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enemy by forging a union with dissident families belonging to the same clan. Surveying the circle, he eyed
his fellow Sakuntala conspirators with fond contempt. Bold, robust fighters, every one of them. But they
lacked vision. They could not see beyond killing Deyzara or driving them off Fluva. As a consequence,
few of them would ever rise to become anything greater than Yuiquerus. Whereas he had been exposed,
from listening to these AAnn, to greater possibilities.
Properly supported and backed, a Sakuntala could aspire to rule more than a single clan. Aniolo-jat did
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not want Iwoko-jei s standing, for example, or even that of Cecolou-tiu. The position he wanted
belonged to the female Lauren Matthias only it would be given to him by the AAnn, not by humans.
Let the Hatas and the Yuiquerus glory in their newfound status, in their complete dominance over their
individual territories. Once the Deyzara had been dispossessed and removed from Fluva, many Sakuntala
would revert to old ways. Traditional rivalries would reassert themselves even as the culture as a whole
continued to make progress through further contact with the AAnn and their advanced technology. The
Hatas would need someone to come to for advice. Someone to rule on internal disputes. Someone to
distribute the aid and assistance the AAnn had promised to provide and to communicate requests on their
behalf.
Him.
The position was already his. He knew it from the way the two AAnn officers acted when they spoke to
him. They were happy to have found someone to handle the task, and he was more than happy to accept
it. He would be paramount among his kind, a Hata among Hatas. All that was necessary was for
everything to proceed as planned with the expulsion of the Deyzara. He was ready to accept the mantle
that would then be handed to him.
Let it begin.
Jaruntamee was just opening his small shop when the four Sakuntala appeared. At first he thought they
were customers and hurried to get his new display in order. The Sakuntala had proven fond of specialty
sweets imported from Dargala, and he was doing a good business selling them to those who had hard
credit to spend.
Then, as the rain turned from downpour to drizzle, he saw that they were holding not the traditional carry
baskets but weapons. Though he was but a simple shopkeeper, he had no trouble identifying the slender,
wicked-looking devices. Even in the dim light, they were unmistakable. One gleamed as if new, while the
others looked old and worn. That did not render them any less ominous.
Startled by the sight, he rationalized that the Sakuntala were hunters who had acquired more
sophisticated tools of their trade than springbows and spears. Only when they stopped in front of his
shop and he could make out their expressions as clearly as their weapons did the shock of realization hit
home. Dazed, he searched the street of suspended strilk for support, found none. His was the first place
of business to open for the day. He was about to pay for his industriousness.
Though none of them pointed a gun directly at him, the respite was brief. Two of the tall forms brushed
past him as if he didn t exist, nearly knocking him off his feet. When he saw what they were pulling from
the carry pouches attached to their waist straps, he started forward.
Gentle Sakuntala, he began anxiously, if I have given offense to you, please to let me know what it
was and I will endeavor most strongly to make amends. I have no idea what has prompted this anger of
yours, but I assure you that here now, you can t do that! He started forward. You must stop! I am
telling you most strongly, you cannot
Something struck him hard from behind, knocking him down. As the Deyzara had no knees but only a
system of entwined ligaments and tendons in their arms and legs to support them, he folded rather than
crumpled. At first he thought he had been shot. But the angry ache in his back was not accompanied by
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spreading blood.
His vision was blurred, but not his hearing. Though not as acute as that of Sakuntala or humans, it was
good enough to overhear the Sakuntala laughing and chattering among themselves. All around him, he
heard the rising cries of his neighbors as they were rousted from their homes and businesses by other
armed indigenous. As he lay stunned in the rain on the now slightly swaying walkway, he wondered what
had brought this on. Ever since the Deyzara had come to Fluva there had been rampages against them by
the native populace. But these had all been sporadic, unorganized, and of brief duration. What was
happening around him now smacked of careful preplanning. Furthermore, in the old days his attackers
would simply have shot him. These seemed almost at pains not to do so.
He tried to rise, but a furry foot in his back kept him down. As he struggled to keep his trunks from
being crushed beneath his face, he held back the words he wanted to shout. The fact that he had not
been shot did not mean he could not provoke them to do so.
So he lay quietly and sobbed within himself as he watched his business burn.
In Udredruta, the Salamthi family was just concluding their morning mutual ablutions when two armed
Sakuntala burst into the house.
Here now! Both trunks waving angrily, the senior of the two females present immediately placed
herself between the junior wife and their pair of mutual offspring. What is the meaning of this intrusion?
She waved both hands and all four digits at the much taller intruders. Get out, get out, both of you! You
are not invited; you are not welcome here. Bursting in like this armed, and in front of the broodlings! You
should be most ashamed of yourselves, oh yes.
Raising the battered but still serviceable pistol he was holding, the nearer of the two Sakuntala shot her
cleanly between eyes and speaking trunk. Hoots of shock and alarm rose from the surviving female. So
terrified were the two broodlings that they expelled air through their eating as well as their speaking
trunks.
The other Sakuntala growled at his companion. We not supposed to kill them. Only frighten and chase
from house. Yuiqueru Getouka-via will be unpleased.
May Getouka-via suffer a kensuk in his bowels. The raptorish eyes of the other native were wild.
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