€œDistracting the bird,” Chalker reported. “You can look back.”
    Sandry slowed the horses to a walk and looked behind him. The Lordkin were challenging the bird.
    â€œWe need it alive!” Sandry shouted. No one listened. These were Lordkin. Ah. There was Ilthern, some kind of relative to Wanshig, young but clearly a leader. “Ilthern! As a great favor, we need that one alive!” Sandry shouted. “We’ll pay a bonus.”
    That got some attention. One Lordkin stripped off his shirt and waved it at the bird.
    â€œIt’s confused, I think,” Chalker said. “Too many targets. I don’t think them things are any too smart.”
    Maybe it will chase us until it’s exhausted, Sandry thought. He wheeled again and dashed past the bird. The sight of the horses set it off toward them, but faster than before, and Sandry had to let the horses run to pull away from it.
    â€œSir, I can lay the rope in a loop out behind us. When it steps in, you go. It’s falling behind, it’s not as fast as it was. Tiring out, I think.”
    I hope so, Sandry thought, as he watched the buildings of the square flash past. The horses are tired, but they’ve still got some spunk. “Okay. Get ready. Tell me when to stop.”
    â€œGot the rope…. Got a loop…. Okay, sir, anytime.”
    â€œWhoa!”
    The horses were startled. Stop? Here? But he hauled on the reins, and they slowed, stopped, quivering.
    â€œLaid out. Move at a walk; I’ll lay out line. Here it comes.”
    Sandry wanted to look back, but it was better to look where he was going—He felt Chalker jerk hard on the rope. “Got him! Ride!”
    â€œAt a trot,” Sandry called to the horses in as calm a voice as he could manage. “Trot. Go.” He kept light pressure on the reins to keep the horses from pulling too hard.
    â€œIt’s down, sir.”
    Sandry turned hard left, whipping around in a circle. “Wrap him up.”
    â€œDoing that. Here come the Lordkin.”
    â€œWe want it alive!” Sandry shouted. Now he could look. The beast was down.
    The Lordkin stood back, then one ran in and threw his shirt over the bird’s head. Another came up to do the same and was slashed by one of those wing-spears. He fell back, cursing.
    â€œThere’s Chief Wanshig,” Chalker said carefully. Then he shouted, “Yes, sir!” and leaped out of the chariot with another rope. Chalker ran up to throw the rope over the beast’s neck, then hauled in the direction opposite the chariot. “Chief Wanshig, if some of your laddies could help here?” Chalker shouted.
    Wanshig laughed and came over to take hold of the rope. A half dozen others joined him.
    The bird was trapped. And now, Sandry thought, all I need is a cage to put it in.

Chapter Five
Wagon Train
    â€œM aydreo said seven more coming,” Sandry said. “Only five got here.”
    â€œYes, sir. Maybe they went back to the border station.”
    â€œWaterman’s in trouble,” Sandry said. “And