Bunduki and Dawn (A Bunduki Jungle Adventure Book 2)

by J. T. Edson

  Traug, who was equally aware of his remaining weapon’s limitations, followed his leader’s example. Instead of riding into the conflict, he halted his grar-gatah and dismounted. Ground hitching the animal by letting its reins hang free, he whipped his sword from its sheath.

  Despite the fact that At-Vee was between himself and his quarry, Traug barely gave the hunter a thought or a glance. From his past experience of the natives he felt he had nothing to fear from the brawny, armed Telonga. So he decided that he could safely concentrate upon the blond giant. However, his cruel and vindictive nature suggested that he should cut the hunter down in passing. There was a good chance that Arat would have settled the white haired foreigner’s account before Traug arrived, and he wanted to have had the pleasure of killing at least one man.

  Still straddling the now unconscious Sarlio, although she had released the hair after delivering the blow, Dawn swept her gaze around. What she saw brought her to her feet and sent her right hand flying towards the hilt of her Randall Model 1 ‘All Purpose’ fighting knife. Clearly Bunduki was going to need help and, as yet, none of the hunters were showing any sign of supplying it. Even At-Vee was standing with his back to the younger of the living Mun-Gatah warriors and staring as if mesmerized at the man whom Bunduki had already killed.

  ‘Turn and fight, At-Vee!’ the girl screamed, reading from Traug’s evil expression his intention of cutting down the hunter. ‘Fight for Joar-Fane’s sake!’

  Even as Dawn spoke, she wondered if the words would have the desired effect. If they did not, At-Vee was sure to be killed and she would have to tackle the younger warrior. Skilled as Bunduki undoubtedly was with the bowie knife—and her father had claimed he had never seen better—he could hardly hope to combat the efforts of two man wielding swords which were at least a foot longer in the blade than his own weapon.

  Although Bunduki heard his adoptive cousin shouting to At-Vee, he resisted the temptation to glance round and find out whether or not she was being obeyed. Instead, he adopted the readiness stance of a modern knife fighter. Standing with his feet slightly apart, knees flexed a little and with the left leg advanced, he inclined his torso forward so that his abdomen was drawn in. His knife was held close to the right hip. Extended before him at waist level, the left hand was ready to help ward off the attacker’s blows or to act as a distraction and make way for his own attacks. It was a posture that offered good protection for his vital areas, but also allowed considerable ease of movement. Having taken it, he kept his eyes fixed upon the elder of his assailants and waited for the attack.

  Naturally, Arat had never come into contact with a fighting style like that of the blond giant. However, despite sensing that it might prove effective even against his sword, he knew that he could not afford to hold back and must press home his attack without delay. He had noticed Dawn’s actions and guessed that, no matter whether the Telonga hunter did as she suggested or not, she would be a far from inconsiderable factor in whatever lay ahead. Even if she did not succeed in arousing the armed villager, the way in which she was drawing her knife implied that she intended to engage Traug. Should her skill with the weapon equal that of her ability in unarmed combat she would, at the very least, delay the grar-gatah rider who was hurrying to help Arat deal with the big foreigner.

  Hearing Dawn’s words At-Vee stiffened, as if he had been prodded by a goad. Then he set his face into grimly determined lines and responded by turning to confront the advancing Mun-Gatah.

  ‘Move aside, or die!’ Traug ordered.

  ‘Keep back!’ At-Vee countered, lifting the shilva in his right hand.

  ‘Then die!’ Traug bellowed, leaping forward as he noticed the hesitant manner in which the strange weapon was being raised.

  Seeing the hunter swinging around to face the grar-gatah rider, Arat felt more annoyed than perturbed. He still did not believe any member of the Telonga nation would have the courage to fight. So the delay caused by the man’s action would only be minimal. However, suddenly there was an added reason for Arat to want to come to close quarters with the white haired foreigner.

