thing's hand, trying to land a killing blow on its head with his knife. But the thing was extraordinarily strong and pushed him away with tremendous power.

Katya went hurtling back, tripped on a rucksack and fell down. He looked up. The thing was preparing for what could be the killing leap. Katya knew he would not be able to fight it off, lying on the floor. He decided in an instant. He threw the dagger with all his power at the thing's throat.

He missed the throat and hit the collarbone. The thing stumbled back at the force of the blow. The dagger had pierced it deep. But it roared again. Katya clambered quickly to his feet. Now he was unarmed. The rifle was lying too far away andhim in the thing's blood. He hugged her. 'So you came,' he said softly.

Katya got up, removed his knife from the man eater's body, picked up the gun and stepped into the sunshine outside the stable.

He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on his face. He started laughing loudly. Smoky looked at him puzzled.

He was not afraid anymore.

#  

# CHAPTER 9

It was late evening when the caravan made the crossing. Katya had painstakingly searched the whole village. He had found no signs of other man eaters.

Two miles from the ford, the tribe made camp in a pine forest. The trees here were much smaller than the ones in the Taiga. The campfires were lit and the women started preparing the evening meal.

Katya had told