by A. K. Vyas
Cloud was eyeing this fish hungrily. Papa saw the fish had a different darker color and a new smokey smell. This is odd. The fish has a distinct woody smell, but it’s not spoiled.
Papa was still going to throw it out when they reached their Gher. Cloud really wants to eat it. Mama noticed this, sniffed it, and tried a little bite. The fish tasted different but not bad and surprisingly wasn’t spoiled. Many nights later the fish still was dry to the taste, but not spoiled. Somehow the heavy smoke from the closed Gher had cured the fish overnight.
Over the next cycle of the moon, Mama and Emil practiced smoking small strips of daily game in Bret’s Gher. The fish lasted several days. The meat, especially venison, lasted for even longer.
A cycle of the moon later, snow covered the ground. The village faced a food shortage as they did with every winter. There were no fruits or eggs, and hunting large animals in heavy snow was difficult.
Papa invited the Chief and the elders to Bret’s Gher. Mama offered them all strips of smoked venison. The Elders cautiously sniffed the strange smoky smell. Papa and Emil ate their strips and drank some water. Chief Sev bit his strip, observing, “This is deer but tastes different. Where did you get this?”
“This comes from the last deer we caught after the Spirit Ceremony,” said Papa.
Sev’s wide-eyed response was, “That was a full moon cycle ago, even before the snows. How is this possible?”
Papa took a long sip of water then replied, “Emil forgot a fish in this Gher with the fire still going and the smoke hole closed. We found the fish was changed but still edible several days later. It was some power of the smoke. We’ve been smoking a bit of the daily game for the last moon cycle.”
Chief Sev thought deeply. His eyes smiled back and forth between Emil and the venison. He looked the boy in the eye. This smoked meat could change everything for us.
“Do you realize this means we can take more game in times of plenty and store it for moon cycles? Smoked game taken in the fall can help us get through the winter. Now our hunting teams and the whole village can move further and longer. It means we can avoid wars over hunting grounds. We can keep meat without hunting for some time if need be.”
Chief Sev was truly astonished. He addressed the group again.
“Life is such a mystery. If the Eagle Feather hadn’t vouched for him, little Bret would never have been trained as a hunter. Think of his effect on the People. Where would we be without his skill with the Mountain Men and the Sabretooth? Then you two save the boys. In a way, because of Bret and Emil, now we’ve learned to smoke meat. One good decision can impact so much.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Kindness can pluck the whiskers of a lion.” -Moroccan Proverb
Mountain Woman
An early morning twilight illuminated the frosty north wind as she kissed icy sleet across the forest. The powerful arctic winds had frozen the Mountain River solid.
Cloud and Papa plodded a rough trail through the snow. Emil and the village boys followed single file. They were hurrying to pick snow oranges from the icy gnarled groves by the river. A foreboding winter storm wasn’t far over the horizon. There wasn’t a single animal in sight. It seemed the entire forest knew this.
Papa was sweating from the exertion of breaking a snow trail despite the sharp chill in the air. He drank from his water pouch, reminding the boys to do the same.
“The cold can make you forget thirst,” he reminded, as he stopped just ahead of the orange tree copse. “Snow is good for tracking, but harder for us to move through. See how much easier it is for Cloud. This is why wolves rule the winter. Look at the broad pads on Cloud’s paws.”
Papa pointed his heavy spear at the nearest orange tree. “Pick the fruit fast, then we’ll look at the ice river. Form pairs and watch out for sinkholes.”
Emil had learned sinkholes could be dangerous in snow country, especially if you are alone. The branches of snow-covered trees could create a treacherous hollow around the trunk. This pit could trap and kill you.
Papa next led them to the ice river. He showed the boys the difference between smooth ice and jagged ice. The latter often has dangerous running water under it. Papa told them to walk across frozen water with your arms held out sideways, or with a spear held horizontally in front of you. You have a chance to stop your fall if the ice cracks under you. It’s even safer to crawl on ice.