  An elderly, medium sized, thickset male Telonga was emerging from the house in which Arat had been told the fugitive girl was hiding. About the same age as the village’s Elders, he appeared to be far fitter, more determined of face, and wore a loincloth made from the skin of a tiger. In his hands, he carried what was clearly a shield, and also a long, slender spear which the banar-gatah rider guessed was for throwing rather than stabbing.

  If the newcomer intervened, or even did no more than contrive to pass the weapons to the big foreigner, he could swing the balance of the fight against Arat. With the former possibility and the spear’s purpose in mind, the banar-gatah rider knew that he must move sufficiently near to his opponent for the aged Telonga to be afraid to throw in case he accidently hit his supporter. What was more, at close quarters a transfer of the spear and shield would be far more dangerous and difficult.

  Arat was doing Tav-Han an injustice in thinking he had either idea in mind. No warrior, the retired hunter was intelligent enough to realize that to try and deliver the weapons would hinder rather than help Bunduki. Nor did he consider that he had the necessary skill to throw the unfamiliar m’kuki with sufficient accuracy to impale the Mun-Gatah. What was more, he felt sure that such aid would not be needed. Instead, he had collected the weapons to take to Dawn so that she could use them and save At-Vee’s life.

  Even as Tav-Han advanced, Arat darted forward and launched the traditional Mun-Gatah cut towards Bunduki’s neck. Reading his intentions from his movements, and drawing from past experience, little as it was, the blond giant brought up the bowie knife. Its blade met and deflected the sword. Disengaging, Bunduki chopped a backhand blow. Showing a keen appreciation of the danger from the blade’s false edge, although he had not previously seen such a device, Arat stepped clear and essayed another cut as soon as it had gone by. Once more the great knife was interposed and prevented the sword from reaching its target.

  For all that, being unaware of Tav-Han’s appearance and not knowing how At-Vee might be faring, Bunduki knew he would not have dealt with the wary and obviously capable older warrior before the other Mun-Gatah reached him. In fact, he was expecting to hear the second attacker behind him at any moment; or something to suggest that Dawn was trying to protect him.

  The anticipated assault, or sounds, from the rear did not materialize.

  Traug was charging recklessly at At-Vee. Filled with contempt for the normally pacific and unresisting Telongas, the young warrior did not give a single thought to guarding himself against possible retaliation. Instead, he swung his sword in a horizontal arc with a force that was calculated to drive it deep into the hunter’s flesh.

  Except that the blow failed to connect with its target!

  Despite At-Vee never having fought against another human being, the instincts, training, and fast reflexes necessary for his work came to his rescue. Watching Traug, he was reminded of an incident in which he had been involved about five moons earlier. While following a honey-guide bird xlix to a wild bees’ nest, he had been confronted by a sloth bear. In the shortsighted, bad tempered way of Melursus Ursinus when disturbed at close quarters, it had risen on its hind legs and lashed out with a forepaw in much the same manner that the Mun-Gatah was attacking.

  The memory triggered off the correct response for At-Vee. Almost without conscious thought, he swayed his torso clear of the sword’s blade and stepped hurriedly to the rear as he had done when attacked by the bear. While doing so, he brought the shilva into action with devastating and effective speed.

  Carried onwards by the force of his charge and the abortive blow, Traug paid the penalty for being over-confident. He was off balance and completely unable to block or avoid the hunter’s attack. Propelled around parallel to the ground, the spike of the shilva struck him between the eyes. Passing through the frontal bone of the skull, the point continued until it pierced his brain. Coll
apsing as if every bone had turned to water, his weight dragged him from the weapon that had killed him.

  Seeing his last man killed, Arat attacked with the vigor of desperation. Throwing a rapid succession of slashes, hacks and chops, he kept Bunduki fully occupied in blocking, parrying or leaping clear of them.

  Arat realized that his position was extremely unpromising. Nor would killing the big white haired foreigner ensure his survival. With that done, he would still have to contend with the girl—to whom the elderly Telonga was handing the spear—and the hunter. However, neither of them would prove as dangerous as his present opponent. Once they were dead, the rest of the villagers would not dare to try and prevent Arat’s departure. In fact, despite the loss of his three assistants, he might even be able to carry out the mission which had brought him there.

