The Uprights, page 17
“I know you respect him. But he can’t mind you spending a little time with me. He knows we have just mated.”
“I want to go into the water as well. But now the leaders have agreed to explore the far hills, there might be things for me to do.”
Wuhn lifts her hand higher. Her fingers tug at his beast-skin.
“He didn’t tell you to stay by his side, did he? Come on, smile.”
Dhi wants to, but he is worried what his father will say when he can’t find him.
But it’s more than that. He’s also worried about Wuhn. Why has she talked him into coming to the lake. Doesn’t she care about his family? About his duty.
Dhi’s answers – his absences – his lack of interest in her closeness make Wuhn angry. She steps ahead of him, turns and grips his shoulders to bring him to a halt.
But Dhi’s thoughts are barely interrupted. He still wants to be next to his father when he awakes. But now it’s difficult. More than difficult. Impossible, because Wuhn is moving her body against his. Slowly. Sinuously. Suggesting – coaxing – forcing him to respond to her rhythm.
“Wuhn. We can come here later. After Tahk has given me his orders. Please let me go.”
“If you must go, Dhi. Go!”
But she knows he won’t. Not when she can feel his hand reaching up to enclose her breast; his club hardening against her belly.
She has wanted him from the moment she awoke. Now they are by the lake, she wants him even more. And he wants her. Except. Except now he doesn’t. She can feel his head lift from hers. Their mouths part. The tightness returning to his back.
“What is it Dhi? Are you still thinking of your father? Don’t you want to lie with me now?”
“No. No. It’s not that. It’s something else. Can you see over there? There’s an upright on the grass. Under that tree. He looks as if he’s hurt. Let me go to him.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re with me now. Leave him.”
“He might need my help.”
“I need you, Dhi.”
Dhi tries to pull away, but Wuhn won’t let him go. She’s determined to clasp him more tightly. Even so, he leaves her where it matters. She can tell.
“It’s Ohp. What’s he doing down here? On his own.”
As they approach, the older male blinks darkly. At Dhi and then Wuhn. Then back again. And while he tries to focus, not far away – in the trees, at the edge of the clearing – another pair of eyes also look. With much greater clarity. At Ohp, weak and defenceless on the ground. At Dhi, tall and well armed. At Wuhn. Especially at Wuhn.
*****
“Why are you crying, Luhla? Are you in pain?”
“No.”
She hasn’t noticed Tahk waking up and is annoyed he has seen her like this. It isn’t right for a female of her status.
“What is it then?”
“I’ve been thinking about Wuhn.”
“Wuhn?”
“Yes. I don’t like the way she ignores my orders. I know you told her she could bring flowers into the cave. But that’s her way and not mine. Jehkmin’s way and not yours.”
“But it was good. The other leaders liked the sweet smell.”
“Tahk.”
Luhla props herself up on her elbows and turns to face her mate.
“You said you don’t like fish. Didn’t want her to bring any into the cave. Yet she did. Why didn’t you punish her?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t feel like it. Besides it was good to be able to offer some when we had no more beast.”
Now she hesitates. She’s not sure she should continue.
“Do you want to mate with her? Take her from Dhi. Fight with your son if he doesn’t yield. I’ve seen how you look at her.”
“It’s been done before. It’s what gives the family healthy infants. Females should mate with the strongest males. It might even be good for Dhi to have a rival. It would make him tougher.”
“That’s why I am crying, Tahk. I know you. You could do that.”
“This talk is bad, Luhla. Stop. I could take Wuhn, but I won’t. I have all the females I need. In fact, I might give him some of mine. Not you, of course. My time is coming to an end. Dhi’s is just beginning.”
“Good. That’s what I think too. Thank you, Tahk.”
“No more now. Get me water. Tell Dhi and the other hunters to meet me by the eating stone. I want to explain what the leaders and I have agreed.”
*****
Luhla is happy to do what she has been told: soon Tahk is surrounded by those he called for.
“Listen to me. The clan may be moving. To somewhere else – somewhere better – to live.”
The hunters grunt enthusiastically.
“The sun – and my stick – told us where to go. It’s to the far hills. It’s further than we have ever been before.”
“Tahk. Are you sure there will be caves there?”
“I don’t know that, Dahrun.”
“What about water? Food. Beasts.”
“Don’t worry, Bahnor. Before we leave here, we will make sure everything is as it should be. That’s what the leaders and I agreed.”
“What did you agree, Tahk?”
“We agreed to send a small pack to have a look. Find out what we need to know.”
“You have thought of everything.”
“That’s not all. Each family will provide a hunter for this pack. It will be a pack of the whole clan. The first time we have ever done that.”
“Will you lead the pack, Tahk?”
“No. I’m too old now.”
“Who was chosen, Tahk? Tell us. Is it one of us?”
“Yes. It’s Dhi.”
