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.Todd waved her words away embarrassedly."You must tell us all about your experiences, as soon as the Hunt is over,' Hrriss said, showing his fangs in the widest Hrruban smile."Absolutely!" she promised them.Kelly's mention of Alreldep brought back to Todd the full memory of his ship's passage into the interdicted zone around Hrrilnorr, and the fact that two weeks had gone by and there hadn't been the least hint that their "rescue' had been recorded, or even mentioned to the Treaty Council.He would be interested to know if she had heard any rumors: especially one that might suggest the beacon had been planted by factions unsympathetic to the Doona Experiment.This was not the time to bring up such a sensitive topic.Riders needed their wits about them in the Hunt.Plenty of time to take her aside and get her reactions later on."That medical kit been renewed lately?" Todd asked her, nodding at the roll neatly strapped to the cantle."You bet.Mike made it up special,' and Kelly gave him a wry sideways glance, "in case you fall off again!" Todd snorted."And when was the last time you saw me fall off?" he demanded in mock outrage."You have two to your credit,' Hrriss said, his eyes narrowing slyly."Did not Ken say it takes thrrree falls to make a rider?" Todd laughed and patted his sides tenderly."More like two hundred, friends." The rest of Team One began to close up to the leaders.Two more old friends, Hrrin and Errala, from one of the distant Rralan villages, rode up behind and greeted them happily.The three shook hands with the Hrruban mates.Todd checked them off his list.Places in the teams were always reserved for friends and friends of friends.The prestigious first six Hunter teams had to open further to admit high powered guests whose inexperience sometimes tested the experience and skill of their hosts.But their presence meant a healthy contribution to the success of the Hunt and thus had to be tolerated.Hrrubans and Humans in equal numbers joined the ride every year.Though Hrrubans required slight alterations to the standard saddle to accommodate the difference in their skeletal structure, they were keen on any opportunity to ride their beloved hrrsses.Ocelots, gifts to the Rralans from their Human friends, prowled alongside their masters' mounts, waiting for the signal t9 go.The spotted hunting cats were among the few animals that were fearless in the presence of snakes, and kept down other pests that troubled the settlements.The more skillful, working in teams of four or five, even brought down young snakes and killed them.Hrrula skillfully guided his horse to join theirs, followed by the rest of Team Two.The sudden crowd caused Hrriss's two pet ocelots, Prem and Mehh, to go on guard.He swung off his mount to soothe them.Hrriss found that he did not recognize most of the Hrrubans who made up Team Two.They were undoubtedly visitors, probably from the new colony worlds.Hrrubans who lived on Rrala did not have such a wild, predatory look when discussing the Hunt, and those who still lived on Hrruba were revolted by the thought of slaying fresh meat.Though understandably excited about the pursuit and kill, Rralans were more concerned with staying alive throughout the Hunt.Hrriss calmed Prem, who seemed to have caught his agitation.The fierce little cats had been a gift from Todd and had already proved themselves in battle with the snakes.It seemed they were as eager as he was to confront them again.Each team leader checked in with Todd as soon as he or she arrived in Assembly Square.Inessa, Todd's younger sister, hailed them from Team Six, waving a throwing stick.Hrriss poked his friend in the elbow and pointed to Inessa.They both waved.Since their older sister, Ilsa, had married and returned to Earth, Inessa and her two younger brothers, Dan and Robin, took it in turns every year to ride with the Hunt or help guard the family ranch.Hrriss, the only offspring of his parents, used to envy Todd his many siblings until he found that they regarded him as an extension of Todd.Suddenly Todd groaned
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