There was a long pause, and the spear was suddenly withdrawn. “Get up, but be slow about it. Your weapons will do you no good with spears in your hearts.”
They scrambled to their feet surrounded by four, hardened Tenanken warriors, all with spears. Maki smiled, then slowly looped the weapon sling over his head. Han looked nervous, and Dorald’s eyes blazed with anger at being threatened. “We are in no danger,” said Maki. “These warriors take us to Hidaig, and I will tell him about their cleverness in capturing us.”
One of the warriors grunted. “You will follow us,” he said, then turned and shuffled away between the trees. The rest followed silently in approaching darkness. They backtracked for several minutes, and descended a steep arroyo to the place where Hinchai vehicles still rumbled by. All was in shadow as they scrambled along the riverbank, for the moon had not yet risen. The noise of the river was deafening.
They came to a place where the water passed through a deep channel formed by sand and scree bars, two large trees having fallen across the channel. Holding onto tree branches for balance, they crossed the river at that point, then followed a jagged course through boulder fields to the base of the cliffs, Maki searching the whole time for signs of a cave and finding several. They entered what appeared to be a small cavern at ground level, and the lead warrior climbed up on a shelf, placed his hands on the ceiling and pushed hard, grunting. A light appeared beyond a hole in the ceiling, usually covered by a thick sheet of rock. The warrior put his arms into the hole, pressing down on his forearms and lifting himself up until his feet disappeared. The others followed, Maki next to last, and he found himself in a long, narrow tunnel lit by torches in both directions. The last warrior up replaced the stone slab, and they moved along the tunnel in single file.
The walk was short, rounding two corners, and then they were in a small grotto with sparkling knobs and columns, and a beautiful, green pool with a fumarole bottom winding out of sight into darkness. Four classic Tenanken, one of them female, were sitting by the pool, eating meat and spitting gristle into the water. “Where is Hidaig?” asked one of the warriors, and the female pointed lazily towards a tunnel while giving Dorald a lecherous look that made him grin. But when Maki passed by, she turned her broad back to him.
The main cavern was a few paces further; and they came out into a half-egg-shaped area at its lowest level. Above them, sitting on ledges and knobs, were dozens of Tenanken warriors regarding them with interest but no apparent surprise. Their attention returned immediately to a single Tenanken leaning back in a cavity shaped like a throne, one leg draped carelessly over a rocky protuberance. He was eating a piece of fruit, rivulets of juice running down his ochre beard, and he was grinning from ear to ear.
A fur cloak was draped around his wide shoulders, but otherwise he was naked, and only a single feature truly distinguished him from the others. Through his broad nostrils was thrust a crescent-shaped piece of polished bone curving down on either side of his mouth, turning his face into a fierce mask to match his personality, for although they had played together as children, Maki had always regarded Hidaig as a crazy-one.
“Well, cousin,” said the warrior leader. “I was wondering when Anka’s band would begin crawling in here. By now, game must be getting scarce where you are.”
Maki raised himself to full height, suddenly conscious of the pointing weapon draped across his chest as Hidaig’s eyes focused there. “I do not come for food, but to talk about the future of the Tenanken. Our way of life, and the Tenanken themselves, will disappear if we don’t do something soon. I’ve had no success talking to my father, but I thought that you, as a warrior without fear of the Hinchai, might understand.”
Hidaig’s laugh roared in the cavern, and his eyes twinkled merrily. “Oh, cousin, it has been a long time. Your tongue was quick even when we were children; how easily you could manipulate those who needed flattery or wished to be close to your father or mother. Always you had a purpose, and always that purpose was for your own benefit.”
“That was true, and it is true now. What I wish to propose will benefit both of us if we can work together. I have always regarded you as an equal, Hidaig. You know that.”
“How nice of you.” Hidaig frowned, then thought for a moment. He looked up at the patiently waiting warriors, and waved one hand towards the exit. “We will continue another time. I have business with this representative from the valley, and we must be alone. Someone please bring meat for our guests.”
