Chapter 9

Lost Daughter of Uwama

Lobo-yaka has waned.

The daily deluges continued, but with less volume and intensity.

The work area around the big hut at iliwi-kelele continues to be busy.

The high-pitched ring of knapped quartzite.

The thump of an ax striking wood.

The crunch of breaking rock.

Daily, skilled members from each tribe gather to collaborate.

The Bwana teach the Abantu how to mix clay and shape clever gourds to dry under Ulanga, and then bake over fire to hardness.

Clay gourds were much heavier than bladders, but more efficient in a village.

The Abantu taught the Bwana how to weave plant fiber and animal pelt with sinew, to make twine and rope and wraps that were strong and flexible.

Over a period of days, Umthi demonstrated how to make the flexible bow of the guka-hombe, which sent the tiny spears flying so swiftly through the air.

Eku did not have to pester Yathi to stick around for those lessons.

The two watched fascinated as Umthi selected an appropriate, sturdy sapling and carved the main stem meticulously along each growth ring to gradually shape an astonishing new hunting device.

Soon after, Tiuti and Wutota were testing how to use sinew glue to attach feathers vertically along the notched end of the tiny spears, to make them fly more accurately.

Lume taught the Bwana the chipping and flaking techniques of the izik-kosa, including the use of fire to heat isipo-gazi for precise knapping to an edge that could cut hair with no resistance.

The izik-kosa showed Mantel and Bwana how to use vices and chisels and hammers to shape and grind bone and wood, to form everything from proper ax handles to sewing awls.

While the rains tapered, Ulanga remained swollen and hot.

Most tribal activity took place first thing in the morning or at night.

Yathi tolerated the midday heat with frequent swimmings or by flopping in a hammock hung in the shade of the mopane.

Despite the heat, Eku remained restless and one day, while Yathi snoozed, wandered alone toward iliwi-kelele.

Such a wide open area next to a large body of water reminded Eku of the Abantu villages of home.

The soil was a mix of riverine sediment and dark forest loam; thus, the surface got hot.

Eku scampered quickly over the last few paces to stand in warm, ankle deep water.

Sloshed along the shore to where the great rock of iliwi-kelele emerged from the river.

Realizing he stood close to the very spot where he and Yathi first came to shore.

So much has changed!

Eku walked over the crest of rock to the Bwana side of iliwi-kelele.

Strode across wet sand to the base of the walkway of logs.

Gazed down the length: logs stripped of bark, bleached pale, appearing to float on the water; though, Eku knew they rested on sturdy log legs.

Shatsheli-lambo was a dark mass all around with stubbles of water grass.

Yat said the Bwana cleared the area around iliwi-kelele because it was the site for their initial encampment, which was why they built the path of logs here.

When the Bwana decided on a more permanent encampment, they moved upstream to the serendipitous grove of tall palms that inspired them to resurrect the big huts they once lived in along the shores of ichi-Bwana.

Eku paced brown sediment speckled with the detritus of reeds, papyrus and small branches, to where the four rafts were dragged above the waterline.

Papyrus, even more so than the wood, turned pale once exposed to Ulanga.

The bundles of the raft were yellowed and dry, but firm.

The woven, matted tops of the rafts were a dungy brown, like dirty beach sand.

They kind of looked like turtle shells now, Eku thought.

Once harvested of meat and gutted, turtle shells were left to dry under Ulanga and then re-enforced to use as bowls or wash basins.

Further up the gradual incline of the embankment was an unsightly pile of debris, bulky enough to block the view of whatever came behind it.

Eku stepped from the riverside to go around the mish-mash of branches, bamboo, palm leaves and roots to approach the izik-kosa work area.

A trestle had a black and white zebra pelt on one side, a red and white kudu pelt on the other.

Eku mused how the coloring and stripes were different … But not so different.

Stepped around the trestle and jumped back at an eruption of flies.

Directly behind the trestle was a jumble of hooves and furred legs: duiker, zebra, kudu and other hoofed beasts, all of the lower legs chopped off above the middle joint, piled in a heap on the hard packed dirt.

