Toal said, "If carry that for the Hog, he has been shot with those. Did not hurt much. Of course, were older models."
Wiping at the perspiration splashing down my face, I knelt and examined the hoofprints, which were roughly thirty-five centimeters long and spaced, from front hoofs to back, almost five meters apart. "How big is the Hog?" I asked.
"Some sows were nine feet high, fifteen feet long."
We slowly crossed the broken bridge. I said, "What's this about dimensions in feet?"
Toal spoke as if quoting a lesson. "In an old book, Joe Nordo found forgotten English measurements. These matched the Maggiese body. Joe Nordo's feet were one foot long. Center of chest to finger tips, with arm stretched, one yard. First joint of little finger, one inch. Was two yards tall."
Toal suddenly smiled as if unaccustomed to smiling. "Silly," she said. "Learn such things in school." She threw out a hand in a sweeping gesture. "Many things here silly. Is true, in the Explored Galaxy, people do not care if you are blue, black, white? How long your nose is?"
"Yes, officially at least, there's no discrimination between humans and intelligent beings because of physical appearance."
Toal sighed. "Must be wonderful. Wish could leave Maggie."
"Why not?"
"Ordinance 3."