“We need eight of you to carry Sato!” Anna hollered. “One of you needs to guard the front, one on each side, and one in back. I’ll walk behind you as rear guard. Keep hollering, screaming, and shouting! Takosund dislike noise. Carry Sato gently, at a fast walk. If anyone sights a takosund, you run. Make sure Dasie signals you across the walkway. Otherwise, the field will electrocute you.”
They picked up the stretcher. They screamed. They hollered. They walked very fast indeed. Anna trudged along behind them dragging an ugly misnamed snake. She sweated. She strained. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. She cursed much more inventively than Sato.
Anna screamed. “You’re just an overgrown, ugly, misbegotten snake.” The stretcher bearers reached the ramp. “Takosund, you’re slime! I’m going to stuff you down a processor hole. I’m going to cut you up into steaks and broil you. I’m going to fry you up and serve you with tea.” When Anna got halfway down the ramp she realized that if they got attacked she was basically useless because of the rope around her pack frame. If a takosund attacked, the dead one held her tied in one place. She’d need to shed her pack to get lose and the pack held half of her knifes within its built in sheaves. Dumb! Stupid! Idiotic! Anna smacked herself in the forehead with the palm of her hand. “Duh... You dunce! You’ve got knifes, cut the rope if you need too.”
Sweat dripped off her by the time she managed to drag the takosund across the walkway. She stopped and untied the rope from it. She quickly shrugged out of the pack, cut the rope behind it, and retied it with a slip knot. Now, she only needed to pull on the end to release herself.
The stretcher-bearers were already halfway to the processing room when Anna turned to Dasie. “Wait for me. I’m going back for the other one.” Dasie nodded and she ran. She wanted off this level and out of this garden. But, the thought of leaving that takosund behind galled her. She never wanted to leave an easy meal for those monsters, especially not when her friends desperately needed the meat. They needed the protein from these takosunds now. And she felt determined to get it for them.
Anna quickly tied the rope around the takosund. She pulled. She grunted. She gasped. She swore. “You look smaller. Why the heck do you feel heavier? Stupid takosund, did you stuff your belly with rocks?” She yelled as she reached the top of the ramp. The takosund jerked hard, tugging her off her feet. She landed on her knees with a curse. She yanked the slip knot lose and whirled.
A smaller takosund wrapped around the dead one, trying to drag it off. Anna’s temper exploded. “Darnation! I just dragged that sucker all the way over here and you think I’m going to let you take it back.” She screamed as steel flew. Anna jumped up and ran the ramp rail, throwing as she went. She leapt over the takosund hitting it with her tomahawks. As she started to land, the tail section gave her a solid whack.
Anna flew backwards, cursing. She landed in a reverse somersault mowing over a small gesar bush. She came up slinging steel. Finally, the takosund stopped moving. Anna walked a cautious circle, looking and making sure no nodes remained intact before she approached. She pulled out her tomahawks and had to wipe them clean on the gesar bush. She grabbed the rope, retied it, and pulled the takosund down the ramp, cursing once again.
Anna yelled across at Dasie. “Shut down the field.” He held his hand out. She waited for him to motion her across. When she pulled the second takosund across, she turned to Dasie. “Keep the field down.” She ran back across, up the ramp, and tied the rope to the last one’s tail. She dragged on it hard and fast to get it across. “Okay Dasie, turn it back on.” Anna waited until he smiled and nodded, before she went down onto her ass in a graceless thump.
Dasie rushed over. “I will get a medic for you?’
Anna shook her head. “No, just give me a couple of minutes. Can you find something to wipe my blades on? If I put them away bloody; they’ll stick in the sheaths.”
“I will be right back.” He trotted off. He runs well, Anna thought idly. Nice strides, smooth and solid, thankfully, he possessed sharp eyes and courage too!
The whole processing crew came back with him. Jatlo and Shalo helped pull and clean her knifes. “How is Sato?” Anna asked.
“The healers say he’ll need a month or more to heal. But, he will heal.” Jatlo said as he passed Anna a blade.
“Is Brema going to be okay?”
“He’s already healed and resting. He lost a lot of blood and needs to stay out of work for a couple of days.” Shalo said.
