The Mantooth Read online

  'Sylviana. You say you are not from the Island. How then did youcome here? In all my years I have heard of no other tribe for manymiles around, surely none so fair of face and skin, that wear suchgarments.' The girl looked down, and realized for the first time howodd her own clothes must seem to him: the gauze top, the worn and fadingdenim jeans. And her hair, somewhere between blond and brunette, withstreaks of both. Silver earrings and bracelet. But these thoughts wereas a passing shadow on her mind. How could she possibly tell him thetruth of her existence? Somehow she had to try.

  'This is so hard. A lot of it I don't know myself.' She lookedacross at him. 'Please be patient, and let me choose my words.'

  'It's all right. I am patient.'

  After several halting starts, she saw there was no other way but to tellhim straight out. Let him understand or believe what he would.

  'A long time ago, many hundreds of years I think, there wereinfinitely more people on earth. Our civilization had advance so far,that we could build or do almost anything. We lived in cities as highas this mountain, and many times as broad, all over the world.

  'Unfortunately, one of the things we built the best were weapons,devices to..... Well, the argument was that they were to protectourselves. But really, they had no other purpose than to kill. Some ofthe more primitive of these are in the Mantis' cave, though I have noidea how they got there.' It was useless.

  'We destroyed ourselves, Kalus. I don't know how else to say it.I suppose there were reasons for the War, and in fairness I don'tthink either side wanted it. But it happened all the same. We launchedweapons that could kill millions of people from thousands of miles away,and go on killing years after..... I don't know why I was leftalive.' DON'T CRY. 'All my friends and family are dead.Everything I knew is gone.' Kalus answered softly.

  'Is that what the voice in the mirror was trying to tell me?'

  'I thought you had forgotten.'

  'I do not forget, Sylviana. And I think of things more than youknow. I am not one of the lesser animals. I am only different fromyou.'

  'I'm sorry.' Again she hung her head.

  'Don't be sorry for things that are not wrong. You have yoursorrows and I have mine. Do not think of it now. There is only onemore thing I must ask you.'

  'What is it?'

  'Why did you not die with the others? And living, how have you notgrown old? Is your flesh so different from mine?'

  'No, Kalus. It's very much the same.' She felt weak andtearful, but also a strange determination to see it through. An unusualemotion for her: direct rebellion against despair.

  'My father was a scientist, a man of learning. Somehow he knew thewar was coming. Maybe I should have known it, too, but try tounderstand. My friends and I had lived with the threat of nucleardestruction all our lives. It just didn't seem real.....

  'My father used all the money he had saved since my mother died, tobuild a shelter in the Canadian Rockies. And he was involved withseveral of his colleagues, other scientists like himself, in cryogenicresearch: a way of putting people into a deep sleep, like hibernation.'Just before the missiles starting falling..... My father took me upin his plane. We listened, horrified, to radio broadcasts of thedestruction of the cities, and of the spreading fallout. He told methat he wanted to put me into a suspended state, which would keep mealive until..... Until what, I couldn't imagine.'

  'My mind just couldn't accept what was happening. I wasterrified, and told him I didn't want to leave him. But he said itwas the only way. When we landed, he said that he was sorry. He had todrug me, I guess, because the next thing I knew I was in something likea casket with my father leaning over me, crying, and telling me he lovedme.'

  She broke down, turned against the stone wall, and wept. Kalus lookedat her, and but for the iron discipline he had learned, the alternativeto which was death, would have gone to her and comforted her as best hecould. As it was he felt more stirred than at any time since hisfather's death, and quietly vowed that he would stay with her, andprotect her until the end.

  Sylviana recovered somewhat, looked back at him, and seeing the confusedsympathy of his eyes, concluded.

  'I woke in the Mantis' cave, with no idea where I was or how Icame here. I've been alone for nearly three months. But for theVoice, and later, for Akar..... I nearly lost my mind with fear andloneliness.' She suddenly realized the wolf was no longer with them,and that full night was falling. She let her thoughts collapse.

