01 Taxilas Children

TAXILA'S CHILDREN
crouched - like himself. They were walking on two legs but their arms were long and reached
almost to the knee. They were naked and a big male led the group. He was followed by other
males and then the females and their young. Some of which, were slung across the shoulders
of the adults, the older youngsters walked.
Steve kept very still, his heart was racing. He remained crouched, waiting for whatever he
had the right to expect from wandering around in a strange environment without weapons or
support. The group leader drew abreast of him and stared blankly. The whole group stopped
and stared as well. They made no menacing moves, Steve's breathing quietened. The leader
grunted something from deep inside, it might have been a belch. Steve hoped most sincerely,
that they had already had a good breakfast.
They stood eyeball to eyeball and examined each other curiously. Steve had no idea of
what the big male was making of him but he had an uncanny feeling of identity with them.
This, together with his earlier skin peeling sensation, roused a sensation of primitive kinship.
It was very unsettling. They were hairy, yet not with a pelt like an animal might have. This
was a fine covering of short hair, which covered their shoulders and back. It was less defined
on the chest and belly. The face mask was almost free of long hair, except for a few tufts on
the upper lip and near the ears. Steve had seen miners on Mars with a thicker fur and they
went under the name of Man.
The leader's eyes showed a kind of dim intelligence, as if a fine brain was locked away in
the brute head and was waiting to be used. They were not lovely creatures - except to each
other. Steve tried to look pleasant, which attracted no response. They were waiting for
something, perhaps an intelligent comment and until he could scramble something together
from his lessons with Hara, they were likely to remain waiting.
A woman's voice from behind him said.
"Go on your way, Scarn."
The group of Scarn resumed their interrupted journey without giving Steve a second
glance. They shambled off down the path and disappeared among the trees. Steve looked
around. The woman was leaning against a tree looking highly amused. She burst into
laughter, which made her throw back her head. She stopped laughing and surveyed him with
a kind of arrogant mockery that made him angry. He snapped:
"I suppose you found that highly entertaining."
"I did."
Steve eyed her carefully. She was one of the feline race but totally unlike Caela or Hara.
"It was a picture worth recording - The Scarn versus the intrepid traveller from the stars -
that is what I am reading in your mind, is it not?"
The conversation was taking an interesting turn.
"So, you're one of the Gifted ones Jabez has been telling me about? I suppose you work
with them and he told you I was going to take a little exercise today."
The green-grey eyes flashed in anger and derision.
"Stupid clod! Do you think I look like a peasant? How dare you take me for an Overseer! I
am Laoni!"
She had drawn herself up to her full height, which was about the level of his chest. She
looked ready to spit fire. The anger in Steve exploded.
"I am so sorry if I offended your highness. I find it hard, on an alien planet, to distinguish
between the elite and the serfs. Please accept your servant's humble apologies. May I kiss
your big toe, or something?"
She was carrying some sort of switch, perhaps for use on the unseen, wretched animal that
had brought her there. She raised it and tried to lay it across his shoulders. He grabbed her
wrist and held on tight. She wrestled for a moment and then stopped. She glared into his face
with all the venom a spoiled young lady was capable of unloosing. Steve spat out:
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