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Ri was almost slobbering in fear.

“Let me hear you scream,” Extrone said.

Ri moaned weakly.

“You’ll have to do better than that.” Extrone inclined his head toward a bearer, who used something Ri couldn’t see.

Ri screamed.

“See that you keep it up that way,” Extrone said. “That’s the way I want you to sound.” He turned toward Lin. “We can climb this tree, I think.”

Slowly, aided by the bearers, the two men climbed the tree, bark peeling away from under their rough boots. Ri watched them hopelessly.

Once at the crotch, Extrone settled down, holding the rifle at alert. Lin moved to the left, out on the main branch, rested in a smaller crotch.

Looking down, Extrone said, “Scream!” Then, to Lin, “You feel the excitement? It’s always in the air like this at a hunt.”

“I feel it,” Lin said.

Extrone chuckled. “You were with me on Meizque?”

“Yes.”

“That was something, that time.” He ran his hand along the stock of the weapon.

The sun headed west, veiling itself with trees; a large insect circled Extrone’s head. He slapped at it, angry. The forest was quiet, underlined by an occasional piping call, something like a whistle. Ri’s screams were shrill, echoing away, shiveringly. Lin sat quiet, hunched.