As we continued along the trail, I thought back to the meal we had shared in the clearing. I had noticed the men were very appreciative for the blueberries and potatoes Kalou had found, and she had taken an equal portion of the meal when it was divided with no questions asked. Since the arguments of the morning, the interaction between Kalou and the older men had been minimal but civil.
I was interested to find out what position women held in their tribe. From what I had seen earlier today, it appeared they didn’t allow women to hunt, and that was the cause of the argument this morning. Of course, it was possible that women were allowed to hunt and Kalou had done something forbidden like hunting in the wrong location. But from the violence of their disagreement, I had to believe that she had broken a much more serious rule than that.
I thought of my home and the position my mother had in our family. It had been a very interesting situation, as God had created her to be a helper to my father. Though she had constantly taken care of us, watched over us and served us, there had been nothing approaching the attitude of a servant about her. She had done nothing out of obligation, but only because she wanted to care for us. Her relationship with my father had been one of equality.
They had different responsibilities in the family where they each took a leadership role; neither ever tried to lord it over the other. Theirs had been a relationship of loving acceptance in which they each had a role, worked hard and did their part. Though there was a distinct division of duties with my parents, they willingly helped each other whenever there was need.
As I thought about my parents, I once again thought back to my final days with my family. It had been the harvest and my crops had come in beautifully. I had provided a bounty for our family; a bounty of grains, fruits and vegetables which would be needed to sustain us over the months of cooler weather when crops did not grow as well. My family needed my harvest to carry us through the winter and early spring.
The flocks my brother tended were useful for our existence, but they weren’t really necessary. His flocks gave us wool and milk, but that was all we needed from them. We could have gotten by without my brother’s flocks, but my crops were irreplaceable. I was much more important than him to our family.
As I started down this familiar trail of thoughts, my anger flared up once again. My crops were a necessity, the foundation of our life. My brother’s flocks had been a luxury, a pleasant addition to our life, but not all that important. That God would not find favor with my sacrifice, and yet find favor with my brother’s still drove me into a fury.
“Mine was better,” I found myself muttering.
But all that didn’t matter anymore. I had left that life. God and my parents were far behind in another land. I was here now; ready to start a new life that was destined to bring me power and glory. This was my time and my place, and I was going to be a king.
He holds fire in his hand. He can catch a thrown spear and a kill a deer with a stone. What is going to happen when we reach the village? I am scared the elders will anger him. What will he do to us?
I glanced over at Kalou and saw she was watching me out of the corner of her eye. We had been walking for quite some time since our meal, but the time had passed quickly. When Kalou saw me looking at her she indicated their village was very close. The sun was touching the horizon and we would be there in a few moments.