Snatched by cmsix

Chapter 34

Once our talk was over, Mayta made the happy announcement that I wanted to be the next Zakat. After Mondaut put forward his own claim for the spot it didn't take long to gather a crowd. Of course my mates and Lanita fretted a little, and if I hadn't been so sure of the technique he'd use I might have done a little fretting myself.

Mondaut wasn't quite as tall as Denac, but he wasn't far off it. He was probably an inch shorter, but I figured he might be as much as twenty pounds heavier. The comforting thing was he seemed to be running a little to seed. At least it was apparent that he was carrying a little more padding than Denac, though you wouldn't call him fat by any means.

Once we were facing each other across the grassy plane, Mondaut showed me the first difference in style. He was waiting for me to charge just like I usually waited for others. It was going to be a damned long fight if he kept it up. He didn't though. When he saw I wasn't going to budge he started his charge.

Now that he was back to what I'd expected, I started toward him at full speed, slipping past right at the last and tripping him. He was faster than I'd expected because he was back on his feet before I'd stopped and turned around. He came at me again and as usual he had his arms wide this time.

I charged too, but instead of trying to sidestep, I lowered my shoulder and let him have it right in the chest. I didn't wrap him up and drive him into the ground though, but I didn't really need to, and I could tell he was stunned. I backed off and waited for his next move.

There wasn't a next move. I guess he'd figured out by now that he didn't stand a chance, and it wasn't like he had to make a good showing to join the Calak, he was already a member. I was counting on him to be a big asset for our combined group.

Mayta asked me if I wanted her to tell everyone that we'd be joining my former Calak, and I told her I'd appreciate it.

She must have told the women while they were cooking and naturally the women told their men. I didn't see anyone that looked disturbed about the news or even surprised. That was great with me. The food was also a welcome change. Some of it was familiar of course, but there was definitely a different flavor; not better necessarily, but different and equally as tasty. My mealtime buddy even commented on it.

"Daddy, this lunch taste different. It is good too though. I think I like it," Lanita said.

"I know I like it, and just think, the cooks are joining us."

"Yes, I'm glad of it, even though I feel sorry for the men that were hurt and killed, and for their mates too. Still, it will be better, especially now that we have found Slidaha. I always liked him and he was nice to me. There are also some children near my age, and I'll get to show them to Nosey," she said.

"Yes you will, and it looks like you'll get to show them sooner than you thought. Look behind you."

"Nosey, did you get lonesome for me?" she asked him, after she'd turned around and spotted his approach.

Nosey replied with a couple of good hee haws that got the attention of everyone. He walked on up to us and I think the little snort he gave was to show his displeasure about being left behind. All was right after some ear scratching though.

After lunch was over Lanita and Nosey struck out to visit and meet the children here. Nita came back to fetch me and we joined Darita and Natalia for a walk around visit to all the patients.

Slidaha was first on the list, and he was doing even better than I'd expected. The beginning double dose and the two subsequent doses of penicillin had done wonders for him. The two men that were in the worst shape seemed remarkably improved too. There had never been a chance for infection to get started on them, and though they were certainly weak and very sore, their wounds already appeared to be healing.

The only one with a setback was a man who had a long gash on his outer thigh. I knew it had been carefully stitched by Nita, but most of the stitches were torn out now, and Natalia told me he refused to rest, saying he was not hurt badly enough to lay around.

"Do you know who I am?" I asked him, after I looked at the secondary mess he'd made of his wound.

"Yes, you are my new Zakat," he said.

"Good, I'm glad you understand. The healing women will have to clean your wound once more and then sew it together again. You are injured and I will not waste medicine on you if you refuse to do as the healing women say.

"When they are finished this time, you will lie still on your pallet until they give permission for you to move around," I said, making sure he didn't think it was a suggestion.

"But my wound is not that bad," he said.

"And how do you know more about it than the healing women? If you continue to defy them, I will have your pallet put on a wooden frame and have you tied to it. Do not keep acting as if you were a naughty child," I said, and left before he made me slap him.

The whole little scene just reinforced my decision not to be a Zakat, or not for long anyway. It also made me wish for plaster of Paris. With just a little of it we could have put his whole leg in a cast, so there'd be no chance he could open the wound again. The itching inside the cast that would come later would also have been poetic justice for his recalcitrance.

