Honey Bee Tree Courtesy HorizontalHive.com

Down out of the mountains the trail entered the ancient black forest that only opened up where storms had ripped through and thrown the trees asunder or the occasional campfire or lightning started fire that raged unheeded to the terror of all creatures in its path. While those fires were rare, there were two places along the path where Tor was heading where fires had left only smoldering remains where mighty trees had once stood.

Still, in these places, meadows caused by any number of natural circumstances or clansman stripping the area of trees for building and firewood, wildlife flourished with the new growth. But, sometimes the brush was so thick that not even animals could penetrate. There were several small streams and a couple of rivers to cross but that was all that was left to cross before reaching the Rine and home.

Tor didn't think of meeting another raiding party. There were only old men and boys younger than he left in the clan the year before when their party left. No more were left to follow. The clan had been losing members to disease and death for a number of years and Tor knew that he was now seasoned as a raider and if there was another raid, he would be the leader of a bunch of youngsters who never had made the trip to the River Po, like he had, three times. It was hard thinking that he would have to take over the responsibility his father had. Very hard.

Game was less prevalent in the ancient forest, but Tor knew where it was. Where the game trails came down to the creeks and rivers. Almost all of the forest animals needed to drink water occasionally. After the first day, coming closer than ever to home, they camped at an idyllic spot on the south side of an unnamed river that would require that Tsen show his swimming ability again. This time, Tor was assured that his horse would not be bothered by this crossing.

Eager to get started, Tor was up and ready to transport his belongings on a makeshift raft of long dried dead logs bleaching in the sun used for rafts in the past. Scattered on the bank, their bindings rotting away. Once again, he rode on the back of Tsen, giving Him encouragement, and towed the raft on the long braided hide rope behind.

This time the current was manageable and everything went smoothly, placing them ever closer to their destination as they reached the other bank without any mishap or danger. Still, Tor became increasingly anxious over what he would tell his mother as he rode along. He rehearsed it in his mind, but wasn't sure if he would be able to tell her everything that had happened. He cried thinking of it once again. What he had seen and done made him a man before his time. But he was still a child in the eyes of his mother. That's why he cried… The child within him still lived.

They were underway only a short while, when, with the almost imperceptible wind in their face, both Shin and Tsen picked up something that Tor hadn't smelled yet. But soon after he was alerted.  He saw an indistinct small dark black figure moving up ahead in the distance and immediately knew that it was a bear cub. And then, another popped into view. Coming their way.

Tor remembered what his father had told him. "If you see a bear coming your way on the trail and you don't want to have a fight, step off the trail and leave it be. Most of the time the bear will pass by on the trail and not bother you. But every once in a while, the bear will wish to fight. Avoid mother bears with cubs. They can be very mean and dangerous."

He didn't hesitate. Tor motioned by a short pull on Tsen's mane that he wanted him to bear off to the right into the deeper forest. As he did, he whispered firmly, "Shin… Quiet… Follow… Quiet… Follow."

In an instant, they dove in between huge trees and were soon over 50 yards off the trail, hid by all of the massive tree trunks. They took their scent with them. But as Tor watched from his elevated position on Tsen's back, he could see the curious cubs frolicking in exploration along the trail and its edges, while the mother bear followed rather close behind with her nose in the air, ever watchful for threats against her cubs. Most likely, bulls that would kill her cubs in order to become her mate. Such was the way of bears, the elders had taught him.

Before long, the forest began to come alive with birdsong again and Tor knew that the trail would be clear to travel on because the bears were gone. But he got an idea while waiting on the bears. Seeing the bears reminded him that there was an ancient bee tree just up ahead that they had stopped to get honey from in other raids.

Tor remembered where the tree was; some distance from the trail so that only the members of his clan knew exactly where it was. Just what he needed to help his mother be able to take the terrible story he would bring with him and help the clan benefit from his knowledge of this secret source of sweetness.

Honey and royal jelly was a rare treat for the clan. Tor was eager to see if he could find some good tidings for his arrival after so long. Though still very anxious to get home, he was willing to give it a try even though Tor had never dealt with honeybees before except what he had learned from the clan honey master, Org.

The wisened graybeard never let others of the clan gather honey and the more prized, royal jelly, because he cautioned others that it was too dangerous. But during times when Tor was given instruction, Org shared the secrets of the trade with him, choosing him to be the one to take over, promising to show Tor how to do it. But that chance didn't happen before he was killed by that strange, lonely old man with some kind of vicious anger toward Tor's father and the rest of the raiders, Including Org.

