Thumpus 3

The Chronicles of Thumpus Wumpus

Thumpus captured!

Thumpus shared his experiences very briefly, through Tesh. He did not share anything about the Great Being's message, only that he had found a mate after a long journey, hard for both of them.

'She is a sort of custodian of the woods in her region. She sends that it is a good place, something like this was,' Tesh translated.

Then it was Indalesh's turn to speak for the group. Although she could pick up some of Thumpus' thoughts, she couldn't send, so Tesh, who was becoming the 'official translator' passed the images to Thumpus.

After she had spoken, everyone was silent for a time. They had discussed the problem endlessly together and could see no other solution except moving on. The life being demonstrated before them was hateful. In spite of the soldiers' protection, their fields were trampled, their stock of goats diminishing. Thumpus also felt there was no alternative. He couldn't even make a homecoming wump for fear of attracting attention, and he would never be able to stay in the little group of houses in the daytime again.

Tash and Tesh jumped for joy - an adventure! Indalesh and Suresh looked grim. They had picked up the implication about the length of the journey. It was only June now! Tesh finally remembered to translate for the others. The result was the same - the young ones were excited, the adults worried. What would they take? How would they carry things? There were no roads, or even paths.

<Summer can live off woods. Early autumn can live off woods. Not winter. Must get there by winter,> Thumpus sent.

Minesh and Tansh nodded. They had been learning about weapons from the soldiers. One of the off-duty soldiers was nice enough and had shown them how to make and shoot bows and arrows. They had no metal, but hard, sharpened hazel sticks were almost as good. The forest would provide medicine and food most of the women were good with woodland plants and herbs, the mushroom season was coming round again, and Suresh was the bee expert. Thumpus would keep them out of danger. Perhaps they could do it. Each person would carry a bundle of their most essential things.

They all agreed that Indalesh would tell the commander that they had decided to go down the hill and resettle in the towns there. That would please him - they were no longer welcome in their own place anyway. Then they would leave before dawn, going in a downhill direction. That way it was less likely they would be followed.

A week was the minimum time needed to sort everything out. The goats would have to be left behind. All the food that would last a little would be prepared so they would have something to start off with. Their lifestyle had made them strong and hardy. Even Indalesh could still walk well if she had to. The flame of hope flickered.

It was late when they left the fire circle. Thumpus would stay in his house and leave before first light - not so long away. Tesh and Tash could hardly bear to be parted from him, but eventually went indoors.

At the edge of the village a shadowy figure moved away - a sentinel posted by the commander. He hadn't been able to hear what they had said, but he had seen the strange animal in their midst, apparently talking with them. Thumpus, sleepy and preoccupied, didn't notice him at all.

'It was an animal, sir, about as big as a small cow. All shaggy hair and long ears. Brown, I think, but it was hard to see in the firelight. They were with it all evening, not at all afraid of it. They seemed to be talking with it. I wasn't close enough to hear what they said.'

'Don't be ridiculous, man. Animals don't talk. You woke me for this? Have you been dreaming? If so ...'

'No, sir. It was true. I can't say for sure that they were talking. They seemed to be. But the animal was there all right. It was by that empty hut in the centre. It seemed like everyone was there. They must have been talking with it.'

'A talking animal! Maybe they have found some curiosity of the woods. The Grand Duke would be interested in that! Well done, man. We'll investigate in the morning.'

By 7 o'clock the commander was in the village, with two soldiers. Thumpus had departed, but there was clear evidence that something had been lying in the hut. There was an impression in the straw and a fire had been burning the night before. And the villagers were sleeping exceptionally late - usually everyone was about by now. The commander left. He, himself, would watch that night.

That day, Indalesh went to him and said that the villagers planned to go down the hill in a week - life was rough with the loggers nearby, she explained, it would be better in the settled country. The commander had no objections. One of his main challenges had been to keep camp and village apart.

The village was back to its normal hours. In the late evening, when Thumpus arrived, the only welcoming party was Tesh and Tash, who would not be put to bed, and Prush and Lelesh with more potatoes. The harvest had been reasonable last year and they had stored well. A tiny fire was lit as a symbol. Thumpus was not in a very good mood. He had decided to try to fatten up for the long journey ahead, but all the small animals seemed to have evacuated the area the woods were dead already! So it was roots and grubs again. The potatoes cheered him up somewhat, but Tash and Tesh were under strict orders not to stay up late, so, after many cuddles and protestations of love, they left him.

'It's no fun now,' thought Thumpus, who was wakeful. 'In the day, when everyone's here, I can't come. Now, when I want company, no-one else is here.' He snuggled down in the straw of his house and went to sleep anyway.

The commander had been watching the little scene. They seemed to be feeding the animal a huge pot of potatoes. Astonished, he crept quietly away to his soldiers, who had kept back for fear of discovery. The Grand Duke would certainly be pleased to have this one in his menagerie. The only thing was, how to catch it? It was certainly quite big, but it seemed gentle enough. Still, he would take no chances. The only plan he could think of which might succeed was to build a cage on a cart. Then, when the village was asleep, a group of soldiers, well armed with sharp spears, would creep up on the hut where the beast slept and surround the entrance. They would have to hold him trapped there till the cart arrived, with more soldiers. All of this would wake the village, and the villagers would have to be held back till the animal could be prodded with spears up a ramp and into the cage, which could then be closed.

To prepare everything and train the soldiers would take a little time. The commander decided that the operation would take place not next night, but the one after. Next morning, he selected a band of his best men and some carpenters, swore them to the strictest secrecy and told them that he wanted the special animal captured for the zoo at the main city, Gunje. He didn't tell them about his plan to give it to the Grand Duke. There was no love lost for himand one of the soldiers might have decided to spear the beast out of spite.

The next day, preparations began. Strong wooden beams and staves built a cage on one of the carts. The soldiers were taken well away from the area and drilled. That night there was a practice exercise on the other side of the camp, with a plan of the village marked out on a clear piece of ground, pegs driven into the earth showing the corners of the houses. Small fires lit the area dimly.

The soldiers rehearsed again and again till the commander thought they would be able to approach the village quietly. He was a thorough man but, finally, even he was satisfied that everything was as good as it could be. Stealth was of the essence. If the beast woke up and ran away before they could corner it in its hut, they would never catch it. No-one had caught the slightest glimpse or sound of it during the day. As a reward for their diligence, the soldiers were given permission to sleep late. Next afternoon the plan was rehearsed again in the light.

Thumpus arrived as usual, just after dark, evading observation with ease. He was becoming blasé about the situation. As far as he could tell, the villagers seemed to be left alone by the incomers. And it was only three days till the departure. He told himself he came in each night to give support to the people, but he enjoyed the potato suppers very much and it was pleasant to be with Tesh and Tash, even for a little while. Soon they'd all be together again on the march. After he had thoroughly stuffed himself and the children had gone to bed, he cuddled into his straw and fell into a deep sleep.

Sometime in the early hours he began to twitch restlessly with bad dreams. Two enormous bears had cornered him and were closing on him relentlessly. He whined in his sleep. A dozen soldiers, silently creeping up on the hut, paused, then came on. Finally, they encircled the hut. The commander, waiting behind, nodded. Part one according to plan! He lifted a cloth from a tiny lamp, the signal for the cart to come from the camp. Now the noise would begin.

The bears snarled at Thumpus, their teeth sharp and white. There was nothing he could do - he cringed back and shivered. Suddenly he was wide awake. People smell. Fear. He poked his head out into the faint moonlight. A ring of spears rose and glinted. He was cornered by the soldiers! And there was no way out. He panicked, gave a howl to wake the dead and sent a desperate telepathic message:

<Help! Soldiers!>

More soldiers ran into the village, surrounding the area. Tesh and Tash were down in a flash, in their night-clothes. They had also had a disturbed sleep. Prush and Lelesh followed. All over the village people jumped up. They were being invaded! Suresh came running. But it was too late. A ring of steel spears held them off, as it held Thumpus penned. The cart creaked and groaned as it drew up to the scene, horses whinnying as they smelt Thumpus. Lanterns were unveiled. The cart was turned and pulled back, its ramp dropped just behind the soldiers guarding Thumpus. It was surrounded by more soldiers.

'Make an opening to the ramp,' the commander ordered. Now Thumpus could leave the hut, but only up into the cage. Every other way was protected by spears. Soldiers began pounding on the back of the hut with a heavy bar. Soon the boards would shatter. There was no escape.

Thumpus' strongest method of defence was deception but, cornered like this against overwhelming odds, he cringed. The men did not seem to want to kill him. If he went up into the cart, at least he would still be alive. Slowly, tail at the ready as a last defence, he emerged from the hut. Some of the soldiers gasped. No-one had seen anything like it before. Despairingly, he climbed the ramp and entered the cage. Soldiers slammed the door shut and a big wooden bar was placed across it. Thumpus' magnificent tail hung through the bars. He didn't even have room to swing it.

'Retreat!' ordered the commander. Forming a phalanx around the cart, the soldiers began to withdraw. It had all taken less than ten minutes. 'Meticulous,' thought the commander to himself, well pleased.

Indalesh, who had struggled into her clothes, pushed into the stunned crowd. As she took in the horror of what was going on, she found her voice.

'That animal is ours. Release him immediately!' she shouted at the commander, whose back was already half-turned. He looked back again at the villager.

'This animal is confiscated for the pleasure of the Grand Duke,' he said pompously. 'Now, return to your houses and sleep. No-one is to be out of doors.'

But Tash, Tesh and Suresh were already away.

Despair took hold of the villagers. Their Thumpus had been taken; everyone felt his anguish and misery. Their guide had been taken; without him, how could they ever reach the faraway land where they hoped to rebuild their community in safety? Utterly dejected, the people returned to their houses.

