The boy laid down to rest near the very back of the lean-to, gathering some leaves the two adult women had somehow strung together to act as a covering for sleep. There was no warmth in laying under the leaves, however, certainly nothing like luxuriating under a bearskin or a cover made from other furred animals. The boy thought about how trading worked in his old tribe. Hunters from other tribes located much further upriver from the tribe would visit during the late morning or early afternoon hours. They’d lay down some animal skin and then put what they wanted to trade on its clean surface. Then they would sit and wait for any interested tribal member to come by, bringing something to trade. There was little talk, as the dialects of differing languages spoken among the many tribes were distinctly different and there was no one to translate.
The wind was picking up as the late afternoon was turning into night. Aurora and Night Moon had both fires burning, although one would be extinguished before the full darkness of night came on. The boy breathed deeply in and out, finally realizing that the blanket he’d covered himself wasn’t made from leaves at all. It had to be beaten Yucca, as the aroma emanating out of it was a sweet carroty smell. The Yucca plants had been those most used by his tribe for making everything from rope to clothing and even substituting for soap when none of that rare product was available through trading.
Sure are keeping our interest perked up, James!
One correction: “It didn’t take long before he came upon the squatting warrior, working with a pile of long stalk-like leaves. He settled in, between the limited space between Cetan and the nearby river.” Maybe, “He settled into the limited space…..”?
Still wondering what that big beaver is going to do. I can picture him biting a foot off someone…
Beavers, for the most part, don’t bite humans unless attacked
and even with that the last time I saw a report of such a thing was when I was a kid.
Herbivorous animals don’t seek to eat meat and most animals not in search of prey
don’t attack because they might get hurt in the process.
In the wild, getting wounded among other predators is usually terminal in a most painful way…
Semper fi,
Jim
“Not if you leave the raft further down and carefully load smaller baskets to deposit in a big[ basked aboard the thing. [basket]
Thanks for feeding my need with another great chapter.
Thanks again, Pete for all of your continued support and sharp eyes.
Noted and corrected.
Semper fi,
Jim
James, Thank you for another installment. It feeds my big cat fantasy.
Thank you James. Was a much needed and welcome way to wake up to this morning. As always, looking forward to your writing
Appreciate your support, Jack
Remember to share with friends.
Semper fi,
Jim
you can come down the river and guide it up in the close in water where the current isn’t strong. I may be wrong but ( up in the close in water) sounds wrong or it’s the way they speak?
Thank Mike. Corrected.
Appreciate your support
Semper fi,
Jim
“Is that thing going to stay here?” Aurora asked, stopping not from where the cat lays to point at it.
… stopping not *far* from where …
Thanks so much for the help Roy!
Semper fi,
Jim