The Weakling Page 5

moment, the thought crossed his mind that hemight go out and meet the caravan master. But he discarded it. It wouldbe somewhat undignified for the master of the estate to serve as a merecaravan guide. He stood, waiting.

  He could see Dar Makun sitting between the armor fins of his ridinglizard. The reptile was one of the heavily armored breed he hadconsidered raising over in the northwest sector.

  They were, he had been told, normally dryland creatures. Such brutesshould thrive over in the flats, where the long-necks did poorly. Hewould have to consider the acquisition of some breeding stock.

  The caravan master drew his mount to a halt and drifted toward thetrees. Barra examined the man closely as he approached.

  He was a tall, slender man, perfectly at ease in his plain trailclothing. A few control jewels glinted from his fingers and he wore asmall shield brooch, but there was no heavy equipment. His distorterstaff, Barra noted, was a plain rod, tipped by a small jewel.Serviceable, to be sure, but rather short in range. Barra's lip curled atrifle.

  This man was not of really great substance, he decided. He probably hadhis entire wealth tied up in this one caravan and depended on his feesand on the sale of some few goods of his own to meet expenses.

  As Dar Makun dropped to the ground near him, Barra nodded.

  "I have instructed my headman to attend to your drivers and beasts," hesaid. "You have personal baggage?"

  The other smiled. "Thank you. I'll have one of the boys bring my packwhile the drivers pull up and unload. We can make our stack here, if youdon't mind."

  As Barra nodded in agreement, Dar Makun turned, waving. He drew a deepbreath and shouted loudly, the sounds resembling those which Barra hadoften heard from his slaves. The Master Protector felt a twinge ofdisgust.

  Of course, several of the caravan masters who did regular business atKira Barra shouted at their slaves at times. But somehow, he had neverbecome used to it. He much preferred to do business with those few whohandled their pseudomen as they did their draft beasts--quietly, andwith the dignity befitting the true race.

  He waited till Dar Makun had finished with his growls and hisses. One ofthe caravan drivers had swung down and was bringing a fiber cloth bundletoward them. Barra looked at it in annoyance.

  "This," he asked himself, "is his baggage?" He recovered his poise andturned to Dar Makun.

  "He can put it in the boat," he told the man. "I'll have one of mypeople pick it up for you when we get to the island. Now, if you'llfollow me, the pier is over this way." He turned and floated toward thedock.

  * * * * *

  As they pulled out into the lake, Dar Makun settled himself in thecushions.

  "I never realized what a big lake this is," he remarked. "I've alwaysmade the northern swing through this part of the continent. Oh, I'veseen the lake region from the hills, of course, but--" He looked at thewater thoughtfully.

  "You have quite a lot of fresh-water fish in there?"

  Barra nodded. "We get a harvest."

  Dar Makun closed his eyes, then opened them again. "I might deal withyou for some of those," he commented. "People out west seem to likefresh-water stuff." He looked at Barra closely.

  "I'll have to open my cargo for you," he went on. "Might be a few itemsyou'd be interested in."

  Barra nodded. "It's possible," he said. "I always need something aroundthe place." He speeded the boat a little.

  The boat came to the dock and Barra guided his guest into the Residenceand on into the study, where he activated the view crystal.

  "There's still light enough for you to get a look at some of the herds,"he told Dar Makun. "I believe you said you might need some more draftbeasts."

  Makun watched as the hills of Kira Barra spread out in the air beforehim.

  "It's a good way to locate the herds and make a few rough notes," headmitted. "Of course, I'll have to get close to the brutes in order toreally choose, though."

  "Oh?"

  "Fact. You see, these big lizards aren't all alike. Some of 'em arereally good. Some of 'em just don't handle. A few of 'em just lie downwhen you drop the first sling on 'em." Makun nodded toward theprojection.

  "That big fellow over there, for instance," he went on. "Of course, hemight slim down and make a good carrier. But usually, if they look likea big pile of meat, that's all they're good for. A lot of 'em can't evenstand the weight of a man on their necks. Breaks 'em right down."

  "A good carrier can handle a dozen tons without too much trouble, butsome of these things have it tough to handle their own weight on dryland and you have to look 'em over pretty closely to be sure which iswhich. Can't really judge by a projection."

  Barra looked at the man with slightly increased respect. At least, heknew something about his business. He shifted the viewer to the swamp.

  Of course, he thought, there were draft animals over in the westernsector. But this small herd was convenient.

  "Well," he said, "I've got this little herd over here. They got awaysome time ago and lost a lot of weight before I rounded them up again."

  Makun examined the projection with increased interest.

  "Yeah," he remarked. "I'd like to get out there in the morning and lookthose fellows over. I just might get the five I need right out there.Might even pick up a spare or two."

  * * * * *

  The swamp was a backwater of the lake, accessible by a narrow channel.Barra slowed the boat, easing it along through the still water. Here,the channel was clear, he knew, and it would soon widen. But there weresome gravel bars a little farther along that could be troublesome if onewere careless. And his attention was divided. He glanced at hiscompanion.

  Makun leaned against the cushions, looking at the thick foliage faroverhead. Then he turned his attention to the banks of the channel. Along, greenish shape was sliding out of the water. He pointed.

  "Have many of those around here?"

  "Those vermin?" Barra looked at the amphibian. "Not too many, but Icould do with less of them."

  He picked up his distorter from the rack beside him and pointed it aheadof the boat. The sapphire glowed.

  There was a sudden, violent thrashing in the foliage on the bank. Theslender creature reared into the air, tooth-studded jaws gaping wide.

  It rose above the foliage, emitting a hissing bellow. Then it curledinto a ball and hung suspended in the air for an instant before itdropped back into the shrubbery with a wet plop.

  Barra put the jewel-tipped rod back in its hanger.

  "I don't like those nuisances," he explained. "They can kill a slave ifhe gets careless. And they annoy the stock." He tilted his head forward.

  "There's the herd," he went on, "at the other end of this open water.I'll run up close and you can look them over if you wish."

  Makun looked around, then shrugged. "Not necessary. I'll go ahead fromhere. Won't take me too long."

  He lifted himself into the air and darted toward one of the hugesaurians. Barra watched as he slowed and drifted close to the brute'shead, then hovered.

  A faint impression of satisfaction radiated from his mind as he driftedalong the length of the creature. He went to another, then to another.

  At last, he returned to the boat.

  "Funny thing," he commented. "A couple of my own carriers seem to havewandered clear through that null and mixed with your herd." He smiled.

  "Stroke of luck. Too bad the rest didn't manage to stay with 'em, butyou can't have everything. I'll pay you trespass fees on those two, ofcourse, then I'd like to bargain with you for about four more to go with'em. Got them all picked out and I can cut 'em out and drive them overto the train soon's we settle the arrangements."

  Barra frowned.

  "Now, wait a minute," he protested. "Of course, I'll bargain with youfor any or all of this herd. But I'm in the breeding and raisingbusiness, remember. I certainly can't give away a couple of perfectlygood beasts on someone's simple say-so. I'd like a little proof thatthose two
belong to your train before I just hand them over."

  "Well, now, if it comes to that, I could prove ownership. Legally, too.After all, I've worked those critters quite a while and any competentpsionic could--" Makun looked at Barra thoughtfully.

  "You know, I'm not just sure I like having my word questioned this way.I'm not sure I like this whole rig-out. Seems to me there's a littleexplaining in order about now--and kind of an apology, too. Then maybewe can go ahead and talk business."

  "I don't see any need for me to explain anything. And I