Anna sighed in relief. “We need to get the ropes out of the supply closet and drag these things in.” Shalo dashed off.
“Pealo, as the eldest on the crew, newest crew member, pack-runner Wolfe, asks. What is the traditional way to process takosund?”
“Traditionally, the hunter makes a presentation of the body to the Phsatorae on the bridge. The Phsatorae decides how to divide the meat and where it’s most needed.” Pealo bowed to Anna. “The hunter is honored.”
Anna returned the bow and grinned. “This hunter feels glad to be alive.”
Shalo returned with the ropes. They all helped drag the takosund into the processing room. How the heck, could they get them to the bridge? Anna looked at the center station. The carts were back. Hmmm… that might work.
It took twelve carts tied together for each big one and eight for the small one. They grunted and groaned as together they lifted the takosunds onto the carts. Anna felt like curling up in a ball and sleeping for a week. Everyone she looked at wore huge grins as their eyes twinkled brightly with golden flecks. It dawned on her that for thirty-nine annuals the Golsidans had lived as unwilling vegetarians.
Now, splayed out in front of them lay enough meat to stuff the whole crew silly for months. Anna smiled back at them and thought longingly of a prime steak grilled in butter. Her mouth watered. Her stomach grumbled. She looked at the takosunds doubtfully. They must taste better than they looked. Otherwise, the Golsidans wouldn’t be so happy.
They netted the takosunds down to keep them from sliding off the carts. They headed for the bridge. Anna thought they looked like hell, marching down the hall with those carts. She pulled on a rope tied to the front one. Blood and dirt covered them. And she wore a pack system over a sports bra. What a fashion statement!
But, to the Golsidans they looked different. Jatlo started a chant. “Takosund, takosund, we eat takosund. Takosund, takosund...” Soon the whole crew joined in. Doors opened along the hallway, people glanced out. They cheered, chanted, and came out to help push.
Finally, the bridge doors stood in front of them. Jatlo ran forward and hit the release so they didn’t have to stop. Anna got pushed in by the carts shoved forward by a mass of chanting people. She threw back her head and laughed. She pictured the headline. Takosund hunter crushed by carts pushed by enthusiastic crowd.
Everyone stopped chanting. The bridge guard looked at the carts and ran off. A moment later, the Phsatorae rushed in followed by a crowd of Elders.
“Takosund!” He said reverently. He looked at the crowd. “Hunter, stand forth!”
Anna leaned back towards Shalo. “I didn’t hunt them. They hunted me.” She whispered. He shoved her hard. Anna swayed and glared at him. Then, the whole processing crew rushed her and pushed her forward.
The Phsatorae looked Anna up and down. “Who pulled the knifes?” He demanded. Jatlo and Shalo stepped forward. “Who witnessed?” He shouted. The processing crew stepped forward. “Who witnessed the throwing of knifes?” The Phsatorae called out. “Stand forth, witnesses!”
The crowd parted. Liso and Tava walked forward. “I stand witness for Brema. He touched my mind. I saw what he saw.” Liso stepped up to stand beside Dasie.
“I stand for Sato. I read his mind.” Tava stepped up next to Liso.
“I saw the hunter, do this.” Dasie called.
The Phsatorae gestured at the three takosund. “Whose knifes did this? Who threw those knifes?”
Anna found herself in a half circle of pointing fingers. She
felt like a little kid caught doing something naughty. “Hey, come on. They left me no choice. Those critters just refused to play nice.” Anna quipped as she pointed at the takosunds.
“Wolfe, how did this happen?” The Phsatorae reached out and grabbed her arm. His mind grabbed hers and shouted. SHOW ME!
Anna did… She ran up the ramp, loped over to the border wall, and jumped up onto the rail shelf. She walked the whole section one border wall to the other. She was shaking when she reached the other end. This was a very dangerous section...
Anna came back to herself on the floor, shivering. Desvren helped her sit up. He glared at the Phsatorae.
Anger slammed into Anna. She jumped to her feet, threw back her head, and howled. Her mind quested out. Wolfe calls to Wolfe. Everything that Wolfe was went into the call. Andy, Tara, Anthony, the laughter and joys, they shared. A pack was made up of pain and tears, backrubs and hugs, togetherness, loyalty, and trust. Wolfe is pack. Wolfe is friends. Wolfe calls to pack. Wolfe calls to friends. Wolfe calls to Wolfe and Wolfe always answers.
