Chapter 5; The Gathering of the People
On the next morning, Lar was eating his breakfast sitting high on the Watcher’s forehead. He noticed more of the trees were red colored. Last night’s sadness forgotten, he found that he was excited. Each year, when the green leaves begin to dry and change color. Those red leaves soon turn the Dark Woods to flame. It is the signal for the People to prepare for their return to their home and to their god whom they called the Watcher.
Although, the people would not actually leave until the last leaf fell from the trees. Following their traditions, they made ready. Wherever they were, what ever they were doing, they would stop and begin their travel to the Gathering. Hunters come out of the Dark Woods and the Traders come out of the cities. They head for the well just outside the Desert Gate. For a period of days, they gather around it and prepare for the desert journey to come. When the last leaf falls, they head out taking the hard packed road that headed south deep into the Great Desert.
Once they reached the oasis which was their destination, the men’s work would cease for a time and the women’s work would start in earnest. Once inside the arms of the Watcher, the women’s job would be to gather the gems they called the Tears of the Watcher. Then, clean the stones in preparation to take them back to the Great City at the edge of the desert. These stones were taken by the People to market during Trading Time to get the goods that made their life more pleasant.
He went to begin his work. He sat in the great stone chair in the center room of the upper level of caves. He cleared his mind and thought of the People. He saw their preparations. Then, he saw her. A red haired woman who looked surprisingly like Han was staring in his direction. She was beautiful. Then a thin, dark haired boy dashed across his view and broke his concentration.
The boy sent his mind back to Gatherings in his youth. Lar remembered the excitement of this time of year. He sat and remembered how the camps would come alive. As a boy, he had rushed with his mother or his other family to the meeting place. The timing was so strict that the Tear Master would lead who ever was at the meeting place on the selected morning out into the desert to return to their home wadi.
If anyone were late, they would have to decide whether to try the trek alone or to survive a year without anything to trade next winter. One time, Lar and Kiv had been hunting out by themselves. They had been out too far and had not heard Kiv’s father’s horn. They had gotten to camp after the others had already left. A single large red leaf was stuck to a tree with Kiv’s father’s knife. “Oooh, I am in trouble now,” said the red haired youth.
“What does it mean?”
“It means that the Gathering has begun and I am to bring him his knife.”
“Okay…lets go.”
Kiv was frightened, “Don’t you understand? “They have left us and the well is a day and a half away.”
Lar had been over by the fire, “These coals are still warm. They must have just left.”
Kiv was suddenly energized, “I know a short cut. Let us run to catch them.” They had run all the way to the well stopping only for berries and water.
When they arrived at the well, Lar, fell into a pile of leaves under a tree, “No one is here. We are too late.” Kiv sat exhausted and stunned. They sat for two hours, scared beyond their boyhood imagining.
All of a sudden, Kiv jumped up. He grabbed Lar’s shoulder, Listen!”
They heard them before they saw them. A steady clanging of camel bells caused them to look north at a gathering cloud of dust. “Look, brother, look!”
He sat down laughing, “We beat them here.” They hugged and pounded each other on the back, “We are early, not late.” Lar laughed to him self as that memory was as fresh today as it was then.
He thought about what must be going on even in the buildings of the Great City. Kal would be gathering the people and finishing up any last business. He would be combing the bars for straggling men. Mav, his mate, would be gathering the spices and foodstuffs that he lived on while the People were away.
Lar laughed out loud to think that, at this moment, his best friend, Kiv, who would be blowing his horns and calling in all of his wide spread hunting parties. The hunts women would be striking their camps and piling the belongings and children on the carts and pack animals to be ready when the men arrive. A tornado of activity always surrounded this giant friend. Still, by all accounts, Kiv was the best hunts man in the history of the people.
Lar sat in the Watchman’s chair and watched the area around the well. He did not write what he saw, he just watched. He saw clearly as the various groups of the People began to arrive at the well. For days, they had been traveling from different parts of the Upper Kingdom. All day long that last day, groups came rushing along the many paths and roads. They greeted old friends and family members that they met at the well. They made temporary camp sites in the fields that were around the well. AS they went about their preparations, they eyes constantly drifted to the place where the hard packed road disappeared into the sands of the desert.
Lar, as he would tune in from time to time over those waiting days, would watch as hugs and handshakes are exchanged as the groups merged. Children ran to meet friends that they hadn’t seen for a while and to set up their seats for the ride out into the desert.
On the last day before his tribe’s departure, Lar broke his connection to the Watcher and got up slowly from the stone chair. He knew what would happen now. He had participated in enough Gatherings to know. He remembered how excited he would be all through that last evening. He and Kiv would watch as the Beast Master would be direct the various drivers to let their stock drink much and rest. Many discussions would be held as the women and children were distributed among the wagons and made ready for that night’s journey.
Once all of the water bags were filled, the lead camel went out. To the orchestral sound of hundreds of bells on every kind of animal from goats on up, the People turned their faces toward home.
Lar smiled to think of it, “Soon…they will be here soon.”
In the camp, it was exactly as Lar had seen it. Kiv walked among his wagons, making sure everything was ready. As he passed up and down the line, checked the ropes and various ties to make sure they were properly secured for the journey ahead. When he was satisfied, he jumped in the back of his own wagon and ate his supper.
After the evening meal, Kiv went to Kal’s wagon, rolling right behind his. “Here is the new wood that you will need, Uncle.”
Kal hoisted the piece of newly cut sapling. “It is good.”
He took a sharp knife and carved the first rune into the side. “It carves well, too. Thank you, nephew.”
Kiv bowed and resumed going up and down the long line of wagons. He had much to do. For the duration of this festival, Kiv changed jobs and became the Beast master and Chief Guardian of the People. He blew two short notes out of his horn. Soon, his men were around him.
He was pleased by the knowledge that they had the expertise with weapons and fighting needed to protect the People while they were out in the harsh desert. He sent them out to scout the first night’s trek. He looked at the setting sun. He was pleased to note that the lead camel was being directed right into it. That would guide them for the first few hours of the journey.
He looked for Tash. “Are you ready, little brother?”
“Yes, sir. Once the sun releases its hold on the evening sky, I will begin my calculations.”
Kiv nodded grimly. His brother clapped his shoulder, “Kiv…we have done this many times. I will lead us home as I have done before. Go! Set the guards. Leave me to my instruments.”
Nodding, Kiv turned to the horse men around him, “Be back by full dark! We will need you close once we are following the star light.” He waved his arm, “So… leave then.”
Saluting, they rode off on both sides of the road. They were charged with scouting and protecting the long caravan over the next few days and night’s journey into the desert on the way to
Tear Wadi. Once he had met with the scouts returning from today’s forays, he would feel better about leading his caravan on their over night travels.