Komus continued. “Eleven people died today. Eleven people! All for stupidity! We now have very few people to call our own. We will leave this place and trek to the boatbuilders’ place. No longer will you live near the big lake. We will leave in the morning. I will ask you, Manak-na, my true friend, may we pass your cave on our way?”
“As long as you have no thoughts of murder,” Manak-na said flatly.
“We will not, I assure you.”
“Then, Komus and the people of Komus, you are free to pass by.”
“I am so sorry, my friend. I hope that sometime, you will feel comfortable with me again. You have never done anything to deserve what happened to you today. I regret sincerely that it was my people who did it.”
“Komus, I do not hold this against you, but it will be hard for me to trust your people.”
“I don’t blame you, Manak-na. They need strong leadership. I will try my utmost to provide it.”
“Looks like you’re off to a good start,” Manak-na said.
Komus nodded. The newcomers left.
Komus headed to the place where his people gathered. They would be talking for a long time. He would not stop until he felt confident that he had authority clearly placed over every person in his group, starting with the guards.
By high sun the People had made it back to the place where the hunters tried to kill them. It was a sad place. “Try not to put this place into your minds,” Tongip-na said. “It’s best to forget some things.” He pulled out his water bladder and took a drink.
“I agree,” Manak-na said. “I’m not going to forget Komus’s actions this day. I didn’t know what we’d face there. He definitely wants to do what’s right, and he wants to remain our friend.”
“He does,” Kai-na agreed. “When he ordered those three people killed, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It’s too bad about the old woman.”
“What would you have done?” Manak-na asked, leaning against a tree trunk.
“I didn’t think of it from that end,” Kai-na replied. “Well, I’m not sure.”
“I’d have done exactly what he did,” Manak-na said.
“You would have?” Kai-na asked, shocked.
“I’d have done the same thing,” Tongip-na said. “At times like that you have to do what’s right even if it kills you, and you have to be decisive about it.”
“Yes, Kai-na,” I would have done what he did. “Remember hearing about the young man who abused Minagle—his name was Reemast?”
“I remember that. There’s no real story about it. Reemast was never found again.”
Manak-na looked up. He pushed off from the tree trunk. “Reemast was never found again, because two of the People with Wamumur’s blessing killed Reemast and buried him.”
“What?” Tongip-na shouted. “You’re teasing.” Tongip-na almost dropped his water bladder. As it was he soaked part of his tunic.
“I swear that I am not.” Manak-na took a drink of water.
“You mean the People murder?” Kai-na asked.
“Of course, not! Murder means that there is ulterior desire for the person who commits the murder, some gain to be had from it—an example is a man who kills his friend because he wants his friend’s wife. That’s murder. Someone stands to benefit personally. Nobody wanted Reemast dead, but he would not give up his desire to harm Minagle. He burned hatred for her. It meant that the People would have to divide their time between whatever they were doing and guarding Reemast. Reemast would take no responsibility whatever, and he resented others guarding him. It was wrong, so Reemast was killed, not murdered, to protect Minagle and anyone else Reemast might want to hurt in the future. It was as Wamumur expressed it regarding Ghanya—the evil doer was like bad fruit that would cause the whole gathering of fruit to spoil. Better to eliminate the bad fruit than to destroy all the fruit. There is a huge difference between those two words, kill and murder. Wisdom tells us not to murder. Wisdom does not tell us not to kill. When those hunters sneaked up on us, was it in accordance with Wisdom for us to kill them?”
Everyone said, “Yes.”
The women had listened carefully. Domur had heard Manak-na discuss this before, so she was not surprised.
Kai-na would spend much time thinking about the difference between killing and murdering. It expanded his mind web. He had thought the two words interchangeable. Clearly they were not.
They trekked and trekked possibly faster than normal, because they were happy to get as much distance from the people of Komus as possible. With the full moon, they could travel even later into the night, but they did not wish to encounter a bear on the trek. They would be very careful. Finally, when they were all fatigued, they stopped, put up a small lean-to, created a small fire, and slept. The bright rays of sun from the next day awakened them. They put out the embers of the fire and continued trekking.