Anna’s head came back down. Her eyes burned and her blood ran hot, then, the anger faded as exhaustion flooded in. Wolfe stood tired, tense, ready to fight, surrounded by… Desvren, Jatlo, Shalo, Cima, Pealo, Marfi, Dasie, Liso, Tava, Tawai, Krea, friends, pack, family, love, trust, loyalty, compassion. Anna howled again deep from the heart and they howled with her.
In Anna’s mind, wolf’s tail wagged. His tongue hung out. He pranced and played. Lupine images flooded through her mind. Finally, they started to fade. Wolf shook his whole body; he turned and trotted off. Anna’s mind wandered after him.
Anna shook her head. She stood on shaky knees. “I’m tired and I want a shower. I think you ought to cook the big takosund. Sato and the crew deserve to eat a steak from the big one. They were very brave.” She turned to Dasie. “I owe you. Sharp Eyes! Phwolfe owes you.” Anna swayed. “I need to sleep.” Anna passed out.
CHAPTER 6
A Golsidan Feast
Anna woke up as Desvren tried to slide out of bed. He failed to succeed, because she held on to him and refused to let go.
Anna heard a laugh and felt the two hands on her back. She didn’t have to look to recognize Liso and Tava. “Where do you think you are going to?” She asked Desvren.
“We told him, it wouldn’t work. He can’t possibly sneak away from you. But he felt determined to try.” Liso said.
“Hmm... sneaking away, Des? Let’s see, you got mad. Were you going to go yell at a superior and Elder?” Anna teased.
Des seethed. “Yes, I was. I am. They shouldn’t have done that to you. You didn’t understand what they planned to do.” Des yelled.
Anna shrugged. “I can’t say one way or the other, because I don’t know exactly what happened.” Des opened his mouth. She held up her hand. “First, I want to know. Will the takosund meat help Yerly and Kimbo?” Des deflated like a popped balloon.
The Phsatorae appeared in the doorway and behind him stood the Elders. “We come to apologize and explain.” They filed into the room. “But first, sadly I must inform you. Yerly and Kimbo no longer live among us. Their souls left to make the journey to Golria’s Main Hero Hall. There they wait for the honor that is their due.”
“I, myself, went to see them, after you passed out Phwolfe. Mind to mind, I told them of your hunt. They replied only with emotions boundless joy, fulfilling happiness, and a sparkling pride. No sorrow resided in them when they left us.” The Phsatorae said. Desvren wrapped his arms around Anna as tears fell from both their eyes.
The Phsatorae bowed. “I thank you, Phwolfe. You gave Yerly and Kimbo a last precious gift. You have given all of us, the means to regain our strength. I never meant to ask so much of you. I failed to realize that you still need to learn many things about us. Have you heard some of our histories, our legends told in mind to mind contact?”
Anna nodded. “Des told me some Satorae history and legends in trance lessons.”
“Have you wondered how they come about? How they remain authentic? When we keep no record of them in the written form?”
“Well, no, I never thought of that. But now that you mention it, how do you keep them accurate? A story changes every time it gets told. Every person tells and feels it differently.”
“What if every person experienced it the exact same way? You see, we don’t read books. We read feelings, emotions, and memories. We thought you understood this.”
“Yesterday after Jatlo contacted me; I called an emergency meeting of the Elders. Everyone just finished arriving, when the bridge guard burst in. We didn’t know what to expect. What do we find? Three dead takosund! None in over twenty annuals and then all of a sudden there lay three of them. We organized no hunt. How could this occur? A single hunter accomplished this? We needed to know what happened.”
“In unforeseen occurrences, the Elders and I, sometimes scan the person everything revolves around, in this case, you. If there are lessons to be learned from it, we mind it to the people. But when we tried to read you, you actively forwarded it mind to mind. You sent it to everyone on the ship.”
“Only a rare mind ability allows such a thing to be done. It takes a lot of energy out of the sender. Instead of just having the past scanned they re-live it which explains why you felt so tired and why Desvren got so mad. It caused a lot of unnecessary emotional hardship for you. We apologize. We didn’t expect this to happen.”
