Page 50 of Caveman Alien's Bride

“Of course. The Tretter tribe would be honored if you would watch.”

We turn our backs to the fence and lean on it.

“You really seem like chief of the Tretter tribe,” I tell him. “You know the men, and they obey.”

“They obey when I’m here,” Korr'ax says. “The moment I turn my back, they go back to their old ways.”

“And the Borok tribe? They also go back to old ways?”

“No, they’re used to following my commands by now. We must stay here for some days. Then we shall return.”

“There’s no man who can be in charge here while you’re gone?”

Korr'ax looks over at the totem pole in the main square. “I don’t trust anyone here that much. In the Borok tribe, I trust some of the men. Next time I will leave Breti’ax there to command in my absence. I will simply come back here more often.”

“You will spend a lot of time walking in the jungle,” I point out. “And the jungle is dangerous.”

He sighs. “It’s hard to lead a tribe. Any man I pick to be my deputy chief will have to withstand the pressure of the tribe when he gives a command they don’t like. The former chief couldn’t do it. Breti’ax could rarely do it when he was chief.”

“Find one?” I suggest. “Teach him things you know. Get a young one, a man who can learn.”

Korr'ax thinks about it. “A young one may not be tough enough.”

“You not old yourself,” I remind him. “Much more old men hurry to obey you.”

He taps one finger against his lips. “Itwouldfree up my time.”

I squeeze his hand, happy he’s taking my suggestion seriously. “Just something think about. My husband, why Lifegivers only three?”

“They lost one a few years ago,” Korr'ax says. “It dried out because they didn’t water it properly.”

“Watering them is hard?”

“Lifegivers will only drink very clean water. That creek in the village is clean enough for men, not clean enough for Lifegivers. They must bring water from a small creek over there.” He points out to the jungle.

“And they not want? Too heavy?”

“Heavy and dangerous. The Lifegivers don’t need much water. But they need it every day.”

A gust of wind pushes my hair forwards, past my face. I keep thinking of the windmill idea, but it would be too complex for me to make. These guys can do with something simpler, and I wonder if I can’t help them. “What if could bring clean water but not go in jungle?”

Korr'ax frowns. “I don’t understand.”

I point. “Water isthere. Lifegivers arehere. Could bring water to village.”

“That is what we do now,” he patiently explains. “Every day we bring fresh water in pots.”

“Can bring water and not go into jungle. I show. Maybe.”

He raises his eyebrows. “You will show us magic, perhaps? Earth is a magical planet?”

“Parts of it are, maybe. I not know, I never could see those magical places. Not enoughmoney.”

He takes my hand, and we walk on. “Moneeis magic power?”

I shrug. “As close to magic as we can get on Earth.”

The chief’s hut is not as fancy as the one in the Borok village. But it’s still really nice. It’s the only building with two floors, and the log construction is extremely sturdy.

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