Cloud was slipping on the ice cracks and yapping at a sizeable jagged hole near the middle of the river. Papa left the boys ashore and cautiously crawled out to Cloud. There were two sets of tracks. One was a small person who had been running across the ice. The second set of tracks looked like moose, but ended at the broken ice hole. The sign told Papa a small Mountain Man had been chased across the frozen river by a big moose. The ice had cracked under the creature’s weight and the moose was gone. Papa and Cloud followed the tracks back to the People’s side of the river. Once in the snow, Papa read the tracks. It’s either a small woman or a child.
Papa called the boys over close to him. Cloud sniffed the footprints and they followed him. The tracks led back in the direction of the village. Cloud led them to a small tangle of trees. Papa could see a berry pouch and a furry boot sticking out of a shallow snowbank. Papa and the boys dug out a small mountain woman. She was unconscious and slightly frostbitten, but still barely breathing. There was dried rust-colored snow and a jagged bone protruding from her lower leg.
Emil asked, “Aren’t we going to help her, Papa, she’s hurt?”
Aash paused and looked at his son. It should be that simple, but it isn’t. This woman is a trespasser from a hostile tribe on our territory. A member of the People on the other side of the river should expect to be killed in a similar situation. There were too many dark acts on both sides in the last war. Aash had every right to kill her, but knew he couldn’t.
If the Mountain Men come looking for her or if they think the People have taken her, it could be war. It might be easier just to leave her, though. This is the safest option. She’s not our responsibility and could lead to war.
While Papa mulled these risks over, the boys had meanwhile made their choice. They propped her up. Her pulse was strong and Cloud was licking her face. All the little boys were now staring up expectantly at him. Papa shrugged and threw her over his shoulder. The boys are right, we’ll try to save her.
The village was all stares when this motley crew arrived. Papa handed her off to Mama and a gaggle of startled women from the village. Mama helped carry her into a warm Gher.
Chief Sev recognized the furs of the Mountain People, asking, “Exactly what is going on here, Spearmaker?”
Papa’s reply was low and soft. “We found her by the ice river. Moose attack. We couldn’t leave her.” He cut the Chief’s reply off. “I know, I know, I know.”
The Elder Healer reported from the Gher after the evening meal. “The Mountain Woman is very weak. Her leg is broken. She probably won’t survive the night. We’ll warm her and see.”
Chief Sev just stared silently at Papa. The bloody Mountain Man War could happen again.
Mama helped the healers with the Mountain Woman. They set her broken leg and warmed her under sleeping furs. She was murmuring in her sleep in the Mountain language. Mama recognized the word “Moose.” The woman had a beautiful ivory necklace which she kept yanking in her sleep. Mama was scared she might break it in her tossing fits. Lulu carefully removed it and wrapped it in a small fur hide to the side. Mama noticed there were no forest sounds that night as she made her way back to their Gher. The nocturnal winds were picking up swirling force. She could see the village Gher bindings swaying back and forth in the gale.
Emil was cuddled with Cloud and blissfully snoring away as Mama entered the Gher. Papa had a pensive look on his face. He warmed into a smile when he saw her.
“I think she makes it,” opined Mama as she climbed into the sleeping furs.
“We did the right thing. This could still go bad,”
worried Papa.
Mama’s voice was tired but even.
“We’ve not had war with the Mountain Men since I was a child. This poor woman also endured the Sabretooth. She’s never harmed the People. She was just picking berries when attacked by a moose. She is someone’s daughter, sister, mother, wife, or all of these things. I’m proud we are helping her. It tells me we are living the things we teach Babo. Maybe she’ll be well enough to return to her tribe in a few days.”
“Yes,” answered Papa as he held her close. That moose could just as easily have attacked one of us. If it was you, my love, I’d come no matter where the tracks led. Her husband will come. Their warriors may all come soon. That’s the risk.
Mama, as always, could read his silent thoughts and smiled appreciatively. Yes, nothing would stop you.
She brushed the soft spot on his forehead. “Maybe we send a team to watch the river and sign to the Mountain Men we saved her. Perhaps take her hat as proof?”
They both watched Emil and Cloud cuddled up and smiled, realizing the two were snoring in unison. Papa liked her plan and decided to share it with Chief Sev at dawn.
