Read Online Helix and the Arrival by Damean Posner - Free Book Online Page A

to Saleeka.
    I’m surprised to see a large rock in the distance. We haven’t seen a rock of this size since entering the high woods. It looks like it’s been placed neatly down onto the land from above – a glorious offering from the heavens, perhaps.
    â€˜Is that it?’ I say, pointing ahead.
    â€˜What do you think?’ says Saleeka.
    â€˜It’s huge,’ I say.
    â€˜Cave’s End is the last cave before the river and marks the beginning of the low woods,’ says Saleeka.
    â€˜The low woods! How did we get this far? I never agreed to go to the low woods.’
    Ug ignores my panic and says to Saleeka, ‘How do you know about Cave’s End?’
    â€˜Why shouldn’t I know?’ she says, with her hands on her hips.
    â€˜I did not think cavegirls came here, that is all,’ says Ug.
    Saleeka looks like her head is about to pop. ‘Why’s that, Ug? Because cavegirls are meant to be learninghow to slave over hot coals and look after screaming cavekids?’
    â€˜Ahem. Excuse me, both of you. Sorry to interrupt your most interesting discussion, but can we get back to Cave’s End?’
    Fuming, Saleeka stomps the short distance to the rock. Ug and I follow.
    â€˜So where’s the cave?’ I ask.
    â€˜Keep walking,’ says Ug.
    I walk past the rock, which is at least five times my height and the same in width, and follow its curve until I reach its far side. ‘I’ve found the entrance,’ I yell back, sounding like I’m the first one ever to discover it.
    The entrance is narrow. Ug, who is behind me, has to turn sideways to fit in. Once inside, though, the narrow entrance widens and slopes down as if it’s taking us underground. A short distance ahead, the cave expands into a generous cavern, which is almost pitch-black. I can make out the remains of a fire pit on the floor, with coals that look to be fresh.
    â€˜Cavemen have been coming here since the beginning of time,’ says Ug.
    â€˜And cavewomen … Or one cavegirl, at least,’ says Saleeka.
    â€˜You should not come here,’ says Ug. ‘It is a refuge for cavemen.’
    â€˜That’s funny. I didn’t see a sign out the front saying “Cave men only”.’
    â€˜Hey! Stop arguing,’ I say. ‘You’ll scare away all the wild beasts I’m about to hunt.’
    â€˜Come on,’ says Ug. ‘Let us leave.’
    We leave the cave and emerge into the light. Ug sits on a rock near the entrance and we copy his lead, finding a place to rest, eat and drink.
    Saleeka seems to have calmed down a bit. She asks Ug about hunting and what he’s caught lately.
    Ug’s face doesn’t show much emotion. ‘Just this and that,’ he says.
    â€˜What’s “this and that”?’ says Saleeka.
    â€˜You know … There was a poison-toothed tusk boar a few nights ago. But that was in the middle woods. Mainly I go to the low woods.’
    â€˜The middle woods! You hunted a poison-toothed tusk boar from the middle woods!’ I say, looking around.
    Saleeka slaps me on the arm to shut me up. ‘What else have you hunted lately?’ she says to Ug.
    â€˜Well … forest goats, trunk pythons, rock monitors, pantheras … Just the normal stuff,’ he says, picking some food out of his teeth with a twig.
    These creatures are almost make-believe to me. The main reason I can be sure they exist is because I’ve seen Ugthorn and Ug drag them into their cave after a hunt.
    Ug’s had enough of talking about himself. ‘Let us go – we need to keep moving,’ he says.
    Up and walking again, I can tell we’re definitely in the low woods now. A thick canopy of green covers us from above, and only occasionally does the sky peek out through the treetops.
    â€˜Stop!’ hisses Ug.
    Saleeka and I crouch behind him.
    Ug grabs a handful of my loincloth and pulls me close. ‘A