Starquake.pdf

satiated, however, for he would never forgive the cheela race for abandoning him because he was too
speckled.
Ferocious-Eyes picked out three of the cheela in the clan, the speckled ones that had the most pink
eyes, and taught them how to ride Swifts. It was easy for the speckled ones, for with their pink eyes, they
could see subtle color changes in the hides and eyes of the Swifts that allowed them to read the moods of
the dangerous animals. Ferocious-Eyes left one of his new warriors in charge of the clan and took the
rest of his small army to conquer the next clan.
The pattern of conquest of the Terrible One was simple. His army would surround a clan compound,
then he and a small group of bodyguards would ride into the compound. He, personally, would challenge
the leader of the clan. If the leader was foolish enough to attempt to duel, he soon was meat for
Ferocious-Eyes' Swift. The army would stay long enough to feed themselves and their mounts, disarm
and subjugate the clan, pick and train some recruits, then move on, leaving one or two of their number to
keep the clan under control. At some of the first clan compounds they had experienced resistance, but
any opponents left alive after the battle was over had all but one eye lopped off and were set free to bring
a warning to the next clan.
The Terrible One, now at the head of a small roving army, had six captains who each led a dozen
mounted picked warriors. They were supported by a much larger army that extracted food and supplies
from the subjugated clans and transported it by long lines of porters that stretched from the West, North,
and East Poles to wherever the army was. The lines were now converging on the northern outskirts of
Bright's Heaven.
"We are coming upon Bright's Heaven, O Terrible One," said Falling-Quint "The home of Qui-Qui, the
God of Youth and Knowledge. She lives in a Maze Temple protected by magic. It is said that no one but
her has been able to find the way to the center of the maze."
"She is no more a god than I am," said Ferocious-Eyes.
"But they say she can talk to the stars and fly in the sky. They also say she is forever beautiful and never
dies."
"She can do no more than the ancient ones that lived before the big crustquake," said Ferocious-Eyes.
"God or not, I bet the juices will still come out when you throw one of your quirrls down on her."
His Swift roared and snapped at the Swift carrying Falling-Quirrl. They both had to slap their mounts on
their sensitive eyes before they could quiet them down.
"The Swifts are getting hungry," she said.
"We'll stop here and kill a Flow Slow to feed them." Ferocious-Eyes slid down off the tail of his mount.
His tread slapped the crust in a loud command.
"Where is that slave carrying the sparkling wine?" he demanded. "I'm thirsty!"
"The Terrible One is just north of the city," the messenger reported. "They have stopped to eat and feed
their mounts."