to show his courage and leadership. Tales of his strength and boldness in the face of the unknown had already been told in the caverns, and committed to The Memories forever. His companions were far behind when he reached the brow of a hill, and looked into a shallow valley devastated beyond belief.
Hinchai were everywhere.
Uprooted trees were scattered in all directions, a wide gouge in the earth stretching nearly to the foggy horizon. Hinchai males rode animals pulling huge, shiny monsters spewing white steam and noise, destroying everything in their path. Maki stepped behind a large tree, trying to escape the noise, but it seemed to be coming from all directions, crushing him. He breathed deeply, fighting back panic, then walked back crouched over to where the others waited nervously for him.
“The invasion has begun,” he told them breathlessly. “The main Hinchai force is below, destroying everything in its path. Now perhaps my father will listen to me, and begin to kill our enemy. We must hurry to warn him, and prepare for war!”
“How can we fight so many when they can even destroy the land? We have to move like the other bands, Maki.” Han was nearly pleading. “We can’t go back, now. Let’s find Hidaig’s band, and take some females to make our place where the Hinchai can never find us.”
“And where might that be?”
“To the west. The hills are solid trees to the west, and there are only scattered Hinchai, alone and unprotected. We could make dominance there.”
“You forget that our ancestors came from the west. What do you think they were fleeing? I’ll tell you what; thousands and thousands of Hinchai, and their noise, and destruction of the land. To return west is to die; it is a stupid suggestion. We must make a stand here, or a little north. It is our last place.”
“Your father will send the Tenanken out to live among the Hinchai. He says they are our cousins, that we are of them in most ways, and can—”
“My father is a foolish and feeble old dreamer who lives with memories of past days without Hinchai, and keeps his eyes closed to the present. He has the affliction of the old, and it is up to our generation to preserve the lives and dignity of the Tenanken, even if it means war! We will not be forced into Hinchai subjugation, I tell you, and we will retain our identity or die! Do you stand with, or against me in this?” Maki’s voice seethed with the passion of a zealot.
“We follow you where you lead us, Maki,” said Han quietly. Perhaps he actually understood, but Dorald was hopeless, his brain operating at a level only high enough to obtain food and defecate. His usefulness would be limited, although around those who didn’t know him his physical presence was usually intimidating, and Maki could make good use of that.
“For now, we return to the caverns, and try to organize those few who might be willing to fight. Come on.” Maki turned on his heel, and marched away from the noise and steam. The others followed silently until Dorald suddenly giggled, and said, “I kill Hinchai.” Han shushed him, but Maki called back over his shoulder, “Follow me, and you’ll get your chance, but you’ll do it when the time is right.” What kind of fantasy was playing in the big Tenanken’s feeble mind?
They marched until the sun was again low in the sky, and the changing direction of the wind told them evening was fast approaching. Their route remained high on the hills, where Hinchai rarely ventured, and they could see far in every direction. It was Han who first spotted the stream of smoke coming up from the trees. An open fire, or another Hinchai settlement? They were only a half-day march from the caverns, and this was something new. Han pointed it out to Maki.
“It’s on our path, so we’ll look,” said Maki. “I hope it’s a settlement, and they have animals. The Hinchai have scared much game away, and I don’t intend to return empty-handed on this
Hinchai were everywhere.
Uprooted trees were scattered in all directions, a wide gouge in the earth stretching nearly to the foggy horizon. Hinchai males rode animals pulling huge, shiny monsters spewing white steam and noise, destroying everything in their path. Maki stepped behind a large tree, trying to escape the noise, but it seemed to be coming from all directions, crushing him. He breathed deeply, fighting back panic, then walked back crouched over to where the others waited nervously for him.
“The invasion has begun,” he told them breathlessly. “The main Hinchai force is below, destroying everything in its path. Now perhaps my father will listen to me, and begin to kill our enemy. We must hurry to warn him, and prepare for war!”
“How can we fight so many when they can even destroy the land? We have to move like the other bands, Maki.” Han was nearly pleading. “We can’t go back, now. Let’s find Hidaig’s band, and take some females to make our place where the Hinchai can never find us.”
“And where might that be?”
“To the west. The hills are solid trees to the west, and there are only scattered Hinchai, alone and unprotected. We could make dominance there.”
“You forget that our ancestors came from the west. What do you think they were fleeing? I’ll tell you what; thousands and thousands of Hinchai, and their noise, and destruction of the land. To return west is to die; it is a stupid suggestion. We must make a stand here, or a little north. It is our last place.”
“Your father will send the Tenanken out to live among the Hinchai. He says they are our cousins, that we are of them in most ways, and can—”
“My father is a foolish and feeble old dreamer who lives with memories of past days without Hinchai, and keeps his eyes closed to the present. He has the affliction of the old, and it is up to our generation to preserve the lives and dignity of the Tenanken, even if it means war! We will not be forced into Hinchai subjugation, I tell you, and we will retain our identity or die! Do you stand with, or against me in this?” Maki’s voice seethed with the passion of a zealot.
“We follow you where you lead us, Maki,” said Han quietly. Perhaps he actually understood, but Dorald was hopeless, his brain operating at a level only high enough to obtain food and defecate. His usefulness would be limited, although around those who didn’t know him his physical presence was usually intimidating, and Maki could make good use of that.
“For now, we return to the caverns, and try to organize those few who might be willing to fight. Come on.” Maki turned on his heel, and marched away from the noise and steam. The others followed silently until Dorald suddenly giggled, and said, “I kill Hinchai.” Han shushed him, but Maki called back over his shoulder, “Follow me, and you’ll get your chance, but you’ll do it when the time is right.” What kind of fantasy was playing in the big Tenanken’s feeble mind?
They marched until the sun was again low in the sky, and the changing direction of the wind told them evening was fast approaching. Their route remained high on the hills, where Hinchai rarely ventured, and they could see far in every direction. It was Han who first spotted the stream of smoke coming up from the trees. An open fire, or another Hinchai settlement? They were only a half-day march from the caverns, and this was something new. Han pointed it out to Maki.
“It’s on our path, so we’ll look,” said Maki. “I hope it’s a settlement, and they have animals. The Hinchai have scared much game away, and I don’t intend to return empty-handed on this
Similar Books
The Channel (The Gifted Book 2)
C. L. McCourt
UpAndComing
Christi Ann
For Lovers Only
Alex Hairston
Broken Heart 04 Wait till Your Vampire Gets Home
Michele Bardsley
Separate Roads
Tracie Peterson, Judith Pella
Eden's Hammer
Lloyd Tackitt
State of Grace
Joy Williams
Witch Hammer
M. J. Trow
The Book of Joe
Jonathan Tropper