Re-Capture (Caveman Chronicles)

The Index -|-

Kpleeb awoke in the dark again. There was a faint wavering light on woven grass overhead, and he turned his head to the right. A wave of nausea bubbled to the surface of his consciousness, and in the background, a dull pain throbbed. He closed his eyes and waited a moment before opening them again. There was only darkness, so he cautiously turned his head the other way. The darkness was there, but it was shallow enough to allow him to see the dim flickerings of a banked fire and a steady stream of smoke rising. Unsure of where he was, he shook his head without thinking. A second wave of dizziness hit him, and what was obscure spun slowly around.

With eyes shut again, he tried to remember.

I went to the village. Bre left me untied, and… I ran toward the river. I made it to the river and somehow fell. I didn’t drown, right?

He opened his eyes again to confirm the earthly nature of his surroundings. The light still flickered. He inhaled slightly and smelled a faint, acrid smoke. He felt a distinct pattern under his back, and realized it must be a bed of reeds laid parallel.

I am still alive… but where?

Kpleeb moved his fingers and felt a dried frond. Attempting to reach with the other hand, his movement came to a sudden stop. He tugged, carefully at first, more insistently. Soon he flexed his bicep with all of his strength and could feel a cord cutting into his wrist. He strained with the effort and breathed in sharply. There was a sharp pain in his chest and he coughed violently as a result.

Muffled voices spoke somewhere close by and within seconds a shadow formed over him.

“Awake now.” Hands tugged at his bonds, presumably to ensure that they still held fast. Another shadow blocked the firelight on the reed walls to his left. After a momentary rustling, the light from a newly lit torch flooded the hut.

Kpleeb clenched his eyes shut in reaction to the sudden light. Water trickled onto his lips, and he sucked it in, coughing again.

“Slow,” said a soft voice.

Kpleeb opened his eyes and saw Bre’s face bent over him. He drank in small sips as she poured from a shallow, clay bowl.

After a few moments Bre pulled the bowl away and dabbed at his face with a wet finger in swiping motions from the ridge of his nose to each ear.

“What happened?” Kpleeb croaked. “Why am I here?” He tugged at the rough cord that bound his wrists. “Why am I bound?”

Bre’s eyes focused on his, and Kpleeb could see a newfound wariness there. She no longer trusted him.

“You run,” she said flatly. “Fall, hurt chest, breath water.”

Her fingers gently pushed a spot of his ribcage, and pain bloomed.

Kpleeb inhaled sharply, and clenched his teeth. “Sorry. I didn’t want Molk to kill me.”

Bre shrugged her bare shoulders.

“Molk no trust. Kilow no trust now.”

Kpleeb sighed. “And Bre no trust,” he said quietly.

Her eyes flicked to meet his, and then away toward the other form. She lifted the bowl again and poured water onto his open mouth.

As Kpleeb drank, the other form approached. Kilow’s face entered his sight.

Kpleeb had never seen Kilow up close.

Her expression was stern, and it was accentuated by wrinkles that etched her skin. The skin of her face and torso was clean and deeply tanned. It resembled petrified wood that had been polished and carefully preserved. Her eyes were pale green and exuded a lively interest. Pure white hair was pulled back into a high pigtail. A necklace made of plain, grey stones of various sizes adorned her neck, but like Bre and the other women he had seen, Kilow wore no covering above her loincloth.

“I ask. You talk,” said Kilow. Though she appeared very old, her voice was strong and unwavering. Her eyes scanned his body, and he felt as if he was being examined down to the last molecule.

He waited for a question, and finally, Kilow spoke again.

“Where from?” she asked.

Kpleeb’s eyes flickered between Bre and Kilow. “Land above canyon.”

Kilow’s hand moved like a striking cobra. “Lie. Speak your words not caveman words.”

Kpleeb’s face stung where she had slapped him, and his mind spun.

She wants me to speak in my own way. I cannot give away Thoka… or the story of the two caves. I don’t know where the wet mountains are or the river canyon or the tundra. If I speak of them, she could send Molk to attack.

He had no idea how strong Molk’s warriors were in comparison to the warriors back home at the river canyon. He grew up knowing that the river canyon warriors won many battles, but he also remembered the few losses. He knew he must speak, and decided to split the truth, and deflect any identifying characteristics of his story.

“Okay, I will speak my words,” he said with a nod. “I am Kpleeb from the wet canyon tribe. I do not know where my home is because I am lost. I hope the great spirit tahr will help me to find my home again.”

Kilow listened and seemed to parse his words and phrasings. After a moment she nodded. “Good speak, but more lie.”

Kpleeb sputtered in disbelief. “Lie? Why do you say that?”

“You not from here.” Kilow pointed at his shoulders, hips, and feet as she spoke. “Qui know every caveman. You other caveman. Feet not worn. Muscle shape weak, different.” Her hand struck his face again in the same spot.

