“What do you see in the fire, Lokar?” Birno asked.
“Many things, Birno.”
“Things that have been, Lokar, or things to come?”
“Both, my son.”
The men waited for Lokar to speak: it did not do to hurry him.
“I look back into the past and I see many journeys such as Tenko has made.”
The men’s hands fell still. They fixed their eyes on Lokar.
“We here at Skara are herdsmen. Herdsmen we have been for as long as men can remember. Our fathers and grandfathers and their fathers before them have tended their sheep and cattle in this island of Orkney. But it was not always so.” Lokar paused a moment. His eyes stared at the smoke curling lazily through the wide hole in the roof. “Once our tribe were hunters like Tenko here. We roamed great lands where trees grew.”
“Trees?” Lemba lifted his eyes from the clay pot on which he was marking a diamond pattern.
“Yes, Lemba, trees. You have all seen Tenko’s boat by which he came to this island?”
They nodded. There had been many visits to inspect the dugout canoe. Many hands had felt at its wood.
“In Tenko’s land trees grow as the plants and bushes grow here. Their stems are thick and hard like Tenko’s boat. There are so many of them that a man could get lost among them for days. Is that not true, Tenko?”
Tenko nodded. “It is indeed, Lokar. Among the trees we hunt many strange, fierce animals.”
“Tell us about them, Tenko,” Lokar prompted him.
“There are wolves which can tear your flesh from your bones if you are not quick enough with a bow and arrow. There are deer too with great branching horns like trees in winter.”
“We have deer on the hills in Orkney too, but they are not such big ones,” Lemba remarked.
“There are bears – great creatures covered in fur that can stand up like a man. They have strong arms that can crush a man if the bear catches him.”
The men opened wide eyes of wonder.
“Wild boars we have too in plenty. If they charge at you they can roll you over and trample you into the ground. All these we hunt with bows and arrows,” Tenko told them. “We catch fish too in our dugout boats, as big as this!” Tenko stretched his arms wide in the age-old gesture of fishermen.
“Long ago that was how our tribe got meat too, by hunting and fishing,” Lokar told them. “Now we have learned to tame our animals and herd them.”
“So Tenko’s people are not so clever and wise as we are?” It was Tresko who spoke with a slight sneer.
Tenko bristled. He was about to speak angrily when Kali touched his arm and put her finger to her lips. Lokar was speaking.
“I did not say that, Tresko. Each tribe has its own ways and its own wisdom. Tenko’s people have special skill in hunting and fishing and they can make boats. They have new weapons too, remember! Tenko’s axe can cut more keenly than any of ours.”
Tresko looked sullen but said nothing. He remembered Korwen’s shame.
Lokar went on, “This skill in working with strange substances found among the rocks comes from a far, far land, a land far older than Tenko’s land. It lies beyond the rising sun.” He pointed eastward. “Long ago our people came here in boats carved from trees. They came from a great sea nearer to the sun, a sea with warm lands round its shores. There the sun is strong and the plants grow easily. It is never cold as it is here. Always there is plenty to eat. Instead of many animals in pastures the people grow plants. From the plants they make food. It is different from our meat but it tastes good.”
“I have heard that too,” Tenko said quickly. “The people far to the south of my own tribe grow a plant they call corn. They pound the seeds of it in a stone basin and mix them with water. Then they shape the mixture into round flat pieces and bake it on hot stones. They call it bread. I have heard it is very good.”
“And is that all they eat?” Salik wanted to know.
“Oh no, Salik. They have animals too, so they can eat both bread and meat.”
“The day will come when the people of our island will eat both bread and meat too,” Lokar told them. “They will make axes of bronze like Tenko’s and many other things, knives, arrows and pins and ornaments for the women to wear.”
“Will that be in our lifetime, Lokar?” Birno asked eagerly.
Lokar shook his head. His eyes took a faraway look. “No. Many summers and many winters must come and go before these things come to pass. But your sons’ sons might know them. There will be strangers besides Tenko who will bring their skills to our island. There will be wiser men than I am then.”
