Death on the Trek (11 page)

Chapter 16

At dark time, Enga Dancing Flower lay on her pallet with a heaviness deep inside. Pains shot through her body, but the pain of her spirit was worse.

Ung Strong Arm left the side of Lakala Rippling Water and squatted beside her birth-sister to stroke her hair.
The color of sunset and leaves at the end of the summer
, thought-murmured Ung. Ung wiped the tears from the face of Enga with her wide fingers. At that, Enga had to give her a weak smile.

Tog Flint Shaper had been beside Enga when they first lay down, but had gone to help Vala Golden Hair with the unruly little Sooka. Bodd Blow Striker had been with Vala and Sooka, but had gotten up and was pacing a short distance away. Eventually Tog noticed that Enga was in distress and came to her. Ung left as he walked over to his mate.

He thought-spoke privately with Enga.
Are you in pain?

The pain is not very bad. My spirit is in pain, though. I am worried about our Elders.

Tog put his broad hand flat on her stomach, where their seed grew.
I can feel pains here. Your muscles are cramping. I will get Zhoo of Still Waters to give you something.

Enga grabbed his hand.
No, do not do that. There will be time enough to tend me after we are across the water.

Are you going to lose our baby?
Enga could see the dark shade of fear in his thought-speak. It made her happy that he was looking forward to loving the baby as much as she was. He was adept at dealing with Sooka. He would make a good parent.

No, no. I will not lose the baby.
Enga hid her doubt from him.

Tog curled up next to his mate and they took comfort in each other through the dark time, though neither slept much. At some time during the night, Mother Sky started sending bright spears down, lighting up the night sky, and giving out the rumblings she always sent with the spears. Enga hoped the rain storm was not coming toward them. Not until after they crossed the water.

When Sister Sun began her trip across her Mother Sky, she sent a beam onto the eyelids of Enga. Enga turned her head away from the light before sitting up and looking around. Hama and Zhoo of Still Waters were stirring. Everyone else slept.

At last, a bright red message from Hama went out, shot with the white-hot of a lightning bolt from Mother Sky.
Arise, Hamapa! We must cross the water. Mother Sky gathers her dark garments and will weep on us soon.

Enga looked up. Hama was right. Sister Sun still hovered close to her mate, Brother Earth, and shone clearly now. But she would not continue to for long. The most dark garments of Mother Sky, laden with water and growing more and more large, would soon crowd out the light. Mother Sky blew a cold breath from the direction of the cloud garments. She was telling them to hurry.

They all knew that if Mother Sky wept too much or for too long, this river could gather much water and rise out of its banks, even in this narrow place. They had seen that happen to the stream where they used to dwell, although their village was positioned so that it would not flood. This place was next to the water. It would flood if the water left its banks. That would not do. Not this day.

With much haste, Tog helped Enga stuff her things into her carrying pack, then he helped the others gather up the large dragging pack. The most strong males decided to carry it together over the stream, balancing it on their heads. Tog, together with Bahg Swiftfeet and the two Gata males, hoisted the pack and waded into the water.

Enga was dismayed to see that the water was higher than it had been the day before. Mother Sky must have shed tears upstream. The water had only reached the waist of young Jeek when he showed them the crossing. Now it swirled around the waists of the grown males and was growing more deep as they watched. All of the younger ones would have to be carried.

Tog returned to help Enga across, since she told him how weak she felt. He carried her pack and held her arm. She could feel smooth rocks and sharp rocks, some large and some small, on the bottom of the stream bed. Two times she slipped on a smooth one and Tog held her upright. It was a slow process, crossing the stream. She had to be careful where she placed her feet. The current seemed to be growing more strong also, making her and Tog lean against it to remain upright.

Hama and Hapa had three offspring, Gunda, and two younger girls. Those were of eight and ten summers. Hapa was able to carry each one across, one at a time. Cabat the Fat was then helped by Tog. Cabat was old and not steady on his feet. Sannum Straight Hair carried the two small offspring of him and Ongu Small One. Fall Cape Maker, the tall Gata, carried Ongu since the water would have covered part of her face. The river was now up to the chests of the males. It grew ever more deep.

