Tuksook's Story, 35,000 BC

by Bonnye Matthews

  “Yes, please, Taman. I want to learn it very much.” Toagrurt did want to learn. He’d been barred from hunter training in the past. He had a chance to catch up with the skill of others his age.

  “Good. Then, I’ll carry you to the place in the meadow where we have a practice area set up. Remember, People keep going even when they tire. Push to learn all you can while you are practicing.”

  “Thank you for this opportunity. I will learn to make the best of this.”

  “Good,” Taman said and lifted the boy. He carried him to the log he had positioned for the boy to lean against. It was off angle to the hanging sphere, and it was designed for a left-handed slinger. Taman had observed Toagrurt long enough to know that Toagrurt favored his left hand. Ren welcomed him and immediately introduced him to the hanging sphere, which would be his target, and the round pebbles. Then she began to introduce the slingshot. While she talked to Toagrurt, Taman left. Ren was great with children.

  “Now, Toagrurt, watch what I do and how I do it. I’ll throw five pebbles, and then you’ll begin.”

  Ren showed him how she put on the sling. It was a single strip of leather. The far thin end had a hole into which she inserted her middle finger. The other thin end had a tiny knot tied in the end. Ren showed him she held the knot between her index finger and her thumb, pinching it to hold it. She explained that letting go of the pinch was how the pebble was released. Ren put the round pebble in the wider center part of the sling. “You hold the pouch out from your head and as you release you swing the pouch up and back to the front in a great circle. I stand off to the side, so I’m not face-to-face with the target. Then when the time is right, I let go of the pinched strip and the pebble flies out stronger than I can throw it. Watch.”

  Ren demonstrated twice, hitting the target with a thud each time. “Any questions?” she asked.

  “Not yet,” he replied.

  Ren showed him three more times, hitting the target each time again. “Any questions?” she asked.

  “I see you step forward when you throw. I don’t think I can do that.”

  “That forward step just adds more power to the throw. You don’t need to do what you can’t do. You can learn well how to use the slingshot without that step. Later, when your bone heals, you can add that for more power.”

  “Now, you try it. Remember, at first you’ll be all over the place with your pebbles until you learn when to release them. Don’t worry about how well you do, learn from where your pebbles go. Keep your eyes on the target until after you release the strip between your fingers.”

  Toagrurt tried several times and, just as Ren warned, his pebbles were all over the ground in different places.

  “I am not very good at this, Ren,” he confessed.

  “You’re as good as anybody I’ve ever seen,” she replied. “It takes sometimes a whole moon for young hunters to hit the target for the first time. That’s considered normal.”

  “That long!”

  “Yes. This looks so simple, but you have to train your arm and your whole body along with your mind web to learn it right.”

  “I’ve watched women take slings to the lake. They would hide in the grass. Quickly, they’ll rise and release a stone from the sling to kill a goose. It looks so simple.”

  “Well, it’s not simple until you’ve been doing it for years, and then it feels as if it’s part of you. You can kill a deer with one of these things.”

  “Like a giant deer?” he asked.

  “I don’t know whether anyone ever killed a giant deer with one, but back in the old land, People killed smaller deer with these all the time. They could throw from a distance farther than they could spear the deer. It let them kill more deer at one time than spearing would.”

  “I understand. Ren, you are making it sound like every hunter can do this.”

  “It is a basic hunter skill. It teaches you to use your body as a unit with a purpose. That is what hunting is.”

  Toagrurt began to practice earnestly. He paid close attention to the timing and place in the arc when he let a pebble go and where the pebble landed. He cleared all things from his mind web but that, maintaining a focus that few children were able to hold. Just before the evening meal was called, Toagrurt hit the sphere once. He was thrilled. It was a feeling of achievement from hard work that he’d never experienced. He hoped all days would be sunny, so he could practice every day. He wanted desperately to learn this skill and to learn it well.

