He limped on up to the ruins and there he'H found a troupe of poets performing interpretive dances, and this is | when he lost touch with reality. He tottered back down the trail, and Mount Stephen Tose has been "Mad Mountain' ever since."

Milo looked at Wayness.

"Do you believe him?"

"I have no choice. But I'd like to see these marvels for myself."

"I've had my lunch and I'm ready at any time," said Milo.

"I'm ready," said Wayness.

"Let's go. Julian, we'll be back before too long. Certainly before dinner."

"Just a minute," said Julian.

"Glawen was assigned to me as an assistant. I may need him."

Glawen stared in astonishment.

"What's this? Am I hearing correctly?"

"You heard correctly," said Milo.

"Julian needs someone to run back and forth carrying the end of his tape measure."

Glawen shook his head: "I fly the aircraft and identify animals. I will even try to save Julian's life if and when he does something foolish. My duties extend no further."

Julian swung away with a set expression on his face. He went to the balustrade, looked out over the plain for a moment, then turned back to the others.

"I've seen all I need to see, at least for the moment."

"Come along, then, and walk up the mountain," said Wayness.

"That's a good idea," said Julian.

"Let me change into my walking gear; I'll just be a minute."

So passed the afternoon. With Syrene low in the sky the four returned down the mountain. They went to sit on the terrace, where they drank sun downers and watched Syrene descend into the far mountains.

Wayness pointed out across the plain.

"What is that dazzle out there? It must be Lake Dimple."

"Correct," said Glawen.

"When Syrene drops low you can see the reflection. There's nothing much out there but the banjee camp, which isn't worth visiting unless you find a magic stone."

"What are the chances?"

"Fair, unless the banjees are using the camp. Then the probability becomes zero."

"We'd have to ride hunters?"

"It's a very long walk."

"Why can't we take the flyer?" asked Julian.

"A tempting idea, but against regulations, since it causes problems with the other guests."

Julian shook his head in deprecation.

"Well, no matter.

According to the guidebook, the hunters are irascible beasts, but quite safe if one wears the proper riding habit.

This puzzles me. Are the hunters so very conventional?"

"Mainly, they have a vile disposition and would gladly kill us if we gave them the chance. Before anyone rides them, the stable men prepare them and put them in a good mood."

"And apparently the rider must dress to suit the hunter's notion of what is proper costume."

"The riding habits actually serve a practical purpose. The bunter is pacified by a curious procedure. The Yip stable men feed the bunter well, then tease it with sticks until the bunter is beside itself with rage. At this point the stable men throw out a straw puppet dressed in a black hat, white coat, black breeches and a red sash--the riding habit.

The bunter savages the puppet, stomping and kicking, tossing it in the air, and finally, when the puppet is thoroughly trounced, the bunter tucks it up on its back, to be eaten later, since it is not now hungry.

"The burner's rage is discharged and it becomes relatively docile, The Yips drop blinders over its eyes; the rider takes the place of the puppet, lifts the blinders and rides away in comfort.

"To dismount, the rider must drop the blinders, otherwise the bunter thinks its victim is escaping and kills it again.

So: if you ride a bunter, remember! Never dismount without dropping the blinders."

"I think I understand," said Milo.

"If I want to find a magic stone worth a thousand sols, I ride a bunter to Lake Dimple and search till I find one."

"That is more or less correct."

"And my chances of returning alive?"

"Good to excellent, provided that, first, the bunter is properly teased and baited; second, that you remember to drop the blinders before you dismount; third, that the banjees do not discover you prowling around their camp;

fourth, that you are not attacked by other wild animals, such as thuripids or upland fells."

"How do you recover stones which have been thrown into the lake?"

"You can wade out and feel through the mud with your toes.

You are not allowed to use mechanical equipment; that becomes 'exploitation." It's borderline in any case, but the authorities have relaxed a trifle, and classify the stones as 'souvenirs' rather than 'precious minerals'."