Chapter 17

Necklace and Pendant

Once again Krele found herself apologizing to Eku for having to leave him.

There were certainly wounded hunters and nesibindi and she was a healer.

“I must tend to those who are hurt,” she said, worriedly looking at him and then worriedly glancing over a shoulder, toward the forest, where so much of the fighting took place.

There were many people milling about the center of the encampment. Everyone, it seemed, had emerged from the shelters. Adults and children were hugging and laughing. Most remain bewildered and unaware of all that had happened so swiftly.

There were continued shouts of victory from outside the encampment.

Word arrived of total victory.

There were a few injuries though, and that had Krele worried.

Her face was streaked with tears and Eku saw flecks of dirt and rubble in her close-shorn hair; dirt on one of her shoulders and both arms and on her thighs and knees. Her soft sealskin vest that had lasted all the way from home was still damp from the rain the day before and streaked with mud.

Krele implored, “Eku, you are okay?”

He clicked yes.

“Yathi is close. He is with uncle Lume.”

“I saw uncle Lume kill one of the bubinzwana with his great tree felling ax,” Eku said.

Krele shook her head, unable to rid her mind of the spectacular throw of the spear.

She looked at Eku, so recently to her only a baby; yet, had just performed a deed that would live for many generations in song.

Krele could not help but smile and said, “You went outside the shelter?”

Eku grinned sheepishly. “I could not help it.”

“I know,” Krele said. “My curious child. You could never sit still.”

She looked around and spotted her sister,  Shona. “I have to go, Eku. Will you be alright?”

Eku clicked that he was fine, but his mother was skeptical.

“I am fine, mother. You are a healer and have a duty. I understand you must go. I am fine.”

Krele felt herself tearing up again.

Seized her child tightly by the shoulders with each hand and looked him in the eyes.

Eku saw his mother’s fierce love and pride and a lump rose in his throat. The good kind of lump, that meant only love.

Krele used the fingers of her hand to trace a path from Eku’s shoulder to the spot over his heart, next to where he always hoped an eagle talon would rest.

Said in her fiercest, mother-loving voice, “Eku kaleni-yana, you are a hunter. You will always be a hunter.”

And then Krele sped away to tend to the wounded.

***

Momentarily alone again, Eku glanced around.

There were continued shouts of victory from outside the encampment.

People milling about in the center.

All of the young people with their families.

He spotted the bulk of his uncle Lume and saw Yathi with him. They were in the midst of many people and Eku saw Lume no longer holding the ax. His uncle gazed in awe, as if unable to believe the danger was over.

Krele and Shona were now outside with the wounded.

Suddenly Yat swooped in on Eku, hugging him hard, just as he had hugged her the night before.

Eku gasped for breath.

Yat’s words came out fast, “You are very brave and very silly and very brave little brother. Dokuk always said that no one has such accuracy as you with a keri stick and an ula-konto, but I could not believe it without seeing it!”

The two of them separated and Eku stared at Yat, thinking that she was still strange with short hair.

“I saw what you did,” she said.

“You did?”

“Everybody did.”

“Oh.”

Eku still has no idea what to think or say.

The encampment was getting even more crowded.

Some of the nesibindi and hunters were entering the encampment now and many had blood on their bodies, but were moving and talking in a way that meant it was not their own.

Eku strained to see his father or Nibamaz, but neither was in sight.

***

Yat remained with Eku.

 A group of young hunters entered the encampment area. Dokuk separating to come toward them.

Dokuk was unscathed and carried his ula-konto in one hand, using the other to hug Yat.

Eku looked for blood and saw smears along the haft, as if blood had been there, but wiped off.

“You father is safe,” he said, pulling away from Yat to look at Eku. “He and Nibamaz are unhurt. Not even a scratch. And they each killed a bubinzwana. Single-handedly. With their javelins. Nibamaz killed the alpha.”

Yat asked, “Are there others who are hurt?”

“There are injuries,” Dokuk said. “But almost all of the bubinzwana are dead. Some ran into the forest, but there were very few who survived. The hunters with the javelins killed most of them.

Eku stared at Dokuk with open admiration.

Embarrassed, Dokuk said, “The bubinzwana are dangerous, like a rogue elephant, but once in a good trap, there is no escaping.”