The polar graying light of a fresh winter morning filtered into focus. Chief Sev was bundled up in a fur robe and smoking a long black pipe. He listened to the Spearmaker in silence.
The Chief finally spoke, “Good, Spearmaker. The Mountain Woman’s fever has broken but she’s still weak. You lead a team out there immediately. I want someone calm in charge.”
The arctic wind suddenly snapped a taut leather Gher binding rope. It sent a rock sailing into the trees. Papa gave Mama and Babo kisses just before leaving. Emil stared at the forest and said, “Cloud, go with Papa.”
As it turned out, it was very good Emil did this. The crimson sky and low-flying birds told them to hurry.
Aash was thrilled to be breathing the crisp winter air and leading a hunting team again. Even if only for a single day. Cloud briskly led them to the ice river in the area of the Mountain Woman’s tracks. Aash stayed with Cloud while splitting the team into pairs. They spread out across the riverbank. In this way, they could cover and watch a greater area of the ice river for the Mountain Men. The team knew to call out and come together at contact. Aash and the hunters climbed slippery trees. They watched and waited as the glistening frozen ice shimmered in front of them. Then the tired sun was being roughly cast out of the sky by swiftly flowing dark clouds. The white wolf napped at the base of Aash’s tree.
In the healers’ Gher, Mama was wringing out a wet poultice from the Mountain Woman’s head. The Elder Healer palmed the woman’s head, saying, “The fever is gone, she’ll wake up soon.”
The Elder turned for a new poultice. The Mountain Woman sat up quickly, snatching up a nearby skinning blade. She grabbed the Elder by the hair and pulled her close while painfully sliding back to the wall of the Gher. She held the knife to the healer’s throat, while screeching unintelligible words in an unmistakably menacing tone.
Mama drew her black knife and looked the Mountain Woman straight in the eye. Lulu made the peace sign. The Mountain Woman repeated her harsh words and yanked on the Elder’s hair.
Mama pointed to herself and smiled. She voiced softly, “Lulu, Lulu, I am Lulu, we won’t hurt you.” She could see the primal fear in the Mountain Woman’s fiery eyes.
Mama had an idea. She took a slow step back and pointed to the fur that held the ivory necklace, then slowly reached for it. She showed the woman her ivory necklace and placed it within easy reach. Then Mama signed. “Moose attack…my man finds you…we fix leg,” and pointed at the broken leg.
The Mountain Woman hesitated and stopped her harsh words. She peeked under the sleeping furs and saw the fresh poultice on her leg. She sniffed the healing herbs from the poultice.
Mama reached for a water pouch, took a quick sip, and offered it to the Mountain Woman. The parched woman picked it up slowly. She sniffed it and took a quick cautious sip.
Mama took another chance. I need to calm her down. She put her black knife down where she could still reach it, then signed again, “Lulu, Lulu, Lulu.”
The Mountain Woman’s fiery green eyes met Mama’s placid blue ones. She released the Elder, who scrambled behind Lulu. The little woman kept the knife close but pointed at herself. “Inga, I am Inga,” she signed. Then she put down the knife and put on her ivory necklace.
Mama signed, “We take…you back…to your people.” And offered her some meat.
The Mountain Woman took a big bite of salty meat and chewed ravenously. She looked at the tall blue-eyed woman across the Gher and signed. “My man crazy…he come for me.”
Lulu grinned knowingly. “My man crazy too…I lost…he do…same.”
The women both smiled at this. Then Inga grimaced at the pain from her leg. Before long they had signed to each other how many children each had and shared their names. Ironically, in just the short amount of time it took the women to find peace, their men were on the cusp of war.
The Mountain Men came in a full hunting team. They were fierce, bearded giants. Aash took in their ivory war axes and watched their bearing and spacing. The smallest man was their leader, and still a full head taller than any of the People. The Mountain Men halted halfway across the river at the moose hole. One of them was a truly massive red-bearded man.
These men are experienced and disciplined warriors, thought Aash. The red-bearded giant looks as ferocious as a Grizzly himself in his furs.
