Page 19 of Caveman Alien's Touch

“All shamans have these scrolls with the same symbols,” Melr’ax says. “We’re always looking for those paintings when we go to a new place. I’ve never heard of one being found until now. Perhaps you should show it to me.”

I meet Noker’s gaze for a short moment. The shaman is so obviously fragile that even walking the short distance outside the walls might tire him out really fast.

“Perhaps is better if you stay here and think,” I carefully suggest. “Noker and I bring anything you need.”

“Ah,” the old man brays. “You think it would shorten my life even more if I were to leave this hut and go outside the wall. I don’t think I’mthatsick, Bronwen. But you don’t need much more from me. Until the ceremony, of course. I shall try to stay alive until then. The tribe has still to find an apprentice I can teach these things to, but I fear time is running out.”

“Teach Astrid,” I say on a sudden impulse. “She need thing to do. Important thing.”

The two cavemen go quiet. I guess the idea of an alien woman shaman is a little ahead of its time on Xren.

“I don’t think…” Noker begins, frowning.

Melr’ax cuts him off with a dry cackle. “Oh, that isdelightful!Of course! A female shaman for the Borok tribe! Oh sweet Ancestors, the uproar and mystification it will cause! Yes, send me Astrid, Bronwen! Send her here, and I shall teach the alien all the ancient mysteries and holy secrets! Oh Noker, take great care of this one! She has the mind of a wily irox!”

He’s still laughing when we leave the hut and close the thin door behind us.

“That was interesting,” Noker ponders. “A dragon may be near.”

I glance over at the Mount, not thrilled about there being some kind of monster hiding under it. “What is ceremony he was talking about?”

8

- Noker-

I can guess what kind of ceremony he meant. He’s a perceptive old shaman, but this time he’s wrong. I have the clan to think of, and certainly Bronwen is not interested in marrying me. I’m not like Brak, so obviously a powerful man, so active, so strong, so smart. Nobody wonders why Piper chose him to marry. But I’m just Noker with the strange head, the fat legs, and the other thing that must stay secret. And the clan needs me.

“I don’t know. Perhaps something to do with thepenkgame.”

Bronwen nods. “Oh. You should get ready, maybe?”

I look up at the sun. Noon is still a while away, but perhaps I can try to find out whatpenkis. “I should.”

She puts a hand on my forearm. “I sure you’ll do well. Just not do dangerous things. I’ll go and tell Astrid that the shaman want see her.” She walks off with quick steps, hips swaying.

I watch her until she turns a corner, my crotch swelling like usual when I see her from this angle.

Sauntering towards the area where this tribe practices their fighting, I’m greeted by several of the Borok men I meet. Not all, of course, but I never expected that.

Sarker’ox the temporary chief comes towards me, lifting his right hand in greeting. “Guest Noker, it’s good to see you! You look ready for the game.”

“I hope I am, Chief Sarker’ox. Though I must confess we don’t have any games of penk in the clan. And so I wonder how it works.”

The Borok man grins. “I thought you might not know. I think penk is only played by the Borok tribe, and only rarely. Come, I will show you. The preparations are finished.”

We walk together to the training area.

“The first part is to test how accurately you can throw your sword. Or in your case, the spear.” He points to a small target made from wood and the skin of a rekh. It is made to look like one, down to the teeth. “Your task is to strike it in the middle. Easy enough for most who know their weapons.”

It doesn’t look easy to me, but I nod confidently. “Of course. He who strikes nearest the middle wins, I assume.”

“Precisely! The next part is a test of speed.” Sarker’ox points to a row of even smaller targets, each the size of my hand and arranged in a wide circle that fills the training field “Here you run around the circle, knocking down as many of those as you can in the time it takes for a full pot of water to empty itself into another pot.”

“And he who knocks down the most targets in that time wins.” It looks like a test for how fast one can run, which is one area where I feel confident.

“If one man wins both the first parts, then the game of penk is over and he has won,” Sarker’ox says. “But if not, the third part of the game starts. It takes place outside the wall and is a race with targets and obstacles. Both men start at the same time, and he who finishes first is the winner of the game. Men have prepared the obstacles all morning.”

“Outside the village?” I don’t like the sound of that.Is it too late to withdraw from this strange game?

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