59
Ilker and all the people of Antakya took great pride in the hospitality they offered the caravan from Catal. The respect was mutual and had been forged over centuries of trade, and each visit by one or the other had evolved to a cause for celebration. The feast this night was no exception. The sounds of drums and flutes rose in the night air and mixed with the laughter and chattering from all directions. Hearth fires sputtered and smoked everywhere as the rich aromas of cooking fish and meat floated on the salty breeze. Asil, Ott, and Graf were enjoying the feast with Ilker, his wife, and their two teenaged sons. Ilker motioned to Asil.
“Someday, when I have grown old, you will be met here by my sons,” he said, smiling and waving toward his sons. It was both a statement and a question, and Ilker’s face grew reflective before again breaking into his wide grin.
Asil smiled back warmly. “Yes, Ilker, we will be met by them as we were met by your father and his father before him, and all others who carried the name Ilker.”
Ilker’s eyes twinkled as he raised an earthen pot of fermented barley beer in his hands. He let out a roar of laughter and quaffed down the brew. “And so it shall always be.” He patted Asil on the back.
The following day, Ott and Graf speared fish trapped in the pools left by the receding tide. They tossed the fish into a woven reed basket, and when it was full, they carried them to the edge of the lagoon, where they cleaned them and tossed the entrails into the shallow surf. Shorebirds wheeled and dived for the free meal. After covering their catch with seaweed and taking it back to Ilker’s large hearth, they decided to explore the area opposite the high seawall that overlooked the shoreline and lagoon. The sheer rock face towered at a steep angle and would be all but impossible to scale, but Ott suspected there was access from the bluffs above the city.
By midafternoon, they had found what they were looking for. They had worked their way through a rocky area thick with dead, wind-stripped trees. When they emerged on the other side, they spotted the rocky ledge of the seawall a short distance in front of them. Winding their way around large stones and more trees, they made their way to the ledge. Though only fifty feet up, the view covered the entire beach and lagoon to the opposing seawall on the opposite side of the lagoon. They rested at the top of the formation for several minutes, watching as fishing boats glided ashore. As they stood to leave, they were spotted by a group of people cleaning fish along the base of the wall at the edge of the surf. The people smiled and waved excitedly. Ott and Graf waved back, and then, with their curiosity satisfied, took a final look before navigating back through the rocks and trees and down the bluffs to the city entrance.
The trading, which had begun early in the morning, was complete by late afternoon, and the people of Catal began packing and preparing for their early departure the following morning. With the long day drawing to a close, Ott and Graf stood in the gentle surf and watched as the sun spread brilliant streaks of orange and gold through the pearlescent white clouds billowing above the glimmering sea.
As the sun dipped low, Ott thought again of what other strange lands might exist across the water. Moments later with twilight spreading, Ott motioned to Graf and they kicked their way out of the surf and headed into the city for their final meal with Ilker.
The next day the trading was complete. Everyone rose well before dawn to load the pack animals and stage the caravan for the return trip. Asil walked the length of the caravan greeting individuals and inspecting the alignment. He stopped briefly at the bellowing cattle loaded with the precious salt and was assured by the drovers that the sacks were secure and evenly distributed. Satisfied, he finished his inspection and made his way back to the front, where he was greeted by Ott, Graf, and the scouts. He next signaled the men who would flank the caravan to move into position, and then ordered the scouts forward.
Waiting for the scouts to distance themselves, Asil turned and looked back down the assembled caravan, where he spotted Ilker huffing and shuffling his huge body forward with his two sons at his side. Asil knew he was there for the ritual that had become customary over the years.
