The man stopped and stood very still looking at the one who had just come from the hillside. He had called his name. “I am Komus,” he shouted back.
“Komus, I am Manak-na from the voyage to the other side of the water.”
Komus understood. The People Manak-na described must have stopped short of going to the big lake and decided to live in the caves marked by the evergreens. Komus knew the evil one oppressed this particular set of caves, and he normally hurried past the place. He walked to meet Manak-na, not believing they could live there with contentment. Other People were coming down the hill slowly to meet the newcomer.
Manak-na invited Komus to come to the cave to meet his People. Komus agreed with no little trepidation. Manak-na helped carry some of his things other than his backpack. At the entryway, Manak-na introduced him to the Wise One. Those who were not busy with some activity and were able to take the time gathered at the council space to talk with the traveler. Likichi served some tea and the man settled himself comfortably on some of his skins.
Manak-na made introductions all around. Then, Komus began to speak.
“I will never know why Pah sent me that day to hunt rather than build the boat. Sometimes he just did that. It was a nice day, blue sky, no clouds. Pah came into the boatbuilders’ place while we ate the morning meal. He told me and two others to hunt and chose three hunters to work on the boat. He was very definite about it. Of course, we did what Pah told us to do. I was halfway up the hill and for some reason I turned to look back.”
“Manak-na, do you remember the story Tikarumusa told us about the water that went way out leaving fish flapping on shore and then came back and carried all his people away?”
Manak-na nodded, not sure he wanted to hear anything else. “We have made it one of our winter stories,” Manak-na said.
“Water went far from shore leaving wet sand exposed with flapping sea creatures. Just as Tikarumusa had said so many years ago, there was a wave forming way out at sea. You could see it—it was incredibly tall! That wave raced into the shore so fast. It was even higher than the village and beyond. We watched from the hillside. It crashed over the boat we were building, over the boatbuilders’ place, even beyond the top of the place where people lived on the hill. The waves took everything. There is nothing left.” The man’s voice was breaking, and it was clear to all that he was still quite shaken from the event. His eyes were wide with fright, as if he’d witnessed the event anew. Those of us who had been sent to hunt were all that was left. We searched for a few days for the bodies of the people we’d known. Nothing. The sea took it all. They are all gone. And so is everything they built.”
“I am so sorry to hear that. People I knew also. Pah gone. It seems impossible. Even Gurst gone.”
Komus laughed a nervous laugh. “Even he,” he said. Gurst had been a bully, but no one wanted to see him drowned.
Manak-na said, “I guess that will be the end of the connection with the people from the other side of the water.” Manak-na thought about that connection severed just from a single wave. If Ahna ever wanted to return, it would be impossible now.
Komus looked up. “For the love of all the gods,” he said, “I had forgotten about them.”
“And won’t there be a boat returning from the other side?” Manak-na asked.
Komus thought for a while. “Yes. You’re right. They will certainly wonder what happened. The wave was so high that it left nothing. There is not a single dwelling where the people on the hill lived. Absolutely nothing. When that boat returns, those people will be terribly confused.”
“Which crew will be returning?” Manak-na asked.
“Rahm’s crew just left. Most of them are those you know. The other crew had recently returned.”
“What will Rahm’s boatmen do when they return?”
“I have no idea. I suppose they could travel to the other side of the water, if the boat is holding well. They have no real home on either side of the water. Their home is the boat, and the boat will not last.”
“I am guessing you’re returning to your people past the big lake?” Manak-na asked.
“Yes. My days at sea are over. I return to my people. I might return to meet Rahm’s boat to tell them what happened. Do you mind if I remain here for a few days to rest?” He looked at Ki’ti, since there appeared to be no chief.
Ki’ti looked at the tired, upset man. “You are welcome here until you are ready to continue your trek, Komus.”
Komus looked at Ki’ti, the small woman who had been introduced as Wise One. “Thank you, Wise One. I need the rest.”
Ki’ti asked Likichi to show him where to put his backpack and sleeping skins when he was ready.
