Chap. 384 The Susi Cub

Chap. 384 The Susi Cub

K’ndar was walking back to his quarters when an amazing sight hit his eyes.

A woman was walking two leashed animals: a dog, and one that it took him several confused seconds to recognize.

It’s Dian, Orlon’s wife. And she’s walking a susi.

I forgot. I completely forgot I brought two susi eggs back from the steppe and gave them to her to hatch.

“Hello, Dian! It’s been a while since I’ve talked to you,” he called.

She turned and smiled. “Hello, K’ndar. Remember those two saurian eggs you brought to Orlon? He insisted we try to hatch them. Well, we did. One.”

Abashed, he said, “I am so sorry, ma’am, I completely forgot that I’d done that.”

“Well, it’s been very, um, complex times these last few months, what with that murderous woman Yvanna, and her son Fleming stealing! and now we’re still dealing with that dingbat Ineeta, she’s been pestering us for what seems forever.”

“Ineeta?”

“The one who’s allowed her dog to roam the entire complex. He is constantly at my door, peeing on the step when he smells our female dog. We call her Ineeta, because she’s constantly calling Orlon and it’s always ‘I need a this’ ‘I need a that’. She’s the worst problem Landing’s ever had.”

He snorted derisively. “What a perfect name! It fits her perfectly! She’s a problem to all of Landing. But,”

Dian nodded slyly. “Yes. But. Soon. Or so goes the rumor. We’re all waiting for the sword to fall.”

“Yes, ma’am. But in the meantime, I do beg your pardon, I shouldn’t have forgotten that I dumped the eggs on you.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t, well, to be honest, I did consider it dumping, but, we’re at Landing. We do things that might not be official that are still necessary. And Orlon knows, I’m a pushover for a baby anything.”

The dog sat, but the susi remained on four of her legs, pulling at the harness, her front, heavily clawed paws determinedly pawing at the air. It obviously wanted to continue moving.

“I, uh, “

“If you don’t mind, please? Let’s keep walking, although with Susy it’s not so much a ‘walk’ as it is a ‘pull’. She isn’t the most patient of beasts.” She indicated the susi. “Susy. Original name, eh?”

“It works. I can walk with you, please, do you have the time to tell me how in the world it went? I mean the hatching and subsequent raising?”

I hope she kept records, he thought, but that’s probably asking too much.

“Only one of the eggs hatched. I think it took about a month for Susy to hatch. Once I realized the other wasn’t going to hatch, I turned it over to Science division for them to study.

This one, though, took about a day to completely clear the shell, then immediately was hungry. Her eyes were closed and she just crawled around. Funny thing, my dog, here, even though she’s been spayed, she just sort of adopted the little susi. She’d curl up around the cub and wash it, like it was a puppy. It took the cub’s eyes a while to open, they were dark blue, but now, you see, they’re beginning to turn yellow, like a kitten’s does. It took her a while to learn to walk, but she could eat raw meat immediately.”

He knelt down to look closer at the animal. It sniffed his legs, his arms, then looked into his eyes. He saw an indescribable distance in them, as if the entire steppe lay just behind them. It was the same look he’d seen in the cub’s mother’s eyes. There was a discerning intelligence in their depths, but a completely alien one. After cataloging him, the cub ignored him.

The animal was half the size of the dog, but was well developed. Its skin glowed a subdued dun, with pale yellow stripes. It pulled on the harness, it’s attention riveted on scents and activity in the short, dead grass.

“She’s in beautiful condition, ma’am.”

“Thank you. She’s pretty good at keeping herself clean, too.”

“What is she like? How did you train her to go on a leash?” he asked, growing more and more intrigued.

“Like cats, you have to train them young, and no, I am not at all claiming to be a susi trainer. I put a harness on her, allowed her to drag the leash and then gently began cueing her which way to go. But she’ll never be amenable to walking where I want to go. She’s interested in everything around her. Plants, insects, if it moves, she wants to investigate it and taste it. Except the cat. He took one look at her when she first began to be mobile and let her know in no uncertain terms that he was NOT on the menu. I think, K’ndar, that was out of fear. He knew even before Susy did that she was a predator that might possibly eat him.”