Now he says his name, Tahk is prompted to sweep the ledge, looking for his son. For the first time, he realises he is nowhere to be seen. And that makes him concerned.
“Where is he? Has anyone seen Dhi?”
They all shake their heads.
“You, Dahrun. Go and find your brother.”
*****
Wuhn can’t help giggling. She has never seen an ear bobbing up and down.
“Why didn’t you stay by the cave yesterday, Ohp?”
“I had no interest in … Tahk’s meeting.”
“Why are you here, now?”
“I wanted to b-be b-by myself. I have much to … think about.”
“Is it to do with your ear?”
“Yes. Now I will never b-be leader.”
“Your hopes were always too high. You would never have taken Tahk’s place. The family supports him and not you.”
“I could have p-persuaded the … elders.”
“It’s too late now.”
“I know.”
“Without good ears you’re finished.”
“Tahk is still … wrong about the valley.”
“Don’t talk about my father like that, Ohp. He’s very angry with you.”
“B-because I’ve lost my … ear?”
“No. Not to do with that. It’s about the hunt you led.”
“I came b-back in time. I b-brought his … meat.”
“You didn’t trap enough beasts.”
“I did my b-best.”
“He knows the problem with the forest.”
“That’s why I b-butchered the b-bodies of …Vihnnak and Grohl. And p-put their b-bones in the meat store.”
“Tahk didn’t know you did that. You didn’t warn him. He was very annoyed when upright flesh appeared on the eating stone.”
“He had enough meat.”
“You humiliated him in front of all the leaders.”
Dhi decides to stop. What’s the point of telling Ohp that Tahk, in front of everyone at his meeting, threatened to cut off his half-brother’s head. He may change his mind. He hopes he will change his mind. At the feast, few of the leaders protested about upright flesh. And now Ohp is no threat.
“I don’t care what … Tahk thinks about the meat now. My life is … ended.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Without my ears, I’ve lost all chance of … challenging Tahk. I can’t even … hunt.”
“Of course not. But you can be an elder.”
“Not for long. Soon my ear will … drop off. Then I won’t b-be able to hear at all.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.”
“If I can’t hear, I can’t … talk. And if I can’t do that I will no … longer b-be an elder. Then I will get no food and … die.”
“It won’t fall off, Ohp. The skin looks strong.”
Dhi is being as encouraging as possible. He has seen similar wounds on other hunters. Not to their ears, but elsewhere on their bodies. Nearly always the flap goes black. And drops off. But what’s the point of telling Ohp that either. He is suffering already.
Wuhn’s patience runs out. She has had enough of this talk about meat and hunters. She reaches out, touches Ohp’s ear and makes it swing from side to side.
“You look so funny. Can you feel it moving?”
“Leave me … alone. B-both of you leave me … alone.”
“Go on, Ohp. I won’t hurt you.”
He tries to pull his head away, but not before Wuhn gives his dangling appendage another nudge.
“Stop.”
“No, it’s fun.”
But Ohp slaps Wuhn’s hand as fiercely as he can, long before she does anything else.
“Don’t do that, Ohp. You hurt me.”
In surprise more than pain, she turns to Dhi: “Did you see what Ohp did? Did you see him hit me.”
She hopes her mate will defend her, perhaps strike Ohp to the ground. But when she sees he won’t, she tugs at Dhi’s arm.
“Come on. Ohp is in a bad mood. There’s nothing you can do for him. Come with me now.”
*****
From his vantage point at the edge of the forest, Guhgral is almost overwhelmed by a sense of good fortune. For the first time, he is able to see Wuhn at close range. Marvel at the smoothness of her skin. The rise and fall of her breasts. The fatness of her limbs. Just looking at her, makes him excited, his mouth go dry, his club stiffen. If he feels this now, what will it be like when he has taken her from Dhi?
*****
As the water laps about their legs, Wuhn looks back. She can see Ohp with his funny ear, pacing up and down, occasionally glancing in their direction. And further away, one or two hunters with spears – she recognises them from her birth-family – coming down the path. Soon there will be more. This is not what she wants. Why can’t she lie with Dhi without there being other uprights around them? Injured uprights who make Dhi concerned. Fishing uprights who require Dhi to look and learn. She has to take Dhi away from all this.
“Dhi, I don’t want to go any deeper. The water’s getting cold. I’m frightened. Let’s get back to the grass.”
“It’s all right, Wuhn. I’ll hold you.”
But Wuhn pulls away. She isn’t really frightened and doesn’t need Dhi to help her. Unlike most uprights, she knows how to move her arms and legs to stop herself sinking. It isn’t that. She wants him to clasp her in a different way. Roughly. Not protectively. And certainly not when they are in the water, in front of the others. She crashes her hand down hard and laughs when Dhi complains about being splashed. She does it again. And again. Maybe this will make him do as she asks.
