Chapter Eight
The canine scout Mashtuk and his companion Zélie spoke little as they made their way north. It was not only that the bulk of their energy was taken up with trotting and keeping the injured Eugenie safe between them; it was also that they seemed to communicate well enough without the need for mindspeech.
At another time, this may have given Mashtuk a great deal to ponder. He was prone to much thinking, always looking under the mindspeech of others to find a deeper meaning, seeking a reason behind any action or fact, chasing thoughts and statements to their origin. He was most interested in history and knew all the songs of the canini elders, as well as many of those sung by the tribes. He liked to think it was possible to find a sensible explanation for events, and for the w
