Re: Gold Sword and Red Crystal the Text for translators

Jeff Sheets wrote:
  Roger, I was wondering if pack
>animals are unheard of in Kash?  If they are present, the horse Red-Moon
>could be included in that way.
Believe me, I thought about this.  There are small-elephant size, slow and
very dumb beasts that were tried in ancient times.  You needed several
herders/drovers to keep just one headed in the right direction, and if they
spotted a pool or mudhole, that was the end of that. In the deep country, if
you can't afford a tractor, by default they're still used for plowing.
There are several quite large lizard species that on occasion have been used
to pull wagons, but they too are undependable and very nasty-tempered.  An
army might have used a herd of the various food animals, who might carry
packs (unwillingly), but as they got eaten, someone would have to carry the
packs.....  HOWEVER, on due consideration,  a mythical Hero like Gold-Sword
might well have a companion _cousin_ (pratisha, the leopard-like wild
relatives of the Kash with whom they can communicate telepathically), but he
would be just that, a companion.  He might provide defense, and could rustle
up game for dinner; but you wouldn't expect him to carry a load. As a matter
of fact, at the end of my version, Gold Sword goes to both the local
shepherd and cousins, who agree to provide food for the Dragon.
On balance, I feel an ancient  Kash warrior would have prided himself on
being alone and self-sufficient.