“Wise One,” Komus continued. “There is no longer a feeling of evil here. What happened?” Komus had feared coming to the cave from his past feelings when just walking past the place on the level ground below.
“There was an evil man in another cave up here. He was dead, but the evil was present. We buried him on the other side of the level ground below us. He had paintings that showed evil things and we totally destroyed those images. Since then, the evil has left here.”
“It is good, Wise One.”
“Thank you, Komus,” Ki’ti replied.
Likichi showed the man where to put his things, and he returned to the place where Manak-na, Domur, Minagle, Hahami-na, Tongip-na, Slamika-na, Untuk-na, Ki’ti, and Ahna sat. Likichi had fixed him more tea, this time with a mild sedative included. She gave the others additional tea also.
As they talked, Komus complained that he was exceptionally tired. He couldn’t understand why he’d be so tired so early in the day. People suggested he nap until he felt rested. He set out his sleeping skins in a different place in the cave, where Likichi showed him. It would be quieter there during the day. She knew the man needed rest. He still had traces of shock from the event, as if he kept reliving it.
Domur was fascinated with the color of the man’s skin. She asked Manak-na, “Did all the people at the boatbuilders’ place have skin the color of Komus’s skin?”
“Most did, but there were some Minguat, People, and Mol who worked there. I think that there are at least four groups of people: People, Minguat, Mol, and Komus’s people. I think that where people live has something to do with what they look like. There seems to be a connection between the people of Komus and the boatbuilders. Komus looks like most of the boatbuilders. They have added other groups as we have. I think that across this huge earth, there must be other groups of people who have some characteristics that vary from ours. The people on the other side of the sea that we saw were originally Mol and People. They still show characteristics of Mol and People, but they’re a little different. But then, Rokuk said they’ve been going there since time began, so there could have been some changes caused by mixing with other peoples during that time. Perhaps, there are additional other people on the far side of the sea—maybe even on this side.”
“They can all join?” Domur asked.
“I’m sure they can all join. Like Wamumur said long ago—all are People!”
“He has a long way to go to his home—alone.” Domur wondered how people traveled alone. It seemed so lonely.
“He’ll do fine, Domur.” Manak-na asked Ahna, “On the other side of the sea are there people who look different from us and the Mol and the Minguat?”
“There are a few people with darker skins like Komus has. Only his skin isn’t really dark. I have seen two men whose skins were very dark brown, almost black.”
“I’ve heard of that,” Hahami-na said. “Some traders talked of that when we lived far to the south before Baambas. I see little difference in the color of Komus’s skin and ours, compared to what the traders told us.”
“What a fascinating earth we must have. I wonder if people come in other colors,” Tongip-na said.
“You mean green or blue?” Aryna said as she made herself part of the group, sitting next to her husband, Tongip-na.<
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Everyone laughed gently. “Blue is reserved for those who don’t get enough air,” Likichi said from the side.
Again there was light laughter.
Domur heard something unusual. She got up and went to stand at the entryway. She could see a raven in a tree just outside the entryway bouncing on a limb with a feather in its beak.
“Wise One,” Domur called into the home cave, “I think you should take a look at this.”
Ki’ti came to the entryway and saw the raven. She knew it wasn’t Raven, but was unsure whether it was his mate or another bird. The raven seemed to recognize her. It flew to land on a tree limb closer to Ki’ti. Tiriku walked over to see what was happening and saw the bird. He seemed anxious. The raven dropped the feather down to Tiriku. He sniffed it and whined. Tiriku looked at the raven. He started down the pathway. The raven flew just ahead of Tiriku. Manak-na and Domur followed Tiriku. Ki’ti watched from the entryway. The raven flew across the flat land below. Tiriku followed with some urgency. Manak-na and Domur continued to follow. Ki’ti picked up the feather from the ground. Somehow she knew that Raven had gone to Wisdom. Ki’ti felt chilled suddenly. The feather was one of his feathers. Her belly was ripping for their loss and more so for Tiriku’s loss. Ki’ti took the feather and laid in on the ledge she’d gotten Untuk-na to make for special things. Then she returned to watch.
