it. They do not alert it to the presence of enemies. They do not clean it. They do not groom it. They do not even feed it, nor could they, on their resources, do so. And such things, I assure you, do not live on fruits and porridge. Indeed, in protecting the Pons, it seems the beast is actually acting against its own best interests. For example, the provision of such a service must involve time and effort, which might better be bestowed elsewhere. Too, of course, it excludes a convenient, easily obtained item from its larder, a sacrifice which, I expect, numerous other predators of the forest are less prepared to make.”
“Perhaps it keeps the Pons about, rather as bait, to attract other things to feed on?”
“How so?” asked Rodriguez, interested.
“Like the Assyrian panther with the snow does it herds?”
“Or the Milesian corath with the small flocks of females of our own species?”
“Precisely,” said Brenner.
“No,” said Rodriguez. “That would not explain such things as depositing the body of the animal which killed Archimedes before the gate.”
“To reassure the Pons of their safety?”
“It would be more likely to terrify them into remaining within their walls,” said Rodriguez. “Bait is normally most effective when it goes about its business, quite unaware of its danger. In the case of the Assyrian panther and the Milesian corath, and other such life forms, too, the hunters, with their bait, angling with it, so to speak, are usually rovers, taking the bait into new and different areas, where their stratagems are likely to be unknown.”
“You do not think such a thing, then, is involved in the pact?” said Brenner.
“No,” said Rodriguez.
“What then is the nature of the pact?” asked Brenner.
“That is one of the mysteries,” smiled Rodriguez.
“We had best get back to the hut,” said Brenner.
“Very well,” said Rodriguez, retrieving his torch from the torch rack.
But Brenner stood where he was, looking up at the massive, carved head on the post.
Rodriguez, torch in hand, turned back.
“You said,” said Brenner, “you knew what sort of animal this is.”
“I do,” said Rodriguez.
“You have seen them before?”
“Yes,” said Rodriguez.
“You seemed familiar with its prints,” said Brenner.
“I am,” said Rodriguez.
“Where had you seen them?” asked Brenner.
“In the sands of the arenas of Megara,” said Rodriguez. “When I was a boy, I raked sand there. It was there, too, where I became aware of the marks of its claws. Some of the marks were eighty feet high, on the barriers, as the beast sought to leap up, and clamber over them. Too, I saw their work on various life forms. One blow of the paw of such a thing can break the back of a mastodon of Thule, another can tear out the belly and backbone of a Thracian dragon. I have seen it.”
“I see,” said Brenner.
“I have also seen,” said Rodriguez, “what it can do to those of our own species.”
“Our own species?” asked Brenner.
“In the arenas it is common to match a hundred of our species, derelicts, prisoners of war, captures, debtors, criminals, adventurers, and such, armed with spears, against just one of these.”
“Horrifying,” said Brenner.
“Perhaps,” said Rodriguez, “but the spectacle is popular on Megara. The crowds find it amusing.”
“I see,” said Brenner.
“The betting usually favors the beast,” added Rodriguez.
“I am not surprised,” said Brenner.
“Women who come to Megara to see the games, seeking thrills and excitement, sometimes find themselves seized, and set forth as stripped prizes.”
“Horrifying,” said Brenner.
“They serve as incitements to the men,” said Rodriguez. “A woman is one of the nicest things a man can own.”
“Undoubtedly,” said Brenner.
“Yes,” said Rodriguez.
“Do the women participate in these contests?” asked Brenner.
“No,” said Rodriguez. “It is theirs merely to watch, naked, and in chains, their fate entirely dependent on the efforts of men.”
“I see,” said Brenner.
“That is as it should be,” said Rodriguez.
“Of course,” said Brenner. “What is their fate, if the men are successful?”
“They are, of course, distributed amongst them, as slaves.”
“And what if the beast is successful?”
“They are fed to it,” said Rodriguez.
“I see,” said Brenner.
“Sometimes viragoes appear in the arena, so-called “Amazons,”” said Rodriguez. “They are usually matched against dwarfs. Such matches are used as interludes, as comic relief, between serious contests.”
“Such a beast, then, will eat the flesh of our species?” asked Brenner.
“Certainly,” said Rodriguez. “At times, eagerly.”
“It did not attack me in the forest,” said Brenner.
“On you was the scent of Pon,” said Rodriguez. “That presumably protected you.”
“The pact?”
“Presumably,” said Rodriguez.
“It must be difficult and dangerous to capture such a beast for the games,”