Ki'ti's Story, 75,000 BC

by Bonnye Matthews

  Gukmor was amazed again. Here was this little girl. She couldn’t have lived even close to twenty years. Yet she handled the men’s council with ease. He also noticed she had a wolf pup curled up beside her. He continued to watch as the girl nodded to Nanichak-na.

  Nanichak-na said, “We traveled to the bridge and the trip was uneventful. At the bridge, Lamul-na climbed across the rope and then Kai-na did the same. They trekked into the forest after the morning meal until well beyond high sun. The forest was very quiet. The largest fur bearing animal there was a barking deer. The bamboo is turning yellow and brown. It does not look healthy at all. We could see no disease on the plants.” He stopped speaking.

  Tongip got eye contact with Nanichak-na. Nanichak-na nodded to him.

  Tongip began, “We took the little trail north of the river that is across from where the Mol live in caves. We trekked to the bridge and arrived there after Nanichak-na, Chamul-na, Kai-na, and Lamul-na had gone. They must have had a great deer feast.” He smiled and the People he named grinned back.

  Tongip continued, “We trekked for” he signed seven “days. We, too, found the bamboo troubled. We arrived at the cave of the Gar. The Gar are men-like apes that smell sickeningly bad. They are taller than the Mol. They have left the area. We wondered whether their caves might be a refuge for you if you fled earthquakes, but the odor would be impossible to live with. The caves, also, have fracture marks in the rocks that look fresh. They might be dangerous even if the odor were tolerable. We talked about land we know that is very, very, very far north. It borders a wonderful lake that is surrounded by mountains. The lake is huge. Since the cold has come, it may be too cold there in the season of cold days now, but it used to be wonderful. For hunters, it would take many moons to trek there. For a People with children and old ones, it would take about a a full cycle of seasons or more. Travel there could be done in stages. The path does go from here to the lake. The Mol call it the path of the dragon. Dragon is the four-legged, winged serpent that breathes fire. You remember the dragon on the wall in the cave?”

  The men nodded.

  “Our ancients said the dragon helped them build the path. We think that’s a silly story.” Tongip cleared his throat and continued, “Having the path for travel may make it sound too easy. Such a trek would be extremely difficult.” Tongip looked around.

  Manak-na looked at the floor. Tongip had been People for a short while. He had managed to take the material he needed to present, and he had organized it well. Manak-na realized that the Mol had the information and could organize it, but for some reason they did not. Tongip realized he needed to do it for the People. Manak-na was impressed. At the same time Manak-na didn’t quite know what to think of the dragon path story. Since it didn’t seem as organized, Manak-na thought Tongip might have just added it spontaneously.

  Grypchon-na made eye contact with Tongip. Tongip nodded to him.

  “I want to know whether the bridge is something we could fix in a short time. If not, how would we get to the north part of the pathway?” Gukmor made eye contact. Grypchon-na nodded to him.

  “We would permit you to trek through our land and cross where we did. To build the bridge would be very hard and take a long, long time. Some People might lose their lives doing it. It would make sense to trek through our land and cross that way.” Wamumur made eye contact with Gukmor. Gukmor nodded.

  “Can you assure us that the offer would be valid in the season of new leaves?” Gukmor made eye contact, and Wamumur nodded.

  “I have the word of our Chief that you may cross there whenever you choose. His word is his life.” Ki’ti made eye contact with Gukmor. He nodded to her.

  “We have received much good information from both groups. I want to thank the Mol for taking our People to the caves of the Gar. I hope that you will carry our thanks to your Chief. We will spend time until Wisdom fades the darkness of the coming night considering which way to cross the river, for cross it I fear we must. Then we will discuss that further.

  The People who did not attend the men’s council were not oblivious. The council was a meeting where the issues discussed were done so in front of the entire cave. Anyone who chose to listen could. This night it was very quiet in the cave.

