The Pandahem Cycle I

Chapter nine

Chapter nine

Jungle cabaretAttacks from nasties of the forest came at infrequent intervals. Hereabouts the going was only really difficult where a tree had fallen, taking others with it, and so opened a gap in the canopy of leaves above. Here sunshine could pour down — and with twin suns the extent was measurably greater — and produce a twisted tangle of undergrowth.

Negotiating these places was really cutting a way through jungle.

Here it was — slashing with swords to carve a path, ducking vines and treacherously looping strands of animate vegetable killers — that the risslacas, the dinosaurs, attacked. Their smaller brethren also came panting after our blood.

We did not make a fuss about it.

As Seg, drawing out a fresh arrow and fitting nock to string, said, “They’re only doing what