'Meeting. First thing in the morning,' was all Indalesh could make herself say.

XVI

Rescue

As Suresh ran out of his house he guessed immediately what was happening. Coming on the dreadful scene, he sent as strongly as he could to Tash and Tesh:

Poor Thumpus was so distraught he didn't get the message, but the children did. They didn't hesitate. It was too painful to watch Thumpus being captured. Here was something they could do. Only Prush noticed them running back to the house. She turned, but Indalesh laid a hand on her arm.

'Suresh has a plan,' she whispered. 'I heard. Don't draw attention to them.'

The trio met in no time at the prearranged spot, the children with coats over their arms and unlaced boots.

'Put your coats on and do up your boots,' said Suresh, 'then we'll follow the cart. It'll have to stop to organise things. Then they'll send it off downhill on the new track. We must keep up with it, but out of sight. Now let's move.'

Dark coats over night things and boots laced, the children followed Suresh, who had suddenly become a leader. As they moved, the soldiers fanned out round the village. But they were already through the cordon. They crept round to a slight rise to the east of the camp. There were still some scattered trees to give cover, and Suresh felt they were safe enough in the dark. The cart had stopped in the main camp, by fires which had suddenly sprung up. Thumpus could be seen dimly in the cage, tail feebly twitching.

'We've got to contact him,' whispered Suresh. 'Tesh, you try. You're the best connected of all of us.'

Tesh sent, as strongly as she could:

<Thumpus! Thumpus! Don't panic. We're here - Tesh, Tash and Suresh. We'll get you out somehow.>

But Thumpus had gone completely to pieces. He should never have come back to the village. How could he have been so careless? Dozens of soldiers, and he had been oblivious to the danger. He deserved to be taken. He was a useless, hopeless animal. Now the people would have no-one to guide them through the forest. He had let down the Great Being. He might as well die anyway. Somewhere at the edge of his awareness he heard Tesh's message, but he paid no attention to it. He had become a self-pitying wreck.

'He's not answering,' said Tesh miserably. Suresh looked at her. What could they do? - she was their best hope. Suddenly he remembered his own despair when he was taken from his village as a child.

'I think he's so miserable, he won't hear,' he said. 'I've an idea. See if you can listen to him, pick up his thoughts and answer them.'

Tesh, Tash and Suresh tuned in as tight as they could, trying to cut out the medley of inner noise from the soldiers and the camp. It was Tesh, as usual, who picked him out.

<Miserable, useless, hopeless rubbish, let everyone down. Deserve all I get! Thumpus no good.> Nudging the others to let them know she was in contact, she sent back:

<Brave, sensitive, loving Thumpus, best of all Thumpii. Gorgeous one!>

There was a moment's silence, then:

<Who? Tesh? Oh help! - Where?>

Suresh had been right. She had got his attention. The others had picked it up easily. Thumpus had sent!

Suresh replied instantly. <Tesh, Tash, Suresh. On knoll, sunrise side of camp. Thumpus, don't worry! Get you out somehow. Cheer up. Sending you downhill. Will be guard. Listen to No. 1 man. Get thoughts. Then all make escape plan. We very close, follow unseen. Now will go a little ahead. Keep in touch.>

<Love you, Thumpus,> was all Tash sent. He was crying.

Thumpus' thought came back. <Love you all. Will try now. Keep aware.>

With the contact, the captured beast's depression began to lift. He started to observe his surroundings. One man, with a fancy uniform, was standing looking at him. This must be the No. 1 man! Thumpus tuned in.

The man was thinking, 'He seems docile enough. Still, one never knows. And people will mob the cart on the way down. Sergeant Jarensh and five men are all I can spare. I'll send them off now. They can take a rest a few kilometres down the road. They'll be away, before the villagers awake and start complaining.'

'Jarensh. Here!' Sergeant Jarensh sprang to attention. 'Take five men. You're in charge of a detail to take the animal to the Grand Duke's palace. Prepare night packs. Take a camp breakfast. I'll give you money for the journey. You can buy supplies and lodgings. You have 30 minutes.'

'Yessir.' The sergeant looked at the men, still massed around the cart, picked five and barked instructions. All ran off. The commander turned to the other soldiers.

'Remain on guard. You! Go get a message from the village contingent as to the state of things there.' He walked away to a tent, to write a note to the Vizier and to get the men their money.

<Dear friends,> Thumpus sent. <Got him. Six soldiers to take downhill. Will rest not far away. Then chance.>

<Heard you,> replied Suresh. <Clear as bell. Will go on a little. Keep away in tree cover. Stay in touch!>

In no time at all the soldiers were back. The commander returned from his tent, sealing an envelope.

'Jarensh! All here? Good. These are your instructions. You will keep this animal safe. Never open the door. Don't allow anyone to approach the cage closely. There is money here to stay at inns on the journey - Special Privilege! Take good care of the horses. And Jarensh, this animal is a gift for the Grand Duke. To be delivered to the Vizier in good condition. Feed it water and boiled potatoes. Return here immediately with confirmation of delivery.

'When you get a decent way from the village, say after first light, stop. Have breakfast and a short rest at the roadside. Then move straight through the next villages. We don't know what contacts the people here have with them. We'll take any chances.'

'Yessir. Understood.'

'Good man!' One of the soldiers jumped up on the front of the cart, grabbed the reins and the vehicle moved forward with a jolt. Sergeant Jarensh jumped up beside him, the others lined up on either side of the cart, and the party moved out of the firelight. The commander turned to the rest of his men.

'Well done, men. At ease and stand down!'

Thumpus sent, <On way.>

In the dark and on the very rough track the soldiers could only go at a slow walking pace. The jolting of the unsprung cart was dreadful for Thumpus, but Suresh suggested that he examine the thoughts of the soldiers, to get ideas for an escape plan. This concentrated his mind a little.

It was no problem for the rescue party to keep up with the slow pace of the soldiers and in the dim, waning moonlight there was little chance of being spotted. But noise could bea problem, so the three villagers kept well away to the left and tried to avoid treading on sticks. They were all used to walking in woodland and this was grassland with trees rather than woodland proper, which made it easier. All the same, they took a lot of care.

<All sleepy,> came a message from Thumpus. <Resentful. Don't want animal go to 'Gran Dook'.>

<Encourage sleepiness,> sent Suresh. An idea was forming in his head. If, all together, they could send thoughts of deep sleep they might make the soldiers sleep so deeply that they could creep up, free Thumpus and be far away before anyone woke. He did not speak, but the others picked up the plan and agreed. Thumpus began to concentrate on Sergeant Jarensh, who was getting hungry as well as sleepy.

'Right, lads,' said Jarensh as first light touched the sky. 'We're about 6k away now, enough to have some breakfast and a short snooze. Pull the cart off at the next flat bit, Ronsh.'

In a minute or two Ronsh spotted a good place and obliged. They unhitched the horses and tethered them to a nearby tree, with some hay.

'Aw, that's better. What a blooming job! Guarding some queer animal to send to the GD. There'll be people gawping all down the road. First, Commander said it was for the zoo. Now it's for the blankety Duke himself.'

'At least we'll get a proper bed at night,' chipped in one of the others. 'I feel like I could sleep for days.'

'Don't be too sure,' said Jarensh. 'We'll have to keep a watch over this thing,' - he gestured at Thumpus, apparently dozing in the cart - 'or some wag'll let him loose in a town and there'll be hell to pay. Anyway, there's good sausage and black bread for breakfast and we can take a snooze for an hour or so. All but one of us!' he added.

They spread themselves around on the bank by the cart and lay back. Jarensh opened the pack from the cook, and laid a plentiful breakfast before them. Thumpus simply magnified their own thoughts back to them: <Eat, then sleep.> The others crept silently to within about 50 metres. Breakfast smells wafted over to them. Thumpus drooled at the food.

While the soldiers, supported by the thoughts of the watchers, finished off every crumb of the breakfast, Suresh sent his friends the plan.

<They'll set a guard. Must all together try and think him to sleep. Thumpus, send calm, deep sleep thoughts; Tesh, send calm thoughts to horses while Tash and I move bar and swing door back. Then we're away, quiet as mice, still sending calm, deep sleep thoughts.> Everyone assented. It was their best chance.

'Definitely time for a doze, lads,' said the sergeant. He glanced around. Some of the others were already taking one. 'Buresh, you keep watch. The animal looks quiet enough, but we'll take no chances. Wake us in an hour.'

Buresh groaned, but propped himself up on his coat and prepared to keep watch. Within a couple of minutes everybody else was well asleep.

'Stupid,' thought Buresh. 'There's nothing to watch for. Damn the Grand Duke! So peaceful, quiet, so sleepy - just lie back a moment ...' ... He was away.

Thumpus released his concentration for a second to send, <All sleeping.>

'Right,' breathed Suresh aloud, 'let's go!'

Silently they crept down to the cart. There was plenty of light now, though the sun had not yet risen. Tesh concentrated on the horses, but Thumpus had done such a magnificent job that even they seemed to be dozing. Their eyes were shut.

Tash and Suresh climbed on the back of the cart as quietly as they could. It creaked slightly, but no-one stirred. Very carefully, Suresh began to work at the bar. Tash pushed the door in a little so it would move more easily. It was stiff, but slowly they managed to slide it back, bit by bit. Tiny squeaks from the bar sounded like sirens in their ears but still nobody woke. Finally, the bar came out. Suresh laid it carefully along the side of the cart. Now they could open the door!

Suresh lifted it slightly to stop it creaking. It was heavy. Then they saw they'd forgotten a simple thing. With the back of the cart up, the door would only open a few centimetres. Thumpus pushed his head through. It wouldn't go. Tash and Suresh had to climb down from the cart and undo the back flap, held by two metal pins. It was even stiffer and they had to work the pins out. They squeaked quite loudly. Someone stirred, moaned. They froze still. Thumpus paid no more attention to the exit, concentrating once more on calmness, sleep.

