. "If
you're hungry, I've still got some salvis from last night."

The big cat rose and padded over to sit across the coals from him,
extending the two forked tongues that were its speech, as well as its
manipulative, organs. "I have eaten well since my escape," it said,
gesturing with them, "but I thank you. You handle yourself well in the
woods, for a human."

"You're the one who's been following me, then?"

"I am."

"Why?"

The tongues twitched in amusement. "Our well-known curiosity. Humans
fascinate me--and I have traveled with you before, Ranger Esteban
Tarlac. Do you not recognize me?"

Tarlac looked more closely at his visitor, and nodded. "Longclaw,
isn't it? You were reported dead, shortly after that trip. I'm glad
it wasn't true. But why not show yourself before?"

"What you were doing was clear; to interfere would not be proper. I
came out only to greet you and wish you well."

"I appreciate it. After last night, I can use a little normality. Uh,
the Traiti know now that you're intelligent. I told them."

"Unfortunate." Longclaw gestured a laugh. "I have rather enjoyed
frightening those who came here thinking me a wild animal or worse. I
believe I have a reputation as a ghost derybach."

Tarlac chuckled. "Sorry I spoiled your fun. Maybe I'll see you again
later, but right now I have to get moving."

"Go with your gods, Ranger." With that, Longclaw rose and was gone, a
flash of white vanishing into the trees.

Tarlac rose more slowly, buried his coals, and went through his morning
routine. Longclaw's visit had brought him back fully to the present,
and he was anxious to get back to the clanhome and finish the Ordeal.

About two hours' walk later the woods began thinning out, and the
stream started veering west. That was a good sign, and Tarlac had to
resist a temptation to run; walking would be faster than running
himself to collapse and having to recover. He had a momentary
sensation of disorientation: In Kranath's time, this had all been
wooded, but when the capital had been established atop Godhome, much of
the surrounding area had been turned into parks and farmland.

Godhome. His thoughts turned back to the psionic computer which had
been beneath him for the last ten kilometers. A computer in the shape
of a cube, damn near forty klicks on a side. He could no longer
comprehend it as he had been able to do in his Vision, but he could
still appreciate it, marveling