For many, many days they continued to trek. They tired of jerky and decided to take the next animal they encountered so they could enjoy some real food before continuing on. It took three days to find a medium sized deer. Kai-na speared it and the group made a decent lean-to and a good fire and readied themselves to enjoy roasted deer. As they settled down to enjoy the scent of the seasoned deer, they heard noise of people. Tongip-na and Manak-na actually groaned.
“Are those the people of Komus?” Tongip-na asked, leaping to his feet.
“I don’t know whether to say I hope so or not, but who else would they be?” Manak-na replied grabbing his spears.
Kai-na was on his feet and the women had pulled out their slings and some small rocks in readiness.
Komus and his people were trekking the path just as he said they would. While the People had been searching for an animal to fill their bellies, they had slowed. They knew Komus had a total now of five hunters and many women and children, some of the women were aged but not terribly old. These people were not a huge threat, but the three hunters and their wives were outnumbered.
The people of Komus came to a halt the moment they realized they had arrived at the camp of the People.
“I am sorry that we have overtaken you,” Komus said while his people stood there wishing to be anywhere else.
“We must have slowed while hunting for deer,” Manak-na said, noticing that Wisdom was about to suck color from the land.
“Camp here,” Manak-na said. “We have enough to share. You might want to search for something to add to the meat.”
Komus’s hunters didn’t need to be told twice. They began to set up the camp back down a good distance from the People. The women either tended children or began a search for vegetables while others set up a hearth. They worked very quickly as if they expected retribution when they did wrong. Komus had apparently been relentless in his taking authority. Manak-na approved in this case.
“We will have to post a guard tonight,” Manak-na said to Tongip-na.
“I agree. This is definitely a time to be very careful.”
They whispered among themselves preparing a guard for the night. Fortunately there were no clouds so their ability to tell time by the large and small snares would be easy. They planned to eat, sleep briefly, and then slip off to continue the trek long before the sun was up.
The meat was finally cooked and with the seasonings they had, it was causing not only the People but also Komus’s people to salivate. Manak-na called to Komus. His people brought their bowls. The People generously filled the bowls of Komus’s people. Those people thanked them and went to their camp to eat. Little was said between the two sets of people. The People brought their bowls with uncooked greens already placed in the bottom of the bowls. The meat was placed atop the greens. It was cooked to perfection, but then they had Mitrak with them.
They checked the sky. They found the tail of the small snare in the sky and the tip of the string where it would be tied. That was the star that never moved. They sought the tail of the big snare and found it. When the tail of the big snare pointed to the northeast, it w
ould be time for Manak-na to awaken Tongip-na and Kai-na.
The two men went to sleep immediately. Manak-na guarded. At Komus’s camp there was a little noise, but they were keeping the level of noise to a minimum. Mitrak, Domur, and Aryna lay on their sleeping skins, but they were not sleeping. They, too, felt that this could be a situation that could turn to attack.
Manak-na awakened the men when it was time. He asked if they’d like to start trekking, since he wasn’t sleepy. They agreed and went to wake the women, who were not asleep. With great stealth, they rolled their sleeping skins, attached them to their backpacks, and stole off into the night, each with a large hunk of the deer meat in their hands. The remainder of the deer meat was left for Komus’s people.
They walked rapidly, faster, they were certain, than people with children and older adults could walk. They continued the rapid rate for what felt like endless days with minimum sleep until they returned to their home cave.
It was high sun. People came to greet them, streaming down the hillside in great numbers. There was a festive air about their return, but it was as if a gray cloud hung off to the side. Manak-na figured it out as soon as he saw Untuk-na’s face.
He walked to Untuk-na and placed his right hand on Untuk-na’s left shoulder. He looked into his eyes. “What is it, my Brother?” he asked Untuk-na.
