Chapter 12

- Noker -

I look down into her clear, brown eyes. "Oh?"

"It may be that," Bronwen says and points to my head. "Is very beautiful thing, but maybe also helps you see far away."

I reach up and take my head wing between two fingers. "It's not an eye. How can it see?"

"On Earth, have things that can see far but are not eyes," Bronwen says.

Gray smoke starts rising outside the wall.

I crane my neck. "I think they're burning the flying Smalls."

"Stand here," Bronwen says.

We stop and she turns me so that my back is to the smoke.

I look down at her. "Why?"

"Close your eyes. Hold hand in front." She puts her little hand over her own eyes to show me.

I shrug and do as she says, blocking my vision.

"Now turn. Eyes closed. Point at fire."

With my eyes closed, I turn around. And while I can't see the fire, I know exactly where it is.I point to it, feeling faintly silly.

"That's it," Bronwen says. "Now point at sun in the sky."

Still with my eyes closed, I immediately locate the sun and point at it. "There."

"Good. Now fire again."

I repeat the task, then tell her more things I can see. "There are men moving around the fire. There and there and there. There. Two there."

"I not can see them outside the wall, but I'm sure you right. Where is Mount now?"

I can't sense the Mount itself. Most of my surroundings are dark, but I easily find the spot where there are several living things moving around high up. "That's the upper level. I think those are your friends."

"I think so also," Bronwen says with satisfaction. "And I think you have infred persepshn."

I have no idea what her alien words mean. "Oh. Is it contagious?" I take my hand off my eyes.

She punches my arm lightly. "It means you can see heat without eyes. It must be this." She reaches up to stroke my head fan. "Now close your eyes again and point at me."

I have no problem finding Bronwen, although she quietly ducks and tiptoes around me to make it harder. I 'see' the shape of her body, the roundness and the brighter spots that must be her face, her chest and the spot where her legs meet, which is very bright in my mind.

"There," I tell her and keep my finger pointed right at her face, even though she tries to trick me.

"Open eyes, please. You see me without eyes. Like a raidar or infrared sensr."

"Ah. Yes, I always thought I had some raidar in me."

"Every hunter need raidar," Bronwen tells me.

"It's strange," I ponder, pinching my head flap. "I don't often close my eyes in the jungle, unless it's to sleep. But I could always see in the dark."

Bronwen nods. "You have many fine gifts, Noker."

It almost makes me relent. She's being so kind, accepting my otherness. What if I tell her about that secret thing I can do? Will she simply smile? Or is Shaman Melr'ax right, and I must not let anyone know because it would scare them away?

No, this is not the time. Perhaps later.

We walk outside of the gates. The dead swarm members are being burned in a new clearing, rancid oil being used to get the fire to burn as hot as possible. But it's hardly necessary. The flying Smalls burn perfectly fine on their own.

Closer to the gates, a pyre is being prepared for the tribesmen who died.

"How many were lost?" I quietly ask Sarker'ox, who's standing there and directing the work.

"Five men," he replies tightly. "Including Unin'iz, who is still not found."

"Terrible," I sympathize. "Losing five warriors is a hard blow for any tribe. And I assume those five were among the best, since they died in battle."

"They were brave tribesmen," Sarker'ox agrees. "Unin'iz had just won the race when the first of the creatures reached him."

I nod slowly. "He should have broken off the race and saved his life. I wonder what became of him."

"Probably eaten by a Big that saw a chance to get a free meal," Sarker'ox says heavily. "Or perhaps he was eaten by the swarm."

"Nobody else was eaten," I point out. "But he was the first to fall. Perhaps they tasted him and realized we're not the kind of food they like."

"I notice you didn't fall into the quicksand obstacle," Sarker'oz says, adjusting one of the logs on the pyre. "But Unin'iz was gray with mud when he came running. Did you happen to see how he got out of it?"

"I had my back to him," I lie. "I didn't know he fell in."

I feel Bronwen's eyes on me. But Unin'iz is dead and gone, and nothing good can come from tales of his dishonor.

Sarker'ox sends me a quick glance. "There was blood on his sword, and you still have a cut on your leg."

I help him place another piece of wood on the heap. "Very strange. No doubt it was old blood from some previous hunt."

Sarker'ox puts his hands on his hips. "It was fresh. I would not put it past Unin'iz to have acted with less than perfect honor during the race. I noticed the dangerous way he drew his sword before the game started. And the men who were watching the race in the jungle have given me puzzling reports of his behavior?—"

"Perhaps," I state with finality, cutting him off, "it would be better if we let the dead keep their secrets. The game is over, and I lost. But I think we all won the battle that came after, despite the heavy loss of life."

