To The Stars

by Thomas Stone

  Grandfather paused to wipe a tear from his moistened eyes.

  "Afterwards, the creatures searched the area for a long time, looking for the dropped crystal. I hung onto my perch and did not move an inch for fear they would see me. Finally, they gave up and left. I climbed down and buried your father. I placed five large rocks over his grave to mark the spot. If any of you come across this spot while you are out hunting, be sure to show your respect. He was a good man.

  I began my long journey back to the tribe, taking plenty of game with me. It was hard going in the mountains, but well worth it. By the time I returned, two children and two adults had already starved. There was no fire and nobody was strong enough to gather firewood but me, so without resting I broke limbs from the trees and carried them back to the camp. As I prepared the fire, I talked to whoever was still conscious enough to listen, telling them about what had happened and what I had seen.

  Those who heard did not believe. As I told the story, I remembered the crystal in my pouch. I took it out and held it aloft for all to see. As I did so, it began to glow and grow warm to the touch. I looked at it in wonder and watched as it grew redder and hotter in my hand. Before I realized it, it had burned into the skin on the palms of my hands, and I dropped it onto the wood I had gathered. Right away, the wood caught fire and blazed up. Later, I fished the crystal from the embers."

  To prove what he said, he showed the children the palms of his hands. Everybody saw the old burn scars. Then he reached into his pouch and pulled out another, smaller pouch held by a rawhide drawstring. From the smaller pouch he pulled out the crystal. He set it down for all to see.

  "This is the crystal," he continued, "its properties are still unknown to me. I never saw those horrible creatures again, but sometimes, when the lights appear in the sky, I wonder if they will not come back to search for it.

  We alternately feasted and mourned for your father. When everyone was strong enough we left the coldness of the valley and came here to the bottom of the great mountains. Now this is where we live and eat. There are few of us and we sorely miss your father."

  While Grandfather told his story, his old hands worked at the rotten cord. Now he showed the children what he had made. It was a rope with a sling fashioned at one end. He tied the loose end to a stick and put the crystal in the sling.

  As the children watched with rapt attention, he allowed the apparatus to dangle over the fire. The pouch holding the crystal started to glow and spin and all could see that the pouch was beginning to burn. A soft tone rose in volume as Grandfather dropped the string and the crystal hung by itself, spinning in the air. Suddenly, light shot from the top of the crystal, illuminating the ceiling of the cave.

  Everyone had seen Grandfather spin the crystal before, but each time was just as magnificent as the last. The children gaped open-mouthed. When Grandfather supposed a sufficient amount of time had elapsed, he took a clay dish and scooped the crystal from the air. The hum ceased and the beam of light disappeared. The crystal clattered on the dish and once again the hearth became the only source of light.

  The show was over. The children squealed with delight and everyone else leaned back and relaxed. As soon as the excitement died, the children started to drop off to sleep. The women laid out bedding and talked about how old Grandfather was getting to be.

  Kretin sat near the mouth of the cave, alternately watching Grandfather and the night sky. The lights of which Grandfather spoke could be seen in the far distance, as if someone had lit a giant bonfire just below the horizon.

  Later, when he believed all to be asleep, Kretin arose and quietly gathered his weapons. Grandfather, feigning sleep, watched him. As Kretin slipped from the cave dwelling, Grandfather stiffly got up and followed, catching up with him outside.

  "Kretin, what do you think you are doing?"

  "Look, Grandfather." Kretin pointed to the light in the southern skies.

  The old man squinted. "I might have known. What are you going to do? Go off and get yourself killed like your father?"

  "I must go. My father's honor begs for revenge."

  The old man shook his head. "You don't know what you're up against, son. Your spears and slings are no match for those creatures. It makes no sense to seek out trouble when we need you here."

  "What they do makes no sense, Grandfather. There is plenty to eat here, and the water always runs quickly and clearly in this place. The mountain provides shelter and the forest provides food, but the memories of my father give us reason; what is a man without his honor?"

  The Grandfather sighed. "I am too old and too weak to wrestle you to the ground. I see that you have set your mind."

