Part 4

A New Home

The old alpha was confused.

Found himself flailing on the ground, where a moment before he was running full speed, club raised, about to gain some measure of revenge by dealing a death blow to the young flat face.

Then a hard punch to the ribs.

Ah!—he fell.

The old alpha tried to get up, but his body wasn’t working properly.

Something pulled heavily at his side.

Squirmed and reached and found a slender spear stabbed deep; groped and grasped and yanked, but the haft snapped and then his breath burst forth bloody and painful at the heavy impact of another body on his.

And now a female flat face was on top of him!

Pinning his arms down, while straddling him in a sexual position!

The features of her flat face were contorted, but not from pleasure.

Rage.

The old alpha understood rage.

And he knew very well that even a powerful male does not provoke the rage of a female protecting her young.

The arms of the flat face were raised, one of their clever clubs clenched between her fists.

Screaming into his face.

The old alpha’s last thought—my death arrives.

Chapter 19

Necklace and Pendant

Eku was deliriously happy, having embraced Ingwe in the most spectacular and passionate hug of his entire life.

—And received waka-waka kisses all over his face and lips!

—While both of their mothers watched!

When Eku and Ingwe at last released a passionate embrace, Ingwe went back to getting squeezed by Kafila while Eku was smothered again by Krele.

After the second, hearty squeezing by his mother, Eku listened as she began apologizing.

Again.

But of course, Eku knew there would be wounded and she was a healer.

“I must help those who are hurt,” she kept repeating, looking him over as Kafila continued to look over Ingwe, as though neither one of their mothers could believe the beast died without inflicting any harm.

Many other mothers stood around them, along with the Mantel and izik-kosa.

Much more of the tribe swarmed across the middle of the encampment.

Young adults enthusiastically celebrated together.

There was much shouting and even singing.

Young mothers and children moved like a slow tide from shelters, everyone crowding into the area between the shelters and the arc of now ash-filled fire pits.

Ulanga was not over the mountain, but the day had become bright.

Everyone was spontaneously embracing.

Laughing and kissing.

Many staggered about, happily unaware of the violence that occurred all around them, knowing it was simply good to be alive.

Great shouting rose when the fighters from outside the encampment began to saunter into camp.

Krele and Eku tried to spot Kaleni, but were unable.

Eku looked at his mother as she strained to see over others.

Her face was streaked with tears.

Flecks of dirt speckled the fuzzy dome of her head.

She needs to cut her hair, Eku thought.

Smudges of dirt stained shoulders, arms, thighs and knees.

The soft sealskin vest she favored and had lasted all the way from home was streaked with mud.

Mother also needs to clean off in the river, he thought.

Probably we all do.

Turning to Eku, Krele implored, “I am sure father is okay, but probably still remains outside with others. You are okay if I go find him?”

He clicked yes.

She pursed her lips and looked like she didn’t believe him.

But then, Krele seemed to relax.

Smiled in her wonderful and gentle Mom way and took the moment to simply look at Eku.

Staring into a face already etched upon her heart forever; yet, she seem him perform an act that had to be witnessed to be believed.

In hindsight, his actions were breathtaking.

Movements so swift.

The ula-konto flew precisely, the way one of the Mantel’s tiny spears did.

Eku became something that went beyond being a child or an adult.

She searched his face and wondered.

But Eku was the same, always serious child.

Looking thoughtful.

But then his eyes widened and he blurted, “I saw uncle Lume kill one of the bubinzwana with his tree felling ax!”

Krele exhaled sharply, almost like a laugh and shook her head.

Eku would forever be full of surprises.

Apparently, he had witnessed all of the skirmishes that took place inside the encampment.

She couldn’t resist and chided, “You went outside the shelter.”

Eku tried, but failed to hide his smile.

“I was worried about Dokuk and the others!”

“I know,” Krele said, smiling back. “My brave and curious child.”

She looked around again and spotted Shona looking her way, nodding her head toward the perimeter.

“I have to go, Eku. Will you be alright?”

