SABIS the SURVIVOR

Chapter 11: Law of Attraction

Chapter 11: Law of Attraction

Sabis needed to move on so that he could find the cure. He collected his belongings, took one last long look at the place where he almost became prey and passed into the stone, then imagined what it would look and feel like when his journey would eventually end in success.

He imagined a celebration of sorts: the tribe members would gather around a fire. Music, dancing, and ritual prayers and songs would fill the steam cycle and possibly spill over into the next, despite the lights being dimmed at the end of the first cycle. He would be praised and called a hero. New songs would be sung of his courage and dedication. His name Sabis, would become a legendary one.

At the outset of his quest, his clothes fit snugly to his lean and firm physique. But after so much time without the benefit of restful sleep, while trekking in the SkyGod's domain, his moss tunic and an array of weapons hung loosely around his waist and torso. But he was missing his prized steel blade. So he fulfilled his promise to the now 'passed into the stone' beast. Using one of the sharp edges of his rib spear, he carved the muscle and fat off from the beast's formidable jaw. He then fashioned a jawbone blade, big enough that he did not need a handle for it. He also extracted the two fangs from the beast's jaw and placed them in his left vest pocket.

Using his new jawbone blade, he sliced and tailored a form-fitting vest made out of the beast's pelt that, when placed over his loose-fitting garments, held them snugly in place while providing a much-needed insulation layer from the extreme cold. He then stripped the bones of their meat and carved them up into sizeable chunks to consume at a later time when he really needed it.

As he was about to depart, that tall stack of bones still drew his attention.

"What secrets do you hide?" he mused.

At that moment, he realized that the way these bones adhered to each other represented life on the surface of SkyGod's domain.

"It seems that we are all glued together in this life and in death. Well, it seems that in this region there is a good variety of sentient beings. Who will I encounter next on my journey?"

He missed the company of his brother and his Mother and his fellow tribe members. Even though he had devoted most of his cave-dwelling existence to either studying the Ancient texts or honing his physical fitness and warrior skills, he still craved human companionship, now more than ever.

Sabis also surmised that the glued bones could be used to better traverse the icy landscape. Just in case, he pulled three well-preserved long thigh bones from the pyramid and secured them at the top of his knapsack so that they rested perpendicular to his body.

"I need an extra set of legs to carry all of these trappings. How am I going to continue like this? I am shrinking daily and adding bones and blood to my cargo. What am I doing here?" He rubbed his chin with his roughened thumb and index finger and considered his options.

Doubt rubbed Sabis the wrong way and his mood soured. As he negotiated his exit from the beast's den, he felt a wetness on the palm of his hands. The ice was melting!

"Wow, what happened to the SkyGod that he has shown me this favour?"

Sabis licked his palms and his parched tongue sopped up the cool liquid. He skidded along the ice-snow field and at the bottom of a ravine, found a pool of water that seemed fresh enough. He bent down to drink. After quenching his thirst, he filled his shell with all the liquid that it could hold and covered it with the intestinal mesh which acted like a tarp.

As he stood up to climb the ravine, he noticed a set of small footprints that traveled across to the other side of the ravine where he spotted a small white and grey animal with a piece of clotted blood hanging from its chin.

"Who are you and are you tracking me?"

The small animal let out a "yip" and scurried off to beyond the next ice-snow knoll.

Sabis hurried after the white and grey scavenger. Against his training, knowing that this could be a trap set up by the animal to lure him into a dangerous situation, Sabis followed quickly to see where this animal had disappeared to.

"Mother Earth, I have traveled far and I grow weary of another spar."

Sabis did not want to track anymore nor to defeat another foe. What he wanted and needed was to rest in a warm alcove, consume some leafy greens and hot stuber soup, and close his eyes for a protracted sleep.

Still, curiosity and perhaps boredom allowed him to pursue this animal with some vigour. "Where are you, my little one?"

Seeing another living creature that did not want to eat or harm him helped Sabis to relax. He softened his tone as if he spoke to a scared child.

"I want to know your name. Where are you?"

Since there was ample snow on top of the ice, Sabis could spot the tracks of this creature with ease. Clearly, it either wanted to be found or did not have the expertise to conceal its tracks. He sung to the scavenger:

"Small footprints, who goes astray, glistening glass slippers, have I found a friend to play? With a stride and a slide across this divide, you shall meet me. You can run but you cannot hide!"

As he rounded another icy shelf, Sabis almost stumbled over the creature that had "yipped" moments before. It appeared to be a male animal with four short, stubby legs and a thick white and grey leathery hide that reflected SkyGod's brilliance back into the heavens.

"Not SkyGod's brilliance," Sabis grumbled. "But His temperamental paintbrush."

Sabis wanted to pick up the creature for a closer inspection but he reminded himself that a powerful punch can come from a small package. So he whistled and sang a lullaby tune from his earlier days to see if the animal would be lulled into a calm state.

"Your facial expression sends a chill causing running water to stand still. It's as if you swallowed a bitter pill but are trying not to show it. Your tail lies limp without motion, despite the fracas and commotion. You'd rather float and sway in the ocean, no more chomping on a bit.

Sleep puppy sleep. Sleep puppy sleep. These are the ways that we keep.

Sleep puppy sleep. I am now waist deep in your den. We are brethren.

Don't bite or nip or hoot like an owl, in your heart you know this is right. Tripping over your tail for a show, refrain from biting, it is time to go.

Sleep puppy sleep. Sleep puppy sleep. These are the ways that we keep. Sleep puppy sleep. I am now waist deep in your den. We are brethren.

Sleep puppy."

Sabis did not want to prey on this animal. He had the urge to scoop it up and use it as bait for another larger creature but he dismissed this urge almost immediately. Rather, he coaxed this small and seemingly harmless creature to walk with him by dropping little pieces of meat that he had salvaged from butchering his previous prey. After walking like this, with his new friend only a few steps to the rear, Sabis opened up his shell filled with water and poured some into his mouth and then set the shell down on a flat ice shelf where the creature could drink at his own pace.

As the canine-like creature lapped up water from his 'bowl', Sabis wondered how much longer they would have to push on until they reached the large and almost sky-touching white circular protrusion that seemed to grow more distant with every step.

They continued on together.