“Kumaroo was watching me thismorning,” Toemeka said. “He makes me uneasy. Do you think hefollowed us?”
“It looks that way. I have abad feeling about this.”
“He probably thinks I’m uglybecause I don’t have tattooed, blue skin.”
“He probably thinks you’re anexotic beauty. Besides he could always tattoo you and pierce yournose.”
“Perish the thought!”
Michio found the idea unsettlingas well. He didn’t like the idea of tattoos marring her lovelyface.
When they arrived at camp,Toemeka put her hood up and lowered her head. Michio scowled at themen who watched her every move as he led her to the teepee. Michioheld open the flap and she went inside. He glanced back to seeKumaroo returning to camp. The two men’s eyes locked for a moment,then Michio followed Toemeka inside.
“All the men are staring at mebecause none of you thought to tell me the customs,” Toemeka said,looking from Jake to Erling. “I thought we’d been on enoughmissions together that you’d understand how important it is toshare crucial information.”
“This coming from the woman whotook off in the middle of the night on her own,” Jake said fromwhere he lay on his fur. “You freaked out when you saw Kumaroo. Ididn’t think you’d react well to knowing we were going to a warcamp of Owayan warriors, who consider women little more thanchattel.”
“I didn’t freak out.” Sheshrugged. “Well, maybe a little. Who wouldn’t? He’s scarylooking.”
“All the same, she’s right,”Erling said. “We should’ve told her. It was a bad call.”
“I was going to tell you whenwe reached the camp,” Jake said, “But we were all worn out and Ididn’t think of it.”
Erling rose. “I’ll get ussomething to eat.”
Michio looked at Toemeka. “It’sbest that you stay in the teepee today.”
“It seems I must, under thecircumstances.”
Erling returned shortly with alarge clay bowl of stew and four crudely carved spoons.
“Are we all going to eat out ofthe same dish?” Toemeka asked, making room for Erling by the fire.
“That’s the way things aredone here,” Jake said.
A whiff of the stew hit Michio’snostrils. “Smells good.” He dipped his spoon into the stewcomposed of hunks of meat and cut-up roots. It was flavorful andawakened his appetite.
After they’d eaten, Michiosaid, “I’m going to talk to the chief and make plans for gettingback to Borko.”
“How are you going to do that?”Toemeka asked. “You don’t speak the language.”
“The chief speaks the universallanguage,” Jake said.
Erling stood. “I’ll come withyou.”
“Toemeka, don’t let anyonecome in except the medicine man,” Michio said. “I’ll leave therifle in case you need it.”
He followed Erling out of theteepee.
***
The group gathered around Zacwhen he began telling Onolyn the next part of his story. Theadventurous tale helped relieve the tedium of sitting in the darkcave and kept everyone’s mind off the fear that the sinkhole wouldbe discovered. Zac had made up stories since he was a child and wasdelighted to have his skill coming to such good use while they idledaway the hours.
The first day Benray had demandedtotal silence and no light. That suited Zac just fine. He’d been upall night scouting. Najetta and most of the others rested or slept aswell. The break was welcome after so many days of hard travel, takingturns scouting, or keeping guard duty at night.
The no-light rule had beenrelaxed when Breezy needed to relieve herself. Benray had turned on aglobelight and they searched for a designated area to use. A narrowside passage that led to another small opening was soon discovered.It was unanimously decided that was the best spot for personal time.
By the second day, most weregetting restless and worried about running out of water and food, butBenray wouldn’t allow anyone to go outside. He didn’t want torisk leaving a trail that would lead the Samrat soldiers to theirhiding place.
The storytelling began whenOnolyn complained about going stir-crazy. Worse, she kept frettingabout Toemeka, Michio, Erling and Jake. Zac was worried too andwanted to leave the sinkhole to search for them. He thought the menwould’ve found Toemeka by now and rejoined the main group.
Kynail was supposed to bewatching for them. But anything could have gone wrong. Kynail mighthave been killed or Commander Rochambeau might have captured PrinceErling and the others.
Zac wished he’d insisted onstaying with Prince Erling as his bodyguard. Koriann would neverforgive him if Erling was killed. On the other hand, it was he who’dled Erling’s family to this swallow hole where they could hideuntil the danger passed. Moreover, Toemeka, Erling and Jake were allcompetent field agents and Michio was an Ashimsa warrior. They couldfend for themselves.
To entertain and distract Onolyn,Zac had decided to tell her one of the stories he’d made up andexpanded on over the years. Once he’d began his tale, conversationsaround them stopped and everyone listened. In his mind he’d createdan elaborate, fully-formed world with interesting, adventurouscharacters. He was glad to let everyone into this world.
Zac enjoyed it when peoplelaughed at a funny part of the story. He especially liked watchingOnolyn’s expressions as she listened intently. In the dim light,her pretty face glowed and her strawberry-blonde hair looked golden.He bet she’d never been called carrot-top as he had been. His hairwas an embarrassing flame of bright orange-red.
He and Onolyn had grown closer onthis trip. First, by sharing a tent, hiking and scouting together.Now they were hiding together. She even trusted him enough to sleepbeside him every night. Not that he could try anything in a crowdedcave.
Zac’s voice was getting hoarseand he told the group he needed a break. He reached for his waterflask and found it empty.
“You’re a wonderfulstoryteller,” Najetta said. “I can’t wait to hear more.”
Zac grinned. “I’m glad youlike it. I’ve never shared it before. Does anyone have water? Mythroat is parched from talking and I’m out.”
“I’m out,” Najetta said.
Onolyn picked up her flask andshook it. “I am, too.” She looked around the cave. “Does anyonehave any water left?”
“I don’t,” Richwood said.“None of us thought to fill up our water flasks before hiding. Wewere in a hurry to get here.”
“We’ll die without water,”Onolyn said. “Benray, you have to let someone go get water.”
“You can live a few dayswithout water,” Benray said. “It’s too risky for anyone toleave the sinkhole.”
Zac set
