（外文电子版资料）TITAN-JohnVarley_ch06-ch.docVIP

CHAPTER SIX The smart thing would have been to post watches. Cirocco wondered as she struggled to wakefulness why she had so seldom managed to do the smart thing since she got to Themis. They would have to adjust to the strange timelessness. They couldnt go on walking until they dropped. Gaby was sleeping with her thumb in her mouth. Cirocco tried to get up without disturbing her, but it wasnt possible. She moaned, then opened her eyes. Are you as hungry as I am? she yawned. Thats hard to say. You think its the berries? Maybe theyre no good. Impossible to tell so soon. But take a look over there. That might be breakfast. Gaby looked where Cirocco pointed. There was an animal down by the stream, drinking. As they watched, it raised its head and looked at them from no more than twenty meters away. Cirocco tensed, ready for anything. It blinked, and lowered its head. A six-legged kangaroo, Gaby said. With no ears. It was a fair description. The animal was covered with short fur and had two large hind legs, though not as large as a kangaroos. The four front legs were smaller. The fur was light green and yellow. It was not taking any special care to protect itself. Id like to get a look at its teeth. It might tell us something. The smart thing is probably to get the hell out of here, Gaby said. She sighed, and looked around on the ground. She got up before Cirocco could stop her, and was walking toward the creature. Gaby stop it, Cirocco hissed, trying not to alert the animal. She saw now that Gaby had a rock in her hand. The creature looked up again. It had a face that would have been hilarious in other circumstances. The head was round, with no visible ears or nose- just two big soft eyes. But the mouth looked as if the creature was chewing on a bass bar- morjica. It stretched twice as wide as the rest of the head, giving the animal a foolish grin. it lifted all four front feet from the ground and bounded three meters in the air. Gaby jumped just about as h