Rise of Man Book 1: Ascendance

by E. Wayne Stucki

  Chapter 5

  Jakto stepped up on a tree that had fallen across the animal run they were following then paused for a moment to glance over his shoulder at his older brother. “Tell me again why you volunteered us to help search for Mrek. He’s been making your life miserable for years.” He dropped down onto the other side. “Besides the man’s been missing for more than five days. We have to assume he’s dead! This’s a waste of time!”

  “Waste of time or not we had to help.” Kok replied as he moved up onto the tree behind his brother. “If one of our family was missing we’d want help finding them.”

  Jakto gave a snort. “That sounds very noble but what’s the real reason?”

  “Couldn’t fool you, could I?” chuckled Kok as he followed Jakto off the tree then gestured at the surrounding canyon. “Take a look where we are and remember what’s nearby. When the Elders talked about searching for Mrek I suggested that we could look in this area. I want to keep others away from the Valley of Suns as much as for their own safety as protecting our legacy.”

  The younger man wiped the sweat from his brow and nodded his understanding as the two men moved around a large boulder. The summer heat had arrived within the last two days after an unusually cold spring. They were used to the cold not the heat which explained the loin cloth and sweat glistening on their bare chests. Leather moccasins protected the men’s callused feet from rocks and sticks. A soft cool breeze coming down the canyon washed over their perspiring bodies. “Oh, that feels good,” groaned Jakto. “It seems like we skipped spring and went straight to high summer.”

  A shout interrupted their conversation and the two men ran over to find Makok standing on the banks of a stream. The young man had scouted ahead while the older men had been talking. “What?” Kok asked his oldest son. “What’ve you got?”

  Makok pointed at the ground in front of him where an animal run crossed the water. There in the dried mud bordering the stream they’d have to cross were footprints. “I think this is what we’re looking for.”

  Jakto clapped Makok on the back. “You thought right.” Then he turned to Kaf and pointed at the marks in the ground. Over the years the youngest of Karg’s sons had become the best tracker in the Clan. “Can you follow this?”

  Kaf looked at the tracks and then in the direction they led. He gave a grunt and jumped across the stream.

  “I think that means yes,” laughed Kok and motioned everyone to follow.

  Kaf led his family up the canyon towards Karg’s Valley of Suns. They wove through groves of trees and walked around the occasional boulder that had fallen from the mountains tracking the footsteps thought to belong to Mrek. A short time later the footsteps took them up a side canyon and straight to a cavern.

  With his spears and hatchet held ready Kaf followed the footsteps and led his family into the caves dark opening. Everyone paused just inside the entrance to let their eyes adjust to the dim light then walked deeper into the cavern. As Makok looked around he realized this cave was just as big as or even bigger than the one the Clan lived in. He saw the usual stone spears pointing up from the floor and jutting down from the ceiling. The only draw back was that the nearest water supply was half a day’s walk away unless there was water deeper in the cavern.

  “Kok, over here!” called Jakto catching everyone’s attention. “I’ve found pouches.”

  The other brothers hurried over to see the small pile of leather pouches Jakto’d found. They were hidden in the shadows created by a large slab of rock that had fallen from the ceiling just inside the entrance. “Do you think they’re Mrek’s?” asked Jakto.

  “Let’s get them outside and see what’s in them,” suggested Kaf. “That should help us figure out who they belong to. The light’s definitely better out there.”

  Everyone chuckled at Kaf’s stating of the obvious as they looked to Kok who nodded. Hurrying over, each man grabbed a pouch and carried it out into the light. The pouches were piled in the bright sun just outside the entrance. “Well the bags look like ours,” Kok commented. Then the brothers stood and watched as Makok squatted down, selected a pouch and opened it.

  “Oh…,” said Makok and recoiled. A hand went to shield his nose while the other waved the air in front of his face to get rid of the smell. “That’s gone bad!” At a gesture from Jakto he stood and moved away.

  Taking a deep breath of clean air Jakto bent down and dumped the contents of the other pouches onto the ground. Then he stood back, gasping. “Food,” he said, “about enough for one man for several days and all spoiled. Everything looks like the food we brought.”

  “This must’ve been here for at least four or five days for it to’ve gone bad like this,” observed Kaf.

  “Do you think this’s Mrek’s?” Jakto repeated his earlier question.

