by Avery Kloss
“Peta!” shouted Ara, forgetting the importance of being quiet. “Peta?”
Landing on my back, I grasped my leg, wincing. “I’m fine,” I muttered, but it hurt terribly. Surrounded by gnarled roots and dirt, it smelled dank and rotten, a man suddenly appearing behind Ara. “Watch out!”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The stranger held a spear, his face hidden beneath a long, shaggy beard that looked as white as the clouds in the sky. Ara scrambled out of view, while I sat in agony, the dull throbbing pain in my leg setting my teeth on edge.
“Put your weapon down, girl. Can you understand me?” He spoke the white man’s language.
“I hear you just fine.”
A bushy, white eyebrow lifted, his hair the same color, the long strands hanging down his bare back. “That’s unusual, but I’m gladdened.” His tone sounded gruff, his gaze turning to me. “You there. Can you move?”
“My leg’s hurt,” I muttered, knowing he had been the one to dig the hole, either to capture woodland creatures or to keep people from his shelter.
“Are there more of you?”
“My mother and her friend.”
“I see.” He glanced at Ara. “You can’t possibly mean to hurt me holding that weapon in such an ineffectual manner.”
“What?” Ara then pointed the spear at him, her stance wide. “How about now, old man?”
He chuckled low in his throat, the sound carrying. “That’s hardly better, but it doesn’t matter.” The smile vanished. “Why are you here? How did you find me?” He eyed her leg. “You’re bleeding.”
“We were attacked by cats on the plain. We ran to the woods for shelter.”
“I see.” He stared down at me. “Can you get up?”
I tried to stand, pain stabbing me, and I fell to the moist dirt. “No,” I cried, tears appearing. “Are you going to leave me to die in your stupid trap?” I would starve slowly … although the lack of water would kill me faster.
He rubbed his beard, a crooked smile appearing. “There’s a thought, but, no. I’ll toss down something to help you up.” Then he disappeared, Ara staring at me.
“I don’t think I can kill him.”
“It might not be necessary.” I grimaced, the pain throbbing. “This is not good, Ara. I can’t stand. How will I walk now?” We had only just barely survived the cat attack, shivering at the memory, and now this. I hadn’t realized it, but tears continued to stream down my face, falling into the dirt beneath my fingers. “I’ll be lame forever.” I suspected a broken leg, which ruined my chances of ever walking normally again. Everyone who had ever broken bones struggled to walk afterwards, the wound never healing right. I might never run again. “Today’s been dreadful. Poor Bena.” I buried my face in my hands, weeping, not being able to stop the grief I felt.
“Will you sit there crying all day, or are you going to take the end of the rope?” asked the man, having returned. A braided length of some sort dangled near where I sat, the man eyeing me expectantly. “Take it, and hold on tight. I’ll pull you up.”
Sniffing, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, filth coating my face now. “All right.” I grasped it with both hands, glancing at him. He pulled me steadily, my feet now dangling above the ground.
“You’re lighter than a feather.”
Approaching the edge of the pit, I cleared it a moment later, landing on leaves beside the man. Long, yellow toenails jutted from his feet. I lifted my chin to look at him, wondering if he would kill me now.
“You’re not like your friend.” He kneeled before me, a thoughtful look on his face. “Where do you come from?”
I shrugged, feeling a burning, throbbing ache in my leg. “I don’t know.” Grasping the leg, I shuddered, wishing the pain would go away, but I knew it wouldn’t.
“I’ll have to tend that.” He hadn’t stopped staring at me, his eyes a light brown in color, beneath thick, whitish eyebrows. The wrinkles on his face bespoke of great age, the man older than anyone I had ever seen. “I’ll carry you.”
Ara pointed the spear tip at him, uttering, “Don’t touch her!”
Not threatened by my sister in the least, he gave her an exasperated look. “You’re injured, young lady. This girl’s hurt. I’ll tend you both, but, if you vex me further, I’ll send you on your way.” A stern look appeared. “Which will it be?” He waited for her to say something, the spear tip lowering fractionally. “You’re smart enough to understand me. Now, put that down.”
