Read The Chronicles of Amon book 2 The Sea of Marmara Page 6

  Chapter 6.

  Two days later the scouting party returned from the north country, bringing with it grey storm clouds and icy-cold winds. The storm broke not long after their arrival.

  At first, the winds died completely. High above, massive darkening clouds roiled violently. Lightening flashed almost continuously, followed immediately by ear-splitting crashes of thunder. Everyone in the camp had taken shelter.

  Mahrohm was the first to see the party. Motioning to Amon, she crawled out from under their hide-covered lean-to and hurried quickly across the clearing, past the still-smoldering fire pit. One of her female friends was in the party and Mahrohm was anxious to greet her and her mate.

  Amon was just pulling on his shirt when a deafening clap and a blinding flash knocked him backward against the rear wall, the concussion momentarily stunning him. By the time he reoriented himself, it was all over.

  Mahrohm had just reached her friend and thrown her arms around her, when the bolt struck. The arc struck her friend’s mate on the top of his head, passed through his chest, out the arm he had wrapped around his mate, across her chest, into Mahrohm, then down her leg and into the ground.

  The couple were killed instantly, their clothing smoldering before they hit the ground.

  Mahrohm was hurled backward across the clearing. She slammed into the ground and tumbled violently up against the fire pit.

  Tossing his shirt aside, Amon scrambled out of the lean-to and flung himself toward the fire pit. Mahrohm lay where she had landed, unmoving. Amon threw himself over the pit edge and threw his arms around her, pulling her close.

  Her eyes fluttered weakly open, unfocused. Her body began quivering, gently at first, then more violently as the seizure progressed.

  “Mahrohm! Mahrohm!” Amon screamed. Her body stiffened, spittle bubbled from her mouth, her eyes rolled back until only the whites shown. Then with a long, gurgling exhale, her body relaxed. She was gone.

  After the lightning strike, rain began falling in torrents. Almost immediately everything was soaked. Others of the clan rushed toward the fire pit, oblivious to everything except the spectacle before them. Some rushed to attend to the stricken couple. Others stopped short in muted horror, all eyes on their leader, kneeling there before them.

  Amon clutched Mahrohm’s lifeless body to his chest. His head tilted back as he inhaled deeply. A high-pitched wail issued from his gaping mouth, but stopped short, replaced by a quiet wheeze as air escaped from his constricted throat.

  After a few moments he lowered his head and closed his eyes tightly. His shoulders began trembling, not from the chilling rain, but from the all-encompassing grief which overwhelmed him.

  Slowly, ever so slowly, the clan, humans and simians alike, drew closer, surrounding the fire pit. Not a word was spoken . . . not a sound could be heard . . . just the relentless drumming of the rain.