The Thinking Rocks

by Butkus, C. Allan

  "The Great Spirit showed me the mistakes I had made. I thought the dead are dead and can't kill. Then I was taught that we must honor those we kill, for their life is a gift from the Great Spirit. Our life can be taken as easily as the one we take." Cano paused a moment and then nodded to Koonai.

  The Medicine Man waited until Cano was seated with the clan and then said in a booming voice, “The Great Spirit watches and teaches, we must learn the lessons that he gives us. We are less than nothing if we don't follow the Great Spirit." He turned, and faced the fire. He cast something into the fire, which caused a burst of green flames. He turned and faced the clan. "The Great Spirit has sent us another message today. Gennos come forward with the message. "Gennos shuffled from behind the fire where he had been waiting. The pain in his legs was forgotten tonight for he had a treasure to present. He carried something wrapped in a gray deerskin. When he reached Koonai, he started to hand it to him, but was stopped by a shake of Koonai’s head. "You show them the gift."

  He unwrapped one of the Great Spirit's greatest gifts, a new tool. He stood in front of the fire and held it in both hands above his head. It was not a hand ax; it was a true ax with a wooden handle.

  It had taken man about three million years to reach this point in time. This was more than a tool; it was a tool to make other tools. Each of its parts was of little value, but combined they far exceeded their parts. It had no innate intelligence; it could be used for good or evil. It could kill or defend. Build or destroy. The world would never be the same again.

  Gennos explained how he came to have it, as he had to Cano. Most of the clan could see no use for it. The old way worked, and it was simple and easy to use. They couldn't understand why Koonai and Gennos were making such a big thing of it. Gennos then demonstrated the power by chopping through a thick branch. A murmur went through the assemble hunters as they realized what they were seeing.

  Koonai moved forward and surveyed the clan; he smiled to himself. It had been a good day and the Great Spirit was pleased. "It is time to eat. After you have eaten, those of you who want one of the new things can speak with Gennos and he will show you how to make it."

  The gathering broke into small groups as they began to eat. Each group had its own needs and wants. When there is a full stomach the next need surfaces.

  Bana was not happy. They were all eating his food and he hadn't gotten the recognition that he deserved as a great hunter. Cano kills a lousy snake and they make a big thing out of it. His brother the cripple ties a piece of rock to a stick and everyone gets excited. Let them try to eat the stick and rock next time they get hungry. Then we will see who is more important around here.

  Sorou was happy with her place in life. She was the chief's daughter, young, beautiful, and she wanted Cano. She was sure that she could get him if she could get him alone. She didn't like his brother; he made her feel uncomfortable. She wasn't sure if it was because he couldn't walk well or if it was something else. She disliked him as much as she wanted Cano. She smiled as she combed her hair with a pad of shorthaired mammoth hide. She let out a short sigh. I will have my way, she thought.

  Loki was happy even though Koonai had made a big thing about his falling down. Anyone could fall down; anyone could trip. But I got up and still made a kill. Loki smiled to himself; he had the clan laughing and gotten big smiles from both Ceola and Sorou. As he thought about Ceola, his smile faded. She was ready now. It was time he moved. Cano was not going to get her without a fight. He had competition coming at him out of the shadows. But first things first, time to put a plan in action, and then start to make a necklace to put before her fire.

  Ceola was excited, she was happy with her place in life. She was going to meet Cano at the big rock by the river. She had completed her rites of passage and was now a woman. Well, almost a woman. After tonight, she would have Cano and be a woman. The Great Spirit was kind to her and life was good. She would have a mate that cared for her as much as she cared for him. Dola wasn't happy; his bottom was still stinging because of Ceola’s "Talk" with him. Was it really his fault that his sister was frightened when he rushed over to say hello? If Ceola was Cano's mate she wouldn't do things like that, Cano wouldn't let her. When I am a great hunter, things like this won't happen, he thought.

  Gennos wasn't sure if he was happy or not. This new thing was important; he had no doubt. His problem was that he wasn't sure if the thing was good or bad. It may have been better to just do things as they had always done them. The old ways were good ways; they had been tested by time and had proved their value. The new was frightening, like walking into the forest at night. Gennos had a thought that brought a smile to his face; it would probably be better to walk into the forest at night with one of the new things than without it.

  Cano was a man in love. He had wanted her for a long time and now the time was here. He would see her tonight at the big Rock. Tonight she would please him and he would have her. He would have someone that was his. His mate; his woman. Someone to travel through life with. The world was good.

  The Cat

  This land had seen many creatures come, live, and then vanish. Years before another ritual had taken place in this same area. The participants were not human but they had many of the same needs and wants, strengths and weaknesses. Then as today, it was a question of whether survival or procreation spurred the drive of life.

