Page 10 of Caveman Alien's Bride

“I know,” I tell him darkly. “I didn’t mean to. I got distracted.”

“Yes, we all sawthat!” He points to my crotch, where the bulge is still visible. “Did you really enjoy itthatmuch?”

“Of course not!” I tell him. “I was thinking of something else.”

“Hopefully it wasn’t this Woman nonsense of yours,” the old man seethes. “This is not a good way to begin your chief’s duty for this tribe. Distracted during the duel? The omens are dark, Chief!”

The cheering drowns out his words so nobody else can hear, and I receive the tribe’s tribute with a stern face.

Again I curse the fantasy about Bryar. If I hadn’t met her, this would have been a much less bloody takeover. Even now, Istruggle to take my mind off that woman.

Awomanon Xren! And I Worshipped her!

My crotch tightens once more, and I turn my belt on my waist to put my sword in front of it.

Finally I raise both hands, and the blue-striped men quiet down.

“Tribesmen! Chief Prit'oz is dead after a fierce duel. I did not want to kill him, but his skill with the blade was such that he left me no choice. He drew first blood, tribesmen! And his honor is great. It is with sadness that I give you my first command: Prepare a pyre for Prit'oz!”

They cheer again and start tidying up the square, dragging the dead chief away.

“Varit’az! Remj’ax!” I call two men in this tribe whose names I know. “Come with me. I will inspect the Lifegivers.”

They show me to the enclosure, and I stand still for a while, just looking.

The Lifegivers are how babies are born into the tribe. A tribesman gives his fertile juices into one, and it closes. Several months later, it gives the signal, and the baby can be lifted out. Only male babies are born from Lifegivers, of course.

Nobody knows what exactly the Lifegivers are. They look like giant buds with vines and branches and leaves growing out of them. But they move like animals, waving their tendrils and sending vines to various sources of water. My guess is they are both plant and creature at the same time.

It doesn’t matter. The Ancestors made sure we have a way to bring new life into the tribes. But it’s the tribe’s responsibility tocare for them, and that’s not easy.

“They should be bigger than this,” I tell the men. “Those two are in use, yes?”

“Yes, Chief. One for one month. The other is almost ready to open.”

I lift the main cover leaf for the third one. It doesn’t pull it closed, and its vines barely move.

“This one is about to die. Where do they get water?”

They show me, and I instruct them about how to care better for the things. They already know, of course. But their former chief wasn't strong enough to enforce the rules.

“One man must always be on guard,” I tell them firmly. “And I meanon guard, not sleeping. Killvines or leaf-etchers can appear quickly, and they must be removed right away. Even standing here I can see two killvines getting close.” I point, and the men get busy rooting them out.

“It’s better than I thought,” I say softly to Breti’ax. “All three can be saved. Soon that one is ready for a new baby.”

“It should be yours,” the old man says. “You still don’t have sons. This Lifegiver will give you one.”

I think about it. “I am in line to start a Lifegiver in the Borok village next time one becomes available. And you just told me not to be greedy.”

“Indeed it is true that most men will never have a son from a Lifegiver,” Breti’ax creaks with a glint in his eye. “And those who do only ever have the one. But you are now the chief of two tribes. I have never heard of that ever happening. Surely such apowerful man as you are entitled totwosons, Korr'ax! One from each tribe you rule!”

“Perhaps,” I reply. The more I think about the idea, the more I like it.

It makes me dizzy. Two sons! That would be a legendary accomplishment. And surely Bryar would admire that. Surely she would be highly impressed by a man who has two babies in the Lifegivers! Surely she would undress and…

“I can see you like it,” Breti’ax chuckles and points to my crotch, where there is once more considerable swelling. “Sothatwas what you were thinking about during the duel! The Lifegivers! But contain yourself, Chief. It’s not yet time to donate your juices!”

A boy of the tribe shyly comes up to me. “Are you the new chief, Korr'ax?”

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