The warriors filed out immediately. Maki watched them leave, then turned and said softly, “Done grandly, and with style. I think you have changed since we last met.”
Hidaig chuckled. “And you, on the other hand, have not changed a bit. Now what is it you come all this way to propose?” He climbed down from his rock-throne, and they sat cross-legged together, face-to-face, on the floor of the cavern. An old female shuffled in and left them two handfuls of dried meat on a slate slab. When she was gone, they chewed some meat in silence, then looked at each other. The smiles and posturing were gone.
“The old one who served us is one of three females left in my group. Her nights are happily active, but the childbearing days are gone forever, and the other two females are only slightly younger. As a band, we are dying out.”
“But you have warriors, including some who came to you from our caverns. Most of our population is females and children; come and claim what you want.”
“Anka has forbidden us entrance to his caverns. He will not even meet with me outside.”
“Because of your opposition to The Plan?”
“Yes.”
“But I oppose The Plan as loud as I can, even in front of the elders.
“And they accept it politely, of course. You are the son of two elders, and they give you free expression.”
“If I were leader, I would not make such a distinguishment, and you would be welcome in the caverns.”
“Ah, now we come to it. You wish to seize power.”
“My father is old and sick, easily influenced by my mother and others. He dreams about his youth, when he lived with sunlight on his face. He cannot imagine anyone not wanting to live the same way, without the Hinchai. They talk of resettlement before the next full moon. If that happens, there will be nothing left in our caverns but feeble elders waiting to die; what do they care when they only have a few years left? What will be there for those of us who wish to preserve the race in its purity and also live in sunlight. The resettlement must be stopped before it begins. I have The Memories as Anka’s son, and my skill with the Mind-Touch approaches his. You have a fighting force. Together we can take power, and change the destiny of the Tenanken.”
“An attractive idea, if it were not so ridiculous.”
Maki widened his eyes in surprise. “You disappointment me, Hidaig. Of all the Tenanken, I thought you—”
“Now hear me! We could easily take power, you and I, and what would we rule? Females, children, and elders too feeble to feed themselves? Or warriors turned hunters, for lack of a war to fight? Do you realize how dispersed the Tenanken have become? I know of three groups, including yours, between here and the great, salty waters towards sunset. All are small, and all follow The Plan. The destruction of our race nears completion, and you wish to rule!”
“The Tenanken near extinction only because of a lack of leadership. The race can still remain pure by dissolving The Plan and slaughtering the Hinchai. With a unified fighting force, the scattered Hinchai to the north can be eliminated, and we can live freely in the forests when the game returns.”
“Still another happy-root dream. Do you think the Hinchai will stand by calmly, and let us push them out? You’ve seen their numbers and their weapons. It is hopeless.”
Maki grasped Hidaig’s arm firmly. “I do not propose that we engage a population center, but move north and clean out widely scattered settlements. There are only a few individuals to deal with. That is the least of the difficulties; most importantly,
your warriors must again father children if the classic Tenanken are to survive. Our bands must be united in this, and should not live apart. The females are in my group, not yours.”
Hidaig grinned at him evilly. “Oh, I don’t know. I have made pleasure with the one who served us, and she seems quite willing. Want to try her?”
“Children will never again issue from those shriveled loins,” said Maki disgustedly.
Hidaig laughed. “Still better than a slippery Hinchai female, don’t you think? Whoops!” He pretended to slide off the rock he was sitting on, while Maki glared at him.
“I think I’m wasting my time here. I’ll talk to the other bands, and the journey is far, so I’ll leave now. I’d expected much more of you, Hidaig.”
