spinies

It wasn't much of a stampede, because the spinies were anchored tightly.

Christmas on Ganymede and Other Stories Greenberg, Martin H. 1990

Perhaps it was the spectacle of Jupiter doing the shimmy that steadied the spinies.

Christmas on Ganymede and Other Stories Greenberg, Martin H. 1990

The nearest spinies looked up as Olaf, bundled in fur and grotesque with attached oxygen nosepiece, approached.

Christmas on Ganymede and Other Stories Greenberg, Martin H. 1990

With a deep, shuddering breath, Olaf swung his bag over his shoulders, adjusted his beard and patted one of the silently suffering spinies on the head.

Christmas on Ganymede and Other Stories Greenberg, Martin H. 1990

However, spinies have no natural enemies, so they merely gazed at the figure with languidly disapproving eyes and returned to their crunchy but nourishing fare.

Christmas on Ganymede and Other Stories Greenberg, Martin H. 1990

He doesn't like to have his ears pulled, particularly when other spinies, including several unattached females, have formed a ring and are looking on.

Christmas on Ganymede and Other Stories Greenberg, Martin H. 1990

The other spinies made way for the Earthman with saddened expressions.

Christmas on Ganymede and Other Stories Greenberg, Martin H. 1990

His agonized screech of horror and despair brought the other spinies into full, if headachy, consciousness.

Christmas on Ganymede and Other Stories Greenberg, Martin H. 1990

And by the time the giant planet had shoved completely over the horizon, the curse of drink" which departs from the Ganymedan organism just as quickly as it descends-began removing itself from the spinies.

Christmas on Ganymede and Other Stories Greenberg, Martin H. 1990