Paradox: On the Sharp Edge of the Blade

by E. S. Martell

  Logan thought that was a great idea. He was anxious to try out the spear-thrower on something besides grass clumps. He was hungry and their small store of cat meat had drawn so many flies, that they'd ditched it under a bush some miles back. Camel meat for supper would be good.

  Serensaa broke into a jog and he followed. They trotted until they reached the tree line.

  The scrub oaks formed a thick screen with a lot of brush under the twisted branches. She led him in a winding path, ducking under low branches, and brushing through the hanging Spanish moss. In this way, they came out a little ahead of the oncoming herd.

  She took his arm and pulled him down in the tall grass. They crouched and hastened to a smaller bush that was out in the open, trying their best to stay out of sight. The camels were too far away to notice their passage and continued moving in their direction, unalarmed.

  Logan was shaking; he was so excited. He'd killed both men and animals during his time in the past, but it had always happened so quickly that he hadn't had the time to think. Now that he was actually lying in ambush, hunting, his nerves made him twitch.

  He stretched to loosen his muscles and his chest twinged a little in response. He'd almost forgotten the wound. It hadn't bothered his throwing practice, so he didn't worry about it.

  The camels came closer. To Logan, it looked like they were moving in slow motion. The sun was now brushing the tips of the trees to the west. If only the herd would hurry up. He didn't want to try to kill one in the dark. He'd have to postpone until tomorrow if they didn't get here soon.

  Somewhere back in the rear of the herd, there was a roar. The camels broke into an immediate run, heading directly at them. Some larger predator, it sounded like a saber-tooth, had attacked, spooking the grass-eaters.

  Logan took the spear, and mounted a fore-shaft with an extra long point. He looked at the edges of the flint. It had been carefully knapped, and was sharp, with a beautiful leaf-like shape. Serensaa prepared two other spears for throwing in the time he'd fitted the fore-shaft into its socket.

  He carefully placed the slightly hollowed butt of the spear against the matching nub on the throwing stick, then, holding the spear and stick level in his right hand, drew back his arm for a throw.

  By now the leading edge of the camels was nearly upon them. The herd would pass within a few yards of the bushes in which they were concealed. Logan drew his arm back further, then paused, belatedly trying to remember what he'd learned about throwing the spear.

  As the camels passed, he skip-hopped forward and threw as hard as he could. He instantly realized that he'd made a beginner's mistake. He'd thrown at the herd, not at an individual animal. The spear passed over the near line of camels. It arched down and luckily struck an animal that was several rows back in the group. The camel made an odd, groaning cry that was all but lost in the general noise of the stampede. It ran on for a moment, then stumbled, and went down. The others immediately behind it strode over its body. The bulk of the following herd diverged to pass on either side of their fallen comrade.

  Logan wanted to rush out directly to his victim, but Serensaa grabbed his arm and pulled him back into the bushes. She gave him another spear, and said, “Logan, throw the spear.”

  He did a double take at the beautiful girl. She'd really been learning during their language lesson. He stood up to throw, but she suddenly pulled him down again. He looked at her in surprise. In return she pointed towards the rapidly approaching end of the herd.

  He looked in that direction, but there was nothing to be seen. When he looked at her inquiringly, she held up two fingers so that they mimicked a saber-tooth's fangs. Then she said, “Piskata,” and pointed again.

  Logan didn't like that idea at all. If the saber-tooth tiger or tigers, he didn't know which, came their way, he felt their best option was to climb a very tall tree. He was worried that throwing a flimsy spear at one of the big cats was likely to be a fatal act.

  The camels passed, creating a dust cloud that hung in the air. When the herd was gone, the floating dust stirred to the vague gusts of wind that descended into the valley. The thudding of padded feet that had sounded like distant thunder had faded into the distance. After the noise of the stampede, the valley seemed eerily silent.

  As the dust gradually settled, the two could see a downed camel far back along the herd's trail. It was struggling to rise, but being held down by a large, heavy-shouldered cat. Another of the tigers came charging up to sink its six-inch fangs into the camel's neck. The llama-like head dropped as the fangs severed its muscles and blood vessels.

  Logan looked at Serensaa. She looked at the camel he'd struck, then back at the tigers, obviously trying to decide if they were far enough away not to notice the two humans.

  Abruptly, she dropped to her stomach and began to worm her way out into the open, moving toward the dead animal. Logan immediately followed suit, but had so much difficulty trying to keep his wounded chest from dragging, that he fell far behind.

  The girl slid up to the camel, pulled the spear free with several tugs, and then began to hack at the beast's back with the spear tip. In just a few minutes, she'd removed both back-straps. Laying them on its dusty ribs, she moved around to the other side, opened the abdomen, and sliced out a large chunk of liver.

  Logan had arrived at the kill by this point, and she handed him the spear. Then she grabbed the pieces of meat, rose to a stooping position and began to hurry back to the bushes. He followed.

