re level ground a short
distance to one side. Shannon wondered at this, since clearly it moved
among the pebble-stones effortlessly, then realized also that his knife
had grown, or at least appeared to grow. Its curved blade gleamed, two
feet long. The creature was trying to even the odds. But it fully
meant to kill him. That he knew with equal certainty.

The two circled, then the mai advanced. The man aimed a blow at the
head, but Simin rolled away beneath it. Then rose and came closer.

*

The man had fought well. SO UNLIKE THE OTHERS. That he possessed the
heart of a soldier Simin had known from the first brief mind scan. But
never would have guessed the size of it. For it was easy to feel the
vast deserts the man had already crossed, and the final defeat showed
clearly in his eyes. But still he fought on, for no other reason than
that his fierce spirit refused to be broken. Paused before moving onto
the fallen body.

Came forward, touched antennae to his temples, and drank deeply from
the streams of Shannon's life. Then engulfed the top of the skull with
massive, bowed jaws and cracked, lifted away the cranium. Slowly ate
the man's brain, taking with it the remainder of his memory.

Almost at once the change began to come over him. Tingling, he backed
away slowly on his hind legs. At last the miracle had come. He lifted
his head to the sky, and felt the transformation taking place. The
hard shell of his face softened, yielding gradually to a new shape:
hawk nose, burning eyes. White hair streamed back from the auburn
face, hard-edged once more. The huge protruding jaws remained. His
forward body was now nearly upright, like a mantis, but with stronger,
more flexible arms. His mind was keen and sharp.

He turned back to face the mountains, felt the same fierce elation.
And for a time he could not move or think for the wonder of it. How
had he not felt it before. For a time he could not move or think.....

At long length he turned and headed back to the place of his spawning
---the Gorge. The brothers, now forty, saw him reappear atop the high
precipice that loomed at the far side of the canyon. They detected
some subtle change in him, though from that distance they could only
descry a somewhat more elevated form. He did not come to them at once,
but stood looking down upon the stepped vastness, alone, as if seeing
it for the first time.

When at last he did spread his wings and f