The lower legs of beasts contain the stretchiest sinew; thus, the mothers often leave that essential and time-consuming extraction to the izik-kosa, who remove each tensile strip that connects toes to leg muscles.

After, the izik-kosa separate and slice the small and hard bones of the feet while still wet, so the mothers can recover essential oils not found in any other marrow, used in poultices for a variety of ailments.

The small foot bones were useful for many things, such as fish hooks, awls, needles and decorations for clothing and jewelry.

Last, any remaining flesh was scraped from the outer shells of the hooves and holes were drilled in the middle, setting them out to dry for later use to make shakers for dancing.

Eku leaned over the leg pile and sniffed.

Grimaced and swung his foot over so more flies burst forth, a few ramming themselves off his body.

Laughed and skipped away from the leg pile, only to stop suddenly when he saw waka-waka people under the roof of the big hut.

Yat and Dokuk, Tar and Maz, Tuve and Odi were with other males and females, all still young, but older than he, lounging in hammocks and grass mats, ogling Eku, who realized they had found a splendid way to avoid the midday heat and also the adults, while earning credit for warding the work area for brazen crows and vultures.

Or perhaps, wandering young people, like Eku.

Grinning sheepishly, Eku waved.

Dokuk and some of the others lazily waved back.

Eku headed for the main path and the Bwana encampment.

He could clearly see the tops of the big huts and thought about the beautiful Bwana female with the laza pendant.

How wonderful would it be to laze around with her in a hammock under the big hut!

Ran his eyes over the swimming area, where the mothers often brought the babies.

He sometimes saw her there, swimming with friends.

Probably due to the midday heat, there were only a few adult Bwana males sprawled out asleep or resting under the shade of the palms.

The area was unusually devoid of people.

Or so Eku thought.

He wandered back in the direction from which he came and spotted Tiuti and Wutota, down the length of iliwi-kelele, past the big hut.

He hadn’t noticed them before, probably because of the leg pile distraction and then his tribemates.

Eku went past the leg pile and stepped through the izik-kosa work area to approach where iliwi-kelele rose straight up, like a miniature cliff face.

Rested his palm flat against the rock face and let his fingers glide and bounce as he paced along, feeling the power of Ulanga absorbed by the bedrock as heat.

Went past the big hut and stopped a respectful distance from where Tiuti and Wutota stood talking, at the center of a gently curved portion of the wall, where boulders and logs were all around for seating.

Thinking of the fun he had watching the building of the big hut, Eku placed his body flat against the rock wall and went to his toes.

Managed to hook his fingers over top and, using the strength of his young arms, pushed with his toes against the wall and hauled himself upward, scraping his stomach before throwing an elbow and foot over the top edge, his body following.

Stood and wiped grit off sweaty skin.

The surface of Iliwi-kelele was entirely bare, exposed to Ulanga in a way that prevented even the most tenacious mosses or lichens from finding moisture.

The pale rock was hot under his feet.

Most of the expanse was remarkably flat, but for the spine of rock that rose just off center, toward the Bwana side.

A strategic, shady spot.

Sweat oozing, Eku walked gingerly to the spire where he first spotted something strange peeking at himself and his tribemates.

The surface temperature of the rock was tolerable in the shade, but even better, from this vantage, Eku can watch and listen to the old masters without being a pest.

Tiuti looked up and clicked to acknowledge Eku’s presence, but continued to talk.

A bit surprised not to be shooed away, Eku faced the water and took his bearings.

Looked across the pale rock to the river, dark and reflective.

Had the thought that maybe iliwi-kelele was actually a great blade of isipo-gazi, knapped beautifully flat from core rock the size of a mountain and laid here.

By a giant!

The shore from which they arrived was a dark green line on the horizon.

Eku wondered suddenly—would they ever go home?

Shook his head.

They are here now.

That was what mattered.

