Helgvor of the Blue River

by J. -H. Rosny aîné

  Then he resumed his course. At times the trail became uncertain, then it was strong again. At the spots where, owing to the fugitives having halted for some time, the earth was impregnated with their effluvia, the wanderer found grasses which Zouhr had held for a long time in his hand and then had thrown away: Aoun recognized the Wah’s subtle ruse. He was surprised that the Chellians had not killed their prisoner, who, being less active than they were, must hinder their flight.

  He only halted twice to rest, and then for a very short time, until the evening. Then he continued to seek the trail by the light of the Moon and stars. It grew ever more and more recent. When he lay down exhausted among the rocks however, he was still far from the fugitives.

  He made the circuit of a little lake in the early dawn, and found himself back in the forest. More than once he was in doubt and missed the way, and towards midday, when he was about to rest, he was perturbed by a new discovery. The trail had become much plainer; a small hunting party had joined those who were carrying off Zouhr, doubling their number. Aoun could even distinguish the way by which the newcomers had arrived. There were now six adversaries to fight and no doubt he was approaching the territory of the horde.

  To fight seemed to be impossible. No Oulhamr other than Aoun or Naoh would have continued the pursuit. The son of Urus was carried away by an instinct which was stronger than prudence, and he relied partly on his fleetness of foot, which equaled that of the wild ass; the short-legged Chellians would never be able to catch him.

  The hours slipped by; the second day was declining when, despite the numbers of those he was pursuing, Aoun found he had lost the trail at the passage of a river. As it was quite shallow the wanderer had crossed it without difficulty, but on the other side there was no trail… He searched desperately: evening was far advanced and still he had discovered nothing. Then he sat down, tired out and wretched, with no courage left even to light a fire.

  After a short rest, he started off once more. He traversed an uneven country where clear spaces alternated with woods, and here he became aware of slight odors, which a favorable wind rendered more intense. They were certainly the emanations of the Men-of-the-Fire and yet he seemed to perceive a difference. There was nothing to be betoken Zouhr’s presence.

  He picked his way carefully among the brushwood and the bamboos; crawled through the high grasses, and found himself close to those whom he sought… A menacing sound made him start; two human forms rose up whose presence he had not expected, for the wind had carried their smell in the opposite direction.

  They had seen him. It was necessary to be prepared to fight. The Moon, already at the full, lit up the two forms vividly. He became aware that they were not men but women. Thick-set, short-legged, with the stout bodies and thick faces of the Chellians, they each held a long and heavy spear.

  The Oulhamr women seldom bore arms. Although the wanderer had seen the Lemurian women almost equal to the males in strength, he was surprised to see these two forms in a threatening attitude. He felt no anger and spoke in friendly tones, “Aoun has not come to kill women.”

  They listened, their anxious faces cleared. Aoun began to laugh so as to further reassure them, then he advanced slowly, holding his club low. One of the women recoiled, and with a bound both of them took to flight, either from fear or in order to warn their companions. But their short legs could not compete with Aoun’s long limbs: he caught them up and passed them… Then they waited side by side, their javelins pointed towards him.

  He shook his club unconcernedly murmuring, “The club would easily break the javelins…”

  With a movement in which there was more of fear than animosity, one of the women darted her weapon. Aoun turned it aside, and broke its point; then without retaliating he went on, “Why do you make war on the son of Urus?”

  They understood that he had spared them and gazed at him abashed. The one who had not made use of her weapon, lowered her javelin and made signs of peace, which were soon repeated by the other. Then they resumed their way. Confident of his own powers and activity Aoun followed them. All three advanced against the wind to a distance of 4000 ells. They reached a place covered with ferns, where by the light of the Moon the wanderer became aware of the presence of more women… They had risen up when they saw the man, and were gesticulating and uttering cries, which were answered by the new arrivals.

  For a time, Aoun feared a trap. He could have fled, the way was open, but fatigue, solitude and pain had made him listless. When anxiety awoke in him once more, he had already reached the camp, and the women had surrounded him.