  Kalus could not hold himself back any longer. 'You're not aloneanymore.'

  Her eyes sought out his, but they were hidden among the deepeningshadows of the nook. With only his limbs clearly visible, he lookedlike some phantom sage of the darkness, at once frightening andreassuring. 'But you must not feel it now. Feeling is for when thebody is safe, and we are not. Now you should sleep..... I will guardyou.'

  She moved further into the cave and lay down. But though she tossed andturned for what seemed an eternity, sleep remained the distant dream ofa child.

  'Kalus?' No reply. She sat up and turned back toward him.'You wouldn't hurt me, would you? Please say you'd never hurtme.'

  'Of course I would not hurt you. Why do you think I stay?' Headded after a time, sounding cold and irritable. 'Go to sleep andtrouble me no more. I have much to think on.'

  Now what had she done to upset him? Feeling more lost than ever, sheswallowed hard and turned away. She lay down again, and perhaps an hourlater, fell at last into exhausted slumber.

  *

  Long after the wolf had returned and lay sleeping beside her, Kalusremained wide awake, crouched at the edge of the shaft, listening. Hestudied the slow, deliberate breathing of the giant insect, trying to becertain. When he was as sure as he could be that the creature was stillasleep, he began to descend.

  He felt hollow as he went, partly from fear, and partly from thewill-crushing desperation of the act now forced upon him. He was angryat having to be short with the girl, and once more felt bitterlyabandoned and betrayed, though by whom he could not have said. And thencame the voice that told him such an act was unnecessary---that herisked all their lives for nothing---the cruelest lie of all. No. Heknew what must be done.

  But always now his thoughts returned to fear; with every step thefeeling grew. By the time he reached the floor of the Mantis' cave,terror had completely overtaken him. But still he went on. He HAD tohave a weapon. The Mantis might banish them that very morning, andwithout it they were naked and helpless. And he knew that whateverprayers he might offer, to the God he did not know, no one could savehim now but himself.

  *

  Later that night he returned, alive but nearly paralyzed with fear.Unable to overcome the emotion, he went to the girl. Touching her facewith the back of his trembling hand, he woke her gently. He could nolonger fight back the tears as she turned to face him.

  'What is it?' she asked. 'What's wrong?' He tried totell her what he was feeling, but it was all too much. Rising to a sitbeside him, Sylviana took his face in her hands and tried to understand.Then she took his head tentatively to her shoulder, where he wept like abrutalized child. Feeling awkward, but very warm, she stroked hisgnarled hair and rocked him slowly.

  When morning came it found them still anxious and afraid, but infinitelycloser than they had been only hours before.

  Chapter 8

  The Mantis appeared at the entrance of his cave about an hour aftersunrise. Kalus and the wolf had waited by the opening of the smallerenclosure, and knew without being told that he was ready with an answer.

  Seeing them high above, Skither raised one foreclaw and summoned them tocome down. As they drew closer he stepped out slowly toward the centerof the ledge. He wanted to choose the right words.

  He exchanged simple greetings with the wolf, nodding passively at Kalus.He addressed Akar first, and after several minutes the wolf nodded hisunderstanding and moved to wait at a far corner of the ledge, withoutgiving any indica
tion what the answer had been. Turning his attentionto Kalus, the Mantis signaled his words slowly and carefully.

  'Son of the hill-tribe, I have made my decision. I have thought longon your words, and on other things you do not know. Understand, I havegood reason to mistrust your kinsmen. But Akar tells me you are notlike them, and I accept his judgment.' He stopped for a moment,genuinely moved by the man-child's countenance: the troubled face,exhausted by hope and fear alike.