Fortunately, there was a bit of meadow where the sun broke through the dark forest filled with late spring grasses, flowers and other succulent food for butterflies, bees, spiders and any number of other insects being gobbled up by birds flitting back and forth in the sunlit cornucopia that was the summer gods domain.

Tor dismounted to Tsen's delight and set him loose to graze on the lush green grass. Across the meadow, a fallow doe grazed with two fawns, undisturbed by the presence of the horse coming to the opening to share in the bounty. The air was abuzz with insects and bird's calling one another. Unlike the quieter walk under the trees. With an occasional squirrel popping its head out or running along a log or up a tree into a domain only squirrels knew unless one chose to climb.

Shin obediently followed his master deep into the woods where there was no trail but the undergrowth underneath the massive trees was open because very little light reached the forest floor where ferns, fungus and moss covered the many fallen limbs and trees of centuries undisturbed.

The going was slowed by having to climb over or crawl under deadfall, but after some time they came close to where the bee tree was and Tor stopped to prepare.

Remembering what Org had taught him, Tor gathered some crumbling wood from an ancient log, popping a few large grubs in his mouth while he did and then expertly spitting out the head and guts before swallowing the delicacy and medicine the white wiggly creatures provided.

Among some rocks,  Tor removed his ember and quickly started a fire that he covered over with moss so that it just smoldered rather than burst into flame. Leaving his backpack and supplies near the smoldering fire, using some gut tied to a gourd that he had bored some holes in with his knife. Filling the gourd with the smoking moss, Tor had a perfect smoking pot to calm the bees.

Tor had a basket given to him by Silva that he lined with leaves to contain the honey. He had all that he needed to gather it. Now all he had to do was conjure up the courage to face the bees. Praying to the gods that it would be as easy as he was taught.

He proceeded to the nearby tree with Shin on his heels. There was a lot of buzzing activity showing that the ancient tree was still very productive. Tor had to shimmy up the tree to get to the first branch quite high off the ground. From there, it was two more branches and he was at the entrance to the hive that had been opened up earlier by Org in other years.

For some time, Tor held the pot up by the hole and let the smoke flow in and around until he thought that the bees were calm enough for him to reach in and get what he was after. Guard bees were still flying around, but had not attacked him, yet.

With his knife, Tor began scooping out honeycomb into the basket tied around his waist. Finally, he found some royal jelly, and dug that out, too. But his activity and failure to keep the smoke there while trying to scoop the honey, having only two hands, made it difficult and he let the smoke pot hang from his neck with the smoke getting in his eyes. He stopped digging; felt he had taken enough. The bees would still have enough honey and royal jelly to continue to be healthy. Something that Org had taught him to be sure to do.

Rubbing his eyes with his knuckles caused him to momentarily lose his balance, something quite difficult to maintain standing on a single branch with hands full. Tor flailed  his arms backwards to regain his balance, while his knife flew out of his hand and he teetered backward and forward, arousing the bees with all of that motion.

A couple of guard bees came in and stung him on the neck and head. He swatted them, enraging other bees. From there, he hardly remembered how he got down except that he fell from that last branch and landed on his back, fortunately on the soft moss and ferns. Only to be attacked by bees and frantically running through the forest blindly, running into trees and tripping over deadfall as he went.

Shin was as inexperienced in this matter, but protecting his master as best he could. The bees stung him mercilessly while he helped distract them enough with his wild action trying to bite them flying by, that Tor was able to circle back under the tree and gather the honeycomb into the basket that was on the ground and pick up his knife before leaving again. This time with what he came for.

Back at the fire and his backpack, Tor began pulling the stingers from his body everywhere and calling Shin to his side, began doing the same thing for his dog. It took nearly an hour and he was starting to swell up everywhere, especially around his mouth and eyes. Before long, he couldn't see. But he dug a hole with his hands in the soft forest earth and placed the basket in it. Covering it over, first with a bit of hide and then, dirt. There were bears in the area and he didn't want them smelling the honey.

It was all he could do to finish these tasks as he felt so feverish and had a massive headache. Tor found his water bag and drank his fill before his mouth began to swell up too much, his throat dry and parched as the fever set in. Unable to see, crawled off and found a soft spot in the moss, rolled up in it, and fell off into a fever induced sleep.

Two days later, although he didn't know it, Tor woke up and found that he could now barely see through slits where his eyes burned and watered. Shin, also looking strangely swollen under his fur, had been licking his face in an effort to wake him up. his body was sore from end to end. It was painful for him to move his joints.

But, Tor was now hungry, and set about making himself some morning soup from what he had in his pack. Glad later to see Tsen grazing in the meadow peacefully nearby. He was glad to be alive. Unsure whether he would rob bees again.

Copyright 2020 © Ronald W. Hull

7/3/20