The tears of Mother Sky, at first soft and gentle, beat down more and more hard and fast. The wind blew cold. Those who had crossed and were wet shivered on the other shore. They would not have the heat of Sister Sun to warm them or to dry their clothing and did not know how long they would be so cold.

One by one, the others continued to cross, some helping others, some carrying the loads of others, until a roaring, rushing sound was heard. They all knew what that meant. The ones who had crossed gathered everything and ran away from the water.

Enga hoped those still on the other side would be able to outrun the flash flood also. She did not have time to see who had crossed and who had not.

When they had all gone enough distance to reach a high enough spot, they stopped.

Enga looked behind her and saw trees and brush that had grown alongside the stream being torn out and swept along, with chunks of mud being washed from the banks. The torrent looked angry. Were the Spirits still not pleased with the Hamapa? What more could they do? Enga did not think she could dance another step.

Who is not here?
Hama asked.

Zhoo of Still Waters thought-spoke,
My birth-son, Teek Bearclaw, is not here.
Jeek puckered his face and looked about to cry. He was frightened for his birth-brother.

Ongu Small One and Sannum Straight Hair both reported that their son, Mootak Big Heart, was on the other side. He had been helping with the very old and very young ones. They clutched the hands of their two younger sons as they conveyed their messages.

After accounting for everyone else, it was decided that Panan One Eye and Tikihoo had been left stranded, as well as a few who had returned to help them. These were Hapa, Mootak Big Heart, Teek Bearclaw, and Fall Cape Maker.

Hama shot a message to the stranded ones.
Have you all made it to safety?
She named those who were missing.

Hapa answered and told them that, indeed, those people were the ones with him. They were all safe for now. They had gone to a dry rise, past the woods, which was now filled with flowing swift water.

The water will be too high for you to move until next sun
, Hama thought-spoke.
Do you have any meat with you?

Tikihoo carries a small bundle with some dried meat.

We will wait here until it is the right time for the rest of you to cross.
Hama motioned them to make camp where they stood. They were unsheltered, but it would be good to remain close enough so that they could keep watch on the river.

The dark time stretched out more long and more dark than most of them that Enga could remember. Since Panan was not there, Vala, with Sooka, nested next to Bodd Blow Striker. Enga huddled with Tog and also with Ung and Lakala for warmth. Others clung together, wet and quaking with cold, waiting for first sun. Enga hoped the water would go down by then, but she could hear it rushing as the rain continued to fall on them and into the waterway. What had been a narrow stream, now was a rushing river.

Chapter 17

When the water at last receded enough for the others to cross, two suns had passed. Their clothing had dried during the first sun.

Enga Dancing Flower worried about the crossing of the others. The water was again low enough to wade through, but it would be hard to see the way. The water was not clean. But also, Mother Sky and Sister Sun worked together to warm the air so quickly that thick mist rose from the river. Enga could not see the other side. The mist spread a dense fog out from the water until they were all enclosed by it. Their dry clothing was getting wet once more.

Hama had communicated with Hapa, though, and they had decided the others were going to cross over, with some help.

The banks were both littered with branches, tree roots, and piles of brush, up to the flood line where the water had reached. Most of the Hamapa who had already crossed stayed where they were on the rise, but a few made their way through the debris to the edge of the water, disappearing into the whiteness. Hama called Sannum Straight Hair, Tog Flint Shaper, and Bahg Swiftfeet to come with her in case they needed help, and then picked her way through the fog and the debris. As they left, Vala Golden Hair grabbed Sooka and trotted after them. Enga thought she must be concerned about Panan One Eye. Another thought occurred to Enga. Vala might want to greet Panan and claim him, since he had now been with Tikihoo for two suns. How would Bodd Blow Striker feel about this?

Hama sent back a steady stream of pictures, although Enga could see very little, mostly fog. The three Hamapa males stayed on the near shore. Fall Cape Maker sent a message that he would help Tikihoo first. As he crossed, he let everyone know that the river was more deep than it had been, but was still passable. It was not as swift as he had thought it would be.

