by J. T. Edson
In addition to refurbishing their skill with the boleadoras, Dawn and Bunduki had spent a most enjoyable day. While remaining alert in case her assessment of the situation at Bon-Gatah should prove at fault, they and the Telonga couple had taken the opportunity to study the vast variety of wild animals to be found on the open plains. They had kept up the same kind of happy banter which was the result of the pleasure they found in each other’s company and the relief at their reunion. They had also held a serious discussion on the part each of them would be called upon to play in catching the quaggas.
During the late afternoon, having considered it was inadvisable to attempt to make the capture that day, the quartet had decided they might have a better chance in the morning if they could keep the quaggas away from the stream that evening. They had realized that doing so would not be easy if they were to achieve the desired effect. Care would have to be taken if the animals were merely to be prevented from quenching their thirsts that night and not frightened from the vicinity. So they had crossed the stream and made camp in plain view opposite the place where the band generally drank.
From all appearances, Bunduki concluded that the ploy had been successful. When the quaggas had approached the stream for their evening drink, the scent and sounds made by his party had combined with the glow of the camp fire—which had been lit, disregarding the possibility of its being seen by enemies—and brought them to a stop before they reached the water. Although they had milled nervously around, they had not bolted. Nor, even after night had fallen, had they advanced to drink nor sought for another place at which to quench their thirst.
Having spent an uneventful night, the quartet had been ready to put the next stage of the scheme into operation before sunrise. Working in the darkness, the fire having been allowed to die out, they had saddled the banar-gatahs. Then Joar-Fane and At-Vee had led the animals beyond a nearby ridge where they would be out of sight when the sun came up. With them had gone the Earth couple’s bows and arrows. Wading the stream, Dawn and Bunduki had carried their boleadoras. The lariats were suspended across their shoulders. A set of Mun-Gatahs’ hobbles were dangling over the hilt of each’s knife. Above them were hanging two other devices which demonstrated the amount of thought that had been devoted to preparing for the endeavor.
The girl and the blond giant had appreciated that, in the event of the boleadoras justifying their confidence, some further means of control would be necessary to restrain their captives until the hobbles were fastened. Although they wanted to win over the animals with kindness, they had realized that in the early stages a certain amount of rough handling could not be avoided. The problem confronting them had been how this might be kept to a minimum.
After considering various methods, Dawn and Bunduki had concluded that there was only one satisfactory solution to their dilemma. They would use what, on Earth—where such implements were employed for influencing the behavior of recalcitrant horses—was known as a ‘twitch’. Producing the devices had entailed no greater effort than finding two straight and sturdy sticks about twenty-four inches in length, then attaching to one end of each a small loop of the cord from which the boleadoras had been made. Applying a ‘twitch’ was going to inflict some pain upon the recipients, but this would be less than by any other method the couple could envisage.
By the time the first glow of the breaking day was creeping into the sky, the girl and the blond giant were already settled in the shelter offered by the rock. While taking up their positions, they had neither seen nor heard anything to suggest that their presence had been detected and their quarry alarmed. So they had waited patiently and in silence to find out whether their efforts would bear the required fruit. Not that they had been kept in suspense for long. Daylight had come with the speed that was always the case on Zillikian and, after a very short period, the visibility was excellent.
‘Here they come!’ Dawn breathed, yet in tones redolent of anticipation. ‘They’ve no idea that we’re here and, provided our luck holds, they won’t find out until it’s too late to do anything about it.’
Glancing in the direction that his wife-to-be was peering, the blond giant nodded his agreement. As she had intimated, everything was going in their favor so far. Not only had their quarry remained in the vicinity and were coming to drink at the usual place, but there was another piece of good fortune. The angle at which the wind was blowing would carry their scent away from the animals.
The band of quaggas, with the big stallion and the isabelline mare in the lead, were making their way towards the stream. Although they were moving slowly and exercising a constant watchfulness, their behavior was no more cautious than would ordinarily have been practiced and it did not suggest that they suspected a trap. Their caution was only to be expected. No creature could survive in the wild unless it was wary and maintained great vigilance at all times.
Nearer and nearer walked the quaggas!
Ahead of the band, the stallion kept its head held high. While its pricked ears sought to pick up the slightest threatening sound, the flaring nostrils constantly tested the breeze. Its vision was not so well developed as the other senses, but it was searching for any movements which might denote the presence of a lurking predator. As a sign of its intelligence, in addition to leading its band at a safe distance from the large rock which its instincts warned could conceal an enemy, it was devoting much of its attention to the other side of the stream. However, the human beings who had prevented them from taking their evening drink had already departed and were nowhere to be seen. So it continued to approach the edge of the water.
‘Here come Joar-Fane and At-Veer Dawn whispered, glancing at the ridge beyond which their friends were concealed. I knew we could trust her to make sure he didn’t do anything wrong.’
‘Don’t start the female chauvinist bit this early in the morning,’ Bunduki begged, sotto voce, without taking his gaze from their quarry and, putting a note of warning into his next words, went on, ‘As long as you don’t do anything wrong, my idea’s going to work.’