  When Item struck the rocks together calling for the evening meal, Ren congratulated Toagrurt on a good practice, and she went to join her family. After some time, Orad came to carry Toagrurt from the log to their place to eat. Orad said very little. Toagrurt wanted desperately to blurt out how well he’d done, but he had learned enough about the way of the People to know that would be seen as outrageous pride, so he remained silent. He was trying to learn what he needed to know. It was hard, but he had a stark terror of having to endure any more ill will from his People.

  After the evening meal there was a brief council. Tuksook told the story and there was nothing put forth by the hunters.

  Tuksook asked, “Is there anything to add?”

  Ren said, “I have something.”

  Tuksook nodded to Ren.

  “Today I spent time teaching Toagrurt to use the slingshot. He worked very hard to learn it and he was successful in hitting the target one time before the end of the day. I have never seen anyone work so hard nor have as much success in one day as he did. I look forward to continuing to work with him.”

  Older adults looked at each other silently but with surprise. Even Orad and Hustep exchanged glances, surprised that anyone would say those words about their first son. For the first time they had a spark of hope for the boy.

  Tuksook asked, “Is there anything to add?”

  “Yes,” Togomoo said.

  Tuksook nodded to him.

  “Hamaklob and I want to fish for sturgeon tomorrow after the morning meal. We could use two more to make the boat.”

  “I’d like to go,” Wave said.

  “Me too,” Anvel said.

  “Thank you,” Togomoo said without waiting for a nod from Tuksook. “Don’t forget to bring your fishing gloves. We’ve had too many People develop deep cuts in their hands from holding onto fishing lines when the fish wants to fight hard.”

  Tuksook smiled, “Is there anything else to add.”

  There was silence.

  “The council ends,” she said.

  Nal found Oneg as the meeting closed. He walked with her back to the bent tree house. Just outside the bent tree house, Nal asked, “Oneg, will you join with me?”

  “Yes, Nal. I would like to do that very much.”

  He smiled a smile she didn’t know he had. His joy was great.

  “When shall we do this?” Oneg asked.

  “Let us have Tuksook announce it tomorrow night and we can prepare the north part of the house so we’re ready to leave after the announcement.

  They kissed and went into the house, Oneg to the east part and Nal to the west part.

  Nal noticed that Tuksook had just entered the house. He went to her.

  “Wise One,” he addressed her.

  Tuksook realized he had something official in mind. Usually, he addressed her as “my sister.”

  “What is it, Nal?” she asked.

  “At council tomorrow, Oneg and I would like to join.”

  Tuksook grinned. “I am so happy. The two of you go well together. I’m happy to plan that for tomorrow night.”

  “Thank you, Wise One,” he said formally.

  “You’re welcome.”

  Gumui came in and was ready to end the busy day. Tuksook noticed and took his spears and placed them in the little space where he kept them. Gumui went to the inside food preparation place, not often used in the warm part of the year unless it rained. He took the dipper and drank some water, not enough to cause him to rise early but enough to quench his thir
st. He hung up his tunic, rolled into the sleeping place, and covered himself with a light skin.

  Tuksook sat on the edge of their sleeping place. “Are you well, my husband?” she asked.

  “Yes. Just tired from a day of hard work. I’ve been attending to roof work all day.”

  Tuksook smoothed the wet hair on his head. He took a shower before coming to the house, she realized. She felt his head to assure herself his body heat was normal.

  Oneg played her flute briefly, this time the tunes spoke of triumph, as if great things had happened and People were trekking around the center stone to celebrate. Not that the People had ever celebrated by trekking around the center stone. No one had ever heard her play such tunes.

  Her father, Pago, walked to her sleeping place and said, “Daughter, the music is not restful. It makes me want to stand up and trek. Please, if you play when People are going to sleep, make the tunes ones that are restful.”

  Oneg looked up with dismay. “I’m sorry, Father. I’ll put it away for this night.” She did, though her mind web was filled with the new tunes of joy.

