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〃That's better； darling； we'll make it。 it's just the first step that's a dilly。 Oh； yes！ No cooking fire。〃
〃'No f……' Yes； sir。〃 …
〃Nor any until we get out of this dry stuff。 Don't strike a light for any reason…even if you've dropped your rubies and can't find them。〃 ' …
〃'Rubies…' Woodrow； it was wonderful of you 'to give me rubies。 But right now I would swap them for another barrel of water。〃
〃No； you wouldn't； dearest； because rubies don't weigh anythin？ and I took every barrel the mules could haul。 I was delighted that Zack had those rubies along and I could give them to you。 A bride should be cherished。 Let's take care of these tired mules。〃 …
After they turned the mules loose； Dora tried to figure out what she could feed her husband without the use of fire while Smith got busy on the fence。 The fence was not much； but having only two wagons； they could not form a proper defensive circle； the best that could be done was to angle the wagons as far as the front axle of the second wagon permitted； then surround the bivouac with a fence… of sorts…sharpened stakes of brasswood； each two meters long； and held together and spaced by what passed for rope in New Pittsburgh。 The result； when held up on two sides by wagons and braced to the ground along the hypotenuse； constituted a high and fairly nasty picket fence。 It would not slow up a dragon； but this was not dragon country。 Lopers did not like it。
Smith did not like it much； either； but it was made on New Beginnings of all…native materials； could be repaired by…a man
who was handy； did' not weigh much； could be abandoned with no great 'oss…and contaii！ed no metal。 Smith had been able to buy two sturdy； boat…bodied； Conestoga…type wagons in New Pittsburgh only by offering in part payment plete hardware for； two other wagons…hardware imported across the light…years in the Andy I。 New Pittsburgh was far more 〃New〃 than 〃Pittsburgh〃； there was iron ore there and coal； but its metals industry was still primitive。
The chickens； the sow； the goats； and even the humans were tasty temptations to wild lopers； but with the goats and kids shooed inside the kraal； two alert watchdogs； and sixteen mules grazing on all sides；； Smith felt reasonably secure at night。 True； a loper might get a mule； but it was much more likely that the mule would get the loper…especially as 'other mules would close in and help stomp the carnivore。 These mules dd not run from a 'loper； they struck out at him。 Smith thought that； in time； mules might clean out the varmints even more than men did； make them as scarce as mountain lions had been in his youth。
A mule…stomped loper was readily converted into loper steak； loper stew； loper jerky…and dog and cat food； and Mrs。 Porky the sow enjoyed the offal…all at no loss to the mules。 Smith did not care much for loper in any form； the meat was too strongly flavored for his taste…but it was better than nothing and kept them from digging too deeply into food they had hauled along。 Dora did not share her husband's distaste for loper meat； born there and having eaten it now and then since earliest childhood； it seemed to her a normal food。
But Smith wished that he； had time to hunt one of the herbivores that were the loper's natural prey…six…legged like the loper but otherwise resembling a misshapen okapi… their meat was much milder。 They were called 〃prairie goats；〃 which they were not； but systematic taxonomy of fauna and flora on …New Beginnings had not gone far； there had been as yet no time for such intellectual luxuries。 Smith had shot a prairie goat from the seat of the wagon a week earlier （now only a memory； bittersweet； of tasty tender meat）。 Smith did not feel justified in taking a day off to bunt until they had conquered Hopeless Pass。 But he kept hoping for another chance shot。
Maybe now… 〃Fritz！ Lady Macbeth！ Here！〃 The dogs trotted up and waited。 〃High sentry。 Loper！ Pr'airie goat！ Up！〃 The dogs immediately got on the very top of the lead wagon； …
making it in two jumps and a scramble； step； seat； and curved top。 ；There th~y split the duty； nigh side and off side… and there they would stay until told to get down。 Smith had paid a stiff price for the pair； but he had known they were good dogs； he had picked their ancestors on Earth and had fetched them with the first wave。 Smith was not a 〃doggie〃 man in any fanatic sense； he simply believed that a partnership that had lasted so long on Earth would serve men equally well on
strange plas。
Dora was… sobered by her husband's words；？but once she got busy working； she cheered up。 Shortly； while trying to plan a menu from little choice and without acooking fire； she came across something that vexed her…good for her as it displ~aced her worrisome thoughts。 Besides； she did not really believe that her husband could fail at anything。
She came around the end of the second wagon； crossed the little kraal to where her husband was making sure that his fence was tight。 〃Oh； that pesky little rooster！〃
Woodrow looked around。 〃Hon； you look cute in just a sunbon。〃
。〃Not just a sunbon； I'm wearing boots； too。 Don't you want to hear what that nasty little rooster did？〃
〃I would rather discuss how you look。 Adorable； that is。 Nevertheless； I'm not pleased with the way you are dressed。〃
〃What？ But it's so hot； dear。 Since I can't wash； I thought an air bath might make me smell better。〃
〃You smell good to me。 But an air bath is a good idea； I'll peel down； too。 Your gun； dear…where's your belt with your knife and gun？〃 He started shucking his overalls。
〃You want me to wear my gun belt now？ Inside the fence？ With you here to protect me？〃 …
… 〃As self…discipline and a standard precaution； my lovely one。〃 He hitched his own gun…and…knife belt back into place as he stepped out of his overalls； then pulled off boots and
shirt and got bare save for the belt and three other weapons that did not show when he was dressed。 〃In more years than
I like to think about I have never been unarmed except when locked in somewhere sale。 I want you to acquire the habit。 Not just sometimes。 Always。〃
〃All right。 I left my belt on the seat； F！！ get it。 But； Woodrow； I'm not much of a fighter at best。〃
〃You're fairly accurate with that needle … gun up to fifty meters。 And you're going to get better and better the longer
you live with me； Not just with it but with anything that shoots； cuts； burns； or even makes nasty bruises； from your bare bands to a blaster。 See over there； Dorable？〃 He pointed to nothing but flatness。 〃In just seven seconds a' horde of hairy savages will e pouring over the top of that rise and attack。 I get a spear through my thigh and go down 。 。 then you have to fight them off for both of us。 What are you going to do； you poor little girl； with your gun clear over there on the seat of that wagon？〃
〃Why〃…。she set her feet apart； put her hands back of her head； and gave a wiggle that was invented in the Garden of Eden； or p