West of Eden by Harry Harrison Page B

come to the time for learning. Did you not study the use of language at one time?"
    "You know that I did, with Yilespei. I was her first student."
    "You were. Her first and best. Before the rot ate into your brain. You did all sorts of foolish things as I remember, watching the way that children communicate with each other, sometimes doing it yourself to draw their attention. I understand that you even eavesdropped on the males. That puzzles me. Why those stupid creatures of all things? What could one possibly learn from them?"
    West of Eden - Harry Harrison
    "They have a way of talking among themselves when we are not about, a way of saying things in a different manner…"
    "I'm not talking about that. I mean why study such things? Of what importance can it be how others speak?"
    "Of greatest importance. We are language, language is us. When we lack it we are mutes and no better than animals. It was thoughts and studies like these that led me to the great Ugunenapsa and her teachings."
    "You would have been far better off to have continued with your language studies and kept yourself out of trouble. Those of us who will become Yilanè must learn to speak as we grow up—that is a fact or you and I would not be here. But can a young one be taught to speak? It seems like a stupid and repellent idea.
    Can it be done?"
    "It can," Enge said. "I have done it myself. It is not easy, most young ones don't want to listen, but it can be done. I used the training techniques the boatmasters use."
    "But boats are almost as stupid as cloaks. All they ever learn to understand are just a few commands."
    "The technique is the same."
    "Good." Vaintè looked shrewdly out of the corner of her eyes and chose her words carefully. "Then you could teach an animal to understand and to speak?"
    "No, not to speak. To understand, yes, a few simple commands if the brain is big enough. But speaking requires vocal apparatus and areas of the brain that animals do not possess."
    "But I have heard animals talking."
    "Not talking, repeating sound patterns they have learned. Birds can do this."
    "No. I mean talking. Communicating with each other."
    "Impossible."
    "I am talking about fur animals. Filthy ustuzou."
    Enge began to understand the point that Vaintè was making and she signed her understanding. "Of course. If these creatures have some degree of intelligence—the fact that they use crude artifacts suggests that—why then, they might very well talk to each other. What an extraordinary thought. You have heard West of Eden - Harry Harrison
    them talk?"
    "I have. And so can you if you wish. We have two of them here." She waved over a passing fargi. "Find the hunter Stallan. Bring her to me at once."
    "How are the animals faring?" Vaintè asked when Stallan appeared.
    "I have had them washed, then I examined their injuries. Bruises, no more. I have also had the filth-ridden fur removed from their heads. The larger one is female, the smaller one a male. They drink water, but will eat nothing I have provided so far. But you must be careful if you get close to them."
    "I have no intention of doing that," Vaintè said, shivering with disgust. "It is Enge here who will approach them." Stallan turned to her.
    "You must face them at all times. Never turn your back on a wild animal. The small one bites, and they have claws, so I have manacled them for safety."
    "I will do as you say."
    "One other thing," Stallan said, taking a small sack from her harness and opening it. "When I cleaned the beasts I found this hung about the male's neck." She placed a small object on the table beside Vaintè.
    It was a blade of some kind, made of metal. There was an opening pierced at one end, while simple patterns had been scratched upon it. Vaintè poked at it with a tentative thumb.
    "It has been thoroughly cleaned," Stallan said. Vaintè picked it up and examined it closely.
    "The patterns are unfamiliar, as is the metal," she said, not liking what she saw. "Where did the