Chapter 12
As he walked down the path towards home Makok reached up to adjust the pack on his right shoulder so it rode higher. In shifting that pack the one on his left shoulder slipped off. He was able to catch it before it hit the ground without dropping anything else. Makok was carrying the two packs because he’d sent Hert on ahead to alert the Patriarch and the Elders of what they’d found at the Eagle Clan.
The sun had gone down a short while ago and the day was fading fast now. That meant full night wasn’t far off. Looking up through the trees he saw a few of the brightest stars were starting to appear in the blackening sky. Normally, he’d’ve had his trading party make camp for the night but he wouldn’t this time. They were so close to home and family that no one wanted to stop.
Moving both packs to a single shoulder Makok increased his pace to a trot. Behind him the rest of the trading party followed suit. Although he’d been on the move since early this morning and was exhausted the sights and smells of home beckoned. The closeness of family always brought a new spring to his step.
A slight smile crossed his lips as he trotted down the path. His wife wouldn’t be expecting him home for another two weeks. He could imagine the surprise on Kerin’s face when he walked into their hut. But now that he thought about it he regretted sending Hert ahead. Kerin’d know he was coming because Hert would tell her.
The men of the trading party continued the easy but fast pace. They left the side canyon and moved onto the soft meadow grass of the main valley. Home was just moments away now. Above them the sky darkened and more stars began to appear. Horses nickered and snorted while men guarding the herd called out greetings as the trading party ran past.
Leaving the grove of trees which was just outside the village Makok saw that a large fire had been set on the commons near the Council Hut and most of the Family was there. He guessed that meant Hert had arrived early enough to deliver his message to the Patriarch and the Elders. He gave a slight shake of his head. There went any chance of surprising Kerin. The bow maker slowed to a walk to catch his breath.
Moments later Makok’s trading party entered the circle of light created by the fire and were inundated by questions or smothered with hugs from family members. Makok spotted his wife and children in the crowd and hurried over. He didn’t care what happened to the trade goods in the packs when he dropped them in his hurry to wrap Kerin in his arms. After a long, lingering kiss he released his wife to hug and tickle each of his children.
“What’s this Hert tells us about the Eagle Clan?” The Patriarch had come over to where Makok was reuniting with his family. His attitude was condescending and the tone of his voice, accusing. “A whole village doesn’t disappear.”
Before Makok could reply another voice asked, “What about the Eaters?”
The bow maker picked up Kim, his youngest child, and turned to face the Council of Elders. Makok’s two other children, Mak and Rin, disappeared into the crowd to find their friends.
“I told them everything we saw!” explained Hert from behind the Patriarch. “But they wouldn’t believe me.”
A large number of the Family had followed the Elders and gathered around to listen to the discussion. Children excited with all the commotion ran through the crowd playing tag using the adults as obstacles. Their shrieks and squeals added to the din of conversations.
“Quiet!” yelled Jat then glared at Makok. A moment later the noise level dropped slightly. “Well?” the Patriarch prompted. “What’s this about?”
Makok looked at Hert. “You told them?” he asked as he picked up the man’s pack with the hand that wasn’t holding Kim and handed it to him. Hert nodded, taking the pack. “Everything?” Hert nodded again.
The bow maker looked back to the Patriarch. “Well?” prompted Jat again.
Makok still didn’t reply to the Patriarch but handed his youngest daughter to his wife. “Take the kids home,” he told Kerin. “I’ll join you there after I finish here.” A concerned look flashed on Kerin’s face then disappeared. He gave her a quick smile and reached out to give her right arm a soft squeeze. “Don’t worry, I won’t be cause too many problems.” Kerin nodded, took Kim from him and left to round up Mak and Rin.
Then Makok turned his attention back to the Patriarch. From the jaw muscles twitching he could tell the man was incensed at having to wait. “I asked you a question,” Jat growled through clenched teeth.
“Yes, you did,” replied Makok in a calm voice, “but you don’t want to hear the answer.”
Dan started to chastise Makok but the bow maker held up a hand to stop the Elder. “Hert told you we found the Eagle village empty,” Makok began. Still standing behind the Patriarch Hert nodded in emphasis. “He told you it was like the people inside the huts had left their huts never to return leaving everything they owned.” He gestured. “Just like the disappearances Akhim reported at Circle Cliffs. In fact we met Akhim a day’s walk from the Eagles village and he told us that the flying things had been heard near the Eagles.”
“No one was in the huts? They were gone?” asked a voice from the crowd. “But their things were still there?” It was too dark for Makok to tell who’d spoken.