Eku clicked that he was good, but saw that Krele remained concerned and added, “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 at each shoulder.

Looked hard into Eku’s eyes for a long moment.

Eku saw his mother’s fierce love and pride and a lump rose to his throat.

The good kind of lump, that meant only love.

Krele used the fingers of her right hand to trace a path from Eku’s shoulder to the spot next to his heart, where she knew he had so 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.”

Then she sped away to tend to the wounded.

***

Eku looked for Ingwe and saw she and Kafila moving slowly toward the upriver side of the encampment, with an entourage of Bwana mothers.

Saw they were heading to where Uta was, caught in a throng of celebrating Bwana and nesibindi.

It seemed the entire tribe was crowding into the center, in front of the shelters; though, a space was forming around the body of the dead bubinzwana, as if no one wanted to be near.

Eku spotted the bulk of his uncle Lume, Yathi clinging to his side.

They worked through the crowd and Eku saw their path led to where Kozik stood with Ola, and Doagu with Iti.

There were many people between Eku and Yathi and he decided to stay put for the moment.

But then Yat swooped in from the crowd and ran up to Eku to deliver a hug so vigorous, he grunted when all of the air was expelled from his lungs.

Yat released Eku and he gasped as the words came out so fast, “You are very brave and very silly and very brave and very silly and very brave little brother.”

She stared at him wide-eyed.

Eku was speechless.

“Dokuk always said that no one has accuracy like you,” Yat declared. “He said so with a keri stick. And then he said the same with an ula-konto. But I could not have believed it without seeing it!”

Eku could only stare at Yat, unable to think of anything to say except that she still looked strange with short hair.

“I saw what you did,” she said.

“You did?”

“Everybody did.”

“Oh.”

Not knowing what to think, Eku asked, “Have you seen Dokuk?”

“Yes. He is fine. He is with the other hunters.”

She sidled closer to Eku.

Brother and sister looked around.

Neither sure what to do next.

“No one wants to go near the body,” Yat said.

“I know,” Eku said. “But it is just a beast.”

They saw Dokuk work his way through the crowd.

He carried his unsheathed ula-konto high, vertically, to keep the deadly blade away from contacting any bodies.

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

Dokuk hugged Yat quickly with his free arm, then pulled away, looked at Eku and said, “Your father is safe.”

Yat laid a hand on his chest and kissed him on the cheek.

They both looked at Eku, Dokuk adding, “He and Nibamaz are not hurt. Not even a scratch.

“And they each killed a bubinzwana!

“Single-handedly. With their javelins.

“And Nibamaz killed the leader of their tribe!”

Relieved, Eku asked, “Are there others hurt?”

“There are injuries,” Dokuk said. “But most of the bubinzwana are dead. A few ran into the forest, but not many. The hunters with the javelins killed most of them.”

Eku stared at Dokuk with open admiration, amazed and envious that he had ventured into the thick of the fight.

He shyly asked what he did and Dokuk was equally shy, saying he did nothing more than yell a lot and hurl his ula-konto into a body already pierced by other weapons.

“We had them trapped,” he said. “The bubinzwana are dangerous, like a rogue elephant, but we put them in a good trap and there was no escaping.”

Eku beamed and smiled and said, “You are a real hunter now.”

Dokuk grinned back.

Yat asked, “How many are hurt?”

“Several of the nesibindi are cut,” Dokuk said. “A few badly. That is where your mother probably is.

“And Juyat was killed by a blow to the head.”

Eku gasped.

Juyat was a hunter with two talons and often scouted with his father.

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

She sped away and Dokuk offered Eku an apologetic look before following Yat through the crowd.

Eku was alone again.

Had the sudden thought that people were looking at him, but avoiding him also.

Many people glanced his way and then at the dead bubinzwana.

Some of the Abantu offered a quick smile.

Some of the Bwana gave him a solemn look and quickly touched their hands to their heart before looking away.

Not sure what to think, Eku moved closer to the shelters.

Unsure of what to do.

***

Eku found he kept looking at the dead bubinzwana.

Nobody else wanted to go near and a rough circle of people had formed, the beast at center.

