Analog SFF, September 2009

by Dell Magazine Authors

  A man behind Ghaf said, “Tayem, I run hunting dogs. Know that Pela has almost thirty summers. She can bear you no children."

  Gordon waited to see if there were any more remarks to be made against Pela. When there were none, he said, “Thank you for your guidance. From you I see that Pela is experienced, accomplished, loves and feels loss deeply, and is fearless in addressing the gods when they wrong her. From you all I see I have chosen well."

  Mahu grinned widely, nodded at Ghaf's wife, and the Temptation ceremony continued with a feast of goat, tea, and something resembling hardtack which when softened in the tea was quite sweet. Mahu said, “Keila,” then he pointed across the circle. Gordon looked where the Clan Father indicated. There was a place across from Gordon that was empty. One of Mahu's wives, a plump sandy-haired woman in her early thirties wearing the leather long shirt, placed a beaded leather cushion in the empty place, glanced at Gordon, covered her face in embarrassment, faced her left palm at Mahu, and went to the fire pit to join in the cooking. “Keila,” repeated Mahu. “My first wife. Keila first daughter of Kag Ati, Clan Father Cleft Mountain. Keila's mother dead. Kag Ati took three new wives to replace her.” He looked around the circle at the company. “Kag Ati not here.” Mahu pointed out his two other wives, both dark-complexioned younger women with black hair and dark eyes. “Suna and Min. Twin daughters of Nol Pindaak, naticha of Yellow Claw Clan.” He gestured toward a man in a black leather hooded long shirt who wore a necklace of blue beads. Nol Pindaak nodded back at Mahu's gesture and pushed back his hood, revealing a weathered dark face with large dark eyes. He sported a long black beard salted with gray. Nol Pindaak gestured to a quite slender woman in furs sitting to his left.

  "That is Funa Son, Nol's only wife, mother of Suna and Min. Mahu continued introducing the notable personages attending the ceremony. When he was concluded, he asked if he could look at Gordon's leather knapsack. Gordon handed it over and Mahu nodded his thanks as he held the pack in his lap and studied the finish on the leather and especially the stitching. “I have never seen such work. Who made this?"

  "L.L. Bean."

  "Where is this—"

  "Mahu!” called a deep gravelly voice. The Black Mountain Clan Father looked up, grinned and waved. Gordon saw a man in heavy dark furs on the other side of the fire pit near the eastern entrance wave back. “Kag Ati,” said Mahu.

  The Clan Father of the Cleft Mountain Clan was taller than usual, heavily muscled, and with a face burned dark by sun, wind, and snow glare. He had an ugly scar from the outside corner of his left eye straight down to his chin line, the result of a knife fight in which—according to Mahu—he slew the previous Clan Father. Kag Ati wore his dark brown furs about his shoulders over whitish leathers and was the only one in Ghaf's tent who carried a weapon: one of the obsidian-toothed clubs. Kag Ati looked at Gordon, switched his weapon from his right to his left hand, kissed his own right palm, touched the palm to his forehead, and held the hand out in Gordon's direction. Gordon nodded in return.

  Wooden drums began beating, the instrumentation provided by two men near the door. Just as suddenly as it began, the drumming stopped. Pela's ex-sister-in-law Bonsha came in the eastern entrance and stood to the left of the opening. Then Pela entered, being led by a tall man in his forties with thick black hair streaked with gray. Deep blue eyes were capped with arched black eyebrows.

  "Lekiv is lawminder, my good right arm,” said Mahu. “He takes the place of his great friend Cualu, Pela's father."

  Gordon wasn't listening. His attention was filled with the sight of Pela in her white leathers sewn with turquoise, black, and golden beadwork up from her hem and cuffs. Her hair was done up in a gleaming auburn pile upon her head, the affair held in place by a half dozen long white bone combs, their ends capped with gold beads. At the sight of her, the women began singing.

  * * * *

  Come, daughter, come. See who awaits.

  This man who refused all to be your gift.

  Come to your place in the ring,

  honor Tana,

  watch your husband-to-be,

  see who his eyes seek.

  Daughter, you are still free.

  * * * *

  The drums beat again and the men began singing.