“You are a real hunter now.”

Dokuk beamed and Yat asked again, “How many are hurt?”

“Several of the nesibindi are cut. A few of them badly. And Juyat was killed by a blow to the head.”

Eku gasped.

Juyat was a hunter of two talons and would have fought beside his father.

Yat said, “I am going to help mother.”

She sped away and Dokuk followed.

Once again Eku was alone.

It seemed everyone was doing something important, but him.

***

Eku found himself staring at the dead bubinzwana.

Nobody wanted to go near the corpse and a circle of people had formed around it.

Eku walked over to look down upon the beast, still on its back.

Arms and legs out straight.

Oddly tranquil.

Peacefully posed for a death that was anything but.

He crouched to his haunches and looked at the awful wound in the center of a broad, sloping forehead, above a rather large, bulbous nose with gaping, hair-filled nostrils.

The face was covered by blood. Mostly.

The skin was smooth, the same as an Abantu, especially from the neck down.

The bubinzwana grimaced upon death.

A bearded male with a jutting jaw, wide, lipless mouth and enormous, square teeth, much bigger than his own.

The eyes were half open.

White with a dark center under a heavy brow with bushy eyebrows. Long eyelashes, oddly feminine, reminding Eku of the linwelewana.

The ears were like his own, maybe a bit larger. And hairy.

The hair on its head was long and unkempt, but similar to an Abantu’s.

There was something around its neck. A necklace, but whatever pendant was lost or slung to the side, hidden from view.

Powerful muscles roped across the chest and shoulders.

The legs and arms were also thickly muscled, but were shorter than a human’s in relation to the torso and, judging from the enormous knee knobs, the bones must be heavy and thick.

Many old scars criss-crossed the body.

Eku noted tufts of white and exclaimed aloud, as though surprised, “You were an elder.”

Stood and used his big toe to prod the enormous thigh of the beast, marveling at the movement of once powerful muscles.

The penis flopped from a hairy groin and Eku was startled to see it looked the same as an Abantu’s.

Found that unnerving.

For some reason.

“You were alive,” Eku said in the same, quiet voice. “Now you are not.”

Checked his ula-konto.

The haft lay broken in the dirt.

Looked at the corpse again and studied the raw entry point, where a pale shard protruded. The momentum of the beast and the shape of the killing end caused the spear to stab deep.

A good throw, he realized.

Felt a bit proud.

But then, Eku noted the carefully constructed killing end had fractured against another bone. Probably a rib.

Both ends of his ula-konto were destroyed, like his chance to be a hunter.

Thought of what his mother said and felt the strange urge to laugh or cry, but did neither; instead, turned to check on Ingwe again, still in the arms of Kafila.

Eku looked all around.

Wondered where Yathi was.

Yat was probably still helping mother.

There were so many people crowded together.

The entire tribe. Almost.

Not sure what to do, Eku wandered back to where he had been standing when he spotted the bubinzwana.

Felt silly.

Wishing he grabbed the haft of his ula-konto, just for something to hold.

But that was also silly.

Thought about retrieving his keri stick, but the thought of entering a darkened hut conjured terror.

He would find his keri stick later.

Eku was happy to simply marvel at all the nervous chatter.

Found the noise of so many people soothing.

The danger was over, but his stomach was suddenly queasy and his legs trembled, as though he ran hard for a long distance.

Dizzy, he spread his feet for balance and dug hard at Umawa with his toes.

Clenched the leg muscles and then relaxed and made his stance perfectly still.

Became calm, as when in the forest.

Ibe-bonakalio.

People were crying.

Happy crying, though. Lots of shouting. Many names were called at once.

Keenly aware that he had saved Ingwe’s life and probably others—wonderful, of course—Eku worried about the attention. Such things made him uncomfortable.

All that mattered was that she and others were safe.

Perhaps, with all the commotion, people might assume it was Kafila alone who killed the beast.

Eku felt more like himself and looked around.

Caught another glimpse of uncle Lume and Yathi across the encampment and wanted to run over, but did not.

An image of his uncle came to mind, somehow wielding the tree-felling ax to both chop down a tree and take off the head of a bubinzwana.