“What’s your name?” I asked, curious about him, wondering why he lived in the middle of the forest, seemingly alone.
“I’m Sungir. Who are you?”
“Peta. This is my sister, Ara.”
“Sister?” he chuckled. “I doubt it, but thank you for the pleasantries.”
“You hurt my leg,” I muttered, the pain continuing to throb.
“I did. You’re not supposed to be sneaking around my abode, little one. You got what you deserve.” His gaze narrowed. “You weren’t smart enough to spot the trap. Serves you right for falling into it.”
I glared at him, wanting to hit him over the head with my spear, because I would be forever maimed now. “I’m ruined. I have no future,” I said dully. “It’s all your fault, old man.”
An odd, enigmatic sort of light flickered in his eyes. “That remains to be seen. I’m going to pick you up and take you to my house. Please refrain from biting me. You look more feral animal than child, and I don’t wish to sicken and die just yet. I’ve a few more seasons still in me.” He grinned at his own joke, which I did not find funny at all.
I would not argue, knowing I needed some sort of bandage around my leg—at the least. “I won’t bite you.” His grasp felt firm, an arm going beneath my legs, which hurt. I grimaced, as a tear fell.
“There, there,” he soothed. “I’ll mend your leg, Peta. You’ll be good as new in due time.”
“You should tell Kia and Hanna where we are.”
Ara nodded. “I will.” She eyed the hole. “Are there more of those?”
Sungir began to walk, saying, “Yes. Just follow the path, and you’ll remain safe.” He strode towards a surprisingly large hut, which he had built of wood and bone, the roof constructed of bundled grassland, a great deal of it to keep the rain out.
Before entering, he tossed aside a wooden door, revealing a dim interior, where a fire blazed in a stone hearth. I eyed the dwelling with wonder, the room spacious, with dried plants hanging from twine, the man’s head hitting a few as he strode upon the earthen floor to deposit me on a pelt before the fire.
“I’ll have to get the things I need to bind that leg.” Sitting back on his heels, he eyed me. “How bad is the pain?”
“Worse than I’ve ever felt,” I muttered.
He nodded solemnly. “I can imagine. You’re a brave little thing.”
“I don’t feel very brave.”
“From the looks of it, you’ve had quite a day. You say you were attacked by cats?”
“Yes. A friend,” a rush of tears came then, “died. They … they ate her. I couldn’t save her.”
“There were more than one, I assume.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
“You were in their hunting grounds. It’s safer in the woods, but then we have the bears.”
“Is that why you have those awful traps?”
“For that purpose and others.”
“To hurt innocent people.” Bitterness laced my tone, the anger of being maimed for life a burden I would carry until the day I died.
“But, how innocent are you? Why are you lurking about my abode? What do you want?”
“We were attacked by a band of heathens. They killed our men. They took the women who looked like me. They left the others behind.”
“They didn’t take you.”
“I hid. They never saw me.”
He digested that bit of information, his mouth a thin line. “We find people like Ara to be inferior, or so they
say. That’s how my clan treated them, unfortunately. Their kind will eventually be erased from the face of the land. I’m sorry to be so blunt about it. It’s inevitable.”
“Will you kill them?”
That question startled him, as he blinked. “No. Why would I?”
“Because you’re a white man.”
“Not all of us are bent on destruction. I simply want to live out what’s left of my life in peace and quiet.” He eyed my leg. “You’ve ruined my peace. If anyone has the right to be angry, it’s I.” A flicker of humor lessoned the scowl on his face. “I’ll be forced to house and feed you now for the foreseeable future, until you can walk sufficiently enough to leave. This is a gross inconvenience.”
“You’ve maimed me for life. I’ll never be able to run again. It’s a death sentence. I’m terribly sorry we inconvenienced you, old man.” I sounded angry and bitter. My leg throbbed then, the pain like a burning sensation—hot and shooting.
