The Gods Among Us

Chapter 22 - Julie Ran Back To

Julie ran back to their camp smiling, very excited, and breathing hard from the long run. Her hair was wet and bounced like a Zebra's tail behind her. Both were unaware of what had happened to Ujiji and his clan.

Wake up. Riangi, she said. Julie fell to her knees beside him and shook him awake.

He stirred from his sleep. The Sun shone through the treetops.

What is it, he said, his voice calm despite her excited state. He rolled over and went back to sleep.

No, you dork, water. A river. She mimed swimming, stroking her arms. Water.

River, Riangi mimicked.

One would think these two suffered from echolalia by the way they repeated each other's words constantly. But she was doing all right with his language after two months. Riangi slowly got up and stretched. Julie tugged at his arm.

Come on, you follow Julie.

Food, Julie. Riangi is hungry. I've got to eat.

They had what she called, leftovers, and a handful of figs. Soon, the sun peaked, and they slept until late afterward when Riangi finally agreed to go in search of, the water. Julie missed the path she had taken earlier, and they came to a crevasse. Its girth and depth daunted them, but her mind was made up and they found a way around it and so came to the river.

Without hesitation, Julie ran behind a pile of boulders where the water back washed into a swirling pool and jumped in.

Come on in, the water's fine, she said playfully splashing him, and then drank the clean water.

He looked around and she sensed his skepticism. What? She asked.

Dragons.

She leaped to the shore and jumped into his arms. He laughed as she climbed onto his shoulders. He walked to a clearing and put her down. Look, he said pointing upstream. There was the sound of a waterfall coming from upriver through the trees and she followed him there. They climbed a steep hill of boulders and detritus over which flowed quick and turbulent rapids. Beyond them was a long body of water, narrow at one end and wide at the other, and it allowed a magnificent waterfall to spill silently from high above the tallest trees.

The pond was surrounded by thick bushes and trees and a sheer cliff that wrapped around it and formed a bowl – a secluded dingle where sounds echoed.

The walls were steep and close to the water's edge and Riangi jumped in and Julie followed. They avoided the turbulent rapids and swam across to the other side where it was roomier and more open. The rising sun shone through the trees and glanced across the rippling water throwing shadows on the sand where they stood.

Riangi leaned up against a stone and stared at Julie. She wondered if he thought she was pretty; did he admire her breasts, lust after her hips? Did he enjoy stroking her legs as they lay together?

She felt self-conscious about always being naked, even though he too was naked, and being pregnant, she felt even more unattractive, like Adam and Eve who had already tasted the apple.

What do your women look like? She asked him after a bit.

Women are women. Like you but darker, he said, do you understand?

Are they soft? She touched herself stroking her arms, her breasts, and her growing belly. She imagined them looking like him but with women's parts. She tried to imagine Riangi whacking one over the head with a club and dragging her off to his lair.