“No one could be wiser than you, Lokar,” Birno said with love in his voice for the old man. “What should we do without your wisdom to guide us?”
“There will come a time when you will not have me, my children. Only one more Feast of the Sun shall I see with you.” The old man’s voice took on a note of prophecy. “And for many of you it will be the last Feast of the Sun too.”
The men looked from one to another. A cold dread settled on them.
“For which of us, Lokar? For which of us?” Salik asked with foreboding in his heart.
“That I cannot tell you, Salik. Some of you will be spared.” Lokar peered into the fire. “But the doom will come to Skara.”
“What is this doom, Lokar?” Birno urged him.
“All that is shown to me is a cloud that comes out of the sea. That is all … a cloud. But it is a cloud of death. Some it will take, few it will leave.”
“And this place? These homes our tribe built of stone long before us and where we have lived so long … will they perish too?” Birno sounded anguished.
“The doom that takes its people will preserve Skara long after we are dust and men have forgotten us.” Lokar made the pronouncement as if he spoke in a dream. “Skara will vanish from the sight of men for many, many winters and summers and then it will stand again for all to see it as it is now.”
The men stared round at the thick stone walls, the stone dresser, the stone beds and the sitting-stones they had known so long. It was as though the stones trembled in the smoke.
“These are strange words,” Birno said, watching Lokar.
The old man shook himself, as if he were coming out of a dream. A shudder ran round the circle of men. For a while all sat silent, each thinking his own thoughts.
“It will be dark outside,” Lemba said at last.
His words were the signal for all to rise and pick up the work they had been doing before Lokar’s words shook them into stillness. One by one they took their leave. Lemba took Lokar by the arm. They went by the narrow passage that led to the paved tunnel, and went to their own homes. Birno’s family crept into their beds, but Birno sat for a long time, staring soberly into the embers of the fire.
The next morning was bright and sunny. It was not their turn to herd the sheep, so Kali, Brockan and Tenko went down to the shore. Today Tenko had promised to take them along the shore in his boat. He took with him his bow and arrows.
They raced each other over the sand dunes to the white sands of the Bay of Skaill. “I’ll reach the boat first!” Tenko cried.
Kali was fleet-footed and a match for Tenko, who was carrying his weapons. Neck and neck they raced, with Brockan only a yard or two behind. Almost in the same moment Kali and Tenko touched the boat together. Laughing, they both claimed the victory.
“Shall we push the boat down to the sea?” Brockan asked, eager to take his turn with the wooden paddle Tenko carried.
Tenko looked at the state of the tide. “The tide is coming in. If we wait half an hour we shall not have so far to pull the boat to launch it. While we wait, what about some target practice with the bow and arrow?” Tenko asked Brockan.
Brockan was delighted at the idea. “What shall we use for a target?” he asked eagerly. “That rock along the shore?”
Tenko looked at the rock, frowning a little. “No. It would blunt the point of my arrows
. A pity there are no trees here!”
Kali had an idea. “Let us mark out a circle on the sand dune, where it slopes down to the beach.”
With the point of his arrow Tenko drew several circles one inside the other on the sloping sandbank. “Now let us try it,” he said and measured out a hundred paces over the sands of the bay. “We will shoot from here. I will try it first.”
Slim and upright he lifted the bow to his shoulder. The arrow flew right into the heart of the target, the eagle feather fastened to the end of the shaft quivering in the sunshine.
“Tenko! That was a fine shot!” Kali cried.
“Now you, Brockan!” Tenko said.
Brockan’s first shot fell wide of the circle. He clicked his teeth in annoyance. “Go on! Laugh!” he said, but Tenko did not laugh.
“Try again! Hold your bow higher and look along your arrow before you shoot. Remember all I taught you on the hillside.”
Brockan tried again. This time he hit the circle, not at the centre but well within it.
