Death in the Time of Ice (27 page)

Bahg picked up his sleeping infant, bent to drink in his sweet smell, and carried him outside. Stitcher sat near the fire but, for once, he was not working on a garment. There were probably no more skins for him to use. The fire had melted the ice pellets and dried the stones near it. Tog Flint Shaper sat cross-legged on the paving not far away, unenthusiastically chipping at a piece of flint. Bahg greeted him.

Tog Flint Shaper, what are you making?

I am shaping a scraper, but when will it be used to scrape a skin? When will we have a good hunt? And I am not able to care about the hunt now. I will never see her again.
Tog dropped his stones with a clatter and held his head in his hands.
I miss Enga Dancing Flower so much.
He looked up at Bahg and despair dragged tears down his face.
Did you know we were to couple? Enga Dancing Flower had already asked permission of the Aja Hama. It would have been given that night. The night Enga found her slain.

Bahg laid a hand on his shoulder.
My brother. I am so sorry.

It was wrong of me to close myself to her, but I did not know what to do when she was accused in front of the tribe. I could have supported her and I did not. And now she may be hurt somewhere from the shaking of Brother Earth.

Bahg squatted next to Tog for a while and let his mind work. An idea came to him.

Do you remember how Enga Dancing Flower figured out Doon’s treachery? That Doon had attacked my family and not the beaver?

Tog nodded and gave him a puzzled look.

Enga Dancing Flower is a very clever female,
Bahg continued.
She might be able to figure out who really killed Aja Hama. Then we could all stop suspecting each other. Besides, the Spirits might pay more attention to our hunts if Enga were here dancing. And if Ung were on the hunts throwing her spear. We never went hungry when Ung Strong Arm hunted with us.

Enga Dancing Flower and Ung Strong Arm are banished. Enga is not here.
Mourning dripped through the thought-speak of Tog.
If someone had spoken up for her she might still be here.

Yes, they should both be here. You do not want to be without her any longer. Maybe we could go find her and bring her back.

Yes, she may need a rescue. But would not Hama expel us also if we did that?

Maybe not. Many of the brothers and sisters are against what Hama did. They do not think she should have expelled them.

And none of them spoke up either. I will ponder this, Bahg Swiftfeet. Would you go with me if I went to seek her?

Can you not send her a thought-feeler and find out where she is?

Tog shook his head, hard, and a tear flew onto the ground.
I closed my mind to her when she first left. Now she has closed her mind to me. Either that or she cannot communicate because harm has come to her. I cannot get through.

Then we will have to go find her.

At dark time?

Yes, at next dark time. After the council.

The two males looked into each other’s eyes, knowing what they planned was a grave trespass. But before their own welfare must come the good of the tribe. Always.

* * *

Lakala Rippling Water opened her eyes. Enga Dancing Flower had been able to shoulder-carry her back to the cave. Enga was overjoyed to find it intact. Ung Strong Arm rushed to the opening to help Enga lift Lakala over and through the branches at the cave’s mouth. The inside of the shelter was a bit warmer than the air outside. Ung quickly stripped off her own cloak and laid it over Lakala, then bent and planted kisses all over her face.

Lakala’s eyes flew open.
My Ung! I have found you!

Ung smiled.
Were you looking for me?

Of course. I have searched every day. Look, I have brought you something to eat.
She reached into her pouch and pulled out two pieces of jerky.
I found the place where you spent the first night, but then could not find where you went. Why have you closed your mind to me?

The two sisters looked at each other.

That was my doing,
thought-spoke Enga.
I thought it better to make a clean break. Also, I….
Enga did not know if she should tell Lakala her plan. But Lakala and Ung were special friends. If Lakala had risked her life, and the censure of the tribe, by seeking them, she should trust her.
I sneaked back to the village to see if I could overhear enough thought-speak to figure out who killed our leader. I have just returned, without success, but I plan to do it again as soon as there is no snow. I do not want to leave tracks.

If anyone could figure out who killed her, you could
, thought-spoke Lakala.
You and clever Jeek. Did you know that he has gone to seek you, too? I saw him leave the village just before I did. I hope he was not hurt in Brother Earth’s rage.

Enga hoped so, too.
I will go see if I can find him. I will open my mind to him and maybe, maybe this time he will receive my thoughts.

* * *

There was another scent here besides Sannum Straight Hair’s. Jeek twitched his nose and looked around as he stood up from the mud slide. There were musk oxen very near. But before he concerned himself with them, he must find Sannum. Jeek closed his mind to all but Sannum. He crawled to the top of the mudslide, careful not to dislodge the pile. Sannum lay on the other side, at the bottom, buried to his waist.

I will be right there
, he thought-shouted, and scrambled down the slope.
Are you injured?

Not badly
, answered Sannum.
My ankle twisted when I fell. I do not think this mud has hurt me, but it is heavy.

Jeek spread his legs and leaned over, then shoved the dirt off Sannum, throwing it behind him between his legs. Jeek soon had him free and Sannum stood up, testing his ankle.

My ankle is sore, but it will hold me
, he thought-spoke.
I can walk. But can we climb out of here?

I do not think it will be difficult to crawl up the mudslide. As long as it does not slide again. But what is that odor? Are there musk oxen here with you?

Sannum looked surprised. He tested the air.
I believe you are right. They must be farther along in this trench. My smeller is not as good as it used to be when I was your age.

Jeek crept down the narrow canyon until he spotted the small group of oxen, trapped just as Sannum and he were. They did not have the large claws of the beaver to collapse the sides and climb out. He counted six females and four half-grown young. They milled around, bumping into each other. The young ones bawled when they saw Jeek. He ran back to Sannum, who sat rubbing his ankle.