  * * * *

  Look son, look. See who comes.

  This woman who refused all to be your gift.

  See her take her place in the ring,

  honor Wuja,

  watch your wife-to-be,

  see who her eyes seek.

  Son, you are still free.

  * * * *

  Gordon's eyes sought only Pela, and every time he looked at her, she was looking back at him, her face radiant, her eyes filled with love and wonder. In fact, he was so caught up in looking at her he realized that he had forgotten to reset the shockcomb. In a pause in the festivities, he picked up his bag, held it between his knees, reached in and triggered the reset. He glanced in and saw the readout. Thirty-one minutes to spare. It brought back to him the impending hammer of reality. He looked around at the gathering. One important face was missing. Gordon leaned toward Mahu and asked, “Clan Father, where is Tonton Annajaka?"

  Mahu lowered his cup, licked his left thumb, and repeated Gordon's visual search as though he expected to find the shaman of the Black Mountain Clan there. “She should be here.” The Clan Father frowned, looked again, then slowly shook his head. “When I saw her earlier she looked not right. Perhaps she is ill. Take no offense at Tonton's absence, God'n."

  "Where was she going, Mahu?"

  "Cross river.” He frowned at a memory. “She say she go to look at nightmare.” He waved a hand in dismissal. “Mystical talk, the way natichas do.” Gordon nodded and looked down at his hands resting atop his leather knapsack. Mahu leaned over and whispered into his ear, “What you know about Tonton's nightmare?” The Clan Father leaned back and pointed at his own ear.

  Gordon whispered into Mahu's ear, “I am the one who told her the nightmare. She wants to test it.” Gordon frowned as the words left his mouth.

  "You have question,” stated the Clan Father.

  Gordon nodded. “There are things about me no one here knows but me. For this reason no one can warn Pela of them in making her decision. Is it permitted for me to tell her these things now?"

  "No.” Mahu thought for a moment. “But you may stand outside next to the large tree and take the air. It is smoky in here.” He leaned forward and said to Ghaf. “It is smoky in your tent."

  "Unhealthy and too warm,” said Ghaf. “I must see to making changes."

  Shantonna pushed her daughter toward Pela's side of the ring. “See if the air is any better on that side of the tent, Anista,” said her mother.

  Mahu nodded toward the tent's entrance. “Perhaps you should get some air, God'n."

  "My thanks, Clan father. I will.” He stood, stepped through the guests, and went to the entrance of the tent. Once outside he walked to the large tree and stood there in the still air, the torch beside the entrance to Ghaf's tent burning brightly. Automatically Gordon's gaze searched the shadows. Yellow Eyes was there, monitoring how his plaything walked the trail he had chosen. In the shadows, as well, was someone else: Jatka.

  He heard footsteps whispering in the snow behind him. “It is cooler out here,” said Pela. “I can breathe."

  Gordon turned and looked at her. Her back was toward him. He turned back and they stood with their backs to each other. “Omiva, goddess of the night sky,” Gordon said to the night, “there are things the one I am thinking for doesn't know about me. No one here but me knows these things. I would have you tell Pela so then she can decide if she is still my gift."

  "I am listening, Omiva,” said Pela quietly. “What would you say to me?"

  Gordon told the night sky of the thing that built Black Mountain and the coming thing that one day would take the mountain and the peoples near it. He told her of the coming flood that would bury the village, the valley, Shayvi's Hill, a
nd all she knew. Gordon told Omiva about the many men he had killed and about the capsule. He told her about moving through time, about why he and his two companions had come to her village, and how he knew what would come.

  When he was finished, he folded his arms across his chest and bowed his head.

  Pela said, “Great Listener, Mother of Stars, with all God'n knows, all he saw, all he did, and all he fears, is there room left in his heart for Pela?"

  "Yes,” he said in answer to Night's question. But Night had one more question.

  "Omiva,” addressed Pela, “If people from beyond now come for God'n, will he go with them?"

  "Only if Pela comes with me, goddess of night. Only then."

  "Then he is my gift, Omiva, and I am his."

  But there was still one shadow remaining. “Night Goddess,” said Gordon, “I would like to regard Jatka as our son and raise him to manhood."