The cub made small noises, obviously wanting to keep moving. It turned and clawed at the dog, as if to make the dog move. The dog resignedly pushed it away, as if weary of the susi but still tolerating it.

“Has she developed any hunting behaviour?”

“She has, but I don’t think she grasps it quite yet. She’s pounced on crawlers, but as you know, they exude a nasty tasting slime. It’s not trundlebug season yet, thank the stars, I can only imagine how that will go. She knows what to do, though. Last week, we were outside of our quarters when one of the little wherries swooped down and she leaped at it.

K’ndar, she jumped straight up to just over my head, and I’m tall! She hit the end of the leash but she was still able to swat the wherry out of the sky. When it landed she pounced on it, but it pecked at her eyes and she let it go. But her claws, K’ndar, they were a blur, she’s awfully fast with them. She almost ripped the leash out of my hands. She’s strong.I don’t dare take her past the barns, I’m sure she’d go for the chickens.”

She sighed. I hate to admit it, but I’m tired of caring for her.

“She’s different then any animal I’ve ever met. Very focused, highly intelligent and extremely aware of everything around her. She thinks before she acts, usually. Her hearing is incredible, she could hear the water moving through the pipes and tried to dig a hole to get to it. She’s not vicious, but there’s no petting her, either. She’s always calculating, stuffing information into her brain for processing later. She misses NOTHING. If you move a mug, for instance, from one part of the kitchen to the other, she’s on it, she sees it and remembers it. There’s not a bit of affection in her, she’s a predator, first, last and always. She’s a wild animal.”

He nodded. “I feel guilty for foisting her off on you.”

She shrugged. This is my opportunity, she thought. He DID bring them, and I risk nothing by speaking my mind.

“It’s okay, K’ndar. But I’ve been meaning to ask Orlon to get with you or Chief Raylan or somebody to, um, take charge of her. I really am tired of having to manage her, it takes all my time. She’s alive and doing well, she’s eating and drinking, and hasn’t evidenced any desire to hurt us, despite her claws and teeth. But she’s unsuitable for living indoors, and incapable of domestication. About the only thing she DOES do that is admirable is she was born housebroken. It didn’t take her two tries to understand the purpose of a litter box, and now she makes this odd noise to indicate she wants to go outside to do her business. But otherwise? Orlon’s had to repair our few bits of furniture. She’s active at night, before he built a kennel for her, she would spend the entire night zooming around, leaping up onto counters and shelves, and if it doesn’t move, she’ll chew it up or slash it to pieces. Even then, she paces the kennel. She’s not hurt our dog, but I think it’s because the dog is bigger. For now. And you don’t dare bring meat into the quarters when she’s not in the kennel. She’ll snatch it out of your hands, and even though I say she’s not vicious, still, I think she can be dangerous when it comes to meat.”

He nodded, realizing what a burden the cub was imposing on the well meaning woman.

“The pictures you took of her mother, shows me she’s going to get very big. And, I don’t think it’s fair that I’m expected to raise her. I’m not an employee. So, please, K’ndar? Can you find a way to remove her? Maybe release her where you found her?”

K’ndar heaved a sigh, involuntarily. “I’m sorry, ma’am, that you’ve been inconvenienced. If you’ll tell me where your quarters are, I’ll be there in an hour to take her off your hands.”

One way or another, he thought, I have to honor this. I did cause it all.

“Third and Fomalhaut. 3004. Thank you. I have a metal crate for her, she’s almost too big for it now, but I’ll have her in it. I’d like it back, please.”

Now how do I do this? he wondered.

_____________________________________________________________

“I am embarassed to admit that I forgot all about your bringing in two eggs,” Raylan said. He was at his computer, having called up the photos K’ndar had taken of the adult.

“I did, too, sir. Now I think we should do a quick exam of the animal, take samples of her skin, blood, DNA, etc, and then, I guess, I take her back to the steppe where I found her mother’s den.”