  'I have decided to let you stay, young one. But under the followingconditions. You will remain in the smaller cave, using my own only atgreatest need. Further, you must be prepared to leave it upon myreturn, twenty days, perhaps more. You may fool my enemies for a time,but it is unwise to think you could hold them off longer. I will circlethe mountain twice, giving credence to your sound-making device. Beyondthat you are on your own. I will give Akar the rest of my thoughts. Hestands in my place while I am gone. Heed him well, I do not place mytrust in him lightly..... Do you hear my words?'

  'Yes, master. I am grateful.' He wanted badly to leave, but theMantis' knowing gaze would not release him.

  'Is there nothing else you would say to me?'

  Kalus' heart sank. He KNEW! Despair overtook him at the last.

  'I--- I took from your cave a weapon. Please believe me, it was notfor myself alone. If you had banished us from the mountain..... I haveonly this knife.' He threw it weakly to the ground.

  Skither waited patiently, and at length Kalus looked up at him. Againhe signaled slowly. 'Be at peace. I am not angry. You may keep thesword, and one other weapon of your choosing.' Kalus stared indisbelief.

  'You please me, Kalus, though you do not know it. I see that youlearned long ago the lesson of self-reliance. Now you must learn aharder lesson still: when to trust. What you did this night took greatcourage; you have not changed my mind against you. Only. Hear me,Kalus, I do not give my thoughts easily. Sometimes it is better totrust, even at the price of great pain..... Your heart will know. Butdo not carry the weight alone. It will crush you.

  'That is all. Be at peace.' Kalus lifted the knife and moved away.But as he walked stiffly toward the steep but passable incline, he feltlove for the Monarch swell his heart to bursting, and hard tears pushingat his eyes. As he climbed to rejoin the girl, Akar went with Skitherinto his cave to receive further instruction. Sylviana met her newfriend on the parapet.

  'What did he say?'

  Kalus did not answer at once, but took her by the hand and led her tothe one place in the enclosure where both could stand without stooping.Reaching it he embraced her, but did not cry. He backed away, then satdown to gather his thoughts.

  'We can stay, until his return, at least.'

  She knelt before him. 'What about the sword?'

  'I was right. He did see me. But he is not angry, and he said thatI could keep it. He said I was very brave.'

  'That's because you are.'

  'No.' He looked across at her sternly. 'Sylviana. You mustknow, this is only a beginning. I am grateful for your compassion lastnight, and I am in your debt. But there is still much work to do, andmuch danger. There are so many ways that the Wild can beat us..... Andwe must be prepared to leave here in twenty days.'

  'Yes. I know.' Her tone was lowered. 'But at least you'renot alone.' She reached out and touched his beard with the back ofher fingers. He moved the hand away, but without anger or secret pain.It was morning still.

  Chapter 9

  'Sylviana, come here. This is something you must see.' She wentout and stood beside him on the parapet. Skither was preparing toleave.

  He stood solid with legs spread and hooked claws clinging, his abdomenexpanding and contracting as he prepared for the single thrust thatwould send a massive burst of air through the small opening in hispurposely dislocated jaw.

  He let the final breath gather inside him. Then spreading his wings forbalance, he exhaled in a quick and powerful motion. The result was awhistling sound so loud and shrill that it wounded the hearing eventhrough covered ears. All the Valley seemed to hush in its aftermath,an echo of silence, as if all life for miles around had stopped itsbreath to listen. Indeed, thought the girl, even a creature that didnot know the massive killer from which it emanated, would be sure tostay far clear of the place from which the sound had come. The Mantisrested for a short time, then repeated its territorial warning.

  Akar returned out of the larger cave as Skither's breathing becamenormal once more. After several minutes he nodded imperceptibly to thewolf, then spread his wings and took off slowly. He circled themountain twice, swooped low down the canyon as if in anger, then turnedwestward at the sandstone ridge and moved steadily out of sight.Sylviana stood watching Kalus, whose eyes gleamed with some fierceemotion that was beyond her experience, but not her ability to feel. Hewas silent, lost in some world of his past, then spoke.

