Free Enemies of the System by Brian W. Aldiss Page B

out caves in the cliff-face? These savages are probably troglodytes. This might be our last chance to escape. Do you feel like making a break for it and running back to the bus?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œNo, nor do I. I can hardly move another pace.”
    Flat on his stomach, Dulcifer looked cautiously about. The hunters were sitting relaxedly nearby, talking among themselves. Kordan lay next to him; the others were also grouped about the pool: Burek, Takeido, then the two women. Catching Burek’s eye, he reached down into the pool and took a fair-sized stone in his fist. He motioned to the others to do the same. With the exception of Kordan, they all chose a stone.
    They lay as if dead, letting the water ripple over their flesh.
    The hunters had come to a decision. Two of them set their spears down and walked briskly over to their captives. They gave a hoarse command. When there was no response, they kicked out at exposed flanks.
    As Dulcifer felt the sandal on his calf, he turned, grasped the hunter’s leg, and flung him down to the ground. While his opponent was falling, he brought up his right arm and struck with the stone. Dulcifer had overestimated his reserves of strength—he missed the hunter’s skull and caught him on the chin. The hunter fell heavily but instantly counter-attacked and had Dulcifer by the throat before he could strike a second time. The stone was wrenched from his grasp and flung away.
    The other tourists fared no better. Constanza and Sygiek dragged a second hunter down between them but did not manage to still his furious struggles. He called for help. The other hunters came over at a run. Burek met them bravely, with Takeido giving rather hesitant support, but in no time they were flat on the ground. Takeido nursed a bleeding lip. The struggle was over.
    â€œYou have some rotten ideas, Comrade Dulcifer,” Takeido said. “I’m disillusioned with you, too, if you wish to know.”
    â€œYou fools!” cried Kordan. “You will get us all killed. Why don’t you obey orders?”
    A hunter kicked him savagely in the back, and he sprawled with his companions. He lay there miserably while Sygiek stroked his shoulder.
    They were secured again. Their wrists were tied painfully behind their necks. This time, the pole was dispensed with.
    â€œWell, at least we tried … It’s obvious their intention is not to slit our guts out,” said Dulcifer.
    â€œWolves prefer their food fresh,” replied Burek, grimly.
    As they prepared to move forward, more natives materialized from the rocks.
    The newcomers were not of the hunter caste. Their faces were unpainted. They wore no barbed coats; their one garment was a kind of loin-cloth, concealing their genitals. About their heads, their hair fanned out in extraordinary fashion, so as to resemble a kind of helmet. In their leather belts were small clubs or hammers. They crowded round the captives in curiosity, prodding and laughing, but the hunters made them keep their distance. They were given the spitted boar to carry.
    â€œCulturally speaking, this is a valuable experience,” said Kordan.
    The ground crumbled underfoot as they climbed toward the cliffs. There was no grass to bind the soil. Every step was a labor. The captives were panting heavily before they were stopped again. They had arrived at the cliffs. They had arrived at a settlement.
    Between the newcomers and the cliffs ran a swift river, spanned by a rough wooden bridge. At cave-mouths in the cliff, warriors sat relaxedly on watch. These warriors called a greeting to the hunters, the chief of whom gave a triumphant cry in return.
    The bridge was guarded by sentries, and by an elaborately carved pole, with bogey-man faces set one above the other, grimacing hideously at new arrivals. The sentries wore similar masks, carved from wood. They waited without impatience.
    As they rested, Takeido said to Constanza. “It is hard to realize this