At last, the rear flap was down. From far away down the hill, there was noise the first morning supply cart! They swung the door open, slowly, slowly. Thumpus' head came through, his shoulders - he was out, springing lightly to the ground. Tash turned to follow, but Suresh sent, <Wait! Shut.> They pushed the door back and replaced the bar so it wouldn't swing. Then they, too, were down. Tesh, who had been sending sleepy thoughts to the horses, was dozing herself. They roused her, fingers on lips, still sending, <Sleep, calm,> as they moved off in the direction of the village.

A few minutes later, the supply cart trundled noisily up the slope.

'Strange,' thought the carter, as he saw the sleeping soldiers beside their empty cart. 'Still,' he thought, 'None of my business!' The group slept on.

Tesh, Tash and Suresh were feeling very tired, not just from sending sleep thoughts to the soldiers but because they, themselves, had had no sleep. But there was no time to wait. Sooner or later the soldiers would wake up, perhaps when the cart they had heard went past. But Thumpus was very lively and hungry after his imprisonment. Despite their fatigue, everybody's spirits were high - Thumpus was free again!

They moved fast through the semi-open land, angling away from the track. Tash hitched a ride on Thumpus' back. It seemed too dangerous to approach the village in broad daylight, so they took a roundabout route to bring them to the forest edge farther to the east. There they stopped for a moment.

'Somehow we must let them know,' said Suresh as they leant against trees for support, panting.

'Indalesh,' said Tesh. 'She's learnt to receive a bit. Perhaps if we all send the same thought to her it will be strong enough for her to pick up.'

They agreed to send the simplest message: <Thumpus free. All OK. In forest. Must leave. Come now!>

They had never tried sending a specific message as a group before. Tash counted, 'One, two, three -' and they all sent to Indalesh together. At first, the message was just a babble, as everyone sent at a different speed, so they worked out a rhythm. The second time was much better and the third, clear and deafening. Suresh was suddenly worried that one of the workers at the camp might have the ability and receive it too, though it seemed unlikely.

Indalesh was sitting outside her house, thinking. She was concerned, particularly for Prush and Lelesh. She had some confidence in Suresh; he had changed greatly, especially in the last few months. She hoped the three rescuers could work out a plan. She was sure they could communicate with Thumpus without the soldiers knowing. But Prush and Lelesh were beside themselves with anxiety. Young children and soldiers didn't mix. Lelesh was blaming herself. Why hadn't she stopped them in those terrible moments when all were mesmerised by the capture of Thumpus?

The day had dawned; the camp machines were starting up their dreadful din and the workers were setting off for the day's destruction in the woods. There didn't seem to be any soldiers about. Maybe they were having a lie-in after their night's work. Everything seemed normal enough. She sighed. She wanted to send to the rescuers, to ask them how it was going. But she knew she couldn't project her thoughts over long distances. Suddenly there was a loud, confused inner noise in her head, from the woods to the east of the village. She looked over that way, half-expecting to see someone. The inner noise came again. This time she had a picture of Thumpus. They were trying to send to her! If it was from the woods, they were probably all right. Suddenly a clear message in her head almost knocked her over, it was so loud.

She looked around, sure that other people had heard. But normality reigned. She calmed herself.

<Received,> she sent back, as strongly as she could. Then, again and again, <Received.> She hoped they would hear it. She was useless at sending.

<Sent: received,> relayed Thumpus to his friends. <Not clear, but pretty sure.>

Thumpus was by far the strongest sender and receiver. Suresh hoped he was right. Every moment he was waiting for the alarm to sound in the camp. Making his voice sound confident, he said, 'Good. Now we must move on. Any time the alarm may sound. We'll go to the bees' place. Then you can rest.'

The children were exhausted and hungry but determined not to give in. It was two hours' walk.

'Can you give Tesh a ride, Thumpus?'

Tesh protested, but Suresh was firm. After an hour, Tesh, who had dozed on Thumpus' rocking back, swapped with Tash, who was staggering, hand held by Suresh. When they finally arrived, there was a little stream to drink from. The children collapsed on a bank and were immediately asleep.

<Thumpus, look after the children. Find roots they can eat raw. Going back to see what's happening. Others don't know way here and if No.1 man finds out, he may try to stop them coming.>

Suresh was also very tired himself, but the drink had revived him somewhat and he was a tough fellow. 'It's not the first time I've missed a night's sleep,' he thought to himself as he trudged back through the woods.

Indalesh gathered the villagers together in a spot which couldn't be seen from the camp. Almost everyone was there children were sent to fetch those few who had stirred themselves early to be with goats and plantings.

Indalesh shared her news.

'Thumpus has escaped. They've all got into the forest over there. They want us to leave now. I propose we leave in one hour. I think you all have your things more or less ready, anyway.'

It was true. Although they had agreed on a week's preparation, everybody had put together their travelling pack the day after the decision to leave. It was not a hard thing to do. The hard thing was leaving the home where most of them had been born. But that home - the quiet, peaceful spot on the edge of the friendly forest - had been disrupted for ever. There was no alternative.

It was late morning when they left, 20 people in a bunch, silent, some shedding tears, the children in the middle. All were heavily laden with bundles or backpacks. They had found Suresh's pack already prepared - he had been working on it the evening before the soldiers arrived to trap Thumpus. Tansh carried it, hoping that everything was in it and that they would meet him soon - the double load was as much as he could stagger with. They left from the east side of the village, protected as far as possible from sight of the camp, and walked a long way through the scattered trees before they turned to the forest's edge. Prush and Lelesh carried Tash and Tesh's small packs as well as their own.

There was no sign from the camp that anyone had noticed them at all. But Suresh, arriving back at the edge of the woods, did see them and set a parallel course to meet them when they turned towards him.

'You were quicker than I could have believed.' He smiled, a rare event for Suresh. 'We are safe and about two hours' walk from here. There we can stop for a little, but we must go on till dark in case of pursuit. After that we will be safe, I think. Even if they've seen where we've gone, I don't think they'll bother to venture far into the woods. They'll be pleased enough to have our houses.'

With relief, Tansh handed him his pack. The little group of dispossessed villagers plodded away through the trees, led by Suresh.

At the camp, the commander indulged himself and his soldiers by lying in late. A good job, he reflected, well done. When he had breakfasted, he glanced over at the village. It was quiet, but smoke was rising from the chimneys as usual. If the villagers left, he would billet there, with some of the soldiers. Better than camping. He wondered how the troops guarding Thumpus were getting along. As he pulled on his uniform, he decided to review the remainder. A lie-in was one thing, but it could lead to sloppiness. A good parade would renew discipline.

As he called the troops out for examination, a supply cart pulled in. After parade, he would check with the driver, who should have passed the escort.

The soldiers were, as he expected, sloppy. He went around the ranks carefully, pointing out the faults in each one's presentation. When he finished, he had his remaining NCO, a lance corporal, give them a short drill, which was badly led and carried out. As a result, he gave everyone a good dressing-down before he sent them to their stations guarding the wood-cutting operations - which really meant watching for deserters. Most of the workers were less than enthusiastic about being so far from home. He had a critical word with the lance corporal, telling him to set a better example to his men. Then he turned to find the carter - who had had a quick turn-around and left. Well, no matter. It was out of his hands now.

Some time after that, the carter passed the sleeping soldiers and the standing cart again on his way downhill. Some folks had nothing to do with their time! So-called soldiers! It would make a good tale at the inn.

It was after lunchtime when Buresh awoke. He yawned and stretched, damp after so long on the ground. He was hungry again. Then he remembered he was supposed to be guarding the cart, sat up straight and thanked his lucky stars he was the first to wake. He glanced over to the cage and saw the door was shut. There was no sign of the animal, but it was probably lying down at the bottom, where he couldn't see it. He'd better wake the others - the sergeant first.

Then a thought came to him - this was a chance! They were all still sleeping soundly - perhaps he could get away. He hated being a soldier. With the two horses he could travel far. There was a spare saddle in the cart in case of emergencies. He got to his feet and went over to the cart. The saddle was there; the animal wasn't! Someone must have come while they were sleeping and let it out. That decided him. If Sergeant Jarensh woke up and found out he hadn't guarded the big beast, he would be for the chop, good and proper. Quietly, one eye on the sleeping soldiers, he grabbed the saddle and moved over to the quiet horses. They seemed sleepy too. Had everyone been bewitched? He unhitched the horses' reins, moving them off along the grass by the side of the track. He would put the saddle on down the road, out of sight and earshot ...

Sergeant Jarensh woke at about half-past two, feeling an inner pressure. He stumbled off to find a bush. As he returned, now more awake, he became aware that things were eerily quiet. What was Buresh doing? He glanced at the sun. Lord, it was late - they had slept for hours. Buresh would get it! He looked around. Where was Buresh? Where were the horses? Hell and damnation! - where was the animal? Looking down at the other four sleeping soldiers, he knew his world had just fallen apart. It would be a court martial for him and years in some ghastly jail. He sighed. It hadn't been a bad life as a sergeant. Silently, he hefted his pack and stepped away downhill. He would have to find a new identity and a new job in a faraway place. He could do it. He hadn't made it to sergeant for nothing ...

At four o'clock, as the soft afternoon was whiling away, Ronsh opened his eyes, feeling damp. He was so stiff he could hardly get up, but when he did, he woke the other three immediately.

'Cripes! Wake up! Janesh and Buresh've gone. So 'ave the 'orses. So's the animal! They've taken off and ditched us!'

The other men pulled themselves into consciousness.

'We ain't got no food! We ain't got no money!'

