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Jandell had feared that the Ren hunter would eventually find them. He asked, “New people where?”
“At north village edge,” she claimed. “Theeba and Proka talk hands them. They say you and Meenah name. Theeba need you talk them.”
Jandell thought for a moment and then told Oka, “Tell Meenah stay Kwerni hut – no come out. Get many men, come Theeba with weapon or tool, but smile, no anger. I go north edge.”
He armed himself with a long knife he had made and his trusty Ren axe and headed through the village streets at a leisurely pace, giving Oka time to gather reinforcements that he hoped would not be necessary.
When he passed the last hut into the clearing, there was Theeba and two other hunters waving their hands in a frustrating attempt to communicate with a group of Ren hunters whom Jandell recognized immediately. Of course, Brigga was at the forefront, also making hand signs with exasperation. In addition to his former hunting pals, Jandell noticed that Gleb was in the group – obviously joining them in an attempt to reclaim his bride. The Ren hunters were not visibly threatening Theeba, but neither had they laid down their weapons. – a sign that Jandell knew meant they would use force if they must.
It was Brak who noticed Jandell arriving first. He broke from the group and ran toward his friend, yelling, “Jandell! You’re alive! I knew you’d survive – I told them! Where’s Meenah? Is she OK?”
As the two friends embraced, the Ren and Moocha men stopped signing to each other and watched – all much relieved. Now Jandell could interpret for them. He walked up to the group arm-in-arm with Brak and said, “Drigga, guys – put down your weapons. These people are peaceful – you don’t want to fight with them.”
All of the hunters began to lay down their bows and knives except for Drigga, who said, “Jandell, you have abducted Meenah and seriously violated Ren law. Where is she? Have you hurt her?”
Now the Ren hunters began to notice first a trickle and then a flood of Moocha men emerging from the village, each carrying a knife or a spear or a tool. They were smiling, non-threatening. Seeing the futility of further threats, Drigga also laid his spear, knife, and bow before his feet.
Jandell began to speak to his Ren friends, “Drigga, Gleb its good to see you. Don’t worry, Meenah and I are very well – we are very well treated by these wonderful people. They call themselves the Moocha, and this bear-man is my friend Theeba.” He pointed to Theeba, who smiled and waved his hands up and down, palms up, in the Moocha welcoming sign.
Jandell turned to Theeba and the other elders and said: “This man great brave hunter Drigga. This one good friend Brak. These men Ren hunters – look for me, Meenah.”
With the commencement of real communications, both groups relaxed and smiled at one another.
Theeba said to Jandell. “Please tell Drigga and his men that we are pleased to meet other people and that we are happy to feed and feast them, but ask them what they want.”
“I know what want,” replied Jandell, “want Meenah, me to go back Ren village them. Punish us run away.”
“Meenah told me that you ran away because she was promised to a man she didn’t love. Is that true?” Theeba asked.
“True,” admitted Jandell, as he pointed to Gleb. Man, that one – Gleb.”
Gleb, noticing the gesture, shouted angrily, “Jandell, what have you done with Meenah – my promised bride?”
“I’m sorry, Gleb,” responded Jandell. “Meenah and I have nothing against you – she simply does not love you. She loves me. Believe me, she was going to … damage herself if we didn’t run away together. I couldn’t let her do that.”
Gleb started to shout something further angrily, but Drigga held up his hand to silence him. Drigga said sternly: “Jandell, the word of the priest is final – you know that. You are a man of full age now, so no one owns you – you may stay with these Moosah … Moonah, whatever. But Meenah is owned by Gleb now. She must return with us.”
“They are the Moocha,” corrected Jandell, “and yes, I intend to stay with them – and so does Meenah. We are to be married in their custom in two suns’ time. The Ren priest’s word or law has no meaning here. And now I’m convinced that the Ren priest’s religion is wrong! Just look! These are other people – like you and me! And there are many more of them than 2200!”
Despite the clear evidence of the truth of Jandell’s statement standing in front of them, the affront to their religion was too much for Drigga and the Ren hunters. As one, they reflexively squatted down to pick up their weapons. Theeba’s dogs, who had been observing from a distance at Theeba’s command, sensed the threat and ran barking at the newcomers. Shocked at seeing wolves charging them, two of the hunters drew arrows and shot, immediately killing both animals before Theeba could call them off.
