The Inferior by Peadar Ó Guilín Read Free Book Online Page A

neighbours for a long time. They were a good match for the Armourbacks and a welcome buffer against them. Something terrible must have happened for such a strong people to fall so quickly.’
    Everywhere hunters nodded.
    ‘The Hairbeasts lost,’ he went on, ‘because the Armourbacks and the Hoppers attacked them
together
. They
co-operated
. Think about that. The Armourbacks, if they can speak at all, do so without voices–with smells maybe, or signs. The Hoppers, on the other hand, talk in squeaks.’ Stopmouth smiled to himself. This was another of his brother’s favourite topics.
    ‘But even we and the Hairbeasts, who both have voices, have never been able to understand more than one, maybe two words in each other’s language. Even after poor Treatymaker spent half his life with them! Co-operation is impossible between us.’
    Speareye laughed. ‘You’re only proving my point, young Wallbreaker. What use are these Hairbeasts if they won’t work with us?’
    Wallbreaker shook his head and lowered his voice to force the spectators to listen. ‘If the Armourbacks and the Hoppers have destroyed the Hairbeasts by working together, who do you think is next?’
    This thought had been on everybody’s mind, but few had spoken it aloud.
    ‘But why would they destroy
us
?’ cried Speareye. ‘There’s only so much flesh any creature can eat!’
    ‘I’m sure these neighbours of ours thought so too,’ said the younger man. He pointed off towards Hairbeast-Ways. ‘I bet there’s a lot of flesh rotting over there right now.’ He paused. ‘Look, I’m not saying the Armourbacks are planning to attack us, but if they are, these Hairbeasts will surely fight for their lives the same as any living creature. Better. Those clubs break through shell quicker than any weapon we have. We need the Hairbeasts on our side. We’re a strong people: we can build up our stocks of food elsewhere. But whatever else we do, we need to keep these Hairbeasts in our streets for the day the Armourbacks come!’
    Wallbreaker sat down to a thoughtful silence. At last Chief Speareye nodded his head. ‘Your advice is good, young man. We will do as you say for now and take our food elsewhere. As one of our finest hunters,
you
will lead the way. Tomorrow.’
    Everybody applauded at this great honour for Wallbreaker. He was young to be leading a hunt. He beamed at them, that famous dimpled smile. Only Stopmouth of all the crowd could see the terror that lay beneath it.
             
    ‘He’ll get us killed,’ said Wallbreaker, shaking. ‘He’s known for it! Those stupid risks of his…’
    Stopmouth looked down to street level, where Rockface waited with five other men who would accompany them on the hunt.
    ‘He k-kept me alive in H-Hairbeast.’
    The other hunters talked among themselves and their voices, though not their words, reached the rooftop. Stopmouth didn’t need to hear them to know they were discussing Wallbreaker. The young man had gained a reputation for his spear skills and daring but had never led a hunt before. Nor was it a secret that he hadn’t left the human streets in a long time. Too long for someone with ambition.
    Wallbreaker held a piece of Globe metal tightly to his chest. His face was pale. ‘Tell the men I’m injured,’ he said.
    Evening was approaching fast; when full dark came, the party would slip into no-man’s-land towards Clawfolk territory. The bridge might be watched, so they’d push a tree over the Wetlane and make for the alleys of Flim-Ways well before dawn.
    ‘Y-you’re n-not injured.’
    Wallbreaker turned an imploring gaze on his brother. ‘You injure me then! Here, I’ll put my arm between these two blocks. You could step on it hard. Here.’ He knelt down on a bed of lichen, scattering the mossbeasts that crawled upon it. ‘Do it!’
    Stopmouth poked his head over the parapet of the house. ‘W-we’re c-coming n-now!’ he shouted.
    He thought back to the last day of his