  There were twelve of them, including those that had brought in the wanderer; several children were among them, and two or three quite little ones lay asleep. Most of the women were young, heavily-built, with enormous jaws, but one of them fascinated Aoun because she had the flexible figure of the daughters of Gammla, the most beautiful among the Oulhamr. A dazzling mane flowed over her shoulders, her teeth shone like mother of pearl. A gentle and timid force penetrated the warrior’s heart; brilliant memories awoke within him and united themselves to the fresh form of the stranger…

  The women drew their circle closer. One of them, with brawny arms and shoulders, was face to face with the son of Urus. Energy seemed to exude from her sparkling eyes, and her muscular cheeks. He understood that she was offering to make an alliance with him, and as he knew of no race in which men and women form separate hordes, he looked around for the male members of the tribe. Not seeing any he made gestures of acquiescence. They then all laughed and followed this up by friendly signs, which he understood better than those of the Lemurians.

  Nevertheless they remained much astonished. They had never before seen a warrior of such great stature or one whose speech was so different from their own. Their horde only knew three kinds of human beings: those who formed the hunting party whose prisoner Zouhr was; the Lemurians, whom they had seldom seen and whom they did not fight; and the beings of their own race, where the men and women did not usually intermingle, and whose marriages were consecrated by fierce rites. Even if Aoun had belonged to their own race, they would have rejected him or subjected him to hard trials. They only accepted him because they were attracted by the novelty of the adventure and because they were passing through an inauspicious time. Half of them had perished in consequence of various disasters or under the weapons of the Chellians; most of the children had died.

  In addition, having lost their fire, they wandered miserably on the earth, crushed by the sense of their downfall and full of hatred against their enemies.

  It was pleasant to them to have this tall stranger as an ally, for he seemed as strong as the gayals. After crowding around him for a long time, trying to understand his gestures and to teach him theirs, they finally understood that he was seeking for a companion whose trail he had lost. It was a satisfaction to them to know that the Oulhamr’s adversaries were the same men that they themselves execrated. Aoun, guessing that their fire had been put out, set himself to collect dry grasses. With the help of twigs and his stones he brought the flame to life. The younger ones leapt around him with enthusiastic cries, the words they pronounced, repeated in chorus, making a kind of chant. When the red life spread to the branches their cries became frenzied. Only the girl with the fine cheeks did not lift up her voice: she contemplated the fire and the wanderer in silent rapture, and when she spoke it was in a timid and seductive manner.

  XIII. At the End of the Lake

  Every morning Aoun resumed his search for Zouhr’s trail. The women followed him, full of an ever-growing confidence. By dint of taking part in the same acts and exchanging gestures they understood the Oulhamr’s object quite clearly. He too became familiar with their signs. His strength and activity amazed them; they admired his weapons, especially his harpoons and spears, which killed animals at a distance. Weakened by misery and defeat, they rallied humbly around the stranger and liked to obey him. Their help was not to be despised. Four of them were more rob
ust, lithe and swift than Zouhr; they were all capable of enduring great fatigue. Those who had little children could carry them all day without being tired. The boys and girls had the endurance of jackals.

  Had it not been for the loss of Zouhr, their evenings would have been very pleasant. Every night, when Aoun struck sparks from the stones, the women showed the same ecstasy as on the first occasion, and their joy delighted the big Oulhamr. Above all he loved to watch Djeha, with her long beautiful hair, her bright eyes reflecting the flames: he dreamed of returning with her to his native horde; his heart began to beat…

  At the end of a week the trees became still more sparse; a long steppe stretched out before them with only a few thickets, spinneys and brushwood to break the monotony.

  They went forward in the hope of discovering a height from which they could scan the horizon. Towards midday, during the hour of rest, a woman who had wandered towards the east called the others. There was no need for explanations: they all recognized the traces of a fire.

  “The Men-of-the-Fire!” said Aoun.

