Read Online Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble (Noah Zarc, #1) by D. Robert Pease - Free Book Online Page B

twice. It was his pride that brought him down when they grew too heavy for him to lift. The beast you killed today was a mighty creature with immense pride. And now your father brings the proof of his son’s deeds.”
    She beamed as she watched the men struggle with the long, heavy, curved tusks.
    “There will be a great celebration tonight—in your honor, Noah.”
    “I didn’t do anything special.” My cheeks were burning. “I was just trying to keep him from hurting our ship.”
    “Not just the ship. Don’t think I missed what you did for me today.” She looked down, then up at me through long lashes. “You saved my life. I’ll find a way to repay you one day.”
    I turned away, not really wanting her to see the expression on my face.
    “Let’s go welcome your father.” Adina ran off toward the far end of the cave. I followed, as did nearly everyone else.
    Dad entered amid a sea of voices. He and the other men lifted the tusks into the air. Many were shouting, “To the hunter! To the hunter!”
    Dad shook his head and pointed at me when they set the tusks on the cave floor.
    “Remember, it was my son who felled the beast, all on his own.”
    The people around me turned.
    “He is a child,” a nearly toothless old man said.
    “A child with a great heart,” Dad said. “He has provided your people with life.”
    The crowd erupted in a cheer. Those nearest me lifted me out of my chair and onto their shoulders. They paraded around the cave, which made me feel weird. And then, for just a moment, I felt like everything was going to be all right.
    At last they sat me down in my chair and urged me to move toward the fire. The tusks of the mastodon were brought over and placed on the ground around me. Adina ran up.
    “You have the seat of honor. Whatever you need, I’ll serve you.”
    I grinned. “I wish Sam and Hamilton were here to see this.”
    “Do you want me to go get them?”
    “No, Dad says they need to stay and fix our ship, but maybe you can tell them the story. They’ll never believe me.”
    She smiled. “That I will do. The story of Noah the mighty hunter, hero to our people.”

    As the sun set, the valley darkened. People pulled bits of burning wood from the main fire and used them to light other small fires around the cave, and the whole place brightened. It was actually getting hot now, so I took off my coat. Adina ran it to the back of the cave and laid it alongside her things.
    She returned when the women tending the roasting mammoth announced it was ready. Adina carved the first piece and brought it to me on a flat stone.
    “The first meat!” she said.
    Everyone in the cave shouted, “The first meat!”
    I looked at the red steak on my lap. And looked—I’d never eaten real meat before. Adina smiled and nodded. I cut a small bite, lifted it into my mouth and chewed, felt the juice flow down my throat.
    And groaned in delight.
    “This is amazing!”
    Adina grinned. “I think I prefer deer, but mastodon is a close second.”
    After I began eating, Dad was given the second choice cut. Then the rest of the people lined up to receive generous portions of the mammoth.
    Adina sat next to me. “You’ve never tasted mastodon before?”
    “I’ve never tasted real meat before.” I finished another sumptuous bite. She looked puzzled.
    “How have you lived?”
    “I have plenty of different foods to choose from, but all our meat’s artificial.” The look on her face told me the word didn’t translate.
    “Artificial means man-made—um, pretend food. Like your doll—it’s not a real person, it just looks like one. Your mother made it.”
    “So you make your meat out of bones?”
    “No—well, I don’t think so. Actually I don’t know what it’s made of. That’s why I eat PB&J sandwiches mostly.”
    “Peebee anjay?”
    “Peanut butter and jelly.” I wiped my hand on my sleeve. “Up until now I’d have told you it was the greatest food in the solar system. You have to try