Bumps appeared on the skin of his arms and he did a shiver shake.

Uncle Lume, regardless of his size and power, was not meant to be a hunter. He was izik-kosa, but turned ferocious, like the mothers, because it was necessary.

Cries of joy greeted the last of the defenders outside of camp to return.

Stunningly—wonderfully, there were few injuries.

The bubinzwana made a catastrophic mistake thinking they could raid a powerful tribe of humans.

Eku saw Uta with Kotuta and Tokuta.

And there was his father and Nibamaz with the most experienced Abantu hunters, all carrying bloody javelins.

Most of the hunters had blood on their bodies as well, but again, from the way they were walking and talking, Eku knew it was not their own.

Kaleni and Nibimaz walked together, arms over each other’s shoulders, looking weary, but proud and happy.

Eku wiped his face.

He would go to his father once the tears dried.

***

As soon as Uta and the Abantu hunters entered the encampment, an entire camp surged toward them.

Uta smiled graciously, but pushed through all the well wishers until he found Kafila with Ingwe, who quickly told him all that had happened.

Tokuta, Kotuta and other nesibindi and Bwana gathered around Kafila, who told them of Eku’s heroics.

Others gathered around to tell the Bwana chieftain how the young adults and then the Mantel and izik-kosa performed so brilliantly.

While Uta listened, he looked around to spot Eku, standing over the dead bubinzwana.

He desperately wanted to go to Eku to try to express his gratitude, but for the moment he was so encased by others he could barely move.

***

As soon as Kaleni heard of Eku’s heroics he went to find him.

Curiously, spotted Eku alone, over by the shelters, staring at the dead bubinzwana.

Kaleni hurried across the open area.

There was much noise from talking, but Eku picked out the click of his father as easily as the impact of a single drop of water on a placid pond.

He remained where he was standing and let his father approach.

Kaleni bent to a knee and went nose to nose with Eku.

Peering concerned into his eyes.

“You are unhurt?”

“I am fine. Mother checked me.”

“I know. She saw what you did, right in front of her eyes. She told me. Many people saw what you did. Everyone is talking about it. You were very brave and … acted swiftly.”

Kaleni shook his head, marveling at how such a thing could have unfolded.

He knew there were many adult hunters who would not have reacted so quickly—or made such an accurate throw.

Eku was motionless. Said nothing, so fiercely was he focused on the effort not to cry.

Kaleni offered a tentative smile. “Must have been a good throw.”

Eku managed a nod, hating the way his lower lip trembled, but the sight of father made it hard to be strong.

Kaleni put his hands on Eku’s shoulders.

Hands that were hot and sweaty and felt wonderful.

In his most worried voice his father asked, “Are you afraid now?”

Eku nodded, still unwilling to speak because it would betray the tears.

But then he realized—once again strangely, considering the moment—that his father, on one knee as he was now, was shorter than Eku.

Where at the start of the pilgrimage, he had not been.

Well, I am bigger, Eku thought and actually had to fight down a nervous giggle.

Found his voice and said, “No. I was not afraid when it happened. I did what you taught me and what I practiced. But now I feel bad. My stomach feels sick and my muscles are shaky.”

Kaleni continued to peer at Eku with concern and said, “That will pass. You need to eat and rest. You may have frightful dreams. But they too will pass.”

Eku realized how filthy his father was: blood and mud smeared all over his body; crimson dots splattered across his face.

Without even realizing he was going to, Eku lunged against Kaleni, nearly knocking him over while wrapping his arms around his father’s shoulders and neck, going cheek to cheek so his tears mixed with the blood and grime.

Kaleni held Eku tightly and relished the coils of muscle he felt in his slender body.

The two released a long embrace.

Eku, clear eyed now, looked his father in the eye and said, “I know who I am.”

Kaleni cocked his head and smiled. “That is good.”

The two embraced again, this time more quickly.

Kaleni stood and father and child looked at each other.

Eku knew that he was the son of Krele and Kaleni.

Brother to Yatyambo.

Ikanabe to Yathi.

And he was also two things: spectacularly unique and a tiny drop in the infinite water of Uwama.

How do those two things work together?

Not even Tiuti could answer, but Eku knew with the absolute certainty of youth, that if he was not meant to be a hunter, he would be something else.