  The women displayed great emotion. The one who was in command, Ouchr by name, turned towards Aoun with angry gestures: he understood that the Chellians were his companions’ enemies. Not only had they been decimated by them, but no doubt the Chellians had also destroyed the male horde which was allied to the women, as it had not reappeared since the autumn.

  The camp had been used several days before; there was no scent left to guide them. They took some time to assure themselves that it did not imply a numerous band; there was nothing to show that Zouhr was with them… Meanwhile, thanks to some slight indications, Aoun and the women were able to organize the pursuit. Little by little the trail became clearer: it was all the easier to follow because the Chellians were moving in an almost straight line towards the north. Twice the ashes of a fire showed that their presence had been recent.

  On the third morning, a young woman who walked at the head of their band turned around with an exclamation. When Aoun came up with her he saw the print of many footsteps in the light soil: he trembled with joy when he recognized the trace of Zouhr’s. Indeed the pursuit was becoming easy: the soil revealed emanations, a proof that they were gaining ground. That night they prolonged their march, although the Moon had not yet risen, for two of the women were nyctalopic, although to a less degree than the Lemurians. Their way was barred by a range of hills. They climbed halfway up the highest of these, and Aoun lit a fire in a dell, so that it might be invisible from a distance. The enemy’s proximity demanded ever-increasing prudence.

  Aoun had killed a swamp deer, and the women were busy roasting its quarters. The safety of their shelter, abundance of food, and the brilliant firelight, raised the spirits of the little horde. It was one of those happy interludes when human beings forget the cruel law of life and the snares of the world. Even the Oulhamr would have been blissfully happy had it not been for Zouhr’s absence. Djeha of the fine eyes sat by him, and he thought vaguely that perhaps Ouchr, the woman chief, would give her to him in marriage. The rugged soul of the young Oulhamr was full of secret tenderness. When Djeha was near him he felt a dread which made his heart beat quicker: he wanted to be as gentle to his companion as Naoh was to Gammla.

  When the children and those of the travelers who were most tired had fallen asleep after the evening meal, Aoun set out to climb the hill. Ouchr and Djeha rose to accompany him, as well as several of the other women warriors. It was not a difficult ascent, and they soon reached the crest of the hill. They had to go through some brushwood before they could see the other side. A long plain lay stretched out under the stars, and a lake shimmered almost at the foot of the slope.

  At the northern end, but on the further shore, they saw the light of flames. Aoun’s whole attention was concentrated on them. The fire lay about 4000 or 5000 ells distant in a straight line, but they would have to go around by the shore of the lake and perhaps avoid some obstacles.

  The wind blew from the south. They would therefore be able to approach the camp without being discovered… They must get there before the Moon rose, and only Aoun was swift enough to accomplish this.

  He looked earnestly at the fire and the figures, sometimes purple and sometimes black, which hovered around it. There were five of them: the son of Urus could distinctly see Zouhr seated by the side of the lake, and a seventh man lying on the ground.

  Then he said to Ouchr, “Aoun will go to the Men-of-the-Fire and demand Zouhr’s freedom…”

  Ouchr understood and replied, “They will not give up the prisoner…”

  The Oulhamr continued, “They took him away as a hostage, they were afraid of Aoun.”

  “They will dread him still more when they no longer have a hostage.”

  The wanderer remained undecided for a moment. He could see no other way by which he could deliver Zouhr than by cunning, violence or gentleness: in any case he must approach the Chellians’ camp.

  “Aoun must deliver his companion,” he said darkly.

  Ouchr agreed with him. She had nothing to say in reply. He added, “Aoun must go towards the fire!”

  “Ouchr and the Wolf-Women will follow him!”

  Aoun, after looking long at the plain, acquiesced, “The son of Urus will wait down there for the women to come,” he said. “He will be alone, but the Men-of-the-Fire cannot reach him by running, and he can fight them at a distance!”