'We ain't got no sergeant neither. We're free men, mates. We can make it back down'ill 'n' start over. No more soldiering for me!'

Sharing out what little food remained in their packs, the ex-soldiers set off down the track. There were coppers enough between them for the next meal. For later, their weapons would sell for a good price.

The cart remained, empty and forlorn, by the side of the track.

XVII

The Trek begins

Everyone was tired and hungry when they finally arrived at the bees' clearing, but glad to see Thumpus and the children. Thumpus was in a very good mood after his escape. Tesh and Tash had slept and were somewhat restored. There didn't appear to be any sign of pursuit. Suresh could hardly believe their good fortune. But he didn't let them stop for long. He reckoned that if they could keep going till dark, there would be no further pursuit. The soldiers weren't used to the forest and their horses found it hard going in the trackless country; as far as they were concerned, the villagers weren't important anyway. Suresh hoped that, realising that Thumpus had got away, the commander would give up. He was not stupid. There would be no chance of catching Thumpus in the thick of the woods.

The full story of their escape had to wait. The people plodded on, led by Thumpus, who took the tired children on his back in turn. As the light shaded and soft summer clouds began to glow with sun fire, a small clearing provided the perfect camping place. Packs were dropped, aching legs stretched out and a good fire gave comfort and kept off the worst of the flies. There was water in a burn for drinking and soothing swollen feet.

After they had eaten, the story of Thumpus' rescue was told and embellished by Tesh and Tash, who found new energy in the telling. They leant against Thumpus, a perfect back rest. As they heard the story, people looked at Suresh with new respect. He had turned into the natural leader of the group. There was no need for votes or discussion when Suresh proposed that they travel on for the next day, but after that only on alternate days, hunting and gathering in between, conserving strength and provisions for whatever lay ahead. Thumpus agreed for the time being; there were places further on, where it would not do to stop.

For now, the weather was gentle and warm. Dried moss made a soft underlay for beds. Sleep came easy, that first night away from home.

Suresh's day-on/day off system worked very well. After a day's break, everyone looked forward to a day's journey. After a day's journey, all eagerly anticipated a day's rest and food-gathering. There was a lot of resistance to grubs, Thumpus' favourite diet, but, as long as you shut your eyes, fried grub tasted quite good. On the other hand, berries were getting ripe in some clearings, and everybody liked them. Edible herbs and roots were to be found and they were tasty, but you had to know what you were looking for. Tansh and Minesh caught a few small animals, but other people weren't very good at it. Thumpus could find enough to keep himself in very good shape, but although the villagers didn't have to use up their meagre supplies, they weren't accumulating any more either. Slowly but steadily they went forward through the forest.

Tesh was having a particularly good time. She was strong enough to do a full day's walk and, knowing that the next day would be rest time for the younger children, she could chivvy them on and keep their spirits up. She enjoyed hunting for food too. It felt really good to bring back something for the evening meal. In between, she found time to pester Thumpus to show her how to use her abilities to sense other presences around them. Tash also did well at this, but he didn't quite have Tesh's gift. Suresh kept his counsel, but they could feel he was honing his telepathic skills as well. Thumpus was still always the best. His senses of smell and hearing were exceptional, as was his awareness of thoughts in the vicinity. He would get the thought forms first, and soon after supplement them with tiny noises or smells that Tesh and Tash had no inkling were around them.

Thumpus was delighted to be with the people, to be on his way back to his mate and doing the job the Great Being had asked him to do. But in the back of his head were worries - about the pace they were making, the distance they had to travel and about areas ahead where big beasts lurked and wild rivers rushed down from the mountains.

'Enjoy the good time now,' he thought to himself. 'If the Great Being wants us to get through, there'll be support enough.'

Tesh kept asking about the Great Being. On that night at the village when she had translated Thumpus' story, she had been awed by the picture Thumpus had sent of the dragon half in this world, half in some other unknown, awesome existence. As they travelled up towards the base of the great white-topped mountains where the physical bit of him, at least, was supposed to live, she pictured herself meeting this dragon, shimmering half in and half out of its formidable form. She practised addressing it in her head.

'Your Grace,' she would begin, remembering the way the commander had referred to the Grand Duke, who seemed to be the equivalent 'High Being' from down the hill, 'I am most pleased to meet your excellent Worship and honour every word you may be willing to address to me, your humble servant.'

But what would the dragon say to her in return? She couldn't really think of anything that such an august Being would want to say to a country girl like her. So she continued with the sort of things she herself would say: 'I know I'm only a simple village lass, without great education, but I'm ever so willing to learn, because I want to help things improve in this world, so greedy people won't come and cut down our forest and try to catch our good friend Thumpus and make terrible smoke over the village so we can hardly see and our eyes smart.' She would pause once more, trying to frame a reply that didn't want to come.

One rest day, with the mountains considerably nearer, the forest thinner and the streams so torrential that they had trouble finding crossing places, Tesh was out looking for food, not far from their camping place. She had already been strong and fit before the journey began, but now she was tough and lithe as well, brown-skinned and shining-eyed. As the people walked, more a part of the woods than they had ever been, everyone was stronger and more alive. Even Indalesh sometimes seemed like a child again, untiring as she hobbled through the forest, shedding stiffness and old age like raindrops off leaves. Though the sun was hot, the rain was warm and storms were few. Nature was being kind to them.

Tesh stopped gathering from a patch of wild roots she had found and looked through the trees at the white mountains towering above, rocks piling on rocks till they merged in the snowy distance. Absorbed in the beauty of the place, she did not even think of the Great Being, but suddenly he was there with her: not some awesome thing, but a small dragon, about as high as she was, standing on its rear legs.

'Do you know where Thumpus gets his tail?' it said, grinning. 'Copied off me!' It had a magnificent green scaly tail, nothing like Thumpus' really, but equally large. 'Course, his is duller than mine.'

'You're the dragon!' said Tesh, all her prepared speeches forgotten. It seemed crazy to address this cheeky, human-sized dragon as 'Your Grace'.

'That I am. And I thought it was about time to come and meet Tesh, who hears without ears and sees without eyes, just like I do.'

'But - I thought you would be different - more - distant.'

'Oh, I can be as distant as you like!' Suddenly the Great Being was hardly more than a speck up the mountain.

'Come back! I don't want you to be far away.' The dragon was beside her again, grinning hard.

'Yes, it's nice to be close, isn't it?' Suddenly the dragon was next to her and she had the feeling that they were marching together through the woods, kilometre after kilometre, although it didn't take any time at all. Somehow they had gone right around the mountains and were coming to a big open space in the trees, to a place where the sun was strong. There was Thumpus - another, slightly smaller Thumpus by his side and an utterly adorable baby Thumpus. She knew that this was where they would stop and make a new home. But there were also people there, a group of dark-skinned people coming towards them.

'It's their place!' cried Tesh, completely absorbed in the vision. 'They won't let us stay here.'

'Yes they will.' The dragon smiled. 'They have plenty of land and you have things to learn from each other. Just remember to ask them properly. - So you can have visions as well? I thought you could.'

The dragon was still looking at her, but it was suddenly moving away, up towards the mountain, growing larger as it did so, till it was gigantic - a Dragon, not a dragon.

'Don't go,' pleaded Tesh. 'You're not at all like I imagined you.'

But the retreating dragon was merging into the hill - or was the hill merging into it?

'Help Thumpus.' The words echoed in her head. 'Both of you together can bring the people through the trial.'

Suddenly she was back in her little patch of roots, the sky was blue, the mountains white through the trees. Had she been dreaming? But there was definitely a mark on the grass, where something had stood in front of her. Tesh felt tremendously happy and with it, wise and responsible. The Great Being had come to her, trusted her and told her she was important for their journey. She gathered a few more roots and made her way through the trees to the camp. Her experience was too special to share with anyone, not even Thumpus.

XVIII

Tal and Til

Steadily the summer days passed and the people, guided by Thumpus, traversed the endless forest. They were nearing the place where he had met his mate. The big mountain rivers he had so much trouble crossing in spring were now sparkling burns; only the huge boulders in their beds indicated that they could show another face. The party toiled round the gorge. Nothing had bothered them so far - there was good hunting at this time of the year and a big group with fire were not to be troubled lightly. If he became aware of anything in the vicinity, Thumpus projected an exaggerated image of the size of the group.

One day, he led them to a clearing he remembered very well indeed. He stopped.

<Here met mate,> he sent. <At least halfway now.> It was a good spot, with plenty of roots and berries, and mountain hares in abundance - if you could catch them.

'Let's stop here a bit,' said Tash. Suresh and Indalesh consulted with Thumpus. Would this be a good place to take a couple of days' pause?

<Way beyond here new. Mate says rough, hard going. More animals. Summer passing. If stop here, travel every day after.> From now on, Thumpus would be relying on his sense of direction and on images of her journey sent by his mate during their time together.

<How about - one day walk plus next morning walk, then half day rest?> sent Suresh.

<Can try,> returned Thumpus. <Autumn rains soon. Must find place in time build houses for winter. Collect food.>

Everyone had been putting off the thought of winter - winter without goats, without food-stocked houses. Autumn was already beginning and they still had nearly half the distance to go. Tash thought of the journey back to the village from their encounter with Kamal. Thumpus looked at him.

They were high up now, the mountain sides steep above them. At night they huddled together against the cold. As the journey progressed, hare skins accumulated; several of the women had dried them and they were sewn together. Though they weren't properly cured - there was no salt to spare - they made good warm rugs to lie on. The cold seemed more intense from the earth below than from the sky above at this time of year.