Letting his mind run free, Eku decided that he was the giant who put the knapped blade of iliwi-kelele here.

And … Shatsheli-lambo was Uwama, stretching endlessly, while he—Eku the mighty!—was a giant from the time of the old world, from even before the terrible times, when there were nothing but giants.

Eku being the strongest giant (of course).

Standing upon the rock slab knife of iliwi-kelele that he knapped from the center of the world.

Smiled at his daydream.

Turned to his left to survey the sprawl of the Abantu encampment.

Forgot about being a giant; instead, wished he brought his ula-konto.

Holding the weapon while standing here?

Poised like this?

He would look like a hunter.

For sure.

Maybe the beautiful Bwana female might see him?

Eku was not the boastful type, but standing here with his ula-konto?

Would she not be impressed?

As always, Eku found himself energized when thinking of the beautiful Bwana female.

She inspired him, for sure.

He looked past the Abantu encampment.

The outer barrier was a bird’s nest mash of branches.

Beyond the barrier rose the bushy green canopy of the mopane grove, followed by the dimpled tree tops of the forest, where the lone mountain rose as a dark lump in the distance.

Feeling Ulanga’s fire, Eku stepped back into the shade of the spire to face the Bwana side and almost fell over.

Waka-waka people approached the main trail by the river.

Eku easily picked out the tall frame of Uta at the forefront, accompanied by Kafila.

Continuing past the trestles and the leg pile, headed to where Tiuti and Wutota waited.

***

Eku could only imagine the looks of surprise on his sister and tribemates as Uta and Kafila strode past the big hut.

Uta had attained an almost mystical status amongst the Abantu, especially the impressionable young males.

There was the scar.

And he was so tall with broad shoulders and the always serious countenance.

But mostly, it was the way his people acted around him.

Uta had the kind of respect that could only be earned, such as the way the Abantu revered Tiuti.

Due to a lifetime of accomplishments.

Eku was enthralled by the tales of Dala and Longo, who told of Uta’s prowess in battle against the mysterious and horrible bubinzwana.

Eku crouched to his haunches, wanting to appear as inconspicuous as possible; settled into a seated position with his back rested comfortably against the spire.

Felt a burst of pride when he spied his father amongst the Bwana.

Kaleni, Nibamaz, Juka and Lopi walked amongst a group of nesibindi, including the twins Kotuta and Tokuta.

Umthi and other Mantel scouts also attended, along with a good number of Bwana females.

The entire entourage went past the big hut and began to gather in a half circle around Tiuti and Wutota.

The area was well suited for holding court, boulders sunken into the dirt for seating, as well as cut logs dragged into place and secured to use as benches.

Perched as he was, Eku felt like a wise little owl with the perfect view of whatever was about to happen.

Uta and Kafila took a place of honor, a seating log directly in front of where Tiuti stood with Wutota.

Kaleni, the Abantu and Mantel gathered to the side closer to where Eku sat.

Kotuta and Tokuta, and the other nesibindi went to the opposite side.

Directly behind where Uta and Kafila sat, adult Bwana females spread across the central rocks and benches.

Mothers.

They all wore impressive hats, widely brimmed to provide shade.

The hats were woven of plant cordage and decorated with feathers and beads and flowers.

Some even had narrow strips of skin dyed orange and yellow.

He wondered what Yat and his mother would think of such finery.

The mothers were like colorful birds or fruits out for a picnic under the gaze of Ulanga.

He focused on Uta, eager to see the Bwana chieftain up close.

Unfortunately, he was not wearing the magnificent necklace Dala told him so much about.

But the scar!

Awful to look upon.

Pink and pale, with shiny parts.

The flesh looked tender, though Eku knew from his own leg scar, how the flesh appeared soft, but had the same pliable resistance as regular skin.

Just looked different.

The wound that created the scar must have been terrible.

How did Uta survive?

Mother and Yat said the Bwana had excellent poultices to help reduce pain, but Uta must have suffered terribly.