  In jumping back to avoid a cut at his head, the big foreigner stumbled. His knife was held downwards before him, its point directed to the left. Considering that it was the best opportunity he was likely to be offered, Arat decided to make the most of it. Up and back whipped the sword, ready to be driven downwards to the top of the blond’s head.

  There was only one flaw in the banar-gatah rider’s scheme. He had fallen into a trap similar to the one which had cost Brarat his life.

  Bunduki had only pretended to slip!

  Satisfied that his gamble had paid off, the blond giant struck with lightning speed and deadly purpose. The bowie knife rose in a right hand sweep. With his knuckles underneath, it was the back of the blade that made the contact. Passing beneath the Mun-Gatah’s chin, it bit home. Arat had been well advised to fear the weapon’s false edge. It sliced deeply into his throat, slitting through the windpipe, veins and arteries before emerging.

  Pain and shock numbed Arat’s whole being. Although his right arm had commenced its forward swing, the sword slipped from his suddenly inoperative fingers. With his hands fluttering involuntarily towards the terrible wound, his knees buckled and he fell dying at Bunduki’s feet.

  Breathing heavily, the blond giant allowed the blood-smeared knife to dangle by his right thigh and looked around. Holding the m’kuki and her knife, Dawn was hurrying towards him followed by Tav-Han. Having come out of the house after her father, Joar-Fane was running up to At-Vee. The rest of the hunters, talking excitedly among themselves, were converging upon him.

  Glancing at the three dead warriors, Bunduki next studied the unconscious Mun-Gatah woman for a moment. While he was pleased that his adoptive cousin had not been compelled to kill her, she would pose a problem. It was only one which must be settled when making plans for the future.

  Bunduki knew that their troubles with the Mun-Gatahs were far from over, but he felt sure that—after the example set by At-Vee—the Telonga hunters would be willing to learn how to defend themselves and be ready to deal with the attacks which were sure to come.

  Chapter Thirteen – You Haven’t Brought My Bride Price Yet

  A jet of cold water struck Bunduki as he was lying, relaxed and daydreaming, in the shadow thrown by the bull ‘forest’ elephant which he had prevented from invading the Jey-Mat Telonga village’s crops. Jolted from his reverie, he let out a startled and furious exclamation as he jerked into a sitting position. Such a sudden action could have been dangerous, surrounded as he was by the rest of the herd, but they had become so accustomed to his presence among them that not even the cows with young calves showed more than a passing interest before going on with their various activities,

  Glaring around, the blond giant had no difficulty in locating the cause of the interruption to his thoughts. Not twenty feet away, clad only in her leopard skin briefs and with her hair still damp from swimming, Dawn Drummond-Clayton’s beautiful face was alive with mischievous delight at his reaction. She was standing alongside a three-quarter grown calf which still pointed its trunk in his direction.

  Several days had elapsed since the fight in the Dancing Circle, but the expected reprisals by the Mun-Gatahs had not materialized. In fact, the Telongas’ ‘talking drums’—which were capable of relaying even complicated messages from village to village—had reported that the People-Taker and his escort, having completed their collections, had left the jungle and showed no signs of turning back.

  When the news had come, it met with a mixed reception. Emboldened by the result of the fight, the hunters had announced their willingness to take up arms in the future. In fact, they had been eager for the opportunity to do so and were disappointed when it was not presented to them. For his part, Bunduki was far from displeased at the respite. While At-Vee had been fortunate in having opposed a headstrong and impetuous young man who did not expect any difficulty, the same would not be the case in the future. The Telongas would have to learn fighting techniques, rather than relying solely upon hunting instincts and methods, before they were capable of standing up to the seasoned Mun-Gatah warriors.

