As his name was sung out, Eric shook himself. Half on his own volition and half in response to the pushes he received from the other warriors, he stumbled up to his uncle and faced the Chief. This, the most important moment of his life, was proving almost too much for him. So many people in one place, accredited and famous warriors, knowledgeable and attractive women, the Chief himself, all this after the shattering revelations from his uncle—he was finding it hard to think clearly. And it was vital to think clearly. His responses to the next few questions had to be exactly right.

The Chief was asking the first: “Eric the Only, do you apply for full manhood?”

Eric breathed hard and nodded. “I do.”

“As a full man, what will be your value to Mankind?”

“I wdl steal for Mankind whatever it needs. I will defend Mankind against all outsiders. I will increase the possessions and knowledge of the Female Society so that the Female Society can increase the power and well-being of Mankind.”

“And all this you swear to do?”

“And all this I swear to do.”

The Chief turned to Eric’s uncle. “As his sponsor, do you support his oath and swear that he is to be trusted?”

With just the faintest hint of sarcasm in his voice, Thomas the Trap-Smasher replied: “Yes. I support his oath and swear that he is to be trusted.”

There was a rattling moment, the barest second, when the Chief’s eyes locked with those of the band leader. With all that was on Eric’s mind at the moment, he noticed it. Then the Chief looked away and pointed to the women on the other side of the burrow.

“He is accepted as a candidate by the men. Now the women must ask for proof, for only a woman’s proof bestows full manhood.”

The first part was over. And it hadn’t been too bad. Eric turned to face the advancing leaders of the Female Society, Ottilie, the Chieftain’s First Wife, in the center. Now came the part that scared him. The women’s part.