Anna sighed, so that was why she’d felt so mind-numbingly, bone-tired. “If you want to do this reading thing to me again, please give me a warning.”
Elder Gurlesc spoke up. “We most certainly plan to. We haven’t yet decided to accept Wolfe clan. Yet, a Wolfe legend now exists in our histories.”
“What do you mean?”
“You sent it to everyone. So now, everyone knows the legend. It will get passed on and passed down mind to mind.” Gurlesc explained.
“Oh geez… a legend.” Anna shook her head, just what she didn’t need. Next, they’re going to expect me to be a hero or something.
Des pulled Anna tighter to him. He whispered to her. “In the minds of the people, you are already a hero.” Anna shook her head again. Oh great, just great.
Elder Kolel spoke up. “Also, that call you sent out was most unusual. Such a thing hasn’t occurred since the forming of the clans. Of course, if you become a sub-clan, a call becomes necessary. But nowadays, they usually take the form of formalized agreements not mind-to-mind callings.”
“I’m lost.” Anna whispered to Des.
Des put his hand up palm out. “Elder Kolel, may I take a moment to explain it to her, please?” Then Des touched Anna’s mind. In the beginning of our recorded histories, no clans existed. Our people grouped together and fell apart with no real leadership. We traveled space and found Isadiea. But, our people formed no long term associations or bonds with those outside their families. The formation of the original clans happened when seventeen naturally, charismatic leaders sent out calls. Their minds called out for others that mentally resembled them to join them and form clans.
Each clan specialized in a specific trade, warrior clan, teacher clan, spacemanship clan (Satorae), Agri-farmer clan, healer clan, and our brother clan (Torxisa) explorer clan. Seventeen clans in all got formed by mind to mind calls with no contracts signed and no promises made just groups of like-minded people who formed long term bonds of friendship, loyalty, and family. Eight of the original clans have died off. All of the sub-clans that formed since the beginning had contracts with their members, stating what the clan agreed to provide. In these hard times, those sub-clans have disbanded, because they failed to fulfill those contracts. You called out with your mind. You showed everything that makes Wolfe unique. Furthermore, your mind said Wolfe calls to Wolfe and Wolfe always answers. It was a calling for similar minds. Brema, Sato, and Fienu heard it also. But the healers refused let them join you. They are still too weak.
Ah…“Thank you Des.” Anna turned
to face Kolel. “I understand now. I called out to minds that shared a resemblance, Wolfe calls Wolfe.”
The Phsatorae began speaking. “Customarily takosund gets processed by volunteers and tradition dictates that after the processing an honor feast happens in three more days.” He cleared his throat. “As the sole hunter you own half of the hunt after verification and therefore become responsible for half of the feast.” He looked at Anna and waited.
Anna cleared her throat. “Actually, Sato took out the first one’s eyes and braincase, before it totally wrapped him. He’s as much a hunter as I.”
Gurlesc stepped forward. “Chief Sato stated that he owes his life to Phwolfe and wishes this hunt to go to you. He said that without you some other big takosund would have had an easy meal.”
“Ah...” Anna understood what Sato meant. They’d discussed leaving behind wounded takosund. But what was all of this talk about feasts and stuff? She turned to Des again. “Des?” She shrugged and pointed to her head. Des chuckled and mentally sent her what she needed. Oh, a holiday like Thanksgiving Day, eat as much as you want all day long. What time is it Des?
Des hugged Anna hard. One ten, you slept through the cool and cold.
“Is this feast to be held in four days with everyone coming?”
The Phsatorae nodded. “In four days, everyone who volunteers comes and it will probably be most of the crew. Even some of the stronger invalids started helping yesterday cool.”
Anna nodded. “Excellent, Wolfe can have its half ready in three days.”
The Phsatorae sighed. “But, Satorae can’t. We lack the making for a feast. We only possess the four hundred and nineteen pounds of greal which we just pulled off the exchange. We already distributed everything else. Nothing else remains except processed food. The feast needs to be fresh food.” He sighed and bowed his head.
Phwolfe Song (Golsidan Revival Series Book 1) Page 12