by Dan Arnold
“This is very disappointing,” Jake said.
“Why do you say that?”
“This isn’t as ancient as I’d hoped. Either this structure has been rebuilt over an older one, or it isn’t as old as the others.”
“That’s what I was thinking. But what we saw from the air is all around us. That little hummock over there is part of that path or road connecting all the other structures. The stones are low, silted in and overgrown. You can barely make it out on the ground. It would’ve taken centuries to do that. This whole complex is ancient. Don’t let this one circle of stone discourage you.”
“Thanks, Adrienne. I guess I was missing the forest because I focused on a single tree.”
“Right and we’ve seen hundreds of these structures from the air. It almost looks like they’re everywhere. There could be thousands—even tens of thousands of them.”
“I’ve heard there are more than that, maybe hundreds of thousands spread all across southern Africa.”
“Where did all the rocks come from? What type are they? I need to examine them more closely.”
Bending down, Adrienne reached for a dislodged rock which lay near her feet. Suddenly she jerked, staggering backward with her hands out in front of her face.
Alarmed, Jake grabbed her elbow to steady her.
“What’s wrong? Are you alright?”
“No, a snake, it spit in my eyes.”
Jake looked where she had bent down. He saw a loosely coiled serpent with its head raised about a foot off the ground. The flair of the hood and black and white stripes on the throat told him it was a cobra. He knew it was some type of spitting cobra, but which one? There wasn’t time to research that.
He helped Adrienne step farther back and eased her to a sitting position on the ground. Shrugging out of his back pack, he removed a bottle of water.
“Adrienne, we need to flush out your eyes. It may sting and you need to keep your mouth closed. There’s venom all over your face. I know it hurts, but look at me. Keep your eyes open. Ok, here we go.”
Jake wasn’t shy with the water. Each time Adrienne closed her eyes, he told her to open them. She was trying to claw at her eyes, so he had to bat her hands away from her face. He continued pouring and flushing until the bottle was empty.
“Listen to me. You’re OK. It hurts right now, but you’ll be fine. Give me your hands. Come on, up we go. You probably can’t see very well. Lean on me. I’ll lead you to the chopper.
Phillipe saw Jake and Adrienne approaching. Jake was giving the “spin it up” sign with his free hand. Phillipe knew it meant trouble.
As Jake got Adrienne strapped in, he instructed her to avoid rubbing her eyes. He looked at Phillipe and said,
“I think the nearest hospital with a landing pad is probably down in Pretoria. Can we make it there?
“Roger that,”
“OK, wait for me. I’ll be right back.”
Eleven
A night among the stars
Inapitak, the Khoikhoi shaman, fasted during his vigil. Although he only missed one meal, it helped him focus on the heavens. He neither ate nor drank, but stood in the center of a stone circle observing the lowering of the sun. He prayed to the god of daylight and warmth, asking that he be given insight as he observed the stars and planets.
As the last pink light diminished on the horizon he began to shake his rattle and dance, quietly chanting to himself. He had no idea he was being watched by a small, wiry man on the edge of the forest.
Seeing the Khoikhoi shaman was disturbing to the hunter/gatherer. It meant sharing this land with yet another group of interlopers. He’d seen these people before, farther north. They were many and they loved to be close together.
There were never many people in a group of San. The various bands of his people were mostly clans or extended family groups. They only gathered with other clans on special ceremonial occasions. The San had learned through much suffering to avoid other tribes and people. Theirs was a life of freedom and isolation from other people groups.
The San regarded the Khoikhoi in the same way they did the other recent arrivals, the Bantu people—they were slow travelers.
His own people were not tied to livestock or agriculture, so they could move without any delay. They wandered the land following migration patterns and seasonal fluctuations. They lived off the land, but called none of it their own.
Why the Khoikhoi shaman danced in one of the circles of stone, was a great mystery. The San avoided such places. Indeed, the San never returned to any encampment where someone died. These stone circles were constant reminders of death. In this place there would be many spirits watching the shaman dance. Sitting on his heels, the San decided to watch and see what the spirits would do to the Khoikhoi.
When full darkness descended, the moon grew bright, attempting to dominate the early night time sky.
The Khoikhoi shaman, Inapitak, paid little attention to the glowing orb on this night. It was weakened, showing only a sliver of itself. Soon enough it would fatten and create mischief, but in its present state he would not be harmed. The sun god alone dominated this cycle and season of time
Within an hour, his eyes were filled with the wonder of the celestial host. The heavens were filled with more lights than could be counted. He danced, praying for a vision. As he danced he began to see the gods arrange themselves in the grouping of brighter stars, forming constellations.
The shaman felt himself becoming one with the heavens. In his mind there was no beginning or end, just a vastness beyond human understanding, and he was part of it. He no longer felt the earth beneath his feet or the beating of his heart.
