The Merchant drew away and said, huskily, “What are they doing?”
The Explorer said, “Trying to feed us, I should judge. At least this seems to be the native equivalent of grass.”
The cover was replaced and they were set swinging again, alone with their fodder.
IV
Slim started at the sound of footsteps and brightened when it turned out to be only Red.
He said, “No one’s around. I had my eye peeled, you bet.”
Red said, “Ssh. Look. You take this stuff and stick it in the cage. I’ve got to scoot back to the house.”
“What is it?” Slim reached reluctantly.
“Ground meat. Holy Smokes, haven’t you ever seen ground meat? That’s what you should’ve got when I sent you to the house instead of coming back with that stupid grass.”
Slim was hurt. “How’d I know they don’t eat grass. Besides, ground meat doesn’t come loose like that. It comes in cellophane and it isn’t that color.”