Read Online Death on the Trek by Kaye George - Free Book Online
Authors: Kaye George
Tags: Mystery
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because she was captivated by them. Gradually, she noticed the sound of running water. A small stream made its way down the highest of the series of hills that stretched behind the village. The hills held patches of large trees.
These people were fortunate to have the caves for their animals and also to have water nearby. Enga was stabbed in her chest with a pang of longing for the village they had left behind. It had been perfect. The nearby Sacred Hill had held the Holy Cave where females went to give birth. That cave was where she and Tog Flint Shaper had their First Coupling. That was where the permanent fire was kept. Also young females went to the Holy Hill when they showed the first Red Flow and were becoming adults.
And the Aja Hama had been buried on the Sacred Hill. Most members of the tribe were exposed on a large flat rock far outside the village and given back to Brother Earth and the animals. But Aja Hama had been a special leader, most wise and kind, and had been given a burial. Enga ran her thumb and forefinger over the smooth carving of her that was in her waist pouch.
Then she shook herself out of her longing for something that would never be again and returned to the village with slow steps.
Panan One Eye sat next to one of the tall females. He was letting her stroke his bald head. She wore a wide wrist band made of stone, which slipped up and down on her arm. None of the dark people were bald, as Panan was, so this, Enga was sure, had to be something new and strange to them. Both Panan and the female smiled as she stroked his smooth pate. Were these two going to mate?
The stone band on her arm was beautiful. It looked like it had been shaped and polished. No stone could be that shape by itself. Enga wondered how that had been done.
Enga was interrupted in her thoughts by Hama sending a bright red public message to the tribe. These people should be called Hooden .
This seemed like something that Hama would usually tell them in a Pronouncement. She understood why Hama did not want to make one here, in this place, in front of these people. So the thought-speak message conveyed the official name of these people. Hooden. Enga liked the name. It suited them and their speech.
Some of the Hamapa were discussing whether to stay here or to journey on. Hapa and Panan One Eye, the male advisors, called Hama to them. After some private discussion, the three Elders decided they should stay one more dark time, then continue. During that day, most of them rested, still being tired from the long journey with so little food. Once again, as dark time approached, the Hooden shared much food with them.
Enga saw that other females wore the same stone bands she had seen, and many males wore feathers and shells in their hair. This was new to Enga. The Hamapa often braided shells into their hair, but had never used feathers.
At first sun, Hama sent a message that they should go soon.
Enga told Ung Strong Arm and Lakala Rippling Water, who were near, about the stream she had seen, sending them a picture of the water flowing near spruce and hardwood trees on the hills.
Ung gathered some others and they climbed the hill to fill the water gourds in case there was little water where they were going.
The Hooden seemed to understand that the Hamapa were leaving. Their females scurried into their huts and emerged with animal skins. They thrust these at the males.
What is inside ? asked Enga of Tog.
He unbound the thong that held the new parcel closed. It is much more of the meat we have been eating. It is dried, but it smells the same.
When they all realized they were being given such a precious parting gift, Hama told Tog to give them some of his finely shaped spear heads. But the Hooden did not know what they were and gave them back. Maybe, since they ate the caged creatures, they did not hunt any other animals. Hama then reached into her own pouch and produced some thongs strung with river shells and tiny bird bones.
These people were fortunate to have the caves for their animals and also to have water nearby. Enga was stabbed in her chest with a pang of longing for the village they had left behind. It had been perfect. The nearby Sacred Hill had held the Holy Cave where females went to give birth. That cave was where she and Tog Flint Shaper had their First Coupling. That was where the permanent fire was kept. Also young females went to the Holy Hill when they showed the first Red Flow and were becoming adults.
And the Aja Hama had been buried on the Sacred Hill. Most members of the tribe were exposed on a large flat rock far outside the village and given back to Brother Earth and the animals. But Aja Hama had been a special leader, most wise and kind, and had been given a burial. Enga ran her thumb and forefinger over the smooth carving of her that was in her waist pouch.
Then she shook herself out of her longing for something that would never be again and returned to the village with slow steps.
Panan One Eye sat next to one of the tall females. He was letting her stroke his bald head. She wore a wide wrist band made of stone, which slipped up and down on her arm. None of the dark people were bald, as Panan was, so this, Enga was sure, had to be something new and strange to them. Both Panan and the female smiled as she stroked his smooth pate. Were these two going to mate?
The stone band on her arm was beautiful. It looked like it had been shaped and polished. No stone could be that shape by itself. Enga wondered how that had been done.
Enga was interrupted in her thoughts by Hama sending a bright red public message to the tribe. These people should be called Hooden .
This seemed like something that Hama would usually tell them in a Pronouncement. She understood why Hama did not want to make one here, in this place, in front of these people. So the thought-speak message conveyed the official name of these people. Hooden. Enga liked the name. It suited them and their speech.
Some of the Hamapa were discussing whether to stay here or to journey on. Hapa and Panan One Eye, the male advisors, called Hama to them. After some private discussion, the three Elders decided they should stay one more dark time, then continue. During that day, most of them rested, still being tired from the long journey with so little food. Once again, as dark time approached, the Hooden shared much food with them.
Enga saw that other females wore the same stone bands she had seen, and many males wore feathers and shells in their hair. This was new to Enga. The Hamapa often braided shells into their hair, but had never used feathers.
At first sun, Hama sent a message that they should go soon.
Enga told Ung Strong Arm and Lakala Rippling Water, who were near, about the stream she had seen, sending them a picture of the water flowing near spruce and hardwood trees on the hills.
Ung gathered some others and they climbed the hill to fill the water gourds in case there was little water where they were going.
The Hooden seemed to understand that the Hamapa were leaving. Their females scurried into their huts and emerged with animal skins. They thrust these at the males.
What is inside ? asked Enga of Tog.
He unbound the thong that held the new parcel closed. It is much more of the meat we have been eating. It is dried, but it smells the same.
When they all realized they were being given such a precious parting gift, Hama told Tog to give them some of his finely shaped spear heads. But the Hooden did not know what they were and gave them back. Maybe, since they ate the caged creatures, they did not hunt any other animals. Hama then reached into her own pouch and produced some thongs strung with river shells and tiny bird bones.
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