In accordance with their instructions, Joar-Fane and At-Vee had made their appearances from a point at which their scent would be carried to the quaggas. The girl was leading the Earth couple’s banar-gatahs, with their archery equipment and Bunduki’s shield hanging from the saddle horns. Like the blond giant’s m’kuki, the Hunter’s spear was suspended in the loops on the left side skirt of his saddle. As they had been told, the Telongas were making no attempt to move in silence or unseen. Rather they were ensuring that they would be noticed and Joar-Fane was crooning one of their nation’s love songs.
On hearing the sounds of hoof beats and the human voice, as well as catching the Telonga couple’s aroma, the quaggas came to an immediate halt. All of them gazed across the stream, but as yet found nothing frightening. Joar-Fane and At-Vee were not approaching in a manner that could be construed as posing a threat. In fact, once they had attracted the animals’ attention, they reined their mounts to a stop.
Satisfied that the situation was developing as the plan required, Dawn and Bunduki rose and emerged from behind the rock. They moved slowly, displaying no apparent interest in the quaggas. Although they did not speak and walked quietly, neither anticipated being able to close the distance between themselves and the animals to any great extent before they were discovered. Sauntering along with sufficient of a gap to allow each to throw the boleadora unimpeded, they held the egg-shaped weights of the shorter, maneque, lengths of cord in their right hands and allowed the devices to dangle unobtrusively behind them.
Just as the Earth couple had anticipated, before they were taking their sixth steps, one of the quaggas noticed them. Giving a snort of alarm, it caused the rest of the band to look in their direction. Avoiding any sign of concern over having been detected, Dawn and Bunduki continued to stroll in a deliberately casual fashion at an angle which seemed to be taking them away from and past the animals.
The big young stallion who was the leader of
the band devoted his full attention to the Earth couple. Tossing his head, he let out the kind of warning bark that had given his kind their onomatopoeic name and pawed restlessly at the ground. Powerful, strong, armed with rock hard hooves and efficient teeth, he was far from harmless or defenseless. Although his first inclination would be to lead the mares he had accumulated to safety in the event of danger threatening, he was also capable of defending them if the need should arise.
Appreciating his capabilities, Dawn and Bunduki kept a careful watch on the stallion. Studying his reactions, they decided that he was uncertain of their exact status. Whatever previous contact he might have had with human beings must have been restricted to avoiding mounted pursuers. In which case, as he had never seen a man and woman on foot, he saw nothing in their behavior to cause concern any more than he would have if some kind of conventional carnivore was going by in a similarly open manner. If he had not been thirsty, he might have taken the precaution of moving away. Having spent a night without access to water, he was disinclined to depart before drinking unless there was some definite indication that the two strange creatures posed a threat to the safety of the band.
In spite of having attained the conditions they required, the girl and the blond giant were aware that their task was still anything but a sinecure. Not only did they know the dangers of attempting to make the capture with the quaggas in full flight, they had realized that the boleadoras could not be employed successfully if their quarry was standing still. So they had to produce the happy medium of causing sufficient movement to let the devices take the proper effect, but not such a rapid motion that being brought down unexpectedly could result in a serious injury. There was also, as they appreciated, the danger that one of the stone weights on the cords might strike the victim’s legs and do damage. Such an eventuality was less likely to occur when the mare and stallion were walking, or at a slow trot, than if they were galloping. However, Bunduki had taken all these factors into consideration when giving his instructions.
‘Come on, At-Vee!’ the blond giant breathed, throwing a quick look across the river to find out whether the Telonga couple had fully understood what was wanted from them. He did not doubt their intelligence, but neither had ever been involved in such an activity and the way in which they played their parts could make all the difference in how it turned out. ‘Now’s the time!’
Almost as if he had heard Bunduki’s barely audible words, the Hunter nodded at Joar-Fane. As they set their mounts into motion, it was obvious that they had not forgotten their orders. They induced the banar-gatalis to advance at a somewhat faster pace and the girl did not resume her singing. In spite of the latter omission, their actions were quickly noticed by the quaggas. One after another of the animals began to gaze around. Even the stallion turned his attention from the Earth couple.
As they watched to see how the quaggas were reacting, Dawn and Bunduki tensed ready to go into action. They came to a stop, conscious that everything now depended upon the way in which the stallion responded to the sight of the Telongas drawing nearer.
For a few seconds, while the rest of the band moved restlessly and awaited his guidance, the male quagga stood indecisive. Then, as the blond giant had hoped he would, he concluded that discretion was called for. He was not frightened, but considered it advisable to move away from the approaching human beings and also keep clear of the pair of strange creatures which had already caused him some perturbation. Letting out a commanding snort, he wheeled away from the stream.
Clearly having expected some such reaction, the isabelline mare threw up her head and started to lead the band away at a trot. The direction she was taking was such that they would go past Dawn and Bunduki at a distance of about forty yards. The rest of the band followed her, with the stallion bringing up the rear. Waiting until they were on the move, the Telongas gave yells intended to divert them from the real danger.
