Ki'ti's Story, 75,000 BC

by Bonnye Matthews

  Tongip had never spoken at the men’s council. He squirmed and shifted and finally said, “I have talked to Aryna about making a visit to the Mol. It would have to be soon, because I would not want us to be traveling during the season of cold days. I personally do not know of any other caves north of here, but the Mol might. I used to live in caves with them to the west. I am willing to ask whether their mind webs hold information that could be helpful.” That was the most public speaking Tongip had ever done, and he felt drained.

  Ki’ti wondered whether Aryna wanted to make the trip. She didn’t want to ask, because she felt the information was personal. Aryna’s history was Other and the Mol feared Others. Chamul-na asked the question.

  “I wanted to have her meet my parents and grandparents, and for all of them to meet her,” he said. “You have seen that Untuk and I speak the words of the People as well as our words. The Mol know your words from long ago. The Mol sometimes travel and talk with People to the east. We know the words of several languages. Visiting will be simple knowing the words.”

  Chamul-na asked, “If you make the trip, would you let me join you? I have wanted to explore that area many times.”

  “Of course,” Tongip offered, glad to have another hunter along.

  “When will you go?” Chamul-na asked. Light from the fire flickered on the walls behind him. Shadows moved around the wall and played in the fire.

  “We planned to prepare tonight or tomorrow night at the latest, and leave the next morning. Could you be ready to go tomorrow morning?”

  “Anytime you’re ready, I am. One of my favorite ways to spend a day is in traveling and exploring,” he replied.

  Nanichak-na said, “I would like to go to see whether we can repair the bridge well enough to cross over and explore the other side of the river to the north.”

  Chamul-na looked up. “Not without me!” he said with feeling.

  Manak-na said to Chamul-na, “Domur and I could go with Tongip, if you’d rather take this time to go to the bridge.”

  Mootmu-na punched Chamul-na in the shoulder. “Now, look what you’ve done,” he said.

  Ermol-na said, “If Chamul-na and Nanichak-na go to the bridge, I will go with them.”

  Lamul-na joined the discussion, “I think I should go. If there is a need for a younger person to attempt to cross the part of the bridge that is standing, I am better able.”

  When the discussion ended, Manak-na, Domur, and their children would leave with Tongip and Aryna the next morning to visit his relatives. Chamul-na, Nanichak-na, Lamul-na, and Kai-na would go to the bridge at the same time. Both groups would try to keep the time of their absence to a minimum.

  When the meeting adjourned, the hunters were not displeased with their new Wise One. In fact, it pleased them that she was forward looking for their safety. “It was good,” they felt, and said so.

  Ki’ti was relieved as her first day ended. She silently thanked Wisdom for sucking color from the land to give sleep and rest to the People. She was as tired as if they had trekked all day. Wamumur and Emaea breathed a sigh of relief and enjoyed a new sense of freedom they hadn’t known since they left childhood.

  Chapter 10

  Wisdom returned color to the land with a gray sky, reminding Nanichak-na of the days of ashfall. In his mind, gray skies were ominous and warranted caution, but then most people told him he viewed things too darkly. The cave came to life and the morning meal was prepared, and a few of the people were getting ready to leave. Nanichak-na, Chamul-na, Lamul-na, and Kai-na were ready for departure to the broken bridge. They did not wait for the women to provide food, but took some dried meat to eat on the way, gathered their materials, and left. They took no dogs, just the meager things that hunters on hunter trek carried. They could hardly wait to reach their destination, and take a good careful look at the area and possibilities for future residency should the need arrive.

  Ki’ti met them on the rock walk. She walked up to Nanichak-na and placed her hands on his shoulders, “Go with Wisdom,” she said. Then she placed her hands on Chamul-na’s shoulders and said, “Go with Wisdom.” Then Lamul-na, and then Kai-na. The hunters were a little surprised, but they liked it. Ki’ti watched them leave.