Feeling guilty for staring, Eku allowed his gaze to drift to his father, who was waiting for him to look.

Kaleni put a finger to his lips.

Enthused, Eku almost clicked in response; instead, offered a slight nod, overjoyed at not being shooed away.

Leaned to one side and then the other to smooth the loincloth under sweaty buttcheeks.

With a bird’s view of whatever important pow wow was about to happen, Eku did not intend to move.

Unless he had to pee. (Really bad.)

This had to be some sort of tribal council.

In fact, this would have to be a tribal council if it was dark (to the best of Eku’s knowledge, tribal councils were always held at night).

Whatever was going on, it was very important.

He wished Yat and Yathi could see what he could see now.

Shocked, Eku realized Uta cut his hair.

Like an Abantu!

Being accustomed to short hair, Eku did not recognize the change, at first.

The dome of his head was spotted with coils of white.

Especially above the scar.

Uta was older than Eku first realized.

Probably because of his powerful physique, he had the appearance of someone younger.

Wutota, on the other hand, looked as ancient as Tiuti, just shorter.

He had lots of white in his still-long hair, which he tied in a ponytail.

His skin sagged, similar to Tiuti’s.

Like many of the Bwana, Wutota favored multiple bracelets of ostrich beads.

As for Tiuti, he always looked the same to Eku.

Wearing one of his favored necklaces of oddly shaped bones and a plain loincloth that covered front and back; though, Eku smirked at the brightly striped genet tail hung over his behind, something he sometimes did when speaking before crowds.

***

Ulayo, as though curious to see what was happening, made her presence felt by blowing cool air from the direction of the water.

The people murmured in appreciation.

Drops of sweat along the bumps of Eku’s spine dried as Tiuti began the presentation.

The old master’s back remained straight, shoulders square.

In one hand, he held a reed the Mantel used to make the tiny spears for the guka-hombe, sharpened at one end, but neither notched or feathered at the other.

Waving the tiny spear, Tiuti’s voice rang out loud and high pitched, “People will follow us here!”

Waved the tiny spear toward the river.

“More Abantu will come from the shores of our homeland.”

Waved the tiny spear in the direction downriver.

“More Mantel will come from the forests of the coast.”

Swung the tiny spear in the upriver direction.

“And more Bwana will come from ichi-Bwana.

“So we are here to make zoba-upay.”

Eku leaned forward, growing more intrigued.

Zoba-upay, depending on the inflection (as well as hand gestures), could mean many things; such as, drawing with charcoal on rock or wood, using a stick to etch shapes in the sand or a rock or bone to etch upon the flat surface of rock, or even attaching beads and feathers to cured skins for decoration.

Turning slightly, Tiuti pointed the tiny spear at the miniature cliff face, almost below where Eku was sitting and said, “First, we practice with etchings in the sand and then we can make zoba-upay on the rock face of iliwi-kelele.

“The zoba-upay can show everyone a better understanding of the world. From what we draw here today, others will know things without us having to be here to tell them.”

Uta asked in a curious tone, “How is that possible?”

Tiuti nodded and snapped back excitedly, “Yes! Yes, that is the question! And you will see, after the zoba-upay is drawn, how we can show people without being here!”

As excited as Eku has ever seen him, Tiuti explained.

“By drawing upon the rock wall today, we show where the dangerous rivers are,” he said.

“And we show the tall mountains.

“We will show the jungle and other dangerous obstacles.

“And then we will show how to get to the endless lake of freshwater.”

Tiuti turned to Wutota.

Taking his cue, Wutota pointed past Kafila, where the nesibindi stood, in a direction that indicated upriver.

To everyone he said, “We came down the river you call shatsheli-lambo. Shatsheli-lambo flows through the land north of ichi-Bwana.

“So we will add our knowledge of how we went from ichi-Bwana, to the great river, and then to where we are now. We can show this on zoba-upay.”

Wutota paused and Tiuti added, “And we will show the path we took from the shores of our homeland.”

Eku saw Kafila smiling and excitedly raise a hand.