“That’s what we found at Nat’s hut,” called a woman amid a growing commotion.
“Quiet!” yelled Jat again. When the noise subsided enough the Patriarch prompted Makok to continue.
Makok shrugged his shoulders. “We checked every hut,” he said, “and every hut was the same.”
“But what about the Eaters?” asked Dan.
“I told you we found the Eater’s tracks along the stream bed,” said Hert.
“I saw them as well!” added Terlon, who was standing nearby. He waved at the others of the trading party. “We all did!” The men who’d arrived with Makok nodded their agreement.
“That’s it?” asked Jat. “Tracks?” He threw up his arms in exasperation. “You cut short a trading mission and cause all this fear and commotion for a few tracks?” His voice reflected derision for Makok’s decision.
Makok looked at Jat. “I told you that if you didn’t believe Hert you wouldn’t believe me. Think what you want but my family will be leaving tomorrow.”
“Leaving?” snorted Jat and held out his arms. “Where will you go? You said the Eagles are gone and there’s a problem at Circle Cliffs. There’s no where else to go! So where will you go?” he repeated.
“I don’t know,” Makok replied. “But we’re not staying here. Now, it’s been a long day and I’m exhausted. I’m going to my hut where I can get some sleep.”
With that said Makok picked up his pack and shouldered his way through the people surrounding the Elders. As he made his way through the crowd the bow maker ignored the questions that were shouted at him.
When he pushed through the entry hide of his hut Makok found his family waiting. All three children looked up from what they were doing to see who’d come in. “You were right,” his wife said as she added a piece of wood to the small fire in the center of the hut. “It didn’t take you very long to get done.” Kerin looked up at her husband. “So, was it the Eaters?”
Makok nodded. “I think so,” he replied and settled down next to her. “Hert, Terlon; everyone saw tracks made by Eaters at the creek.”
“So what do the Elders think?”
“They’re not!”
Kerin gave a sharp look at her husband. She’d never heard that defeated tone in his voice before. “They’re not what?” she asked.
“They’re not thinking,” he replied. “They won’t admit the Eaters were involved in the Eagles disappearance. And they can’t see the danger we’re in.” Makok shook his head and waved a hand towards the commons. “I heard from someone at the fire that Nat and his family disappeared overnight?” Kerin nodded. “And they left their furs, weapons and food?” Kerin nodded again.
Makok sighed and sank back against the huts hide covered wall. “Then the Eaters are already here,” he said. “And they??
?re taking people.” He shook his head. “I just don’t know how or why.”
“What are we going to do?” Kerin asked. She relaxed back onto her heels as she watched her husband.
Makok moved closer to the fire with a decisive air. “We’re leaving first thing tomorrow morning,” he announced.
“We’re leaving!” Mak’s excited voice cut into the conversation. “All of us?” he asked and scooted closer to his father.
Makok looked down into the boy’s eager face. “All of us,” he replied and reached over to tousle his sons hair. “Now, it’s time for bed. You’ll need to be well rested for the long journey ahead.”
Mak went to protest but his mother intervened. “Don’t argue with your father,” she said. “He’s been on these trips before and knows what we need. In fact, it’s such a good idea we’re all going to bed.” That announcement brought groans from the rest of the children.
“But we’re too excited to sleep,” said Rin, the oldest daughter.
“No arguing,” said Makok in stern tones. “Everyone get ready for bed.”
Ignoring their complaining and arguing Kerin and Makok shepherded the children through their night time routine. After making nature calls, getting drinks of water, saying prayers and giving hugs the children were laying down covered by their sleeping furs. Moments later they were asleep.
Makok gazed at the sleeping forms. He reached out and took one of his wife’s hands. “That was quick,” he said. “I don’t ever remember Mak falling asleep like that.”
Kerin nodded her agreement. “Or any of the others for that matter. I thought they were too excited but…” She shrugged and gave a sly grin as she leaned over to kiss her husband. “This just gives us some time alone.”
Makok lay on his back, arms to his side and legs straight. A slow, regular breathing indicated the man was sleeping not dead. Then a finger on his right hand twitched, the left leg jerked. Moments later a low groan was heard. He raised his left arm and rested it on his forehead. “Wha…?” he mumbled and groaned again, his eyelids fluttered. In one explosive movement he sat up, eyes wide, heart pounding.
“Of all the stupid,” he cursed and looked around expecting to see the sleeping forms of his family lying nearby. “We should… What’s this?” he asked and climbed to his feet, staggering just a little.
