Death in the Time of Ice (29 page)

Jeek gave a shrug and, when he could no longer hear Stitcher, resumed speeding back to the others in hiding.

Chapter 26

Ung Strong Arm held the spear like it was her own, even though it was shorter. She bounced it on her palms a couple of times, then sighted along the stick. She moved her arm back and forth, feeling the weight and balance. Then she scrambled over the mud pile that held the musk ox captive and led the charge. Enga Dancing Flower ran behind Ung, carrying one of the stolen spears herself. Enga grinned to see Ung running. Her leg was much better.

Sleeping in the open had been easier with more people. Enga felt safer. And the warmth of the collective body heat had warded off the frosty night air. Sister Sun sparkled today, but gave off less heat every day.

Their task was going to be easy. The frightened musk ox huddled together, protecting their young, in the narrow space at the end of the gulch. The sharp scent of their animal fear assailed them. Ung drew her arm back and waited until one of the oxen faced her. She held her breath, squinted, and let the spear fly. It flew true to the nearest female and pierced the center of her eye. The cow jerked her head up, lowed and stumbled, then fell onto her side, lifeless. Enga whooped. This was a fat animal. It would be welcome in the village.

Enga cocked her spear back and waited for the herd to settle a bit. They milled about, bawling and sniffing the fallen cow. A half grown calf presented his flank, then turned his head. Enga shot. Her spear tip glanced off the bone next to his eye, then went in.

Ung turned to her and smiled. Enga grinned back. This would be easy. Ung retrieved their spears from the dead animals while Enga distracted the herd, then the two continued to pick off more of them. When they had killed enough for the tribe, they dragged the carcasses slightly aside so they would not be trampled. With those out of the way, they ran to the side of the ravine and let the other oxen flee. They must not kill all of them or there would be no more of this herd. This herd would produce more babies who would grow large enough for them to eat.

The twins gave each other quick hugs. Then they trotted after the herd, signaling ahead to the others that the hunt had been a success.

Jeek, Sannum Straight Hair, and Lakala Rippling Water had been digging a trench so the oxen could get through and escape up the sloping side. As Enga and Ung reached them, the last of the oxen were pounding up the muddy hill, leaving an odor of feces and terror in their wake.

Now that we have the kill
, thought-spoke Enga,
how do we get it to the village?

You and Ung Strong Arm stay here
, answered Sannum.
Let Lakala Rippling Water and Jeek and myself go tell the tribe of your feat. We will return with hides and knives to cut and carry the meat and skins. You stay here to guard the kill until we return.

* * *

Enga Dancing Flower had never loved her sister more than at this moment. They were nearing the village, coming in triumph, bearing meat and fur skins. The males, including Tog Flint Shaper, lugged the hunting skins, piled with meat. Roh Lion Hunter, Ongu Small One, and Fee Long Thrower followed, their arms laden with fresh fur skins.

There will be a dance tonight
, thought-spoke Enga.
And I will dance my best.

Tog had tried to approach her when the males came to the gully to butcher the oxen, but she had avoided him. The way he had avoided her eyes when Hama accused her of coupling with Stitcher still stung. He was being persistent about trying to get into her mind, but she kept him out for now. Maybe later.

It was full dark time. Panan One Eye and Cabat the Thick stood at the middle of the Paved Place to officially welcome Enga and Ung back into the tribe. Roh Lion Hunter quickly joined them after she had put her bundle of skins down.

I cannot recall a time when this has happened
, thought-spoke Cabat.
A Hamapa does not come back from being expelled. But you two have saved the tribe for the Dark Season.

He fell back and Roh, Hama Dy, stepped forward. She gave Enga and Ung solemn nods, rattled the gourd of her office, and extended her short arms toward Mother Sky.

“Hoody! Listen! The Most High Female, Temporary, Speaks. Enga Dancing Flower is a true Hamapa. Ung Strong Arm is a true Hamapa. Dakadaga, bless Enga Dancing Flower. Dakadaga, bless Ung Strong Arm. Mother Spirit of the Sky, Dakadaga, bless the Hamapa.”