  There was a distant roar. He glanced down the beaten track. One of the tigers was trotting towards them, followed by a second. There were now seven or eight of the stripy beasts clustered around their kill. The two coming their way had apparently been turned away by the others, and now were intent on claiming the human's prey.

  Serensaa rounded the bush, rose to her full height, and started running, her long hair streaming behind her. Another roar, caused a shot of adrenaline to rush through Logan's blood like a bolt of electricity. He put on a burst of speed and caught up to her.

  He glanced at her. The crazy girl was laughing. She actually enjoyed this. He couldn't help but laugh with her, even though it made running difficult.

  She was so loving, so competent, and yet, so incredibly wild. That was the only word for it. She seemed suddenly very alien to him. He couldn't imagine any of the women of his time finding being chased by saber-tooth tigers exhilarating.

  They had covered several hundred yards before they paused to look back. The two tigers had stopped by the dead camel and were now ripping chunks of meat off and gulping them down. Chasing the two humans was apparently the farthest thing from their minds. Eating came first in the brutal calculus of survival.

  Serensaa had recovered herself somewhat. When she finished panting, she looked at him and started laughing again. Logan grinned tentatively, then laughed along with her after he caught his breath.

  It was strangely funny. They'd risked death, and gotten away with supper. Not too bad a trade. So what if the saber-tooths had the main bulk of the camel? They had come away with more than enough to eat for the moment, and that was all that counted. Meat didn't keep long anyway.

  She led him toward the setting sun until they reached a lower area surrounding a small lake. The trees were bigger near the water, and they picked one they could climb that was large enough to offer shelter for the night.

  There was a lot of dead wood in the area. A tree had fallen and ripped branches off in the process. They gathered a sizable pile of wood before it got too dark.

  Serensaa used her fire-starting rig to get a blaze going. They sliced off pieces of liver and tenderloin, speared them on some sticks and broiled them over the coals. It was a great supper.

  They'd finished eating. Now, the fire was banked, and there was plenty of wood. They were sitting, a little apart, watching the flames and Serensaa seemed lost in thought.

  Logan was in a good mood. He'd made his first kill using the state-of-the-art weapon system of the tim
e. He'd initially believed that using the spear-thrower would be difficult. It wasn't, although accuracy would likely take a lot of practice.

  During the day's journey, he'd learned that he could throw the slender spears an incredible distance. The throwing-stick gave a two-foot extension to his arm and allowed an amazing increase in throwing speed. He was confident in the device's use, although he cautioned himself that it wouldn't do to become overconfident.

  The constant presence of the girl had become an indispensable part of his life. He looked to her for all of his cues. Life in the here-and-now was hazardous, and she'd shown that she was capable of avoiding most of the dangers. Since they'd become intimate, Logan had developed a deep desire to protect her. Mastering the spear-thrower was directly related to that desire.

  Serensaa interrupted his reverie. He became aware that she was looking at him questioningly. He cocked an eyebrow at her in response. She said, “Logan,” and held up one finger.

  He nodded, and she then held up a finger on her other hand, simultaneously saying, “Serensaa.”

  Logan puzzled over that for a moment. She'd identified them as two separate individuals. That wasn't what he wanted.

  He used her gestures, holding up the index finger on both of his hands spaced a little apart. He identified his left finger as Serensaa and his right as Logan, then slowly moved his hands together so that the two fingers were side-by-side.

  She watched closely. Inspired, he hooked the fingers together, making loops with his thumbs. He tugged, showing the two were now inseparable.

  She hesitated, and then her eyes widened as his meaning sank in. She smiled up at him, relief apparent in her expression.

  He scooted over beside her, then wrapping his arm around her slender shoulders, he marveled that she could be so competent and yet so intensely feminine.

  She leaned into him, and pressed her palm on his heart, looking upward a little at his face. She asked, “Logan, Serensaa?”

  He nodded firmly, and pulled her face to his. She sighed in response. Apparently he'd fully answered her question about their relationship in a way that she approved of.

  He lowered his face to hers slowly, holding just short of a kiss. Her breath felt warm on his lips.

  She kept her eyes focused on his, then moved a little so that their lips touched. The sensation of fire was instant. Logan focused entirely on her, the scent of her, the heat of her skin, the soft feel of her hair against his arms. The kiss went on for an infinitely long time ending slowly as they pulled apart.

  Serensaa's chest was heaving with her rapid breathing, and her eyes were wide. Logan was confused. They'd already become intimate, yet this moment was almost like it was happening for the first time. His heart was racing with urgency.

  He reached out to her with shaking hands, and undid the lacing on her top. She lifted her arms to help him slide it off over her head.

  He pulled his ragged shirt off, tossing it aside carelessly. She came into his arms again, her perfectly formed breasts pressing hard against the muscles of his chest. The pain of the scabbed over claw marks was totally forgotten.

