Page 17 of Fall

But her body responded to his proximity, to the strength she could see inhis arms, his shoulders, his chest. To the intelligence, the humanness she sawin his eyes.

For a moment, she had to fight the urge to reach out and touch him.

Then she swallowed and looked away, telling herself to get a grip. It hadbeen a hard month for her. She probably would have responded in the same way toanyone paying her some attention.

Rone was scowling again when she looked back at him.

She had no idea why he always got so annoyed with her.

Searching for something to say that she had the vocabulary for, shefinally said, “Hunt good?”

Rone nodded soberly, putting a hand on her back to push her toward theentrance of the cave. “Hunt good.”

***

The huntingparty had returned with an animal twice as large as those deer they’d killedbefore. Its carcass looked like a wildebeest—a very large one—and theexcitement in the camp at this hunting success was plain to see.

The Kroo were already building a bonfire and gutting the animal when Roneand Lenna joined the others.

Since food obviously took priority over her, Rone went to join theothers, and Lenna sat down next to Desh on the outskirts.

“They only kill one of these maybe once a year,” Desh said, lookingaround at the excitement of everyone surrounding them. “It will feed the tribefor at least two weeks. That’s why everyone is so happy.”

Rone wasn’t looking happy. He was frowning deeply as he was cutting meatoff the body of the animal.

He looked like he wanted tear something apart.

Desh must have followed her eyes. “I told you before,” he saidmatter-of-factly. “Women make the initial advances in this tribe.”

Lenna’s shoulders stiffened in surprise. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, a man isn’t supposed to act until a woman has made the initialadvance. That’s how they know the woman is receptive. If a man acts before thewoman has made herself available, it’s a sign that he’s weak.”

“That disgusting Ugar gropes me any chance he gets.”

“And everyone in this tribe knows him to be weak and a coward. Rone isneither of those things.”

Lenna thought about this, turning her eyes back to Rone. He’d beenwatching her, but he looked away when their eyes met.

Desh gave an ironic laugh. “He’s waiting for you to let him know you’reinterested. He can’t make a move until you do.”

“I thought you said he’s never chosen a mate.”

‘He hasn’t before. But what do you want to bet he does if you give himeven the smallest sign you’d be receptive?”

Ridiculously, Lenna’s heart started to race in excitement. She reallyshouldn’t be so excited that this grumpy caveman was interested in her, but shewas.

She really was.

She sat in silence as the meal was being prepared. Because the animal wasso big, they made their normal big pot of stew, but they also roasted some ofthe meat on skewers.

It smelled delicious, and Lenna couldn’t help but be pleased when Ronebrought her over a big piece of roasted meat.

She smiled at him as she accepted it, and he gave her that same sober,watchful look.

When he returned to the fire for more food, Lenna pulled off a big chunkof her meat and handed it to Desh.

“He’s not going to want you to give it to me,” Desh said, eyeing the foodlongingly.

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