  He looked at the lights in the sky. "Careful of the night creatures, boy. Do not let them touch you, their slime burns the skin. And here," the old man handed something to the boy, "take this. Maybe this will somehow protect you." Kretin saw that he held the magic crystal.

  "I cannot take this, Grandfather. It belongs to you."

  Grandfather shook his finger. "Because it belongs to me, I can give it to whom I want. Now it belongs to you. Maybe the shiny creatures will go away if you give it back to them."

  "Thank you, Grandfather. I accept your gift. Now I go." Kretin turned to leave, but the old man held him by the arm.

  In the darkness the old man quickly embraced the younger man, then turned and walked back into the cave. Kretin slung the pouch around his neck and climbed down to the forest below. When he left the rocks at the edge of the forest, he failed to notice Arai silently trailing behind.

  Making good time through familiar territory, Kretin picked his way through the darkened forest. He'd covered several miles when the sound of a breaking twig stopped him. He stood motionless on the path, keen eyes searching the dimly lit forest for any sign of trouble. Seeing nothing, he cautiously moved on.

  Again, he stopped and listened. To the left, something moved. That was particularly worrisome. Sounds from the left were bad omens. He mustered his resolve and stepped even more carefully.

  A loud, cracking noise split the air and this time Kretin dropped to his knees, knife at the ready. He waited in silence until a small spledgin with needled spines appeared on the trail, pulling a large tree limb behind.

  Kretin breathed a sigh and mumbled, "Nothing but a damn spledgin."

  Arai’s voice came from the darkness, startling Kretin, “Better a pledgin than something with a larger appetite.” Arai stepped forward.

  Kretin frowned. “You should not have followed me.”

  “Why not? Should you keep all the glory for yourself?”

  “Go home where you are needed.”

  “I am needed here.”

  Kretin waved his tail in irritation. With Arai still following, he turned away and walked up the trail. Not ten seconds passed before they both heard heavy steps on the trail and the unmistakable squeal of the spledgin.

  When the moaning commenced, Arai knew it was the night creatures. He'd never seen one and hoped he never would. No one else had ever seen one either, no one alive. The hair stood up all along Arai's spine. Kretin waited no longer: he began to run. It was a mistake. In the darkness, he ran straight into a tree trunk. Arai heard two thuds. One from the sound of Kretin hitting the tree, the second from Kretin hitting the ground.

  When Kretin tried to get up, Arai pushed him back down and whispered into his ear, "Night creatures! Stay down!"

  For once, Kretin did as he was told.

  Something big slowly limped up the path, dragging one foot. As it approached, its breath rattled in deep gasps. Arai caught a scent of rot and musk so heavy it rolled out of the night like ground-fog. He fought to keep from gagging.

  Just when he thought he could bear it no longer, the steps stopped and the heavy breathing paused, as if whatever it was listened, or watched, or maybe even reached.

  The thought flashed through Arai's mind what Grandfather had told Kretin, "Do not let them touch you!"

  At that precise mo
ment, Kretin scrambled to his feet. "Run!" he shouted.

  Arai ducked and scooted away on all fours. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that indeed, the thing was reaching for him. He dodged just out of its touch. In the faint light, he could see nothing but Arai's flapping loincloths. He moved with not a moment to spare.

  Chapter 13

  Kretin and Arai ran through the forest for most of the night. Twice more they heard the night creatures but were successful in avoiding them.

  When dawn came, they slowed to a walk. Arai had never been so deep in the forest and was glad Kretin was with him. Kretin vowed to never spend another night on the ground. "Tonight, we take to the trees at dusk." Arai twitched his tail in agreement.

  A short time before midday, as Kretin skirted a small clearing, Arai was distracted by the wind. It came up suddenly and it didn't sound right. It grew in volume causing Arai to look up. The trees remained undisturbed. As the sound reached its greatest level a strange flying object raced by, wobbling a little from side to side. Arai was dumbstruck. Had Grandfather not told him of similar flying objects?