“Ki’ti is not doing well.” His face was gaunt and serious.
Manak-na dropped his backpack and spears and ran up the hill, almost pushing People out of the way. He entered the cave at a run and then tried to slow. He found Ki’ti lying on skins near a small hearth towards the back of the cave. Ti’ti sat beside her arm.
“What is it, Ki’ti?” he asked with tremendous concern, kneeling at her side. Ti’ti moved toward Ki’ti’s head. Ki’ti looked so lifeless and tired with dark circles under her eyes. She raised her head and he reached down and lifted her to hug her. She was too thin. He could feel her bones, as if she had no meat or fat at all but rather had a pouch of liquid that moved when he held her. He laid her back with extreme gentleness.
“Ah, Manak-na. I am so glad,” she paused, “you made it back,” she paused, “before I go to Wisdom.” Her eyes closed and he feared she’d slipped off to sleep. In a few moments she opened her eyes again. “I’ve talked to,” she paused, “Untuk-na.” She shut her eyes, then, opened them moments later. “I want to talk to you.” She closed her eyes as if struggling to breathe to get the words out. “So much has changed,” she paused briefly, “too fast.” She reached for his hand. Her hand was icy cold. “The changes,” she paused, “are good. So far.” Again she paused. “We have added,” she paused and shut her eyes, “many different ones to become People.” She lay still, barely breathing. “Eventually, they will add,” she paused, “things that are not good.” She lay still with her eyes shut, so that Manak-na was certain she slept. She opened her eyes, “Find a way,” she paused, “to safeguard,” she paused again, “our ways.” She looked deep into his eyes. She could see how he hurt for her. “Brother,” she paused, “do not weep,” she paused, “for me.” She shut her eyes and rested. “I go to see,” she paused, “the face of Wisdom.” She rested. “Imagine that!” The smile on her gaunt face made him forget for an instant how terrible she looked. “I need,” she paused, “to rest.” She shut her eyes and slept.
Manak-na was devastated. Although Ki’ti was younger than he, he had no memory of life before she was part of it. To see her like this ripped his belly apart. Ki’ti had always been there. He raced outside and up the hill. He topped the hill and slid and ran down the other side. He howled and shrieked and beat the ground with his fists. Finally emptied, he lay on the ground and looked into the trees. A raven perched above him.
“Don’t say a single thing,” he dared the raven. The raven was silent, as silent tears ran from the eyes of Manak-na. After much time had passed, Untuk-na came down the hill and touched the shoulder of Manak-na. Manak-na turned to look at him horrorstricken.
“No, she’s not gone yet. I just came to see about you.”
“I couldn’t contain my grief so I came here to shout and wail it out. I’m back to myself, now,” Manak-na said. “How long has she been like this?”
“A half-moon. One day she seemed to be adapting well and the next, she was like this.” Untuk-na hurt with every word.
“She told me to safeguard the People against evil.”
“She told me the same thing. She loves the People as if every one of us were one of her children,” Untuk-na said. He was squatting on the ground. “She fears we’ll change for the worse.”
“I know,” Manak-na added, getting to his feet. “How I love her.”
“I, too. She doesn’t eat. There is much liquid in her belly that pushes against her stomach. She has no hunger. It is very hard for her to breathe, probably for the same reason.” Untuk-na leaned against a tree. He felt finally that he could share his grief with someone who would respond as he did.
Manak-na went to him and hugged him, something not forbidden or taboo, but done only on the rarest of occasions. Untuk-na returned the hug. “I love you, Brother. Ki’ti could not have had a better husband in the whole world. She adores you.”
“Thank you, Manak-na. I, too, know the love she has for you. At first, I was envious of her love for you. I came to know how deep it was, but that it was sister for brother, different from our love.”
“Had I been you, I might easily have felt the same way you did.” Manak-na scratched his head. He hoped he hadn’t picked up head lice.
“Will you tell me if you see any head lice. My head itches badly right here.”