It seemed like a long time until Enga could see, through the mind of Hama, Fall and Tikihoo emerging from the fog, wading the last short distance that was visible, and climbing the bank. They stood shivering from the cold water in the damp air, waiting for the others to cross.

Since Teek Bearclaw and Mootak Big Heart were both younger and might be frightened, Hapa decided to help them across. He would bring Teek first. He and Hama thought it best for them to cross one or two at a time, as they had done on the very first crossing. The path through the water where they could get footing among the rocks was not wide.

Hapa waded into the water and was lost to view as the whiteness closed in on him. Another long time passed until Hapa and Teek appeared. These were long-time members of the tribe, not like Fall and Tikihoo, so joy sprang from those around Enga, and from Enga herself, that they were safe.

Now only Panan One Eye and Mootak Big Heart remained to be rescued. Hapa said he would go back to help Mootak next. There was a long delay, more long than the other times, when Hapa did not send back anything. Hama shot questions across the water.
Is Mootak Big Heart all right? Are you all right, Hapa? Tell us what is happening.

At last Hapa thought-spoke to all of them.
Something bad has happened. I will bring Mootak Big Heart across and you can hear it from him.

Soon the sloshing was heard of Mootak and Hapa wading back. Hapa helped support Mootak, who was having a hard time walking. When they got up the littered slope, Hapa let go and Mootak collapsed amid the branches and mud piles left by the flood. His face was pale. Dirty tears streaked his cheeks. He swiped at them with a muddy hand. Mootak was small, like his birth-mother, Ongu Small One, but had the straight black hair of his seed giver, Sannum Straight Hair. That hair, wet and dripping, hung over his sorrow-laden face as he bowed his head.

Sannum knelt beside him and put an arm around the shoulders of his son.
Can you tell us what happened?

Mootak did not answer.

Panan One Eye is not there,
Hapa thought-spoke.
Mootak Big Heart was there alone. He cannot tell me what happened to Panan One Eye.

Let him rest a bit and give him some more time.
Hama knelt on the other side of the young man and stroked his hair.
Something terrible must have happened.

Thought-pictures of animals, or even Mikino, attacking Panan sprang into the mind of Enga. Or maybe, she thought, he got swept into the water and carried away.

Mootak looked up at last, and his eyes opened wide. He bent his legs and wrapped his arms around his knees, tight, and rocked back and forth.
It was a Spirit. A white Spirit. An evil Spirit.
He paused.

No one moved. The Hamapa all knew that evil Spirits existed. Those battled with the kind, ruling Spirits that the Hamapa acknowledged and praised and danced for. But they did not ever talk about them. Speaking of evil Spirits might draw them closer. They all held their breath, mouths closed, so that the evil Spirit would not enter into them.

Are you certain?
Hama asked.

Mootak nodded.
It was white all over. It came out of the mist and…and…
He started shuddering with such violence that he had to stop sending his thoughts. He squeezed his eyes closed, but they flew open again and he made a low whimper.

What did…it do?
Hapa thought-spoke.
Is Panan One Eye harmed?

He is dead! It struck his head with a rock. Over and over. With a large rock. Then it pushed him into the water and vanished.

Enga felt a wave of horror go through her tribe mates. Had Mootak seen a true thing? Or had the swirls in the fog looked like something else? If Panan was truly dead, she did not think a Spirit had killed Panan. A person would look white from a distance in this mist.

Soon they all returned to the rest of the tribe. All but Hapa. He went back across the water to find Panan. By time the wet people had all been wrapped in what extra garments and skins that could be found, Hapa was on the other side. He sent a message for someone to help bring back the body of Panan.

He did not send a picture. Instead, he used thought-speak only.
I did not have a hard time finding Panan One Eye. He is floating near the shore, caught in the roots of a tree that washed away in the flood. His life has left him, as Mootak Big Heart said. His head has been smashed and a rock lies near him, higher on the shore. It is covered with his Red. I do not think a Spirit did this. They do not lift rocks and attack with them.