The portly leader chugged to a stop in front of Asil, gulping for air, and then reached inside a pouch that he pulled from his side. His face brightened with a broad grin as he hoisted up a necklace of conical white shells interspersed with white and black pearls. It was a gift to take back to Ece. The exchange of gifts at departure had become a routine show of respect over the years. Asil was well prepared for the ritual. He admired the necklace for a moment, placed it in his pouch, and then, using both hands, pulled out three obsidian knives with ram-horn pommels. The blades were secured in tightly stitched leather sheaths. Asil offered two of the knives to the boys, but looked to Ilker for approval before extending them. Ilker smiled and nodded. The boys were old enough and had been taught to respect all tools. Asil handed the knives to the boys, and their eyes widened as they slid the gleaming black blades from the leather sheaths. Asil handed the third knife to Ilker, who beamed with appreciation. As Ilker and his sons stood proudly by with the knives cinched at their waists, Asil stepped out in clear view of everyone and signaled the caravan forward.
The caravan plodded away and up through the bluffs to the high promontory overlooking the city and the vast sea below. As the caravan angled onto the road leading out to the plains, Ott and Graf turned for a last look at the sea. As Ott stared out at the horizon, Graf tapped his shoulder and pointed off to the right. Ott spotted them immediately. The black objects were back and larger than before. This time they moved along much farther below the horizon. Asil approached to see what Graf was pointing at and watched the objects for a moment before turning back to the caravan with a shake of his head and a shrug. He had no idea what they were, but for now he needed to get the caravan back to Catal. He motioned to Ott and Graf, and they all trotted back to the front as the caravan moved ahead, leaving Antakya and the sea behind.
Three days later the caravan returned to Catal. As the sun glided to late afternoon, Ott and Graf made their way to the hearth between their dwellings, where they were met by Cha and Yaan, who had arrived not long before. They exchanged greetings through travel-weary smiles, and then Cha pointed to a neat pile of fresh clothing and drying cloths stacked on a bench. Caked with dust and dry sweat, no one hesitated at the obvious. A short while later, they walked out to the open area adjacent to the warm springs and stripped naked. As they slipped into the welcome warmth, Yaan ran her hand over the pink streaks running from Graf’s shoulder to his elbow and asked what had happened. Graf turned to Cha with a smile and asked if she could paint a wolf. Ott laughed and dipped his head in the water.
60
Several days after the caravan had returned to Catal, Ott, Cha, Graf, and Yaan watched the setting sun spread brilliant vermillion streaks across the horizon. Viewing the sunset after soaking in the warm springs was a pleasure everyone enjoyed on a regular basis. The ritual provided opportunity for solace and reflection on the comfortable life in the city. Ott and the others sat silently as the gliding sun spread its final light, turning the endless rolling plains into a glimmering sea of grass. A warm breeze fluttered through the encroaching twilight, rustling the potted trees and plants that provided shade at every hearth and common area on the rooftop. In the warm comfort of the moment, Ott again wondered if this place would be their final home, for surely the comfort, beauty, and peace of Catal must be what Barjeen called “the way.”
As meat sizzled on the rocks above the glowing embers, Asil and Ece approached the hearth. Ece wore the necklace from Ilker and Asil carried a large vase with curved handles. Asil announced that Ilker had given him another gift to surprise Ott and the others with at the right time. The large vessel was full of Ilker’s special brew, and as Asil filled cups, laughter filled the air.
The calm was broken by the commotion of a crowd approaching the hearth. At the front of the crowd, several men were supporting and helping along two boys who were limping along in what a
ppeared to be exhaustion. Asil didn’t recognize them at first. Their faces were bruised and battered with swollen eyes, and their tunics were torn and stained with dried blood. As he looked closer, Asil realized they were Ilker’s sons. He raised his hands and signaled the crowd back as the boys were seated and given cups of water. They sipped at the water repeatedly, and a few moments later, as their breathing slowed and evened out, Asil motioned for the crowd to quiet down. He asked the boys what had happened.
