Fishing (Caveman Chronicles)

The Index -|-

Kpleeb crept slowly over large stones that bordered the river. In his hand he grasped a thin, flexible branch that was as thick as his little finger and about as long as his arm. He had sharpened the end with the knife that Thoka had given him and then added a little barb just above the tip. He was prepared to fish with it. All he needed was a calm pool instead of the raging river.

He had already traveled well past where he lost his stone spear. There he had paused to conduct a second and more thorough search. The water there was tumultuous and frothy as it endlessly pummeled the rocks. It was too dangerous to enter, so he had continued on. The river had very few pools where fish would congregate, so he continued to trek downstream until he approached a general widening of the river.

The river dropped off into a deep pool that was bordered by rocky banks and ringed by branches heavy with large, dark-green needles. There was a dull roar from the water, but it faded quickly into the sound of a more friendly river as he got further away from the pool. He quickly scouted the river below. It curved around a bend, and he saw in the distance that the canyon became shallower, the river widened, and far ahead he could see what appeared to be a plain. It would be at least a five-day walk, even with fast walkers.

[Long trip for Thoka. We must take our time.]

He turned back and crouched near the deep pool. The water near its banks were calm enough, and he knew there would be fish there. Fishing had been one of the essential tasks that all of the canyon river cavepeople learned as children. Even the village idiot would be able to catch a fish every day. This river was not the canyon river. Of this Kpleeb was certain, but he knew how to fish and expected the fish here to behave in the same way. He cast his spear four times before finally striking a fish.

[I guess I am a bit rusty after all this time.]

He stretched his legs and strung the fish on a forked branch before moving to another part of the pool. He waited for the fish and enjoyed a few restful moments before he remembered that there was much to do. He began to apply the spear as often as he saw movement in the murky water, and in another handful of minutes he had two more fish on the branch.

[It is enough for now. Don’t get greedy Da always said.] Kpleeb stood and wistfully remembered the days his Da had fished with him. [I didn’t know what I had, but I wish I had some of those moments to live again. It’s time to go. Leave the reminiscing for later.]

He moved his feet. The walk back to where he had left Thoka took some time, and the sun was almost straight up in the sky when he started to recognize the terrain where he had left her. When he passed the location where he had lost his stone spear, he stopped, set his three-fish-branch down, and searched again.

This time he was determined to try harder. He entered the water using a stout stick as a staff to keep himself upright. The river here was very rocky and every stone was slippery. The water tugged forcefully at his calves, but he methodically made his way through the current pausing at each step to prod into the water with his stick. He never encountered the stone spear, and when he reached the other side of the river, he sat on a large rock and looked again.

[Even from this angle I can’t see it. It is thin and there is just no way to see it through the water. Thoka was right to be angry with me.]

After a few moments he decided that he had wasted enough time. There was a better crossing place just downstream from where he had lost the spear, and he turned and walked in that direction. The forest on this side of the river was thick with trees competing for the sunlight that fell into the river’s gap. Their branches brushed the water in a few spots and he needed to delve into the relative dimness of the forest to find a way.

Within a few crouching steps he was able to find a clear pathway between the trees. The path wended its way along the river in both directions. He noticed that even the branches that would have naturally grown into the path were nipped off on the edges of the path, and after a few steps Kpleeb stopped and turned to look in the other direction.

[This must be a game path. It is definitely used by some animal on a regular basis. Maybe every day.]

He turned and continued to walk slowly along. To his right, the river gurgled in a muted way. [The foliage really reduces the sound, to be sure.]

He heard a twig break some distance behind him and turned on his heel. Nothing was there, but before he could resume his walk, strong and hairy arms reached around his neck and torso from the back. Quickly another pair reached around and pinned his arms.

“No fight,” someone said hoarsely.

Kpleeb jerked violently, but the arms that wrapped him were incredibly strong. The second pair of arms let go momentarily, and Kpleen responded with an even more erratic, flailing movement. Then he lifted his arms and slid downward in an attempt to escape the grasp that held him.

The remaining arms tightened like a vice and caught him by his chin. “Hit!” rasped the voice. “Hit now!”

A foul stench wafted over him. Behind it roiled a rotten mix of dirt, sweat, and urine. Kpleeb gagged as he gasped desperately for breath. He could hear the owner of the arms panting just above his ear, and a scruffy chin came into view. He kicked again hoping to dislodge the hold on his head. It was then that he saw a blunt instrument enter his view swinging as if in slow-motion toward him.

In a split second a grunt of pain emanated from someone. He was not sure who made the sound, but lightning struck his senses, and it was followed by immediate darkness.