Chapter 39

Chapter Eighteen

Mashtuk slipped to the front of the small group gathered at the entrance to the denning site. ‘Are we ready?’

‘Yes,’ said Hippolyta. ‘I’ve sent Enis to fetch Tsendi. Mudiwa will stay with Zélie and the cubs.’

‘Then let us meet our visitor,’ said Mashtuk. He crested the rise and started down the steep scree-slope, tracking a little sideways to prevent slipping. Behind him, Hippolyta stepped surely in his prints and young Memandi brought up the rear, careful not to disturb stones that might roll down onto her elders. They came to the turning where the slope widened and flattened to an open swale, and saw that the enormous bulk of the stray humachine was still hunkered down, just where Enis had described it.

It raised its head at the sound of their approach, holding up one hand a……