Brechalon Read Online Free Page A

the men who brought forth six small bags tied at the top.
McTeague handed two to each of the reptilians, one of whom opened a
bag, spilling out a handful of copper pfennigs into his
hand.
    “ The army plans to win over the
lizardmen with twelve marks worth of coins?” wondered Augie, after
he had finished the reptilian tongue.
    “ Coins good,” said one of the
lizardmen. “Like coins. Not kill you.”
    * * * * *
    Ssissiatok was returning to the village when
she heard their strangely musical voices. They didn’t sound like
the voices of the people and they didn’t sound like any of the
animals in the forest. She made her way through the trees toward
the sounds, carefully watching ahead as she moved through the
bushes. They were easy to spot. There were many of them and they
had bright blue upper bodies. They stood erect like her people, but
they didn’t have long thick tails to balance them. They didn’t have
tails at all. Then she saw that they were not alone. Tattasserott,
Ssterrost, and Toss were with them. They were talking with the
strange creatures. She ducked down into the bushes.
    Ssissiatok was young. She had only grown tame
enough to enter into a hut a few years before. Like all young ones,
she had lived life as a wild animal from the time she was hatched
until she had become large enough. Then a group from her hut had
captured and tamed her and taught her how to be civilized. Now she
lived with a group of twelve others in a large square wooden home
where Toss was the elder.
    She was close enough now that she could make
out Toss’s voice. He was saying something about trading to
Ssterrost. Then he began speaking the bizarre lyrical words of the
strangers. It seemed so strange to hear those sound coming from his
long handsome snout. As she watched, it suddenly occurred to her
that the blue and earth colors on the strangers were not their hide
or feathers, but some strange material that they had clothed their
bodies in. It made sense to her. They wore it like her people wore
their paint.
    Suddenly one of the strangers called out in a
warbling cry. Many of the others took it up as well. Glancing
quickly to the Toss and the others, she could tell by their posture
that they were as startled as she was. The one that had started the
warbling was showing his teeth. She saw Toss relax. She remembered
what he had told her. They showed their teeth when they were
pleased.
    The elder had spent many evenings telling her
and the others about when the strangers had come before. They had
come and gone when Toss was young and now they were back. Most
people thought they would leave again just like they had before,
but Toss thought that they might stay this time. Ssissiatok
wondered what they would do if they stayed. Would they build
villages like her people? Would they trade with them? Would they
fight?
    The one that had first made the strange
warbling stepped away from the others. He walked directly toward
her, stopping about six feet away to lean on the trunk of a maple
tree. He was looking around at the trees and flowering plants.
Ssissiatok remained very still. It didn’t seem possible, but he
didn’t see her. She was right there. Was it even a male? Ssissiatok
didn’t know for sure. He opened the lower part of his clothing and
urinated on the trunk of the tree. Ssissiatok leaned over to get a
better look.
    Suddenly the stranger caught her out of the
corner of his eye and jumped, letting out a shout and a series of
melodic words. He fastened his pants and wiped his hands on the
leaves of a handy bush. Then he called over to the others in words,
most of which Ssissiatok could understand.
    “ Ssterrost, is this one of yours? I
thought I was about to get my blah blah bit off.”
    Ssterrost came quickly over and it was clear
from his posture that he was not happy.
    “ Ssissiatok, get back to the
village! You are not supposed to be here. If I catch you where
you’re not supposed to be again, I’ll bite your