“Stop it, Wuhn. You know I don’t like getting water on face. I can’t breath. I’m not a fish like you.”
Wuhn can see Dhi’s displeasure, but since he doesn’t move, she splashes him again.
“Don’t.”
Again she ignores his entreaties. It isn’t amusing any more. In fact, she’s making him angry.
If his words aren’t going to stop her, then he will have to chase her out of the water. And as agile as she is, he will soon catch her. Perhaps strike her for being disobedient. But why, now she’s on dry land, is she running towards the trees? Surely she knows the forest is dangerous.
*****
Dahrun thinks it best not to tell Tahk that the guard saw Dhi and Wuhn leave the cave earlier. He respects Dhi and doesn’t want to do anything to cause him trouble. Tahk will be angry enough as it is.
“Do you know where your brother is, Dahrun?”
“No, father.”
“I have much to tell him.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know when he is coming back?”
“No.”
Tahk is surprised as much as angry. But then he thinks about it. His son has never left the cave before without telling him where he is going. But then he didn’t have Wuhn before. Tahk smiles. So that’s it. He has taken her to some quiet place. No. It’s the other way round. Wuhn has taken Dhi. He can understand that. He wishes she might have done the same thing with him. Except Luhla would be upset. And they have been together too long to upset her now.
“Dahrun. As soon as you see Dhi tell him to come to me.”
*****
Runaways often watch members of the family from the safety of their hiding places and wonder if the worker brothers they left behind are getting more food than themselves. Or ogle at the young females and dream of what might have been. But mostly they look because they have nothing better to do. And as long as they stay where they are, the family leaves them alone. What’s the point of getting a pack together, for at the first sign of danger, the runaways disappear into the forest. Besides, if they are careful, the runaways might as well continue to watch. Because they are unable to do anything else. It’s just the way it is. How it has always been. The family lives. The runaways look on. So the crack of a breaking twig. The squawk of a bird. The flitting of the occasional eye, are all tolerated. Expected. Nothing to get alarmed about.
“Wuhn. Stop. Wait for me.”
Dhi races after her as determinedly as he can, but is still unable to grab her hair. And there’s no point trying to hold onto her slippery body.
“Try and keep up with me. I’ll show you how fast I can run.”
She continues to jump and skip like a young beast along the winding, leaf strewn path. In spite of her exertions, she’s barely out of breath.
“Stop. You mustn’t go any further. It’s dangerous. There’re runaways all around. Stop.”
“You have to catch me first.”
Wuhn is far too excited to be frightened. Or maybe she is a little frightened and that makes her more excited. She knows all about the runaways and the forest – her mother made sure of that. But now she’s entering the very place she has been told not to go. Why shouldn’t she? She has left her birth-family and can do what she likes.
“Wuhn. I’m warning you. Stop. If you don’t, I’m going to leave you here on your own.”
In spite of the threat, Wuhn knows Dhi won’t abandon her. Can even tell from his voice that he is being aroused by the chase. Of course, he’s worried about the runaways, but that’s only his hunter’s training. He’s also enjoying himself. Perhaps surprised that someone so young – especially a female – can twist and turn so quickly. Keep out of his grasp. None of his other females would dare to defy him like that. Yet she’s certain he likes her funny ways. Hasn’t she managed to get him away from his father? Out of the water. Into the forest. She will slow down soon. Perhaps stumble. She wants to be caught.
“I’ve got you now. You deserve to be hit. You mustn’t disobey me like this.”
Dhi grips one of her slender arms and raises a fist. Wuhn doesn’t flinch. She expects to be slapped across the face, perhaps knocked to the ground, but she has a feeling Dhi won’t put any force into the blow.
She’s right. She knows her mate.
“I cannot strike you, Wuhn. But you must come back with me now.”
Dhi’s hands don’t move. Wuhn smiles, but not because she’s thankful she escaped a beating. She would have endured whatever Dhi did to her. Just as she survived the many Jehkmin gave her. Even when she was grown, he held back. Avoided her face. Made sure he hit her where the mark wouldn’t show. Fathers and mates. They’re all the same. Shout. Get cross. Threaten. But in the end, give way.
“You know what will happen if the runaways find you?”
“I’m safe with you, Dhi. You can protect me.”
“Against one or two. But not if there are more.”
“I know. But there’s no-one else here. We are alone.”
Dhi nods. Perhaps he’s making too much fuss.
“Dhi. Now we are here, can’t we rest a little. Sit down. Lie next to each other. I have something for you.”
Dhi looks at Wuhn’s fingers – so small and delicate – fumbling in her skin bag. The gently sloping mound of grass in front. The stream at the far edge of the clearing. A perfect setting for a hunter and his female, he has to admit. But around them, the trees threaten on all sides. He knows what might be lurking among them. And further in, a stiller, darker shape plucks at the chord of an ancient instinct. But is ignored. Or at least not recognised for what it is.