  It passed quickly, headed in the same direction Kretin and Arai had plotted for themselves. Arai looked at his brother. Kretin stood transfixed and slack-jawed.

  Finally, he looked at Arai. "What was that?"

  "It is what Grandfather told us about. It is the thing we are looking for."

  "Did it not sing its death song as it raced across the sky?"

  "If that was its death song, then I do not want to hear its song of life. It hurt my ears."

  Kretin straightened. Arai saw the resolve in his posture. Kretin made the tail sign indicating it was time to go. "We will follow and see what else the forest has in store for us, but we must be wary for Grandfather has told me terrible stories of what may befall us. Step carefully, little brother."

  They took the trail that led them ever deeper into the forest. In the afternoon they stopped by a stream where they ate a few strips of dried meat. All the while they watched the sky. When they left, they followed the trail up a gentle slope that led to a ridge. At the top they stopped and stared at the grisly sight below. In a gully shaded by the great trees, lay the blood-strewn remains of dozens of forest animals. A pack of small doglike creatures feasted on the carcasses and ignored the two brothers.

  "What happened here?" Kretin asked, shaking his head. "Such a waste of good meat."

  He bent to look at the tracks left in the blood-stained soil. He pointed and Arai looked. The tracks began and ended there. There was no chase, no fight for life.

  Arai looked to Kretin for encouragement but Kretin avoided his stare. It was just as Grandfather had said.

  By late afternoon, Arai was beginning to think about how nice a nest would be up in the trees when they crossed an area that had a lot of rocks lying about. In the middle was a pile of five carefully arranged stones.

  They stopped and stood before the shrine. "This is the grave of our father," Kretin said somberly. "We must show respect by sacrifice, for that is our way."

  Arai remembered his father, but only vaguely. All the same, seeing his brother cry, he cried too, and when they placed the fresh carcass of one of the forest creatures upon the grave, Arai beat his chest and wailed. They picked flowers and placed them upon the ground. Then Kretin poured fresh water over the rocks. Afterwards, they sat before the grave in silence, side by side, while dusk approached. Finally, Kretin got up.

  "Blood will spill from those who ended my father's trail. I swear this before the sky, the trees, and the soil. Never will my heart rest until I have tasted the blood of his murderers."

  Arai fidgeted; it was growing dark. Kretin gathered his spear, his sling, and his pouches, and once again set off down the trail that led south.

  "Kretin," Arai called, "it grows dark." Kretin ignored him. Arai glanced at the shadows cast by the great trees and, without another word, jumped up and followed his brother.

  With each step it grew darker and Arai's heart beat a little faster. He remembered the promise he'd made to himself about seeking shelter at dusk and pleaded with Kretin. "What are you trying to do? Walk me to death?"

  Kretin stopped and faced his brother. Had it not been for the trees overhead, it would have been a bright night. The two moons illuminated the night sky and allowed just enough light to filter down to enable the boys to see all the varied shadows. It was at these times that the trees truly looked as if they were giants.

  "Just a little farther."

  "No way. There's a nice tree right over there. I am going to climb it, if I do not fall and crack my skull in the dark, and I am going to sleep."

  Kretin looked around and seemed to notice for the first time that full darkness surrounded them. "Well, perhaps you are right, maybe we..."

  A beam of light played through the trees. The brothers instinctively crouched. Arai pointed and Kretin followed his gaze. Both melted into the shadows, waiting and watching as the light came closer.

  At first, Arai thought it was the night creatures. Goosebumps marched along his spine as he remembered the too-close encounter the night before. But the night creatures did not make light.

  Kretin and Arai crouched behind a tree as the light danced upon the trail where they had stood only moments before. Something was coming. To Arai's trained ear, it sounded like three separate animals trying to walk quietly, but their size gave them away. Whatever they were, Arai guessed they weren't accustomed to traveling through the forest.

  Arai shifted and positioned himself under a giant fern, still within reach of his brother.

  The three creatures stopped directly in front of him. A scant two feet from his face was the strangest leg he'd ever seen. It was smooth and shiny, thick and round like a spear, except much larger. It had no toes, instead it ended in a point that entered the ground and anchored each step.