“I will bring back the arrows,” Kali offered.
Brockan tried his hardest and succeeded twice in hitting the centre of the ring. It was when Kali handed back one of the arrows that Tenko saw her wistful look as Brockan took his stance again.
“Would you like to try my bow and arrow too, Kali?” Tenko asked.
Kali opened her eyes wide. “But I am a girl!”
“That is no reason why you should not shoot an arrow,” Tenko told her.
“Oh, Tenko, will you let me?” Kali was breathless with joy.
“Yes. Take hold like this!” Tenko instructed her as he had done Brockan.
Kali was so anxious to do well that she listened very carefully to all Tenko’s instructions. She took a careful sighting along the arrow and pulled the cord as taut as it would go. Then she let the arrow fly. Straight into the circle it went, only a hand’s length from the exact centre!
“Well done!” Tenko patted her shoulder. “Try it again, as many times as you like, Kali!”
Kali had the keen vision of a herd lass used to watching for straying sheep afar off. She was taller than Brockan and able to hold the bow higher. Her third shot hit the exact centre of the circle. Tenko was as pleased as if he had shot it himself.
“What did I say? There is no reason why a girl should not shoot an arrow well. You may not be able to shoot as far as a boy, for you have not as much strength in the arm, but you can shoot as straight.”
Brockan had been running to and fro with the arrows for quite a time.
“Do I not get another turn to shoot?” he asked at last.
“Why, yes! You shall take it in turns,” Tenko said at once. “Listen! Why should you not shoot against each other, turn about, to see who hits the circle the most times?”
The children jumped with delight at the thought of a competition.
“Right! Then I will fetch the arrows from the target,” Tenko decided. “You start shooting first, Brockan.”
Soon they were both aiming eagerly at the target. Both of them sent their arrows well within the circle, but although Brockan scored marks on the target, it was Kali’s arrow that more often found the centre of the circle.
They were all so absorbed in what they were doing that they did not see a figure squirming through the long marram grass on the top of the sand dunes. It was a boy, who crouched low as he crept along. When he got near to the end of the sand dunes he went down on to his stomach and pulled himself along. Only a ripple in the marram grass betrayed his presence. Soon he was close to a gap in the dunes where he could peer down to the sands below. With hatred and jealousy in his heart he watched the children shooting their arrows. He saw Tenko just below him measuring the shots within the circle and retrieving the arrows. A large round pebble as big as a clenched fist lay beside him. His hand closed round it.
Kali first saw the movement among the marram grass. Brockan was shooting. The arrow fell near the centre of the target not far from Kali’s last shot. Kali took the bow from Brockan. She saw Tenko stoop to measure which arrow lay nearest the bull’s-eye. As he did so his back was to the sand dune upon which the lad lay hidden. The third arrow was lying at Kali’s feet. She swooped on it and fitted it to her bow. The figure on the sand dune rose and stood erect. It was Korwen! He lifted his arm high to crash the stone down on Tenko’s skull.
Kali let fly the arrow. It flew well and truly to its mark. It pierced Korwen’s sheepskin cloak and pinned it to his right shoulder. Korwen uttered a shriek of fear and the stone dropped from his hand. Tenko sprang round and ran up the sand dune. Kali and Brockan came running too.
Korwen bellowed with pain and terror. He tried to pluck the arrow from his shoulder but the pain was too much for him. It would not come out. He was white and fainting by the time Tenko reached him.
“Keep still! Keep still!” Tenko commanded.
“Do not kill me! Do not kill me!” Korwen begged.
“Why should I kill you?” Tenko asked in contempt. “Keep still, while I see what I can do about this arrow.”
“Get it out! Get it out!” Korwen shrieked frantically. “Get it out and I will never try to harm you again.”
“You may be sure I shall try to get it out,” Tenko told him coldly. “I value my arrow too much to leave it sticking in your skin.”
Kali reached them, breathless. “Oh, Tenko, are you all right?”
