A Texas girl finds herself admiring a light in the sky only to find out it is indeed an alien, which transports her to another time long long ago in Africa and pairs her with a Neanderthal population in hopes that her descendants will populate Nort...
Suddenly the fire mountain came to life again, belching flames from its dreaded peak. Thick black smoke plowed out of the summit, forcing a fiery ash that rained down the entire area. Riangi called the others together. He had wanted to wait until dawn, but that would never come. At that moment they felt a tremor and a distant rumble of anger from the fiery spirit. There was a brief crimson flame that flickered beneath the black clouds. The spirits were not happy.
Young Sinomi wasn't with them. Go and find him Tabi, Kamrasi said, but be quiet about it. Do not alarm the Outsiders. The others lay down and rested, waiting, sleeping under the palm trees that lined the lake's outlet to the great falls. Had they known it, they would have seen the slow gathering of warriors near them. Finally, about two hours later, Tabi came back alone. He was panting.
Riangi, he said.
Where is Sinomi? Did you find him?
I'm not sure, he was still panting, but I think he is dead.
Riangi looked concerned, Julie gasped, and Kamrasi simply nodded, his eyes near slits.
How Tabi, what happened?
I walked all over this rotten place looking for him, Tabi said, asking people that he knew if they had seen him. No one could answer – or wouldn't. Then I headed toward the Jutting Rocks because that is where Junga chants. I went to where they make the leather for clothing; the women were softening the hide from the week's kill. Tabi paused looking over his shoulder as if expecting someone following. He continued, The Jutting Rocks were close, and I could hear a great commotion coming from there. I was told Junga talks with the Great Spirit there.
Another loud explosion rang out, interrupting him. Tabi paused as they all looked at the mountain.
I asked one of the women, the fat one, called Beadle if she had seen Sinomi. She stopped chewing the skin and looked up at me. She is so fat, her eyes are hard to see, and she has many bones in her head. She wiped the flesh and hair from her teeth, smiled at me as she always does, and said,
No, and she cackled like an old buzzard. The other women began laughing, at what – I, I did not know.
When did you last see him? I asked her.
He comes here often. She pointed towards the Jutting Rocks and went back to softening her leather.
Riangi grew impatient with the story, Where is Sinomi?
Undaunted Tabi continued. As I walked past Beadle and the others, I noticed one shelter was lined with breastplates leaning up against the side. I stared at them and they looked familiar. They were the faces of the women we brought along to trade, Remember?
The others nodded their heads knowing he would take his time anyway.
Their faces were made into breastplates, he continued, dried and very hard like wood. I recognized two of the girls because I had them on the way here. Their faces were stretched out into a round shield. But it was them for certain. Then I saw Sinomi.
Then he is all right, said Julie rather carelessly.
No, answered Tabi. He sat down on his haunches looking at the others. Then he picked up a twig and doodled in the dust. I did not say I saw him alive. I saw his face... Sinomi is dead.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