  They took the gentle slope upwards to the mountains and the open field at the base of the cave of the man with the green bag. They were invigorated. Each in his own way loved to explore and problem solve. They walked briskly and reached the ancient pathway quickly.

  Back at the cave, Tongip and Aryna, along with Manak-na and Domur with their children, Tuma and Mhank, were leaving surrounded by well wishers. They finally separated themselves from their relatives and friends and followed the same gentle slope upwards that the hunters had taken earlier. Before they left, Ki’ti did the same with each of the adults and then put her hands on one shoulder of each child while stooping down and looking at them. “Obey your parents,” she said to each, “Obey your parents.” The children were amazed and listened carefully to her words—she was Wise One, and she had words for them! Ki’ti placed her hands on the two dogs’ heads and patted them. She did not say anything aloud to them, but in her thoughts asked Wisdom to bless them. Ki’ti had just created a new custom. No one would want to leave without her touching farewell. This little group of travelers, too, reached the ancient path and began to follow it.

  The creation of a new custom was not missed by Wamumur and Emaea. They looked at each other and smiled. Ki’ti was definitely Wisdom’s child.

  Tongip and Manak-na led with Aryna and Domur and the children following, The walk was a good one and an edge of coolness made it possible for them to trek in comfort. Manak-na pointed out the cave of the man with the green bag to Tongip. He had seen it before from a distance. He excused himself for a moment and climbed up the steep path and stood there singing something that the people on the ground level could not really hear. Then he came down and they walked off as if no detour had occurred.

  They stayed overnight at a place where they found a rock overhang. The children had never trekked and they could not forget Ki’ti’s words. They were very careful to do exactly what they were told. Domur had a fire made quickly with Aryna’s help, and they cooked some rhino meat they’d carried with them. They had some tubers to add to the boiling bag. Domur fed the dogs and showed them where to stay. They ate and quickly slept while the men shared the watch. When Wisdom returned color to the land, they were up. They had dried meat to eat for quick meals when trekking. The women packed up and Domur combed her hair and then the children’s hair. She handed the comb to Manak-na. Aryna had been given a comb, but she misplaced it. She asked if she might borrow Domur’s comb and when Manak-na finished, he handed it to her. Domur would remember to ask Ekuktu-na to make another for this family. Aryna combed Tongip’s hair and then her own. Both had snarls. The children were delighted to be able to walk and eat food at the same time. In the cave, it was custom to sit quietly and eat and then get up. Walking and eating at the same time was not permitted in the cave.

  When they neared the panda bamboo forest, the children were told to look for them. They spent hours searching for the big bears, but it took a very long time before they spotted one. Tongip saw the first far up a hill moving ponderously in the bamboo, and he carefully pointed it out.

  “That big bear eats bamboo,” Tongip told the children.

  “How does that fill him up? If I only ate greens I’d be hungry,” Tuma said.

  “They eat lots of bamboo,” he said, laughing.

  They turned west from the main trail at a place Tongip recognized easily. Even for Manak-na, it was hard to see the turnoff. They traveled for days on what was a path, but you had to know it to see it well. Tongip led the way each day, walking as fast as the children could go. The children traveled well always wondering what was over the next hill. To Domur, the next hill looked just like the one before it. She was able to trek on and on like the People but she noticed that Aryna was tiring.

  One evening
, Tongip showed them the tiny hearth where they met the People. They used it for their evening meal. They would continue on until they reached the overhang where the Mol camped in this area. By the time the stars were out in profusion, Tongip showed them the huge overhang. They unrolled their sleeping mats and bedded down the children. Tongip set two other tiny fires. Manak-na was fascinated. Tongip explained that the two little fires arranged that way would identify those in the cave as Mol. The little group bedded down for the night.

  When Wisdom returned color to the land, the dogs began to bark. Domur quieted them quickly. Tongip jumped up and headed off alone. He met his people and there was much hugging and whooping. After their initial excitement, they walked to the overhang.

