"The air at Mad Mountain is heavy with the sense of majestic fo| | and tragic destiny it goes on in that vein." | "It is a vivid description," said Glawen.

"The official guidebook. i: put to shame, and in fact barely mentions the battles." ) | "Still, are not the facts in order?" 3 E "Not altogether. There are not so many shrieks and moans, fe grunts and curses and bubbling sounds. The females and bantlin . stand by unconcerned and are not molested. Still, there's no denyL that the warriors tend to hack at each other." } Wayness asked: "Forgive me my morbid curiosity but exact!

what happens?" , "The battles seem absolutely pointless and could easily be avoidt The migration routes run east-west and north-south, and cross ji i below Mad Mountain Lodge. When a horde is approaching, the fi signal is a low sound: an ominous murmur. Then the horde appei i in the distance. A few minutes later the first attack squad cone running along the route a hundred elite warriors armed with thirt : foot lances, axes, and six-foot spikes. They secure the crossing ai i; stand guard while the horde runs past. If another horde is passing, t It! approaching horde does not wait until the other one has gone by, i, logic would dictate, but instead becomes indignant and attacks. :

"The warriors bring down their lances and charge, trying to fol | open an avenue for their own group to pass. The battle continues ud one or the other of the hordes has negotiated the crossing. It's disgrace to go last, and the defeated horde sets up a great howl of hi : feelings. ;

"About this time tourists run down for souvenirs, hoping to finds s undamaged helmet. They prowl through the corpses pulling and tugging. Sometimes the banjee is still alive and kills the tourist. I "The dead tourist is not ignored by the management. His picture is hung in the gallery as a warning to others. There are hundreds of these pictures, of folk from almost as many worlds, and they are a source of fascination to everyone." "I find the whole business disgraceful," said Julian.

j "I think it's distasteful myself," said Glawen.

"But the banj<S | won't stop fighting and the tourists won't stop coming so Mi " Mountain Lodge stays open." | "That is a cynical attitude," said Julian.

"I don't feel cynical," said Glawen.

"I just don't feel theoretical."

"I'm sure that I don't understand you," said Julian stiffly.

Milo asked: "So what is your scheme for the banjees--assuming you were allowed free rein?"

"My first thought was a set of barricades which would hold one horde back while the other passed, but barriers or fences are easily broken down or avoided. At the moment I'm considering ramps and an overpass so that the banjees can go their separate ways without coming into contact with each other."

"Be reasonable, Julian. You must know that you won't be allowed any such project. Have you never heard of the Charter?"

"The Charter is as moribund as the Naturalist Society. I don't mind telling you that the LPF is studying its options."

"Consider all the options you like. Plan ramps and overpasses to your heart's content, though how you can call this official business is beyond me. It's Peefer business and Julian business, at Conservancy expense. There, if you like, is cynicism."

Slowly Julian turned his head and surveyed Milo under hooded eyelids, and for an instant the curtain of genteel accommodation was torn.

Milo spoke with an unwonted edge in his voice.

"More than anything else you want to set a precedent for Peefer meddling in the environment. The next step would be to invite the Yips to lay claim to the land. The Peefers would build grand estates for themselves in the choicest areas of Deucas. Confine all the wild animals behind fences. I assure you, Julian, it won't work."

Julian gave an indifferent shrug.

"You are talking like a wild man. I suggest that you calm yourself. This is a tour of inspection. I will make recommendations. They may or may not carry weight. There is really nothing more to be said."

Pointedly he turned away from Milo and addressed Glawen:

"What does one do at Mad Mountain when the banjees aren't fighting?"

"Rest, relax, drink San-sue stingers and sun downers discuss the landscape with your fellow tourists. If you're keen for exercise, you can climb Mad Mountain. The trail is easy and relatively safe, and there are interesting things along the way. If you like souvenirs, you can look along the riverbed for thunder eggs, or go out on the battlefield--naturally, when no one is fighting--and scratch around for oddments. If you are truly adventurous, you might ride a hunter out to the banjee camp at Lake Dimple--once again, when the banjees are not in residence. If you're lucky, you might find a magic stone."

rife with archetypal symbology. Emotions are aroused to which t contemporary mind cannot even fit a name. No question as to quality of the spectacle; the encounters reek with color: portent' reds, the black gleam on the bizarre angles of armor and helmets;

alkaline blues and greens of the thoracic cushions.

"

"The air at Mad Mountain is heavy with the sense of majestic fo:

and tragic destiny it goes on in that vein."

"It is a vivid description," said Glawen.

"The official guidebook i put to shame, and in fact barely mentions the battles."

"Still, are not the facts in order?"

"Not altogether. There are not so many shrieks and moans, bul| grunts and curses and bubbling sounds. The females and bantlinggj stand by unconcerned and are not molested. Still, there's no denying;

that the warriors tend to hack at each other." | Wayness asked: "Forgive me my morbid curiosity but exactly!

what happens?" 1 "The battles seem absolutely pointless and could easily be avoided.;;

The migration routes run east-west and north-south, and cross just;

below Mad Mountain Lodge. When a horde is approaching, the first:

signal is a low sound: an ominous murmur. Then the horde appears in the distance. A few minutes later the first attack squad comes running along the route a hundred elite warriors armed with thirty- foot lances, axes, and six-foot spikes. They secure the crossing and stand guard while the horde runs past. If another horde is passing, the approaching horde does not wait until the other one has gone by, as logic would dictate, but instead becomes indignant and attacks.

"The warriors bring down their lances and charge, trying to force open an avenue for their own group to pass. The battle continues until one or the other of the hordes has negotiated the crossing. It's a disgrace to go last, and the defeated horde sets up a great howl of hurt feelings.

"About this time tourists run down for souvenirs, hoping to find an undamaged helmet. They prowl through the corpses pulling and tugging. Sometimes the banjee is still alive and kills the tourist.

"The dead tourist is not ignored by the management. His picture is hung in the gallery as a warning to others. There are hundreds of these pictures, of folk from almost as many worlds, and they are a source of fascination to everyone."

"I find the whole business disgraceful," said Julian.

"I think it's distasteful myself," said Glawen.

"But the banjees won't stop fighting and the tourists won't stop coming so Mad Mountain Lodge stays open."

"That is a cynical attitude," said Julian.

"I don't feel cynical," said Glawen.

"I just don't feel theoretical."

"I'm sure that I don't understand you," said Julian stiffly.

Milo asked: "So what is your scheme for the banjees--assuming you were allowed free rein?"

"My first thought was a set of barricades which would hold one horde back while the other passed, but barriers or fences are easily broken down or avoided. At the moment I'm considering ramps and an overpass so that the banjees can go their separate ways without coming into contact with each other."

"Be reasonable, Julian. You must know that you won't be allowed any such project. Have you never heard of the Charter?"