Hidaig whooped with amusement. “No, no! Wait a moment, cousin; oh, how seriously you take yourself. You always were so serious, so nobody could joke with you.” He wrapped an arm around Maki’s shoulders, and leaned close to him. “Actually, I’ve been baiting you. Your idea makes sense, and I wish you to present it to everyone as soon as I can get them back in here. Believe it or not, each warrior has an individual vote in this band. A good idea, when each can hit me with a spear at a hundred paces if I do something they don’t agree with. I suggest you propose a coalition of our bands, with you as chief elder and Keeper of The Memories, and myself as commander. With the strength of my warriors, the overthrow of Anka’s rule should be bloodless enough, except for the Hinchai purge, and then as one band we will move to the north and freedom from Hinchai contamination. It is an excellent idea. I, of course, will completely support it.”
“And if the vote goes against me?”
“Then I will ask them what they intend to do for pleasure when the old ones by the green pool are dead.”
Maki was finally able to smile. “If your warriors agree, we must move quickly before the resettlement begins. Pegre is in charge of that, and he will not be swayed to our side.”
“Ah, your adopted brother. I remember him, a genius, strong. It may be necessary to kill him.”
“It will be necessary,” said Maki, “but that pleasure must be reserved for me. You contact the other bands, see if they will provide warriors or come with us as a whole. I’ll return to my father’s side, and await your readiness, but it must be soon. I will coordinate our coup as to timing. The rest will be up to you.”
“If my warriors agree.”
“Yes—if they agree.”
An hour later Maki presented his plan to the silent assembly of brooding warriors, Hidaig at his side.
The vote was unanimously in his favor.
CHAPTER SEVEN
BAELA
All morning the scent of pine had floated down the entrance tunnel. Baela was wild with anticipation, for this was one of those sunny days when she was allowed to explore outside the cavern. She bolted down her morning meal of mash while the rest of her family watched with tired resignation. She waited impatiently for the others to finish. When Moog belched, it was a sign the meal was over, and she squirmed across the shelf to lean against her father. “May I go now?” she pleaded. Moog put a big arm lightly around her shoulders. “Be patient, Baela. The sun moves slowly, and you must be presentable.”
Baela pouted, but Moog touched her mind happily and hugged at the same time, so it was impossible for her to feel badly, and she sat patiently while Deda and Ba, mother and grandmother, took turns washing arms and legs and plaiting her hair. She had inherited her delicate features from both of them, but the golden hair had been a surprise to everyone, and a rarity in the caverns, reminding the elders of the first mother of the Tenanken. Baela was proud of her long hair, preferring it hanging in a tousled mass, but today her preference was ignored.
She wore clothing Pegre had brought up from the valley for distribution to those who would soon live outside the caverns. The first time they’d looked upon themselves fully clothed they’d all fallen down with laughter, but now the novelty had worn off and they were dressed much of the time. Baela had on a pair of heavy pants and a long-sleeved shirt in earth colors so she would not easily be seen while outside. Her instructions were to hide if any Hinchai appeared, but this was unlikely since she would be exploring the forested plateau at the top of the cliffs.
Finally it was done. Deda helped her to her feet, turning her around to inspect all sides. Moog and Ba nodded solemn approval, and embraced her quickly before she could fly away. “Be back before darkness, or we come looking for you,” said Moog, but she was gone, scrambling up shelves and disappearing into the exit tunnel as they sat and shook their heads. Baela: known in all caverns as the little darting one.
Tiny feet made her goat-like on the steep rock. Baela climbed straight up the cliff, using barely visible hand-holds, bare feet finding miniscule flakes to perch upon between moves, her mind ignoring the forty meters of air to the treetops below. As she neared the top she found a nest with two fluffy chicks in it, and stopped to watch them, clinging to the rock like a lizard. Their mother returned with a small, dead animal clutched in sharp talons, unfurling broad wings to make a gentle descent to the nest and her shrieking babies. First casting a wary eye on Baela, the great bird tore her prey apart with sharp, curved beak, and fed it piece by piece to her young, sharing a private moment with the girl. Somehow, there was no fear or distrust between them. After a brief rest, the mother bird soared again, perhaps to feed herself, leaving her babies behind within Baela’s reach. She laughed at the cross-eyed stares of the chicks, then climbed again, and they shrieked after her as if she might feed them.