The raven flew to a tree where there was a large nest. The People had never seen Raven’s nest. Now they knew where it was. The raven swooped down to land on a low branch of a birch tree. Tiriku climbed up the side of the hill with some difficulty to the place where the bird was perched. It was making a moaning sound. Tiriku detected the scent of his Raven before he saw the body. It lay on the earth appearing to sleep on its back. Tiriku knew the bird wasn’t sleeping. He went over to it and nudged it with his nose. The life clearly was gone from Raven. He looked up at Raven’s mate. He lay on the ground next to Raven and slid his body against the bird’s, doing to Raven what the bird had done to Tiriku for years. Then he snuggled next to it, back to back, with his head thrown back. Habitually, each animal would move its head way back so that they were muzzle to beak. Raven’s head was limp on his neck. Tiriku knew it wasn’t the same. Finally, he whined and stood up. He barked sharply at Manak-na and Domur.
“Are we supposed to bury Raven?” Domur asked.
“Sure looks like it,” Manak-na replied, not believing what he was watching.
Domur went to pick up Raven. “I’ll find out,” she said.
Domur held the bird next to her chest. Both Tiriku and Raven’s mate seemed to approve. “I think you’d better get a hole dug and a couple of stones quickly,” she said. She began to walk towards the place where the People were buried while Manak-na hurried for digging tools and a couple of rocks. Both Raven’s mate and Tiriku went straight to the burial site. Manak-na went rapidly to the place where the tools were kept. He was joined by Untuk-na and Lamk-na. They dug a hole for Raven and placed him in it. Ki’ti didn’t know what to do about the story. What she did was to do what she’d done when they buried her dogs. She provided the eulogy. While she spoke, Tiriku sat beside her. Then the men covered the bird’s body with dirt and stones. The Raven’s mate sat rigidly in the tree above watching everything. She had been with Raven when they buried People. She knew what was happening. Ki’ti looked up at the Raven’s mate. “I’m so sorry for you,” she said, and the bird seemed to understand and then flew away. Tiriku stretched out next to Raven’s grave. Ki’ti tried to get him to come with her but he refused. She let him remain while she tried to control the lump in her throat. He was taking the loss very hard, she thought. Tiriku’s refusal to leave was not an issue of disobedience, she could tell, but rather it seemed one of loyalty. Ki’ti’s belly ripped apart for Tiriku.
Later after the evening meal, Ki’ti noticed that Tiriku still had not returned. She was worried. She asked Yomuk-na to go down to see if he could get him to come up. He should eat and be with others.
Yomuk-na went down to the burial site. There was Tiriku lying beside the grave of Raven. His muzzle was placed between his front paws. He lay on his belly with his feet extended behind him. Yomuk-na and Meta cried to see the little dog in his grief. They tried to lift him to carry him away but he growled. Yomuk-na let go of the dog. He didn’t want to get bit. They went back and explained to Ki’ti that Tiriku wasn’t ready to come home. She agreed it was best to leave him there then. She did ask them to carry some meat sticks to the dog.
The men’s council was about to begin. Ki’ti planned to have the time to let all the members of the cave meet Komus. Komus seemed to be somewhat rested and was eager to meet the People of Manak-na. The council meeting lasted a long time that night as the People asked Komus about the big lake and his people. Komus confirmed what Kipotuilak had said—in the season of cold days, they wore double outside garments.
After much talking, Aryna asked, “Komus, how far is it from here to the big lake?”
Komus thought for a few minutes. They had no way to measure distance, so they used time as the measure for distance. “If you’re a hunter and have no young children or old people, and you’re willing to live on jerky, it takes about a moon.”
She continued, “And after you get to the big lake area, how much longer does it take for you to reach your people?”
“About two moons if you’re without children and old people and live on jerky—unless they’re camped at the lake.”
“You have a long way to go,” Hahami-na added.
