Yesterday we told of the Kabears, the most feared predators on Kusha. Humans rarely see them any more. They were chased away from the areas around Harappa City years ago. Farside still has to deal with them pretty often and the nomads run across them occasionally. I haven’t seen one in at least twenty years, but then I don’t go out in the woods much any more.
What worries most folks more than the Kabears are the Gimpkos. They are biting lizards about a half a meter tall that like the Kabears often walk on their hind legs. Individually they are very timid and a typical human would never see one. However in groups they become strangely emboldened.
Commonly they hunt in packs. Typical game for them is small to medium rodents, house pets and occasionally people. I don’t know that many people have been killed by the Gimpkos but there are attacks at least once a month.
Usually they come after some kid playing ball. The kid wanders too close to the edge of a cleared field and a handful of the quick moving creatures rush the kid and start biting the calfs. Kicking and running away will usually halt the assault. Just don’t fall down! If the Gimpkos can get you to the ground you may still fight your way out of the jam you’re in but you won’t come away clean. Nasty, nasty little buggars.
I know some of the Mandan eat them. I don’t care for them myself. My wife Ina will eat them when we visit her family and says she likes their flavor. I think it is a little gamey and the texture is very stringy. Besides there is way too much good stuff to eat here on Kusha to consume anything that is not perfectly delicious.
This is my last post of the week but my friend “The Author” will be posting tomorrow and Friday on the technology of the future. I’m sure you will find that interesting.
Never Mix red wine and Oodo.
Philip Normer
Kushan Year 87
Earth Year 2479
No comments:
Post a Comment