“We have yet to see the mighty Uwama of whom you speak so reverently,” she said. “The mother of us all, as you like to say. Can you draw her as well?”

She chuckled and added, “Your mother. That is how we speak of ichi-Bwana.”

She smiled at Tiuti prettily. “I would like to do that, one day, travel to see your Uwama.”

“The Zoba-upay can show you,” Tiuti said.

Kafila’s smile faded.

“But we have warned you to be careful when traveling these lands.”

Tiuti waved the tiny spear in the direction of the Kaleni and the Abantu hunters in a way to show he was not worried.

Kafila frowned and seemed intent on saying more, but remained silent when Tiuti continued.

“Our scouts have traveled beyond shatsheli-lambo,” he said loudly. “They followed the river that comes from the north.”

Tiuti waved the tiny spear to indicate past the rock wall, just past Eku’s seated perch, toward the forest.

“The zoba-upay will tell us how we are going to the land of legend.”

***

Tiuti and Wutota moved closer to the rock wall and as a result, closer to Eku.

Tiuti said, “For generations, we Abantu sent scouting parties along the southern shores, in the direction that Ulanga rises and the direction he departs.”

He scratched on the ground with the tiny spear to draw a representation of the southern coastline, a roughly oval shape.

Offered a smile at Kafila and then scratched squiggly lines along the outside, to show how the three sides were surrounded by Uwama.

Tiuti then made scrapings to indicate the mountains that rose on opposite sides of the oval, the mountains where the irreplaceable isipo-gazi was found on one side, and then on the opposite side, the clouds that were mountains, passed by the Abantu while marching north.

Finally, he scraped smaller markings between the large mountains of the coasts and paused to explain.

“In the days of old,” he said, “We would send scouts north, beyond the hills where we camp during sika-yaka, but our hunters found only a place of death. A land with little water.”

“Yes,” Wutota said, jumping in. “We have talked of that, Tiuti and I.”

He motioned at what Tiuti drew on the dirt and then the area above it.

“We think that is part of the land beyond ichi-Bwana,” Wutota said. “On the side opposite of where we lived.”

One of the nesibindi called out, “The opposite side of the great sea of salt is a place of only death!”

Wutota nodded and indicated that Tiuti should continue.

“So eventually our scouts focused on the coastline, in the direction from which Ulanga rises,” Tiuti said.

He stuck the tiny spear into the ground next to the clouds that were mountains.

Added more lines to the drawing.

“Along the coastline there is difficult terrain, but the land is rich with freshwater, fruit and beasts.”

Tiuti added more scratchings and said, “This is the land where we found our Mantel friends.”

Added more scratchings and said, “And this is where the mighty shatsheli-lambo empties into Uwama.”

Kafila stood and asked, “That is the shape of the world?”

Tiuti nodded and she clapped her hands, before sitting back down.

Kaleni and Nibamaz joined Tiuti, to stand over the etching.

Addressing everyone, Kaleni said, “When we reached shatsheli-lambo, at first, we thought we had reached the end of Umawa or … something different.”

“But the water was not salted,” Nibimaz added. “We thought maybe it was a vast lake.

“We did not realize it was a river until we traveled inland and saw the mountains and the distant shore.”

Kaleni finished, “We swam across shatsheli-lambo to this very spot almost four full cycles ago.”

Nibamaz smiled and said, “It looks different now.”

“We were not here then,” Uta said.

“We had not even left ichi-Bwana four cycles ago,” Kafila added.

Clearly impressed by the distance the Abantu had explored, Uta asked, “And you scouted further?”

“Yes,” Kaleni said. “We followed the river flowing from the north.”

He startled Eku by suddenly turning and pointing a finger straight at him.

“The river that joins shatsheli-lambo flows from the land of legend,” he said. “Past the lone mountain you see there.”

Eku felt as though everyone was staring at him; then, realized his father was not pointing at him, but in the direction of the lone mountain, well beyond where he was seated.

Uta made a sound to show he was impressed.

