Death on the Trek (17 page)

What made Enga the most glad was that Tog told her he did not want to mate with Vala, or to be around her often. He felt bad for Sooka, and Enga did also, since Vala did not take the kind of care of the infant that Enga or Tog would. It was true, Sooka was more slow to do everything than normal, but she was a joyful little girl, easy to manage if someone paid attention to her. Vala grew very impatient and sometimes would stalk off and leave the baby sitting on the ground, alone and crying.

Enga learned that, much as Tog liked Sooka, though, he no longer liked being around Vala. Vala never thought good thoughts about anyone. She only schemed about what others could do for her. He told Enga that he was amazed that Vala was the birth-sister of Hama and birth-daughter of the most recent Hama. Her seed giver, Kokat One Ear, who was long dead, had been a kind and generous brother, although her birth-mother, the late Hama, had not been a nice person.

Still, neither Enga nor Tog caught any hints of dark, stray thoughts about the death of Panan One Eye.

Enga continued to comfort Tikihoo, who was, she thought, mourning the loss of Panan. He was the reason she had left her own tribe and joined them. If Enga could understand the sounds of Tikihoo, she thought she might find out that the Hooden female wished she had never left her people to join the Hamapa.

Enga wondered about one thing that Tikihoo did. She interacted, as well as she could, with most of the tribe members. But she avoided Vala Golden Hair. She helped out when she could, letting Enga lean on her when she felt weak, and helping the older members set up their sleeping skins at dark time. But she would not help take care of Sooka.

One time Enga had the infant and needed to step away to squat and relieve herself of her waste. Tikihoo was near. She had been helping Enga carry her pack. But when Enga handed Sooka to Tikihoo, the Hooden backed away, putting her arms out, showing her palms and shaking her head. She would not even touch little Sooka.

When Vala came near Tikihoo she trembled and Enga was sure she was frightened of Vala. Most of the tribe did not like Vala. It would be surprising if Tikihoo liked her.

Enga was glad that Fall Cape Maker was becoming friends with Tikihoo. They had mated several times and slept together most nights.

While walking one day, the tribe encountered a strange animal they had not seen before. It had a face rather like a beaver, but without the protruding teeth. It may have had a similar body, but that could not be seen beneath the hard-looking covering over all of it, including a tail that looked like it would do damage. The creature stood in their path, looking at them from small, hard eyes. Pointed ears poked up beside the hard, bumpy head cover.

Enga saw Jeek staring and peeked inside his mind while he was occupied. Jeek very much wanted to touch it to see what the shell felt like, but was intimidated.

Enga also took a few quick glimpses into the thoughts of Fall and Teek, who had been stranded with Panan. No shadows lurked. She even ventured into the mind of Hapa, but it was different enough that she still could not read the edges of it, where dark thoughts would be hidden.

Her attention went back to the animal. The beast was gigantic. It was as tall as one Hamapa and the length was that of two Hamapas. It took steps toward them on clawed feet that stuck out beneath the shell. The tribe moved toward it as a group, all wanting to poke it and feel it.

Tikihoo tugged at Enga and pulled, then she tried to pull Jeek away. She seemed greatly alarmed and waved her arms to get them to move away.

Enga was puzzled. The beast looked too large and heavy to move fast. She pointed at the animal, then turned her palm down with her fingers extended to make it look like the thing. She moved her fingers slowly and simulated plodding. Tikihoo shook her head. She pointed at it, then glanced one palm off the other, shooting one hand out to demonstrate that it was quick, Enga thought.

The others gave in and moved away. But Enga wondered how much meat was beneath that shell, and if there was any way to get to it.

One sun later, Bahg Swiftfeet and Tog Flint Shaper climbed a rocky outcrop to see what lay ahead. Soon they both sent urgent messages for them to all come up to the top. Enga, helped by Tikihoo, made her way up the steep, jagged climb and, when they were all there, followed the gaze of Bahg and Tog. In the distance, on a flat plain, two gigantic beasts with shells, like the one they had encountered, stood facing each other. The strange beasts swayed their heads back and forth and swished their hard tails. Then, almost too quickly for them to see, one pivoted and whacked the other in the neck with its tail. As fast as a flash of lightning, the attacker was far across the plain. The injured animal sank to the ground, Red pouring from its neck.