It was a big surprise to me that the one dumbass was practically all I had to deal with. Well, he and Mayta too. She had distanced herself from her position of authority, and it was overloading my mates with questions from the other women. I found her for another short talk.

"Mayta, you were the Zakat's mate here and these are still your people. You will be the Zakat's mate again as soon as we join my other Calak. I'd appreciate it if you would just act as if everything here was basically the same, as far as you can. I will back up any decision that you make, have no fears about your authority," I told her, as soon as we were away from the others.

"Very well, I was unsure of my position."

"Well don't be. My mates and I don't want to manage a Calak. You already know how to do a wonderful job and we would appreciate it if you kept on doing it. I'm sure that all your members will appreciate it also," I said.

This bother could have been avoided by using my head a little bit in the first place. I had taken Mayta for granted and left her wondering what was going to happen. I should have spent a little time asking for her assistance in the first place, instead of assuming she would just keep doing what she'd been doing all along. Well, it was fixed now, I hoped. I left to find Nosey and Lanita.

Alas, they'd thrown me over for the company of other children. Nosey was standing around looking smug if you asked me. Lanita and the children were bringing him pulled up grass by the handful, except for the smallest girl, who was busily attending to the scratching of his ears. The Life of Riley popped into my head as I watched.

When I told Shaeta I was heading back for another talk with Caloe she said she'd let the others know. I saddled Red again and took off and it was a good thing I did.

The first thing I saw when I arrived was Denac, and he, Chalti, and Dastar were loading two travois with meat that we'd cured in the smokehouse and other stored food.

"What is happening Denac?"

"Caloe asked us to send two travois of food to your Calak," he said.

"I'd rather you didn't. Would you hold on for a few minutes until I talk to her?"

"Yes, we will wait," he told me.

I found Caloe and told her I appreciated the thought but wanted to decline.

"But why? If they don't need the food we can just bring it with us when we come back to get them," she said.

"I know, but food isn't the problem. Most of their men and women too are sitting around with nothing to do but think about the attack and what they've lost. I want to take all the men hunting and bring back something for the women to work on," I said.

"I should have thought of that myself. It is an excellent idea," she said.

"I would like to take two Clydesdale mares with me though, so I can start showing them what a help they are, if it is all right."

"Of course it is fine. You brought us all the Clydesdales, and all the other cashda too. Take all that you need, and if Denac and Dastar can help, take them too."

It was back to Denac then to give him the new plan. I'd been afraid he'd be a little put out about having to load the meat and food and then having to turn around and unload it. He might have been until I asked if he'd come and help me.

"Yes, I'll be glad to and I know Jekaycey will too. Go on back to your Calak and she and I will bring the cashda after we unload the travois."

"Shall I come too?" Dastar asked.

"I would appreciate it if you can, but there may be some work," I said.

"I will be glad to come and I know that Jaylea will too. No matter if you find work I'll still like it. The things you do are always interesting. We will come with Denac," he said, and I headed back.

Back at my new kingdom I asked Mayta if the women could handle cleaning a few thaka or qaka.

"Yes, easily, but we don't need the meat very badly. Do you need to hunt for the others?" she asked.

"No, I had to go over and stop them from sending two travois of cured meat and other food. I want to have a hunt to take our men's minds off the attack, and I thought it would help the women if they had something to do also, unless there is too much for them now," I said.

"No, there isn't really enough right now, and you have made a wonderful suggestion. By all means, take the men hunting. It will do them good even if you don't find anything," she said.

I went to find Mondaut next, and surprised him by giving him my name right away. Of course he knew it already but now I was officially telling him my name. Even though it was obviously a surprise, he replied with his.

"I need your help. I do not know the men yet but I want to have a short hunt. Can you go to the others and see if any of them want to come with me?"

"Of course I can, and I'm sure they will all want to come. It is too bad about the man you chastised for tearing his wound back open. He is the best hunter in the Calak and I'm sure he will be disappointed that he cannot go," he said.

"Let me go talk to him before any of the others can tell him then. Once I'm with him, then you can start telling them," I said, and he agreed.

Kneeling beside the jackass, I told him my name was Carl. It seemed a little odd, but he told me he was Jalta almost right away.

"I've been told that you are the best hunter in this Calak. Is it true?" I asked.

"It was, before this injury," he said, and seemed like he might sull up again.

"It will be again if you let that heal properly. If you do let it heal, I will show you a new weapon that is better than anything you have ever seen. It will let you make a kill from a hundred yards away if you learn to use it well," I said.