  The things spoke incoherently in clicks and hoarse coughs. One of them shined the beam of light first one way, then another. Arai had no doubt these were the creatures who were the murderers of his father.

  They stood on the trail, towering over the brothers in the dim light. The creature in the lead pointed the beam of light upward and it danced through the trees, displaying the lower branches. Up close, the things made a sound like blowing air and water through a hollow reed. It sounded like the noise his aunt had made when she became ill from the winter wind two seasons ago and died choking on her own phlegm. Arai hoped the monster was sick and that it would die painfully. Briefly he wondered if the tip of his spear was strong enough to pierce the smooth skin of these monstrous devils.

  He debated whether or not to rush from his hiding place and drive his spear deep into the creature as it stood there looking stupidly up at the trees. His common sense prevailed and he remained where he was. In a few moments, the creatures moved down the trail. Kretin and Arai waited until the beam of light disappeared before they stirred.

  Together, they squatted on the trail and poked their fingers into the indentations left by the pointed legs of the creatures.

  Arai looked at his brother in disbelief. "One of these creatures is large enough to make two of you. Did you see, as they walked, how they ducked their heads to avoid the branches that I cannot touch even by jumping? See how deep the prints are? As if each was carrying a load of game on their backs. I know it is dark, my brother, but it is still light enough to see what is important."

  Kretin continued to stare in the direction the creatures had gone. He squinted into the darkness.

  "They return. Quick, into the trees." Arai reached up, grabbed a limb, and pulled himself up. The light came their way again. Arai climbed higher with Kretin following closely behind.

  As they settled into crooks in the tree, the creatures passed underneath. This time they didn't bother to look up.

  Kretin and Arai remained where they were for the remainder of the night. Twice more, they saw the light dancing along the trail at a distance. As Arai drifted off to sleep, he thought
about how the creatures wandered in the forest, almost as if they were lost.

  He awoke in his perch early the next morning. The forest was still and the air was heavy with morning dew. He turned his head to look at Kretin, who slept on. Arai reminded himself of what a good hunter Kretin was and that he was very lucky to have such a fine brother.

  He tossed berries at Kretin and they stuck in his hair. Kretin's face twitched, and gradually he stirred and opened his eyes. As was their custom when hunting, they said nothing to one another upon awakening. Game, or something worse, might be lurking below.

  Kretin sat up and stretched. He discovered the berries in his hair and picked them out one by one, popping them in his mouth. Something rustled below and both boys looked. A boxdeer quietly grazed on the ground foliage. They watched the animal and admired its delicate beauty. Neither of the two had killed one of these animals, although the opportunity had presented itself many times in the past. They were too beautiful and too kind in appearance. Once, Kretin had approached a boxdeer while it watched with its large, soft eyes. He fed it from his hand and in turn, it allowed Kretin to stroke its fur-covered head. It had been a good sign, and Grandfather said that in return they should avoid killing the boxdeer.

  A sound faintly reached Arai: a low, whirring tone that grew closer with each passing second. The boxdeer froze and raised its head, looking for the source.

  A wind passed through the trees and a shadow passed overhead as the sound rose in volume. Kretin and Arai looked up and saw a large object floating past, just clearing the tops of the trees. It was different from the one they'd seen the day before. This one floated on rotating blades, causing a mighty wind to press the branches down and whip the treetops from side to side. They covered their eyes in protection against the wind. Kretin peeped through his fingers and caught glimpses as it slowly floated away.

  The brothers scrambled down the great tree and chased the object, taking care to stay under cover. They didn't have to run far before they found the thing sitting in a clearing. The two maintained their distance and stayed out of sight.

  Like the creatures they'd seen the night before, the thing was smooth and appeared to be highly polished. It was big and rested on thick legs that looked nothing like the legs of the beasts they had encountered. One end was pointed but the opposite end was blunt, ending in a great hole large enough to walk into. Perhaps it is a cave, Arai considered.