"That gap in the cliffs. Caused by an earthquake ten years ago. Three
years ago, His Perfectness suggested the landslide be used to bring
timber. Pontoon bridge was floated across the river. Farmers began
leveling the landslide to make a road. One night, the hogs came down
the path. Sank many pontoons in crossing. Ate two Minimums and one
Dominant who were stationed there."
Moving back to the tractor, Rasmussen said, "Walled the gap and removed
the bridge. Hogs ravaged the land. These three years have been the
worst, since the grizzly apes--" He heaved himself into the seat. "Must
move on. Cannot hunt all day and camp here."
I climbed up beside Toal. "What about apes?" I said, but the old man
started the tractor, and the noise smothered my question.
Rasmussen steered downhill, and, at the bottom of the slope, pulled a
lever to its limit. The puffing of the machine became a throbbing blast
as speed increased. "What are grizzly apes?" I shouted at Toal.
"The apes were all killed in Joe Nordo's time!" Toal screamed. "Threw
rocks and hit people with clubs!"
"GG doesn't like that!" I said. "You can't exterminate an intelligent
species! You're supposed to negotiate with them!" I put my hand on
Rasmussen's shoulder and bellowed, "Please slow it down!"
The old man awarded me a deadly glance. The steam engine's wild panting
subsided, and the tractor crept along the road, which had dwindled to
tracks sometimes covered by red-tinged grass.