  They kissed again, their hands sliding over each other. She moved one hand to the back of his neck and pulled his mouth firmly against her lips while her tongue touched his. The fire crackled and sent up a spray of sparks. The shadows moved against the nearby trees in response.

  Logan couldn't wait any longer. He backed away a little and pulled off the rest of his clothes. Serensaa's mouth was open and she took deep breaths as she took off her buckskin pants. A moment after that, they were entwined in a slowly moving tangle. Their movements gradually became rhythmical, then increased in speed. The fire cast their moving shadow against the foliage.

  The sensations were so intense that Logan could barely think, but he had a fleeting feeling that he'd found his destiny. Serensaa was the one he'd waited for all of his life. He didn't care that he was somehow lost in time. Everything was fine as long as he held her in his arms.

  Some time later they made love again. This time it was less frenzied, but just as deeply satisfying as before. The mosquitoes had thankfully left them alone because of the slight smoke from the fire, so they hadn't dressed, lying in each other's arms by the fire's warmth.

  A little after they'd finished, there was the faint, far-off scream of a panther. It came echoing eerily through the trees putting a punctuation mark on their lovemaking. Serensaa sighed and stood to pull on her clothing. Logan watched her, admiring every nuance of her form against the flickering light.

  She knew he was watching and took her time, stretching to highlight her beautifully proportioned body as she pulled on her clothing.

  He dressed while she built up the fire.

  He was worried about their safety, spending the night by the fire. A predator might attack them. There were obviously plenty in the neighborhood.

  The saber-tooths were out there somewhere, hopefully sleeping off full stomachs. And, he remembered the wolves they'd seen also. Then there was the cat that they'd just heard screaming. There was plenty of danger, yet, somehow he felt at peace here by the fire with her. He glanced at her and felt a strange stir in his heart, something like, yet different from the intense passion she aroused in him.

  That puzzled him at first, but then, suddenly, everything about his feelings clicked. He hadn't quite come to that thought before, but now he knew. He loved her with a deep and abiding love. He loved her!

  Without thinking about their communications difficulties, he said, “Serensaa, I love you.”

  She instantly came to him and held him tightly. It was obvious that she understood his meaning perfectly, if not his precise words.

  He looked into her face and said, “I love you.”

  She smiled, and repeated the words back to him. “Logan, I love you.”

  Logan laughed joyfully, nodded, and hugged her tightly, only belatedly realizing that she'd frozen.

  He looked at her, startled. She was looking off into the darkness.

  She slowly pushed them apart, then bent and handed him one of the spears and the throwing stick.

  There was some threat out there in the darkness that he hadn't as yet sensed. Her senses were so finely tuned to her world that she was aware of danger long before he could detect it.

  He separated from her a little, preparing the spear-thrower for action. A n idea struck him. He caught her attention and gestured for her to climb the big oak.

  She shook her head negatively. Apparently the tree offered no sanctuary from whatever was out there.

  There was a movement in the darkness followed by a rumbling growl. He focused intently. There was something out there moving closer.

  The vague, threatening form became clear and he saw that it was a bear. Something about it didn't look right to him. It was larger than he'd thought it would be, certainly larger than the Florida black bears that he'd seen before. It was possibly the size of a grizzly, but he felt that a grizzly was unlikely to be here. Then he saw that its muzzle was truncated. It had a short, bulldog-like face. That, paired with its extra long legs, made it look almost alien.

  Shrugging his shoulders in puzzlement, Logan drew back his arm. The bear walked slowly towards the fire. It didn't seem even slightly fearful of the flames, only puzzled by the light. The two humans moved slightly until the fire was directly between them and the approaching animal. It hesitated, and peered, trying to make out what caused the movement. It seemed at least partially dazzled.

  When it had approached nearer, and was fully illuminated by the flames, Logan launched as hard a throw as he could. The spear flew straight, but struck the bear's shoulder hump, burying itself deeply next to its neck.

  The bear roared, and reared up, slapping with its long arms, trying to come to grips with the thing that had bitten it.

  Logan held out his hand, keeping his eyes glued on the angry beast. Another spear was slapped into his palm. Serensaa knew exactly what was needed. He glanced quickly at
her. She was holding a third spear ready in one hand and a flaming branch in the other.

  He fitted the spear to the throwing stick, trying not to shake with excitement. Then he stepped back from the fire, sprang forward and launched the second spear.

  This time it struck directly in the bear's chest. It would have been difficult to miss. The animal was standing only about twenty feet away.

  The bear dropped its head and grabbed the spear shaft, snapping it in half with a quick bite. The fore-shaft came away, remaining embedded in the creature's chest. It swiped ineffectually at the stub, but only succeeded in moving the sharp spear point sideways inside its lung. Logan hoped it had severed something vital.

  The bear roared in response to the increased pain, then dropped to all fours and ran directly at the fire.

  The two humans jumped aside as the bear came right across the blaze, kicking embers all over the place. It roared in pain at the flames, but continued blindly forward, passing to Logan's right.