Kih spoke out, “I would speak.”
The Wise One nodded to him. He was interested. Kih was usually a very quiet person, rarely ever speaking at council meetings.
Kih said, “Today, after the accident I walked to the path to the lower level and examined it. The path provides access to armadillos and other large animals who cannot reach our living area through the trees. I wondered how we might prevent them from using the path while keeping it for our use. I have two thoughts. We could dig a trench and fill it with tree trunks, which we would stand on end, refilling the trench once the tree trunks stand. We’d probably have to hold them upright with ropes, while we refill the trench. We could leave an entrance wide enough for us but not for them. Or we could bring large numbers of plants we dig up from the forest and place them to grow on the path so it would be a strip of forest they wouldn’t be able to fit through.”
“What a great idea,” Rustumarin said, forgetting to wait for a nod.
Some of the other hunters were as enthusiastic as Rustumarin, and the discussion became lively.
“I prefer the idea of the trenches with the standing tree trunks,” Golmid said. “It would require more hard work, but it would be done. If we planted trees, we’d have to care for them until they were secure, and some might not live.”
“Golmid, eventually the trees would rot and the trench would have to be redone. Planting trees, once they adjusted, would not require another effort,” a voice interrupted.
“I’m in favor of the trenched tree trunks,” Remu said, joining in.
“Let’s raise our hands if we prefer the trenched tree trunks,” shouted Tukyatuk.
“All but three hunters signified that they preferred the trenched tree trunks,” The Wise One said. “Kih, since the idea was yours, will you lead the group to build the trenched tree trunks?”
“Yes. Any who will participate meet me after the morning meal in the area of the top of the path, ready to dig.”
At least ten hunters indicated willingness to be there.
“Is there any other who would speak?”
No response came, so the meeting closed.
The next morning the men hurried to the top of the path. They had numbers of digging tools. Kih walked several man lengths onto the path heading towards the hunting level. He took some thin rope and tied it to a tree. He walked with the rope to the other side of the path and tied the rope to another tree. The rope gave a straight line for the trench. The ground was hard, so they broke it up by pounding short, thick spears into it. By high sun, they had made a noticeable trench about the depth of the height of a twelve-year-old boy. They decided to dig a long trench before beginning to place the tree trunks. A number of other men consulted with Kih about the diameter of the tree trunks and the length, and they went off to the forest to harvest tree trunks.
Men who were not participating, women, and children were fascinated. As they worked at their chores, they watched the progress of the trenched tree trunk barrier. Men from the forest had returned with a large number of tree trunks. The tree trunks were the length of one and a half men. The men removed all the roots and limbs. They piled them up near the trench.
It took two days to dig the trench. There was much excitement to see the men mark the opening and then begin to place the tree trunks into the trenches. They did hold the trunks vertical using rope. Refilling the trench could not begin for the first tree trunk until five other tree trunks had been lowered into the trench and held vertical with ropes. Refilling the hole was not as easy as it seemed. Putting the earth back was one thing; getting it tight enough to hold a tree trunk, quite another. When they had ten tree trunks positioned and five were refilled, the men realized they needed a support. They went to the forest and took two more trees, cutting off the limbs and root structures. They returned and at the end of the trench, they placed one tree trunk so that the top of the tree trunk tied to the standing tree trunk and its base rested on the ground on the cave side of the trench. On the other side, they tied another tree trunk with its length going down the path to the lower level. Men dug holes and inserted the bottoms of the bracing trees into the holes. The men tightly tied the tree tops to the tops of the first tree in the trench. If a man looked down the line of tree trunks, the supports would have formed a triangle with the ground as its base. They took heavy poles and tamped down the refilled dirt to steady the tree trunks. They continued. As they worked, they found that every ten to twelve tree trunks needed to serve as a brace point if the barrier would be strong. To keep the tree trunks lined up well, they tied a slender tree trunk with rope to each of the tree trunks horizontally on the inside of the barrier. Once the barrier was set up, it was strong and made an entry width of two men standing side-by-side. Even a young armadillo would have difficulty getting through that opening. They felt they were finally free of invading armadillos.
The very next afternoon to the horror of all, Golmid spotted a mature sloth on the path. Never had anyone seen a sloth on the path or upper level. It was frightening and with one whistle, all the People gathered in the cave and watched from the observation point. All were silent as they watched.
The enormous sloth browsed treetops on the path seemingly unaware of the barrier. When it reached the barrier, it reached down with one of its horribly sharp-clawed forelegs and touched the barrier. It bent down to smell the barrier. It turned and went back down the path to the lower level and disappeared. The People were greatly relieved. After all their work, they knew the sloth had enough power to destroy the barrier had it chosen to do so. It took some time before People returned to the upper open level, even though they knew they were safe from the sloth.
Later that evening, Linpint and Yu, his son who was learning to hear the drums, climbed to the top of the mountain to listen for any messages that might come. That night there was one. Linpint and Yu heard the drumming to the south of them. It never was as strong as the drums from the north, but they could hear it well. The message began, “to all ... meeting ... search wives and husbands ... ten days ... Bekwaboati.” Linpint had listened carefully. He heard the drumming repeat. After the second time, the drummer signed off. Linpint began to beat out the message. He was having difficulty with the last word, not positive that he knew what it meant, but he simply repeated what he’d heard. He repeated the message and signed off. He could hear the message pick up to the north. He and Yu went back to the cave.