  “Now, we would like to hear from our guests. Is there something we can do for you?” Ki’ti looked at Gukmor, but it was Alme who sought eye contact. Ki’ti nodded to him.

  Alme said haltingly, because he didn’t have the skill with the language that Gukmor did, “We would like to learn to build rafts to fish our lake. We used the nets and the fish is good to add to our meat. It would be kind of you to show us how to build rafts so we can go out on the lake.”

  Ki’ti smiled at him. She sought eye contact. After some time, Alme remembered about the eye contact and nodded to her, his face reddening.

  Ki’ti raised her voice and said, “Would those in the cave willing to introduce these visitors to fishing with rafts and raft building please stand.” Pechki and Likichi stood and so did Neamu-na and Chamul-na. Ki’ti continued, “After we eat the morning meal when Wisdom has returned the color to the land after the coming night, go with these People and they will show you how to fish on the rafts, and then the men will take you to the forest to show you how to harvest the bamboo for drying. Now, I ask, is there anything else that must be considered this night?”

  No one made eye contact, so the group dispersed.

  In the morning, Pechki, Likichi, Chamul-na, and Neamu-na went with the visitors to the lake. The Mol were fascinated with the rafts. Both Gukmor and Alme knew how to swim, so the women could teach the techniques of fishing with ease. Pechki took Gukmor out, and Likichi took Alme on her raft. Neamu-na poled Pechki’s raft and Chamul-na poled Likichi’s.

  Pechki caught a ray finned fish, and she thought of Totamu with a gulp. For a moment she almost burst into tears, but then she regained her composure. How she missed her mother. She showed Gukmor how to take the net and transfer the fish to the basket. Then she handed him the net. He would catch and transfer the next fish. He caught a snout trout. He managed to transfer the fish without incident. He watched carefully when she fished. He remembered.

  Likichi netted a golden line barbel, and Alme smiled at the beautiful fish unlike any he’d ever seen. He watched her as she netted the fish and transferred it to the basket. Then she handed the net to Alme. He netted another barbel, and successfully made the transfer to the basket. They fished until high sun. At that point, they had enough fish to contribute to the night meal. They went up to the caves and the men thanked the People for the fishing lessons.

  After getting something to eat, the men trekked back to the bamboo forest where Neamu-na and Chamlu-na taught the the two Mol how to harvest the bamboo and get it to the proper length. They impressed on them that they had to make a hole first in the section where they would burn the bamboo to prevent an explosion of the segment they were burning. They agreed it would be hard work, but they also knew the value of making the rafts. They were filled with great enthusiasm. They wondered about the vines connecting the pieces of the rafts. Likichi said she’d ask Domur to give them some samples of the vines, the next day she would show them how to vine the rafts. The Mol were grateful for the shared information for fishing. Each worked hard to keep the information in memory. They had two bamboo stalks to carry home in addition to the sample vines so their people could use the appropriate ones for holding the rafts together.

  At the men’s council that night, there was a discussion of building a structure in which they could live that would not be inside the cave. Structures were not something new to the People. They had built homes from what the land provided. At the river where most remembered living, the People had built homes of trees and grasses, but the temperature was so much milder there. The thought was to practice ideas and they could do that in the little valley outside the caves. All agreed this would be wise.

  Hahami-na got the nod. “I think,” he began slowly for him, �
�that we might also consider making a permanent structure here where we could live outside the caves. The caves could be used for a storage area, and that way we would not have to move the entire group to a place that might have some hardships we have not even considered. Here we have the lake, the dropoff, a good water supply, and the caves. If we built strong structures that would not fall on us in an earthquake, we could remain here.”

  There were affirmative murmurs all around. Nobody really wanted to leave this special place.

  Hahami-na nodded to Gruid-na, who said, “We cannot build as large as our cave. We will have to make individual home structures for smaller groups. Then we can make a larger one for cooking and eating and gathering. It will not be the same. The cave is good. All members are looked out for in the cave. That is all I have to say.”

  There was more murmuring.