Kpleeb’s eyes involuntarily welled with tears from the stinging slap. “I do not mean to offend you. I come from a very great distance, but have rested nearby for some time. You must let me go and find my family. Please!”

Kilow’s eyes narrowed. “What is great spirit tahr?”

“Urh…” Kpleeb stammered. “He is the tahr that rules the world. He brings the rain, wind, and sun. You must know of him.”

Bre shifted on her feet and looked in askance at the chief.

Kilow sucked her teeth for a moment and sighed. “No great spirit tahr. Qui protect tribe.” She shook her head and repeated herself. “You other caveman. Very different. You talk. Where from? How come to canyon?”

Kpleeb did not know what to say. He did not want to be slapped over and over by the fiery old cavewoman. He also did not want her to call Molk and be bashed into a bloody pile of flesh. There was no escape. They knew he would run and no longer trusted him. He had to admit to himself that he would flee again if given the chance. He was a prisoner in a village of cavepeople who distrusted him and had no reason to let him go. He suspected that Kilow was willing to wait for the information he might provide because, somehow, she saw some truth hidden behind his statements. Molk would rather kill him soon and forget about the consequences, but Molk was not nearly as cunning as Kilow.

“I come from a great distance with my wife. We are just passing through, and wish you no harm. She will find me, and she will rescue me. She will punish anyone who stands in her way. It would be safer for you and your children to just let me go.”

Kilow looked at Bre momentarily and then back at Kpleeb. “What name wife?” Kilow said calmly. “When she come?”

“I will not give you her name. You will know when she arrives. If you let me go, I will take her far away.”

Kilow’s eyebrows rose for a second before she replied. “If go, I not meet wife. You stay, wait.” She nodded. “Maybe come. Maybe not.” Kilow turned on her heels and walked out of the hut.

Kpleeb looked at Bre who was staring at him. “You should let me go,” he said quietly.

Bre looked at him oddly for a lengthy moment before turning and leaving.

Kpleeb put his head back down on the reeds and sighed audibly. He had done his best to scare them, but was afraid that it was not enough. Kilow seemed to have insight into things that Kpleeb did not expect. She was strong, and she trusted her instinct.

She would make a formidable enemy. If Thoka comes, I will need to make sure that Kilow and Bre choose to work with us. If Thoka comes back?

Kpleeb scoffed lightly out loud. He knew that Thoka would come back. It would take her some time to find him, build a plan to rescue him safely, and then make that plan happen. He just needed to wait and keep stay calm. He began to ponder what he saw and what questions he might ask Kilow tomorrow or the next time. Perhaps he could use knowledge to make allies. After all, Kilow seemed particularly bright, for a caveperson.

Soon, Kpleeb fell asleep.

He awoke in the light with Bre standing over him holding a tuber.

“Eat,” she said.

Kpleeb was hungry and did eat even though the tuber was very bland.. He took some water when it was offered. When he had finished, he spoke just as Bre was turning to leave.

“Can I go outside today? I have to urinate.”

Bre turned back and scowled at him. “Want escape? Not trust.”

Kpleeb shrugged. “I just need to urinate. If you wish, I will do it laying here as I am.”

Bre shook her head. “If outside, Molk see, Molk beat you.”

“Yes, that would be bad,” said Kpleeb with a small grin. “I don’t want Molk to beat me. Where then can I urinate?”

Bre looked around the hut and after a moment pointed at a wall. “Wait, I dig hole.” She disappeared from his sight and came back in. When she finished, he could see that she had dug an indention in the dirt at the bottom of a wall. “Go here,” she said coming to him. “No run. No!” she said through clenched teeth as she loosened the cord that wrapped his wrist.

Kpleeb sat upright and nodded at Bre. “Thank you. I won’t run.” His legs hurt, and he walked toward the hut wall carefully and relieved himself. When he turned around, he saw that Bre had turned her back on him at the hut door.

“I’m done,” he said, walking to the reed mat. He laid down and put his wrists where they were before so that she could fasten the cords.

“Thank you,” she said after she had tied the cords.

She disappeared for the rest of the day. Outside, Kpleeb could hear cavechildren playing and the random noises that were produced by a village of people without technology. He slept off and on. Dusk came, then darkness. He urinated in the evening after eating tubers.

Bre curled up on a mat near the door of the hut and slept.

Kpleeb laid awake long into the night thinking about how he might escape, what questions should be asked to determine where he and Thoka should go next.

This tribe, except maybe Molk, could be useful. They could provide food and information. They could be friends in time of need. I wonder how much power Kilow has? Is this tribe a co-ruler situation or a non-warrior/warrior shared leadership? How long have they been here? Are there other tribes nearby? Enemies?

Sleep took him.