The Thinking Rocks (25 page)

Lomasi had moved to the
fire for more food. He was proud of his demonstration.  He felt good. He
thought maybe I should use the girl in front of all of them.  It had been
a while since he had been with a woman; he felt a stirring in his loins. 
She wasn't much to look at, but she was a woman. He looked at her and then
rejected the idea.  There was plenty of time for that when they reached
their clan.  He sat down and watched Morf's actions as he returned to the
fire.  No threat there he thought.

When darkness had
settled and it appeared that the captives where asleep, Dola asked, "Why
did Lomasi do what he did to Morf?  I was scared. I wasn't sure what was
happening".

Cano answered, "He
was testing Morf to see if he was a threat.  Did you see how Lomasi stood
watching us?  He was watching to see if Morf would strike.  Lomasi is
not stupid; he was also testing us to see what we would do.  I hope he
couldn't tell what I was thinking.  I was hoping that this was our
chance."

Gennos spoke quietly
while watching the fire for movement, "By not doing anything we may have
gained a small advantage. We appear to offer no threat to them.  Lomasi
wants them to keep their guard up and be ready for trouble.  Morf and Lork
see no threat from us. We must continue to do what they want and to be slow to
understand.  When they underestimate us and our ability, that is to our
advantage."

"I agree,"
said Cano.  "We will soon be in the dugouts and headed up
stream.  Maybe we can arrange to tip the dugouts over and escape", he
paused and then continued, "And we will need weapons. Keep your eyes open
and when the time comes try to get one.  But remember above all else they
must not consider us a threat.  If you think they might see you getting a
weapon, don't get it.  We don't want them waiting for our escape.  We
must surprise them."

Gennos smiled at Na'pe
and said, "We must sleep now, the time will come soon when we may want to
sleep and can't."

As they settled down for
the night, the air changed its scent.  Rain was coming.  A short time
later lightning flashed across the sky and was followed closely by the crash of
thunder and the fresh smell of new rain.  The wind caressed the trees and
they responded with a gentle swaying of branches which seemed to beckon the
rain.  The wind continued to increase; soon the tops of the trees were
rolling with the wind. Then the rain came, first in a few small drops, then
larger drops that splattered as they hit the leaves and ground. The wind began
to moan through the trees and then changed to a howl as the rain came in waves.
The lightning lit the sky and silhouetted the trees. Thunder was so loud that
they could feel it. The gentle evening had been transformed into a nightmare of
sound and fury.  The wind continued to increase and soon branches were
being ripped from the trees that had beckoned to it earlier that night. 

The captives couldn't
move to shelter because of their bonds.  They tried to reach each other in
an effort to gain some shelter from the storm.  The only two that made any
contact at all were Gennos and Na'pe.  They were only able to stretch out
their hands and reach each other's fingertips, because of the tightness of
their bonds. They all crouched in the mud and tried to stay warm.

The storm lasted the
night before slacking.  It changed to a steady drizzle.  When morning
finally came, there was only a slight change in the color of the sky.

The current in the river
increased as the rain continued to pour down.  There were broken branches
and even whole trees where being washed past the campsite.  The river
began to rise.  Hopi's grave was gone; as was Hopi, the river had claimed
them both.

Lomasi, Lork, and Morf
had to move the dugouts twice that day, to keep them from being washed away.
They were all in a foul mood as they had little more shelter than did the
captives. They huddled under the overturned dugouts, but it did little to keep
them dry because of the rain that soaked the ground and ran to the river in
small streams.  Their fire had gone out and they were as cold as their
prisoners.

When the rain stopped it
was almost dusk.  Lomasi had Dola and Na'pe brought to the recently rebuilt
fire so that they could prepare the last of the venison and fish.  The
food was turning foul, but it was all they had.

When Na'pe and Dola
returned to where the brothers were tied they brought food. They were becoming
quite skilled at hiding food in their clothing.  As the brothers ate,
Na'pe told them what she had heard.  "We leave here at first
light.  Gennos and I will be in the dugout with Lork. Cano and Dola will
be in the front dugout with Lomasi and Morf.  They will tie us in to the
dugout so that we can't escape.  I have more bad news; they think that we
may try to tip the dugouts over and escape.  They will be watching for us
to try."

Gennos asked her,
"How long will it take to get to their clan campsite?"

“Lomasi said that with
so much water coming this way the trip would take as many days as we have
fingers on one hand," she replied.

"Was there anything
else said that we should know?" asked Cano.

"That is about all;
they don't think we will be any trouble, except if we try to tip the dugouts over"
said Na'pe.

Gennos leaned forward
and said, "It looks to me that tipping the dugouts over should be the last
thing we try.  If that is what they expect we must try something
else"

Cano added, "We can
hope that they keep thinking we aren't going to be a problem. They think we are
slow thinkers, let us not prove them right.

The moon came
out that night and a warm breeze blew.  They were all tired from sitting
in the cold rain all day and night.  They slept soundly even though they
were still bound.

Lomasi was up
before the sun, shouting instructions. The dugouts had been turned over to
prevent them from filling with water.  This morning they were turned right
side up and then launched.  As the sun rose, they were loaded for the trip
upstream.  Most of the baskets were loaded into the dugout with Na'pe in
the front, then Gennos in the middle, and Lork who sat in the rear.

Early that morning Cano
had spoken softly to Dola, "Today may be the day we escape.  If you
hear me cough, that is the signal to be ready.  They will tie us into the
dugout; try to loosen the strap if you can.  Water will help stretch the
strap; get it wet if you can."

The dugout, which held
Cano and Dola, had Morf squatting in the front, and Lomasi in the rear. 
The prisoners had been tightly tied in place, one at a time, with leather
strips cut from the deer hide that Lomasi had recently killed.  They
carried fewer baskets and they were piled low so that he could see the length
of the dugout with ease.  He kept his spear thrower close at hand.

