17
THE ANIMALS FOLLOWED US all the way back to the shuttle.
At some point, Deyu climbed back onto the big animal—I decided it was one of the leaders of the herd.
I had a try at riding one, too.
My animal was smaller and lighter in colour. When I heaved myself onto the back, holding on by the horns as Deyu said, the animal’s ears twitched up and sideways. Because of the shaggy fur, I had not noticed the ears, but they had very long ears, like a lop-eared rabbit, only the size of the animal made the ears as long as my forearm.
“I think they may use their ears for communicating,” Deyu said.
Nicha had to try riding, too. Thayu was more cautious, but she lifted Ynggi up to sit with Nicha so that he wouldn’t keep sinking in the snow. Ynggi tucked his tail in between his back and Nicha’s fr