“Of course! Why not!” Tenko looked surprised. “That was not a very good shot, Kali. Your arrow has never flown so wide of the circle before.”
“I was not aiming at the circle. I shot at Korwen. He had that great stone in his hand ready to bring it down upon your head.”
“It is a lie! It is a lie!” Korwen yelled, fearful of what Tenko might do to him.
“I believe Kali. There is the stone at your feet. And why did you beg me not to kill you? Why did you promise you would never try to harm me again! Those were your own words, Korwen,” Tenko told him sternly.
“Take out the arrow and let me go,” Korwen begged him, wincing with pain.
“You will say first that you are the liar and not Kali.”
“I … I am the liar,” Korwen faltered abjectly. “Only take out the arrow, Tenko. Look at the blood! I shall bleed to death.”
Tenko laughed. “You will not bleed to death, Korwen. It is only a flesh wound. The arrow has pinned the cloak very neatly to your shoulder. Perhaps you are not such a good shot after all, Kali. A couple of hand’s-breadths and you would have pierced his throat instead.” Tenko’s voice was taunting, but it was not for Kali that his mocking words were meant. Korwen gave a shudder.
“I aimed at Korwen’s arm,” Kali said simply, annoyed that Tenko should speak slightingly of her marksmanship.
“Then you should be thankful to Kali, Korwen, that she showed you mercy and that her aim was good. When she has had more practice she will be even better. Take care you do not try to injure us again or Kali’s next shot might go straight to your heart.” Tenko spoke menacingly. “If her arrow does not reach it, then mine will! And now I will do something about that arrow. It will hurt you when I get it out but I will be as swift as I can. Lie down on the ground.”
Korwen had no choice. Trembling, he lay down. Tenko put a foot on his opposite shoulder and grasped the protruding shaft of the arrow with both hands. He gave a strong, sharp tug. Korwen let out a shriek of pain. Tenko stood with the freed arrow in his hand.
The blood streamed from Korwen’s torn shoulder.
“It is all right now, Korwen. It is out,” Tenko told the fainting youth. “Down to the sea with you now and wash the wound in sea water!” He pulled Korwen to his feet and half carried, half supported him down to a pool at the water’s edge. He rolled Korwen into it and Kali waded in too and splashed water over Korwen’s shoulder with the clay cup she carried in her skin bag. Korwen wept with the pain and the sting of the salt water on his bleeding shoulder. Even Tenko felt sorry for him.
“It h
urts, I know, but this way it will heal better. The salt water will clean the wound. You will have a sore shoulder for a few days but soon you will be able to use your arm again. You may carry the mark of the arrow for the rest of your life. Be thankful it is only a flesh wound.”
“I am, Tenko! I am,” Korwen cringed abjectly.
“This time you have got off lightly. You are to promise you will seek no revenge on Kali, for if you do, I will kill you as I killed the eagle.” Tenko’s voice was deliberate and cold.
“I promise you, Tenko! I promise! I will never touch Kali.”
“Then you may go,” Tenko told him. “But take care, Korwen.”
Korwen departed, nursing his right arm. For a time the children sat silent, their gay spirits dashed by what had happened. Tenko looked sadly at the blood-stained arrow he held in his hand. “I am sorry this happened,” he said. “I wanted to live in peace with my new tribesmen. I have seen too much of battle.”
Kali knew he was thinking of his dead father. Her eyes filled with tears. “I had to shoot,” she told Tenko. “If I had not done, he … he might have killed you, Tenko.”
Tenko laid a gentle hand on her arm. “I know, Kali. I know. But for your quick action …” His voice trembled a little. “Besides, you shot to wound and not to kill. It was a fine piece of marksmanship, Kali.”
“I do not think Korwen will dare to trouble us again,” Brockan declared. Then, dispelling the sadness that had fallen on them, he asked briskly. “Well, are we going to push out the boat and go fishing?”
The Boy with the Bronze Axe Page 5