A Mountain of Fire

by Marius Thue

  “You might think this would be enough to lose sleep tonight, but you still haven't heard the worst part. You still haven't heard about their chief,” the man continues. Saal snorts and spits on the ground. “Their chief will make even your mighty leader feel puny.” The man wisely steps away from Saal as he continues to talk. “The demons’ chief is the worst thing the underworld has ever spat out. If you see him in the forest, you might not have thought it, but the man is as strong as one hundred men put into one. It's said he can tear a man in half, and that the beast sleeps by his feet at night. Even the beast cowers in front of its master. A chief nearby is said to have stood up to him, but the demon simply punched a hole in his chest. Turn around now if you want to see tomorrow, because the demons come at night, and the sun will also on this day go down behind the mountains.”

  Neera can hear the buzz of over one hundred people talking at once. The northerner leaves them and begins packing his stuff into a sled. It seems everyone else is frozen in their spots. Even the chief has yet to move.

  “Tomorrow, we find the truth of your words,” Saal says. He walks over to the northerner and grabs his arm. “Until then, we stay.”

  The crowd begins to disperse and people withdraw to their recently constructed huts. They are scattered around an open, flat area. Neera counts over fifty as she wanders around between them. The mountains rise to the north and west. The forest lies thick in the south and east. Orientation is something Teego taught his daughter early on. In the day they use the sun and at night the stars. Neera always knows where home is simply by looking up.

  Neera walks over to her mother and father, who are putting their final touches on the hut. Logs are pushed up against each other, tied together and covered in animal skins. It's much harder than it looks, she reflects.

  These last few years her father has begun to nag her about finding a man. Teego, as the others call him, is not a great or terrifying man like others. He's skinny and in a lot of ways quite fragile. Unlike most of the men in the tribe, Teego is not a hunter. He's a gatherer and spends most of his days finding nuts, berries, mushrooms, and other edibles they might find in the area surrounding their campsites.

  He does this alongside his woman, Seeraba, Neera’s mother. Most fathers would have found a man for their daughter at this point; Neera has already seen twenty summers pass, but Teego is not like most fathers. Even if he doesn't force a man on her, he makes sure he mentions it as often as possible.

  “Aren't you going to find yourself a man soon?” he'll ask during almost every meal they share. Seeraba laughs every time. However, Neera doesn't quite see the humor in it.

  A couple of summers ago Neera was asked to become one of Chief Saal’s women. The chief had enough with the five he already had and shortly after he found his sixth anyway. Saal would have been a wise choice, she knows, but he's just not for her. He's too old for her as he's lived almost twice as long and could have easily been her father. He was the chief already during the time of her birth, so Neera doesn't like the idea of being with him. One day she will find the right man, the one she wants. Until that day, there's nothing much more to do than wait.

  Neera decides to help her parents finish the hut. Not long after she gets to work, her father begins to mumble something under his thin mustache, something he often does when he's trying to figure out what to say.

  “Did you see the man who was accepted into the tribe a few days ago? That might be something,” he says.

  Seeraba begins to chuckle as usual. Her man’s repeated attempts to find his daughter a man seems to amuse her greatly.

  “Yes, I saw him … and just heard him,” Neera answers. “But no, Father, I'm not interested in a beardy northerner.”

  “They are big and beardy, these northerners.” Seeraba nods in agreement.

  “Ha, yes, well, is that really so bad?” Teego wonders. He tugs on the few thin long hairs under his chin.

  Every man from the southeast tribe has hair on their upper lip and chin. Few have some patches by the jaw as well, but no one looks like those men from the north. All of those Neera has met have had big beards covering most of their faces. Neera's not quite sure what she thinks of it but feels they could maybe fix it up a bit, cut some away or something. Maybe they could braid it or simply tie some knots in it. Neera has seen similar facial hair not far from here. A tribe they met looked quite similar to those here in the north, but they braided and tied up hair and beard. She thinks it made for a nice look.