"You may be right," Sarker'ox says. "Mostly thanks to you and Brak. I have ordered food to be prepared for everyone, Bronwen. Please take Noker inside the wall and make sure he's well fed! He must be tired, having competed in a full game of penk and then battled the swarm."

Bronwen takes my hand and pulls me along into the village. "You not want the tribe to know about Unin'iz."

"The tribe has had enough to struggle with today," I tell her. "Don't think that everyone is happy about the game of penk or the battle against the swarm. Many would have preferred it if a Borok man had been on that lowest step instead of me."

"Then more would have died," Bronwen says with her clear voice. "They can't want that."

I just smile. Of course this wonderful woman is too pure to see that many Borok men still want me gone, along with Brak. And seeing us two gain more honor in the defense of their village is not going to sit well with everyone. Especially since we are always around the women.

We eat a quick snack by the totem wall, then make our way up the Mount. Slowly, because my legs feel as tired and useless as rotting vines.

The mood is subdued because of the dead Borok men. Piper and Brak are sitting close together, Brak still dirty with the juice that sprayed during the battle.

I gaze out at the jungle. I don't spot the swarm until I close my eyes. It's a blurry patch moving slowly away, along the track left by the skarp. It stretches all the way to the ocean, but I have no idea what the swarm will do when it gets there.

"In a day or two, it will not be much fun to be on that beach." Brak's voice echoes my thought. "I think the swarm is following the skarp's tracks. They will lay eggs in every living thing."

"Hopefully they'll get the outcasts," I mutter and open my eyes. "So they can't bother the clan."

"That's too much to hope for," my clansbrother says. "We should return to our clan soon and check on them. And we must move the camp to the new place. Before then, I want to take Dexer out to look for new Foundlings."

Bronwen picks up a shiny disk and looks up at the afternoon sun. "I wonder if Bryar and Korr'ax are on way here. Maybe they see the smoke and wonder."

"We can try to signal them with that mirror," Piper says. "Just don't set fire to the forest with it."

"We can wait until jungle in darkness and only the Mount sees the sun," Bronwen says as she carefully puts the mirror down. "Sun will be red and not burning."

I breathe out. Here I am in a triber village, in a high spot reserved for the tribe's chief and his friends, looking out at the jungle and even having the company of women. Just a few weeks ago, that would have seemed as far-fetched and impossible for me as putting my spear between my legs and riding it to the moon Yrf. And then Bronwen on top of it all, and the incredible experiences with her! I get so dizzy I have to steady myself on my spear.

Shaman Melr'ax comes out of the cave, walking slowly with his cane. "Young Noker, I hear you saved the tribe from the swarm."

"Brak helped," I tell him, gathering my wits. "And the tribers, too. I wasn't alone."

The old man squints up at me. "Always remain this humble, brother Noker. But know in your heart what your worth is. For it is high. Am I not right, Bronwen?"

"Noker is great warrior," Bronwen chirps. "And kind also. He likes to keep others safe. But he has secrets that he keeps, I think."

"Precisely," Melr'ax chuckles. "You see it as clearly as I do. But I have known him his whole life, whereas you only met him yesterday. Have you invited her to our camp, Noker? Surely she would love to see it."

"Well," I hesitate. "The camp is nowhere near as fine as this village…"

"Perhaps let Bronwen decide that," Melr'ax creaks. "But first let her decide whether she will see it or not. She still awaits your invitation."

Bronwen raises her delicate eyebrows, and there's a little smile on her fine lips.

"Would you like to come and see the camp?" I ask quickly. "I can show you the plants I told you about. Perhaps they are useful to you."

"I'd love to see it," Bronwen says easily. "Piper has told about it. Sounds dangerous, so not pull me high up in the trees, please."

"It's safe," I assure her, suddenly elated about showing her the camp, the same way Brak had Piper there, with the platform hoisted all the way up to the treetops. "I will keep you safe at all times. Even high up."

Bronwen gives me a bright smile. "Good. When do we go?"

"Tomorrow morning?" I decide quickly. The sooner I get Bronwen to myself for hours and days, the better.

"I not am busy tomorrow," she says in her immensely charming way. "Is good time to go."

The sun is setting fast, and the sky turns red.

"Try the mirror," Piper suggests. "The jungle is dark now."

Bronwen gets the shiny disk and reflects the orange sunlight into the jungle. "Where is the Tretter village?"

Piper points. "There, I think. Or there? I'm not sure. Can you see a campfire? It's far away."

Bronwen turns to me. "What if close your eyes again? Find nearest campfire?"

I do as she says. At first, I can't sense anything other than the people around me and the cooling swarm fire. But then, I spot a small point of intense light in the darkness and point. "There's one." I spot another fire, and then several others. "That's the closest one." I point, but I keep my eyes closed. The sense becomes stronger and more sensitive. As I stand there, other things below me start to become clearer. It's like staring up at a starry sky after having looked into a campfire — at first you only see the brightest stars, but after a while the full glory of the stars becomes clear.