“Not necessary, K’ndar, and if she’s as big as she is at only a few months old, if she’s as active now, I don’t think we can do a complete exam. Nor do I think it necessary. Miklos did a whole work up on the egg, he collected data on the anatomy, DNA, skin samples, but we don’t have a thing on it’s behaviour other than what she has related. And that is on a young animal in captivity, definitely not what I’d regard as reliable data. She’s merely coping with the situation at hand.”

He paused, his mind racing.

“We want more information on how it lives, and for that I need you, K’ndar, to go out and do the research.”

He tapped his chin with a pencil, shifting schedules in his head.

“I’d like that, Raylan, but it will take time.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Part of me is so embarassed, Raylan, I feel stupid. It never occurred to me that the eggs would actually hatch. I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t think, I just kindasorta dumped my find on Orlon and Dian. They’ve put up with this animal for what, three months? And I don’t know what to do with the animal. I hate to dump it in the wilderness, but I don’t think it’s advisable to keep it in a cage, here. “

Raylan nodded. “Not only does Landing not have a facility to keep a large, wild animal, we don’t even know how to properly care for it. Granted, from what you say, Dian has done a tremendous job raising it to this point, but as she said, it’s a wild animal. So are smandas, but they only seem to grow about a meter long and are happy in a tank of water with a steel mesh over the top to keep them in it. This susi, if she can jump three times her length, and she’s just three months old? I shiver at what she’ll be able to do as a full grown adult.

She needs to go back to the wild. The problem is, will she survive?” he asked.

“I don’t know. That’s what’s upsetting me, I don’t want to drop her off in the wilderness without knowing if she can survive. I remember dumping a human criminal a thousand kilometers out in the steppe as banishment. We all knew he wouldn’t survive. I felt dirty then, even though it was just my job and the criminal had it coming. This is just a small animal that has committed nothing but its natural behaviour, I took it from the wild without thinking of the repercussions.”

“And that’s what you do as my biologist, K’ndar. You’ve brought in animals before, ones that are proving to be a great boon for us. Not in this case. Nevertheless, we still need to learn if they are instinctual hunters or if they need to be taught by an adult susi. Will she be accepted by the other susies? Or will she struggle, forever dependent on humans feeding her? The information is important. But research is cold blooded, and you, and me, and Francie, aren’t. We all have feelings and care for the well being of the animals-and people- around us,” Raylan said.

“She’s not happy in captivity, Raylan. Dian says she paces in her kennel all night long. And I honestly wonder if someday she’ll turn on them, out of frustration, out of suddenly realizing that she’s a susi, not a pet cat.”

“I don’t wonder. I FEAR that possibility.”

K’ndar nodded.

Raylan looked at him, but K’ndar could see he was thinking. He saw his chief make a decision. He turned to his computer and sent a note to Scheduling.

“Tell you what. Take her out to where you found the eggs. I want you to release her and observe her for the next five days. I’ll tell P’jar he’s on standby for the time you’re gone, as Francie’s going to be toting Lord Cecilia all over Northern for the week.”

“Yes, sir,” K’ndar thought, already packing his backpack in his mind.

“Take photos, notes, on the behaviour of the cub, and hopefully, any susies you might find. Watch her, film her, see how she manages.”

“Sir, you do know that I found her about a day’s horse ride from my family cothold. Could I stay with my family when I’m not out in the field? Somehow it feels like cheating.”

“Pfft, K’ndar, it’s not cheating. It was luck of the draw. It could just as easily been you found the den out in the middle of where the shaff am I nowhere. I know you, you’re not bothered by sleeping rough, but if it’s not necessary, why bother? There’s no need to practice being miserable.”

K’ndar laughed, delighting in the concept of being able to mix business with pleasure. “Miserable, I’ve done. But, Francie asked me to exercise Donal while she’s gone to Harper Hall. And I have lunchroom duty all next week.”

“Duh. She did, didn’t she.” The schedules in his head shifted again and this time, came up wanting. Yes.

He returned his gaze to K’ndar. “She did ask you, that’s right. And as it’s a family thing? I’ll take care of Donal. I can ride, just not as well as you two, you and Francie ride as if you’re part of their spine. And, I’ve done the toting of klah and carafes, in the past, the hardest part will be summoning the self discipline to not eat the nummies. Francie shared the dannishes she made this morning, yes?”