  They also met a tribe who had burned symbols on their faces and bodies. She doesn't quite know how they did it. Certainly, it must have been painful. The world is filled with all kinds of people, that's for sure. Maybe one day she will find a man that fits for her.

  “Do you think it's true?” Neera wonders.

  “No, I don't think so,” Teego answers.

  “Well, one never knows about gods and demons,” Seeraba protests.

  After all the years they have shared, Seeraba has, in many ways, become similar to her man. Or has he become like her? Neera doesn't have the answer to that question. Seeraba is scrawny and weak in the same way but has more of a spark in her. As the hut stands ready, they can see that the sun has passed its midway point, which means it's time to worship the gods.

  “What god do you wish to pray to today?” Seeraba asks as she always does.

  “Today I pray to Deb, god of wind and warmth. I pray for a warm summer,” Neera answers. She always liked the gods of the air and stars the best. The lie came surprisingly easy this time. She will be praying to Deb true enough, but she will not be asking for warmth. Deb is said to be able to bring magic with the wind, and Neera will today ask for something exciting to happen. These last few days have been long, and Neera hopes something will convince the chief to turn back toward the plains of their homeland. Perhaps Deb could trick Saal into thinking the demons in the mountain are real and thus scare him away from this place.

  “I pray to the god Tib, master of forests and animals. Let us hope this talk of demons is not true,” Seeraba says. “I also pray he can keep wolves and lions away from us.”

  Often Neera’s mother prays to some god for protection. After having lost so many children as she has, it's not strange at all, Neera thinks. Her father always prays to some god of love, and that's not so strange either.

  “I pray to Gob, the god who brings people together,” Teego says. Seeraba once again laughs at her man, but he doesn't care about that.

  Together they walk over to the stream and wash some nuts and animal bones. Further into the forest, they bury it all in the ground before silently asking their gods to fulfill their wishes.

  Neera fully and truly believes the gods are capable of anything. Several times they have made her wishes come true. It always comes with a price, however. The bigger the wish, the more the gods take in return. After Neera discovered this, she stopped asking for anything too big. The gods might be mighty, but they are equally, if not more so, unfair. Some curse the gods for their misfortune, but Neera carries no resentment. Without the gods, the world would be a sad place to live in.

  As the sun is about to set behind the mountains to the west, the buzz of voices continue to emanate from the camp. No one has forgotten or has finished discussing what the northerner spoke of. Most seem to be afraid, while others try to explain it away.

  Neera steps into the hut where her mother and father sit in an embrace. Furs have been laid out on the ground near the wall furthest inward. There, all three will sleep tonight, like they always do. They sit there for a while and relax without saying or doing anything. Neera can't keep silent, however.

  “Do you think it might be the god of death, Shib?” she wonders.

  “You mean the demon chief?” her mother answers, after having thought about it for a bit.

  “Demons are only evil gods, it's said,” Neera adds.

  “No, this is a god of the mountains, not one of ours,” her father says in a firm voice.

&nb
sp; “What's the name of the god of death up here, then?” Neera asks. She knows there are different gods in the mountains than in the forest. They are often very similar to the ones she knows but carry other names.

  “I'm not sure,” Teego and Seeraba answers at the same time.

  Neera peeks out the flap of the hut and realizes the sun has gone down. Shortly, darkness will fall upon the forest. She remains with her mother and father for some time. All she can hear is the voices from the camp and the sound of someone trying to light a fire. Their hut lies at the edge of the campsite. The opening points out toward the forest, and Neera can see deep in between the bright birches.

  “Perhaps the northerner knows?” Teego says suddenly.

  Yes, perhaps so, Neera thinks. She stands up and walks out while her mother laughs behind her. If she could find the northerner, he must know what kind of gods are in the mountain. She wanders between the huts, hearing the crackling of the newly lit fireplace.