Theeba sent out a great wail of pain at seeing his beloved dogs killed, and the smiles of the many Moocha men turned to frowns and shouts of anger as they brandished their tools and weapons. Never having fought with other people before, neither group moved very rapidly to the attack, and it was clear that the Ren were greatly outnumbered. Theeba raised his great axe and readied to charge into the hunters.
Jandell jumped between Theeba and Drigga, shouting in two languages: “STOP! STOP! DON’T HARM EACH OTHER! YOU ARE ALL PEOPLE!”
“THEY KILLED MY DOGS!” Shouted Theeba, gradually reducing his voice and beginning to cry. “We offer them feast and protection, and they kill my dogs!”
Jandell sympathized: “I sure Ren sorry Theeba – Ren don’t know dogs. Meenah and me thought wolves too.”
The Jandell turned to Drigga and the Ren – shocked from the exchange – and said: “The Moocha have trained and beloved wolves they call ‘dogs.’ You just killed two of them. I suggest that you lay your weapons back down and bow in apology, or I don’t know what this angry crowd of men will do.”
Although Drigga was very brave, he was also wise, and he saw that Jandell’s words must be true. He laid down his weapons again, got down on his knees, and bowed to Theeba in apology in the Ren way of atoning for an admitted transgression. The rest of the Ren hunters did the same – valuing their lives. Theeba, in the meantime, had gone over to his dogs to give them each a final scratch behind the ear. Jandell made a hands-down gesture to the crowd of Moocha to calm them down, and in a few minutes, a more civil atmosphere was restored.
“Please tell Theeba that we are very sorry,” claimed Drigga. “We had no idea of trained wolves.”
“I explained already, but to these people it's almost like killing a child,” proclaimed Jandell angrily. “I am happy to see my friends again, but I think you should just turn around and go home. You’ll not be welcomed here. Meenah and I are staying here with our NEW village, as man and wife. Perhaps our two villages will meet in peace someday – I hope that’ll happen – but this will not be the day.”
Drigga looked around at the group of more than 30 angry-looking men and the huge bear man weeping over his dead wolves, and said, “This isn’t over, Jandell. You’ve violated our sacred Ren laws and insulted our priests, and you will pay for it.” He motioned for the other eight hunters to follow him, and the group diffused back into the northern forest.
Jandell told the elders that they should double the watch for the next few moons and that men should stand by in case of some sort of attack from the Ren hunters. “Ren threat much worse cave bear or long-tooth cat,” he averred, “Ren clever great hunters – better Meenah hunters Jandell think.”
As he headed back to Kwerni’s hut to tell Meenah what was going on, it dawned on him that Drigga and Greb wouldn’t quit until they found her to take her back or die trying. It was built-into The Ren code of bravacho. People would die – either some of his old friends or some of his new ones. By the time he arrived at the hut, he knew what he had to do.
“Jandell – what’s going on?” She asked excitedly. “Kwerni’s mother said that strange people are here and she won't let me leave the hut! Are you OK?”
“It's Drigga and the hunters, and Greb is with them,” he admitted. “Meenah, I really hate to tell you this, but we have to run again.”
“Oh, Markanova!” She exclaimed. “Greb here? I don't want to see him, Jandell – ever again!”
Jandell said, “It was ugly, my fault really. Of course, they said they want to take you back, and I told them no and that the Ren religion was obviously wrong, since there are obviously other people. That got them mad enough to grab their weapons. Theeba’s dogs saw that and started to attack. Two of the Ren hunters put arrows through their hearts. I managed to somehow stop the groups from fighting, but Theeba is devastated. I told Drigga and the others to go home and leave us alone, but I'm sure that they won't. They’ll be back – looking for you. They don't care about me, probably plan to kill me anyhow. It's bravacho.”
“Won't the Moocha protect us, Jandell? They have many more men. I want to stay here with them and marry you!” Meenah began to sob.
“I started to try to think like Drigga on the way here. If I were him, I would create a distraction – maybe set a hut on fire or something – and then watch from the forest, looking for me. He would then try to track me back through the village to wherever you are. Then he would grab you and run, probably trying to kill or injure me. It's bravacho.”
“Oh, that's awful!” She reacted. “Just don't go to the distraction, Jandell! Stay with me! Protect me! Let the Moocha men deal with Drigga!”