My mouth opens by itself as I enjoy the sensation of seeing everything. The whole jungle under me is not like a starry sky — it's much fuller and more varied than that. There's a Big making its way through the woods; there's a pack of Smalls waiting to ambush it. There's a nest of something; there's a lonely Big standing still; there's several Smalls lying close to each other. And there… is a group of men, standing and sitting close together. There's a fire, but it's only small.

"Outcasts," I mutter. "But far away."

The sensation is overwhelming. I see more and more Smalls, I see every Big that's nearby, I see the swarm as a vague patch of movement going slowly towards the ocean…

"Noker! Stop!" Someone grabs my hand and pulls me back, hard.

I open my eyes, annoyed at the interruption.

Bronwen is staring up at me, alarm in her dark eyes.

I can see why. I've walked to the edge of the plateau without knowing it, and if I'd taken another step, I would have plummeted to my death.

I quickly retreat and pull Bronwen with me. "I was distracted by the jungle."

"We tried to warn you, but you not hear!"

Everyone stares, Brak tense and frozen in mid-pounce, ready to grab me.

"Apologies," I hurry to say. "The jungle is marvelous to look at. I never knew it."

"Looks mostly dark to me," Bronwen says.

"Not to me. I notice you've saved my life again. Twice in one day."

"Just don't make it three times," she says, holding my hand. "Stay where is safe."

I sit down on the bench. "I will. But it was wonderful!"

"Like Brak, you also have certain gifts from the parts of you that are from a Big," Melr'ax says. "I thought I knew them all."

"The legs and jumping," Bronwen says. "But Noker also can see in dark. Can see things that are warm."

"I also see Bigs," I tell her. "They're not as warm as a fire or a man."

"We sent light to the Tretter campfire," Brak tells me. "Many flashes of the red sun that maybe they will see and make Korr'ax think he should come here."

"It will be too late for the pyre," I point out.

"It will," Melr'ax creaks. "And Korr'ax will regret not being here for that. What he will regret even more is not being here when the swarm hit. Now, can someone help me down to the village? I must get my hat for the lighting of the pyre and the prayers to the Ancestors. If I remember it all, that is."

We all make our way down.

The pyre is ready, and all the tribesmen assemble. Sarker'ox lights the fire after saying a few words about bravery. It catches right away, fueled by oil from Bigs.

Drums are beating slowly, and the oldest men in the tribe chant softly as Melr'ax goes through the ceremony, his voice sounding impressively strong the whole time. The pyre burns with a roar, and the four dead tribers on top of it can barely be seen through the flames.

Melr'ax ends his ceremony, and we stand there in silence until he hobbles back towards the gate. I see the exhaustion in his movements and hurry after him to steady him, making sure it looks like he's steadying me.

"Strong Noker," he creaks. "Always placing everyone else above yourself. What would our clan be without you and Brak? And today, what would this tribe be?"

"They would have fought off the swarm," I assure him. "Possibly they would have lost more men without us here. Their swords are awkward when fighting the flying things."

"I suppose so. But sometimes you can take care of yourself first."

"I sometimes do," I confess as I lead him towards his hut.

"Good. And when it comes to Bronwen, don't be too strict with yourself. She really likes you, like we all do. Although, perhaps she doesn't need to know everything. Do you still have that other… gift?" He glances at me with crusty eyes.

"It's how I took down the irox," I tell him tightly. "Before I used the spear. I couldn't help it. Bronwen was in danger and I just… acted. Don't worry, brother shaman. Bronwen didn't understand what she was seeing. Nobody outside the clan knows."

Melr'ax nods. "That may be for the best. It's the kind of thing that might scare others and make them hate both you and the clan. Now, go and enjoy some frit, as the tradition demands. I will have to lie down after all this excitement."

I help him into his hut and stoke the smoldering fire to make it as hot as he likes it. "Are you really going to make Astrid the new shaman?"

He cackles. "It's an interesting idea, isn't it? She seems willing, and she plainly has the mind for it, although she doesn't believe in the Ancestors. But neither do many shamans, if you press them about it. Korr'ax will have to decide."

I leave him there and join the others by the totem wall, where many torches have been lit. Sarker'ox is handing out mugs of frit. Soft and solemn words are spoken about the dead warriors, including Unin'iz. Brak and Piper are there, but I can tell that Brak is bored. And perhaps it is right that we leave the tribe to mourn their dead brothers.

Bronwen takes my hand and leads me towards the stairs. "If I going to see your camp, you see my cave first."