Enga noticed the tribe staring at Roh for delivering such a lengthy speech. Who would have thought she could do that?

Panan added his comments also.
We accept you back as Hamapa. We give you thanks for the bounty you bring.

At that moment a light snow began to fall from a dark Mother Sky. Her cloud garments usually started shedding these beautiful, cold, white flakes at this season. Brother Moon slept tonight, but the snow made it seem as though he shone on them.

Enga turned her gaze to Mother Sky, thanking her for letting them reunite with their adopted tribe. Her cool breath washed over Enga’s face, smelling clean.

Enga tried to feel sorrow that Hama was not awake, but could not. It meant that the celebration was unmarred by her bitterness and hatred.

This dark time, Lakala’s sweet voice led many songs. First, a Song of Asking for healing for the Hama, then a Song of Thanks to all the Spirits for the bounty, another of thanks for bringing all the lost Hamapa back, then one of sheer joy. Sannum pounded his log drum with exuberance, and Panan trilled on the flute, sending shrill music into the night sky, all the way to the Spirits.

As she entered the circle of dancers, Enga shot a look at Stitcher where he stood at the edge of the gathering. Vala Golden Hair stood near him, reaching her hand up to rest on his tall shoulder.

Enga danced until her feet were sore. Tog danced next to her but she ignored him until the end of the dancing.

Do you want me to walk with you to your wipiti?
he asked.

Why do you want to walk with one who has coupled with Stitcher? Maybe I should walk with him.
She turned and started for her dwelling through the thickening flurry.

You said you did not couple with him.

Did you believe me?
She stopped and looked straight at him for the first time that day. Snowflakes caught on his eyelashes and dusted his hair.

Tog focused on the ground between them.
I want to believe you. But I did know the intentions of Stitcher and he wanted to couple with you. And the Hama thought you did. It is hard to doubt the word of a Hama. But…

Yes?

This Hama has not proven herself a wise leader. She had been wrong about other things. She was wrong about you. I am sure of that now.
Tog raised his head. His blue eyes brimmed with unshed tears.
Bahg Swiftfeet and I were on our way to look for you when we were sent to look for Hama. Then we found her and could not leave.

A movement behind Enga made her whirl. Was someone behind her wipiti? Was Stitcher there again? She let Tog see her thought.

I cannot tell him anything,
she thought-spoke
. He does not hear that I want to couple with you, and not with him.

I will let him know,
answered Tog.
But I need to know for certain. You do not want to?

Enga smiled and showed Tog her dimples.
Of course not, doon-doon.

She shivered as soon as the thought left her mind, the term recalling the fate of Doon to her. She lifted a quick thanks to Dakadaga that she and Ung did not suffer the fate of Doon. Then she yielded to Tog’s strong and gentle and warm embrace.

* * *

Something woke Jeek from a deep sleep. At first he did not know where he was. He thought he was still hiding in the woods. But no, he was in his home, the wipiti of Zhoo of Still Waters, where he belonged, sleeping beside Teek. Zhoo was resting beside Hama so that she would notice if Hama awoke. Everyone should be sleeping now.

But something was not right. He sniffed the air, smelling the comforting odor of his fellow tribe members, all near. He listened and heard only an owl in the forest and loud snoring from the wipiti of the single males. The snow that had fallen all evening deadened most sounds. He put out thought-feelers, but could not touch anyone. All were asleep.

Then he singled out an odor. It was a familiar one, but was too close and did not belong here. Stitcher was very near. He did dwell in the next wipiti, but he was much nearer than that. The night was moonless, but the central fire cast a shadow on the doorflap. Jeek saw a tall, narrow silhouette. Stitcher stood motionless in front of the wipiti. He held something that had sharp points.

Jeek tried not to move, not to breathe. But his head buzzed. Something was very wrong.

He put out a quiet call for help. He called Enga Dancing Flower.