Jandell sighed deeply. “The problem is that somebody is going to get killed – maybe many more than one. All of those men on both sides are my friends – our friends. I don’t want Brek to die, or Trad, or even Greb or Drigga. The only way out that I see is for us to run again.”
“But Jandell, what will we do – live alone in the wilderness?”
Jandell hesitated before answering and then said, “We found the Moocha. I'm sure there must be other people farther south. In the worst case, I'm now confident that I can protect you even if we have to live alone. And Meenah, even if we don't survive, don't you think it's better than letting all of our friends kill each other?”
Meenah cried softly as she hugged him, sobbing, “Oh, Jandell, I so hoped that our terrible running days were over, but I'll not return and marry Gleb, nor do I want to see anyone injured or killed. Do you have a plan?”
“Not a fully formed plan yet, but the beginnings,” he responded. “Drigga needs to find you. The best way would be to find and track me. He’ll probably create some kind of diversion to lure me out, then track me back here through the village.”
“Just don't fall for any diversion, darling!” She brightened. “Just stay here with me until they give up and leave!”
“It won't be that easy, Meenah. They still chased us and found us here after nearly a full season. They are determined and driven by bravacho.”
Meenah slumped back down and wept on his shoulder, “Oh, what should we do then, my love? I just wanted to live a peaceful life with you and have your children.”
“Don't give up that dream yet, Meenah, my love; I’m beginning to think of a plan.
Just as he said that, Goffa came running into the hut, saying, “Jandell! One of the new men is calling you at the forest edge!”
“Stay here, Meenah!” He insisted. “Don't even poke your head outside while I'm gone. I'll be right back.”
At the village edge, Jandell could see Drigga standing by the forest, perhaps 50 spans away. Jandell kept behind the cover of a stone well in case any of the Ren Hunters had an arrow aimed at him. He called out, “Drigga! Take your men home. We will not go with you. Tell our parents we are fine, but we are now of the Moocha people, no longer Ren.”
Drigga yelled back, “You know we cannot do that, Jandell. Meenah is the property of Gleb, and you have stolen her. We’ll get her back or die trying – it is bravacho. Now hand her over if you don’t want any deaths on your hands.”
“I always looked up to you, Drigga, for your bravery and your wisdom. But now I think that your wisdom has failed you. Meenah has already shown that she’ll not marry Gleb, and she’ll not come back to the Ren alive, so why do you want to cause innocent deaths on both sides? Your bravacho is as foolish as your disproved religion. Go home! Leave these people in peace!”
Drigga seemed to realize that he could not further reason with Jandell, and he stepped back into the forest. Jandell told the men around him to guard the village carefully, and he went back to Theeba’s hut. Oka and the children were there to greet him, but not Theeba. Both children were crying over the loss of their dogs.
Oka looked angrily at Jandell, asking, “What will they do, Jandell – these dog-killer friends of yours?”
“Oh, Oka,” he replied, “true, Jandell friends before, no more. So sorry they follow us. Jandell think no follow, lose them – Ren village many suns away.”
“Will your Ren kill Moocha people too?” She enquired nervously. “It's strictly against our religion to kill another person, although we didn’t know that other people besides Moocha even existed.”
“Ren chief say kill, get Meenah. Where Theeba? Need talk.”
“Theeba and the elders went to seek counsel from the priest. You should go too,” advised Oka. “I won't let the children out until these strange people are gone.”
Theeba and the elders were sitting on the floor in a circle inside the temple when Jandell arrived – the priest was presiding over them. They stopped talking as he entered and looked at him quizzically.
“Elders, priest want know what happen – I tell,” he began. “Ren Hunters follow Jandell Meenah here. I sorry, think no follow. Hunters want Meenah, no want Jandell. Meenah no want go with Ren. Die first.”
The group spoke among themselves faster than Jandell could follow. Sobo the elder turned to Jandell and asked slowly, “Will your Ren hunters go away, or will they make more trouble for us?”
Jandell looked down in shame and said sadly, “Jandell think hunters no go away. Hunters make bravacho – like … Sorry not know Moocha word.”
“I think I understand,” offered Theeba. “It's sort of a code of honor, like our code of never leaving an injured Moocha behind on a trek.”
“Yes – same same,” agreed Jandell. “Jandell fear Ren hunters kill Moocha, or Moocha kill Ren – that why Jandell Meenah run away.”
