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A snap of wings less than a ht above the boulder-strewn shore slowed the the strand Paran twisted round to see the others in single file behind theainst his rider’s ar?’

’There is carrion ahead,’ the Black Moranth replied, the words strangely clicking -- a sound the captain kneould never get used to

’You’re hungry?’

The chitin-arht, so that was a little low

The stench of whatever lay on the shore ahead reached Paran ’Do we have to do this? Is it the quorls who need to feed? Have we tiht last, Captain Never before has this river yielded such a creature Perhaps, that it has done so now is iate’

Paran relented ’Very well’

The quorl beneath therassy eround beyond it The others followed suit

Joints aching, Paran released the saddle-straps and cautiously dismounted

Quick Ben lirus will fall off’

’Any idea what they’ve found?’ the captain asked him

’Only that it stinks’

’Some dead beast, apparently’

A half-dozen Black Moranth had gathered around the lead rider Clicks and buzzes were exchanged a them in a rapid discussion, then the officer -- whose quorl Paran had been riding -- gestured for the captain and the wizard to approach

’The creature,’ the officer said, ’lies directly ahead We would have you exaht finally circle the truth and so know its hue Coed ’Lead the way, then,’ the captain said

The corpse lay ah on the strand, fifteen paces fro broken bones -- soure was naked, bloated with decoround around it seethed with crayfish, clicking and scraping and, here and there, locked in titanic battle over possession of the feast -- a detail Paran found a His attention only ers, he fixed his gaze once ure

Quick Ben spoke a soft question to the Moranth officer, who nodded The wizard gestured and athe corpse

Hood’s breath ’Is that a Tiste Andii?’