Another look around confirmed that he was anywhere but in his own hut. And he wasn’t alone. The prostrate forms of villagers surrounded those of his family. A quick count showed almost everyone in Karg’s Family was in this place with him. Everyone but Jat or the other Elders of the Council. A closer look revealed another disturbing fact: All the elderly were gone.
Turning in a slow circle he took note of the area. It was a very strange place they were in. The walls looked more like rock than wood or hide. They were smooth, not rough like the rocks in the cave of Home Canyon. He looked down at the floor which was definitely not dirt. Nor was it rock.
Everything was white! The only colors in the room other than white came from the brown and black furs worn by Karg’s family. Where the roof should have been was what looked like another wall dotted with many small suns. The suns weren’t as bright as the real sun but they still gave him spots in the eyes if he looked at them long enough.
“I was home,” he muttered. “I was in my hut with…” Makok let the sentence drift off. “How did we get here?” he wondered. Then his eyes widened as he remembered and he looked down at the still forms of his wife and children.
“Oh no!” breathed Makok and dropped to his knees. With a silent prayer he put an ear to his wife’s chest. He held his breath while listening for a heartbeat. A moment later he gave a sigh or relief and rocked back on his knees. “She’s just sleeping,” he whispered. He checked his children to make sure they were all breathing.
“Thank God, they’re all right,” he said and looked around again. “Everyone’s got to be all right. But where are we?
“It’s obvious we’re not in a hut,” he continued talking to himself as he continued examining the room. “I’ve never seen a hut large enough for an entire village to fit in. Only Home Cave was large like this. But this isn’t a cave either. The walls are too smooth and regular and white.” He stopped and turned his head, re-examining the whole area again. “There are no openings.”
His wife groaned and rolled off her back onto her right side. He was beside her immediately. “Kerin? Kerin?” he called softly. “It’s Makok. Wake up.”
She groaned again, her eyes opened then she rolled over onto her back again. “Is it morning?” she asked as she stretched.
Her sinuous movements still reminded Makok of the young woman he’d taken for his wife so many years ago. “I don’t know,” he answered. “I can’t see the sky. All I know is that we’re not in our hut.”
When her husband’s words registered Kerin jerked to a sitting position, eyes glancing about, never resting on anything for very long. “How did we get here?”
Makok shrugged his shoulders and placed a hand on one of hers. “I have no idea but I’m just hoping we find out soon. I’m starting to get hungry!”
Kerin smiled and reached over to give her husbands cheek a soft caress. “Poor Makok,” she said in a teasing tone. “We’ll have to feed you soon or there’ll be no living with you. Now give me a hand up!”
Makok moved to help his wife to her feet then stopped. He looked around at the assembly spread out around them then shook his head. “Let’s wake our kids first and have them help us get the rest of the Family together.”
“But why us?” asked Kerin. “Why aren’t the Elders…”
Makok hushed his wife and they began waking their children.
It wasn’t long before they had all of Karg’s family awake and gathered in a noisy circle centered on Makok’s family. When he was sure everyone was completely awake Makok gave his wife a confident smile than held out his hands to quiet the crowd. “I don’t know how long we have until whoever brought us here comes back,” he called over the noise of many conversations and cries of children. “I have no idea who’s taken us from our village or how they did it but until we find out we need to take steps to protect ourselves. This is wh…”
“Why should we listen to you?” shouted someone from the back. “You’re not the Patriarch.” A few other people echoed the protesters words.
“Look around!” retorted Makok and gestured to encompass the room. “Do you see Jat anywhere? What about Dan or Marn? It seems I’m the only member of the Council here! In fact, do you see any of our elderly at all?” He paused for a few heartbeats to let his people confirm that what he’d said was true then began again before anyone else could speak. “Whoever did this is trying to keep us off balance hoping we’ll be confused when they return.” He gestured at a man in the front row. “Do you have a plan to protect your family, Vil, if it’s the Eaters who come in?” A stunned silence greeted Makok’s words. Even the children quieted down as they sensed their parent’s unease.
A moment later a woman spoke up to cut through the silence. “Why shouldn’t Makok lead?” she asked. “He warned the Elders months ago we needed to find a new home. He even began looking but most of us laughed at him.” She gestured at Makok. “He was right! So why shouldn’t he lead now?” A few mutterings of agreement were heard and no protests.
“All right!” Makok said nodding. “Since that’s settled here’s what we do.”
Those tasked to examine their prison for a way out were about halfway around the walls of the strange hut when those assigned to keep watch noticed something happening. A portion of the wall was moving; it was opening. At their shout Karg’s family scurried back to form a large group in the center of the large open space.