“Oh, stars, yes. They’re fabulous.”

Raylan sighed fatalistically, and patted his stomach.

“And fattening, and I don’t need another kilo. I love my job but it keeps me desk bound. Maybe that’s a good reason to work Donal. Maybe I’ll run alongside him instead of ride.”

K’ndar gave Raylan a look of sympathy. “The problem I see with the susi cub is, what happens if she doesn’t manage release into the wild? I don’t want to see it starve to death,” he said, mournfully.

Raylan threw his hands in the air, exasperated. Damn it.

“K’ndar, you ask the hardest questions. And sorry to say, you will have to make that decision. Take a crossbow. And bring the carcass back.”

______________________________________________________________

He’d sent a message to Sandriss via fire lizard to let his family know he was coming to the cothold for a ‘couple days’. I love my family, but a week is a lot of time to spend there, he thought.

They came out of between into the wan afternoon sunshine. Raventh hovered over the volcanic dome, looking for a spot to place the crate.

His wings pounded the air, sending great gusts of air onto K’ndar’s head. The action was making the cage move up and down, as well as the cub’s actions sending it back and forth.

The susi cub was whimpering.

It is frightened. It doesn’t hear me, I couldn’t warn it about between Raventh said.

It couldn’t be helped. But at least it wasn’t harmed.

I was careful with it. It’s still very new.

Young.

Young. Where shall I drop it? It’s still moving around.

Wait. Tell Siskin to go into the cave to check if the mother is in it. I want the crate on the ground, not on the top of the rock. Once I open it, she’s probably going to jump out.

Siskin chipped and opened his wings. The updraft from Raventh’s wings lifted him effortlessly. He swooped down and into the mouth of the cave.

The blue sent images of the ceiling of the cave covered with a living carpet of nightflyers. K’ndar knew they were harmless, and probably hibernating at the moment.

Once his eyes had adjusted to the gloom of the cave, Siskin sent images of the floor.

What the? K’ndar saw at least a dozen young cubs, half of them the size of Susy, half of them smaller. The larger ones looked up at Siskin. Without warning, a half grown susi leaped to its feet and ran out of the cave. It saw Raventh directly overhead and fled towards the steppe.

That was not the mother of the cub in the cage. It is too small. It might be a yearling Raventh said, I remember how big the mother was.

There’s a lot more cubs in there, I remember there were nine eggs and I took two.

Yes. And the cubs in the cave are of two different ages. I think it’s from two clutches.

Yes, he thought. Interesting.

I need to land the crate. It’s going up and down from my hovering, and the cub is jumping inside it and making it swing back and forth. If it gets any worse I might have to drop it.

Okay. Call Siskin to spot you, have him tell you when it’s down on the ground.

Siskin emerged from the cave and flew to just under Raventh’s chest, even with the crate in Raventh’s forefeet. The cub squalled and jumped backward as far as it was able.

Now it was up to the dragon and the lizard to do the landing. K’ndar couldn’t see it.

Raventh flew forward far enough to clear the dome and then lowered gently. K’ndar could see the area in front of the cave’s mouth was heavily tracked and bare of vegetation. The leftovers of many kills-bones, feathers, skulls, desiccated limbs-littered the area.

It’s down Raventh said. He told me to move ahead just a little, he put it on the level spot.

Siskin sent an image of the cub, flattened on the floor of the wire crate.

Ah, what a team you and Siskin are.

I’ll land just to the side of the cave.

Okay.

His binocular hung from his neck. He used it to scan the steppe. If the mother was near, he wanted to know before he stepped off of Raventh.

Do you see the small one that ran away?

I do. It is sitting down, looking at me. It went far out.

Any others?

I don’t see them. But they blend in very well with the grass.

Right. But that can’t be helped. Warn me if they come.

Of course.

I will dismount, open the crate, and I hope the cub leaves it. If and when she does, I’ll pick it up and bring it back to you. Then I’ll get back on and please, launch and land on top of the dome. We will see what happens.