  Tongip introduced everyone. The Mol seemed pleased to meet everyone but Tongip’s wife, Aryna, and the dogs. They had problems with Others, those called the Minguat. Aryna was clearly Other. And the wolves? They did not see them as something People could use safely. They tried desperately to be hospitable, but were frightened at the same time. They wondered whether Aryna was a spy and whether the wolves would attack.

  Tongip tried to explain to Lifu, the chief Mol hunter, his father, that Aryna came from the southwest in the lowland on the other side of the mountains, not the east. It didn’t seem to matter to him. They had to move because of the Others long ago, but not so long that it wasn’t a fresh memory. He felt that Tongip should have remembered. Tongip assured him he did remember, but that Aryna was a peaceful person and he loved her. He also tried to explain that regardless of how they, including himself, looked—they were all People. He asked whether he and his wife were welcome. Lifu begrudgingly assured him they were. He knew Tongip would turn around and they’d never see him again if they rebuffed his wife and friends. He was also having difficulty with his son’s having said he was People, not mentioning Mol.

  Their reception was mixed, with older people drawn back and younger ones surrounding the visitors. Lifu quickly made the rounds and encouraged the older ones to receive Tongip’s wife. They did it as Lifu, with reserve but not hostility. The children of the Mol eagerly encouraged the children of the People to play. There was no inherent fear of the People.

  Gnomuth gathered the hunters, along with Tongip and Manak-na. As Chief, he had to keep things calm and pleasant. It was difficult with the Other and the dogs. The women met with Aryna and Domur to talk about their trip.

  Gnomuth said, “We welcome Tongip and Manak-na of the People. May they live long. They grace our hearth with their presence. They have brought a day that is free of cloud and warm from sun. That is good. They have also brought wolves they have trained to carry things for them. That is interesting and we should talk of this in the future. We extend to these guests and their wives and family our caves for their comfort, our food that they may be filled, and our water that they may not thirst. We will ask why they have come after the morning meal. We extend our welcome.”

  The morning meal was served. They gathered in much the same manner as the People. They also did not walk around while eating. They gathered in small groups and chatted quietly. Children had to remain with their parents. When they finished eating, they carried their bowls to a large leather bag of water where they rinsed each bowl clean. They turned the bowls upside down on a long piece of wood. Women would check the bowls later to assure that they had been cleaned well.

  Domur finished and walked to the edge of the cave entrance. She could see mountains everywhere. The Mol had picked a place in the foothills to live. It was a lovely place. May joined her at the cave entrance.

  “You are looking far over there at our river?” May asked.

  “Yes. What is it?”

  “It is a big river that goes from here to the big salt sea to the far east. Where we live it can be crossed. We used to have our people living on both sides of the river near the ancient path that you used. There was a bridge across the river on the ancient path once. This is the first place between here and there that you can cross the river easily. We think of it as Mol River.”

  “It is lovely. Is it safe for your children?” Domur asked.

  “We take children to the lake to teach them to swim. They are not allowed near the river until they are grown. Their water world is the lake. We insist now that they become very good swimmers, both boys and girls. We didn’t make swimming required until recently. Some of our adults cannot swim.”

  “We do the same, but all of us now swim, including those who were Mol,” Domur said as she spotted Aryna. “Aryna, come, this is May.”

  May started to step back, but stopped herself. Aryna had done nothing to cause fear except be an Other. “Welcome to our cave, Aryna,” May said.

  “Thank you. The Mol are very nice people. You can tell I think so, since I joined with one.” She smiled an open, bright smile, showing teeth that were white and formed in a perfect bite.

  May smiled, “Tongip is one of our very special young men. He is an excellent hunter and he can track exceptionally well. Ah, but is he a good lover?”

  Aryna was shocked at the question and blushed, but then she grinned at May and whispered, “Outstanding!”