  Ouchr commanded her youngest warrior to fetch reinforcements. The Oulhamr was already descending towards the plain. It was an easy slope, almost level, without crevices and covered with grass. When he reached the plain, the wind was blowing the odors towards the north and the lie of the ground favored his enterprise. The Moon was still hidden; he soon found himself on the same bank as the Chellians, less than 1000 ells from the camp…

  Clumps of trees, high grasses and low hillocks allowed him to continue his way unobserved for 400 ells, but then he had to face open ground. Nothing could further conceal his movements from the piercing eyes of the enemy. A prey to anxiety, not for himself but for Zouhr, he remained motionless among the vegetation. Would the Chellians kill the Wah if Aoun appeared suddenly, or would they on the contrary spare his life, the better to preserve their own? If they offered them his alliance would they mock him?

  He waited for a long time. The Moon rose, red and misty, from the depths of the savannah. Five Chellians had lain down on the ground. The sixth was watching, sometimes standing up to listen, his mobile eyes and nostrils quivering. Zouhr was awake also, at the other end of the little camp, near the fire. The Chellian took hardly any notice of the prisoner, who was neither strong nor active, and therefore could not think of flight.

  A project haunted Aoun’s imagination. He knew that Zouhr, so slow in running, was, like all the Men-without-Shoulders, a clever swimmer. He could outstrip the most active Oulhamr in a river or a pool; he could dive like a crocodile and remain a long time under water. If he leapt into the lake, he could reach the other shore, which at that point was not very far off… Aoun would lure the enemy on to fight. It would, however, be necessary that the Wah should see him and understand his signal; the least alarm would make his rescue impossible.

  Now the watcher looked chiefly towards the north, be-cause of the wind. He turned his face every moment towards the bush which concealed the son of Urus. The Moon rose ever-clearer, brighter and more steely. The wanderer’s breast was bursting with the fury of his impatience, and he was almost in despair, when a loud roar reverberated from the direction of the south, and the form of a lion was outlined on a hillock. The watcher gave a great start; the Chellians stood up around the fire and turned their faces towards the carnivore…

  Zouhr, almost motionless, was peering in all directions, full of the desire for rescue, which was rendered keener by all the vicissitudes he had gone through.

  Suddenly Aoun showed himself, his hand stretched out towards the lake… The moment was propitious: a distance of 30 ells separated the Wah from t
he nearest of his captors. They were thinking only of the great brute.

  The lake was 20 steps from Zouhr. If he started promptly he could reach it before any of the Chellians.

  Zouhr had seen the outstretched hand. Uncertain and puzzled, he walked furtively towards the bush. Aoun again pointed towards the lake; the Wah understood and began to walk carelessly in the direction of the water, then his step changed and with great bounds he leapt towards the bank.

  Just as he flung himself into the water one of the Chellians turned around. He was more surprised than anxious, he only gave the alarm when he saw the Wah striking out for the opposite shore. Two warriors gave chase, and one of them tried to catch Zouhr by swimming after him. When he found he could not overtake him, he returned to the bank and began to fling stones at him. Zouhr, having dived, was invisible.

  The lion’s proximity paralyzed the resolution of the band. One man alone was sent in pursuit. He thought that by running around the end of the lake he must inevitably meet Zouhr, who would be an easy capture, for he was unarmed, slow and weak of muscle.

  Aoun, seeing the warrior come towards him, laughed silently and withdrew. He remained invisible for a little while, then an open bit of ground revealed him to the enemy. He waited with his spear held high in the air…

  The Chellian was one of those who had fought in the stormy night. He recognized with great alarm the big wanderer who had killed his chief, and with a loud outcry he beat a retreat.

  Aoun, who was anxious about Zouhr’s fate, did not attempt to pursue him. He directed his steps to the end of the lake and went around the point. The Wah had not yet landed; he could see him swimming like a reptile with writhing movements. When he reached him the son of Urus lifted him up with joyful murmurs, and they remained looking at each other, dumb with the joy of his deliverance.