Everything was going exactly as Bunduki’s plan needed, even to the formation of the band as it moved off. Having anticipated that the stallion would keep behind the rest and hoping the isabelline mare would take the lead, he and Dawn had positioned themselves accordingly. Furthermore, in spite of keeping an eye on the Telongas, the mare did not break into a gallop. Most important of all, neither she nor the stallion were looking at the Earth couple.
Satisfied that all was well, Bunduki knew there was no need to give the girl any further instructions. She was equally capable of assessing the situation. So, instead of wasting even a split second to make sure that she was ready, he devoted his full attention to the task upon which he was about to engage.
Forward and up rose the blond giant’s right arm, swinging the boleadora vertically in a circle. Having done this, he carried it out and around horizontally above his head while taking aim. Waiting until the two round balls were directly behind him, he pitched the egg-shaped maneque weight towards its objective. By his side, Dawn had done exactly the same with the mare as her target.
On leaving Bunduki’s hand, the boleadora began to revolve slowly as it passed through the air. In doing so, it demonstrated another advantage in addition to having a greater effective range than a lariat. While a throw with the latter could be commenced employing a loop of more than half its length, because the other end of the rope was retained in the user’s grasp, the honda xxviii slid along the stem xxix and its size was continually being reduced during its flight. On the other hand, no matter how far a boleadora was propelled, the spinning motion imparted by its weights held it fully extended so that—in the case of the pair Bunduki had had made—it covered an area six foot in diameter from the moment of its release until arriving at its destination.
Released so that it was directed at a gentle downwards angle, the blond giant’s boleadora converged with the stallion. As it did, it exhibited yet a further example of its superiority over the lariat. Although the initial contact was made about six inches from the round stone at the left tip of the longer cord, the other two weights caused the remainder to whip around and trap its victim’s legs just above the fetlocks. At the same instant, having been dispatched with an equal accuracy, Dawns boleadora was ensnaring the mare’s front legs just as efficiently. Both animals went down as if they had been pole axed, but with only sufficient force to wind and daze them for a few seconds.
While they had attained the results they had hoped for, as far as the boleadoras were concerned, Dawn and Bunduki wasted no time in congratulations. They realized that their task was still incomplete. In fact, they were aware of the many difficulties which were still confronting them. Not the least of these was securing their captives, a task which must be carried out with the minimum of delay and before the animals could recover. So, even as the mare and stallion were falling, the Earth couple dashed forward to the accompaniment of loud whoops.
Despite their caution where the stallion was concerned, neither Dawn nor Bunduki expected any trouble from the rest of the band. In common with the other sub-species of the zebra family, the quaggas lived in a family group dominated by the most powerful male. It was his duty to provide any protection that might be required. By doing so, he ensured that the mares, subordinate stallions and foals had a better chance of escaping. Knowing what was expected of them and ignoring the isabelline mare’s predicament, the others took their departure as fast as their legs would carry them.
Across the stream, bellowing with delight, At-Vee urged his banar-gatah forward at a gallop. The noise he was making helped to keep the remainder of the quaggas running away. However, his primary purpose was to join the Earth couple as quickly as possible and render any assistance that was required. Much to her annoyance, as she had been placed in charge of Dawn and Bunduki’s mounts, Joar-Fane was unable to accompany her husband and take a more active part in the proceedings. Instead, she was compelled to follow at a more leisurely pace and watched what was happening with considerable interest. She had seen how successful her friends had been with the boleadoras and was waiting to find o
ut whether all the other devices they had manufactured would prove equally effective.
Without waiting for At-Vee, who was only just approaching the opposite bank of the stream, Dawn and Bunduki lifted free the ‘twitches’ ready for use. Every second was now essential and none could be spared. On being tripped by the boleadoras, the quaggas had tumbled sideways with their feet towards their captors. Once they recovered their wits, for all that their front legs had been rendered inoperative, the hind hooves were at liberty and could still pose a serious threat. So the girl and the blond giant had concluded that it would be advisable for them to circle around and arrive from where they could not be kicked. They were equally alert to how dangerous a bite their captives could deliver if presented with an opportunity and they acted accordingly.
Once again Bunduki left Dawn to take care of the mare. Darting in rapidly, he used his knee to pin the stallion’s neck to the ground. Before it could start to struggle or try to reach him with its hind legs, he hooked the loop of the ‘twitch’ around its top lip and twisted the stick until the cord was drawn tight. With that achieved, he rose and moved until he was standing in front of the quagga’s head. When it showed signs of intending to resist, he applied a trifle more tension. Feeling the pain increasing, it displayed its intelligence by returning to immobility.
Not until he had established his control over the stallion could the blond giant spare a glance for Dawn. He found that she had been equally successful. However, lacking his size and weight, she had straddled and knelt astride the mare’s neck while affixing the ‘twitch’. As soon as it was securely in place, she had stood up and the female quagga was showing just as good sense as the stallion by refraining from pain-inducing struggles.