Enga looked at Tikihoo with her eyes and mouth wide open with amazement. Tikihoo pursed her lips and nodded. Enga wished she could ask Tikihoo how to slay these animals and whether the meat was good. But then she remembered that the awful-tasting jerky came from her tribe. If Tikihoo liked to eat them, Enga might not.

They scurried down, ready to continue, since their path would not take them near the battle they had just seen.

A small band of tall, thin males blocked their way. They stood frowning, arms folded across their chests.

Chapter 26

The Hamapa sent mental messages to each other that these were Tall Ones, like the male who had given the seed for little Sooka. That one, called Stitcher, had left the tribe before the child was born, so Sooka was the only one of them with the Hamapa now. Enga knew they would not be able to communicate with these any better than they could the Hooden. She could not tell if they were curious or hostile. The smell of their clothing was different, but their hair and bodies reminded her very much of Stitcher. In fact, Sooka bore a trace of the same odor. Maybe they smelled this way because they ate different foods, or because of the animals whose skins they wore. It was more likely that their bodies just smelled different, though.

The hides they wore resembled those of the galloping herd of horses they had spotted on their way to this place. At the same time, they were similar to Stitcher and Sooka, and yet different.

Tikihoo stepped up to them, showing no fear. She started spouting sounds that meant nothing to the Hamapa. The most tall one shook his head. The Hooden tried again and this time he smiled and answered with the same nonsense sounds.

Tikihoo could talk to the Tall Ones with sounds! That was wonderful. Enga Dancing Flower, along with the whole tribe, followed the exchange closely, not understanding any of the sounds. Tikihoo waved an arm at the Hamapa behind her, then gestured in the direction they had come from. She also indicated where they were trying to go.

Then she seemed puzzled at how to continue. She tried a few sounds, but the Tall Ones did not comprehend, shaking their heads again. Tikihoo motioned for Enga to come forward. She touched the mammoth skin garment Enga wore. Then she seemed to describe the animal it had come from, holding her arms out and looking up to indicate the size and drawing the tusks of the mammoth coming from her own mouth into the air.

The most tall one came next to Enga and also touched her mammoth skin. That seemed to convince him. He nodded at Enga and at Tikihoo.

Next, Tikihoo asked some questions. They answered, pointing in the direction the Hamapa had been heading.

Enga studied the one who acted as leader. She saw similarities between him and Sooka. Maybe Stitcher had been related to these. Their garments were held together with fine thread, stitched so that it held the edges of their garments together. That was the art that Stitcher knew also. Or maybe it was common to Tall Ones. Or maybe this was the tribe that had cast him out.

When they were finished, the Tall Ones stood aside and the Hamapa continued on their way. Tikihoo stopped them when the Tall Ones were out of sight. She touched the skin Enga wore one more time and pointed at Sister Sun. She held up all the fingers on one hand.

The Hamapa all understood that she was telling them how many suns they needed to go to reach the mammoth. Enga felt like stopping for a dance immediately, but Sister Sun was still high and they could travel much more before dark time. Joyful thoughts flew back and forth, thoughts of a big kill, plenty to eat, new clothing and new skins for their dwellings. The ones they had dragged and carried and worn for so long were thin and ragged now.

The large skin that held the spears and tools had holes in it. When two spears fell out, it had been replaced by the extra hide that Hapa had wanted to bring. Panan One Eye had argued against doing that, but when it came about that the idea of Hapa was a good one, he had not mentioned the argument.

There was an air of happiness when they camped at the end of the sun time. They knew they would soon see the mammoth herds.

Enga saw Tikihoo gesturing and nodding with Fall Cape Maker. Jeek was standing nearby. They seemed to be communicating. Tikihoo was agitated, worried looking, in spite of the happy news they had gotten through her that day. Enga wondered what was wrong. Jeek joined them and looked like he tried to follow the exchange, but looked puzzled by the whole thing.