In low voices that broke with nervous exhaustion, the boys explained it had started the previous morning at the lagoon. A large crowd was preparing for another morning of fishing when someone shouted and pointed to a spot out on the sea. Everyone looked out at the black squares they had all seen before, but this time they were closer and there were more of them. After a while, the shapes beneath the squares became clear and everyone realized they were boats, but much larger than any of those used by the other coastal cities. The crowd grew as the strange boats approached the entrance to the lagoon. Ilker and other elders stood at the front to greet the new people from the sea. Everyone thought the boats were carrying traders from across the water.
Visibly shaken, the boys paused for more water, and as the crowd quieted, they continued recounting what had happened. They explained that the boats glided into the lagoon, dropped their black sails, and anchored in the deeper water beyond the beach. When all the large boats were secure, long, shallow boats were lowered and men climbed down into them. When full, the boats were paddled to the shore and the men splashed out and assembled as the boats paddled out and returned with more men. When the last of the men had come to shore, the longboats were pulled from the water and positioned on the beach.
In front of the lagoon, the men stood three deep in lines that stretched from one side of the lagoon to the other. Each carried a spear with a strange tip that glinted in the sun, and a long-sheathed knife hung at their sides. The men lining the beach stood with no movement other than their black tunics rippling softly in the breeze. Their heads and faces were shaved smooth, and they all held their spears upright in the sand. A moment passed in silence until the formation parted and a man stepped forward. He was dressed like the others, but carried no spear, and unlike the others he wore a thick braid of black hair that sprouted from the back of his head and draped down his back. All the people of the city grew silent as the man studied the large gathering, and then, after turning his head and speaking to the men behind him, he strode across the beach and approached Ilker.
Both the people of the city and the men lining the beach watched in silence as the tall man and Ilker spoke. The wave of apprehension that had filled the crowd when the strange boats entered the lagoon was beginning to wane as Ilker and the stranger spoke of trade and the man motioned toward the black boats. The people of the city looked out to the boats, wondering what they carried. What did these people have to offer? What did they want?
Out of earshot, the crowd watched as Ilker smiled and gestured toward the man’s sheathed knife. It was longer than any he had ever seen. Without moving his eyes from Ilker’s face, the man grasped the sheath in both his hands and extended the handle. With a nod, Ilker pulled the blade free and held it up at arm’s length. It was straight and smooth with sharp edges on both sides, but it was not flint or obsidian. Perhaps knives and other tools of this same material were what the man would offer in trade.
Ilker smiled and nodded approvingly as he slid the blade back into the sheath. Never dropping his gaze, the man positioned the sword to his side and pointed to Ilker’s knife. Still smiling, Ilker pulled the knife free and extended the ram-horn handle. The tall man took the knife and rotated it, studying the gleaming black obsidian blade. He stroked the blade from his elbow to his wrist, shaving the hair and leaving the skin perfectly smooth. The man hefted the ram-horn handle and again stared at the gleaming black blade. It was sharper than any he had ever held. Ilker tilted his head back and grinned at the reaction. The tall man returned the grin with a tight-lipped sneer and thrust the black blade into Ilker’s throat.
Nearing hysteria, the boys wept openly, and through sobbing voices described how their father had clutched his neck and pitched facedown in the sand with blood spurting from his punctured throat. The men lining the beach had thrown their spears and then rushed into the crowd slashing and stabbing with their long knives.
The sobbing became uncontrollable, and Asil motioned for the boys to be taken to a quiet hearth where they could be comforted.
As the crowd dwindled, Ott contemplated what the boys had described. Antakya had been attacked, his friend murdered, and many of the people of the city slaughtered by a people from the sea who had come to trade only with death and taking. Ott visualized Ilker’s grinning face. Anger seethed inside him. He pushed the growing rage aside and concentrated on what should be done.
Everyone sat in confusion until Asil broke the dark silence. “Do you think they will come?”
Ott raised his eyes, his stare cold and resolute. “No. They will never come to our city.”
“How do you know? How can you be sure?”
“Because they will never leave Antakya alive, on foot or in their black boats.” Ott looked to Graf. “You remember how the seawall overlooked the lagoon?”
Ott had a plan, and everyone leaned closer as he explained.