Looked at Kaleni and Nibamaz with admiration. “And you have been there?”

Proudly, Kaleni said, “It was a hard journey, but nothing harder than we have already done. And it is not far from where we are now.”

Wutota asked, “And you say there is a lake of freshwater? So vast?”

He gestured with his two hands to indicate something big.

“Bigger than shatsheli-lambo,” Kaleni said.

“Waka-waka bigger,” Nibamaz added.

The Bwana mothers began chatting.

Wutota exclaimed loudly, unable to keep the skepticism out of his voice, “You say it is not salted? But so vast?”

“We drank the water,” Kaleni said. “Fresh and delicious.”

Nibamaz said, “The water is clear. So clear you can see far into the depths.

“There are many different kinds of fish and birds. And antelope and hagu. Waka-waka monkeys.

“Fruit and food as plentiful as along the southern shores, even more so.

“And with so much freshwater!”

He gestured in an ebullient way, adding, “Wini-nesisa”, which was an Abantu phrase that meant a positive feeling, such as delicious food, sexual pleasure or simply a moment of pure joy.

“It is where we are going,” Tiuti said emphatically.

He used the tiny spear to draw more details on the hard-packed dirt.

Scraping lines to show the plains of the southern coast, where the Abantu established their large villages.

He added markings that showed where the Mantel lived amongst the ponds and streams of the rich, coastal forest.

Tiuti etched scratchings to show the great rivers they crossed, before reaching shatsheli-lambo.

Everyone talked about the drawing and modifications were agreed upon.

Tiuti then used pieces of charcoal to begin etching what they scratched on the dirt, onto the rock wall.

He and Wutota took turns.

While drawing, Wutota explained.

“We left our homeland around ichi-Bwana and we followed shatsheli-lambo.

“We travelled down the river and along canyons that are deeper than even the tallest trees.

“Crossed waterfalls so vast the water rose like smoke into clouds.

“The waterfall made such a thunderous sound we could still hear its roar after marching days away.”

Wutota moved aside and Tiuti added the remainder of shatsheli-lambo, to where the river emptied into a vast and mysterious delta, before spilling into the endless waters of Uwama.

Lastly, Kaleni stepped in,

First etching in a spot to represent the lone mountain, then drawing the south flowing river, starting at shatsheli-lambo, curving past the lone mountain and then continuing in almost a straight line to the tip of the endless lake of freshwater, which he drew in at the very top of the zoba-upay, just to the side of where Eku was seated.

Once finished, Tiuti and Wutota stepped away so that people could take turns parading past for a closer look.

Standing just below him, Tiuti asked Wutota, “Is ichi-Bwana truly so large?”

“Our ancestors voyaged across on rafts,” Wutota said. “It took waka-waka days of polling.”

Kaleni joined the old masters.

Offered Eku a wink and then asked Wutota with polite skepticism, “You polled?”

Wutota nodded solemnly and said, “You have told me of Uwama’s size and depth and the power of her storms and waves, but that is not ichi-Bwana. Her water does not run deep.

“Despite being so vast, ichi-Bwana is not even as deep as shatsheli-lambo.”

Now Tiuti clicked loudly to express skepticism and Eku noted some of the Bwana females who were looking at the zuba-upay, covering their mouths so as not to giggle.

The Bwana were still not used to the Abantu’s frequent use of clicking.

Wutota explained, “ichi-Bwana is different. It is the most vast, like your Uwama, I believe, so the lake goes far far far into the distance, but the water is never deep.

“We take rafts out for many days, until no land is visible in all directions, and you still could step into water no deeper than the knees.”

Incredulous, Tiuti said, “And the water remains salted?”

“Yes. But the rivers and streams that empty into ichi-Bwana are fresh. Once water goes into ichi-Bwana, the water is salted.”

Tiuti suddenly lurched through the crowd in front of the drawing.

Eku watched him push through, barely apologizing to the mothers he bumped into until finding Nibamaz, who stood with Juka and Lopi.

