He nodded his head affirmatively, then started to walk away, heading towards the edge of camp, moving into the darkness.
She grabbed at his wrist and hastily said, “No.” With an arm motion she indicated the sun rising, and said something he didn't understand, but which he interpreted as meaning, “Wait until morning.”
He nodded, and returned to the fire. When he looked back, she was gone.
He wasn't able to sleep. His heart was breaking. Seeing her again made him realize how much he loved her. He wanted her slim body next to his, and he wanted her cheerful, sometimes crazy personality near him. How could he face being lost in this primitive wilderness without her? His mind couldn't seem to come to grips with the problem.
He was sure he wouldn't sleep, but perhaps he dozed a little. Morning seemed to come before he knew it. People were moving around when he opened his eyes.
A couple of men came up to the fire from the edge of the camp. Logan realized they must have been sentries. There was danger here, even for this large camp.
Women and some of the older children were preparing breakfast. They had built the fire up and were cooking fish. When the food was done, men came to eat. The tribe ate more or less randomly in clots of two or three people.
Black-hair came by, kicked some sand at Logan, and grabbed some fish away from a woman, shoving her as he did. She staggered away, almost falling.
Logan was abruptly very angry with the guy. He considered his options. Aggressive action didn't seem to be a good idea, given his tenuous position. He wanted to get out of the camp, but he hoped to leave with at least a few weapons. It would be good if he could have a spear thrower and several spears. That would give him a chance at survival. Antagonizing the man who seemed to be the power in the group wasn't a good idea.
He looked down as Black-hair glanced at him.
Black-hair finished his fish, then got up from his position by the fire and strutted over to Logan. He unceremoniously kicked Logan's foot. Logan looked up, and watched as the man said something.
Based on the gestures, the guy wanted Logan to either leave or to go gather wood. Logan couldn't figure out which. He stood to face the man.
Black-hair's face darkened. Apparently standing was the wrong response. Logan didn't care by this point. He had decided to leave, weapons or no weapons. The idea that Serensaa wouldn't come with him hurt so much that he didn't worry about offending the man.
Black-hair yelled at him. Logan shrugged and started walking away.
Without warning, Logan was struck heavily on the side of his head. Caught by surprise, he fell, disoriented. He rolled to see Black-hair standing over him, his face bright red. The man yelled at him again.
Serensaa came running up. She spoke softly, almost placatingly to Black-hair. He spoke harshly to her, then motioned towards Logan. She said something else, followed by the word, “Ulfa.”
Logan supposed that she was arguing that he should be allowed to leave. Then the import of the last word sank in. This man was Ulfa, the one Serensaa belonged to in the tribe. He couldn't believe it. She was going to stay with this man rather than go with him.
He said, “Serensaa?”
She looked at him.
He pointed at Black-hair and asked, “Ulfa?”
She nodded slowly.
Ulfa was looking back and forth, trying to follow what was going on.
Logan said, “Serensaa, Ulfa?”
She flinched a little. Her response seemed to imply that she didn't want the man, but was somehow promised to him. Logan wasn't sure if that was correct, but that was what it looked like to him.
Several warriors had walked up and were watching the show. Logan figured it was probably the most entertaining thing that had happened in their camp recently.
Ulfa, looking back and forth, seemed to read something into her gaze that he didn't like. He spoke viciously to her. When she didn't respond, he struck her, hard. She fell, holding her face.
Logan exploded into action. He grabbed Ulfa's arm, spinning and lifting in a judo move, to throw the man to the ground in turn. Ulfa landed on his shoulder, grunted with the impact, rolled over, and came to his feet, murder in his eyes.
Logan looked behind him, and then moved to his left, away from the fire. The ground was flat with no obstacles, an ideal place to fight.
Ulfa drew his knife slowly. Logan hadn't paid any attention before, but now he was outraged to see that it was his tanto. How had the man gotten it? Serensaa? He was glad to see it hadn't been lost, but now he wanted that knife back.
Ulfa yelled a war-cry and started forward. He lunged at Logan with the knife held high.
That was simple to counter. Logan blocked with his arms crossed, grabbed Ulfa's wrist, bent the black-haired man's arm into a lock, then took the knife away from him by pulling it back against his fingers. An elbow to the face knocked Ulfa backward, staggering towards the fire. There was a collective groan from the crowd.
The black-haired man caught himself then turned towards Logan, moving more cautiously, with a calculating attitude.
Logan indecisively looked down at the knife. If he used it, the tribe would be angry. Better to keep the combat bloodless. He reluctantly tossed the tanto far away, between two of the tents.
He faced Ulfa. The two circled each other for a moment. Then Ulfa jumped forward.
Logan sidestepped and simultaneously snapped a kick into Ulfa's mid-section. Ulfa made a gasping noise and staggered backwards. The kick had been a hard one.