Council was about to begin, so they took their seats and waited until it was time to speak. When the Wise One nodded at Linpint, he told what he got of the message. He didn’t know what Bekwaboati was and it seemed neither did any of the others. He decided he’d travel to the Southern Kapotonok, their closest neighbors, to see what he could learn. Zamimolo agreed to accompany him on the brief trip. They’d leave at first light.
When light appeared in the east, Linpint and Zamimolo gathered their backpacks and spears and headed for the new barrier and the path that went down from it. They moved rapidly and were in the level area quickly. From there they’d pass hills and follow rivers to reach the coast and shortly afterwards arrive at the home of the Southern Kapotonok. Women had packed jerky from the armadillo and Linpint hoped the trip was very short, since that was his least favorite jerky. Zamimolo didn’t much care for it either. Both picked a papaya on the hillside and ate it as they walked.
Parrots colored the trees and the monkeys made a thunderous noise in the early daylight. Off to the south side, something large moved slowly in the trees. The men didn’t take time to check to see what it was. They moved rapidly. There was no reaction from the animal they’d heard. A squealing peccary raced across the path followed by several very small ones. The men took time to chuckle at the little line of peccaries.
Linpint paused, smelling a snake, and there near his face was a snake coiled among the branches in a tree. He pointed it out to Zamimolo. It was a mottled green-brown triangular headed snake. The two pressed on. Mist rose from the higher hills they crosse
d and they had to take more care to look for hazards. Finally, just before the sun began to set, they began their descent to a river that would take them directly to the Southern Kapotonok.
“I hope they have something really filling for the evening meal,” Zamimolo said to Linpint, slightly breathless from a slipping slide down a hill where the mud had turned to wet clay. He walked over to clean his feet in the river.
“I’d like filling and tasty,” Linpint laughed. “This jerky is awful.”
“Well, it’s better than nothing.”
“I’m not sure about that. I’ve only eaten half a stick.”
“You must be very hungry!”
“Well, I’ve been grabbing fruit from time to time. That makes a difference.”
“The sea is beautiful, and look how calm it is!”
“Hardly a ripple, Zami.”
“They’re north of us, right?” Zamimolo asked, momentarily disoriented.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
The two began to walk quickly across the river and then straight to the sea and then they turned left and began to walk in the sand.
It was not long before the lookouts for the Southern Kapotonoks spotted them and strode to meet them.
Chief Hirmit hobbled out using a bent stick to steady himself. “It is Zamimolo and Linpint, friends from long ago. How are you?” he asked.
“Both of us well, and you, Chief Hirmit?” Linpint replied.
“Doing well, doing well. Come, it is time for the evening meal and we have camel cooked as none other cooks it, so that even the Maker would want to join us.”
Linpint and Zamimolo followed the old man and others to their village and put their weapons in the weapons keep. They sat where the women showed them. Soon the women served each of them huge portions of camel and vegetables and fruits. They talked about unimportant things while they ate, such as the weather and how many animals were up or down in count this year as compared to other years. The women remained silent.
When the meal was finished, the women collected the serving platters and the men began to talk of other things of greater import: how were Lomah, Kumoha, and Dop. Had they had any more children? The Chief told them that their Wise One had gone to the Maker during the last year, but they’d probably heard it on drum talk, which, they agreed, they had.
“Now,” Chief Hirmit said quietly, “Tell us why you came.”
“It has to do with the drums. We had a message from the Bekwaboati to the south. It spoke of what sounds like a gathering where people who need to find wives or husbands could choose from those who are not closely related. The idea sounds great, but I’m not sure I got the message right.”
“You got it right. It will take place now in nine days. You have some people who want to go?”
“We have some, who might want to go, but it takes place so soon and we have no idea where it is.”
“Ah, you need to contact the Northwestern Kapotonok, the people who took you by boat back to your campsite when you first arrived and got lost in the mountains. They usually stop along the west seashore to pick up any who want to go to the wife/husband event. Bekwaboati is on the west seashore of the big land below this narrow strip of land. I will send Ti with you. Ti may want to find a wife. Ti will lead you to the Northwestern Kapotonok. You will leave just as the light arrives to the morning sky.”
“Thank you Chief. That’s very helpful. I think there will be some who wish to go from the People. I hope we can make it in time.”
“Use the drums. Go up with Tomarghi and send your message this evening. Then, you’ll know.”
Linpint and Zamimolo had forgotten that they were able to use the drums as well as forward messages. Linpint went with Tomarghi who was right beside him as the Chief spoke, and the two of them went right to the drums. Tomarghi asked what Linpint wanted to send.
“Do any People wish to attend wife/husband search in the south in nine days?”
Tomarghi sent the message from the Southern Kapotonok to the People. Linpint watched as he sent the message seemingly without any effort at all. The two waited. They waited for quite some time. Finally, the drum sounded from the People. This was the first time Linpint had heard the drum from his People. The drum said that five People would like to attend the event.