Tiuti interrupted whatever they were talking about and spoke hurriedly at Nibamaz, who looked quizzical for a moment, but then hurried away.

***

Nyama was raised in the same laba-ini as Krele, but cut her hair for Nibamaz earlier than Krele did for Kaleni.

Nyama was said to have had a blessed life.

Being both isipo-bomi and ma-bomi.

Nyama’s first born was Ingwabi, companion to Kozik.

She and Nibamaz then had twins: Tar, a female, raised in the laba-ini that included Yatyambo, and Gidi, a young izik-kosa male, who now slept with the family of his mate.

Having robust and healthy twins gave Nyama the title of ma-bomi, but seeing all three children grow into adults made her isipo-bomi.

Once Tar and Gidi were weaned, Sisi soon came along, another female, and extremely popular amongst the males of Eku and Yathi’s age.

Motherhood alone would have given Nyama a lofty status, but she was renowned for her singing; always in great demand for feasts and celebrations.

Her capacity to remember songs impressed even the most fickle of the elders, while her voice was enchanting in a way that could make the words irrelevant … or more powerful.

Nyama was seated comfortably in the shade, working quietly with Krele, Shona and Luvu making sinew twine, when Nibamaz came running into the encampment, dripping with sweat.

Seeing how excited he was, Nyama had no choice but to jump up and follow him back to iliwi-kelele.

When she crossed the rock outcropping to the Bwana side and started up its length, she slowed, having spotted beautiful Kafila and the impressive Uta.

And worse, the Bwana females with their gorgeous hats!

Nyama stopped.

Wearing only a standard, daily loincloth with a few ostrich bead bracelets, she glared at her mate.

Nibamaz grabbed her hand. “Tiuti asked for a song!”

Angry, she said, “Yes! And you said nothing of all those other people being here!”

Nibamaz grimaced, realizing how badly he messed up.

Crestfallen, he clicked rapidly in the way he did to tell her she was beautiful and that he loved her, but she only glared at him.

Nibamaz sighed and shook his head, knowing he was in a bad spot.

Chagrinned, he looked apologetically and said, “You know, the meeting we had planned for zoba-upay?”

Nyama crossed her arms and nodded.

“This is going very well. You will see.”

Nibamaz smiled tentatively, adding, “I think you will like it. So, when Tiuti suddenly asked me for a song from you, all I could think to do was run back and get you.”

Nyama sighed.

Tiuti, of course.

The mothers had a saying about Tiuti always getting his way.

But she had heard much about what Nibamaz was going to be involved with that day.

She was quite intrigued.

But those hats!

The Bwana females always looked so proper.

But Nyama understood and therefore shared Nibamaz’ excitement … Despite the Bwana mothers and their fancy hats.

Nibamaz, taller than his mate, leaned to click into her ear, the way he did when he wanted her to know that extra attention would be given later.

She pushed him away, but smiled and said, “As if you think that matters (even though they both knew it did).”

Nibamaz reached to squeeze her hand.

Nyama smirked and said, “Fine, they want a song, I will give them one.”

***

Tiuti greeted their return eagerly.

Everyone was back in their original seated or standing positions.

“Nyama uma-Nibamaz,” Tiuti exclaimed, adding a slight bow.

“The song of Uleza, Uwama’s lost daughter? From the beginning of time. Do you remember?”

Nyama cocked her head. “Of course!”

“Please,” Tiuti said, pointing the tiny spear at the rock wall of iliwi-kele.

Nyama, eying the fine hats worn by the Bwana females, turned to see the zoba-upay for the first time.

Gasped loudly.

The drawing was beautiful and she instantly grasped the profound meaning.

Moved close, while Nibamaz went to stand with Kaleni.

Eku, who had still not seen the zoba-upay just below him, knew it must be wondrous to look upon, seeing the fascination written on Nyama’s face.

She stared in wonder, recognizing the shoreline of her southern homeland and the curve of Umawa along the coast to the north.