  At first, the Elders and non-hunting population had been horrified by the whole incident. However, before long the majority of them had put it from their minds. Their natural ebullience and habit of living for the present had re-asserted itself and they had resumed their usual round of activities and pleasure seeking. That there had been any delay at all in the return to normal was due to the presence in their midst of the female member of Arat’s party.

  Although Dawn was pleased that there had been no need to kill the woman, taking her captive had created a problem. Retaining her had been made easier by the discovery that she had broken a bone in her ankle and could walk only with difficulty. She had been held in an empty storeroom, with the door locked and the window sealed by sturdy log bars.

  Sarlio had commenced her captivity by displaying truculence and uttering threats, but had become less arrogant and more uneasy as she discovered the growing signs of courage displayed by the hunters. They, and the Earth couple, were the only ones who had anything to do with her, and her tantrums had an ever-decreasing effect upon them. Her captivity had been brought to an end in mysterious circumstances ten days after it had begun. Somehow, by means which Bunduki and Dawn had been unable to discover, she had contrived to get out of the hut. However, while attempting to scale the palisade—the gates now being kept under guard throughout the hours of darkness—she had apparently fallen over and broken her neck.

  Time had passed quickly and, for the most part enjoyably as far as Dawn and Bunduki were concerned. As well as starting to instruct At-Vee and the hunters in martial arts, including how to ride and care for the four captured gatahs, the blond giant had arranged to bring together the rest of their fraternity from the other villages. On learning what had happened, they too were keen to take a stand against the oppressors. It had been arranged that, once they were trained, the Jey-Mat hunters would spread what had been taught among their colleagues.

  Dawn had helped her adoptive cousin with the lessons and played another part in the campaign. Assisted by a very willing Joar-Fane, she had worked on winning support for the hunters from the village’s maidens. She and Joar-Fane were on the best of terms and, in fact, she was regarded by the villagers as being part of Tav-Han’s family.

  Despite their acceptance by the hunters and the majority of the villagers, one subject continued to elude Dawn and Bunduki. They could not break through the barrier of secrecy surrounding the ‘putting away’ of the hunters. Not even the fact that they had turned the elephant herd away from the fruit trees rendered them eligible for the information. Guildo and his fellow Elders, their resolve stiffened by annoyance over the way in which control of the village’s affairs—in the matter of resisting the Mun-Gatahs, at least—had been taken from their hands, were responsible for the prohibition. As they alone appeared to know all the answers, learning about it had been impossible.

  In addition to their activities around the village, the girl and her adoptive cousin had managed to spend many hours in the jungle. Away from other human beings, they had been able to put into practice their lessons in survival in such a pr
imitive environment. One thing that they had discovered was that Dawn shared Bunduki’s empathy with Tantor.

  Having a greater available source of food than their larger counterparts of the plains and bush country, the ‘forest’ elephants tended to be more sedentary in their habits. So they could usually be found somewhere within a few miles of the village. They had accepted the Earth couple’s presence in their midst and, as Dawn had just proved, would do as asked. Leaping to his feet with a bellow of well-simulated rage, the blond giant rushed towards his tormentors. The calf gave a squeal of mock terror, such as it would have done if its behavior had caused a bull to take punitive action—fleeing with its tail out and ears flapping. Whirling, Dawn darted away in another direction. Leaving the herd, she made her way to where the banar and ocha-gatahs were hobbled and grazing.

  Considering that the girl was a first class runner, the big blond realized that he was overtaking her with surprisingly little difficulty. Coming into range, he flung himself in a rugby tackle. Sensing her danger, she swerved. Neither of them anticipated the result of the evasion. Instead of taking her around the waist, Bunduki’s left hand slipped down her back. Hooking into the top of her briefs, he jerked them down. An instant later, Dawn and he were rolling in a tussle on the ground and she kicked the garments away to give her a greater freedom of movement. Like her, Bunduki had removed his loincloth while they were swimming and had not re-donned it. As the tussle developed Dawn contrived to jerk off his leopard skin underpants. Finally, laughing, they stopped struggling and lay in each other’s arms with the blond giant on top.