  'It will be a long time before the Commodore ventures so far from itshole, to steal the flesh of those yet living.'

  With this he seemed to come back to himself. He turned to the girl,contented. 'There is much work to do.' He reached above andbehind her on the rockface to the place where he had set the pelt todry. 'Have you ever worked with leather or fur?'

  'Yes, a little.'

  'Good. Take my knife and see if you can cut four long strands fromthe skin, each about as wide as your smallest finger. They need not bestraight; they are only for binding wooden poles. I go to the valley tofetch them. Do not leave here until I return.' He began to descend,remembered himself. 'The sword.....' He passed her and reenteredtheir tiny island of space, emerged with the sword, unsheathed. Itswell-preserved edges looked sharp in the sunlight.

  'Be careful,' she said.

  'I am always careful. Akar will come with me.' He took a lock ofher hair in his fingers, and would have kissed her if he knew how. Hewhistled for the wolf and started down.

  'Kalus?' He turned. 'Won't you need an ax to cut thewood?' He could not hide his smile in answering.

  'I don't have to cut it. I steal it from the beaver.'

  The two hunters met on the broader ledge and descended into the shadowsof the gorge, leaving the girl with only the large rabbit pelt andKalus' jagged knife, in truth not much improved from the museumrelics she had studied as a child. She moved to a small, relativelysmooth stretch of stone just inside the entrance, and laid out the furupon it. She sat down and tried to work, but after several tentativestarts had only succeeded in shredding one corner and cutting her fingeron the knife. There seemed no safe way to grasp it, no soft orunsharpened place anywhere on it.

  'Oh, this will never work.' She sat there on the stony ground,angry and frustrated, sucking her finger and cursing this backward,half-animal world.

  But then an idea came to her. She tried to suppress it, but again thestrange and uncharacteristic stubbornness crept over her. She moved tothe dark fissure of the shaft and looked down, deliberating. Afterseveral minutes of internal bickering, she reached her legs out over theside, lowered herself to the first shelf, and began to descend.

  *

  Kalus and the wolf returned late in the afternoon. Sylviana had notbeen idle. As the man-child laid five straight and sturdy poles on thefloor by his accustomed sleeping place, he found there waiting for himfour long and curving strands, spiral cut from the skin to assuregreatest length and thickness. The girl returned his questioning gaze,held up a long hunting knife it its leather sheath.

  'If you can steal a sword, I can at least take a few things to makemy life more bearable.'

  He looked past her on the floor to see one of the furs from her formerbed, folded over and half filled with treasures she thought to keep. Heasked to see the knife. He withdrew it from its sheath and gazed at itadmiringly, not at all upset. Instead he nodded his approval.

  'You have done well. He said we could take one other weapon, and Isee that you have chosen the best.' He gave it back to her. 'Whatare the other things? W
ill he miss them?'

  'I don't think so. It's just a few books, some bowls, and aflask for carrying water. And this.' She pulled the fur closer,fished around inside it for a moment, drew out a small whet stone.'It's for sharpening steel.'

  Again he smiled. 'You have done very well. I will make a hunter ofyou yet.' She put out her arms to embrace the wolf, who pulled away,though gently. Akar went again to the entrance.

  'How did it go with you?' she asked Kalus.

  'Your friend is very clever, though his heart is not in it. He drewaway the beavers while I took the poles. The female---' He laughed.'She was so angry. I think she would have killed me if she got thechance.'

  'Killed you? A little two-foot long beaver?'

  'Two feet?' he winced. 'Perhaps the beavers of your world areonly that long, but I promise you, these were larger than any wolf.'

  She studied him, disbelieving. A bizarre thought had just occurred toher. 'Are you telling the truth?'

  'Why would I lie?'

  She threw back the upper fold of the fur, searched among the books. Shequickly found what she was looking for: PREHISTORIC EARTH, ESSAYS ANDILLUSTRATIONS. She checked the index, thumbed the yellowed and clumpingpages.