And that was good.

His father pointed to where Yat now stood with Dokuk. “Are you waiting for mother? She is tending to one of the wounded. Making sure the bleeding stops. Come stand with me and Yatyambo and Dokuk. Yes?”

Eku looked around and Kaleni added, “Yathi is with Lume. Shona is also with mother, helping.”

“I will come,” Eku said. “I just want to stand here a little longer.”

Kaleni followed Eku’s eyes and saw the shaft of his beloved ula-konto, broken in the dirt.

Sacrifice and triumph.

Kaleni knew his precocious child understood there would not be one without the other.

He could only imagine the songs they would sing of this day.

Looked at the dead bubinzwana and saw something that made him curious.

Kaleni stepped away to stand over the corpse, as Eku had been, moments before.

Glanced back at his son, who watched him.

Or was he looking at the beast?

Kaleni clicked and Eku clicked back.

Hunters were trained for a long time before being placed into a dangerous situation.

But this?

No amount of training could prepare for such a confrontation.

Eku, thrust into the worst of all possible situations, emerged as a hero, even though he didn’t fully understand all that had transpired.

Kaleni looked around and realized that he and the dead body were in the center of a tribal circle.

Everyone hugging and kissing with the happiness and relief of mutual survival.

Waiting to see what happened next.

***

Kaleni approached Uta, encircled by a crowd that refused to let him step away.

Fortunately, Tokuta and Kotuta were part of the entourage and saw Kaleni approach and quickly made space for him to talk to their father.

Kaleni pushed past bodies and leaned and spoke directly into the ear of the Bwana chieftain, who listened intently, while taking a quick glance at the dead bubinzwana and to where Eku stood. Alone.

When Kaleni finished, Uta offered a grave nod.

Kaleni went to stand with Yat and Dokuk, who stood pressed together, arms around each other.

Clicked and used his eyes to tell them to pay attention.

To watch what was about to happen.

***

Uta stepped into the open area and clapped his hands and shouted.

The talking and murmuring subsided.

The tribal circle became silent.

Everyone paying attention.

Across the water and over the hills, Ulanga fully emerged to clear away the remaining shadows.

Bird calls became frequent and energetic.

Uta walked purposefully to the dead bubinzwana and went otherwise still as a hand rose to touch the scar.

The Bwana chieftain stood that way for a long moment, as if he had recognized something about the body.

Glanced at Eku.

Looked down at the dead bubinzwana.

Uta knelt to a crouch and took a firm grip of the blood soaked hair with one hand and lifted the head.

Reached behind the neck with his free hand to grasp while simultaneously letting go of the creature's hair to pull something over the large skull as it thumped heavily back to the ground.

Uta rose to a standing position, holding a leather strap from which swung a single, great fang.

A collective gasp.

The Bwana recognized the canine of the mightiest predator from legend, but the Abantu and Mantel had never seen such a vicious tooth: long and slightly curved, now streaked with red.

Uta lifted the necklace high so that everyone could see and said in his commanding voice, “Eku kaleni-yana.”

Eku, like everyone, was transfixed at the sight of the necklace, jumped, eyes opening wide at the sound of his name.

Uta gestured with his free hand for Eku to come forth.

All at once, Eku realized what was happening and felt a numbness enveloping him; like he couldn’t feel any part of his body—except to know that he was weak in the knees again!

Took a deep breath and looked around the tribal circle and had to tell himself he was not dreaming.

Everyone was watching, but individual faces had become a blur.

But then he found Yat and Dokuk, standing with their father.

Yathi, wedged against strong Lume.

The tall figure of Tiuti.

All smiling and nodding.

Eku’s gaze found Ingwe, leaning against Kafila, still holding her protectively.

Ingwe smiled in her perfect way and Eku was strong again.

He paced to the center of the tribal circle and stood before the Bwana chieftain, who was looking at him in a way that made the fierce scar almost disappear.

Uta raised the strap over Eku’s head and lowered it into place.

Sticky with blood, the sabertooth rested firm against his young chest.

Eku solemnly stared at the Bwana leader, who had a look of such gratitude that his eyes were spilling water as he said, “That necklace belongs to you now.”