Shooting stars passed across his vision. At first he paid little heed because there were always some shooting stars at night. As the number began to grow, he became excited. This was a message. Surely it spoke of the gods descending from above. Soon there were as many stars falling as all the people on earth. They were cascading toward the top of a distant mountain.
At the edge of the forest, the lone San was observing the same phenomena, and he began to understand. That mountaintop was the place where the gods came to earth.
Twelve
One down, three to go
“The doctor says Adrienne will make a complete recovery. They’ve given her some medicated eye drops, something for the pain, and put her on antibiotics, just to be safe.” Jake informed Phillipe.
“That’s a relief. She gave me quite a scare. I knew it was serious. She didn’t make a single inappropriate remark or crack a joke the whole way here.”
“Yeah, it must’ve been horribly painful and frightening for her.”
“What kind of cobra was it?”
“Something called a Ringkhall. It was a beautiful snake. Now I feel bad about killing it, but I thought they would need to see what kind it was.”
“Well, maybe they did, but I didn’t. When you climbed into the chopper with that thing, I nearly wet myself. I was glad Adrienne couldn’t see it.”
“It turns out they didn’t need to know either. They treat this type of thing quite a bit. You never told me you’re afraid of snakes, Boudreaux.”
“Why do you think I fly around in helicopters?”
Jake chuckled.
“She’ll be out in a minute. I say we call it a day. How long will it take you to fuel up the chopper?”
“It’s a short hop over to the commercial aviation depot. I can have us back in the air in no time.”
“That’s good, she’ll need to rest. I want to get her into bed as soon as possible.”
“So that’s how you boys talk about me when you think I’m not listening.” Adrienne said, from the doorway.
Jake hung his head.
“Hey, Adrienne, am I glad to see you.” Phillipe said.
“I wish I could say the same, but I’m not even sure who I’m talking to.”
“Oh no! You’re not…”
“…Blind? No, but my vision will be a bit blurry
for a few more hours. Thanks for getting me here in one piece, Phillipe.”
“My pleasure, mon chere.”
“Oooh, I love it when you speak French.”
Phillipe chuckled.
“Yeah, LT, she’s going to be just fine.”
“I learned many things today,” Harry said. “I met a shaman of the San people. Those are the people the first Europeans called Bushmen. Evidently they’re the oldest inhabitants of southern Africa and the last of the hunter gatherers. Many were still living in the stone age only a century ago.”
“Wow, Harry. That’s fast work. We met an angry man and a frightened cobra. Can you top that?” Adrienne said.
“Maybe I can. The shaman told me this is the place where the gods made the first man.”
“Here at this hotel? Yep, that tops my story.”
Harry chuckled.
“No, he said it was up on a high plateau. Does that sound familiar?”
“Adam’s Calendar,” everyone spoke at once.
Harry said, “He called the place something I can’t pronounce. The San language is nearly lost to history. Very few speak it and it sounds really strange to us.”
“That jibes with what the custodian we met on the plateau said. Doesn’t it Adrienne?” Jake asked.
“Yes, he told us we shouldn’t go back to the calendar site. He said if we did it would anger the gods. I wonder if he was speaking of the same gods.”
“Well, there’s only one way to find out.”
“How’s that?” Phillipe asked.
Jake smiled and said, “We’ll go back up there and see what he has to say.”
Thirteen
An unlucky number
“Hello, this is interesting. Remember what I said about ferromagnetism occurring in rocks with a high crystalline content? Look at this.”
Adrienne was holding an old fashioned plastic compass. As she passed by the largest standing stone in the center of the calendar, the needle swung away from north.
“Here, Jake, you try it.”
She handed him the compass.
Jake walked a complete circle around the stone.
“Wow, that’s really interesting.”
Adrienne snorted.
“I think you’re kind of over reacting, Jake. Sure, a little ferromagnetism messes with your compass, but it’s not particularly significant.”
“Not to you or me, but for someone whose entire belief system is based on alignments of the sun moon and stars, it could be.”
“Maybe, if they had a compass. Otherwise I don’t see how they would even notice.”
“The Chinese were using magnetic compasses almost three thousand years ago. Who knows if they were the only people to do so?”
“I still say the magnetism was caused by lightning. There’s nothing mystical about that.”
“We’re trained as scientists. The people who came before us were the first observers of phenomena we take for granted. To them, it was mystical.”
Adrienne shrugged, conceding the point.
“Unless or until we do a study to determine the rate of mass movement of the surface material on this plateau, we won’t be able to determine the approximate age of the site. We know these stones are tens of thousands of years old, but we have no idea when they were put here.”
“Spoken like a true geologist.”
“That’s my thing, man.”
“I’m still trying to work out why they were put here.”
“That would have to be speculative at this point. Wouldn’t it?”
“Unfortunately, without a full blown archeological excavation, you are correct. The Nabta Playa site is some sort of tomb and worship center. We don’t know exactly what Gobleki Tepe is, but it may be a temple of some sort. We can’t rule out the possibility this site was a celestial observatory.”