  By the fire she spots Chief Saal sitting on a large rock while seemingly brooding about something. Neera passes him and arrives at the place she last saw the northerner, but he is no longer there. It seems he has packed up his things and left. If Saal finds out, he's in trouble.

  Neera walks through the camp, wondering about the gods. Perhaps they're not different gods at all but rather the same ones only going by different names. Suddenly she realizes she's stopped and has let her mind run off on its own. Two small children no more than three summers old stand staring at her. Neera giggles as she must have been standing there for some time, completely lost in her own mind. She scares the children away with a squeal. The little ones laugh cheerfully as they run to their parents.

  Neera smiles and turns toward the hut where her parents most likely are still resting. In the forest, she spots the northerner, who seems to be sneaking away. He pulls his sled behind him in the grass, crouching as he goes. She hurries after him, making sure no one sees her.

  On her way toward the man, she realizes that he's well fed, almost fat even. She didn't notice that before. Not many times in her life has she seen a human so round and lumpy. This man’s old tribe must have been very skilled hunters, and he probably never took part in even one hunt, by the look of him.

  She walks up behind him, making him jump back as he notices her. It seems he's headed toward the mountains, using the trees for cover.

  “Where are you going?” Neera asks anyway.

  “Eh, I must get out of here. Your chief won't listen to reason, so I'm leaving,” the northerner answers.

  “Can you answer a question first?” Neera asks again, grabbing his arm.

  “No, I have to go,” the man says and tears himself loose.

  “Wait!” Neera grabs him again. Many times she has been told she's a beautiful woman, but she's never taken advantage of it. Not like many of the women they have met during their travels. Often they will give themselves to a man in exchange for protection. This time Neera is desperate. She must know about the gods of the mountains. She lets go of him and pulls back. “Please?” she pleads while trying to make herself look as attractive as possible. She doesn't know if she's doing it right, but it doesn't matter. The man smiles, so she must have done something right. He takes a step toward her, but she steps equally further back.

  “What were you thinking about?” he asks.

  Neera can see the lust in his eyes. It's been warm these last few days, so Neera is lightly clothed. Strips of pelt cover only her breasts, hips, and feet. She feels naked when she sees his eyes rove all over her body. In that moment, she regrets having ever done this and takes another step back. Still she wants answers, however.

  “What is the name of the god of death in the mountains?” she asks, feeling her voice cracking with each word.

  “Come here, and I'll tell you,”

  Neera shivers as the man approaches, and it makes her want to scream. Just as she's about to release it, she hears another woman’s screams coming from inside the camp. Neera turns toward the sound. The screams are followed by even more screaming and crying.

  She tries to run toward the camp but is held back by the northerner. She can feel the smell of sweat embrace her as his hands lock her tight in his arms. The man’s stench is strong enough to make her gag. Past the flickering light of the campfire, she sees shadows coming down from the mountain. They run into camp, and Neera recognizes the horrible screams of people dying.

  “Look now. Perhaps you can see the god of death with your own eyes,” the northerner whispers. His words release the smell of rotting flesh from his mouth. “As he always says, the best prey is a terrified one.”

  Neera can't see it, but she's convinced the man is smiling. She can see her mother and father come running out of the hut. In front of them stands a man with black stripes of coal drawn all over his body. Teego and Seeraba stand frozen in front of him.

  Neera tries to scream, but the northerner’s hand quickly covers her mouth. Just then, she feels the tremors. It's as if the entire world begins to shake. Close to her, she sees the beast emerging from the forest. If Neera had been standing on her own shoulders, she still wouldn't reach up to those giant antlers. The eyes of the moose look dead and abandoned. In his hands he holds a large club with bones and sharp stones sticking out of the end. With one long, heavy swipe, he hits both Teego and Seeraba, sending them flying several steps across the grass and heather. The impact must have crushed every bone in their fragile bodies.

  Now Neera releases a scream not even the northerner’s hand could possibly contain. The beast turns slowly toward her before once again turning and stomping into camp, his club swinging around him. She can see bodies go flying all around. Some hit trees and others destroy huts as they land. One of the black-striped demons runs around with a torch, lighting all the huts on fire.