“Don’t underestimate my healing abilities. I’m quite good at setting bones. I wouldn’t cry over something as easy as a broken leg.” He nodded. “You’re lucky, girl.”
Chewing on my lip, I glared at him, doubting every word. “We shall see.”
“You’ve courage. I like that.” Hearing the approach of people, he got to his feet, facing the strangers in his doorway. “Welcome.”
Ara appeared with Hanna and Kia, Penua in Hanna’s arms. They gazed at the shelter with wide eyes, clearly not having expected such a sight. I had never seen anything as solidly built before, the man having taken a great deal of time to construct it.
“My name is Sungir. This is my home.”
Kia’s eyes rested upon me, concern flaring. “What’s happened to you?”
“I fell into his stupid trap,” I muttered. “I’m maimed for life. You might as well just leave me. I’ll die soon enough anyway.”
Laughter filled the room. “I’ve some holes around that are meant for animals. My friends know where they are, but strangers do not. I’ll show them to you after I’ve mended this leg.” He pointed at Ara. “I need to take care of that as well.” Hanna swayed then, the woman either tired or unwell. “Why don’t you sit?” He indicated the pelts by the fire. “You look weary. How long have you been traveling?”
“Many days,” said Kia. “We were attacked earlier. We lost … a girl.”
“I’m sorry for your troubles. The savanna is a hazardous place.”
“Why are you living alone in the woods?” asked Hanna.
“I prefer it to people. I’ll share my story with you, if you’re here long enough, but I’ve wounds to attend to. Please sit. You look like you’re about to fall over.”
Kia nodded, tears glimmering in her eyes. “You’re very kind, Sungir.”
I snorted, not sharing the same level of gratitude, a burning sensation running up and down my leg. “Oh, I’m terribly lucky. I’ve never been this lucky in my life.”
Sungir turned to me, a hard look drawing his brows together. “You don’t realize just how lucky you are, girl. I’ll mend that leg. It’ll be good as new once it’s healed. Then, I’m going to show you how to use that spear properly. If you’re worthy, I might even teach you the healing arts.” He waved to the hanging herbs, saying, “These aren’t for decoration. They have medicinal qualities. I’ll make you a brew that’ll take the pain away.”
I doubted that, but I refrained from saying another word, too miserable to speak. Staring into the flames, I wondered why the gods had cursed me. Thinking of Bena, I knew I would never forget the sound of her screams … or the image of the cat dragging her away.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I drank something horrible tasting and thought I might be sick. While the fire blazed warmly in the snug hut, the wind whistled outside. Inside we sat in comfort, Penua wanting to touch everything and explore, his eyes bright with wonder. Sungir had made an elevated table out of stones and branches, the wood stripped of knots and closely spaced. Upon this surface lay an assortment of stone and bone tools.
Whatever I had drunk made me feel odd, a fuzzy sort of sensation drifting through me, while a heavy lethargy brought on the desire for sleep. I lay upon a thick pelt and stared at the wooden beams overhead, yawning.
“I’m going to have to set the leg now.”
Kia and Ara chewed on dried meat, Sungir having provided it. While he bustled about the room, they eyed his every move, the man wearing nothing but a skirt, his white hair hanging about his shoulders. He wasn’t as muscled as most men, sporting a soft-looking belly. I had never seen anyone this old before, the white hair a novelty.
He knelt beside me, his look grave. “This will hurt.”
I swallowed, smiling, feeling suddenly giddy. “All right.”
“She’s not in pain,” he murmured. “But she will feel this.”
A sudden, sharp sensation registered, the man having grabbed me roughly, jostling my leg about. “Ouch!”
Alarmed, Kia stood. “What are you doing?”
“Setting the bones, so they heal right.”
Gasping, I cried from the pain, the leg throbbing anew. “Stop it!”