  Pela laughed sweetly. “Some will say God'n has a woman's heart, Omiva, to go with his boy's face."

  Gordon laughed and shook his head. “If that is the worst ever said about Gordon Redcliff in this life, Goddess of the Night Sky, it will be a happy life."

  "If he agrees, then, Omiva, Jatka will be our son.” Pela turned until she stood beside Gordon, still not looking upon him.

  "Jatka,” Gordon said to the shadows. “Come here.” There was nothing but silence. “I am brother to a great wolf, Jatka, and can see in the dark. I see you now."

  Jatka came from behind a large cedar on the far edge of the path. He walked until he was two paces from them and stopped. “I was only watching the people go in, listening to the songs and drums. I did nothing wrong."

  "You did nothing wrong, Jatka. Tomorrow morning at the clanhouse Pela and I will marry. We ask you now: will you stand with us and be our son?"

  Stone-faced, Jatka stood there looking between Pela and Gordon. “What do you mean?"

  "Will you stand with us?” asked Pela of the boy. “Will you become a part of our family? This is what we want. At the same time we will feast you to manhood."

  "What will I have to do?"

  She pointed at Jatka's ragged furs. “New coverings. You can't stand with us looking like that."

  "Do you have something to present to the gifted upon the Men's Ledge?” asked Gordon. “Can you slay your bear?"

  Jatka nodded, his gaze downcast. He was silent for a moment, then elevated his gaze until he was looking into Gordon's eyes. “Why?"

  "I too grew up outside the embrace of my people,” said Gordon. “It gave me an angry heart and a lonely life. I see you where I was. I make you the offer I wanted then."

  "I killed my father,” he cried.

  Gordon placed a hand upon the boy's shoulder. “Jatka, I will never give you cause to kill me."

  Jatka looked up into the night sky, his eyes touched with tears. “Yes.” He looked at Pela and Gordon. “We will be a family."

  "Then I have had enough fresh air,” said Pela, taking Jatka by the arm and turning back to Ghaf's tent. “I want to announce your coming-of-age ceremony.” They walked to the tent and entered, leaving Gordon alone beneath the stars.

  He saw the reflection of a fire high in the sky, the light flickered in the distant treetops. It took him a moment but Gordon realized it came from the top of the cliff. Tonton Annajaka was back from her hunt. The conclusions she had reached had moved her up to her special place to consult with her gods. A rising breeze stirred up the snow on the ground into moving ribbons of haze that formed and vanished to be replaced by others as they crossed the path. Gordon turned his steps toward the cliff.

  * * * *

  X*

  He climbed the trail in the dark, sensing his way by sound, touch, and the motion of the air as he had been trained in sniper school. On the last of the steep places above the men's ledge, Gordon felt the hammer stone-carved steps to Tonton's place. They were slick with ice and he climbed them soundlessly to a stand of cedars atop the sacred cliff. Pausing at the edge of the trees he looked up to where the naticha knelt before her fire, her back toward him. The wolf that had licked the fat from his fingers the night before sat motionless beside the trail. Gordon nodded once at the wolf and faced Tonton Annajaka's back. “Naticha,” he said, “may I approach your fire?"

  "You move silent as fog, God'n. Please come to my fire and sit.” Her voice was strangely calm.

  Gordon came forward and sat to the naticha's left. Her vantage point allowed her to look out over the village and toward Black Mountain. The wolf came and sat to Tonton's right. The naticha smiled at the wolf. “My invitation, of course, extends to sister of God'n."

  Tonton returned her gaze to the mountain and looked up at the few stars bright enough not to be washed out by the moonlight. “I sit here many nights—no fire—and watch stars. In ancient belief, God'n, stars are hearts of dead ancestors who watch over their families and peoples here below. Now stars are prayers of men and women. Each time a star falls, Omiva answers a prayer.” She looked at Gordon. “What were you taught?"

  Gordon thought back to Nascha, his mother. “I was taught stars are the shattered dreams of warriors."

  "Who taught you this?” asked Tonton.