The two-day pause was an opportunity to gather food. Some people thought of stopping altogether, but at such a height it would be very rough in winter. After the rest, they headed onward by the easiest route they could find; it was indeed rougher going. They had to make detours round gorges and avoid tangled masses of fallen trees. Gradually, they snaked round the side of the mountains, so that their bulk eventually stood between the people and the village they had left.

Thumpus was relieved. The forest here was healthier, more vibrant, not under threat. He could hardly believe that the loggers could cut all the way to the mountain, but from the state of the trees behind them, it seemed that it would one day be so - another reason for moving on. Tesh remembered what her dragon - she thought of it as 'hers' because it had been so friendly and approachable - had said about a 'trial' and was more uneasy. She worked constantly at improving her inner skills, trying to appreciate and interpret the slightest energy change in the woods around them. Her senses were becoming very sharp indeed.

It was she and not Thumpus, preoccupied with the idea of seeing his mate again, who sensed something different in the forest ahead. It was still some way in front of them, not approaching - something with the potential to be big and violent. She sent a sharp thought to Thumpus.

Thumpus reluctantly came out of his reverie and listened for thoughts in the direction indicated.

He made a soft 'grrrh' sound, the equivalent of 'Whoops'.

<Don't know this one, but nasty. In our way.>

Tesh called the group to a halt.

'There's a problem ahead,' she said. 'Something large and violent. It's keeping very quiet, but we can feel its thoughts.'

'Can we make a detour around it?' asked Nashe. Tesh forwarded the question to Thumpus.

<Hard. If big, has large territory. We make noise, smell. If avoid, must go very long way, keep moving.>

<Can we deflect,> sent Suresh, <send it after game in other direction or something?>

Minesh and Tansh were out hunting, behind and uphill. They would pick up the people's trail and return for the midday pause. Suresh proposed the people should wait for the hunters to rejoin them while the four who could read thoughts should go forward. Tash was not as good as the other three, but they didn't think of leaving him out, apart from Prush who objected mildly. Suresh pointed out that the four of them were now used to working together with thought, which was the people's best defence of all.

They did not have to go far. Just through the trees, away from the varied thoughts of the others, it was much easier to get in touch with what was ahead.

<Two. In separate places,> sent Tesh excitedly.

Thumpus looked at her. Again she had noticed something before him. And he had been concentrating this time.

<Yes. Good.>

Tesh was pleased. She could be even sharper than Thumpus now. A thought came to her. Could they act as if they were one unit? Instead of competing against each other, they could combine their sensitivity - become as one. Then they would double their awareness. She shared this idea with her friends.

<All four would have more power,> agreed Suresh.

<First Thumpus and me. Then you come in.> Tesh thought Suresh could do it. She was not so sure about Tash.

<How?> sent Thumpus.

Tesh was in charge now, trusting her intuition.

<I'll make myself open. You try to come in to me - as if we were one. See what happens.> Tesh tried to take down all the barriers between herself and the others. She thought of how much she loved them, of how much they meant to her, of all the adventures they had shared. No separation.

Thumpus searched for her thoughts. How beautiful she was, like a calm lake in the forest. He loved her so much. Suddenly there was no Thumpus, no Tesh, just a 'one being'.

'Suresh, come!' said Tesh softly. 'It's wonderful.' Suresh nodded and began to think their - its - thoughts. How special! Like the bees in the hive, different forms but one consciousness. He loved them very much. Tears rolled down his face. And then three was one!

'Tash!' Tash looked at them all. Their faces were radiant. He loved them all, but Thumpus was his special friend. Thumpus who never left him out, Thumpus who made him feel big and valued, even if his ability was not quite as strong as the others. He loved him so. And then there was no Tash any more, only a great, big beautiful oneness - four bodies but one mind. Somehow it was Tesh's, though it wasn't Tesh but four-in-one. This new Tesh/not Tesh felt out over the forest. In its multiple mind, it was so aware it could actually see what lay ahead.

Tal, the great tiger of the woods, lay in his lair, tail twitching. He was the largest, most ferocious animal of the whole forest and he knew it. Til, his mate, was in another lair, about 3 kilometres downhill. They didn't live together. Although she was pretty aggressive herself, Til found him too violent, too liable to strike out. Besides, Tal couldn't stand cubs. They irritated him and he was liable to go for them. One strike from his great paws or a bite from his jaws meant the end of a little cub. Til had cubs right now; if something threatened them she would fight to the death. So Tal kept to himself. He wasn't unhappy about it. It was the way tigers were.

His tail twitched again. He was beginning to get hungry and he had a vague sense of unease, as if he were being watched. In her lair, Til's tail was twitching too, though she was not hungry.

The inner watchers saw it all - the two tigers, the three cubs, the lairs, the savagery of the great beasts up ahead. It made Kamal seem like a pet.

'I'm me,' thought Tash. 'It's wonderful to be one, but a bit scary, almost as scary as those animals. Besides, if we're one, they can't be my friends.' For a moment, there was him and one other. Then it fell apart and there were four of them again.

'You left,' said Tesh. 'How?'

'I was one, but I wasn't,' said Tash, confused. 'There was the thought 'I'm me' and then I was separate. For a moment you were still one, then it fell apart as well and you were three again.'

'So when we want to come apart, all we have to do is to think the thought 'I'm me',' said Suresh, grinning. 'You seem to have solved a problem we never thought of at the beginning - how to get out of it again.'

Thumpus licked Tash fondly. Tash swelled with pride. He might not be all that good at thought-sending, but he had joined with them, and made an important discovery too. Tesh didn't say anything. She seemed just the tiniest little touch jealous at his inadvertent discovery.

'Yes, that's the way,' he said, importantly. Suresh picked him up and threw him in the air.

'Well done!' he said.

They were all excited and somewhat overwhelmed at the power of what Tesh had led them into. It was as if they could see through the eyes of things in the forest at a distance.

On returning to the others, they found Minesh and Tansh with the others, anxiously fingering their hunting weapons.

'They won't be much use against what we have in front of us,' said Suresh. 'Two large and extremely ferocious forest animals, male and female, with cubs, hunting separately. I don't think we can fight them. Some of us, certainly, would die.'

<Have to go long, long way round,> sent Thumpus. <But - maybe more animals, farther away?>

Tesh was thinking hard.

'They have strength, but we have something new,' she told the group, explaining what had happened in the woods and how they had 'seen' the tigers. There were gasps from the others.

'Wonderful!' said Indalesh. 'We can certainly know exactly where they are and what they intend to do. But it doesn't stop them.'

'I have an idea,' continued Tesh. 'I think we may be able to pull other people into this unity we have found. Even if they aren't thought-readers. Alesh, will you let us try?' She chose Alesh because she was a stolid woman, the last person you would imagine to be telepathic. If they could do it with her, they could do it with anyone - or anything.

'Of course,' replied Alesh, smiling. 'But you'll not get me reading thoughts. I've tried and tried.'

'Go on, Mum,' said Jashe and Potish. 'You can do it!'

'Well, I'll give it another go.'

'This is a bit different,' said Suresh. He thought he understood what Tesh had in mind. It frightened him, but he was at least prepared to explore it.

Tesh stood slightly forward. Prush and Lelesh felt proud of her, not so much because she was a thought-reader, but because she dared and could take the lead.

As she had done before, Tesh opened herself. The others joined her - and they were one. It was easier this time. 'They' - the four-in-one - took a moment to check the tigers. Tal was getting hungrier. He was about to move out of his lair. Then they concentrated on Alesh. Each of them could see her clearly. It was strange: an inner and outer vision. Although Alesh was stolid outside, they could perceive inside and feeling inadequate. They felt their love for her, surrounding her with their loving thought - There was an involuntary 'Ooh!' and Alesh became one with them. The five of them, led by Tesh's consciousness, walked away through the trees, Alesh doing just as the others thought. Then they returned.

'I'm me,' thought Tash. As before, they quickly became separate.

'That was completely incredible!' shared the startled Alesh. 'I feel as if I've changed. As if a block has gone. I'm sure I could read thoughts now.'

<No time!> sent Thumpus hastily. <Tal coming this way. Til too!>

As Tal moved up and across the hillside to hunt, he gave a roar; Til stretched and followed. She wasn't terribly hungry, but after her mate had killed and eaten his fill, there would be some over for her. He was a good hunter. The cubs stayed, as they had learnt, in the shelter of the den. They were still small and vulnerable.

'We'll love them and enter them.' Tesh explained her idea. 'Then they will be peaceful and we can pass by without hurt.' Everyone gasped.

'Try it now,' urged Suresh, 'before they get too near.'

They made their unity again, located Tal and did as they had done with Alesh, surrounding him with love. It was hard to love such a violent beast, but in a terrible way, he was beautiful. Suddenly there was oneness - but not quite. It was as if Tesh's will to peace was being contested by a great hunger, and a powerful, exciting aggressiveness. Tal stopped dead and whined.

'I'm me,' thought Tash, and the group separated.

'Lord, that was powerful!' said Suresh.

<Must get him fed, first,> sent Thumpus, who, being an animal and having lived years in the woods, knew how other animals worked. <She not so hungry,> he added. He searched, inwardly. Tal was heading in their direction, though he didn't know they were there. A little off to the left, there were deer.

'Don't like this, but must do it,' thought Thumpus. 'Great Being, forgive me.' He just sent out the thought, <Food, right!>

Tal turned. In another few moments he had smelt the deer. 'Surely he would have anyway,' thought Thumpus, to comfort himself. Though he caught and ate small forest creatures, he did not like the idea of luring bigger deer to their death. Still, that was the way of tigers and deer.

<He kill now,> sent Thumpus. <In short time we go. Easy.>

Tal succeeded in catching one of the deer and proceeded to make a meal of what he considered to be the choicest bits. Til waited patiently nearby. The villagers started forward in a tight bunch, children at the centre. Everyone was armed with makeshift weapons - their last line of defence in case the risky plan did not succeed.

