Death on the Trek (26 page)

Enga opened her eyes to see Ung giving her a look of sympathy. Ung ran her hand up and down the arm of Enga to soothe her.

I will be back in a moment
. Enga took the stone band and brought it to Hama. Enga knew she, herself, could never wear it. It was a beautiful thing, smooth and polished, fitting for the arm of a leader.

Hama understood at once. She took the band and put it onto her own forearm, nodding her thanks to Enga.

After Enga and Ung had gone through the things and laid them out so the tribe could choose what they wanted, Enga went back to where Tog Flint Shaper waited for her with Sooka. Enga was worried that Sooka, who had still been nursing with Vala, would not be able to have any milk. The baby had only one new tooth, although light marks on her lower gums told of more that would soon appear. The aroma of roasting meat permeated the village site. Enga would try to feed that to the baby.

Zhoo of Still Waters went through the things of Bodd Blow Striker. Fall Cape Maker, who had not communicated since his Gata brother was discovered trying to help Vala slay Enga, shook his head with sorrow when he was asked if he wanted to do look through the belongings of Bodd.

When the tribe ate at dark time, Enga chewed up the fresh roasted mammoth meat and gave that to Sooka. Sooka had no problem eating it and was eager to eat much more. It was a good thing that there was plenty of meat.

Even though everyone gorged on the meat, and even though two tribe members had been banished, the dancing that night was spirited and joyful. Fall eventually danced beside Zhoo, though without the energy of the others. Enga felt great relief that there was no longer a killer among them. Maybe the others did also.

Bahg Swiftfeet and Hapa had followed Vala and Bodd for a distance to make sure they kept going and did not come back. Everyone would be tuned for their thoughts for at least a moon and would know if they drew near again.

Enga was surprised how calm and happy Sooka seemed. She gave the baby a stick to chew on for the pain of teething. Maybe, Enga thought, the baby had been hungry, getting only milk. Maybe Vala did not have enough for the child, who was growing larger and larger. Enga was sure Sooka would be taller than Whim, the baby of Fee Long Thrower and Bahg, even though Whim was older by a few moons. Sooka was part Tall One and part Hamapa. Enga would always be aware of that. She came from people who spoke and did not read thoughts, but she also came from the Hamapa. Maybe she would learn to put hides together with the small, sharp bird bones that had been in the pouch of Vala. They had belonged to Stitcher. Enga had kept those for Sooka. She wanted her to have something of value from her birth-mother. And these were from her seed giver as well.

Enga would tell Sooka of the good in her birth-mother when she was older. About how Vala was the one who befriended Stitcher and was kind to him when no one else was. She would tell Sooka of the skill of her seed giver with the stitching implements, and how he had carved the Aja Hama figure. Maybe Sooka would be able to speak with the Tall Ones as well as thought-speak with the Hamapa.

After the dancing and singing, Enga and Tog lay next to each other, still in the open air, with Sooka between them. Construction on a new wipiti would begin at new sun, now that they had some tusks. Fall Cape Maker would treat the new hides and they would have protection when Cold Season came. The scent of the mammoth meat being smoked into jerky made this place feel like home to Enga.

Sooka made soft, wet sounds, sucking on her thumb, content.

Maybe they would move to the other side of the river. Maybe they would stay here. Maybe they would build a new village as good as or better than the one they had left.

These thoughts ran through the mind of Enga. She thought that Dakadaga approved of them when she saw the night eyes streaking across Mother Sky. She saw one, then another, then many others. Yes, Dakadaga was giving them a sign. She showered her blessings on the Hamapa.