  Kaf shrugged his shoulders. “The time’s about right,” he said. “Who else could it be?”

  Kok nodded. “Who else could it be,” he repeated and gestured at the pile of rotting food. “This means Mrek came this way. So all we have to do now is find him.”

  He looked over at Kaf and gave another nod. “Let’s go find him.”

  When they left the side canyon and rejoined the main canyon it became apparent the footprints continued in the direction of the Valley of Suns. As they paused for a brief rest the brothers glanced at each other and grimaced. Had Mrek found out about the Valley of Suns? Had he gone there when a sun was born and been struck blind?

  After everyone had taken a drink from their water pouches Kok nodded to Kaf. “It’s time we got going,” he said. Without saying a word the younger man slipped on his pack and moved out. The rest of the family trailed behind keeping a careful watch on the mountainsides on either side.

  At mid-day the five men reached the faint path leading up the rocky slope to their vantage point for the Valley of Suns. Kok sighed in relief when the footprints they were following continued up the canyon instead of climbing to the pass. If Mrek had made it to the valley he hadn’t gone that way. Perhaps he hadn’t gone there at all.

  Bypassing their trail to the valley the brothers followed the footprints. Kaf remained in the lead with Kok and Jakto trailing just behind. Makok and Kekko were spread out on either side watching for any sign of danger. Everyone had their stone-tipped spears held ready as they moved through the trees. A sharpened stone axe was attached to the leather thong holding up each man’s loin cloth. Their eyes kept scanning the area for any signs of Mrek.

  “Dad!” Makok yelled from the right side of their formation. “Over here! I’ve found something weird.”

  “What could have caused this?” the young man asked when everyone had gathered around. Standing in the center of a relatively flat area he pointed at the ground then knelt to run a hand over the dry, brown grass which had been flattened in a long line. A tall man’s length away was another matching line. “It’s been pushed into the ground.”

  “There’s something else over here!” called Kaf before anyone could come up with an explanation. Leaving the strange lines the men moved over to see what new thing Kaf has discovered.

  “Oh, this is not good,” groaned Kok as he stared at the tracks on the ground and Jakto nodded.

  “What are the small jungle eaters doing here?” Jakto wondered. “I’ve only seen them in the warm forests.”

  “These tracks just appeared,” added Kaf, gesturing around the area. “Usually there’s a trail we can follow just like we’re doing with Mrek. That isn’t the case here.

  “And from the trampling and amount of tracks there had to’ve been close to ten,” Kaf continued. “So what do we do now?”

  Kok looked at his brothers and son. “This’s getting complicated,” he said under his breath. Then more loudly he announced, “we’ll keep looking for Mrek but we need to be very, very careful.” Jakto and Kekko looked at each other and nodded.

  They’d been walking for a short time when Kaf appeared out of the trees ahead and waved the family ahead. He’d
been doing his job, scouting ahead watching for footprints. “I’ve found something that looks like dried blood,” he announced. “There’s also signs of a struggle.” Kaf said as he led the brothers through the trees to his find. “I’ve found blood in three places and there’s many Eater tracks.”

  “This is really not good,” swore Kok as he walked over to look at a dark spot in the grass. “But there’s not a lot we can do about it. We don’t know what’s happened here. Although I’m guessing the Eaters whose tracks we’ve found probably caught up with Mrek, then killed and ate him.” He shrugged. “That’s what I think but we have to be sure.”

  “There’s not enough blood for that,” replied Jakto.

  “What’s that?” wondered Kok.

  “There isn’t enough blood here to show that the Eaters have eaten something,” Kaf replied for his older brother. “With this many Eaters there should be blood all over the place. There isn’t. It’s more like a wound.”

  Kok gave a little wave of a hand and started forward. “Wound or not, we still have to make sure about Mrek. Let’s go but keep your weapons to hand.”

  The small group of men moved in and out of the trees that covered the valley floor then came to another small clearing. By this time a light breeze blew down the canyon and Jakto wrinkled his nose as he caught an odor. “Smell that?” he asked his family. “There’s been a fire ahead.”

  The eldest of Karg’s sons sniffed to test the air himself then nodded. “That’s probably a good sign. This isn’t the weather for wildfires because it’s been so cold and wet for so long.” Kok shrugged. “It had to’ve been set, probably by Mrek since no one else’s been here.”

