"Not Terran lions, no. But my people, when they landed on Khatka, found a few animals that reminded them of those they had always known. So they gave those the same names. A Khatkan lion is furred, it is a hunter and a great fighter, but it is not the cat of Terra. However, it is in great demand as a tri-dee actor. So we summon it out of lurking by providing free meals. One shoots a poli, a water rat, or a landeer and drags the carcass behind a low-flying flitter. The lion springs upon the moving meat, which it can also scent, and the rope is cut, leaving a free dinner. "The lions are not stupid. In a very short time they connect the sound of a flitter cutting the air with food. So they come to the banquet and those on the flitter can take their tri-dee shots at ease. Only there must also be care taken in such training. One forest guard on the Komog preserve became too enterprising. He dragged his kill at first. Then, to see if he could get the lions to forget man's presence entirely, he hung the training carcasses on the flitter, encouraging them to jump for their food. "For the guard that was safe enough, but it worked too too well. A month or so later a Hunter was escorting a client through Komog and they swung low to get a good picture of a water rat emerging from the river. Suddenly there was a snarl behind them and they found themselves sharing the flitter with a lioness annoyed at finding no meat waiting on board. "Luckily, they both wore stass belts; but they had to land the flitter and leave until the lioness wandered off, and she seriously damaged the machine in her irritation. So now our guards play no more fancy tricks while on taming runs. Tomorrow--no," he corrected himself, "the day after tomorrow I will be able to show you how the process works." "And tomorrow?" inquired the captain. "Tomorrow my men make hunting magic." Asaki's voice was expressionless. "Your chief witch doctor being?" questioned Tau. "Lumbrilo." The Chief Ranger did not appear disposed to add to that but Tau pursued the subject. "His office is hereditary?" "Yes. Does that make any difference?" For the first time there was a current of repressed eagerness in the other's tone. "Perhaps a vast amount of difference," Tau replied. "A hereditary office may carry with it two forms of conditioning, one to influence its holder, one to affect the public-at-large. Your Lumbrilo may have come to believe deeply in his own powers; he would be a very remarkable man if he did not. It is almost certain that your people unquestionably accept him as a worker of wonders?" "They do so accept." Once more Asaki's voice was drained of life. "And Lumbrilo does not accept something you believe necessary?" "Again the truth, Medic. Lumbrilo does not accept his proper place in the scheme of things!" "He is a member of one of your Five Families?" "No, his clan is small, always set apart. From the beginning here, those who spoke for gods and demons did not also order men."