"What kind of weapon could let me do that?" he asked, obviously curious now.

"It is called a bow and it uses arrows to kill. We have not made any yet, but I know how and we have men in our Calak who are very good at making things from wood. The arrows are like small spears, but the bow flings them out very far and very fast. It will take much practice, but you will be able to do well with it."

"And you will show me how to make one and how to use it?" he asked.

"I will, though it will probably be better if the men I mentioned make them. You will get all the help you can use if you want to make your own though."

"It seems odd that you would offer to do this for me after I caused the extra trouble," he said.

"It is called the carrot and the stick approach?" I said.

"What?"

"I have already threatened you with the stick, now I am showing you the carrot," I said.

"But what is a carrot?"

"It is something good to eat, but I haven't seen any here yet. That is just what the method is called. I have told you the bad part and now I am offering a reward if you will do as I ask," I said.

"I think I understand then. If you will show me the new weapon, I will not do one thing unless the healing women say I can," he said, and I could tell it was a promise.

"Good, then I can tell you some bad news. I am taking all the men who aren't injured and who want to go on a hunt. It is to give them something to do and take their minds off what happened with the attack.

"I told you about the bow and arrows to help keep your mind off the attack and your injury. Believe me, you will be very happy with the bow and arrows. Not to mention having a cashda to carry kills back for you without even the need to clean or gut them," I said, and it was easy to see that was another carrot.

I made sure all my mates and Lanita knew what I was up to, and then met with the men Mondaut had gathered. They all had their spears, and I had my Glock and M1 but I didn't intend to use them unless it was necessary. Denac and Dastar had arrived and they would be leading the Clydesdales.

A short conference with Mondaut set us in the direction he thought would be best for hunting and we were off. Twenty minutes later I caught the scent of five thaka and told them. They seemed skeptical but with a few words from Denac and Dastar they were willing to withhold judgment.

We slowed our pace considerably and managed to find the small group of prey. There were four cows and one bull, plus three nursing calves. Since they were a little larger than Buttercup, I thought we might as well try roping them after their parents were deceased.

When I told the new men that plan they were astonished, but they agreed to try making sure they didn't injure any of the calves. Since he knew the men much better, I let Mondaut organize the kill, and I could tell he'd come up with a good plan. They stalked slowly up to and around the thaka and on his signal the spears flew. It was a done deal.

Now the calves were standing around wondering what in the hell was wrong with their mammas. Denac and I approached them slowly, swinging our loops.

Damned if we didn't both make a catch with our first throw. The calves were quite agitated now, especially the ones we'd caught. The other one backed off about fifty yards and watched the proceedings closely.

Denac and I reeled ourselves up to our captives next, but took our time doing it. When we reached the calves we spent about fifteen minutes gentling them as best we could while the other calf and all the men, except Dastar, looked on with amazement.

Finally I thought that Dastar might be able to keep control of the one I had by using a couple of thongs, and I asked him and the others to approach slowly and in as non-threatening a manner as they could.

Dastar and I tied the thongs into a loop and lead rope, such as it was, for the calf I had, and I took my lariat back to try for the other one. Damn, that was a job and a half.

It took nearly half an hour to shuffle up close enough for a quick throw, since the calf was very wary to begin with. I think Denac and Dastar leading his mates off finally did the trick though. I snagged him with my first try and while a couple of the other men and I tried to gentle him, Denac and Dastar gave the remaining hunters some quick travois building instructions that they probably didn't need.

They did require advice for putting the travois on the cashda though but it went smoothly. When they finally discovered that we'd just be loading the dead thaka onto the travois, without the bother of cutting off any parts, they were fully in favor of our new methods.

Later, when we came back into camp with five dead but still whole thaka and leading the three calves the Calak's original women were surprised, but very happy, and they took to skinning and gutting with a will.

They were especially happy that it hadn't taken nearly as long as they'd expected and there was still plenty of time before dark for them to finish. The only thing that gave them pause was the appearance of the live calves.

Lanita and Nosey took charge of them right away though, and the other children joined in shortly. The calves were well on their way to being pets before any parts of their mothers were even roasting. We were well fed and ready for sleep by the time our late supper was done, and Lanita was especially happy about the, now hobbled, companions for Buttercup.

My mates and my furs were welcome when I finally was able to make my way into them.