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The farn beast coughed again, more distant this time.

“They’re moving away,” Lin said.

“Damn!” Extrone said.

“It’s a good thing the wind’s right, or they’d be coming back, and fast, too.”

“Eh?” Extrone said.

“They charge on scent, sight, or sound. I understand they will track down a man for as long as a day.”

“Wait,” Extrone said, combing his beard. “Wait a minute.”

“Yes?”

“Look,” Extrone said. “If that’s the case, why do we bother tracking them? Why not make them come to us?”

“They’re too unpredictable. It wouldn’t be safe. I’d rather have surprise on our side.”

“You don’t seem to see what I mean,” Extrone said. “We won’t be the—ah—the bait.”

“Oh?”

“Let’s get back to the column.”

“Extrone wants to see you,” Lin said.

Ri twisted at the grass shoot, broke it off, worried and unhappy. “What’s he want to see me for?”

“I don’t know,” Lin said curtly.

Ri got to his feet. One of his hands reached out, plucked nervously at Lin’s bare forearm. “Look,” he whispered. “You know him. I have—a little money. If you were able to ... if he wants,” Ri gulped, “to do anything to me—I’d pay you, if you could....”