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her scalp. “Hundreds of them, like a river, pouring onto the dunes and disappearing into burrows. I followed the leading edge all the way from the salt marshes. Hrrel is still in his copter over the dunes, watching until I get back.”
    “This is it,” Todd said excitedly. “Lois, you fly back and keep an eye on the snakes. We’ve got to know the minute they start to leave. Dar,” he instructed another Sighter, “go and check the snake blinds along the way to make sure everyone knows the snakes are coming and to stay inside. Take two of the Lures with you, and drop them at the vulnerable points we discussed.”
    “Gotcha! I’m away,” Dar Kendrath said, dashing for his small craft.
    “And keep in touch!” Todd called after him. “We need to know the moment the snakes start to move out!”
    Dar threw him a salute from the seat of his copter as the vehicle took off.
    “We’re ready,” announced Lou Stapley, who was in charge of the Beaters, who helped to keep the snakes in train by thrashing the undergrowth with flails or beating drums and cymbals.
    Wranglers, very experienced riders, were in charge of each horse platoon. Their main concern was spotting the nervous rider who could panic his mount. Or a horse who suddenly decided he had had quite enough snake hunting in his lifetime.
    Hrrula, one of the Reeves’ oldest friends, was both the leader of Team Two and a Wrangler. “Everrryone is prrrepared,” he assured them.
    “Great,” Todd said, checking them off on his list. All the preparations were falling together nicely.
    “We’ve got the pass blocked toward the Launch Center,” Jesse Dautrish said, scratching his jaw. “Let’s hope it looks impassable to snake eyes. But it won’t take long to clear it after the Hunt’s over. The bridges have thorn barricades as well as mines, just in case the snakes try to cross the easy way.” Though the snakes could swim, the banks of the rivers upstream were too sheer and deep for them to get a belly-hold. “I need another shower,” he added, scratching his waist. “Damn dust settles in every pore.”
    Jesse’s assistant, Hrrol, brushed at her short, tan fur, sending up clouds of dust. “All the charges are laid near rrrsidences and rranchess.” she said. “Here’s your copy back, Hrriss.”
    “Well done,” Hrriss told the attractive Hrrol, and passed the list to Todd.
    “Okay, okay,” Todd said, calling the Hunters to order. “Let’s go. Spread the word, we gather the Hunt at noon, and we’ll ride out as soon as we get the word from the Sighters. Robin, see you at the feast later.”
    “Right, Todd!” called Todd’s youngest brother, running for his horse. “Good hunting!”
    Todd and Hrriss saddled their mounts and rode to the Assembly Hall to wait for the rest of Team One. Horses were still the primary form of individual transportation on the colony world. Doonan-bred horses were one of the colony’s most important assets and trade goods, especially on Hrruban-settled worlds. Hrrubans were fascinated by the gentle quadrupeds, and were natural riders. The breeding of horses, rescuing the beloved animal from near extinction by careful genetic husbandry, was done on nearly every ranch on the planet, both Human and Hrruban. The Doonan style of saddle and bridle included gems and other valuable pieces easily obtained from the planet’s generous storehouse of precious minerals.
    The style, which echoed the formal wear of the Hrrubans themselves, seemed unbelievably ostentatious to denizens of Earth, to whom a single one of these gems represented additional comforts not yet purchased. When gems could be picked up in riverbeds and rift bottoms and polished with little effort by the finder, it was difficult for young Doonans to take the awe and greed over such trinkets seriously. Todd was proud of the way his gray gelding, Gypsy, looked in the new tack he’d made, aglitter with gilding and pretty stones, many of which had no commercial value,