Enga bedded down with Tog Flint Shaper at her side, more content than she had been in some time. She had felt much more strong today and had walked the whole way without assistance. For that she was glad. She sent a private message of thanks to Dakadaga before she fell asleep. She also included Aja Hama in her gratitude, rubbing her thumb over the belly of the carving, then putting it safely back inside her pouch.

Tog threw his strong arm across her and she drifted into a deep, happy sleep.

At first sun, she felt a disturbance in the tranquility that had prevailed last night. When she sat up, Tog was gone from her side. She spotted him running toward the foot of a rock bluff along with several other males. The pictures they were projecting were distressing.

She had to run after them to see for herself, though she could not yet run at her most quick speed. Soon the whole tribe was gathered. Enga pushed through her brothers and sisters to see what they all looked at. No one was transmitting thought pictures.

Lying on the ground beneath the cliff was a broken body, the legs and arm splayed out, one leg snapped into two pieces. It was hard to tell who it was, the head was so thoroughly smashed. But, from the darkness of the skin, it was obvious that this was Tikihoo. This body was that of the Hooden.

Enga looked up. She had to have fallen from the top of the cliff. But what would she have been doing up there?

Fall and Jeek stood together and it looked like they were exchanging private thoughts.

* * *

Jeek had seen a lot of terrible things happen to his tribemates. This was one of the worst. She was not a tribemate yet. She would eventually have become one, he was sure, but at this time she was a Hooden who was travelling with them. She had no role in the tribe and no mate except maybe Fall Cape Maker. It had once seemed she would be the mate of Panan One Eye, before he had been killed. By a ghost, if one believed what Mootak Big Heart related.

He thought hard, scrunching his eyes closed and picturing her gestures at the last dark time to him and to Fall Cape Maker. She had been trying to convey something to them, but neither had understood her actions. Had she thought she was in danger from someone and tried to tell them?

When he felt a finger poke his arm, he jumped, eyes wide open now. It was only Fall Cape Maker.

What was she trying to tell us?
Fall thought-spoke in a private color, asking the same question Jeek had been asking himself.

Jeek shook his head. He did not know.
Can we go over all of her actions and try to tell what she was upset about?

We can try. But I did not understand then. I may not ever.

Jeek pondered how they could do this. He suspected that whatever she was afraid of, or whatever person she was afraid of, had lured her up that cliff and pushed her off.
Let us climb to the top and see if we can tell what happened up there.

Do you think that is wise? If someone pushed her and the one who killed her sees us, we will be in danger.

Jeek thought-spoke,
It could be that she climbed up there by herself and fell. It could be that her people worship high places.

Jeek knew there were Sagas about that, even about people like the Hamapa who considered high places sacred. Where was Mootak Big Heart? He must ask him about that. The Hooden were not people like the Hamapa, but they were more alike them than some. The Tall Ones and the fierce little Mikino were more different.

He called Mootak over to join him and Fall.

Mootak Big Heart, could you recite part of a Saga about holy high places? About the ones who held them sacred?
Jeek asked.

Do you think Tikihoo was like that?
Mootak thought-spoke.
Did she go up there to be near her Spirits, and then get too close to the edge and fall over?

We do not know,
Fall answered.
But maybe hearing the details of a Saga of High Places will help us understand if that is what happened.

Mootak nodded. He raised his face to Mother Sky and closed his eyes, going through the Sagas in his mind.
There is a Saga of creation from Mother Sky. It says she sent bright thunderbolts shooting down until Brother Earth was born from them. Is that what you were thinking of?

Jeek shook his head.
Are there other Sagas about the high places of Brother Earth?

There is the Saga of the Creation of High Places.
Mootak started to recite.
In the most early times Brother Earth lay flat. He had no rivers. He had no low places and no high places. Sister Sun was not interested in him and she stayed with Mother Sky all of the time. She never came down to Brother Earth to be with him. Then Mother Sky got tired of looking at Brother Earth, all flat. She blew her hottest breath, then her coldest breath. Brother Earth got frightened and large hills erupted, spewing hot, melted rocks toward Mother Sky and Sister Sun. Sister Sun rejoiced. She liked the hot melted rocks. They were scorching, searing hot, like her.