  Continuing across the clearing Kok followed Kaf around some trees, crossed an area covered with small rocks then pushed through a small clump of bushes. Another gust of wind carried a stronger stench of burned wood and brush. Moving around a bushy tree he came to an abrupt halt to avoid running into Kaf.

  “How?” was all Jakto said as he stared at what lay before them. He’d come up to stand next to Kok. The trees of the area were large and bushy which made them perfect for hiding. But here and there were black circles and charred stumps where some had burned leaving the rest of the trees in the area untouched. A normal fire would have burned all the trees, not just a select few.

  “Not just how but why,” said Makok after coming from his position on the right wing to stand next to his father and uncle.

  “I’m afraid the only person who can answer our questions is Mrek or whoever made the footsteps we’ve been following,” said Kaf. He shrugged. “So if we want answers we’ve got to find who ever it is.”

  They continued past the scorched areas with their blackened stumps and up the canyon. Before going very far Kekko who was now on the right side of their little formation called out and pointed up at the mountainside. Looking in the direction his brother was pointing, Kok could see a line of loose rocks, slipped dirt and footsteps marking the mountain soil coming down the slope. He grimaced and looked over at Jakto. So Mrek had been to the Valley of Suns after all. But what had scared the man enough to drive him down the rocky slope with such wild abandon?

  Still hoping to find answers the party followed the tracks made by a new group of Eaters Kaf had discovered. Finding evidence of a group of small Eaters from the Warm Jungle was one thing. But two groups were unheard of. Besides there was no point in following the path on the mountainside since it was apparent the marks were coming down the slope not going up. And the brothers already knew what was beyond that ridge.

  They followed the tracks along a stream, past small waterfalls and around trees. Then their path took a sudden turn away from the main canyon to move up a winding side canyon. A short time later the party came across a small clearing and the tracks they’d been following disappeared.

  “What happened?” demanded Jakto of Kaf. “Tracks don’t end without a reason. There has to be rocks, trees or streams they could walk on or in, something to explain the ending.” He swung his arms wide. “Where are they?” Kaf gave a sheepish look and shrugged his shoulders.

  Since there was no explanation about where the Eaters came from Kok had Makok and the others scout around the area. Perhaps they could find a clue while he and Jakto examined the area where the tracks ended.

  “What do you think?” Kok asked Jakto after the others had left.

  Jakto crouched down and pointed around the area. “See those rocks? Something’s pushed them into the ground and they’re all lined up. It reminds me of those two lines pushed into the ground we found with the first group of Eater tracks just before coming across the blackened area.”

  Kok nodded his agreement as he ran his fingers over the indented ground. “Maybe it was one of those flying things from The Valley. The ones we saw were large and probably heavy enough to do this.”

  Jakto considered the suggestion for a moment. “It might be,” he said, nodding his head. Then the nodding turned to shaking. “But the Eater tracks lead from here to the burn spots. That still doesn’t answer our questions. It just adds more.”

  The two men rose to spend some time examining the area and discussing the problem. Moments later after not finding anything they left their search and were trying to locate the rest of their family when Makok appeared from around a bushy tree. “We’ve found more prints!” he exclaimed. “Man prints not Eaters!”

  Jakto shot a questioning look at Kok who gave a shrug. “We haven’t found anything here,” the older brother said. “So we might as well take a look.”

  Makok led the two men further up the side canyon and ducked through an arch created from two boulders wedged together. Moving up the sandy, moist stream bed they came around a sharp turn to find the rest of the family waiting. Makok pointed. “The prints are over there and continue up this canyon,” he said, sweeping his arm to indicate the direction.

  The two brothers moved closer and looked. It was obvious the marks had been made by a person. “Is this Mrek?” Kok asked.

  Kaf shrugged. “This isn’t the same person we were following earlier in the main canyon,” he replied. “This one’s bigger, heavier.”

  “So who is this?”

  The tracker shrugged again and Jakto looked up this small canyon. The unspoken answer was that the way to find out was to follow the tracks. So follow the tracks they did.

  Kaf led them along the side canyon then up to a saddle between two high peaks. As the family moved further north the number of trees and bushes grew larger, the peaks higher and hillsides steeper. On occasion they found themselves walking along a cliff edge. When the sun was setting the footprints led them to an area with water nearby surrounded by trees that blocked the view of the sky. Kok called a halt for the night.