Chapter 27

Enga Dancing Flower received the call for help from Jeek. She puckered her brow. He would not contact her in the middle of sleep time if it were not urgent. She rose from her sleeping fur slowly so she would not awaken Ung. Then she remembered that Ung was spending this dark time in Lakala Rippling Water’s wipiti. Enga thought Ung might stay there permanently soon.

She wrapped her feet quickly and grabbed her worn mammoth cape. Pulling it around herself, she smiled to think that soon they would all have new musk ox capes. Females and males alike would be scraping skins for a while. And with full stomachs.

The brightness of the Paved Place surprised her. She had forgotten how the snow makes dark time light. Flurries drifted down, swirling on a gentle wind. It was strange how snow, such cold stuff, made her feel warm.

The embers of the central fire sputtered. Enga lifted her face to Mother Sky again and gave thanks that the fire in the Holy Cave had not gone out when the rear part of it caved in.

Then she hurried to Zhoo’s wipiti, where Jeek had summoned her.

He was standing outside, shivering.

Go put on a wrap
, she scolded.
It is too cold for your bare skin.

But look
. He pointed to the tracks, unmistakable in the new snow, that led away from his dwelling.
Stitcher was just here. Why is he sneaking around when everyone is asleep?

What was he doing?
She pulled Jeek close to her and wrapped her fur around him to stop his shivering.

I sensed him here, smelled him. Then, after I called you, I crawled to the doorway and saw him leaving.

But what did he look like? Was he distressed?

Jeek shrugged. He gave Enga the picture of Stitcher he had seen.

What was that, in his hand?
she exclaimed.
It looked like an antler prong.
It looked very much like the piece of caribou antler that had been used to stab Aja Hama.

Now she knelt to study the footprints in the snow. They were the size of the footprints that had been found outside Aja Hama’s wipiti, the footprints the Elders assumed Mikino made. Stitcher’s feet were slender, like those of the Mikino. Stitcher wrapped his feet differently than the Hamapa, though, and, unlike them, kept them wrapped all the time. The Mikino did not wrap theirs at all. Had he killed Aja Hama? But why would he? And he would have had to remove his foot wrappings at that time. Why would he do that? To disguise his footprints? Was he that clever?

But now the new Hama lay sleeping, unable to wake, here in this wipiti, tended by Zhoo of Still Waters. It seemed Stitcher was coming after someone. Jeek thought he might want to kill Hama with his piece of antler.

Should we follow him?
asked Jeek.
He headed for the Sacred Hill.

Enga wanted to follow him. But she could not make her feet move toward the Sacred Hill. That was where Stitcher had attacked her in the Holy Cave. Her mind worked quickly.

Go inside,
she told Jeek.
Get warm wrappings and come back out. I will summon Tog Flint Shaper. We will follow him together.

Tog arrived just as Jeek emerged from his dwelling, this time dressed for the cold breath of Mother Sky. Enga filled Tog in on what Jeek had told her. Jeek helped with his mental images of Stitcher.

Tog told them to wait and shut his eyes.

What on Brother Earth is he doing?
wondered Enga.

When he opened his eyes he smiled.
Stitcher is sad and is going to the Sacred Hill to weep, but he is not thinking of harming anyone. He may have been thinking of it before, outside this wipiti, but I have told him he must not.
He patted Jeek on the head.
Now you should both go and get some rest.

Enga’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. She snapped her jaw shut and told Tog to go back to sleep, that she and Jeek would follow.

Make sure that you do. It is not good to be out at dark time.

Tog ran back to his warm sleeping skin.

She turned to Jeek, her mind reeling.
He can thought-speak with Stitcher? How can that be?

Jeek chewed a thick hank of his hair. She could feel him thinking furiously, but not drawing any conclusions.
We must follow Stitcher by ourselves.

Enga ground her teeth, furious with Tog. And bewildered by him, too. Then she remembered Tog telling her Stitcher meant her harm. Did Tog know that or was he guessing?

She must see for herself if Stitcher was actually weeping on the Sacred Hill, if Tog could really tell that.

At this moment she trusted Jeek more than Tog. She was glad Tog had left and she and Jeek were free to discover what Stitcher was doing.