I saw them! There are oxen farther down there,
thought-spoke Jeek
. All females and young, no large males. I have an idea.
His eyes lit up and he bounced on his heels.
The mudslide made this pile. Let us climb over it, then mound the mud up as high as we can behind us. We can get out of here the way I saw a beaver do it once, by caving in the sides until we can climb out.

Why do you want to pile the dirt up behind us?

That will trap the musk ox and maybe someone can return and kill some for the tribe.

Ah, you are a clever lad, Jeek.

He basked in the approval of Sannum for a moment, then they got busy.

Jeek helped Sannum struggle over the mud pile. Then they started to work clawing dirt from the sides of the gully, carrying it, and dumping it to make a barrier for the animals. Brother Earth gave a few little shakes but did not seem so angry anymore. They both broke out in heavy sweat, working with the wet earth. It slid and stuck where they did not want it and made their task harder.

Chapter 24

Enga Dancing Flower paused outside the cave before she started trying to find Jeek. Ung Strong Arm and Lakala Rippling Water were inside and she thought they would be safe there. But was any place safe when Brother Earth was acting up?

A shiver lifted the ground under her feet and threw her into a stumble. She caught herself with one hand and one knee. A clatter had come from the cave. Brother Earth was not done.

Enga! We must leave!
Ung parted the dead branches between them.
A shower of rock just rained down from the top of this cave. What if the whole roof falls in?

The two females scrambled over the downed tree. Enga looked inside. Small rocks now littered the floor of the cave and new cracks criss-crossed the top. One was as wide as her hand.

She knew Ung was right. If Brother Earth continued to rage, the cave might collapse. They would have to spend the dark time outside again.

I think the walking we did to get here was good for my injury
, thought-spoke Ung.
And with the rest I have just had, I feel I can walk a long distance now.

This is good, birth sister
. Enga was relieved to hear that. They might have to walk a long while.
Lakala Rippling Water, do you feel well enough to travel also?

Lakala gave a grim nod.
But where will we go?

Brother Earth gave another shake and they started to walk. Enga knew she could not return to the village; at least, not before dark time. And it would be hard to be stealthy when there were now three of them.

* * *

Young Jeek
, thought-spoke Sannum Straight Hair.
This pile is big enough to hold the oxen. Sister Sun is almost down to Brother Earth.
We must think about where we will spend the night.

Not here
, answered Jeek.

I agree. I want to leave this hole.

It was hard going slogging up the wet earth that had slid down on top of Sannum, but the side of the gully, now gently sloping, made it easier than it would have been before the mudslide. When they reached the top Sannum paused to catch his breath. He sat and rubbed his ankle.

Do you think you can walk back to the village?
asked Jeek.

Sannum shook his head.
I do not know. We should not spend the rest of dark time out here in the forest, but my ankle is sore. The climbing we just did—it hurts more now.

Jeek squatted beside him and looked at his ankle. Sister Sun had gone to sleep, but a thin Brother Moon was starting to throw off his dense cloud garments, peeking around them enough to give some help. When Jeek put his hand on Sannum’s ankle he could feel heat inside. He frowned and considered what his mother, the Healer, would do. He thought she would wrap the ankle tightly with a poultice. Jeek smeared some of the mud onto it as a poultice. He had seen his mother do this once. He tore a strip off his tattered cape with his teeth and wrapped it around the ankle, tucking the ends in so it would stay. Then he got up and kicked through the downed branches lying all over the forest floor, finally finding a stout walking stick with a crook that Sannum could tuck under his shoulder.

I always say you are a clever young lad
, thought-spoke Sannum.
See how resourceful you are! I think I will be able to hobble about. But we still have to find a place to spend the night. The distance back to the village is too great for me.

They both cocked their heads. A message was being funneled to Jeek, but Sannum could read it, too.

It is Enga Dancing Flower!
exclaimed Jeek, with a yelp.
She is contacting me!
He closed his eyes and became still to hear Enga better.

Jeek, Jeek. I need your help. Jeek, Jeek. We need your help.

I am here, Enga Dancing Flower. I am in the forest. Where are you?

Enga sent him a picture of the cave and her surroundings, also letting him know that Ung and Lakala were with her.

He was surprised Lakala was there, but would find out more about that later. He had never seen the pictured cave before.

What part of the trail are you near?
he asked.

We are far off the trail, but we are heading toward it. Send me a picture of where you are.

It is much different after the earth-shaking than it was before. There is a new valley and a new stream.
He sent her the vision of the land before the earthquake.

I know where you are
, she answered.
We can be there soon. Before first sun. Can you stay where you are?

Jeek looked at Sannum. Sannum had been hobbling around, poking at the fallen trees with his stick.
These three trees might make a shelter
, he told Jeek.
If we were inside the space they enclose we would be somewhat protected.

And these trees cannot fall on us. They have already fallen. And I have a knife
, added Jeek.

As do I.
Sannum touched his pouch to make sure it was still there.

Yes, Enga Dancing Flower, Sannum and I will find a place to hide until you approach.

Sannum Straight Hair is with you?
The joy rang in Enga’s thought.
Keep safe until we reach you.

* * *

Bahg Swiftfeet tried not to fidget. The evening meeting should have started long ago. Where was everyone? The Singer, Lakala Rippling Water, was not here to start the blessing. Sannum Straight Hair wasn’t even here to beat the drum. Panan One Eye fingered his flute and pushed his lips in and out, ready to begin.