understood, it takes either concentration or a practiced ear. Clan
Shona is the primary breeder and trainer of these dogs, and tends to
consider them as members of the clan.

WARRIORS, Sandeman: Males genetically modified even beyond the
Sandeman norm by addition of a gland which produces the hormone egerin.
Under the Shapers, warriors were about ten percent of the male
population. This changed after Overthrow, when more warriors were seen
as vital to the defense of the race. After Annexation, when the
benefits of warrior-police were seen on the worlds they had conquered,
other worlds began to hire them and warriors became an economic asset
to their clans. Up to half of a modern clan's men may be warriors,
with many of them away from the clan in the Marines or on contract as
security forces.

Egerin is the primary part of a sex-linked recessive gene complex, and
is responsible for giving them speed, strength, and stamina well above
the Sandeman norm. Although the psychological segment of the gene
complex is smaller, it is no less important: Sandeman warriors enjoy
fighting.

These physical and psychological traits are developed by training which
starts at age five. The major emphasis, of course, is on combat and
related subjects, such as weapons, martial arts, High War Speech,
military and Sandeman history, and perhaps some spacecraft handling.
Other important subjects are customs and courtesies, need management,
the clan's specialty, and one or more personal interests, usually
including some form of handiwork. When the young warriors move into
the main clanhome at puberty, they begin doing their own chores
(laundry, cleaning, etc.), including a share in cooking.

At approximately 18 years old, there is a graduation ceremony for the
new warriors and w'women, indicating that they now take their place in
the clan as adults. There is no sharp division other than that an
adult will not fight or have sex (except for the instructors) with a
student; part of the post-graduation party is an adult inviting one of
the new graduates to one or the other.

Warriors have the typical Sandeman ethnocentrism, but to an even
greater degree. The race was created to be better than its creators,
and the warriors are the best of the Sandemans. Fortunately, they are
also more concerned with honor, propriety, and courtesy, and they are
thoroughly trained in "warrior restraint"; it is dishonorable to fight
Others who regard th