“It’s done,” he said simply. “All that’s left is to bind it tightly. Hold still.” He placed smooth branches on each side of the leg, having sliced off the knobby bits. Then he tied leather around to hold it all in place. “I’ll make you something to walk with tomorrow, but you really shouldn’t get up anytime soon. If you need to relieve yourself, please tell someone. We can help you with that.”
I nodded, feeling oddly exhausted, his face blurring before me. What had he put in that drink? “Yes,” I breathed.
“Give her more of the medicine. She needs to rest.” He glanced at Ara. “It’s your turn now. Let me have a look at your wound.”
Whatever else might have happened, I took no notice, my mind far too disoriented, my eyes closing … I woke a while later, the sound of hushed voices in conversation drifting to me.
“You speak my language,” said Sungir. “This is helpful indeed. I’ve encountered your sort before, but it’s never a pleasant exchange.”
“We’ve lived in a white clan,” said Ara. “They took us in because of Peta.”
“They let you live with them?” This seemed to surprise him. “They didn’t shun you?”
“Oh, they did,” said Kia. “We were never really welcome, but they took pity on Peta.”
“And you found her as a baby?”
“She was older than that, but, yes. I came across the child. Her clan had met with misfortune, I suppose. I don’t know what happened. She was alone. I found Ara too. I’ve never been able to have my own … yet.”
“You’re growing a baby now?”
“Yes. So is Hanna.”
“I see.”
Glancing about the room, I found them seated together on a pelt, Hanna stroking Penua, who slept beside her. She moved hair from his forehead, glancing at him with affection.
“You’re very kind to take us in for the night,” said Kia. “We’ll be gone come sunrise.”
“And how do you propose to move the girl? She’ll have to be careful for that leg to heal. She shouldn’t be moved for quite some time. Then she’ll have to walk without putting pressure on the broken bone. The bones must fuse together properly.”
“We’ll manage somehow,” said Hanna, sounding miserable.
“The cold season’s nearly upon us. Where would you go?”
“Peta seems to think there’s some special place beyond the mountain,” said Ara.
“We’re beyond the mountain now.” Kia sighed. “She’s hoping to find Ronan and Enwan, but they’re long gone.”
“Who?”
“Men we knew from the clan. They … were kind to us. They provided. We lost them after the big flood. It ruined the clan. It killed almost everyone.”
“Did it flood here?” asked Hanna. “I never saw the flood.”
“No. No flood.” He glanced over at me. “She’
s awake. She’ll need to eat.”
I licked dry lips, my belly rumbling, but I felt far too tired to move, the fire deliciously warm at my side. I closed my eyes, but I continued to listen.
“You can’t leave until her leg’s healed. It won’t heal for a long time.”
“Are you offering to let us stay?” asked Kia. “We’d be grateful for the shelter, but you … you’ve already been more than kind.”
“I’m a man who desires to live alone. I enjoy the peace. If you wish to stay, you’re welcome. I suppose I can sacrifice for a while.”
“We will,” said Kia. “We’re indebted to you. If we can do anything for you, please tell us what it is.”
“Why aren’t you with a clan? Why don’t you like people?” Ara eyed him askance, her look questioning.
“I was … cast out.”
“But, why?” asked Hanna. “You don’t have a mark on you. You’re not disfigured. Why would they do that?”
“No, I’m not disfigured in any way. There are reasons why, but I don’t wish to speak about it. It’s not important.” He glanced over his shoulder. “She should eat something. She’s awake.”
I ate dried meat and nuts, sitting up with effort to look at my leg. Sungir tied it with wood and leather, making it stiff and immobile. Hanna and Kia helped me up to go outside and urinate, the women lifting me beneath the armpits. I accidentally put pressure on the injured leg, resulting in a sharp, shooting pain. I would not make that mistake again.
Sungir built a walking aid, which consisted of two sturdy branches with leather and fur wrapped around the top of each piece. These fit into my armpits. I could walk with only one leg using the odd contraption. It took several days, but I learned to use it better, hobbling along after Ara to help forage.