'Tash,' said Suresh. 'We need someone to be separate from the "unity" who can be aware of anything else that might be around and to warn the others if anything is going wrong. Would you do that for us?'

'Is it because I come out first?'

'Partly.' Suresh had not wanted to admit this. 'But it's an essential job,'. 'If we stopped too quickly, the beasts could still turn on us. All our attention has to be on peace and love. Someone must keep a watch around.'

Tash was glad to accept the explanation. It really was scary, joining with the consciousness of those ferocious beasts - two this time. And someone did need to look around, didn't they? He didn't question that too hard.

Hearts in mouths, the people moved forward. As they neared the spot, about 100 metres to the left, where Tal was lazily watching Til nibble at the kill, Thumpus, Tesh and Suresh went into unity and embraced the huge tigers in love. Thumpus had been right. While still ferocious and capable of attack, the tigers were much easier to engage with now.

<Special animals passing through,> the leader of the oneness presented. <Friendly, nice, no harm to tigers, soon leave territory.> The two tigers looked up, and in a moment heard the noise of the party passing through the forest so near them. Curious, they moved towards the sound.

'There they are!' whispered Prush. Hands gripped tight as the two huge yellow and black forms became visible through the trees, almost a part of the light and shade dappling the ground. 'Lord, they're beautiful.'

<Animals passing through, no harm. Don't bother them.> There was not much difficulty in controlling the beasts' urge to attack, but their curiosity was very strong. The tigers walked close to the group, parallel to it, recording the different smells. They sensed the humans' fear.

<Special animals frightened. We are so big and powerful. No need to attack. No threat.> Lazily, Til lifted her head and gave a rolling growl. Everyone trembled.

'She's calling her cubs,' whispered Tash to the others, his role vindicated. 'I don't think we have to worry.'

In a few minutes, the tumbly little cubs came trotting through the forest, rushing up to their mother at the sight of the strangers. She licked them, keeping pace with the moving party.

<Together through territory.> The merged consciousness of animals and humans seemed to create one physical group. The tigers walked along as if mesmerised. But after a while the cubs fell behind. Til's instinct was stronger than the curiosity. She stopped with them. For a moment the unity wavered as she dropped out, pulled by something stronger than the inner bond. But then it re-established itself. Tal, the epitome of supreme physicality, continued to keep pace. The strange walk through the forest went on for one hour, then two. Some of the people were becoming tired. But the unity was not tired. The tiger had enough energy for all of them together and they were one with it. The younger children complained, but no-one dared to stop. It was lunchtime, but everyone kept on.

The ground started to drop away, the trees were thicker. There was a small river ahead.

The thought, <Edge of den territory,> came into the awareness of the unity. The group had reached the boundary of the inner, most protected part of the tiger's range.

<Special animals go on and away, no harm. Time to return to mate now.> Tesh, leader of one inner being, felt it was time to take the risk to separate the tiger physically from the group. Tal stopped, tail twitching. He gave an enormous roar that sent children clinging to their parents, then he turned and stalked away, almost instantly out of sight through the trees.

The river was shallow but no-one bothered to stop to take off their boots, they just went straight through. Everyone else started chattering, but the unity wasn't released yet.

<Still meat on kill,> was the thought that the Tesh-led unity sent after Tal. He padded away back through the forest, increasing his pace to something more normal for a tiger. Thumpus half-turned, too. Minesh, following, bumped into him.

At Tal's normal speed, it took only a few minutes to reach the kill. A fox had been gnawing at it, but ran off at the approach of the tiger. Tal settled down to chew on the delectable bones, crunching them in his powerful teeth.

'I'm me,' thought Tesh, suddenly very tired. The unity fell apart. Tal stopped chewing and raised his head. There had been animals, odd animals - a whole group of them on his territory. But they were gone now; no smell, no scent remained, except in his memory. He gave an enormous roar, to warn off any other intruders and settled back to crunching the bones again. Til had returned to her den with the cubs some time before.

The three humans who had taken part in the unity staggered. Tesh would have fallen, but Prush rushed up and held her.

<Must go further.> Thumpus who felt exhilarated, was seemingly unaffected by the experience. To be part of a tiger's consciousness was special indeed. He wouldn't have minded running back with Tal and gnawing on those bones.

'Better than rabbit!' He suppressed the thought guiltily.

XIX

Fly like a bird

Everyone was exhausted. But, following Thumpus' advice, people struggled on. Thumpus carried children in turn. After a while, the vegetation seemed to thicken. Thumpus searched for a game track so they could get through more easily. There didn't seem to be one. He deposited Rinesh, whose turn it was to ride, and pushed through the line of bushes. Suddenly the ground fell away to cliffs dropping far down to a river, rushing hundreds of metres below. In both directions the cliffs extended at a diagonal across their track. There seemed to be no way down.

Thumpus retreated to where the rest of the tired party were sitting.

Although they were not entirely out of the tigers' territory, it was time to make camp. After their experience, Suresh didn't believe that they would be attacked. The tigers had their scent connected with the experience of non-aggression, they were now far from the lair area and there seemed to be plenty of game around. They were safe enough, particularly if they kept a good fire going. No animals liked fire, apart from Thumpus, who had got used to it and now enjoyed its warmth.

They went along by the dense trees a little, till they found a gully where a small stream dropped towards the cliffs. A big fire was quickly made. They drew on their reserve supplies for supper. No-one had the energy to go searching for food.

As the evening drew in, an impromptu sharing about their experience began. Tash told how he had 'seen' the tiger cubs coming at their mother's call. After a while, all eyes turned to Tesh. She was the heroine of the day's events. But Tesh was very, very tired - too tired even to think of the words to say. She sat, trying not to keel over. Lelesh came over and wrapped her in one of the rabbit skin cloaks, cuddling her to keep her warm as she shivered with exhaustion. Thumpus came to her other side and lay down, his warm, smelly fur pressing her close. A weak little hand grabbed the fur. Lelesh unwrapped the goat-skin snug from her pack and gently stuffed Tesh into it. She did not wake, even when Thumpus and Lelesh gently moved away. Someone lent another precious skin cloak to keep her warm.

She did dream at times - of riding Tal through the forest, baring her teeth with him and roaring in a wild hunt.

Suresh was almost as tired but tried not to show it. Even Thumpus slept. When he woke, the first light of the early dawn was showing in the sky. The fire had died down. Luckily, Tal and Til had not hunted in their direction.

Thumpus, by extraordinary cunning and thought projection managed to kill three wood hares nearby. One he gulped down almost whole, giving himself indigestion. The other two he brought back to Tansh, who was stirring from sleep. He, in turn, woke Minesh. They skinned and cleaned the rabbits, revived the fire, collected some edible wild roots and leaves, and used the cook pot to make a wonderful breakfast stew. Much later, everyone else woke to its aroma.

Thumpus was keen that they didn't spend another day in the tigers' territory. He remembered images of the wall of cliffs from his mate, but she had come from the other, gentler, side, where it was easy to scan long distances for a possible way up. He explored the gully by their camp. It ended in a big drop, the stream water making rainbows as it fell to rocks at the base of the cliffs. Birds soared below him, patrolling the chasm. Feeling giddy, Thumpus backed off from the cliff edge.

At camp, Tesh was waking - the last of all. The others had restrained themselves and kept a little stew for her. She could have eaten at least twice as much. As she finished, Thumpus returned. He was overjoyed to see her awake and well, and his long wet tongue licked her face. She grabbed on to his neck. Cuddling him, she sent an image of her dream, of riding on the wild tiger's back. Thumpus growled softly and withdrew sharply, leaving Tesh a heap on the grass.

'You're jealous!' she said aloud, giggling. From a metre's distance Thumpus' dubious yellow eyes regarded her.

<Play with tiger, become meal!> he sent. Then, <Can't get down here. Must search along cliffs.> He sent a picture of the river they were camping near, of water pouring down to rocks below, of the cliff edge extending as far as one could see either side and of birds hovering in the abyss.

Tesh absorbed it. It was certainly beautiful, but how could they get down? Suddenly she had an idea.

Thumpus was uneasy. Tigers were one thing, however ferocious, but at least they had four feet on the earth. Birds were totally strange. Tesh called Suresh over.

'Thumpus says there's no way down here. I think we should unite again and love ourselves into oneness with a bird so we can search for a way. Thumpus is certain his mate came across, so a way over can't be too far.'

'Another good idea,' said Suresh. 'Let's go to the edge so we can find the right bird.'

<Not me!> sent Thumpus. <Me, ground animal. Join with Tash instead.>

<Coward!> sent Tash and Suresh together, grinning at Thumpus. He looked dejected.

<Oh Thumpus, you are wonderful. We'll do it with Tash.> As she spoke the words, Tesh ran up to him and grabbed both his ears, looking closely into those yellowy-brown eyes.

'First you're jealous, now you're resentful. I love you, you silly old thing!'

Thumpus didn't understand the words, but he got the meaning. He shook his head, but the girl held tight to his ears.

<Let go! Going to wump,> he sent. At that, she did let go, and he wound himself up and crashed his tail down on the ground, shaking them all. Far on the other side of their territory, Tal and Til, feeding on a fat buck, raised their heads for a moment at the boom. Thumpus felt good again. He hadn't had a proper wump for so long. But he wasn't going to join a unity with birds!

They went to the edge of the drop. It was magnificent, but scary.

'We'd better stand a good bit back,' warned Suresh. Where the gully of the little stream dropped away, they found a place where they could see into the space beyond. It was Tash who saw the bird.

'Look,' he said simply, pointing. It was a great eagle, hovering far out and above them.

'Eagles are supposed to have wonderful eyes,' said Suresh as they looked at the bird, floating on the air. 'Shall we try and connect with it?'