“Run away?” asked the priest, “But where would you go?”
Jandell answered, “Ren priest say no people only Ren. Jandell Meenah run south, find Moocha people. Moocha priest say no people south, only danger water. Over danger water, danger hill with God. Jandell Meenah go find danger God, ask protect.”
The priest and elders were taken aback, looking shocked. The priest admonished, “Jandell, I told you. God has sent us a very clear warning. If anyone goes to the forbidden ruins across the dangerous water, he will find himself hanging from a cross with spikes through his hands! Do you and Meenah really want to die that way? Besides, you will probably never make it across the dangerous waterway without drowning.”
“Jandell sorry, no believe Moocha religion, no believe Ren religion. Want no kill – no Ren, no Moocha kill. Jandell Meenah run south, no Ren kill Moocha, no Moocha kill Ren. Take chance danger water, danger God.”
The elders and the priest discussed the situation at length, and finally came to a consensus that the best course was for Jandell and Meenah to try to escape to the south. Their ancient lore had taught them that different tribes of people had once fought with each other in something called “war,” – sometimes in great numbers – and that the experience should never be repeated. Jandell convinced them that the Ren would “war” with them unless Meenah was turned over, or the couple ran away. The elders felt that the couple had little chance of surviving without being caught, but any chance was better than “war.”
Theeba was assigned or volunteered to prepare them for the trip as best he could, and to help plot a way to give them time to get far enough away, and then to communicate their absence to the Ren, misleading their direction as much as possible.
Jandell went to Kwerni’s hut and got Meenah to pack her essential belongings in her travel hide. Meenah had a long cry with Kwerni, saying goodbye and promising to survive and to return someday.
Back in Theeba’s hut, the plot was hatched. Theeba claimed, “I’ll call out Drigga and tell him – with sign language – that you ran away to the West and planned to travel north up the coast.”
“Drigga no believe,” replied Jandell. “Tell Drigga true – Jandell Meenah go south. Drigga no believe too. Jandell Meenah make tracks west this moon, then Meenah Jandell dress farmers, go south next sun. Need one day start get to danger water. Take basket boat.”
Moocha fishermen never ventured very far out into the big, calm bay water to the east – and never at all into the rough ocean in the west – but they did have some two-person “tub” boats for fishing made from woven reeds on a frame of branches, which they propelled around near the shore of the bay with long poles. These crafts were very light and could be carried on a man’s back over his pack, making him look rather like a tortoise. Theeba agreed to trade some furs for such a vessel.
“When you get to the dangerous water, be careful to watch the current,” advised Theeba. “Make sure it is coming into the bay, not going out. Otherwise, you will be swept out to sea.”
That moon, Jandell checked with the guards to make sure that the Ren were still encamped in the forest to the north and a bit east, which they seemed to be if the smoke from their campfire was a good indication. He and Meenah then slipped out the west side of the village, along with Theeba, should they need protection, and trekked for a while into the forest in that direction. When they reached a stream, they turned around. Theeba carried Meenah back while Jandell was careful to re-trace his footsteps. He knew it wouldn’t fool Drigga for long, but all they needed, he thought, was a half-sun lead.
At the next sunrise, Jandell dressed as a fisherman and Meenah as a field worker with borrowed clothing. The fields were largely to the south of the village, so it was easy for them to fall into the line of workers heading in that direction. Jandell was not the only man with a fishing tub on his back. Although they were sure that Ren watchers were scrutinizing anyone leaving the village from a distance, they hoped that their quick action would belay any immediate suspicion. Drigga was probably too busy thinking of a plan to get into the village to think much about people leaving it.
The line of farmers thinned as they got to the southern-most fields, and then it was just Jandell and Meenah when they got to a forest of the gnarly trees bordering the last field. They stopped to look back at the distant village and could see nobody who was obviously watching them around it or in the boundary forest, so they struck a fast pace heading south. Jandell was somewhat hobbled by the edge of the boat hitting the back of his knees, but they were making good time. It would be nearly sunset before they came to a spot where they could launch their attempt at crossing the dangerous water.
They came to the shore of the bay and followed it south. There were two places where they had to travel inland a bit to find a narrow spot to cross a river or estuary, which they did by paddling a short distance in the reed tub. It was good that they had to do that because it got them somewhat familiar with how to propel the craft in very flat, calm water.