"That makes sense," I tell her, a hot spear of expectation shooting through me. "I'm sure it's a very nice cave."

"It's nice," she says easily.

I grab a lit torch, like I've seen others do. The night is dark.

A Borok man wanders over as we reach the stairs. "Warrior Noker."

"Warrior," I respond in kind, clenching the spear because I know these men have been drinking frit. "I fear I don't know your name."

"My name is Grek'ix," the man says, keeping his hand well away from his sword. "I was watching the race in the woods. To make sure both contestants followed the course and nobody took shortcuts. My place was close to the quicksand."

I think back. "Ah yes. Before the quicksand, I think. I saw you there."

"That's right. A ways before the quicksand. When I heard the screams, I ran to check. We didn't expect anyone to actually run into the quicksand. It was too obvious what it was. But Unin'iz did."

"He was very determined," I say in a neutral tone.

"I saw what happened. You pulled him to safety, and he thanked you by slashing his sword at you, obviously meaning to kill. I have told Sarker'ox about it, but now that Unin'iz is dead… perhaps it is better if…"

"If we don't talk about it," I complete his sentence. "I agree, Grek'ix. I will tell nobody."

The man looks away. "It is the kind of thing that might've gotten him cast out, if he had survived the swarm. The sheer dishonor in his act makes me dizzy. I hope you don't think all Borok men are like that!"

I put a hand on his shoulder. "Of course not, Grek'ix! The Borok tribe is an honorable one. And Unin'iz was overpowered by emotion at the time."

"Korr'ax will have to know, of course," Grek'ix says, glancing at Bronwen. "And the shaman."

"Of course," I say seriously. "But nobody else. I wonder, who was the man who was standing by the thorn bushes? He gave me a friendly warning."

"Oh, that was tribesman Bruk'az. I heard you simply jumped over that obstacle."

"It seemed the right way to pass it. I wanted to thank him, but I can do that tomorrow."

"Of course. I shall tell him to expect you." The man bows and withdraws.

"Tribes are strange," Bronwen mutters when we start climbing the stairs. "Everything is honor to them."

"We're not too concerned with honor in our clan," I tell her. "There, it's more important to be nice and to do your duty."

We follow the stairs about halfway up the Mount, and then we go off the main stairs and continue on a narrower one.

"I not like this," Bronwen says and clings to the red rock, taking one sideways step at a time. "So high up!"

The stairs here are narrower than the main one, and there's no handhold. It doesn't bother me much, but if someone were to fall down from here, that would be certain death.

I go out to the outer edge of the stairs to shield Bronwen from the height. "Now you can't see the drop."

She focuses on the part of the stairs where we're going. "Don't do that, please. I worry you fall!"

I do a little dance on the steps, the way she showed us last night, stomping and spinning around. "But I won't fall!"

She giggles and keeps going. "If you fall and die, I will be angry. You not like it."

I run lightly up the stairs and back down. "Still I haven't fallen."

She smiles. "Well, just… not."

I notice she walks easier now, looking less tense.

We get to the end of the stairs that have been carved into the rock. A rope ladder hangs down, and Bronwen grabs hold of it. "I not like this part. Hold the rope, please."

I grab hold of the rope, noting it's not as nice as the ones we make in the clan. "I'll get you a new ladder. This one is frayed."

Bronwen starts climbing it, holding on to the rope as firmly as she can, making her knuckles whiten. Even in the dark, the view from underneath her is very fine.

She climbs all the way up, crawls into a cave, and then sticks her head out. "Come up."

I quickly climb the rope ladder while it creaks loudly under my weight, holding onto the torch with one hand. "This is dangerous."

"I think it supposed to be," Bronwen says when I awkwardly crawl into the cave. "So nobody surprise me at night."

"Good point," I concede and look around the dark space. The cave is tribesman sized, and it looks roomy enough. There are furs and skins on the floor, as well as small useful items like pots and stone tools. There's a wooden spoon and a mat woven from grass. A half-finished basket takes up one corner, and close to the opening there's a small fire pit which doesn't seem to have been in use. The firewood for it lies finely stacked by one rocky wall.

I arrange some pieces of wood in the fire ring and put the lit torch into it.

"Nice," I tell Bronwen as I sit down cross-legged. "You can see the dark jungle from here. But it's a different side of the jungle than the other cave, high up."

"It's nice here in the morning," Bronwen chirps and gets comfortable beside me. "I mostly just sleep here before I go back up to the top."

"To your friends." I nod. "Your little clan."

"For years, it was a clan," she says thoughtfully. "We lived under the ground. Alba and Astrid and I. And Cora, until she… left."

I put my arm behind her back, barely touching. "I've heard of how you came to Xren. "And how you were found by the Borok tribe. But Brak didn't know much about the rest."