'Remember not to take off!' It was Tesh's joke, but they didn't laugh. Even in thought the idea of hovering on the empty air with the bird was daunting. Everyone sat down.

Then, led by Tesh, they found the beautiful unity in love, and reached out towards the eagle. Suddenly they were floating, supportless. But they had no time to enjoy the sunshine - this was hunting. This being that was part of them was at least as ferocious as Tal. Tesh allowed their unity to see with the eagle's eyes. Every part of the great cliffs was visible, far up and down the river, etched in exquisite detail by the superb eyes.

It was up river about 3 kilometres - a gap, steep but unmistakable, where a considerable tributary poured into the main river. Suddenly, before Tesh could control the thought, they were diving like a falling star, towards a tiny moving speck far below in a gap in the trees on the river's edge. They had seen a rabbit, and the eagle's appetite was tearing them out of the sky to crash to the earth below!

'I'm me-e-e!' shrieked Tash and the unity fell apart as the eagle spread its 2-metre wings in a perfect braking and adjusting movement to allow it to fall on the hapless rabbit. Tesh's breakfast came up and out. So did Tash's. Suresh was white-faced. After a while he said, 'We should have checked how hungry it was.'

Tesh reflected, 'If we had been one with it, then the fear might have destroyed its ability. What would have happened if we had crashed into the ground and it died? Would we have died too?'

'I don't know,' replied Suresh, 'and I don't propose to try it out. Well done, Tash, for getting us out in the nick of time. That quick separation you make is really important.'

Tash was recovering from his retching.

'We know where we can get down, anyway,' he said, happy at Suresh's praise. Shakily, they made their way back to the camp.

'Thumpus was right. It was much worse than Tal,' said Tesh as the others crowded around them, 'but we know where to get down. About an hour's walk up river.'

She didn't feel like sharing more right now. Tash and Suresh were silent as well. Lelesh and Prush held the two children. Even Suresh was happy to put an arm round Thumpus' neck and lean against the furry body for a moment.

<Very bad joke!> returned Thumpus. There wasn't anyone in the party who hadn't lost weight, but Thumpus really was skin and bones.

They made their way along the top of the cliff and then took a short detour back up the side river to find a crossing place. It would be easier to cross the main river upstream from the tributary. Then it was a scrambling, scratchy descent through scrub and brambles, down and down. Though it was warm, clouds were bubbling up over the mountains behind them. Finally, they were at the bottom, on a narrow stretch of green, the main river flowing strongly beside them.

'Let's stop for lunch,' said Tesh, very hungry.

'Good idea.' Tash agreed with her. People began putting their packs down.

<No, no, no!> sent Thumpus urgently. <Look at clouds. Must get to other bank soon.> Suresh realised what he meant.

'This area will flood if it rains hard,' he said, 'and it's going to. We've got to find a place to get over, away from the cliffs.'

Packs were re-slung over shoulders and the grumbling party moved off up river, scrambling over boulders with the rock wall towering above them. It was another hour's walk before they found a place where a huge tree, torn from the forest edge in some previous flood, had wedged in rocks, providing a precarious crossing. Big, warm raindrops were starting to fall as they inched across, one at a time, parents holding children in front of them, the dark waters racing below. The white mountain tops were now hidden in roiling black clouds.

When all were safely across, Thumpus led them well up the other bank. From there, they could see bits of broken wood and bushes caught in trees at the water's edge. The way they had walked along the other bank would be deep under water in a big flood. Up the slope was a ridge of rocks, tiny brother to the cliffs on the other side. Raindrops were falling more thickly as they scrambled into its shelter. The rocks were cracked and splintered from some past cataclysm. One huge boulder was leaning against the face of the ridge, providing shelter of a sort.

'Get bits of wood, quick!' shouted Minesh. 'It's going to pour for the rest of the day and we must have fire to dry out.' Under the big rock they gathered with armfuls of wood, huddled together as the rain began to bucket down. Great peals of thunder echoed in the mountains. Minesh got a fire going in the driest corner. They sat on their firewood and ate a damp lunch, digging deeper into their meagre supplies. There would be no hunting today.

As the day wore on, a roaring sound came from the river they had crossed. Braving the rain, which was at least warm, Tesh, Tash and some of the others made their way back down the slope. The smooth dark river had become a raging muddy torrent, carrying great tree trunks which acted like battering rams on the rocks. Of the tree they had used to cross there was no sign. The water was well up the cliffs on the other bank. If they'd stopped for lunch at the join of the rivers, they would have been swept away like straws. Thumpus' good sense had saved them.

As night fell, the storm eased; occasional, distant thunder rumbled far away. Water dribbled down the rocks. People took turns near the fire to keep the damp out and some brave individuals gathered more sodden wood, which sent clouds of steam into the air, making them cough. It was the most unpleasant night they had spent since they had left the village. Later, it got cold as well.

Arrival

Everyone was stiff in the morning and a bit grumpy, but the day was fair and cool. The question was, whether to stay another day, or push on. Although they had not rested properly for several days, the consensus was to go on, at least for part of the day, find a good campsite, and then rest up for a day, trying to supplement their supplies. Walking would warm everyone up, and get rid of the damp.

It wasn't difficult to find a way up the small rock ridge under which they had camped and soon they found the ground was dropping slightly; not a steep slope, but a steady one.

'We've passed the highest part,' said Suresh. If the place where Thumpus and his mate had met was halfway, they were now well on their way to their destination, wherever that was.

<Woods better here,> Thumpus added, and it was true - there was an indefinable, healthier feel. These woods were not under threat from the greedy cutters far behind them. As they walked and blood circulated once more, hope, anticipation and optimism surged back.

They stopped for a late lunch at a spot with a good stream and decided to camp. Nothing dangerous seemed to be about. They found some clearings with roots and mushrooms. Thunder rumbled around the mountains, but nothing as dramatic as the day before. The rain didn't spread to their camp.

During the next days, the euphoric mood faded. Although there were no special incidents, the forest just went on and on. The slight downhill slope continued, broken by gullies, small hills and the occasional ravine which they had to detour. Sometimes the undergrowth was thick, evidence of old forest fires. Thumpus would push through seeking the best way, but twigs snatched at clothing and scratched skin as the group followed. His coat became clogged with bits of stick and leaves. In the evenings, all the children who weren't too tired gathered around him, trying to clean the worst off his fur. Thumpus enjoyed the attention.

Another problem beset the group - boots began to give out, holes appeared in soles and uppers started to come away from them as the stitching rotted. Tansh showed people how to make a sort of moccasin from rabbit skins, but they didn't last long, particularly in the rocky areas. The weather began to get colder, particularly at night, and there was more rain. Autumn was well under way.

In addition, Thumpus, who was now a bag of bones, kept pressing the party to cut short rest breaks. He was thinking of his mate - but also of the approaching winter. He knew humans needed to have some sort of shelter and supplies before really cold weather set in.

He tried calling his mate, but there was no reply. On and on they went, food short, pace slowing, Thumpus chafing at the delays. The friendly woods now seemed drab and boring. Morale was declining. Varsh fell sick after nibbling at a root that was new to them all. Indalesh treated him with healing herbs and he slowly recovered but was weak and had to be carried a lot of the time, mainly by Thumpus. They were a sorry lot; still, they went on.

The days passed. It seemed the journey would never end. Now it was the determination of Suresh and Indalesh that led them on. Tansh and Minesh still hunted, or it would have gone hard for all. There were hardly any reserves left. Thumpus, bones sticking through fur, kept sending out messages for his mate, but still there was no reply. He gave rides to the weaker children, but it was a bony carriage.

One morning when they were at the end of their tether, Thumpus' inner ear heard what he had been hoping for - but not quite in the way he had expected. The thought he picked up was not from his mate.

<Gub, gub, gub!> It was a Thumping Wumpus thought all right, and very close indeed - only about half an hour in front of them to the right - but what did it mean?

<Heard something!> Thumpus gently disengaged himself from his small rider and was off through the forest in a flash. The rest of the party stopped in surprise.

'He heard something,' explained Tesh. 'He's gone to investigate.' People lay down where they stopped, unlacing boots if they still had them, and rubbing their aching feet. Nobody did anything at all. It was that bad.

Thumpus raced through the forest towards the source of the sound, drawing on his last energies. He did not send any thoughts, in case he would frighten away whoever it was before he could find them. Suddenly the thought was there again:

<Gub, gub, gub!>

And another, very quiet thought: <Shut up, darling brute. Give us away.>

It was Mate! Amongst the rocks over there. Yes, there was a little cave-like corner. In it, Mate and a gorgeous, cuddly, tiny Thumping, which staggered to its feet and came towards him.

<Thumpus! Been hearing you shouting days. Don't touch Thrubble! Thrubble, keep away. Big bad Thumpus eat you up!> The little ball of reddish brown fur seemed unimpressed, struggling on towards his father. Mate bared her teeth in a very unbecoming snarl and started after her cub. Thumpus hastily withdrew a few steps.

<He lovely. Never dream hurting him.> Mate was still cautious.

Mate sent a big ? thought, meaning: 'Sounds interesting but I still don't trust you.' Then she lifted her head as Tesh sent a strong call:

<Thumpus? Where are you? Picking up other thoughts with yours.>

<How destroyed? How?> Mate sounded unbelieving. The cub cuddled at her feet. But he was looking at Thumpus.

Mate shivered. <These? - not like that?>

<No. These love trees. Only take wood for dens, dropped wood for small fire keep warm.>

<Fire!> Mate's eyes were frightened.

<Very small. No fear. Keep warm. They know how. You meet now? Not dangerous. Love - Thrubble.> Thumpus was not good at new names.

