Assignment 6 "Beast Master" by Andre Norton

1. Navaho Beast Master Hosteen Storm has survived war and the destruction of his home planet (Earth) and knows where he wants to go. His consistent appearance of adjustment and calm demeanor is good enough to gain him release and transport. He has an unspoken goal and that goal has determined his choice of destinations. He has insisted on keeping his team of beasts (eagle, meercats, and puma-size dunecat) with whom he feels normal and promises them that they have not yet left the War Trail.
2. The Conflict is between Storm's need to adjust to his losses so that he can build a new life and his denial of any need for adjustment through his drive to avenge the blood debt he swore as a small child to pursue. He depends on the skills of detachment that have carried him through both war and the Relocation Center.
3. Because Storm is focused on finding the man (Quade) against whom he swore vengeance he seeks a herd job that will take him in the right direction.
4. Despite his aloofness, his skill wins him offers of friendship and mentoring. He evades any commitment because it would interfere with his quest.
5. He is drawn to the native Norbies whose culture and lifestyle are similar to his Navaho beginnings and they offer acceptance to the proven warrior with his eagle 'totem' but he evades again.
6. When Storm learns that Quade has a son he is confused because he cannot understand why that should make a difference in his feelings.
7. Col Bistor, another herder who is anti-Norbie also shows marked hostility towards Storm but Storm lets it drop when Bistor backs down.
8. Reaching the Auction town Storm retreats rather than meet Quade. Quade doesn't fit his mental picture and the crowded market is not where he wishes to face Quade.
9. Because Storm has ignored Bistor's antagonism he almost walks into an ambush and is only saved when Quade's shout of warning alerts him.
10. Because he is unable to cope with the confusion and the failure of reality to match his pre-planned scenario, Storm flees. He accepts a job as scout team for an archaeological expedition. Even this does not get him entirely away. Quade's son is missing in the area to which they are going and the expedition will be keeping an eye out for him.
11. Trapped by a landslide Storm digs his way out to find most of the rest of the expedition killed, not by the slide but apparently by a hostile tribe of Norbies.
12. He finds the one other survivor, a young Norbie, who tells him the killings were not done by Norbies but were faked to look that way. Because of his suppressed need to avenge Earth Storm jumps to the conclusion that a secret base of the alien enemy is present. He agrees to try to steal horses from the enemy.
13. The enemy IS the aliens and the two not only get horses but help an escaping prisoner, Quade's son. Storm is pushed further into confusion.
14. Logan Quade has learned that the aliens (Xiks) plan to set the settlers against the Norbies by raids on Settlers who are already anti-Norbie. This is something that overshadows the private vengeance and Storm sets out to warn the settlers.
15. He finds a deserted village and is captured by the anti-Norbie group. Bistor stuns him but later loosens the ropes that bind him. Finally Storm begins to think about the oddities he disregarded rather than be distracted from his objective. He concludes that Bistor may be a disguised Xik.
16. Storm escapes and manages to reach a search party led by Quade. In a daze he leads the party to the cave in which he left Logan and his Norbie companion only to be stunned again in an ambush.
17. Recovering he manages to rescue the others and chases after Bistor. In single combat Storm realizes that the disguised Xik is handicapped by the same weakness that has hampered Storm. They are both Alone, Cut off from home. In facing his own weakness he gains the strength to overcome his opponent.
18. Now he is ready to face Quade and hear him out, as an adult, not a frightened child swearing an oath he doesn't understand. His own reluctant observations of Quade convince him that it was indeed his embittered grandfather who lied. And, in giving up the quest he no longer needs to hide behind, he finds he has come home.



19. Back

Copyright © 1999 Margaret I. Carr.

Instructors Comments