Makok glanced around to gauge his people’s readiness and nodded. Women and children were placed inside the protective outer ring of men and older boys. Everyone was ready, poised for a fight. His people were as prepared to face the unknown as he could get them.
; After giving Kerin a reassuring smile the bow maker moved through the Family to stand in the front ranks nearest the opening. “This approach could be a ruse to draw our attention away from the real threat,” he called loud enough so everyone could hear. “Keep watch on the walls in front of you.”
A lone man dressed in strange, many colored clothes walked into the room through the opening and the wall closed behind him. He crossed the floor until he was a short distance from the defensive circle then stopped to look over the formation. “Who’s your Elder?” he called. No one answered although a few people looked at Makok. “Who set your positions?” the man persisted. “You must have an Elder.”
Makok moved away from the circle to face the newcomer and let the ranks close behind him. “I set the positions” he announced. “And they’ll stay that way until we know where we are and if we’re safe.”
“Makok!” exclaimed the man and moved a couple of steps closer. “You were always quick with new ideas. I should have expected you to organize Karg’s Family.”
Now that he was closer Makok got a better look at the man and thought he recognized him from visits to Circle Cliffs.
“Seantim?” he asked as he squinted in the unusual light. “Is that really you? You look different.”
The man smiled and nodded. “It’s the clothes,” he replied then ran a hand across his chin. “And the shave. The Kthpok don’t go for beards. They don’t think it’s sanitary.”
Makok was intrigued by the unknown words but decided he had more important things to learn. “Where are we?” he wondered and gestured at the room. “What is this place? And who or what are the Kthpok?”
Seantim drew himself up to make his announcement. “You’re in the L’Khast Education Center and you’ve been brought here to be educated.” His voice was pitched to be heard by everyone in the room.
Makok glanced over his shoulder at his people but he could see they didn’t recognize the word either. “Educated? What is ‘educated’?”
“A tour of the Education Village you’ll be living in has been arranged,” continued their host ignoring Makok’s questions. “I know you’re hungry. You’ll be fed at the end of the tour.”
Seantim walked around the Family still in their defensive circle then came back to Makok. “There are too many people here for one tour,” he said. “Please separate your people into three parts. The first part will come with me now.”
“You still haven’t answered my questions,” reminded Makok. “We don’t move until we know if we’re in danger.”
“The tour will answer your questions and you’ll see for yourself that there’s no danger.” The bow maker still looked doubtful so Seantim leaned forward and spoke in a low voice. “There’s really no danger,” he repeated. “I know. I’ve been here for quite a while. We’ve traded before and I’ve always been honest with you. Haven’t I?”
Makok looked over their host. After a moments thought he nodded. “You’ve never led me wrong before so I’ll trust you now. My family and I will go in the first group,” he said.
Epilogue
Abbel finished reading the history and picked up the last yellowed page. He examined it for a moment, checking its texture and feel. It was obviously very old. Then he turned the paper face down and placed it on the untidy mess of pages he’d already read. The young man glanced up at his father. “That’s quite the story,” he said. “Or set of stories. How long ago was this supposed to have happened?”
“Several hundred years at least,” Teral replied. “That’d make it six or seven generations ago and it did happen.”
The young man thought for a minute then shook his head. “It’s hard to believe because it goes against what we’re taught in school. Someone must’ve had a really good imagination,” he said and shrugged his shoulders. “Though I’ve seen more exciting stories on the vid.”
Teral reached down to the table and began rearranging the leaves of paper into a neater pile. Then, he picked up the stack, tapped it on the table and used his hands to pat the errant pages into place. “I imagine another reason it’s hard for you to believe because it’s not like the movies you watch which have the desperate hero saving the day at the last minute?” he asked. Looking over he saw his son smiling and nodding. Then the older man continued. “Those are pretty melodramatic and, I have to admit, the special effects are impressive but there’s a difference here.” Teral paused for a moment then held up the pages for Abbel to see. “This is real life. What you’re taught in school and seeing on the vid is pure propaganda,” he said and shrugged. “The kind of propaganda where a Kthpok always resolves the problem in the knick of time despite interference from a bumbling but well-meaning human sidekick.”
The admiral snorted in disgust. “Our Masters present us with the illusion that we’re dependent on them. That’s the propaganda. Real life is the other way around. Humans are the one’s who’re doing the work and solving the problems. They Kthpok are dependent on us!”
Teral took the neat stack of papers and placed them back into their protective holder. He took meticulous care to not fold, tear or crumple any of the pages. “This is our most precious legacy,” he said as he made sure the ends of the holder were secure.