<Risk - Risk. Too much.> Mate held back. Her only cub in four years. Perhaps the last Thumping Wumpus baby. She couldn't take the chance.

<Just show self. Hide baby. No risk. None,> Thumpus' thought pleaded with her.

<You bring near. I look. Thrubble stay hidden.> She raised her lip again in a snarl, to indicate that she would fight to the death if there was any advance towards Thrubble.

Thumpus didn't wait. Suddenly full of energy, he ran back through the trees.

<Come,> he sent as he arrived in sight of the bedraggled villagers. <Meet Mate.>

As Tesh translated, a faint spark of interest flickered through the group. They struggled to their feet, aching arms lifting packs once more.

'How far?' someone asked. Thumpus read the thought from many minds.

<Near, near,> Tesh explained.

It took them an hour, and there was much grumbling. It was not near at all. Finally, Thumpus sent, <Wait.>

They were near a pile of rocks. From the trees at its side, another wump emerged, slightly smaller than their own Thumpus, but in much better condition. It stood and looked at them.

<Half-dead,> it observed. <You bring these all the way?>

<Not half-dead. Tired from long walk,> sent Tash indignantly.

<Big cheeky cub!> Mate stared at him. Tash was furious. He was not a 'cub'! Tesh giggled and he cast her an angry glance. Then Tesh had an idea.

'Make our unity,' she said to Tash and Suresh. 'It'll save hours and hours of confusion.' Tash grimaced, but swallowed his anger and they formed the wonderful, loving, inner connection that had helped so much with tiger and eagle. Thumpus joined immediately, getting the idea, and they reached out for Mate - who held back, as the other animals could not.

Luckily, they didn't have to try to pronounce it aloud. As they thought it, she joined them, with a sort of soft yelp. Suddenly there was also another being there, a little being, of total innocence and infinite trust. Thrubble wobbled out from behind the rocks.

'Ooh!' shouted all the other children in one voice, wide awake in an instant.

'I'm me!' said Tash quickly. As the unity broke up he continued, sending, <Can we pick him up?> All Tcharang's mistrust had gone. She looked at Thumpus, with a new fondness in her eyes.

<Safe?>

<Be gentle!> Thumpus warned Tesh, then, <Safe!> Thrubble was immediately in arms, licking faces.

<Why didn't you tell us Tch ... Tcharang's name?> Tesh asked Thumpus. Thumpus hesitated.

<Forgot,> he lied.

<Useless brute! Never even asked!> sent Tcharang, loud and clear; then, to Tesh: <All male Thumping Wumpii interested in - mating. Don't pay much attention who with!> To Thumpus, <If stay round here, big change in ways, old ruin!>

Thumpus was caught between two fires. He felt guilty because she was absolutely right. He had never asked her for her name. On the other hand, there was an implication in the sentence that he could stay round. She had that in mind. Tesh giggled. This female wump clearly stood no nonsense. She felt warm towards her.

<Can I give you a hug?> she said tentatively to Tcharang.

<First know better, then hugs,> Tcharang sent back. Tesh stepped back. Tcharang had a very different temperament to Thumpus.

<You a mess.> Tcharang had returned her attention to Thumpus. <Skin on bone. Take them to own kind, then come back, fatten up.>

Suresh, who had been listening with a smile on his face, now took her up: <Own kind? Thumpus not tell of other humans here.>

Suresh was really excited. Tesh also; even Tash left the crowd around Thrubble and turned to her.

<Half day.> She looked at them all, lying around exhausted. <Day for you lot!>

<We'll go. We can make camp and get to the forest edge tomorrow. Is it safe?>

<Safe.>

Suresh called to the people.

'Very good news. The journey's almost over. One more day's walk. We'll go on for a bit and camp, to give Tcharang - that's Thumpus' mate's name - and Thrubble some space. Tomorrow we'll finish the journey and find a new home.'

A ragged cheer greeted his words. People stumbled up, putting on their packs a little more energetically. Only another day's walk.

<Can we come back and see Thrubble - and you?> Tash sent.

<Maybe,> returned Tcharang cautiously. But Tash was satisfied. Tcharang was just like Lelesh when she was nearly convinced. They waved. Thumpus hesitated.

<Go on. Finish job.> Tcharang licked his ear tentatively. <Then come back.>

They walked downslope for two hours and stopped for the day. It was after lunchtime anyway. A meagre meal, a desultory searching for roots and a long and disturbed sleep brought the new day. They were living on anticipation now.

As they walked on downwards in the morning sunshine, Tesh noticed the trees were changing. There were fewer big pines, more with oval, bluey-green leaves; some had autumn-coloured leaves, starting to drop. She looked back through a gap in the canopy. The white mountain was far behind, outlines fading into haze. 'It's as far away as our old home,' she thought, 'but we're lower down here.'

Legs faltering, children crying from tiredness, only supported by the thought that the journey was nearly at its end, they pressed on. At last there was a clearing, bigger than any they had passed since they left home. A stream provided water. Blackberries grew ripe.

Suresh consulted with Indalesh.

'Shall we stop here?' he asked the group. 'We could rest, recover, hunt food. Perhaps this is a good place to stay. We can explore the area, find the best site.' There was no dissent.

After that last day's walk, the first celebration was sleep. Then a pool in the stream became a bathing place. People looked at the faraway mountain, shimmering hazy white in the late afternoon sunshine and wondered, 'So far! How did we do it?'

Minesh and Tansh were hunting. There seemed to be an abundance of roots and plants, some of which no-one knew. Wild bees were around, promising honey. It was a good place. Indalesh suggested a celebration that evening.

<Watch out!> sent Thumpus suddenly. <Something coming. More than one. Know we here.> He vanished amongst the trees in an instant. The people jumped up, their lazy delight at journey's end forgotten.

'Back to the edge of the trees!' shouted Suresh. 'Grab your packs!' Half-undressed people grabbed their clothes and packs, things spilling from them, and retreated to the edge of the space.

As they did so, humans entered the clearing. Humans with sharpened hunting sticks similar to their own. Humans with almost no clothes on at all. Humans with dark brown skins. Humans talking words no-one could understand. But Tesh could.

'Many thoughts - about people stopping on their land, not from their tribe,' she whispered.

The two groups faced each other, 20 metres between them. The people held their hunting sticks, the newcomers theirs, both groups ready for trouble. A man stepped forward a pace from the brown-skinned group and said something completely unintelligible to them. Suresh stepped a pace forward too.

'We come in peace after walking five moons through the forest,' he said.

The strange people shook their heads.

Tesh said excitedly, 'There's one of them who can thought-read. He picked up our thoughts. I picked up his. Let me try and connect.' Suresh nodded and himself started to listen inwardly, as did Tash.

<We're peaceful,> sent Tesh. <We've been on a long journey. We need rest.> A slim young boy at the front of the group lifted his head. He was the one. He turned and talked to two or three of the adults.

<Are you ghosts? Spirits? You've got the wrong skin!> he sent back.

<We're not ghosts, we're people! We've got the right skin. Are you painted?> returned Tesh.

<We've got proper skin! Is yours proper skin?>

Tesh realised that these people simply had brown skins, just as her people simply had pinkish ones.

<Yes,> she sent. She had a feeling she had been here before. Suddenly she turned excitedly to Indalesh.

'I had a dream in which I saw this scene. It said that we would be allowed to stay here if we asked with respect.'

Indalesh nodded.

'Send thoughts for me,' she said and stepped forward, beckoning Suresh. 'May we speak to your elders, please?' Tesh sent the thoughts to the boy, and, after consultation, two imposing men with white beards came to the front of the other group.

'We can speak through those who are thought-senders,' Indalesh continued, Tesh projecting the thought and translating the reply in the strange language from the thought of the young boy opposite.

<We have travelled five moons from the other side of the mountain,> translated Tesh. <We care for the forest and the land we lived in, but it is being destroyed by stupid, greedy people who are more powerful than us. We have come to find a new home. There are no more of us. We come in peace. We acknowledge that you are the custodians of this land. With deep respect we ask for your generosity to allow us to live on a small part of it.>

Remembering what Tcharang had said, she added, <We are not wanderers. We wish only to have a small area where we can build our houses and grow crops. Once our crops are growing, we will be happy to share any surplus with you. Perhaps there are skills we could exchange together.>

It was a long speech, but Indalesh spoke slowly, Suresh nodding by her side. Tesh sent it to the boy, sentence by sentence. The boy spoke at some length with the elders, who turned to the whole group. Tesh and Suresh knew he had received it clearly.

<We need time to discuss this,> the message eventually came back. <We will not harm you. Please return to your fire.> There was a curious extra question. <How many thought-senders have you?>

<Four,> Tash sent back, including Thumpus without thinking.

Indalesh and Suresh motioned the people and they returned to their dying fire, closely scrutinised by the other party, who then retired to the other side of the clearing, some hundreds of metres away.

After a short discussion, the two older men and the boy returned once more and Indalesh and Suresh stood up.

<Our band has talked together,> said the elders, via the boy and Tesh. <We appreciate very much your attitude of respect for our land. We will give you permission to stay. However, the matter must go to our tribal gathering. You can come there in due course. If all has gone well in the meantime, there will surely be no problem.>

As the people heard these words, there were shouts of joy. Their long journey was over.

Thumpus deceived a rabbit so that it ran right into his jaws. Then he raced back the way they had come. He had done his job with the people for the moment. Now it was time to be with Tcharang and Thrubble.

Suddenly the Great Being was there, green scales shining with incandescence.

<Well done,> it sent simply, looking down with a love that made Thumpus' legs collapse under him. Then it melted away. After a while, Thumpus got up shakily and went on through the forest. He would have thumped, but he didn't have the energy.

<Gub, gub, gub!> Thrubble was sending, not far away.

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