The women were scrambling to their feet, with cries of "Beastquake!" and right on schedule Bru cut loose with a fine series of fley screeches. In the confusion nobody noticed that Alyar was a stranger until he scooped up the two girls, one under each arm, and jumped for the fur. It was hard going, with both of them grabbing at hairs to hold them back, scratching him, and in general being uncooperative. He was panting when he reached Bru. "Here!" he gasped, considerately tossing him the slender one who'd be easier to carry. "This one's yours." The plump one knew by now what was happening. Slyly, she went limp until Alyar relaxed; then she twisted suddenly and got her teeth at his left shoulder. He yelled as she took out a respectable divot of flesh, and spun her around so she couldn't reach him again. There was much screaming behind them, but no pursuit yet. Alyar urged Bru to the base of the nearest eyestalk. "Start climbing!" "But we'll be trapped up there!" "No, we won't. Go on!" * * * * * They were ten man-lengths up before a few old men and a crowd of women and children appeared at the base of the stalk. Seeing Alyar's spear-hand free part of the time, none acted anxious to follow them. Now they were high enough to be hurt in a fall, and the girls had prudently stopped struggling. Alyar's twisted her head and glared at him. "My father will feed you to the fleys!" Alyar grinned. "He'll have to catch us first. What's your name?" "Go to hell." He let go of the scale he was clinging to with his right hand, and pinched her in a vulnerable spot. She shrieked. "If I have to keep pinching you," he said, "we'll probably fall. You'd better tell me your name." She hesitated, then said icily, "Janeejaksin." "Hm. You seem to be rich girls. You wouldn't be the Paboss's daughters, would you?" Janee wouldn't answer, but the other girl did, rather cordially. "Yes, and my name's Marisujaksin. Are you going to steal us and make smits of us?" "They'll never get off this eyestalk," Janee said scornfully. Alyar motioned Bru higher. The figures around the base grew tiny and the stalk tapered to only half the girth of a man. It swayed a little, and they moved around to what would be the upper side if it bent. Shouts could be heard now from farther forward; undoubtedly the fighters would arrive soon. Bru looked nervously in that direction. "What are we going to do--bargain with them?" "No. Listen carefully. You know about people riding a pincer. We're going to get one up here, and when it's close enough, jump onto it and ride it to the ground." Alyar grinned at the protests, put his spear-point between two scales, and jabbed. In a minute the eyestalk began to bend ponderously downward. Far below they could see the pincer-tentacle starting up to meet it. "Be lively, now!" Alyar warned.