Curiosity, as always, goaded Eku to look closer.

Paced over to stand beside the body.

The beast remained on its back.

Arms and legs out straight.

Oddly tranquil.

Peacefully posed for a death that was anything but.

Eku crouched to his haunches and looked curiously at the bony ridge above the eyes, reminding him of the linwelewana.

The ax wound was a bloody gash in the center of a broad, sloping forehead.

Thanks to the wound, the face was covered by blood. Mostly.

Below the bony ridge was a human nose, but more robust, with elongated nostrils.

The skin was smooth, the same as a human’s, especially from the neck down.

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

The eyes were half open; white with a dark center.

Long eyelashes, again reminding Eku of the linwelewana.

The ears were similar to his own, but larger and pink on the inside. And hairy.

The hair grown from its head was thick and swept down the back and shoulders rough and unkempt, having never seen a comb.

Eku saw silver in the hair and beard and said softly, as though surprised, “You were an elder.”

Something hung around the thick fur of its neck.

The strap of 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 shorter than a human’s in relation to a thick and powerful looking torso.

Judging from the rough-hewn elbows, wide hips and enormous knee knobs, the bones were heavy and thick.

Many old scars criss-crossed the body.

Eku stood and used his toes to prod the thigh, 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 ula-konto to stab deep.

A good throw.

Felt a bit proud.

But then, Eku noted the carefully constructed barb 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 an urge to laugh or cry and thought that was strange; instead, turned to check on Ingwe again, still in the arms of Kafila and surrounded by others.

Eku looked around.

There were so many people.

The camp was so crowded.

He tried to regain sight of uncle Lume and Yathi, but instead, found Kozik and Ingwabi with Iti and Doagu, baby Pume in a chest pouch.

He wondered if Yat was still helping mother.

Probably.

Eku wandered away from the bubinzwana, back to where he stood before.

Looked around again.

So many people.

Thought about getting another hug from Ingwe.

And kisses.

Lots more of those.

Kisses were definitely good.

For sure.

Checked Ingwe again, encircled by so many Bwana mothers and females.

People were all around her, but avoiding him.

Why?

The danger was over, but Eku’s stomach was queasy.

His legs trembled, as if he had run a long distance.

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

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

Closed his eyes.

People were crying.

Happy crying, though.

Lots of shouting.

Many names were being 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 have assumed it was Kafila alone who killed the beast.

Eku felt more like himself and looked around.

Finally caught another glimpse of uncle Lume and Yathi.

The image of his uncle swinging the tree-felling ax came to mind.

Bumps appeared on the skin of his arms and Eku did a shiver shake, something he sometimes did when peeing (for some reason).

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.

Eku rubbed his arms, feeling a bit chilled.

Additional cries of joy erupted.

The last of the defenders were returning from camp.

Stunningly—wonderfully, there were few injuries.

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

Eku saw his father and Nibamaz, with the most experienced Abantu hunters, all carrying bloody javelins.

Many of the hunters had blood on their bodies, but from the way they were walking and talking, he knew it was not their own.

Eku wiped his face.

He would go to his father after the tears dried.

***

Krele got past the perimeter of fires and was not prepared to witness such awful carnage.

No wonder the noises had been so terrifying.

Waka-waka bodies of bubinzwana were strewn about the dirt and the grass and palm.

All of them bloodied and in ghastly poses of violent death.

Krele has seen waka-waka-waka dead beasts in her lifetime, but nothing like this.

She has to suppress the urge to wretch.

They were so … Human looking.

Distraught, Krele was glad most of the tribe did not have to see this … But then, maybe they should?

She turned to watch Shona and other mothers move tentatively.

Most of them vomit.

Krele had a brief, tear-filled reunion with Kaleni, at first seeing him and crying out, but quickly realizing the red smears across his body were not his blood.

Miraculously, Kaleni, like most of the hunters, did not suffer a scratch.

Kaleni brought Krele and Shona to where other hunters lay bleeding, already being attended.

Krele was known as a healer though, and space was made for her to approach.