  The next day after breaking camp the family climbed through another mountain pass then dropped down into another series of canyons which were unknown to Karg’s family. That was unexpected because everyone in the search party was a hunter and had ranged far and wide in this region searching for food. Apparently they hadn’t gone far enough.

  As camp was being set up for the night after another day’s walk Kok checked their supplies. Their search had taken them several days longer than he’d planned for and food was running low. That meant they’d have to hunt and forage before long which would make their search even longer.

  A thought came to mind of one possible reason why Mrek hadn’t returned: He’d gone too far and had gotten himself lost! But that didn’t explain why the missing man hadn’t simply backtracked until he reached familiar country. Mrek may have had a bloated opinion of himself but he was capable of backtracking his trail.

  The next day brought a surprise. After breaking camp they’d continued up the canyon they were in. By mid-day they reached the point where a stream coming down the hillsides created a small pond behind a large boulder dam. The water edged around one side of the rock then disappeared into the sandy streambed. Trees, bushes and grasses grew in abundance shading
the entire area. The men paused long enough to fill their water pouches and get a drink from the ice-cold pool. The surprise for the day wasn’t the pool but the beaten path leading to it from the other side.

  “Who made this?” asked Makok as he looked at the ground then glanced over at his father. “This isn’t an animal run! Has anyone of the Clan been here?”

  “Not that I know of,” replied Kok. “But even if someone had they couldn’t have been here enough times to make that.” He gestured at the path.

  “Many feet did that,” confirmed Jakto.

  “We go on then?” asked Makok. “We follow this path?”

  Jakto, Kaf and Kekko all looked at Kok who nodded.

  Kaf started off, still in the lead with the others behind in single file. There was no need for the young man to go ahead scouting the trail because they were following a path that was well worn. The new path led along the side of a large box valley where the sides of the canyon went from steep slopes covered with trees to red sandstone cliffs dotted with bushes and trees growing from cracks in the rocks.

  Kaf led the way as along the path as it twisted and turned through groves of trees and thickets of bushes, taking advantage of all the available cover. When the sun was starting to touch the mountains on the west they found their trail plunged into a narrow side canyon from which a stream issued. The entrance was a cut in the cliffs just wide enough for two men to enter side by side.

  “Smoke,” cried out Kaf and stopped just short of the cut in the cliff-wall. The rest of the party stopped to test the air themselves.

  Kok took a deep breath and nodded. There it was. A slight breeze coming down the slot canyon carried the scent of smoke. It wasn’t the odor of wild fires caused by storms but a… campfire! He gave a low whistle to catch his people’s attention and a wave brought everyone in close. “There may be more than the usual dangers so we’ve got to be very careful,” he said. “Don’t let your guard down.” After getting nods of understanding and agreement Kok headed for the cut in the cliff with his spear ready.

  The slot canyon was so narrow that the stream covered the entire canyon floor. The water was cold and Kok was glad it was only ankle deep at its deepest. He looked up and saw the sandstone walls were sheer, several men tall and allowed only the occasional sunbeam to reach the stream even with the sun at mid-day.

  With his brothers and son following behind he splashed up the canyon. From time to time they would come to a small, shallow pool to wade or a jumble of rocks the stream splashed down. They were very careful as they moved up the rocks to avoid slipping on the moss growing in the water. This far from home a broken leg would have been a death sentence. The canyon they were in twisted and turned, narrowed and widened.

  On occasion they’d come to a sandbar with footprints that showed they hadn’t lost the trail they’d been following. The footprints and smell of smoke led them forward. As the late afternoon sun began to redden the upper canyon walls Kok called a halt.

  “Why are we stopping?” asked Makok and nodded in the direction they’d been walking. “Our path hasn’t. And it isn’t safe to camp in a canyon this narrow.”

  Ahead they could see the narrow canyon they were in was coming to an end but a path worn in the rock led up the sloping cliff and through a sharp cut in the canyon wall from which the small stream issued. The water rushed and burbled down the rock face then moved past the men.

  “We’re not stopping to camp,” said Jakto. “Your dad’s guessing we’re nearing our destination, where ever that is, and wants to be ready.”

  The oldest son of Karg nodded to show Jakto was right and ordered a rest. After eating the last of their food Kok decided his family was ready. Besides if they waited too long they would be spending the night in the slot canyon - dangerous or not.