After he was satisfied his treasure was secure Teral turned to his son. “Now, do you remember what I told you before you began reading?” Abbel pursed his lips as he thought back. “How safe is it?” Teral prompted.
The young man gave a silent ooh then a puzzled look appeared on his face. “But why?” Abbel asked and nodded at the package his father held. “Why would the Kthpok kill anyone who has or reads these stories? There isn’t anything in there that’s treasonous or dangerous.”
“That’s a good question,” replied Teral, nodding his approval. “The reason the Kthpok will execute publicly anyone who has knowledge of what’s on these papers is that it exposes their myth of rescuing the poor human animal from extinction. See, they want us thinking we’re dependent on them which prevents any thoughts of freedom. But, as you can see, humanity was very capable of taking care of itself before the Kthpok came into the picture.” The admiral shrugged. “We weren’t going extinct, we were prospering and growing. That’s what the Kthpok’d consider treason.”
Teral left the table carrying the packet of papers and headed towards the back of the room. He walked past the rows of shelves to the last aisle. His son followed in silence for a few minutes then asked, “but how do you know those stories are true? Maybe what’s on those papers is the propaganda.”
Teral smiled back at his son. “I was a little older and taller than you are now when my father brought me here to read this history,” he replied and shrugged. “In fact, I had the same question and it seems my answer to you will be the same as what he told me then.
“Your grandfather said, ‘I got that history from my father who got it from his father and he from his father.’” Teral looked over his shoulder at Abbel and smiled. “That line of the history being passed from father to son is unbroken all the way back to Makok who experienced and recorded what you’ve read. You’re a direct descendant of Makok and Karg.” Teral turned back to watch where he was walking. “My father did not lie to me then and I don’t lie to you now. Each of our father’s has testified that this history is true.”
Teral waved the packet he was carrying and turned down the last row of bookshelves. “You see here that humanity was doing just fine before the Kthpok ‘wardship’ began. We were at peace with each other trading between villages. It was the Kthpok or the Eaters that we feared and fought.” The admiral’s shoulders reflected his sigh. “We still trade today but now it’s with lasers, bombs and death instead of hides, pots, and food.”
Teral reached the end of the row. Abbel watched in silence while his father returned the packet to the top shelf then stood back to make sure the precious bundle was inconspicuous. Stepping forward once more, Teral moved the packet further back on the shelf. After checking once more, the admiral nodde
d in satisfaction.
With their true history hidden in plain view Teral led the way back through the room. The father and son walked down the main aisle and through the tables and computer consoles heading for the exit.
Before the door sensors could be triggered by their proximity Teral stopped and turned to his son. Placing both hands on Abbel’s shoulders he looked into the young man’s eyes then said, “what you’ve read, this history, is important to our people. Most don’t know of their heritage and seem content to endure life as property to the Kthpok. But it’s a tenuous life, contingent on a Kthpok’s whim. The few of us who do know of our beginnings have the duty and obligation to keep that knowledge alive and secret.”
“But what good is this knowledge if most of the people don’t know?” wondered Abbel. “Since it’s so dangerous why don’t you just drop those papers into an incinerator. That’ll remove any danger to you, mom or the rest of us of discovery or reprisal.”
“The danger would be gone, that’s true,” agreed Teral. “But our people would be ignorant of their beginnings, of what they’d lost. They’d have no reason to question their slavery. At least this way we who know can work and prepare to regain our freedom.” A fierce look came over the admiral’s face. He gave his son a little shake then dropped his hands to his sides. “That’s the obligation and duty I…we have to find a way to free our people.” Teral took a deep breath before continuing. “And if what I hear coming is true that opportunity may not be far off.”
Abbel perked up at his father’s words. “We can be free?” he asked. “Just like Makok? To go where and when they want?”
Teral gave a brief smile. “See what knowing your history does?” he asked. Then he nodded. “There’s a possibility but there’s danger.
“Now, if anything happens to me this history must be protected.”
A look of dismay came over Abbel’s face. “No!” he protested, shaking his head. “Nothing’s going to happen to you.”
Teral gave a slight smile. “There’s no guarantees in life, son,” he replied. “Only God knows when our time’s over. That and the whims of our masters. So, if something should happen to me you must come here and take the manuscript. Guard and treasure it for the day we walk free. Okay?”
After Abbel gave a curt nod Teral turned and moved for the door. He stopped when his son asked,” will I get a chance to help?” The door sensors noted the two men’s approach and the panel slid open in a soft hiss of air.
“For this to work,” said Teral, “all humanity’ll have to help.” Then he walked through the door to begin the fight for humanities freedom.
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