The cry of a bird-like creature, a ko!go, came from thirty yards away.

It was not actually the animal making it, though the sound was perfectly identical to his ears. It was one of the !A!amo hunters.

Then there was a crashing through the undergrowth. It lasted only a few seconds, and then a triumphant call came.

"We can move up," Diver told him.

"What was it?" Brooks asked.

"Small prey," Diver replied.

They came closer, to find the other hunters gathered around a creature only about a meter long.

It looked like a large lizard, with short, bristly feathers down its back. It was mostly tail, which was very thin.

"Poor kill," Hard Biter said, sounding annoyed. "Little meat. Usually their tails are fat!"

Tracker laughed and acted out a creature grunting in exertion as it dragged a huge tail, making a little snuffling noise with it.

The others laughed, and started butchering the lizard.

Brooks was glad he had asked if he could come on this hunt. They hadn't seemed to mind, but Diver had been with him the whole time - as his guide and caretaker, Brooks thought.

He couldn't really mind. He was not good at going through the jungle like they were, and unless he used a gun he was not going to be a skilled hunter.

"You don't even have a spear," Hard Biter had said as they had started out.

"I don't need one," he said.

The thought had occured to him to use a gun and help them hunt. But he'd decided it was best not to use his sidearm unless he had no other choice.

The !A!amo had yet to be exposed to that. He did not know how they would react - it was possible the fear it instilled could lead them further into thinking he was something supernatural, or it could drive them away.

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The lizard was quickly butchered, split into two loads that Hard Biter and Diver split between them.

They continued on, seeking nothing in particular. A small bird was caught, as well as another lizard, a different kind. It bit onto Tracker's finger and refused to let go, which they all found very amusing. Even after he cut the head off it kept holding onto his finger.

Brooks's medical drone hovered up near him. The !A!amo regarded the drone with some fear and made some distance between themselves and him as it appeared.

"Captain," it said. It was Y's voice. "It may interest you to know that there is a nest of honey-producing hive animals near your location."

"How do you know? Are you monitoring for that?"

"I had some idle time," Y said. "And !Xomyi seem to universally value honey."

"Thanks for letting me know."

The drone zipped away and Diver cautiously came closer. "What did the spirit say to you?"

"Nothing of importance," Brooks said, squinting to look in the distance. "What's that?" he asked, pointing.

Diver looked in the direction. "I see nothing."

"I saw something moving in that tree," Brooks said.

Diver looked more carefully, alert. Then he sucked in a breath.

He went over, calling out to the others, and went up the tree.

When he had confirmed that the honey nest was there, the others lit up. They worked quickly, starting a fire, creating a small, smoky torch, which they passed up. Honey Finder went up, taking the lead now.

Smoke to dull the senses of the creatures, Brooks thought. Just how humans had done it on Earth.

It was the same logic; smoke was toxic and an irritant. Its byproducts were not useful to life like theirs. The bee-like creatures would be stunned, allowing the taking of their honey.

At least some of it. Most likely they'd not pilfer the whole nest, to leave the colony intact so it could be found again later.

The honey came down, chunks of it taken into hands and hence into mouths.

By the time Diver and Honey Finder came down, every other member of the group was feasting.

"Take!" Honey Finder said, offering him a piece.

This time he didn't feel he could say no. He took the piece and looked at it. It looked superficially like an earthly beehive, but larger, and the wax was slightly green. There were numerous grubs in it, not even many cells filled with honey.

He took a bite. It tasted bitter to him, with hints of sweetness and that odd mintiness, but he chewed anyway.

Honey Finder and Diver watched him eat, then cheered.

"I told Honey Finder of your sharp eyes," Diver said.

"Me? You found the nest," Brooks said.

Diver considered him. Brooks could see the intelligence behind his eyes working.

Brooks could have just found it miraculously, as he had with the scanner and tubers.

But he wasn't here to be a hero. He was here to win their trust.

"You are humble," Diver said. "And a good friend."