  Toagrurt lay on his sleeping place. Never in his life had he experienced the feeling he had this night. He had worked hard with his body and his mind web to learn to throw stones with a slingshot. Never in his brief life had Toagrurt worked so hard. He had been delighted when he hit the sphere and thought he could repeat that the next day. Toagrurt had never experienced the joy of hard work. He’d also never experienced having to prevent his words from praising himself. When Ren spoke of his effort and success at the council, Toagrurt’s joy almost burst forth. So, that was the way of the People, he thought. Toagrurt had to admit that the way of the People was a good way.

  Loraz lay there in his sleeping place with Kouchu. She had fallen asleep. He thought back to Ren’s comments at the council. How he hoped that the boy would continue to grow in the way of the People. He didn’t like disciplining someone else’s child, but in this case there seemed no alternative. It exhausted him. But he saw the look on Toagrurt’s face while Ren talked. The boy was experiencing joy. Loraz wondered whether it was the first time he’d ever had that feeling. He guessed it was. He would keep a close watch on this child. For him to have hit the sphere the first day of learning was amazing. It meant the boy was giving it everything he could, no slacking, no lack of attention. Maybe this little child would develop into a seriously contributing member of the People.

  In the night there was another earthquake. It hit hard and made a horrible noise. It shook the bent tree house for a long time. Everyone stayed where they were, not knowing whether it was best to run outside or remain inside. After a brief time, which felt like forever, the shaking ceased. Much later there was a slight tremor, but nothing like the first. Pieces of the ceiling had fallen in little chunks throughout the bent tree house. Some ties were obviously broken. But the main structure still served as a solid shelter.

  Although Gumui awakened still not fully rested, he would spend the day repairing the damage from the quake. He was surprised that the damage wasn’t greater than it was. Nal, Nipe, Velur, and Guw offered to help. He had been trying to encourage younger People to help with this task. It was not easy for the older People to climb, tie, mud upside down, while hanging from the roof. For the young, it was a great challenge. If they fell, few would be hurt. If older people fell, the damage could be extensive.

  During the day little earthquakes occurred as was usual. The People fully expected that in a day or two the earthquakes would cease to be felt. This had been the largest quake they’d felt since moving to the meadow.

  Item was at the food preparation place when Tern came running to her. “Please, come. Enzuvel is in labor and is asking for you.”

  Item laid down the tools she had in her hands and followed the young man to the house. At the far end of the south part of the house, Enzuvel was still in labor. It had begun the night before. It was her first. Item wasn’t terribly concerned at this point. She watched the girl.

  “Enzuvel,” she called her to direct her attention, “Stop pacing and trying to push so hard right now. It’s not time for that. You’re working too hard.”

  “I just want it out of here,” she said breathless.

  “Tern, I want you to take her for a little walk outside,” Item said.

  That was the last thing Tern expected to hear. “What if the baby comes outside?”

  “Well, it won’t be the first that did. Enzuvel needs to move her mind web to something else. She’s pacing around like a trapped wolverine! Make her walk with a slow walk. Talk to her about other things.”

  “Very well, Item,” Tern said. He reminded himself he’d asked for help. That was the help.

  He took Enzuvel by the arm and led her from the house. Enzuvel didn’t want to go, but she’d heard Item, and she was obedient. The two went outside and began to walk. Tern planned on a walk around the perimeter of the meadow. He tried to stay on the walked down grass and avoid the tall grass of the perimeter’s edge. He wanted to be certain to avoid the mother of red rash plant.

  The day was warm and the sun was out in a cloudless sky. Enzuvel found that the walk was relaxing her, though she’d been appalled to think that walking was a good idea when Item mentioned it. She moved through the grasses. Her favorite feeling from grass was when the damp grass dragged across her ankles. It reminded her of walking in the eel grass at the ocean’s edge. It was a comforting feeling to her. Occasionally, a contraction would cause her to stop. Then, she’d go on as if it hadn’t happened.

  She and Tern saw Ren teaching Toagrurt to use the slingshot. They could see that he was becoming proficient. He was still in the splint, but he was hitting the sphere with regularity, even when Ren put a spin on it.

