West of Eden

attackers away and had placed hunters as guards. They were crouching behind trees, weapons ready, preventing the murgu from coming back. Herilak hurried towards Kerrick now, his face running with sweat, smiling widely at the sight of the blaze.
    The wooden box itself was burning when Kerrick pushed it into the stacked wood, then piled thicker branches on top. Heat flared out and drops of rain sizzled as they fell into the fire. He dared not look up at the approaching storm as he built the fire higher and higher. Only when the lengths of wood were burning brightly, the heat of them forcing him to keep his arm before his face, did he cry out as loudly as he could.
    "Now! Everyone—to the fire! The city burns!"
    His shout brought excited cheers, running feet. Branches were pulled out, carried away, crackling sparks falling in their wake. Kerrick seized up a branch himself and ran into the thicket, pushing it before him among the dry leaves. They smoldered and smoked—then burst into bright flame. He moved on, lighting other bushes, until the heat drove him back and the smoking branch burnt his hand. He threw it through the flames into the trees beyond.
    All along the edge of the grove shouting hunters were setting more and more trees alight. Flames were already shooting up through the branches of the oak before him, jumping to the next tree. A single branch remained in the fire that he had lit and Kerrick grabbed it up and ran with it, past the others. Past Sanone at the far end who was in among the trees, firing them. Kerrick went on a good distance before he jabbed the torch into the undergrowth. The wind whipped the sparks away and in an instant the brush was alight.
    Flame and smoke were shooting high into the air now, roiling darkly against the already darkened sky.
    The trees crackled and blazed, thunder rumbled. The storm had still not broken.
    The fargi were having difficulty in rounding up the beasts for the daily slaughter. Something was disturbing them, they kept rushing from one side of the pen to the other, even knocking down one of the fargi, their eyes rolling so that they shone whitely. The Yilanè in charge was shouting loud orders to no avail. She was suddenly aware of a crackling noise and a strange, pungent smell. She turned about to see the sheets of sunlight climbing skywards, black stormclouds behind them.
    West of Eden - Harry Harrison
    The smell came again, and a wave of warm and delightful air. What was happening, what could this mean? She could only stand and stare as the flames came close, licking at the nearby trees. Wonderfully warm. The animals were screaming behind her as she walked over and held her hand to the warmth and light. Then she screamed as well.
    Ikemend opened the hanalè door a crack and looked out. Akotolp made a peremptory gesture of command, ordering her to open it wide.
    "First you send for me—then you block my way," the fat scientist said, her jowls waggling at the affront.
    "Admit me at once."
    "I abase myself," Ikemend said, ushering Akotolp in, then sealing the entrance behind her. "The males have been quarreling again, it is the weather perhaps. There is an injury…"
    "Bring the creature here at once."
    The firmness in her voice and the abrupt movements of her body sent Ikemend scurrying away. She returned almost at once pulling a truculent Esetta* after her.
    "This is the one," she said, pushing the male forward. "Starts fights, causes trouble, got what he deserves."
    Akotolp ignored this as she seized Esetta*'s arm and turned it over to examine it. Her thumbs gave an extra squeeze when she did this and Esetta*, his back turned to the guardian, half-closed one eye in a sultry gesture. Akotolp always enjoyed these visits to the hanalè.
    "Scratches, nothing more, antiseptic will take care of this. Males will be males…" She broke off suddenly and raised her head, her nostril flaps opening wide as she sniffed the air.
    "That smell—I know that smell," she said, agitation and worry in the movements of her limbs. She hurried to the outer door and opened it despite Ikemend's protests. The smell was stronger now, the air filled with it.
    "Smoke," Akotolp called out, worry and concern strongly present. "Smoke comes from one chemical reaction only—fire."
    Esetta* drew back trembling at the strength of Akotolp's feelings, while Ikemend could only signal stupidity and lack of understanding. The smoke thickened suddenly and a distant crackling could be heard. There