  "My mother. Her view of most things was different from the Dina—The People. Most believed my mother to be a witch.” He smiled. “There was a wise old man, Hosteen Ahiga, who told me my mother was sick.” He tapped the side of his head. “He also told me some of the ancient belief of the Dina."

  "I would hear it,” said the naticha.

  "In the creation, the holy people—the gods—put out a great blanket that contained all the stars, the sun, the moon, and the rest. Then they proceeded to discuss at length where the sun should go. When they were done they placed the sun in the sky. They then discussed at even greater length where the moon should go. When they had at last agreed, they placed the moon in the sky. Then, one at a time, they began with the stars.” Gordon looked at the wolf. “Coyote, though, became tired of the endless debates, grew impatient, bit onto a corner of the blanket, and shook his head, flinging the rest of the stars into the sky.” He faced Tonton.

  Tonton looked from the wolf to Gordon. “And what are the stars now?"

  "More suns,” he answered. “Balls of burning air very far away, many like Ekav, many bigger, many smaller. Some of the points of light are huge gatherings of stars so far away they look like single stars."

  Tonton slowly faced the direction of the mountain. “I cross river today and climb to top of Shayvi's Hill. I go to graves, look at damaged trees. On ground I find strange beds and green dust, bits, and pieces of time boat.” She was silent for a long time.

  "In his home I also find man I sent to Shayvi's Hill to become husband to Pela. Fisher, forty and one years, name of Baltok.” She tapped the side of her head. “He too is sick, God'n. Not sick when I sent him across river. Baltok stayed in woods, watched Pela for three days, making up mind. He say he prepared to present himself as Tana's gift to Pela then heard a sound in the night air like fifty trees being broken at same time by hands of frost giant. Then a strange scream and the sky fill with blinding colors. At the center of the light was your time boat falling from sky. Baltok thought Zama was after him to pull him down to the darkness."

  "Perhaps he is not as sick as you think,” offered Gordon quietly.

  "When I find Baltok he is at his house by river filling his pack. After he speak to me he fled for Yellow Claw country."

  "That's even closer to the mountain than Red Cliff,” said Gordon.

  "It is the difference between raindrops if we are all to die."

  Gordon studied the flakes of snow as they vaporized above the fire. “Back in your dwelling, Tonton, you asked me why I do not run."

  "Yes."

  "Why do you not run? Why do you not warn the people?"

  She stared into the fire, gave a single laugh, then leaned forward, picked up a stick and threw it into the flames. A shower of sparks climbed into the night sky
and died. “You have seen all my magic, God'n. I make you sleep, I talk to ghosts, I convince an old fisher to pretend to be gift of Tana. Eat too much meat, I make you something move your bowels.” She fixed her gaze on him. “Itahnika gave you eyes thousands of summers long. You move through time. You appear in flashes of light like crack of thunder. Wolf eat from your hand, you know our tongue in days. Much magic. Yet you stay here and die to protect future you have seen only a little of yourself."

  She sighed. “God'n, do the deaths of the Black Mountain clans protect nothing but good?” She waved her hand at the night sky. “Beyond now is there nothing bad that the lives of these peoples and the lives of their descendents might make better?"

  Gordon took a long time to answer. “Those future summers are not all good. They are filled with ignorance, disease, want, cruelty, pain, and death. They are also filled with knowledge, discovery, kindness, courage, healing, beauty, and life. You are right: I have seen only a little of this future and know of only a little more. What I have seen and what I know others have seen have been this same mix of death and life. That I was a hunter of men speaks for the time in which I lived. That I learned to love others and to admire the work and creations of others also speaks for that time. I know much of what is to be. Would it be made better if the peoples of Black Mountain survive the great storm? Maybe it would be made worse or make no change at all. I don't know. What you call my ghosts are just as ignorant. There are things they value above all else, though. They are things that might never be if we change things now."

  "What things, God'n?” asked the naticha.

  "Gods, saviors, and prophets. Tribes, nations, monuments, talismans, and rituals."

  "Are their gods real or did the peoples of the future imagine them?"

  Gordon grinned. “A very good question, naticha."

  "Does beyond now have an answer?"

  "Thousands of thousands."

  "I think your ghosts tell me they can't make you understand them. Something wrong with your head."