  She moved silently through the brush until she reached a huge flat-topped rock on the rim of the valley. The valley stretched out below the rock in a panorama of green and brown. Floating through the shadows cast by the trees around the rock, she stopped and scanned the land before her. This was near the place. His call had come from this valley. Ordinarily she would not have been interested in another of her kind, but the stirring deep within her was not to be ignored. A gentle breeze was blowing past her and down into the valley. Her scent and her special musk would drift down and he would pick it up. It would bring him. Other animals in the valley would also know by her scent that she was near, but they would move away to safety. As if by a self-fulfilling prophecy, she watched, as there was a flicker of movement and then three deer moved out of a thicket and swiftly away from danger. A growl started deep within her and rumbled its way to her throat where it slowly died. In the distance, his cough came to her sensitive ears. The rock in front of her was about eight feet high, and seemingly without effort, she leapt to its top. She was fully exposed now. She was frightfully beautiful. Her coat was a tawny brown, which faded to white on her stomach. Drawing in a deep breath, she released a roar that had been echoing across continents and through forests for 40 million years. It proclaimed, 'I am here, and this is my land. Any creature that ventures this way is traveling in my land, and it had better beware.'

  All creatures that heard the roar knew what made the sound. As the roar echoed across the valley, a similar roar answered it. He was coming.

  She stood on the rock like a statue on a pedestal. A statue of naked power. Seven feet long and 600 pounds of force, a cat that all others would be measured against. She was heavy limbed and had a short tail. Her brawny shoulders were five feet above the ground and appeared to be too big for the rest of her body. Her head had a streamlined look and she was almost without eyebrows. The yellow eyes were set well back in her head above a massive mouth. Her most striking features were her immense canine teeth; they were eight inches long and curved downward from her upper jaw. They were highly evolved tools designed for stabbing and slashing. Her other teeth were shearing blades with no evidence of a flat grinding surface. The lower jaw was formed in such a way as to allow her mouth to be opened almost 180 degrees. Imposing neck muscles supported her head. The power in her shoulders tended to make her sleek flanks and hindquarters seem undersized. Here was a carnivore that was to be feared and respected. She was built for the lightning-like smashing attack. Her six-inch retractable claws were the primary tools of her survival, they were used to seize her prey and then she used her canine sabers to finish
the task at hand. She was a master of the ambush. She and her kind were the personification of stealth and latent domination.

  The male saber toothed cat was still about four miles away when he received the strong scent of the female. She was in heat and ready. He moved noiselessly through the forest with amazing speed for a creature as large as he was. His movements were like a flicker of shadows. He was there and then gone, traveling as swiftly as a half-remembered thought. Whatever might have been there ceased to exist. A small herd of deer scattered at his silent approach like leaves in a gust of wind. Under different circumstances he would have gone after one, but not today. He had something more important to attend to then than the need for food. Her scent was stronger now; it drove all thought of food or anything else from his mind. There was only one thing that mattered now. He heard and answered her call. She must be alone he thought, there were no other calls from males to answer her calls. He would rather not be disturbed when he got to her; he had better things to do than fight.

  He finally saw her on a large rock, at the edge of a valley, about a quarter of a mile ahead. This was not the first time he had mated, but he looked forward to it as males have since time began. It was not a conscious process; his body took over control. He was moved by a biological drive that precluded everything other than procreation. He would fight any creature in order to satisfy his need.

  When he was about fifty yards away, he gave a soft coughing sound to let her know he was here. She jumped down and moved toward him with a ferocious growl. When they could see each other through the brush, she roared again and charged. After about ten yards she slid to a halt and with her tail twitching, she lowered her ears. They stood there looking at each other, until he raised both of his ears and took one step forward. She growled again and then raised her ears. He gave another soft cough and took another step forward. She turned casually, and as if she was no longer interested in him started to walk away. He came across the clearing like a flash of tawny yellow light. His shoulder struck her on the right flank and knocked her over and down. In a blur of movement, she spun around and hit him in the side of the head with her paws, one after the other. He rolled away from her; there was no blood because her claws had not been extended when she struck. The mating game had begun.

  They caroused like huge kittens, crashing through the brush, and rolling around on their backs. They mated repeatedly for three days. When they were both exhausted and hungry, they stopped and slept. Their sexual appetites were satisfied, but now their body’s need for food became a driving force. He went off on the fourth morning in search of food and never returned. She was more relieved than angry, her need to procreate was satisfied and she didn't want him around to compete for food or to endanger her cubs. She knew if he had the chance to kill the cubs, he would. It was of no matter now, she had used him and now he was gone.

  Three and a half months later in a small cave, she gave birth to two cubs, both males. The raising of the cubs went well for the first three months, before trouble arrived. While she was out hunting, the cubs with open eyes had been exploring the cave and had made their way to the entrance. There were some very interesting smells outside and the cubs decided to find out more about them. Once they were outside, they were met by another world; it was filled with strange sounds, light and smells. They were both rolling around and playing in the grass, when there was a shriek from above and a shadow covered the cubs for an instant. Talons closed upon the back of one cub, and it screamed in pain as it was carried off to become a meal. The other cub scrambled back into the cave and found a safe corner where it snarled in an effort to show how brave it was and frightened danger away.

  When the she-cat returned, she searched in frustrated rage for the lost cub. When she couldn't find it, she became more possessive and protective of the last cub.