Finally, as the sun was already over a high mountain to the west and the daylight was fading, they came to a place where they could see the dangerous water. There was a long gap in the western hills that exposed an opening to the ocean, and the water looked extremely choppy. There was also a cold wind blowing in from the sea and carrying a finger of fog through the gap. The fog was obscuring any view of the land on the other side, and chilled them both.
“I think we should build a fire and camp here for the night and try the crossing tomorrow,” proclaimed Jandell. “I can see that the tide is outbound through the gap to the sea, and it would be dangerous to try to cross in the dark. I don’t think the hunters will catch us tonight. Perhaps they’re even still just watching the Moocha village. Theeba was going to wait until they made a move before announcing our departure.”
Meenah readily agreed, so they began to gather kindling and wood for a fire, which they planned to build in a hidden alcove they had found. As Meenah ventured out to find one more sizable log for the fire, she was shocked and disheartened by a sight to the north. In the failing daylight, she could see men coming down a hill a distance away, giving them little time to escape – perhaps the time for just one burning log to turn to ash.
She ran back and informed Jandell of her sighting. He sighed deeply and said, “Well then, we have no choice but to try the crossing now. May Markanova help us!”
Jandell stamped out the flames of the kindling he had just ignited, and the couple began to gather their belongings. They left some of the less essential things behind and piled their packs into the tub – tying them in as best they could with twine. They had picked up some long, broad branches to use as oars along the way, since poles would not work in the deep water. Luckily, the moon was nearly full, so they could at least see – even in the fog. They put extra clothing on, realizing it would be very cold out on the windy, dangerous waters.
Launching the craft was tricky because the shore was basically a mud flat. They both waded through the mud carrying the craft until the water was deep enough for Meenah to climb in, and then Jandell pushed the tub out further. It took some time for him to climb in – headfirst, almost knocking the tub over. After that, they were stuck in the mud, and both of them had to use all of their strength, leaning on the paddles to free the vessel into the water.
As they began to paddle, they heard a nearby splash, turning to see an arrow landing in the water near them. Looking back, they could see that Drigga and three other hunters were slogging out into the mud after them, yelling and knocking arrows in their bows. Brak, Gleb, and the others stayed on the shore looking glum. Luckily, wading through the mud hindered the archers’ aim, and it wasn’t long before Jandell and Meenah – paddling madly and trying not to go in circles – were able to propel themselves out of range.
Jandell cupped his hand around his mouth and yelled, “Drigga! Go home! We will not go back with you, or to the Moocha! Leave them alone!”
Drigga shouted back: “Jandell, you fool! You will drown out there! Come back, and we will not harm you or Meenah or your Moocha! Come back to your Ren people!”
This time it was Meenah who shouted, “Never!”
Continuing to paddle, it wasn’t long before the couple lost sight of their former Ren comrades in the darkness and increasing fog.
As they proceeded farther into the channel, they were beset by two forces: the water current was pulling them into the gap and out toward the sea, and the wind was pushing them the other direction. So far, the current was winning, and the resulting choppiness of the water was making Meenah very sick. She could no longer contribute to the paddling and was instead bent over the side of the tub, vomiting. Jandell was doing the best he could to try to propel the craft southward across the gap, but one person paddling a round tub resulted mainly in spinning rather than any linear progress.
The vessel had passed through the gap and was heading out to sea through higher and higher choppiness, so that Jandell felt sure the tub would capsize at any moment, or if not by some miracle, they would find themselves in the open ocean. Meenah didn’t care anymore. Drowning would be better than her violent and painful seasickness. Just as the couple felt that all was certainly lost, a curious thing happened. The tub crossed over some kind of mysterious line in the water to the south, where the chop was much less, and the tide was moving the other direction! The wind and the tide began to collaborate to propel them back through the gap and into the bay.
“Meenah, help me!” shouted Jandell over the wind. “We need to get to the south shore!”
With the reduced sea chop, Meenah recovered a bit and grabbed her oar, paddling against Jandell’s strokes so that the tub stopped spinning and moved gradually toward the south shoreline – barely visible in the fog. They both paddled as hard as they could for a long time, and finally, the tub was mired once again in another muddy shoreline, but well inside of and south of the great, dangerous sea gap. Meenah and Jandell were so exhausted that they just collapsed together, entangled in the bottom of the reed boat, now fixed firmly in the mud, and went immediately to sleep.
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