The onlookers were silent for a moment, but then began to mutter while shooting dark looks at Logan.
Logan backed away, waiting to see if that would be enough. Ulfa faced him again. This time, rage seemed to overtake his caution. The heavier man lunged at Logan, swerving at the last moment, then dropping to catch Logan's knee.
It was a clever move, but too slow. Logan danced away in a spin, simultaneously swinging his right leg around in a perfect crescent kick. The heal of his foot impacted Ulfa's cheek with a crack. The black-haired man went down flat and lay, unmoving, for a moment. There was an angry outcry from the onlookers.
A group of additional men had come up and now encircled the combatants in a ring that was two or three deep. They were jockeying for position while looking at Logan with expressions of mixed antagonism and amazement. Apparently they hadn't expected him to stand against Ulfa for more than a moment.
Ulfa was back on his feet. He pressed forward and, almost by chance, caught Logan with a heavy fist against the side of his neck. Logan staggered stunned, then rolled in a backwards somersault, and came up to his feet with a yell in a ready position. His yell was all but drowned out by the spectators who seemed to be cheering for Ulfa.
Logan's head was spinning. The blow had been really hard and he wanted to gain a moment to recover. Since the best defense was a good offense, he jumped forward with a low sidekick. It wasn't very powerful, but he caught Ulfa's left knee at the very end of the kick, causing the man to stagger and fall.
The crowd was silent. Logan could see that the men directly behind Ulfa were watching attentively.
He moved back, still somewhat stunned. He glanced to the side to see Serensaa, her face white and her mouth open, both hands pressed to her heart. She was looking at Ulfa.
Logan was hurt more by that than by the blows he'd received. She was afraid he was hurting the man. He drew back farther, then, with a feeling of irony, he bowed slightly. It was just a simple nod of the head intended to acknowledge his opponent, nothing more.
Ulfa looked at him, his mouth open, panting.
Logan turned and started to walk away. Ulfa shouted something, and several of the other men yelled and jumped in front of Logan, their spears ready. He stopped, and turned to face Ulfa again.
Ulfa had grabbed a spear from one of the men. Now he was coming forward. Logan saw that the black-haired man meant to kill him. He looked at the other men. No help there.
Serensaa dashed forward, grabbe
d a spear from one of the men and tossed it to Logan. He caught it, grinned, and swung it up, knocking Ulfa's thrust away.
Logan spun the spear. He'd had some lessons with the staff. While he wasn't a master by any stretch, he felt fairly competent with the moves he knew.
He spun the spear, moving forward, and slapped the shaft into Ulfa's spear. Instantly reversing the direction, Logan brought the other end of his spear shaft down on the top of Ulfa's head with a 'Thwack.” Ulfa's eyes closed for a moment.
That was all Logan needed. He leaped forward and delivered a front snap kick to the man's chin. Ulfa's jaw snapped closed and his head flew back, blood splattering from his mouth. He flopped onto his back and laid still, his arms involuntarily held in a rigid position indicating that he was unconscious.
Logan watched him for a moment. Ulfa was still breathing, but showed no signs of recovering consciousness.
He turned, holding the spear and started to walk away, but an older man stepped into his path, holding his hand up in a halting motion.
This man had been present, but had never seemed to have any authority over the battle or Ulfa. He'd been in the back of the circle as the two fought.
Now he said something, not to Logan, but to the assembled men. They rather reluctantly answered. The older man moved close, and placed his hand on Logan's shoulder, simultaneously saying something that sounded complicated.
Logan's puzzlement must have showed. The man moved closer, still holding Logan's shoulder, then smiled and said something else while waving his free hand inclusively over the entire encampment.
Logan tried not to pull back. The guy's breath was terrible, and he was speaking directly into Logan's face.
The man continued speaking for some time, ending by clapping Logan on both shoulders.
Logan was at a loss as to how to respond. He didn't want to give offense. Finally, he stepped back a half step, then bowed a martial arts bow. Deeply, with his hands at his sides.
The man said something, so Logan looked up. The old guy was beaming, so the bow must have worked.
Logan straightened, and looked for Serensaa. She was standing at the back of the crowd, her face positively glowing. When she saw him looking at her she looked even happier.
Logan motioned to her. She threaded her way through the men, who rather grudgingly moved out of the way.
The girl walked up to him, eyes bright, chest heaving with emotion.
Logan wasn't sure of her now. He'd feared she had been worried about Ulfa, but now her actions seemed to say otherwise.
He glanced at the elder. The man was watching the two young people with a neutral expression. Logan couldn't tell if he approved or disapproved.
Deciding it didn't matter to him, Logan asked the girl, “Ulfa, Serensaa?”
She looked at Ulfa. He still hadn't regained his senses, but was moving a little where he lay on the ground. Some men were standing beside him, but no one was helping or administering aid.
She shook her head negatively, then linked her fingers together and said, “Logan, Serensaa,” in a firm tone that admitted of no doubt.
