The World That Couldn't Be

The Cytha hurried to catch up with him.

'Let us make a bargain, mister. I will not eat the vua and you will not hunt me. Is that fair enough?'

'That is fine with me,' said Duncan. 'Let us shake on it.'

He put down a hand and the Cytha lifted up a paw. They shook, somewhat awkwardly, but very solemnly.

'Now,' the Cytha said, 'I will see you home. The screamers would have you before you got out of the woods.'

VI

hey halted on a knoll. Below them lay the farm, with the vua rows straight and green in the red soil of the fields.

'You can make it from here,' the Cytha said. 'I am wearing thin. It is an awful effort to keep on being smart. I want to go back to ignorance and comfort.'

'It was nice knowing you,' Duncan told it politely. 'And thanks for sticking with me.'

He started down the hill, leaning heavily on the rifle-crutch. Then he frowned troubledly and turned back.

'Look,' he said, 'you'll go back to animal again. Then you will forget. One of these days, you'll see all that nice, tender vua and—'

'Very simple,' said the Cytha. 'If you find me in the vua, just begin hunting me. With you after me, I will quickly get smart and remember once again and it will be all right.'

'Sure,' agreed Duncan. 'I guess that will work.'

The Cytha watched him go stumping down the hill.

Admirable, it thought. Next time I have a brood, I think I'll raise a dozen like him.

It turned around and headed for the deeper brush.

It felt intelligence slipping from it, felt the old, uncaring comfort coming back again. But it glowed with anticipation, seethed with happiness at the big surprise it had in store for its new-found friend.

Won't he be happy and surprised when I drop them at his door, it thought.

Will he be ever pleased!

—CLIFFORD D. SIMAK