title: The Collected Beowulf
author:  Gareth Hinds 
description: ...a book like Hinds' wakes the eye -- and mind -- a little more to the potential of the medium. -- <i>Darren Hick, The Comics Journal </i><br /><br />Hinds has done a phenomenal job of expressing the sinister aura of the text... -- <i>Jim Wentzel, Indy Magazine </i>
zlib_text: [Back](0743488210___3.htm) | [Next](0743488210___5.htm)  
  [Contents](0743488210_toc.htm)
  
  # **Chapter Four**
  
  "It's about time you were getting your lazy arse back up here."
  
  "And it's a pleasure to be seeing _you_ , too, Hurthang," Bahzell said mildly.
  He wiggled his ears gently at his cousinone of the very few warriors, even
  among the Horse Stealers, who was almost as massive and powerfully built as
  Bahzell himselfand grinned impudently.
  
  "All very well for you to be playing the japester . . . as usual," Hurthang
  growled as he threw his arms around Bahzell in a kinsman's embrace and thumped
  him on both shoulders. "But this time round, I'm thinking the midden's getting
  just a bit riper than any of us might be wishing. If you'd not turned up today
  or tomorrow, I'd've been shoveling the shah, dealing with it myself."
  
  His voice and manner were both serious, despite his obvious pleasure at seeing
  his cousin again. He gave Bahzell's shoulders another slap, then stood back
  and nodded a 