Death on the Trek by Kaye George Page A

there was nowhere to go this day.
    Some of the female spear throwers ventured into the trees to see if they could catch fresh meat. Two of the males went with them, in case they found something large and speared it. The males would be needed to carry it back if such a wonderful thing happened.
    The other Hamapa sat, got up and walked around, and sat again, aimlessly.
    Jeek tried very hard to think of what they could do. He could clearly see the other side of the water. It was not far. But there was no way to build anything to cross the river. It was much too wide for that. If they could see the other shore, Jeek thought, they should be able to reach it. But how? If only they could find a beaver dam and walk across it.
    Jeek was startled out of his thoughts by an unusual noise. He looked up to see two males grappling with each other, grunting and making sounds like animals. Hapa wrestled with Panan! Now Hama must do something!
    Hapa threw his fist into the face of Panan, then Panan grabbed the arm of Hapa and bit down. They both yowled louder and each kicked at the other.
    Hama ran to them and put her hands on their arms, but Jeek did not think she was very quick to do it.
    Thoughts flew through the tribe.
    This is terrible.
    Hamapa do not do this.
    Now Hama will call for a meeting.
    Hapa is so wrong to talk against Panan One Eye.
    Panan One Eye should step down and let Mootak Big Heart take his role.
    Do not speak against Panan One Eye. He is our Elder.
    Hapa is our Elder. We should listen to him.
    For every opinion, there was a Hamapa throwing out an opposing one.
    After Hama separated the two males, though, she did not call for a meeting. She did not even scold them. She turned her back to everyone and shuffled away from the river, scuffing and dragging her feet. She stood by herself for a long time. The rest of the tribe turned away to give her some privacy. Here, on this trek, they had no wipitis where they could go to be alone.
    When Jeek saw her shoulders shaking, he knew she was weeping, even though she did not let her thoughts escape. A Hama must always be good at keeping private thoughts.
    At dark time, again, there was no gathering. No Saga, no song. Jeek felt he was not the only one who lay awake, troubled.
    At first sun, Enga Dancing Flower sent a message out to everyone. We need help. We must get guidance from Dakadaga. Help me ask for blessing and a passageway around or across this water.
    She drew a carved figure from her pouch. Jeek recognized it, as did everyone else. Stitcher had carved it. The wood, smooth and polished, looked like Enga had rubbed it much. She set it on the ground and began to dance in a circle around it.
    Ung Strong Arm and Fee Long Thrower joined Enga. Lakala Rippling Water began a soft tune. The song became stronger, pleading for help from Dakadaga, The Most High Spirit. More joined in the dancing. Then Lakala sang praise to Wawala, Spirit of the Waters. Sannum Straight Hair had no drum to beat, but he pounded his feet on the earth to create a rhythm.
    Hama approached. She sat outside the circle of dancers and watched.
    Everyone looked to Panan One Eye. He should play his flute, Jeek thought. But Panan sat beside Tikihoo, watching Vala Golden Hair dance with Bodd Blow Striker. The Hooden put her fingers on the face of Panan, touching the darkening mark that had been made by the fist of Hapa.
    No one comforted Hapa. The Red had flowed from his arm after Panan bit it, but soon stopped. Now there was a welt. Zhoo of Still Waters had packed some pieces of grass onto it, covered that with the fat from the peccary, and dabbed a bit of her precious honey on the top. That had worn off during dark time. The wound did not look serious, Jeek thought. Sometimes, when an animal bit a Hamapa, the wound became bad and the Hamapa could even lose his life from it.
    More and more of the tribe joined the dancing. Soon everyone but Panan and Tikihoo were whirling around the wooden figure. Vala Golden Hair