As Krele looked over the most serious wounds, Shona offered Kaleni a cryptic account of what happened in camp, including Eku’s heroics, before she stepped in to assist her sister.

Kaleni was desperate for more detail.

When he saw Yat and Dokuk approaching, he dashed up and asked what they knew.

After Yat gave him a more detailed description of Eku’s heroics, she went ahead to join Krele and the other healers.

Desperate to get back and see Eku, Kaleni ran up to rejoin Nibamaz and the rest of the Abantu hunters.

***

Uta was amongst the first wave of nesibindi and Abantu to return to camp.

The first of the fighters to return were greeted by almost the entire tribe, cheering and singing.

Uta smiled graciously, but pushed past everyone until he found Kafila, who had moved through the crowded camp with Ingwe in tow.

Ingwe leaped into her fathers arms and after a long hug, held his hand as Kafila quickly recounted what transpired in the encampment, including how the young adults and young hunters performed brilliantly, how the Mantel and izik-kosa thwarted what could have been a devastating attack from the river, and finally, of Eku’s heroics, which did nothing less than save the life of their child.

Tokuta, Kotuta, and waka-waka others were close enough to hear what Kafila said.

Those few who didn’t know what Eku had done, soon heard of his heroics.

The murmurings began then.

The start of a new legend.

Of a great and final battle.

And of how it ended, when Eku, still only a child, struck down a last, desperate act of revenge by an enraged bubinzwana.

Uta was overcome by emotion.

He frantically looked for Eku.

Saw him standing over the dead bubinzwana.

The Bwana chieftain desperately wanted to go to him, to immediately express the depth of his gratitude, but was so encased by others he could barely move.

***

Despite the raucous noise around him, Eku picked out the click of his father as easily as he could see the impact of a single drop of water falling into an otherwise placid pond.

He remained standing where he was and let Kaleni approach across the open area where the dead bubinzwana lay.

His father looked so worried.

Kaleni went nose to nose with Eku.

They were almost the same height now.

“Eku are you okay?”

His father peered into his eyes as though to look straight into his mind.

Eku saw the dark brown eyes he knew so perfectly, with the large, yellowish speck in the lower section of the left eye, a trifecta of smaller, similar specks along the top section of the right.

Uneven eyebrows knitted in concern.

Thought of the way his mother laughed at him, when she told him that when concerned, she tilted his eyebrows the same way as his father.

Wondered if he was doing that now.

If they both were.

There was a lump in his throat so he did not want to speak.

Tried to focus on what his father said, but found it difficult.

“Eku! Are you okay? Yat told me what happened. And aunt Shona.”

Though his father was speaking, Eku found it difficult to hear the words.

Father was so dirty.

Even more than mother, he needed to go in the river.

Dirt was everywhere.

Even on his loincloth.

Eku looked away from his father and his voice returned and he said, “I am fine. Mother checked me. Many times. I … Nothing happened to me.”

Kaleni grabbed Eku by the elbow. The other hand went to his shoulder.

Staring at his child.

Feeling the same kind of awe that Krele had, just moments before.

“Aunt Shona told me what you did, Eku. She said it happened directly in front of her. In front of everyone, actually.”

He let go of Eku’s elbow but the other hand remained on his shoulder.

Eku said nothing.

“Eku! Many people saw. Everyone is talking about it. Everyone is saying it was some kind of … A wondrous event.

“Nobody is even sure what to say to you. They are saying it is the birth of a new legend. A story. And there will be songs.

“So everyone has been waiting for me. Or Uta. To see you first.”

When Eku nodded, but still said nothing, Kaleni added, “People are giving you space until I talk to you. That is why you were left alone.”

Eku still said nothing and Kaleni shook his head, marveling at how such an event could have unfolded.

Turned his neck to look at the bubinzwana.

The beast was huge.

One of the biggest.

No doubt terrifying.

He guessed Eku must have made the throw from just about where they were now.

Not a long throw, but such a fast moving target would require a precision that many adult hunters could never master.

And to perform such a throw spontaneously?

