After retrieving the other boat from where it was tied upstream, it was getting quite late. Camp was thrown together under another ancient tree with no sign yet of any storm on the horizon and any need of protective cover. Besides, it was hot, the kind of heat that after the mosquitoes died down, was best sleeping naked on top of bedding. Even the ground there was soft and dry. Tired from the day's exertion, they all fell asleep quickly. Even Shin.
But sometime in the middle of the night, Shin's ears perked up, and he began to whimper. It woke both Tor and Shea, while Tia slept on. Once Tor got Shin and Tsen, who, wild eyed and pawing the ground as if not knowing which way to run, quieted down, they heard it…
Off in the far distance there was something roaring. Tor knew what it was.
"That sounds like the cave bear I killed." He whispered to Shea.
"It doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard before. It's scaring me like it is Shin and Tsen." She crawled into Tor's arms, shivering in the heat.
"We must prepare. I will take some of our food, our meat, and take it down the trail some distance. It will be an offering to the gods and to the bear so that we will not be harmed tonight." Shea sensed from the wavering in his whisper that Tor was as frightened as she was.
Tor got out of bed, grabbed the offering and worked his way down the trail that had narrowed considerably until he was beyond shouting distance away from the girls and placed the meat in a form of offering. Saying a few hurried incantations. Before long, he sneaked back, seeing in the dark almost like a cat with his night eyes and a half moon reflecting off the water.
"I have placed the offering. But if the gods are angry, the bear may come to our camp. With enough warning, let's position the boats so we can leave if we have to, to escape the bear’s claws." Shea smelled the cold sweat of fear on his body. She knew they were in trouble.
They both got up and pushed the two boats back into the river. Tying them to a close by tree with a special knot that would release by merely pulling on the loose end. Fortunately, they had not unloaded for the overnight stay. With all the commotion, Tia woke up and wondered what was going on.
"We are in danger of a great bear. When I tell you, run for the boat and get your paddle ready. Don’t make a sound. If this bear is like other bears, it will swim quite well. But I think we may have the advantage on the water and we need to take it."
Tia shook her head in understanding from the wild look of fear in Tor's eyes that reminded her of when Nila had told her to run from the marauders. Initially groggy from sleep, her senses suddenly became hyperactive, listening with all her might and sniffing for any strange smells.
They went back to bed and the far off growling gradually faded into the sounds of the night, stilled because the black forest was so dense. Once again, exhaustion took over and everyone fell back asleep.
Sometime later, Tia woke up to hear the snuffing and shuffling of a bear far off down the bank. Even Shin had not heard it, but her young ears, did. She woke everyone up, shaking them gently with her small hand over their mouths like had been done to her when awakened to be quiet. Tsen started pawing the ground again and shifting from side to side, his nostrils flaring and a wild look in his eye.
"The beast is at the offering. We have to listen carefully and be ready to run. Tia, tell us if it is going back into the forest or coming toward us on the trail." Tor was not hearing the bear. Too many ear infections. Grateful that Tia could. But he sensed something wrong, terribly wrong.
The slight night breeze was drifting downriver, taking their scent with it. As soon as Tor realized, he heard a mighty roar and knew that the bear was coming their way, either after them or Tsen. He had to do something. He yelled!
"Quick! To the boat! We have to leave!"
They picked up their sleeping robes and ran to the boat. In a moment, Tor had pulled the knots free and both boats were in the current and heading downstream. Tsen was left on the bank, with the pack still on his back containing some meat. He was rearing up and whinnying loudly. Unsure whether to follow or not. His agitation grew as they disappeared out of sight. He ran back and forth on the trail. Not sure which way to run.
They still weren't very far from the bank, paddling hard toward the middle of the Rine while being pulled downstream by the current, when they saw him, a huge boar, even larger than the sow with clubs that Tor had killed. He was racing up the bank trail at an incredible speed when he saw them and stopped. At first, stood up his full height as if to show his massive strength, and then, plunged in the river, swimming strongly after them.
With Shin barking and whining as if to entice the beast, the three of them paddled as if their lives depended upon it, faster than they ever did before. The bear, also aided by the current was not catching up. They were leaving him behind with every stroke. Soon his huge head in the middle of the river gradually drifted out of sight.
And then, along the shore, in the moonlight, they saw Tsen keeping pace with them along the bank trail. Running like he never had run before. Tor sighed in relief. Tor thought he had lost his old friend in his prime. But they had to leave the Black Forest and paddled on until dawn.
Reaching a point where they saw the tributary going to the Copper clan, they paddled to the south bank again. It wasn't long after they arrived when they saw Tsen swimming across toward them. Tour realized why the marauders used boats. And why the trail along that bank was so narrow. They were among the few who passed that way and made it out alive. He didn't tell the girls. They were scared enough.
They slept on the bank until noon while Tsen rested from his ordeal and hard long run, staining some of the pack with his foamy, salty sweat. When the heat of midday, even in the shade, awoke them, they left the boats tied behind and headed up the tributary trail to the Copper clan.
It was very late in the day when they arrived. There were no fires burning. No friendly welcome. The camp was empty with weeds and saplings growing up all around. Tor was hoping to introduce Shea and Tia to his friends, Glu and Loa. But his calls out to them were in vain. No one answered.
On a premonition, Tor took the girls with him to that special place where Glu had shown him where they buried clan members. To his sorrow, Tor spotted two new rock gravesites and instinctively knew who they were for.
He explained sadly, "This was the last wish of the coppersmith here, Glu and his wife, Loa. These graves have to be them." He started to cry. Both Shea and Tia came and hugged him, understanding his pain. He remembered that they were old and in pain. Death may have come as a relief. Someone had taken the care to entomb them according to clan custom so that their bodies and bones would not be ravaged by wild beasts.
After swearing them to secrecy, Tor took the girls to the false grave and took off the covering stones. Immediately, many green copper pieces came into view. They hadn't been disturbed since the last time he saw them. He told Tia. "Remember this place, but tell no one. If Shea and I are dead, then tell someone you trust where this place is and how to find this treasure so it will not be lost and Glu's lifetime of work will not be in vain."
They returned to the camp. It was getting very late, so they ate and went directly to bed. Tor did not sleep, wondering what happened to his friend and mentor. Remembering that Glu had selected him as the only one who knew where his secret stash was. And, although he had trusted someone with the burial site and burial method, only Tor was given the location of the treasure. They were already loaded with treasure, he would leave it intact for now. But would probably return someday. He finally fell asleep.
There was no reason to stay any longer, so they returned to the boats and shoved off for the other side. Tsen, now well rested, followed them easily to the other side where he shook off the water like a wet dog and began following them, his routine, along the bank again.
Copyright 2021 © Ronald W. Hull
6/21/21
