Before the winter was over, one or two of the young men of the tribe that were jealous because Shea had been aloof with them, and yet, seemed eager to become Tor's woman with nothing more than her sudden, fickle attraction, changed their minds. 

Not only did Tor carry his weight when it came to work for the clan, he excelled. And it was his tales and experience, telling the other men how he had put an arrow in the old man that killed his father and then, actually killed the same way. His humility in the way that he put it, not proud at all, as they had not killed, bonded them to him. A fighting force was formed over firelight talk.

The plan was simple. Munk wanted to strike early, knowing that most clans were weak in the early spring from whatever the gods had befell them during the long winter. And they would not have prepared or left to go raiding, yet.

Tor cautioned him. "We do not know how many they are, or how strong. We must find that out first. I suggest that we carefully and quietly observe their camp to find out these things before we ever move on them. The boat I have is the quickest way to get there. I suggest that Shea and I take the boat as soon as the ice leaves the river, and the rest of you follow along the bank with Tsen carrying supplies so that you can move faster."

Munk smiled in agreement. "How do you suggest we attack?" Curious about Tor's opinion.

"At night, an hour before dawn when they are most asleep. If there are dogs, we have to dispatch them with arrows so that they don't even bark or howl. We can use meat to lure them to us, perhaps. They could be a problem. And then, we should be as quiet as we can and kill as quickly as we can in their sleep. No reason to give them any chance of fighting back for what they have done." He looked around for affirmation and saw it in the eyes of others--hatred.

"Okay, we will monitor the ice and prepare many arrows, sharp knives and heavy clubs to do what we have to do. When we get there, however far it is, I look to Shea and you to be able to get us the information we need to do what has to be done." Munk tried to steel his emotions, but it was clear that he was not feeling very good about killing, never having killed a man in his life.

The army was small. Five young men and two young women. They were volunteers. Munk would have it no other way. Not willing to lead a killing party that was not willing to kill or did not have the strength to fight older men, very experienced in fighting. All they had was youth, determination, and hopefully, good leadership from both Munk and Tor. But there was none among them that did not have some trepidation. Shea seemed to be the most determined. That's how mentally strong she was.

The day came when the ice was leaving their canyon stream and they all moved downriver to camp where the boat had been upside down on the bank all winter. When they turned it over, they were faced with an angry fox with three kits who had burrowed under and was using it as her home. Before they settled in to their camp that night, they all ate fresh fox meat, fresh energy for the task ahead. A walk, they did not know, how long.

In two suns, there was a mighty cracking of ice as it piled up and the water rose quickly, forcing it downriver in a mighty mass that tore at the riverbanks as it passed. Something that Canyon people had not experienced and marveled at its power.

Tor loaded Tsen with supplies and tried to tell him that he had to stay with Munk, tied to him, and not try to follow Shea and him on the river. He doubted that the very smart horse understood what he was saying and gesturing, but only trying it would be a way to find out. He was also toying with how he might use Tsen in battle, but he hadn't figured that out yet.

The ice moved very quickly and when there were just smaller pieces flowing rapidly in the swollen Rine, they put the boat in the water with supplies and Shin at the bow to alert them to anything he smelled up ahead.

As they pulled away from the bank with Shea paddling in front and Tor in the rear, they felt the mighty pull of the river take them rapidly downstream, faster than Tor had experienced and to the delight of Shea who had never experienced a boat ride like this either.

That left Tsen whinnying on the shore, trying to follow his master. While Munk held onto the woven rawhide rope with all his might, Tsen broke free and began following. Munk, shaking his head, summoned his army, also with supplies on their backs, to follow and they started off trotting after the horse, but soon settled into a fast walk, knowing that they would have to go a long way. How far, they did not know.

When the sun was high and their fair skin was being burned by the sun, Tor steered the boat to the bank in a quiet place so they could find some shade, eat a little, rest and give Tsen some opportunity to graze before tying him to a tree.

When they left, Tsen, pulled very hard on the tree, almost to the point of breaking the rope, rearing up and whinnying his disapproval of being left behind on this journey with his master. Fortunately, he didn't break free or lose his load and settled down to grazing again after their boat disappeared from sight.

Gauging their speed, Tor did not want to out run the main party on this first day and they were burned by the sun now to the point where they needed to get out of it. Finding again, a likely spot, they pulled in and began to make camp for the night under the shade of large trees.

The couple was preparing an evening meal when Tsen, once again, showed up without Munk and the others. Tor admonished the big lug, but he doubted if the horse had learned what he needed to know, without him teaching him. So, he grabbed hold of the dragging rope and began walking Tsen up and down the trail on either side of the camp while Shea continued cooking. Hoping that Tsen would get the idea that being led by a man was not a bad thing.

It was near dark when the rest of the party showed up—very tired. Tor and Shea had moved faster than he thought. Reaching the limits of the walking party's daily ability. But it was a good test, both of his estimation and of the small army's ability.

That is, all but one. Rak, who claimed 18 notches but didn't appear to be that old. Had quite a feminine nature about him that was strange. Was complaining of cramps from the walk, and vomiting. Saying basically, "I can't go on!"

Munk told him to rest and drink as much water and gruel as he could before going to sleep. But during the night, he kept calling out in pain and continued vomiting. Munk had to make a decision, and did, in the morning. "We will give you supplies that you can carry on your back so that you can return to the Canyon. Take your time and go slow. Tell the others that we are doing fine and that you were the only one that got sick."

Reluctantly, Rak crawled back into his bed, knowing he would have to travel alone like Tor did all the time, scaring him almost as much as the thought of killing seasoned killers.

Before they left, Tor tied Tsen to a tree again and instructed Munk not to untie him until they were well out of sight on the river and he had calmed down. Tor hoped that ploy would work, thankful in spite of the troubles, that Tsen was still doing his share by carrying the heavy supplies.

Along the river, Shea pointed out fauna and flora and called them by name in her language. In turn, Tor did the same. Except for getting burned to the point where their skin was peeling, travel on the river like this was very peaceful except where there were rocks and rapids that they had experienced very little of. Once again, they stopped even earlier for the nightly camp, and the army following, was grateful for only sore muscles. No more weaklings in the group.

About midday, three suns on their journey, Shin began to whine. He could smell something. Shea began to smell it, too, and started waving her arms. And then, Tor caught wind of it, the unmistakable smell of human flesh burning.

Just ahead, the first tributary of any size was flowing into the Rine, Tor steered close to the bank and turned the corner right into the strong current from that tributary when they saw it, black smoke from several fires close by where the smell was coming from! Unable to fight that current, they let the current bring them back into the main river and they paddled hard to the shore for their normal midday rest and a time to plan their raid.

With the others still some time off, they tied Shin and followed the heavily traveled trail to where they came upon the camp, first, from behind brush until there was no brush and they could see some older women tending the fires and some young children, but no one that looked like any threat in sight.

When the others came, they all followed the trail and entered the encampment. The stench was so bad it was very difficult for them to stay, choking and heaving. The old women were burning the men, all of the raiders and even those who did not raid at all, the elders, women and children.

When Munk asked in his language a woman, losing her white hair and already without teeth, understood. "What happened here?"

She took the opportunity to spit on him and yelled, "The pestilence! The pestilence killed them all! Vengeance of the gods!"

Copyright 2021 © Ronald W. Hull

6/5/21