  May smiled. In their group, young men were taught how to be lovers and May had taught Tongip. May would not share that with Aryna!

  “And how is Untuk?” May asked, looking at Aryna.

  “He is fine. He joined with our Wise One. They are very happy together. Unfortunately, he cannot travel unless he leaves her alone, because our Wise Ones do not normally travel unless we are moving to another place. He won’t want to leave her alone, because part of his responsibility is seeing that she’s safe.”

  “Really? Is that because your Wise One is some kind of treasure?”

  “You could say that. Our Wise One has all our stories from the beginning of time in her mind web. If she met with an accident, we’d lose our stories,” Domur responded.

  “What’s so important about your stories?” May asked.

  “Our stories tell of our beginning and all our history. By knowing the stories, we have understanding of things that can and do happen. The stories impart Wisdom. The ashfall from the volcano is an example. We knew that it could cause us to have cold weather as an aftermath. It did get cold for many, many seasons following the ashfall. We knew to prepare warm clothing that we’d never had to wear before to survive the cold. Otherwise, we’d have been late to keep ourselves warm.”

  “I see,” May responded, but she really didn’t. She was too busy entertaining other thoughts.

  “Another thing is that our stories tell us how to be. One of our requirements is that we take in and treat well those who travel past us.”

  “We have that same rule, but for us it’s a rule. We don’t get it from a story,” May said.

  “It’s interesting you have the same requirement for behavior. My Minguat did not have anything like that. They were interested in what they could get from others, not what they could give,” Aryna said. “This is much the better way.”

  Domur looked up. “If you have rules, what is the basis for the rules, May? We have our stories as the basis but where did your rule come from?”

  May looked really surprised. “I have no idea,” she responded. “I guess they came from old council meetings, but I am not sure at all. You are making me wonder. What’s the basis of your stories?”

  Domur lowered her head. Then she said quietly, “We consider that, even though they mostly come from experiences, they are inspired by Wisdom.” May remained silent briefly. Then, she directed the women to move to the area of the overhang.

  The Mol’s cave had a huge covered area overhung by an enormous flat rock. It was a loggia of sorts that provided pre-cave shelter. In good weather, most people spent time in the loggia.

  Gnomuth took two pieces of wood that had been carved in intricate designs, each about an arm’s length long. He tapped them together in a rhythmic manner while he chanted something that the People could not understand. All th
e men followed him through the cave entrance to the loggia where they turned east to the traditional meeting place for men. Then Gnomuth welcomed the visitors again.

  “We would know the purpose of your visit,” he said solemnly.

  Tongip extended his hand. Gnomuth passed another stick to him. This one was thinner and looked like a miniature walking stick. It was carved intricately with a bearded male face at the top. Tongip held the staff and began to speak.

  “We came first so that my family could meet my wife, and a few of my new People could meet my family.” The comment drew murmurs and approving nods all around.

  “Then we came because we must soon find another place to live. The earthquake has destroyed the cave where Torkiz lived with Ilea. The top of the cave fell as one piece down to the floor of the cave. Only through a tiny hole can one crawl to see some of the master’s animal images. We live in the cave of the People from long ago. We are concerned about the earthquake activity and if it continues, we must find a new home. We came to know whether you know of other cave groups north of the bridge.”

  There was much murmuring and jostling as the men in council spoke among themselves.

  Gnomuth held out his hand. Tongip handed him the staff.

  “Tongip, you should remember that the Gar live north of the bridge. That is why we live here. Yes, there are other good caves there, but the Gar may live in them. It is dangerous.”

  Manak-na held his silence while wondering who the Gar were.

  Tongip held out his hand. Gnomuth passed the staff to him.

  “People have been to the bridge and seen no Gar. As we speak, there are others heading to the bridge to determine whether any are there. It is possible that we may find safer earth for our dwelling north of here. The People came from ashfall from a volcano to the south. There are Others to the east. The plan is to look to the north.”