  Over the next two years, she taught him the skills he would need to survive. He learned well because he received all of her attention. A time came for him to be on his own. She was tired of hunting for two, and he was tired of not being able to hunt for himself. Although she drove him away, he went willingly.

  The young male traveled across the land honing his skills and learning from his mistakes. Big cats need room to hunt, a twenty-mile range would be average for one cat, while another will just roam and follow the herds. He was possessive of his kills, and would carry five hundred pounds a quarter of a mile to a convenient place, before he fed. There was an abundance of game and he easily satisfied his needs.

  Until one day when he encountered a group of strange animals. They weren't big and had only two legs. There was no apparent threat because they were small, slow, and hunted only in the daytime. They looked like another source of food, even though he was not hungry now. He needed about fifty pounds of meat a day and one of these animals might be just about right for a meal or two. He would watch them and in the future when the time was right he would add them to his list of prey.

  The Meeting

  Loki looked across the clearing to where Sorou was standing. For the moment she was alone. “Perfect,” he thought. He approached her quietly, "Sorou can we speak?” He paused and looked around before continuing, "Alone?" As she turned to look at him, he could see she was in deep thought about something. Probably Cano, he thought. 'So much the better. I'll start with a small diversion and then get to the point.' "You look lovely tonight, and such a nice day for your passage. A person couldn't ask for more, could she?"

  Sorou moved closer to Loki before answering, she spoke in low tones. "Most of the clan believes this little game you like to play. ‘Look at me, I'm a fool, it's a shame, I'm so clumsy. Lets all have a laugh together and not worry about it.’" She looked past him to see if anyone was listening before she continued. "Let’s get things straight, I don't believe it. You are smart and you like to play your little games. I don't have any problem with that. What I do have a problem with, is having someone treat me like a fool. Don't do it. You didn't come over here to tell me how wonderful I look, or even to try to get me into the bushes. Why did you really come here?"

  Loki thought about trying to deny what she said but knew it would be useless. He was surprised she had seen through his cover, he must be more careful in the future. He needed her as an ally now. Telling her the whole truth is too dangerous, but half the truth will help me and it will also help her. I will save the rest of the truth for some other time. "I see that I underestimated you. I'll get to the point and tell you something you want to know. What I want from you in return for this information is help at a later time. We both know that you will be a powerful person in this clan; I want to be your friend and share in that power. We should help each other. It can be good for both of us. You get something that you want, and I get what I want."

  Sorou had been watching him closely as he spoke. He appeared to be speaking the truth but this was probably another layer of his cover. There was the possibility that he would be a good source of information and help. She didn't completely believe him but it was probably worthwhile to find out what he knows. A little trust was a small thing to give him and if he betrayed her or was playing a game with her, she would see that he paid for it. Her trust would be like a seed. If he took care of it, it would grow. "You sound as though you speak the truth," she said, "but how much of the truth I'm not sure. What do you have to tell me?"

  Loki smiled to himself; the bait was in the water. "Cano will be at the big rock by the river tonight waiting to see Ceola." He could see by the look on her face, she was going for the bait.

  “Why should I care if they meet there tonight? She's skinny and her hair is ugly, she will have a hard time finding a mate." Sorou could not keep the jealousy out of her voice.

  Loki spoke in a low angry voice, "Who is acting like a fool now? We both know that you want Cano. To get him, you have to stop Ceola from getting him. Start using your head; remember you're not speaking to a fool."

  She was angry at his response, but saw instantly that he was r
ight. "What do you suggest?"

  "You get there before Ceola. I'll find a way to delay her."

  "What am I supposed to do before she gets there? Explain to him why I should be his mate? Why I'm a better choice?"

  Loki paused and tried to keep the anger from his voice but failed, "You're doing it again, stop it. Don't explain in words; use language that he can't misunderstand. Use your body; show him why he wants you. Give him a taste of what it would be like to have you. Go as far as you can. Tease him as much as you can before he gets his reward. You're more than desirable; you should be able to drive him mad. Remember, the farther along you can get him, the more he will belong to you."

  Sorou smiled as she said, "I do want him, and I know this should work, but what of Ceola? What if she catches us?" She smiled and answered her own question. "Of course she will catch us; I can make sure of that. She will be hurt and angry with Cano. She will hate him."

  Loki was happy she had taken the bait. "He will try to talk his way out of it and fail. Would you believe a man you found in another woman's arms? I don't think that Ceola will have anything to do with him after this. You will get what you want because this is just the start of our plan. With both of us working on it, you will have him."

  Sorou was smiling too. "You are much smarter than I expected. We can be of use to each other, although I'm still not sure your plan doesn't mean that at some time I might have to repay you with a trip to the bushes."

  "As enjoyable as that sounds it would complicate matters too much. First things first. I'll help you get Cano; later you can help me. Now it’s time for you to get down to the river, you must get there before Cano for this to work. Hide in the shadows, the Moon is not up yet. The dark will be your friend. Cano will be expecting her, so you must get into his arms as quickly as you can. Let your body do the talking. I'm sure you will know what to do."