“That is true, but the travel is through beautiful country and I enjoy it,” Komus replied.
Manak-na’s love of adventure was stirring. How he’d love to accompany the man to his home and back. He tried to cut out those thoughts, but they hung in the air before him. It hurt. He had already agreed that he would not adventure again. He had to throw those ideas away. It wasn’t easy. Domur was acutely aware of how Manak-na would feel about hearing Aryna’s curious comments. Aryna would have no idea the effects her comments would have on Manak-na.
Domur looked up. Ki’ti nodded. “Komus, how long would it take for a healthy woman with no children to make the same trip?”
“It might add a day or two, but nothing significant,” Komus replied. “The way is not difficult. It depends on whether travelers are able to follow an austere regimen of walking with few stops and eating nothing but jerky.”
Manak-na wondered what Domur was doing. Surely, she didn’t want to make a trip that long! He was afraid to dream that they might make such a trek together. He tried to put his mind to other things and could not.
There was no time for stories. Slowly people went to their sleeping skins having feasted on new information.
When they had gotten comfortable in their sleeping skins, Domur whispered into Manak-na’s ear, “I think we should find a few couples and accompany Komus on his way. We could see how his people would think of sometime in the future getting together for finding mates for our young ones, so we do not become too inbred. It’s not like there are many people all over this part of the earth—and now the boatbuilders are gone.”
Manak-na had his mind filled with adventure and this comment from Domur was something he was not prepared to entertain. “Are you serious?” he asked, not believing it.
“Of course,” she replied. “I wouldn’t ask something like that if I weren’t very serious. I think it would do us good.”
“Who would you choose to accompany us?” he asked.
“If I could choose, it would be Kai-na and Mitrak along with Tongip-na and Aryna. But they might not see this as something they’d like to do.”
“Before we say anything, I’ll find out tomorrow,” Manak-na said. He cradled her in his arms and lay there listening to the hearth fires and the People breathing and participating in other activities. He wasn’t ready for sleep at all.
In another part of the home cave, Ki’ti was devastated. Tiriku had not returned. She knew what to expect. Sh
e guessed that he’d never leave the grave of his special friend. She hoped he was eating, but somehow doubted it.
“Worried about Tiriku?” Untuk-na asked.
“Yes. I think we’ve lost Raven and Tiriku at the same time.”
“I know it can happen with People like that sometimes, but with animals? Yet, I’ve never seen grief expressed more clearly than Tiriku expressed his after all the People left Raven’s grave today.”
“It makes me choke up every time I think of it,” Ki’ti said quietly.
“What was all that about with Domur? Is she thinking about going with Manak-na on an adventure?”
“I would think there’d be more to it than that, my Love. If Domur wants to make that trip, it would have some benefit to the People, like planning a meeting for finding joining mates in the future.”
“Now that would make sense sometime in the future.”
“I agree. But no, Domur wouldn’t plan an adventure for the sake of adventure or for Manak-na’s sake. There would have to be a benefit to the People.”
“Well, there are very few people anywhere around here. Those who were boatbuilders are now all gone. What will happen next, I wonder.”
“Time will make all that clear. Now it’s time for sleep.”
“Sleep well,” Untuk-na said to her. “Sleep well.”
When Wisdom returned color to the land, it came with rain. Ki’ti was beside herself. Tiriku was still down by Raven’s grave. He was getting soaked. She started outside and Untuk-na caught her.
“If you want to bring him up here, I’ll go get him,” he told her.
“Yomuk-na said he growled when he tried to pick him up.”
“If he growls at me, I’ll make it clear he has no choice.”
“I would love it if you could bring him here,” Ki’ti said almost choking. Her belly ripped apart each time she thought of Tiriku.
Untuk-na went down the path and found the little dog soaked, lying beside the grave of Raven. His muzzle still lay between his paws and his feet stuck out in the back. It was as if he hadn’t moved. All that did move were his lovely brown eyes as he watched Untuk-na. Uneaten meat sticks lay near him.
Manak-na's Story, 75,000 BC Page 35