Shame of Man by Piers Anthony Read Free Book Online

channel, to see if there were more rocks there. There weren't; there was nothing but some old sticks. What use were they?
    But when they camped again, Hu wanted something ready to throw. So he foraged for sticks, and made a pile of them. Bl noticed that, and did the same. Then the others did too. Wood might not be as good as stone, but it was better than nothing.
    In the distance herds of big animals were grazing. They weren't predators, so probably would not bother the travelers, but the absence of protective trees made them nervous again. There was still no water, but It was getting excited, as if he sensed some near.
    Next day the caked mud started getting sticky. Below it their toes touched cooler mud. Then there started to be a little water; they were able to find it by digging out the mud and letting it seep into the hole, as It had done before.
    But more important was the plain. The grass was being replaced by marsh, and in the marsh were bushes with many berries. Not scattered patches, but a vast expanse: more than they could ever eat. They spread outand feasted. They had not found safety, but they had found food. At the moment, that was enough.
    After they were full, they had time to think about things. There was food here, but no hiding place. Hu hated the fearsome wide openness of this region. If only there were some trees!
    Bl considered the situation, and made their decision: they would remain here with the food. They all knew that they could not go back the way they had come, and there was nothing but plain ahead. So they made their camp, as before, in the form of a tree, with the males outside.
    The enemy band caught up. But it, too, was distracted by the plentiful berries, and its members gorged themselves. So there was no immediate threat from that quarter. Still, part of Hu's concern, which he was sure the others shared, was about that other band. It was best to keep it away. With that in mind, he gathered as many sticks as he could find, and the others did the same.
    But the first trouble came from a different direction. A herd of grazing beasts had been moving closer, and one day they came directly toward the two people camps. Several bulls came first. They were huge, with massive flat horns. They were not predators, but they were dangerous.
    The great beasts moved on through, glaring menacingly. Hu and the others put down their front feet and loped out of the way. So did the folk of the enemy camp. But one bull, annoyed, turned on that camp. Suddenly it charged, catching one person by surprise. She tried to flee, but was struck by the bull's shoulder as it passed. She screamed and fell, rolling across the bushes. Hu recognized the voice: it was Ss!
    The bull turned, searching for her. Ss did not get up and flee; she lay there, whimpering. None of her group went to try to help her. In a moment the bull would trample her, and she would be dead or badly injured.
    Hu was in motion before he realized it. “Help!” he cried, making the scream of supplication. He ran three-legged toward Ss and the bull, carrying his stoutest stick with one hand.
    In a moment he was there. The bull loomed huge and terrible, about to gore the trembling Ss. Hu lifted to his hind legs, shouted defiance and bashed it on the flank with his stick. The beast seemed not even to feel it. So Hu struck again, this time on the shoulder. Still the bull took no notice. It was intent on Ss, orienting its massive head and horn.
    Then there was another person, with another club. It was Bl. He swung his club not at the bull's solid torso, but at one of its legs. This time the bull reacted. The head swung toward Bl.
    And a third person was there: Jo. Jo clubbed the beast on the side away from Bl, striking at another leg. The bull made a squeal of rage and turned back—and Hu smashed it on the nose.
    He thought that would really enrage the animal. But the bull just stood there a moment, blinking as if confused. Then it stepped forward. Huthrew