  Wamumur got the nod from Gruid-na. “I think that making a variety of structures will give us a better idea of what we want to do. I remember in my old land homes that were huge. They were made from live trees. The men would climb the birches and tie them together at the top. That made an arch at the top.” He used his hands to show his meaning. “The building was a very long one. The hearths were placed along the center. Smoke holes above the hearths kept the air fresh. The roof and sides were made from attaching slender trees, and then connecting strong grasses and mosses and mud. Over all that were bundles of grasses starting low and overhanging them with more bundles of grasses. It shed rain well. We could try that.”

  More murmuring continued.

  Wamumur nodded to Ki’ti and she added, “This is good. We should try these structures while the season of colorful leaves remains. We have choices as to whether we go or stay. It will be very good to see what we develop in the time before the season of cold days comes. If we can remain here, it will be good. Wisdom has blessed us with this place. Wisdom has also blessed us with the knowledge that this cave could collapse, and Wisdom would approve of our discussion tonight. It is good.”

  Never in his wildest dreams would Wamumur ever have issued a statement of approval of his People, even if he wholeheartedly approved. This was Ki’ti true and simple. It was good. He nodded in her direction, communicating his approval of her actions. She raised an eyebrow with an almost imperceptible smile. She understood the message. She glanced at Emaea. Emaea was beaming.

  The Mol were fascinated. Each knew their Chief made decisions. They had input before the decisions were made—even the lowest hunter did. But, once the decision was made, that was it. They had to support the decision of the Chief. This was an amazing difference. It seemed that the Wise One had known they had to leave the caves. That seemed to imply a need to travel to a land where there were no earthquakes, or at least a lower hazard from them. And then at a council meeting, the idea they might be able to remain in different structures gave a different dimension, and the Wise One approved. Not to mention the Wise One was virtually a little girl. She managed her People in a positive way, pulling from them the best they had to give. Gukmor had been troubled that Tongip and Untuk were so eager to become People—now, he was beginning to understand why Tongip and Untuk were so attracted to the People. There was something special here, something different. Gukmor wondered whether that difference centered around the word, “Wisdom.”

  The cave quieted for the night. Outside, the sky was clear and all was peaceful. Untuk put his arm around Ki’ti and pulled her toward their sleeping place, Panriku at her heels.

  “Can we not go to our favorite spot first?” she asked.

  “My Dear One, I see you clearly. Tonight, Wisdom was in you. You need sleep now. It may be that some time soon we can have our time, but not now.”

  Ki’ti bristled with stubbornness. Untuk picked her up in front of everyone. Wamumur knew in his heart exactly what had happened. He smiled. He approved of Untuk. Untuk carried her quickly to their sleeping place, and told her to make the bed quickly and walked away. He usually asked her to do things like that, but she knew when he told her to do something he would enforce it. Yet, she didn’t feel tired! The bed was quickly done, and she sat on it grumpily with Panriku snuggling against her leg. Untuk returned with a piece of dried fish.

  “Here, eat this,” he said.

  “Where’s yours?” she asked.

  “I was not just filled with Wisdom, Dear One. Now, eat the softer part and I’ll take care of the tough part.”

  Ki’ti ate the dried fish and handed the tough edge to Untuk who handed it to Panriku. Panriku looked with adoring eyes at Untuk as he happily gulped the treat.

  “I feel a conspiracy,” Ki’ti wryly said.

  “Ah, you are wise and we are uncovered,” Untuk said with a chuckle.

  The two slid in between the skins and snuggled together. Untuk held her tightly to him and she began to relax. He could feel the vibrancy of the coming together with Wisdom draining from her.

  “I guess I really am tired, Untuk. I love you.” She fell asleep.

  After Wisdom returned color to the land, Likichi took the Mol to the lake and began to show them the details of the vining.

  “Whether we are here next season of warm nights or gone, the rafts will be here. If you forget or want refreshing, you can come here to check the vining,” Likichi reminded them.