Aash’s team had loaded their throwing sticks, but kept them pointed at the ground. They walked slowly onto the ice river, calling out so the Mountain Men could see them. Aash stopped and held out his heavy spear horizontally in front of him in the peace sign. The leader of the Mountain Men did the same. They would parley.
Aash told his team to be ready but stay put for now. He’d reminded them the Mountain Men fight with two axes, one of which they throw. Aash walked out to meet the Mountain Men with Cloud.
He could see curious looks on the opposing faces, as they took in his throwing stick and solo approach. They mostly saw a fierce white wolf silently gliding with him like a deadly ghost over the ice. Cloud clearly unsettles these giants. Good.
There was something else. What Aash didn’t know was the legend of Fenrir. The Mountain Men believed a great wolf named Fenrir was trapped by the Sky Spirits in the heavens. When this wolf finally gnawed his way free, the world would end. The man approaching them commanded a powerful wolf. They all thought of the legend.
At a twenty-pace distance Aash halted across from the four bearded giants. “I am Aash, son of the Eagle Feather…,” he signed, “why you come…our lands?”
By their reaction, it was clear they knew of the Eagle Feather. Their leader signed back, “I am Vili, son of Damon…the river is not your lands…we look for woman.”
Aash nodded and pointed at the ice hole. “Moose attack woman…. we save her,” he signed.
At this the massive red-bearded man let out a sigh of relief.
Aash signed to him. “Your woman?”
The Redbeard nodded, pointing to himself. “Aki.”
Aash signed, “Her leg broken…we bring here…in morning.”
The Redbeard signed harshly, “No, bring now!”
Aash pointed at the red sky, signing, “Big, big storm coming. We bring after…. she weak.”
The Redbeard took a menacing step forward, as did Cloud, before their leader also pointed to the sky and snapped something at him. Vili turned back to Aash and signed, “You come with us…until after storm.” Aash didn’t trust this man. There’s something cruel in his eyes.
Three things then happened simultaneously. First, Cloud sensed their tone and began a deep menacing growl while stepping protectively in front of Aash. The Mountain Men all shifted forward with their axes ready. Aash raised his throwing stick. The obsidian point of his venom dart gleamed in the final fleeting sunlight. “No,” he said in a firm low voice. Aash’s hunting team quickly came up to defend
him with throwing sticks ready. The ice river was deathly quiet now.
The Mountain Men paused. They had never seen a wolf do this. This was great magic.
Aash looked their leader in the eye, signing, “We bring her after storm…or we all die here.”
Then he reassured Redbeard, signing, “Aki…I bring your woman after storm…No war.”
Aash looked at Vili.
I don’t like this. The little Mountain Man isn’t convinced. Aki’s the biggest threat. He gets the venom dart. Cloud might delay them enough to reload. No, too close after the dart, it’ll be heavy spear versus axe.
Vili assessed the command presence of the quiet man facing him. In the end, it came down to the dark brown eyes calmly assessing him.
This man controls a white wolf and carries the scars of countless hunts on his body. The Eagle Feather was an unholy terror in the last war. He’d killed our chief in single combat. This one, his son, would see something through to the end.
Vili signed, taunting with a black-hearted grin. “Son of the Eagle Feather…I thought you would be taller.”
Aash’s lipless, wolfish smile whispered, “Me too.” He kept his eyes focused on Vili as he subtly shifted his weight toward Aki for the coming throw.
A clap of thunder rumbled in the heavens, shaking all of them like rats. All of them except for Cloud. Everyone noticed the white wolf hadn’t even blinked and was staring at Vili’s throat with chilling blue-eyed ferocity. The great winter storm announced itself without warning. Rude, hard hail crashed everywhere as the howling sky rapidly darkened with wild winds. The greatest danger now for all was the storm. This would be a severe blizzard. Everyone had to get off the ice.
“Bring woman here after storm,” signed Vili. He turned abruptly back for their shore, and the Mountain Men followed suit. The Redbeard hesitated until Aash reassured him with a final nod.