The Shore of Women Read Online Free PDF Page A

they’re so fat. The leader told us that their men have been called to two different enclaves and that they control the paths to four shrines.”
    “I don’t believe it.”
    Hawk drew up his hood, hiding his brown braids. “He says they do. They fed us dried meat of their own before, and leaves with grain. He says they grow some of their own grain and don’t often have to forage for it. He says they keep herds of animals with them and have fresh food in the winter without having to hunt for it.”
    “If he has such a large band, then what does he want with ours?”
    Hawk leaned forward. “Unity. He spoke of unity—strength in numbers, he called it. He says bands do not have to fight other bands or avoid them. He says that one day, they will be so strong that they’ll destroy any band that isn’t part of theirs, and that all the weaker bands will die out, and that some day, they will be as strong as an enclave. And then…”
    Stel’s eyes were wide as he listened. Hawk shoved the boy. “Go away, Stel.”
    “Why?”
    “Just go. Practice with your spear or gather wood.”
    Stel wandered away from the lean-to as Hawk drew closer to me. “And then,” he whispered, “they will go to an enclave when they want to, and not just when they’re called.”
    I hid my face with my hand for a moment. “Do not say it. The Lady will hear.”
    “Their leader says he serves the Lady. He says he can hear Her even when he is not in a shrine wearing the Lady’s crown. He’s touched with holiness, and, when he is entranced, the Lady speaks through him. He says that She has told him that a new day is dawning for all men.”
    It sounded unholy to me. I sent up a silent prayer to ward off the Lady’s anger. “What happens if we don’t join them?”
    “We shall have a truce for now, but in the spring they will declare us their enemies and be free to hunt us down. They can do it, too. We cannot fight men on horseback.”
    “We can run from them.”
    “We would have to run far.”
    “Tal will never agree,” I said.
    “He’ll have to go along with what the others decide.”
    I wrapped my arms around my legs. Tal was watching the strangers, but I could not read his face.

    When the parley was over, the strangers rode down the hillside to make camp below and sent Cor up to us. They moved in a line, one horse following another, each man holding his reins in the same fashion, as if the thoughts of one ruled all.
    We gathered around the fire while Geab talked of what the strangers had said.
    “What do you think, Headman?” the Stalker asked.
    “I say we join,” Geab answered. “We need no new enemies, and their band has been blessed. We must join them.”
    “I agree,” the Stalker said.
    Arrow was nodding, and so was Eagle Eyes. Hawk, Cor, and I had no right to vote since we had not yet been called, and Stel was only a child.
    Tal shook his head. “We cannot do this. We live well enough.”
    Geab said, “We can live better.”
    “We’ll have to do what they tell us and live among strangers. We don’t know their speech. We may not have our own Headman.”
    “We all know holy speech, and I’ll still be our Headman,” Geab replied. “They have something they call a council, and I will speak for our band there, but we must obey their Headman.”
    “You will speak for us?” Tal scowled. “Do we not speak for ourselves?”
    “You will speak to me, and then I’ll speak to them.”
    “But you will not be our Headman then, Geab.” Tal showed his teeth. “I spent the night in Mary’s shrine. I’ve been called again. When I return, I shall be the Headman, and you will be an Elder.” Tal had saved that news.
    Geab narrowed his brown eyes and grinned; he did not seem disturbed. “There are no Elders in their camp. Their leader told me that. He says that they keep their old men and listen to their tales and make use of their wisdom. I’ll still be our Headman until I die—and, in a place like that, I may grow very