While under duress?

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

Eku managed a nod, hating the way his lower lip trembled.

Kaleni put hands on Eku's shoulders, just as mother had.

His father’s hands were hot and sweaty and felt wonderful.

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

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

Found his voice again and said, “No. I was not afraid. Not when it happened. I did what you taught me.”

Kaleni nodded, hoping for more, but all Eku said was, “But now I do 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 you will be with us and you will be okay. If you have nightmares, Yat and Yathi will be there. And now Dokuk.”

Kaleni smiled. “Mother is already warning everyone we will need a bigger shelter.”

Eku finally smiled.

Feeling much better, he marvelled at how filthy his father was.

And not just dirt.

Blood smeared all over his body.

A heavy crimson rope stretched across his chest, some of the drops splattering the eagle talons and his neck, near the voice box.

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, tall enough now to go cheek to cheek so that when the tears finally came, they mixed with the blood and grime.

Kaleni held Eku tightly, relishing the coils of muscle in his young body.

So strong and full of life.

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.

Eku knew that he was Eku kaleni-yana, the child of Krele and Kaleni (and almost an adult!).

Brother to Yatyambo.

Ikanabe to Yathi.

Perfectly unique and yet, a tiny drop in the infinite water of Uwama.

How do those two things work together?

Well, not even Tiuti could answer such a question, but Eku knew now with the assurity of youth, that if he was not meant to be a hunter, he would be something different.

And that was good.

Kaleni pointed where Yat stood with Dokuk and asked, “Are you waiting for mother? She is tending to one of the wounded. Making sure the bleeding stops.”

Eku clicked that he understood.

He looked solemn now. Content.

Back to his typical confidence.

“Come,” Kaleni urged, again waving a hand toward Yat. “Be with me and Yatyambo and Dokuk. Yes?”

Eku looked around.

Once again so much happened.

Life really does move fast and slow.

Kaleni added, “Yathi is with Lume. Shona is also with mother, helping. We can all be together, soon. We will have to start to get organized. But first we make sure those who are hurt are taken care of.”

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

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

Eku worked so hard to gain such a prestigious weapon at such a young age.

Sacrifice and triumph.

Somehow, his precocious child always understood there would not be one without the other.

He glanced at the bubinzwana again, having noticed something that made him curious.

Stepped away from Eku to stand over the corpse.

Knelt for a moment, then stood again.

Kaleni looked around.

Realized that he and the body were at the center of an enormous, tribal circle.

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

Waiting to see what happened next.

***

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

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

Kaleni pushed politely past bodies and put his mouth to the ear of the Bwana chieftain, who listened intently, while shifting his eyes to the dead bubinzwana, and to where Eku stood.

When Kaleni finished speaking, Uta offered a grave nod.

Kaleni went to stand with Yat and Dokuk, who stood pressed together, arms around each other, in the front row of the ring of people around the dead body.

Kaleni clicked and used his head and 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.

Talking subsided.

The people went silent.

Ulanga had risen above the mountain and all remaining shadows fled; the forest shone vibrant green and the river bright under his fire.

Uta walked purposefully to the dead bubinzwana and went otherwise still.

A hand rose to touch the scar.

The Bwana chieftain stood that way for a long moment, having recognized something about the body.

Finally, he glanced at Eku.

Gave him a long, piercing look.

Uta then knelt to a crouch and took a firm grip of the bubinzwana’s 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 beast'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 most fearsome and legendary predator, but the Abantu and Mantel had never seen such a vicious tooth: as long as one’s hand, 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 a numbness enveloped him; like he couldn’t feel any part of his body.

He looked around the tribal circle.

Everyone was watching, but individual faces were a blur.

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

Yathi, wedged against strong Lume.

The tall figure of Tiuti.

Everyone was smiling and nodding.

Eku 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 tears as he said, “That necklace belongs to you now.”

The entire tribe cheered.

A roar that carried down the south-flowing river, perhaps all the way to shatsheli-lambo … And that echoed north, to the lake of endless freshwater, and whatever lay beyond.