She saw the great rivers they had crossed before reaching shatshelli-lambo, the greatest of them all.

Ran a finger along the etched and now colored surface, where the Bwana scratched the circumference of the great, inland sea.

Amazed by how much the zoba-upay made sense.

Tiuti explained for the sake of the Bwana, “We have a song. From before the terrible times.

“A time from so long ago, there were no Abantu. Nor any beasts or even birds.”

Nyama came to stand beside him and said to everyone, “This is a song of Uleza, Uwama’s oldest daughter.”

She took a step closer to Uta and Kafila and started singing.

Her voice was rich, melodic and stirring.

Uleza

eldest daughter of Uwama

adventurous

curious

escapes from her mother during a terrible storm

travels onto land forbidden

trespassing upon Umawa

greedily he tries to swallow her

the salt of her mother protects

Umawa spits her out

Uleza laughs

she travels over mountains

crosses deserts

Uwama calls to her daughter

Uleza come home

but she has traveled far

Uleza stops

she rests

she sleeps

Uleza

eldest daughter of Uwama

the lost lake of salt

***

A few days later, the excitement of the zoba-upay has worn off.

Eku was desperate.

He must talk to the beautiful Bwana female!

Or at least try.

When he told Yathi he was going for a walk by himself, Yathi offered a knowing look, but said nothing.

Eku wandered out of camp and across iliwi-kelele, toward the big hut.

Paced toward the river enough to easily jumped down from the rock and immediately saw the beautiful female with the laza pendant near the log walkway, with two of her female friends.

Eku froze.

Watched.

One of the females ventured down the boardwalk with a gourd to fill, while the female with the laza pendant talked with the other.

At that moment, he realized the purpose of the log walkway: a way to quickly—and dryly—get past stagnant water along the shoreline to where the current remained moving, where the water was fresher and better tasting.

Eku approached, feeling his heart pound inside one ear.

Stopped at what he thought was a polite distance.

Wordlessly, the Bwana females eyed him.

Nervous, Eku smiled at the first female, then locked eyes with the wearer of the laza pendant and said hello, first in Bwana and then Abantu.

Both of the Bwana females met his gaze, but only the first smiled back and said hello in Bwana, while the female with the laza pendant simply stared.

Eku knew that she knew that he watched her.

No matter how quickly he averted his eyes, she would catch him.

Which was actually kind of good.

And he also knew that when he looked her way, sometimes, she was already looking at him and she was the one to avert the eyes.

Which also seemed kind of good.

To Eku, at the moment, it seemed the beautiful Bwana female with the laza pendant was using her mind to figure out something, but knowing absolutely nothing about her, that was only a guess.

Not sure what else to do, Eku remained silent as the third female returned down the boardwalk with the gourd of water.

The Bwana female with the laza pendant continued to keep her eyes only on Eku, while the two others chatted, saying words too fast for Eku to follow.

The female with the gourd giggled and smiled at Eku and said hello in Abantu.

Eku looked and smiled and said hello in Bwana.

When he looked back at the female with the laza pendant, she made a face and ran away, down the path leading to the Bwana encampment.

Confused, Eku furrowed his brow and watched, her hair bouncing as she bound away, noting that she looked back once, slowing as she did, before continuing.

The other Bwana females looked at him for a moment and then giggled and walked after her.

Eku stood for a long moment, gazing down the path toward the Bwana encampment.

The figures of the three Bwana females were brown against brown dirt and the three zebra loincloths seemed to gracefully float along of their own accord.

He walked back to the rock and hopped onto iliwi-kelele and continued toward home.

Eku had no idea how to feel.

Disappointed, yes.

But exhilarated!

He did better the second time.

Eku coached himself, after all.

While throwing his ula-konto, he prepared his mind for how beautiful the Bwana female with the laza pendant was; that way, when he came face to face with her again, his mind would not stop working properly, like the first time.

And it worked!

Well, at least his mind worked.

His mouth … not exactly.

Now he just had to figure out what to say.