He looked into the cub’s eyes. They were changing from a rheumy blue to the adult gold. Another way they’re more like a dog than a typical saurian, he thought.

“You know something’s about to happen, don’t you,” he said to the cub. “I can see there’s a whole lot of brain behind your eyes.”

The cub calmly returned his gaze. She’s knows I’m about to do something to her, and she’s waiting on my judgement, he thought.

He looked up to scan his surroundings. I see no adults, not even the yearling.

He directed his attention to the cub. “Listen, little one. I have brought you back home. I should never have taken you away. I am going to open the crate and let you free. I wish you long life and good hunting.”

The cub got to her feet.

“Are you ready? Okay. Here we go.”

He unlatched the crate door, swung it open, and stepped back to keep it between him and the animal.

The cub stood still for several moments, then calmly stepped out. Her head raised, she pointed her nose into the breeze. She seemed to savor it. Then she sat down.

He picked up the crate and backed away so that the cub could bolt if she chose to run. When he reached Raventh, he put the crate next to Raventh’s forepaws and mounted. He settled himself between the neck ridges.

Raventh grasped the crate and launched, more of a leap than a flight, and landed atop the volcanic dome. Siskin settled just behind his head, and they all watched the cub, expecting her to bolt.

She ignored the launch. She looked left, right, taking deep breaths of the steppe air.

It was the cubs in the cave who made the first move.

With squeaks and excited chirps, several of the smaller ones erupted from the cave. Most of them stopped, perplexed at the sight of the larger cub, but three ran to her without hesitation, squeaking in excitement.

Susy spun around in shock. The cubs clustered around her, tails lashing in glee. Several rolled over onto their backs, their long tails pounding the ground. Soon she was surrounded by seven smaller cubs, all squeaking. She turned around and around, not sure what to do.

My stars, he thought, they act just like puppies.

One of the little ones grasped Susy’s face. She hissed, but the cub kissed her, his tail beating his sides. Behind her, one of the other small cubs began to tug at her tail. She whirled to face it, only to have the kisser grab her tail. She yelped-but it wasn’t out of pain.

K’ndar saw her eyes brighten.

Six older cubs emerged from the cave and stopped at the sight of Susy and the younger cubs.

Then two of them approached her. She froze, the younger cubs still clambering over her. Holding their tails straight out, the older cubs hesitantly sniffed her head, suspiciously.

The smaller cubs swarmed the older cubs.

As if a dam broke, the cubs decided. Susy was in the middle of fifteen cubs, all excitedly smothering her with greetings.

She seemed to laugh and began to play with the others.

His heart swelled in joy. So far, so good.

I need a desk, he thought, I want to use the camera and take notes, and I’m dragonback and have only two hands. So it’s the camera.

He’d been watching them for about twenty minutes when Raventh said,

The yearling comes. It sees me but is not afraid. It doesn’t seem to notice you.

The yearling trotted into the clearing before the cave’s mouth. Fifteen cubs mobbed it, begging, squealing, tails lashing.

The yearling froze, stiffening at the sight of Susy.

The cub flattened, crept up to the yearling, and touched noses.

Then she flopped onto her back, exposing her belly, her tail curled up between her legs. The other cubs took it as an opportunity to mob her as well as the yearling. They continued with a non-stop cacophony of squeaks and squeals.

The yearling stiffly sniffed Susy all over. Then, to K’ndar’s astonishment, it stepped over Susy and urinated on the cub. Even more astonishing, Susy did not object. Instead, she rolled in the fluid that had rolled off her smooth skin, in the same motions that the dog had rolled in the dead speartooth.

Ah, K’ndar thought, she’s getting the scent of the others on her. That’s smart. This way, maybe the mother will accept her. But why are there cubs of two different sizes? Where IS the mother?

I do NOT want to leave. This is utterly fascinating, I realize this is what I’ve been wanting to do most of my life-study the animals, all of them, the ones that belong to Pern.

He looked at the sun. I don’t have much more time before sundown, he thought. I need to head to the cothold. Maybe it’s best that I leave with what I’ve learned now, and return tomorrow. It’s about all I can do for today. I hope she makes it through the night.