Page 21 of Caveman Alien's Bride

When we finally reach the jungle and have trees on both sides of us, we’re drenched in blood and dinosaur saliva, and covered in sand from the beach. Even Korr'ax looks dirty.

He doesn’t stop, but climbs the hill with us to an outlook point at the edge of the cliff. To my surprise, there are two other cavemen waiting there.

And a wooden table that is definitely an altar.

“I think he wants it done right away,” Piper says. “You don’t have to do this, Bryar! Don’t get pressured into anything. Hejust risked his life for us. I think he’ll take a marriageextremelyseriously.”

“I think so too,” I tell her, totally exhausted by all the dangers. “And now I think the deal he’s offering is pretty good. He just rescued us from several dozen predators without any of us getting a scratch, except maybe himself. He’s not kidding about the protection he offers.”

“I still advise against it,” Piper says, for a change looking just as bad as me. Cold, watery dinosaur blood is drying on our skin, and we both look like we were born with red hair.

“This may just mean he’s making you his slave. We can get by on our own, Bryar.”

“I think I may take that chance,” I wheeze.

The two other men straighten up as we approach. One is old and has orange stripes, the other is younger and wears a cape and a leather hat that reminds me of a bishop’s mitre.

They both stare at Piper and me with great interest.

6

- Korr'ax -

“Shaman Gerut’on and Elder Breti’ax,” I begin formally, “these are the two women I spoke of. This is Bryar, and this is Piper. Bryar has agreed to marry me, and I want the wedding to take place now,” Of course both men know why they’re here, but a chief of two tribes has to be formal. And I’m feeling both excited and elated. I’ve never been closer to feeling the Ancestors' blessing me.

“Neither of them are The Woman,” the shaman says with certainty. “I agree with you there, Chief. But they’re incredibly dirty. Did they bathe in blood?”

I point down to the beach, where the trok can be clearly seen. “The trok arrived on the beach to lay eggs. As usual, the other Bigs come to eat those eggs, and the trok is fighting them. There’s a lot of blood down there now. Shall we start?”

“Yes, Chief. The altar is ready. I don’t have a ceremony for weddings, but I’ll make something up. Elder Breti’ax will be the tribe witness. And I suppose the other female there will be thewitness for the bride’s tribe. Bring the bride forward.”

I scratch my chin. “The bride?”

“The woman to be wedded is called the ‘bride’,” the shaman explains “Whereas you, Chief, are called the ‘groom’. That’s just for today. Those are not the permanent titles. From today on, you are the 'husband' and Bryar is the 'wife'.”

I grab Bryar’s hand and lead her with me to the altar. “Witness this, Elder Breti’ax.”

“Of course, Chief,” the old man creaks. “I’m sorry about my silence. I’m stunned by the beauty of your woman. Oh, but you didn’t give her the Gift!”

“I will do that after the ceremony,” I decide on the spot. “As it turned out, she didn’t need the Gift after all before she agreed to marry me. Do you have the other item?”

“Right here, Chief.”

“Good. Proceed, Shaman Gerut’on!”

Bryar looks wonderful, even with her lower half dripping with the blood of the Bigs. I can’t wait to bathe her and uncover all of that soft, round body.

She’s being quiet, though. She looks up at me with her clear eyes as if trusting I will keep my promise.

“Just say ‘toh’,” I tell her, teaching her the word for ‘yes’. “‘Toh.’”

“To.”

“Toh.”

“Toh.”

I give her a wide smile. “Well done! You will know when to say it. Begin, shaman!”

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