Untuk-na looked carefully. “No lice, you’ve got a patch of very dry skin there.”
“What a relief!” Manak-na said.
“We are both charged with protecting the People against evil. That’s an enormous responsibility. I hope you have some ideas.” Untuk-na felt laden with responsibility. He had relief in being able to share it with someone else.
Manak-na shrugged. “We’ll have to talk when things are not so emotional. We have another problem. Seven of Komus’s people followed us when we left. They were planning to murder us. With the help of our women, we killed all of them. We dragged the bodies back to their camp and had it out. Komus had not known of the plot, until we dragged the bodies back, and he was horrified. He took over power and killed four other people, three of whom were complicit in the attempted murder. They are moving from near the lake to the boatbuilders’ place. I think they will continue boatbuilding. But they will soon be passing by here. We need to be alert.”
With a nod, Untuk-na agreed and the two of them climbed the hill and returned to the home cave in silence. Each thought about the need to safeguard their People from evil. Ki’ti was indeed Wise One, even if she had abandoned the title.
Domur met Manak-na at the entryway. “I am so saddened,” she said.
“I, too. It rips my belly and my mind web.” Manak-na wanted to hold in any more emotional outbursts. “I noticed that my backpack and spears are up here.”
“Yes. Tongip-na brought the backpack and Kai-na brought the spears. You have thoughtful friends.”
Manak-na nodded. He glanced back at Ki’ti. She was covered with her sleeping skins and appeared to sleep. Ti’ti was lying on the skins right beside her. He couldn’t help smiling at the tiny dog. When anyone thought of Ki’ti, they thought of the dogs.
Likichi walked by and Manak-na stopped her.
She looked at him and hugged him. “I know it must have come as a shock to see her this way.”
“Yes, Mother. How long does she have?”
“She could go at any time. She struggles to breathe. Sometimes it’s as if it’s just too much effort.”
“I cannot imagine life without Ki’ti.”
“Well, Son, you will soon have to. Just remember her at her best and think on that.”
“How is Ahna taking it?” He asked with obvious concern.
“She griev
es, but she stops by Ki’ti often and talks to her, asking her not to speak. She speaks of beautiful things she’s seen or how someone was kind to another. She says things that give Ki’ti reason to hope all will be well. She loves Ki’ti. I think she’s the only mother Ahna’s ever had. Ahna will be a great Wise One. Already the People depend on her.”
“That is good, Mother. Ki’ti must know.”
“She knows. For that she thanks Wisdom for your adventure.”
Manak-na laughed an open and genuine laugh. The release was helpful.
People gathered for the evening meal and the trekkers were delighted for it was exceptionally good. After cleanup the People gathered for the men’s council. Ahna looked around and nodded to Manak-na.
“We had a good trip which I will share at a later time. We also had a bad time. Seven of Komus’s people tracked us and tried to murder us after we left to head home. I do not know why they did that. We killed all seven of them. Our women are good warriors! They killed with slingshots!”
Domur, Aryna, and Mitrak looked down. The People murmured among themselves. That was something to approve. Suddenly, palm strikes began. Manak-na joined and then waited for them to stop.
He continued, “We dragged the bodies back to their camp. We saw Komus and told him what happened. He took control of power over his people right then. He discovered two women and one man were complicit in the attempt to murder us. He was horrified at what they’d done and had them slain before our eyes. The wife of one was slain with her husband. Komus is their leader now. He is leading them to the boatbuilders’ place. I am not sure what he has in mind. He has few men now. Only five hunters. They are, however, following us.”
People at the council looked around nervously.
“We need to be alert. I made them an offer. The evil man had giants working for him. They had subjugated the people of Komus in the area and insisted they give the evil man food and gifts from time to time. The items spread out in the storage cave are gifts given unwillingly to the evil man. I told the people of Komus that whatever was taken from them, they could take from there. I explained that we don’t want what belongs to others. They may stop here to ask for their things.”
Manak-na's Story, 75,000 BC Page 40