Free Flytrap by Piers Anthony

robot. The whole world knows of you, and so do we, from the network that spreads out from the Normals’ village. Spacemen talk, especially when being entertained by pretty colony girls.” She frowned. “Just not about quantum mechanics. And the Ewe bowed to you, the second time in a decade.”
    “Mona was the first,” Elasa agreed. “But we can't say we properly understand what it means.”
    “It means that your future actions will profoundly affect the sheep, and probably the planet. So you will have power.”
    “I don't see how,” Elasa said. “But I will promise you this: if by some mischance I do get the authority, I will see that the student exchange program is broadened to include the other human variants, here in Colony Jones.”
    “Oh, thank you! That is the most wonderful news I have had in my life.”
    “I only hope the sheep are right, this time,” Elasa said. “I am tremendously impressed with what they can do, but this does seem out of reach.”
    “It is not. We trust the sheep.”
    Elasa became aware of the route they were traveling, because her feet were getting wet. The ogres were fording a forest river. It came up to just below her bottom in the harness. She was glad that Mona did not have to endure the numbing chill water. She also saw that there were ripples in the water, as of lurking crocodiles. Brian continued playing classical music on the mirliton, paying the ogres for their service. Elasa was coming to really appreciate that service. This would not have been a pleasant excursion, on their own.
    Farther along they came to a small desert, or at least burning hot black sand. The ogres handled it, barefooted. Beyond that was a pleasant pasture with fruit trees and tall grass. The ogres stopped. “Rest stop,” Oria announced. “Half an hour.”
    It was clear that Brian and Mona were glad to stretch their legs and go into the brush to catch up on natural functions. So were Vulture and Python, though they remained close to Bunky, guarding him as they relaxed. Elasa checked the nearest tree, and found that its ripe fruit was like a cross between an apple and a pear. She harvested several, and presented them to Brian and Mona when they were ready. The Ewe merely grazed, efficiently.
    Soon they were remounted and on their way again. Brian resumed his music. Elasa recognized the current piece: Marche Slav . The ogres were marching to it.
    They came to a hot narrow valley. Here the ogres paused. The Ewe bleated. Satisfied, they moved on across the valley.
    “That's interesting,” Oria remarked. “The Lamb knows there is weather danger here, not the HiLo, but similar in its devastation. We had to have the Ewe's approval, to be sure of safe passage.”
    “You really do trust the sheep.”
    “Oh, yes. They know.”
    Then they came to something alarming: a sharply angled mountain slope leading down to a river of lava. “We need to cross this?” Elasa asked. It looked to be too steep to maintain footing.
    “It is the route. The route changes with eruptions and quakes, but at present this is best.”
    Now the ogres proceeded carefully. They stepped out on the slope, big bare feet seeming to grip the stone. They stepped ahead, forming a line.
    Elasa remained absolutely still. She was invulnerable to most things, but not to boiling lava. If the Ogress slipped and they fell in, they were doomed. She was sure Brian and Mona were similarly nervous.
    The ogres did not slip. They slowly made their way across, with their burdens, and resumed speed beyond the slope. They came to a broad orange plain flush with tall grass. Now the ogres paused to lift them down to the ground. “Journey over?” Elasa asked.
    “No,” Oria said. “This is wolf country.”
    “And they attack in packs,” Elasa said. “I have heard about that.”
    “Yes. We can protect you, but we need to be free to use our weapons. You will walk in the center of our defensive circle.”
    They made the formation, with the five ogres