  “He’s going to think he’s learned it until she starts swinging the sphere,” Tern laughed. “Then, he starts all over again in learning.”

  “That’s true,” Enzuvel smiled and then grimaced.

  “Another one?”

  “Yes. They seem to be coming faster now. Not fast enough, though.”

  “I think you’re doing fine,” Tern said, unable to think of anything else but wanting to be supportive.

  A fishing boat returned from the day’s travel. The meadow became busy with different groups of People preparing to tend to the function they had for returning fishing boats. Hawk walked to the area where he could see the arriving boats from the meadow. He could tell that they had a large sturgeon and numbers of smaller fish that lay in the bottom of the boat. The men started cleaning and beheading fish at the river’s edge. They sent the fish by young boys to the meadow where others opened the fish and decided whether the fish went to the drying poles or the smoker. Women would come from the food preparation place to see whether any of the fish were likely products for that night’s evening meal.

  Tuksook walked to the southwestern part of the meadow. From there she could watch Ren teaching Toagrurt. Tuksook was delighted to see how her little sister, Ren, was growing. The girl was a natural teacher. Children loved her. She encouraged them realistically, and Ren never missed a chance for a positive comment. She took care not to make her praise gratuitous, though. Each word of praise was earned, most of the time with difficulty.

  Item hit the rocks together calling for the evening meal. All hurried to the food preparation place. Orad came sooner to pick up Toagrurt to take him to the place where they’d eat. Toagrurt noticed that the closer his behavior came to the People’s way, the sooner his parents responded to him. In fact, the change was noticeable among the People.

  It was Loraz who noticed that Toagrurt was learning that the more his behavior fit the way of the People the faster People responded. Loraz had been waiting for that, for he knew that such understanding could be another way to manipulate the People. Loraz hated above all things manipulative behavior. He hated it because it was so far from Wisdom’s way and it could appear good, when it was deeply buried evil. He wanted to stop any chance that Toag
rurt’s behavior was just the opposite side of the evil manipulation he’d done before—being overly polite could be evil disguised.

  Loraz went to Orad and Hustep and talked to them about the change in Toagrurt. Both parents were thrilled with Toagrurt’s changes, but Loraz warned them of his concern. Hustep tried to minimize the need for concern, but Orad spoke up, “I see what you mean. Toagrurt has an excellent mind web. It’s just the kind of thing he’d figure out. What do you want us to do?”

  “I’ve seen both of you respond quicker to his requests, and I do see they’re requests instead of demands. Your responding quicker is the reason I’m concerned. You need to return to doing things at your convenience, even if you need to draw out your convenience longer than necessary. He must learn that he cannot use good to manipulate you or anyone else.”

  “Oh, I understand what you mean, now,” Hustep said, finally realizing what manipulation by good was.

  “Will you return to your caring for him at your convenience?” Loraz asked.

  Both replied, “Yes.”

  “This is something you need to do for the rest of time with him. You don’t race to tend to the other children. He should be treated no differently at all, except now maybe take a little longer to respond. To cure him will take years, maybe from now until he’s an adult. He didn’t become like this in a few days.” Loraz was tired. He still had other People to talk with about how they treated Toagrurt, starting now with Ren.

  Enzuvel hadn’t made it to the evening meal. She finally delivered a baby girl. By the time council ended and People began to come into the house for the evening, Enzuvel was cleaned up and the baby had nursed. All was well with the newborn.

  Vole, Wave, Momeh, Unmo, and Anvel decided to hunt a giant deer. They would leave early, before the morning meal. They were eager to hunt again. It was so easy to depend on the sturgeon, smaller fish, and sea aurochs. Each yearned for some roasted giant deer or some other four-legged animal that walked the land. They left before sunrise and headed north on the narrow ledge that skirted the rock face across the arroyo. They passed through the first meadow where a couple of horses grazed and headed for the larger lake filled land where few trees grew.