«Good.» Blade turned to the east, shifted his bow on his shoulder so that it rode more comfortably, and led the way into the trees.

Heading east meant virtually retracing their steps. This would mean traveling through well-watered country, which was fine with Blade. But it also meant a greater risk of encountering hunting parties from the city. Blade wished he had thought of picking up a set of weapons for Wyala during his raid on the camp. But how could he have known then that he would be able to treat her as a friend and ally, instead of merely keeping her as a prisoner?

They kept moving without a pause until nearly noon. They broke their journey then for a meal of bright yellow berries from a clump of bushes beside a small pool. They also refilled their water bottles.

Blade was kneeling by the stream, hooking his filled water bottle to his belt, when he suddenly heard Wyala scream in terror. He spun around, his hand dropping to his sword and snatching it clear of the scabbard in a single motion.

One of the Senar had burst out of the bushes by the pond, waving a massive branch instead of a club. He stopped and let out a shriek of rage and defiance as he saw Blade and the drawn sword. He drew his lips back from yellow-stained teeth in a savage snarl. Then Blade saw the great blue triangular scar on the Senar's stomach, and recognized him. This was the one who had found the speed and wit to escape from the hunting party that had taken his companions. And that meant he was a considerably more dangerous opponent than the average Senar.

With his sword Blade motioned Wyala to get behind him. He wanted to get her out of reach of a quick grab by the man-creature so he could fight without having to worry about her. Wyala nodded and took two steps backward.

That brought another growl from the Senar. Wyala froze, looking in growing fear from Blade to the Senar and back to Blade. To Blade's surprise, the next noise from the Senar was three clearly recognizable words.

«No-Hairless One.» The Senar brandished the club, then continued. «Not mountains here. Hairless Ones not keep women here. Nugun take.»

«You will not take this woman,» said Blade sharply. He raised the sword.

The Senar spat on the ground. «You-all Hairless Ones-weak. Fight with sharp sticks-not like Senar.» The man-creature raised both his massively muscled arms and growled angrily.

Wyala gave a little gasp and took two more steps backward. «For the love of Mother Kina, kill it!» she gasped. «Don't just stand there. Kill it!» She drew her knife and held it out in front of her.

Wyala's words and movements nearly provoked a rush by the Senar. Blade took two steps forward and drew his own knife, holding it by the point, ready for throwing. It was badly balanced for that, but the Senar would be a big target and even a non-fatal wound should slow it down somewhat. At the same time he snapped, «Shut up!» to Wyala, without taking his eyes off-was Nugun the Senar's personal name?

Blade decided to assume it was. «Nugun!» he said, in the most commanding voice he could manage. The Senar started and raised his shaggy head. Enormous brown eyes stared hard into Blade's. There was more intelligence in them than Blade had expected.

«Nugun,» he repeated more quietly. «You want this woman?» He pointed at Wyala, who cringed and stared at him horror-stricken.

«Yes,» said Nugun. «Hairless Ones in mountains get all good women. Senar get old ones, sick ones, ugly ones. This one-good woman.» He jerked a hairy, black-nailed thumb at Wyala.

«Yes. She is a good woman. But she is my woman. I will not give her up without a fight with you.»

«Hairless Ones not fight. Kill Senar with sharp sticks, throw sticks-kill Senar like animals.» Nugun spat again.

«I will fight you, Nugun,» said Blade. «And I will fight you with no sticks. Only with these.» He raised his own arms over his head, and flexed his own massive muscles.

Nugun stared. Wyala gave a gasp of pure horror and started to lunge at Nugun. Blade shouted to the Senar, «Don't move!» then grabbed Wyala by the hair, hooked her ankles out from under her, and knocked her to the ground. She writhed and mewled for a moment, then quieted.

Blade bent down until he could whisper into her ear, «Damn it, Wyala! If you can't keep calm, I'll have to tie you up again. I want to be able to talk with this Senar, not just kill him.»

«You're mad, Blade!» she gasped. «You can't talk with a Senar or trust him. He'll kill you if you fight him barehanded. They're all strong like animals. And then what will happen to me? What will happen to me?» The hysteria was back in her voice. Blade wished he had time to explain what he had in mind, but he knew that Nugun would grow impatient if he tried. And then he would have to kill the Senar, which was the last thing he wanted to do.

«Nugun won't kill me,» he whispered quickly. «Even if he does, you can outrun him by the time he gets through fighting me. And you can keep your knife. But don't run away until you see how the fight is going. If you don't promise that, I'll have to tie you up again. Do you promise?»

«Yes.» It was muffled and reluctant, but unmistakable.

«Good.»

Blade stood up, threw his sword to the ground, then began unbuckling his belt. Nugun stared wide-eyed at him.

«You fight Nugun? No sticks?»

«No sticks, Nugun. I do not lie.»

«Hairless Ones always lie.»

«I do not, Nugun. I do not know what these other Hairless Ones do, but I do not lie.»

«Maybe not. But you fight me.»

«I fight you.»

Blade had now stripped himself of all his weapons. Then he kicked off his boots and stripped off his tunic. He didn't want to take any chances with this fight. The Senar was well over six feet tall and must weigh close to three hundred pounds. Blade knew he would have the edge in unarmed-combat training and quick thinking. He would probably have the edge in speed. But his plan depended not only on defeating Nugun, but on defeating him without killing or even seriously hurting him. This was a far more difficult and dangerous thing to try against an unknown opponent.

Now Blade pointed at Nugun's improvised club. The Senar nodded, growled agreement, and threw the branch far away from him. He crouched down, rubbing the palms of his splay-fingered hands on the ground. His eyes glared into Blade's and a low growl sounded in his throat. Then suddenly he straightened up with a leap and charged at Blade.

Blade leaped aside from the rush with split seconds to spare. Nugun's ragged nails whistled down past his shoulder, only inches away. For all the Senar's bulk and thick legs, he was faster than Blade had expected. Now to find out just exactly how much faster. Blade had to know that before he could know what he could and could not try against this opponent.

Again Nugun made a rush, but this time Blade was clear in plenty of time. He swung around to Nugun's right, but the other spun in a blur of motion and struck out with one clublike arm. Blade ducked his head, but not quite quickly enough. The blow rode up over his shoulder and smashed against his left temple.

For a moment Blade was half-stunned, barely able to keep on his feet. Through stars and fireworks swirling in front of his eyes, he saw Nugun rushing in again. By reflex and desperation, he launched a kick at Nugun's right kneecap. The kick connected, with a jar that ran up Blade's leg into his body and made his teeth rattle. It was like kicking a granite block.

But the kick stopped Nugun as his hands were already reaching out for Blade's throat. With a growl of surprise and pain the Senar backed away, favoring his right leg. Blade noticed that and his thoughts were grim. That kick would have smashed the kneecap of a normal human opponent into a dozen pieces. But it had barely slowed Nugun. This was going to be a long fight, with victory going to the one who could give out the most punishment while taking the least. And Blade wasn't sure that would be him. Nugun was enormously tough-and if those hands of his ever got a good hold on Blade, the fight would be over then and there.