  “Now you will come home with me. Perhaps the beast wants his turn with you as well,” the northerner whispers under his foul breath.

  Neera lifts her legs and lets herself fall to the ground. The man has no time to react and loosens his grip on her. She turns around and sends her fist into the man’s groin. He shrinks down and she grabs the dagger tied to his hip. With all her force, she repeatedly buries it deep into the man’s throat.

  She sits over the dead and bloody northerner as she again feels the tremors in the ground. Quickly, she lays down and drags the big lifeless body over herself. She feels the beast walk with heavy footfalls past them. Head like a moose, body like a giant man. The screams of the camp begin to fade, but Neera remains still.

  The sun is about to rise before Neera dares to move. She pushes the smelly dead man off her and gets to her feet. Carefully, she walks into the destroyed camp and observes the ravaging done by the demons. Everything is either crushed or burned. The bodies lie scattered everywhere.

  They were no demons, only savages, killing and ravaging, Neera thinks. No, not demons. She would rather call them ravages. She spots Chief Saal, who lies dead by the snuffed-out campfire. With tears in her eyes, she considers the destruction. After a while, she realizes that none of the dead are children; they just seem to have vanished.

  Suddenly her eyes fall on Teego and Seeraba. They lie in embrace among broken branches and the furs that once made up their hut. Neera touches their cold bodies and breaks out into even more tears.

  Neera only manages to bury her mother and father before the wolves arrive. She flees to the west, along the mountains and away from the scavenging predators. With her she brings the sled the northerner had packed.

  For days Neera wanders alone in the forest. All she wants is to go home, but she knows it's far and that she probably will starve. For a long time she wanders around without food and barely without any water. One day she comes across a shallow yet wide stream. The water brings her respite she sorely needs. With both hands, she begins to collect water. Eventually, she dunks her entire face into the stream, swallowing down as much as she possibly can.

  After having sa
tisfied her thirst, she spots something further down the stream. It seems a boar has died here. Curious, she walks over and quickly realizes this is no boar at all but a man. He's big, blue, and cold. She can see dried blood on the pelts that don’t touch the water. The man has bite marks all over his body, and Neera assumes he’s been attacked by a pack of wolves. Since she never had the time to bury the rest of her tribe, at least she can bury this one.

  After some hard work, she manages to drag the lifeless corpse into a cave nearby. No scavengers will get to him before his burial. She lies him down inside and decides to light a fire for the night and bury the dead one in the morning.

  After having warmed up the cave, she hears some strange noises somewhere nearby. She steps out, but it appears the sounds are coming from inside the cave. It sounds like moaning. With a gasp, she realizes the dead man is not dead at all. Quickly, she pulls him closer to the fire and runs out to get him some water. With a pouch full of cold water, she pours it carefully into the corner of the man’s mouth. He drinks it but doesn't move at all.

  Neera tends to him for four whole days. She places him on a soft fur of caribou taken from the northerner’s sled. This way he doesn't have to lie on the cold, damp dirt inside the cave.

  The man’s wounds seems to have healed themselves somehow. This is for sure no ordinary man, she thinks. Could the gods have sent down one of their own as payment for all the lives those ravages took?

  Again, she goes down to the stream to fetch water. This time she sees the man sitting up inside the cave. He's a northerner, but he's young and handsome, unlike the other northerners Neera has met. The sight of him sitting there, looking all confused, makes her smile wide.

  She steps back in an attempt to hide her smile. Nervously, she decides to step inside and greet him.

  CHAPTER 6

  Thoke wakes on the floor of a small, bright cave. He can't remember how he got here or even where he is. Underneath him he feels a soft pelt of caribou with his fingers. He brushes his fingers over dark, moist dirt that seems to cover the cave’s floor. Several tools are spread around. Someone must have been living here for a while.