  Careful not to knock rocks down onto those who came behind Kok used one hand for balance as he moved up the slope. He followed the path worn in the rock as it climbed back and forth in short legs between the cliff and stream. A few moments later he edged up to the lip of the canyon and saw a small barrier of logs had been erected over the gap in the canyon wall. A hole between the bottom log and ground was large enough to let the stream cascade through.

  What’ve you found?” asked Jakto as he came up behind his older brother.

  Kok didn’t say anything but moved slightly to one side so Jakto could see around his older brother. A low whistle was heard as the man realized the logs had been set in place purposely not washed there.

  “Keep everyone here until I’ve checked out what’s on the other side,” Kok instructed.

  After getting an acknowledging grunt the eldest of Karg’s sons shrugged off his pack and handed it to Jakto who passed it down the line of men. Turning, Kok moved up to the barrier and climbed just enough to see over the logs. A glance around revealed trees, bushes, and the little stream that led up to the barrier. Birds sounded in nearby trees but there weren’t any animals in sight. Reaching for a hand hold he pulled himself up then climbed over the barrier.

  Keeping his spear ready Kok moved away from the log barrier and into the surrounding trees to scout. Moments later he returned and softly called, “It’s clear. Come on up.” Then he stepped off to one side to keep watch. Nothing would threaten his brothers and son while they climbed over the logs if he could help it.

  While he’d scouted the area he realized they were in a large valley surrounded with cliffs. From what he’d seen the only entrance to this place was the gap he’d just climbed through. Perhaps another way would be found as they had a chance to explore.

  Jakto was the first of the brothers to appear over the log barrier. His eyes lit up when he saw the valley. He gave another low whistle then looked down at his brothers. “You’ve got to see this,” he called.

  “Then hurry up!” Kekko’s voice coming from behind Jakto reflected his aggravation. “You’re the one blocking the way.”

  Jakto chuckled as he climbed over the logs then moved to stand next to Kok. While the rest of the family climbed over the barrier and left the slot canyon Kok continued to look around to familiarize himself with the surroundings. The lush grass underfoot provided a soft cushion while tall, slender aspen trees mingled with firs to create a protective canopy overhead blocking the darkening sky from view. This much cover was something he wasn’t used to. Of course he knew that the amount and size of plants in an area indicated the presence of water. But his experience had the plants in narrow strips along valley floors. Not like this. There was grass, bushes and trees everywhere. It was beautiful!

  “What is this place?” asked Makok in awed tones.

  The sound of his son’s voice brought Kok’s attention away from the paradise. “I don’t know but we’re going to find out.”

  “Is Mrek here?”

  Kok turned to look at his son. “No, Mrek isn’t here,” he replied and pointed at a line worn in the long grass. It went from the entrance and disappeared into the trees. “That path and the worn rock we climbed up means there are many more people here than just a missing hunter. And have been for quite a long time.”

  As the men followed the path the sun disappeared behind the western cliffs. They wandered through the trees and the brothers looked about in wonder at all the greenery. Kok shook his head in wonder. “This must be the home of God,” he muttered.

  “It’s beautiful,” added Kekko echoing Kok’s earlier thoughts.

  Towards the middle of the valley the trees and bushes straggled to an end opening onto a lush meadow of knee high grass. Kok held up a hand to stop his family while still in the trees. Above them stars began to appear in the darkening eastern sky. In the failing light the men saw a lush green meadow surrounding a large lake. The small stream they’d been following wandered from the lake, across the meadow towards them.

  “How have we missed this place?” asked Jakto. “Look,” he said pointing, “there’s plenty of water, wood for fires, and food.”

  “You’ve got to get in
to find it,” said Kaf and poked a thumb back the way they’d come. “That slot canyon doesn’t attract anyone’s attention and it’s the only way in. The cliffs don’t have any other passes that I can see.” It was readily apparent that the valley was ringed by a circle of rugged sheer cliffs.

  Jakto gave a low whistle. “There’s no climbing those rocks.”

  “Look!” cried Kekko, “there’s the smoke we’ve smelled.” A short distance from the lake was a cluster of…things. Piles of sticks and grass. Smoke issuing from several of those piles was blown by a gentle wind towards the forest where they stood.

  “There’s something moving down there,” announced Makok. “They’re not from the warm jungles. They’re…”

  “People!” interrupted Kok.