"Look down, alien!"
Blear-eyed, Craig stared down into the pit.
Great tusks speared up at him. The bellow of an enraged djevoda rang in his ears.
Vydys said, "You and your Baemae friends are said to be clever with these creatures, alien. Especially with a whip." She turned to one of her retinue. "Give him the lash!"
The man brought out a long Baemae whip and handed it to Craig.
"Down with him!"
In seconds, Craig swung into the moat at the end of a rope-loop.
He was still staggering when the djevoda charged, thundering its rage.
Craig lashed out with the whip.
But without avail. The stinging lash brought a new roar of fury from the great creature. Savagely, it lunged again.