People of the Raven(56)

“Here, Father!” Tsauz groped and found it where he’d left it.

“Put it on. We have to go!”

Tsauz swung the painted deerhide cape around his neck and rose uncertainly to his feet. “What’s happening?”

Father’s fingers dug into Tsauz’s shoulders, his voice as brittle as a dry fish bone. “Listen to me! You must do exactly as I say. Don’t think about it. Just do it. Do you understand?”

Tsauz nodded.

“Come with me.” Father grabbed Tsauz’s hand and tugged him out of the lodge into the cold darkness.

“Father, where’s Runner? Runner? Runner, come!”

Father’s hard hand clapped over his mouth. “I said quiet! He’s probably sniffing around the trees. Forget about him.”

Tsauz tripped over a stone and fell. Father jerked him to his feet. In the process, Father’s hand slipped off his mouth. “Father? Runner is my only—”

“Don’t make a sound. Not another word!”

He held tight to Tsauz’s hand and forced him to run as fast as he could. Every time Tsauz tripped, Father hauled him to his feet, hurting his shoulder, and they ran again. The strong scent of fir pitch and whale oil came to his nose. Tsauz took a deep breath. His people used the mixture to make fires that burned hot and fast.

The footing grew treacherous as Father dragged Tsauz onto steep terrain. Rocks kept turning underfoot, and Father literally jerked him along. Tsauz bit his lip, aware that Father’s terse breathing boded ill should he speak. Fear began to beat bright within him.

Father shoved Tsauz down on a cold slab of rock and ordered, “Slide back. This is a small rock shelter.”

Tsauz backed awkwardly into the wet and gritty womb. Cold stone bit into his back. The tight hole was just big enough to hold him. He stared blindly at Father, waiting for him to slide in, too. There didn’t seem to be enough room. “Father, is this big enough for both of us?”

“I want you to stay here. I have to return to the village.”

“Please find Runner for me. He’s so little: he wouldn’t have gone far.” Tsauz reached out and grabbed a handful of Father’s cape. “Please! He’ll be so frightened without me.”

“Yes! Yes! Now, listen to me. Don’t move.” Father spun around. He stopped breathing, listening to the winter night. Then he whispered, “I’ll be back for you as soon as I can.”

“No, please!” Tsauz started to crawl out of the rock shelter. Father’s hard hand pushed him back as Tsauz whimpered, “Please, don’t leave me! Tell me what’s happening? Where’s Runner?”

Father shoved him so hard his head cracked on the rock. Tsauz stifled the cry of pain, knowing it would only make Father madder.

“Warriors are coming, Tsauz! Do not move. I have to fight, but I’m coming back for you, I promise!” A pause. “Now, don’t move. I’m covering your hole.”

The rock made a hollow knocking sound as Father settled it into place. The grinding and clunking continued as Father placed other rocks over the opening. Tsauz could feel the cold radiating from the rock. He reached out, running his fingers over the gritty surface.

“My son,” Father whispered. “No matter what happens, I need you to know how much I love you. Never, never forget.”

“I won’t, Father.” Sobs pulled at Tsauz’s windpipe.

Father’s steps sounded as he hurried back across the unstable hillside.

Then silence settled.

Too terrified to breathe, Tsauz sat perfectly still, listening for Father’s steps.

“Runner?” he whined softly.

You are like Halibut, about to be yanked from the safety of the depths. Can you breathe outside of your familiar water?

The words echoed in Tsauz’s memory.





Eighteen

Where she hunched over the glowing coals of a dying campfire, Dzoo waited. She had spread her cloak out like a conical tent to capture the heat. She could feel the warm smoke from the red embers rising along her skin, cleansing. She enjoyed the sensation as the heat nibbled along her thighs, across her vulva, and up her abdomen. It slipped along the curve of her breasts, massaging her nipples and trickling around her sides.

She leaned her head back to stare up between the shadowed branches of the fir trees. Scattered patches of Star People twinkled against the blackness.

The faint clatter of spears carried on the heavy night air. Dzoo felt the future fall into place. Visions spun inside her, like glimpses of oblivion. Phantoms grimaced, men screamed, and fires touched the edges of her soul.

She filled her lungs with the crystal scent of the night. Rising smoke leaked past her cloak to filter through her gleaming hair.