  “I appreciate your help from the bottom of my belly,” Gukmor assured her. He really liked this woman who saw to the functioning of the cave. He was impressed by the women of the People and how bright and efficient they seemed to be. Their way of thinking included all members of the group and they all seemed equal. Sometimes women even attended the men’s council. That was interesting to him. Whatever the cause, he found these women delightful and extremely helpful.

  “It is nothing,” Likichi assured him with a guileless smile, and she meant it.

  The men had learned all they came to learn. They had come to understand a great deal about these People who were neighbors, and they were impressed. They would return to their home the next day with enough stories to keep the Mol listening for a long time. He hoped the People would remain. They were good neighbors.

  The Mol put one long and one short bamboo stick outside the cave. The two sticks would be the guide for their raft making. That evening, Untuk and Ki’ti came to them with a pouch of dried fish, a gift to the Mol. They also brought another pouch with a large rhino roast that had been smoked in their caves, and another with a roast of aurochs. They could transport the pouches and their packs by suspending them from the poles.

  Gukmor sniffed the roasts and salivated immediately. “That smells like it came from the mountains of the Gods,” he exclaimed.

  “It is nothing but a few spices our People use,” Ki’ti said.

  “Wise One,” Gukmor said, “will you tell me your age?”

  Untuk was horrified he’d ask.

  “Gukmor of the Mol, my years on this earth are—Untuk, how do you say?”

  Untuk said, “She is fourteen,” he said in the language of the Mol.

  “But my years on earth do not account for what Wisdom has done with me. I am not a child and have not been a child for” she showed five fingers “years.”

  “You are clearly not a child, but you look like a little girl.”

  “I am no longer a little girl,” she said quietly looking at the ground.

  “I am so sorry if I offended you,” Gukmor said.

  “You did not offend me. When I lose sight of myself and Wisdom’s role, when I get filled with pride and leave off the humility that our People require, then Wamumur and Emaea and Untuk are permitted to call me ‘Little Girl,’ and it stings.”

  “I see,” Gukmor said, not sure that he did. “Please take no offense. I was not referring to you as a little girl except for the way you look on the outside. Once you open your mouth to speak, it is clear you are no child.”

  “I am not offended, Gukmor. I am, however, reminded that I am to express humility at all times. Your words are to my benefit.�
� She smiled a smile that stole his heart. Untuk put his hand on her shoulder.

  “I have met a true Wise One. I am grateful that I had the experience.”

  “And I am grateful to have met Gukmor of the Mol,” she returned.

  “Untuk,” Gukmor said, “you have found a true treasure. Guard her with your life.”

  “I shall, Gukmor. I am glad you can see who she truly is.”

  “I shall never meet another half as deceptively awesome. This has been an incredible mind web stretching for me.”

  “You will be leaving early?” she asked.

  “Yes. Probably before the cave awakens. We have far to go.”

  “Then, Gukmor and Alme of the Mol, go with Wisdom,” she said with her bright smile.

  “We shall, Wise One,” Gukmor said, while Alme was still reeling from the strange conversation.

  They parted and Untuk took her by the hand to the tiny cave near the grave of Ahriku to remind her she was woman. They placed an upright log beside the opening, and Panriku curled up outside the doorway knowing he had time for a short nap.

  Chapter 11

  By the time the cave was awakening, the Mol hunters had departed. The day was bright with a mild breeze. They stopped at the cave of the man with the green bag, picked up the green bag, and continued for their home. They left much heavier laden than they arrived.

  Wamumur was invigorated. He had not had a project for quite some time and the idea of re-creating a bent tree structure large enough to contain the People appealed to him. Again, he had purpose. Lamul-na and Slamika-na, Lai-na and Kai-na, along with Sum and Tongip had all mentioned a desire to work on this structure. Wamumur had discussed it with Emaea, and she planned to get together with some of the women to cut long strips of leather for ties for the tops of trees.