When she reached the plateau, the mother bird was circling high in the sky, and Baela felt a sudden desire to spread her arms and fly from the cliff, soaring with the great feathered predator that built nests where only the daring would climb. She held out her arms, and whirled in a circle at cliff’s edge, then ran to a tree and climbed far up into the branches as little animals screamed at her intrusion. Held in a hollow formed by three converging branches, she rested and daydreamed and finally dozed as the day warmed.
She awoke, startled by a snapping sound below her.
Peering down through the branches she saw a large male with green shirt, walking near her climbing tree. A Hinchai! Or was it? She looked again: broad shoulders, square jaw, a head full of black hair and the swaggering gait that was surely Tenanken. He looked upwards at a neighboring tree.
“Pegre!” she shouted.
Pete grinned up at her, hands on hips. “And how did you fly so high, little bird?”
“I climbed up. Come see my place!”
“No, no. I’m too big for those little branches. Baela, we must talk about something; please come down for a little while.”
She descended willingly, for Pegre was fun to be with, and he answered all her questions. He had also taught her new speech, and was appearing more often now as the day to leave the cavern approached. When she was a few feet from the ground, he held out his big arms to her with a grin. “Show me how you fly!”
There was no hesitation. Baela launched herself from the tree, soaring like the birds for a fleeting instant before he caught her and placed her on bare feet again. They exchanged smiles that would melt the coldest heart and Pete sat down beside her. Wait until the young boys in town see this one. And Baela cocked her head curiously at him as he reached to touch her mind where he wanted to be when he asked his question. She allowed him entrance, but there were no images to be seen. He sensed wariness, and absolute control.
“Relax, Baela, I only want to ask you about this.” He held out his hand, and showed her the rifle cartridge in it. He felt her shock when she saw it, and the brief image that escaped her at that instant was all he needed. She knew what he had seen, and suddenly was angry, clothing her mind in darkness.
“Why ask when you know? As you see, I found it in Maki’s sleeping place by the entrance.”
“On the floor? Was there anything else with it? A weapon of some kind? Please, Baela, it’s importan
t.”
“Yes,” she said solemnly. “Maki had a Hinchai pointing weapon there, with more of those. I took the one, and gave it to Anka when he felt bad.”
“I know. He didn’t understand what it was, and asked me. I’ll return it to him for you.” Pete looked worried, his mind wandering away for a moment.
Baela brooded silently, playing nervously with her fingers. “I didn’t mean to do anything wrong,” she finally said. “It was pretty, and there were many others, so I took just one. And Anka liked it.”
“Don’t worry about it,” said Pete, still thinking, “but there is something you can do for me. If Maki comes back, and I think he will, I want to know what he’s up to and who he’s with. Could you be my eyes when I’m not here, and watch him for me? It’s only for a little while.”
“Has he done something bad?” Her face was suddenly serious.
“I don’t know, Baela. Not for sure. But inside—I have a bad feeling, right now. Will you help me?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t be seen, and don’t go far from the cavern. We can talk when I come for speaking practice.”
“All right.” Still serious, looking at Pete intently, she opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it quickly.
“Something else?”
“Why don’t you look inside his head the way you do mine?”
“Maki can shield against that.”
“So can I. Well—not perfectly, but I’m learning. I don’t like it when people go in my head; that’s my place.”
“Oh,” said Pete, suddenly understanding her mood. Here was something else new and different about the child who was Tenanken with Hanken purity. Bernie never objected when he probed her thoughts; she didn’t even know he was there. This one did—and objected to it, yet the classical Tenanken of the Tahehto branch of the tree had difficulties in communicating any other way. How different she was, and not just in the color of her hair. Slender in stature, but that was deceiving, because he knew she was near adolescence. Perhaps this reaction was a part of her changing chemistry?
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