“You’d better be ready to leave with Ti. It sounds like there is a lot of interest among the People.”
“We’ll be ready. Thank you for the drumming, Tomarghi. You are an expert.”
“Far from expert, but I manage to do well enough. If I can help, you are welcome.”
As darkness came, the men set their sleeping skins on the soft sand and quickly fell to sleep near the fire. In the morning Ti touched them gently on the shoulder and each waked quickly to prepare for another day of trekking through the forest. The Southern Kapotonoks provided them with food to eat during the trek, and it far surpassed the taste of the jerky the People made.
It took all day but by evening, they had arrived at the village of the Northwestern Kapotonoks. Ti was a person they knew, so they spoke to him directly first.
“We are here, Tam,” Ti explained, “to see if we might accompany you in your boats to the wife/husband search at Bekwaboati. I want to go and Linpint and Zamimolo of the People have five they would like to take.”
“It will require an additional boat, but, of course, we will be glad to provide boat space if they are willing to row.”
Linpint nodded in the affirmative when Tam mentioned rowing.
Tam looked at the men from the People. “That is your rock pile on the shore?”
“Yes,” Zamimolo replied.
“We will pick up your people in two days—early—at sunrise. You will be ready?”
“Yes.”
“We have space for seven.”
“We will have no more than that.”
“Very well,” Tam directed them to the fire with his hand. “Come, join us for our evening meal.”
The three men were glad they’d arrived in time to eat. The trek had been hard and tiring. Ti was one who moved quickly through the forests making hardly a sound but moving far faster than either Linpint or Zamimolo normally moved. That evening the men feasted on fish of a variety of types. There were many fruits and some greens, mostly from the sea. The taste was wonderful.
After they ate, they prepared to sleep. Tam told them a man would take Linpint and Zamimolo home the next morning in one of their smaller boats. They were glad not to have to wait for two days. The man who transported them home warned them to take rope and skins to make shelters to keep them dry when it rained. He explained that there was little place to accommodate as many travelers as would come to Bekwaboati.
Arriving back at the cave, Zamimolo and Linpint were interested to know who would be going to the Bekwaboati. It was afternoon so each went to find their wives.
Ba came running when she saw that Zamimolo had returned. He caught her in his arms and for a moment, they did not speak.
“Ahah, wants to go, Zami, and it scares me.”
Zamimolo looked into her eyes. “She is a grown woman, and she is not satisfied with her options here. We’ve known that for some time. Just as you did, she needs to search for what she would have. She’s so much like you. Of all your daughters, she reminds me most of you. She may find no one there. Alternatively, she may do what you did, move to a different place. What’s important is for her to find her way in life. She’s strong willed and strong minded, Ba. Leave Ahah her freedom, as your father left you yours.”
“I have no choice, but it doesn’t make it any easier. Was your trip a good one?”
“It was fine. We have to do something about the jerky. Linpint really hates it, and I don’t like it either.”
“Is it just that it’s armadillo, or is it the way we make jerky?” Ba asked.
“I think it’s the way it’s made. Years ago, it used to taste good. Now, I’d rather just pluck fruit, but I eat it so not to be wasteful. Who else wants to go?”<
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“Linpint and Lomah’s son, Ventumoko, Tokatumeta and Folifilo’s son, Nob, Golmid and Colitoba’s daughter, Picota, and Tukyatuk and Meninkua’s son, Tas.”
“I thought Ahah might want Ventumoko, but something happened to end their interest in each other after he was injured by the armadillo,” Zamimolo said quietly. He liked Ventumoko.
“Well, we had better get things gathered for our daughter.”
“What do we need to gather?” Zamimolo wondered aloud.
“She needs a new tunic. Hers is too short and stained. Who would want a woman with a stained tunic?”
“Oh,” he laughed, “certainly she needs a stain free tunic!”
Ba ignored his pleasantries and looked seriously at him. “She also needs a bag to carry whatever necessary things she may need.”
“All that’s women’s work. Is there anything I need to provide?”
Ba smiled. “No, my dear, nothing but yourself. You will accompany her?”
“Of course, Linpint and I already decided to make the trip with the young people.”
“Where are you going?”
“Have you seen the drawing of this thin strip of land that connects the two huge lands, one to the north and one to the south?”
“You know I’ve seen it,” she said pretending offense.
“It’s a little way down the shoreline from the place where the big land to the south joins the smaller land where we live. Down there is a very large cove. It opens to the south. It is there that Bekwaboati serves as a large, safe anchorage for boats going north and south. I understand it’s a large village.”
“You will watch out for Ahah, won’t you?”
“Of course, I’ll be as careful of her safety as I can possibly be. She’s our daughter.”
“I’d better get that tunic ready,” Ba said, turning away and heading for the place in the cave where they stored skins.
There was excitement as the young people prepared for their trip to Bekwaboati. Many of the people they’d already met would be there, but there would also be others from the far south in the big south land and some from the big north land. Boats would be heading north and south along both seas. Others would use paths in the big land to the south to reach the place of the gathering.
Zamimolo’s Story, 50,000 BC Page 24