The sound of approaching vehicles caught their attention. Jake looked to where their own four wheel drive vehicle was parked.
“I guess we’re about to have company,” Adrienne observed.
“Yep, let’s hope it’s just tourists or bird lovers.”
As the vehicles drove out onto the top of the plateau, it was immediately evident these visitors probably weren’t any kind of tourists.
Two light trucks with two or three men in the back of each skidded to a stop, slicing furrows on the soil surface. The men hopped out, trying to look menacing as they waited for their leader to emerge from the first vehicle.
When that man emerged from the truck, Jake wasn’t surprised to see he was none other than Dingane Gogo the self-described custodian of the site.
He looked around at the men with him and then pointed at Jake and Adrienne.
“I told you not to come back here. You have angered the god’s. Leave this place and never return or it will go badly for you.”
Jake smiled.
“You know, Mr. Gogo, I asked the Minister of Antiquities if there was a custodian of this site. He contacted the departments of wildlife, conservation, even the local government. None of them had ever heard of you. So, I don’t think you have any authority here.”
The man nodded.
“I see, well then, you have brought this on yourselves. I will show you what authority feels like.” He began rolling up his sleeves. The men around him spread out in a semi-circle among the rocks, facing Jake and Adrienne who stood with their backs to the precipice behind them. In all there were seven, rough, angry looking men ready to pounce.
Adrienne glanced at Jake, and said, “This is another fine mess you’ve gotten us into, Ollie.”
Fourteen
A city of cylinders
Nguli trotted along the path from his father’s kraal toward his great uncle Bhalele’s. Along the way he passed by the kraals of his father’s three brothers. His uncle Ghuto’s kraal consisted of a dry stone wall higher than his own head, surrounding five smaller stone walled cylinders topped with conical roofs made of reeds. Nguli knew three of those cylindrical buildings were huts for Ghuto and his two wives. One of the smaller structures housed his cousin Maluti, now an adult, but not yet married. The remaining circular structure was Ghuto’s storage building. It protected grain and perishable food items.
Each of the huts had an additional circular walled area on the inside. The outer ring of each hut was used for social interaction, cooking and the sleeping area for the children. The inner ring was for domestic and private interactions. The walled outer courtyard of the kraal was where the family goats were kept. Beyond, and between the kraals the land was terraced for farming.
Each kraal was unique in size, positioned within the village according to the social status of the occupants. Just as in all the other villages, each family tried to improve on the design of their father’s kraal and land holdings.
Nguli was too young to appreciate that he and his family enjoyed the best position of any family in the village. Because his father was the principle man, his family dwellings were on the edge nearest the river. This closer proximity meant less time traveling back and forth hauling water and doing laundry.
Outside the village, lions and other predators were a constant threat to livestock and children. Lately, word had reached them of another people group attacking and carrying off women and children.
Nguli found Bhalele sitting in the shade of his veranda.
“Ho, Great Uncle, it is I, Nguli, the son of Kutoasa. My father sends his greetings and asks you to meet with him and the other elders at the central kraal. Will you come?”
The old man nodded.
“Ho, Nguli, son of Kutoasa. You, who are my brother’s grandson, help me to my feet. Yes, I will come. Hand me my spear, boy, so I may lean upon it.”
Traveling to the central kraal was arduous for Nguli. Because of Bhalele’s advanced years, he was a slow mover. Each time Nguli dashed ahead of him, the old man would chastise him and make him come back to walk slowly beside him. When they eventually neared the ceremonial circle, Nguli couldn’t stand it
any longer. He raced away, ignoring the old man’s complaints.
The central kraal was nearly filled with warriors and other important members of the village.
Nguli found his father sitting in the seat of judgement.
“Ho, father, I have brought Bhalele, just as you commanded me.”
“Where is he? I told you to ask him to join us and aid him in the journey. I don’t see him here?”
Nguli gulped, his eyes searching the crowd for his Great Uncle. The boy was terrified. If he failed to perform in his duty, his father would beat him in front of everyone assembled in this place.
“There he is, father. He stands with the other elders.”
“Ahh, so he does. It is good. Be off with you now, this is no place for children.”
Nguli couldn’t hide his disappointment, but he dared not anger his father. It would not do to have the principle man’s son behaving badly in public.
“Yes, father, when you come home, will you tell me what happens here?”
His father waived him off, indicating he had no time to discuss the matter.
Dejected, Nguli dragged his feet as he walked around the crowd to exit the ceremonial circle.
Fifteen
In certain circles…
Dr. Jacob Walker raised his hands.
“Hang on a minute, Mr. Gogo. There’s no need for violence. I told you the local government has no idea who you are, but I do.
Dingane Gogo stopped is advance. His men glanced back and forth at each other.
“Who do you think I am, Dr. Walker?”