The old man asked something and she answered with a minutes-long speech.
Logan figured that she was now telling everyone how they'd crossed the peninsula together and, he hoped, how brave he was. She gestured towards Ulfa and then kicked some sand in his direction.
This started a heated discussion among the spectators, but then the elder raised his voice, silencing the crowd. He spoke some more, then grabbed Logan's arm with one hand and Serensaa's with another.
He pulled the two together in front of him and asked Logan something. His formal attitude somehow reminded Logan of a justice-of-the-peace. Logan wondered if this meant the man was marrying the two of them. He had a momentary qualm. Was this what he wanted? To be bound to this primitive girl for the rest of his life.
Then he looked at Serensaa. Her face was aglow, and she was almost breathless with anticipation. That was all it took.
Logan nodded his head, raised his voice and said, “Yes!”
The old man smiled at him, and then turned to ask Serensaa the same thing.
She looked down for a moment as if thinking it over.
Logan could see that she was looking at him out of the corner of her eyes. He whispered, “Please.”
She instantly raised her head, saying, “Ayeaah.”
That was all it took. The old guy pulled them close together, and placed her hand in Logan's.
The crowd, which had now grown to most of the tribe, including the women and children, made a loud cry of affirmation, then dispersed, talking about the events in a flurry of conversation.
The old man unceremoniously turned his back on the couple and walked away, stopping to say something to Ulfa who was now sitting up.
The black-haired man spat some blood out of his mouth, and replied, while staring directly at Logan. His look promised revenge.
The old man made a sharp statement, apparently telling him to leave the couple alone.
Ulfa started to protest, but the elder had already turned and was walking away. The black-haired man slowly rose. He staggered, caught his balance and then started for where Logan had thrown the tanto.
Logan was not of a mood to let him have it. He snapped, “No!” He pulled Serensaa over to the knife and picked it up while Ulfa looked on indecisively.
Logan had never taken the sheathe off of his belt, and now everyone could see how the knife slid perfectly into it, identifying it as his. Ulfa grunted at the sight, then turned away and limped off towards his tent.
The new couple walked through the remaining people, and Serensaa led him to a tent. She indicated it and said, “Serensaa, here.”
Logan had been afraid that she was sleeping with Ulfa. He felt relieved that she had her own shelter.
They entered, the girl leading the way, crawling through the low opening. Inside, there were few possessions. Some pouches were hung on one of the supporting poles and there were a couple of flint knives lying on a small piece of tanned skin.
A rectangular piece of hide was staked over a crude framework with some pine boughs shoved underneath. The boughs filled the space and made the hide bulge upwards. The presence of two tanned furs tipped him off. This was her bed.
Serensaa didn't give him time to inspect it. She turned, grabbed him, and was instantly all over him with kisses.
He was more than happy to reciprocate. He'd first been worried that he'd never see her again. Next, he'd been terrified that she belonged to Ulfa. Now that their relationship was formalized, he was filled with joy.
He didn't waste any time thinking about the problems the future held. In a matter of seconds the two were undressed, and embracing on the bed, the scent of pine needles filling the air.
Chapter 20: ATTACK
The first part of the night seemed to last forever to Logan. He couldn't get enough of Serensaa. Her passionate embrace, her kisses, and her hot breath on his neck as they made love all combined to place him in a timeless state of ecstasy.
Filled with the afterglow, they recovered themselves quietly. Logan held her in his arms. He knew she couldn't understand him, yet he repeated over and over, “I love you, Serensaa” until it became a kind of chant. She snuggled closer to him, content in his embrace.
When he paused, she answered in turn. It seemed to Logan that she said she loved him with all of her being. He kissed her, a long and tender kiss. They lay still for a time.
Eventually, Logan felt his body stir. Serensaa moved in response, positioning herself over him. He reached up, running his hands freely over her slender body as she worked. It was a wonderful experience, transporting him to heights of ecstasy that he could never have imagined. His heart beat so violently, he felt it must come out of his chest.
At last she collapsed, falling forwards into his arms. They lay there, breathing heavily. The universe seemed to come to a complete stop, which suited Logan perfectly. He wanted to remai
n there forever.
Still, time went by. The two eventually fell asleep in each other's arms. Logan woke twice during the night to change position, moving carefully so as not to disturb Serensaa. She murmured something and rolled over the second time he moved.
They were awakened slightly before dawn by an uproar followed by a series of war cries from the edge of the camp. Logan jumped, coming awake instantly.
He pulled on his pants and shoes, belted on the tanto, and crawled out of the tent, with Serensaa following right behind.
The camp was stirred up like a hornet's nest that had been struck by a rock. Armed men and women were running everywhere. The men were mostly headed for the east side of the camp, some still rubbing their eyes from sleep.
Paradox: On the Sharp Edge of the Blade Page 22