61
The following morning, men from all over Catal and the neighboring villages massed on the plain at the city entrance. After listening to Ott’s plan the night before, Asil had sent runners throughout the city and the surrounding villages to ask able-bodied men to be ready by morning to travel to Antakya. Word of the bloody attack had spread, and many of the people of Catal and the villages had friends and relatives who lived in Antakya. Concern and anger drove the response, and as dawn broke, over a thousand men waited on the plain.
Ott, Cha, Graf, and Yaan, along with Asil and Ece, made their way to the front of the assembled men and then spread out. They would lead the way, with Ott setting the pace. Ott signaled the scouts ahead and motioned for the men to spread out. They would be moving fast, and he wanted to avoid any tripping and injuries from falls. As the men spread out, Ott noted all the men carried what he had suggested. In addition to food and waterskins, the men carried knives cinched at their sides and two bows and large quivers of arrows secured over their shoulders. Most of the men also carried a short thrusting spear with a thick flint tip.
As the men waited, their grim faces showed their resolute determination. Ott had instructed the messengers to tell everyone they were going to handle the sea people the way they handled any animal that threatened or attacked the people of their city. They would hunt them, surprise them, and kill them all. The men of Catal were prepared to destroy the predators from the sea, and at Ott’s signal they started for Antakya. With Cha at his side and the others strung out in front of the formation, Ott set off at a fast walk. As the torches on the city walls faded, he picked up the pace to a steady trot, and as the sun rose the newly formed warriors of Catal flowed over the plain in a silence broken only by the thumping of hundreds of feet padding on the thick grass carpet of the plain.
Pushing the pace steadily into the day, Ott slowed occasionally to allow the men to drink and pull food from their pouches. By midafternoon they were well beyond the halfway point, and he knew his timing and pace were good. They would reach the high outskirts of the city by nightfall, and the men could be put into position under the cover of darkness.
With the sun glaring bright in the hottest part of the day, Ott slowed the pace for the men to drink. As he lifted his own waterskin, he noticed the dozens of vultures circling in the sky. Death was near. A moment later, one of the advance scouts loped forward from behind a knoll. The scout pulled to a stop in front of Ott, sweat streaking down his face.
“There are many dead on the beach and around the entrance of the city, and more in the bluffs above it.” He glanced back toward the vultures dotting the sky.
“In the city and on the beach. We have been watching them from above on the rock wall you directed us to.”
“Are there any at the entrance or in the bluffs?”
“No sea people, only the dead and . . .” The scout pointed at the vultures.
“Wait for us in the rocks by the wall. We will arrive at night.”
The scout nodded and trotted away.
As the scout disappeared in the distance, Ott motioned for Asil and the others to join him. They went over the plan a final time, and as they spread back out, Ott checked the sun again and moved the men forward at a steady walk. The men of Catal closed on the city of Antakya and the first enemy they had ever known.
As shadows stretched long and disappeared into the encroaching gray of nightfall, Ott halted the advance at a point back from the promontory overlooking the city. He stood before the midpoint of the men and, in the waning light, swept his arm out to the left. The men to his left stepped off and followed Graf, Asil, Ece, and Yaan down from the promontory and into the bluffs, where they stretched out in the rocks above and on both sides of the roadway leading up through the bluffs.
With the last of the men to his left trailing into the bluffs, Ott motioned the remaining men to follow him and Cha. They peeled off toward the seawall overlooking the beach and lagoon. With Cha at his side and the moon rising, he led the men through the rock-strewn swath of land he and Graf had explored when they had discovered the way to the top of the seawall formation.
In the silver-gray light of an almost full moon, Ott spread the men out just below the top and along the entire length of the rocks. Once the men stepped to the top of the wall, the entire beach from the rear entrance of the city to the edge of the lagoon to the opposing wall would be visible. All of it was within bow range.
The Way of the Seed_Earth Spawn of Kalpeon Page 20