After both dugouts were
headed upstream Lomasi's dugout took the lead.  The poles were long and
difficult to use when squatting down. Cano started to stand so that he could
guide the dugout better, but Lomasi hit him with his pole and almost knocked
him over the side.  He almost lost his pole, but was able retrieve it
before the current swept it away.  He would have liked to return Lomasi's
blow, but the position he was in prevented him from swinging the pole.

 The sun was
overhead when they came to a series of small rapids.  It was difficult
getting past them, but they did and only a small amount of water got into the
dugout. The water washing around the bottom of the dugout gave Cano an idea.
When they came to the next rapids he pretended that his pole slipped, the
dugout turned sidewise and shipped more water. Lomasi screamed at him and
struck with his pole.  He was quite good at inflicting pain. Cano accepted
the punishment without a word; he had done what needed to be done.  The
water now covered the strap about his ankle.  He continued to pole the
dugout, but he had a smile that he was glad Lomasi couldn't see. 

As the day continued they
kept up their steady progress upstream.  They worked in silence except for
the sounds of the river.  They saw no animals or birds.  They didn't
stop to eat.  Occasionally they could scoop up a handful of water to
drink.  Lomasi didn't say or do anything when they did.

Cano noticed that the
strap on his leg was not as tight as it had been; it wasn't cutting into his
flesh. The water was causing the fresh rawhide to stretch.  He kept his
eyes down and continued to pole along.  He shifted his other foot and
splashed water on the rawhide bound.  When Lomasi was talking to Lork in
the other dugout, Cano had slid his fingers down and was able to slide the
strap loose.  He was excited, now he had to wait for the right moment to
make his move.  It came a short time later.

There was a small point
of land sticking out into the river near some rough water.  As the dugout
approached the rough water Morf called a warning back to Lomasi, who tapped
Cano on the back with his pole to remind him not to make any mistakes. 
Cano reached out with his pole and guided the dugout as best he could. 
Lomasi didn't strike and Cano tried not to do anything that would arouse
suspicion.  He kept poling with long strokes as they fought their way
through the treacherous waters. Then he coughed.  Dola didn't show any
sign that he had heard anything. They had broken through the rough water and
though the current was still strong, the water was smooth.

Cano took a deep breath
as he reached out with the pole, as if he was going to make another
stroke.  When his pole was level with the water and pointed upriver, he
shifted his grip on it and drove it backward into Lomasi's chest.  He
couldn't see where he was sitting, but he knew where he had to be. He drove the
pole with all the hate he had been saving for this moment.  He felt the
impact and continued to push with all of his might.  He was rewarded with
a grunt of pain and the escape of breath.  He didn't look back; he called
to Dola, "Duck down now!" As he shifted his grip again, Dola dropped
instantly, just as Morf turned to see what was happening.  Cano's pole
grazed Morf's shoulder and struck him in the neck.  Cano twisted around in
time to see a smear of blood on Lomasi's chest; his face was a mask of
rage.  He held his pole by the end and swung it at Cano's head with all
the hostility he could command.  If the blow connected it would surly kill
Cano.  But Cano was ready, and he was able to parry the blow.  He
swung with the butt end of his pole and struck Lomasi in the face.  There
was a satisfying "Splat" as the blow landed.  The force of the
blow was such that it knocked him unconscious and out of the dugout.

Cano called to Dola,
"Can you get free?"

Dola stood and said,
"I'm free!"  He then jumped in the water and was followed by
Cano.  In a few steps they were ashore and on solid ground.  Cano
looked to the river to see if they where being pursued.  Lomasi was
floating down the river and he was face down.  Morf was still in the
dugout, but he was having difficult time breathing and he had lost his
pole.  The other dugout was nearing Lomasi's body. Cano could hear Lork
shouting.  He wondered if they should press the attack and try to
overpower Lork and free his brother and Na'pe.  His answer came in the
form a spear that Lork hurled at them.  It grazed Cano's arm and stuck in
the ground.

He called to Dola,
"Quick get into the forest. He may not miss next time!"  As he
followed Dola into the forest he picked up the spear that had nicked him. 
He was free and armed; it was time to show them that he wasn't as slow as they
thought.

He found Dola standing
waiting for him in the deep brush.  Cano motioned him to follow and said,
"They will be after us in a short time, and we must get as far away as
fast as possible."

The going was difficult,
the river had washed branches into the brush and the storm had made trees
fall.  They clambered over them as best they could.  After a time
they heard cries coming from the river.  They could make out Lomasi's
voice and they were sure he was not wishing them well.  The brush was so
thick they had a difficult time seeing which way to go.  Cano paused for a
moment and looked at the sky and then at the ground.  "This
way," he told Dola.  "You are doing fine; we must get away from
the river.  I will find us a way into the hills.  Maybe we can make
them give up the chase if they can’t find us quickly."

Dola looked doubtful,
"Lomasi won't give up easily, and you made a fool of him and hurt
him.  I think he won't give up."

Cano smiled at him,
"Then we will have to give him some reasons to give up."

Dola was pulling himself
over a fallen branch when he slipped and cut his leg as he fell to the
ground.  Cano saw the fall and returned to help him.  The ground was
still soft from the rain and they left many tracks before they where on their
way again.  Dola wasn't badly hurt, and his limp did little to slow
them.  He asked, "Can you hear if they are following?"

Cano paused and listened
for a few moments before answering, "Nothing, but that doesn't mean they
aren't there.  They know that the sooner they can get to us, the less
distance they will have to travel."  He stood quietly thinking;
finally he said, "I think we need an escape plan, if we wish to stay free.
Any ideas?"

Dola thought for a
moment as he caught his breath, "Keep going as fast as we can?"