"Yes. Try and get him to make us large at once--now. Tell him we'll
help him----"
Rokk grinned sardonically at Leela's words. Leela turned to Frannie in
chagrin.
"He says he will do as he thinks best--and we will do as we are told."
Rokk added another command. Leela said, "We must mount the dhranes,
Frannie. I think we had better do as he says--and not talk. Can you
ride a saddle like that?"
From Frannie's viewpoint, the dhranes were now about the size of
small horses--four-legged, long-haired, shaggy beasts with crooked,
wide-spreading antlers. They moved as though on springs. Frannie was
reminded by their movements of giant leopards she had seen in cages on
Earth. But they seemed gentle, docile enough. The saddles were oblong,
padded with fur, with a high and a low foot-rail, both upon the same
side, on which the rider's feet could rest.
"I can ride that," said Frannie; and nimbly mounted. There was no
bridle; Frannie leaned forward and clutched the antlers. Leela mounted.
Rokk moved his dhrane about by spoken words, and by slapping its
haunches with his hands.
Leela said, "He is going to give us some of the drug, Frannie. Some
now--to make us larger. But before we are very large he says we will
be beyond the arcade, in the woods where Brett can not see us. We will
ride very fast----"
The animals lapped their drug eagerly. The man and woman took theirs,
with Leela and Frannie. To Frannie again came a moment of nausea--a
reeling of the senses. But it was quickly passed.
Rokk shouted. Frannie tensed herself. The dhrane under her bounded
forward. The ride began.