Page 40 of Planet Zero
Chele nodded. “Do you have moss, Oma, or do we need to gather some?”
“I do,” Oma whispered. “I had it all prepared… for the baby.”
Together Addie and Chele undressed the woman and mopped up the worst of the blood from her lower body, replacing the dirty furs on which she lay with fresh ones.
Before rolling the soiled padding up to dispose of later, Addie inspected it with great attention.
“Look,” she showed it to Chele. “These are blood clots. It’s a good sign. It means her body is fighting to stop the bleeding.”
“Let’s hope she only needs a little help. That’s all we can give her.” Chele glanced meaningfully at the small piece of the jerky Oma hadn't been able to finish.
From afar, voices rang signaling the women’s return from their foraging expedition. Noticing how Oma’s eyelids grew heavy, Chele covered her with a fur throw and tidied up in the teepee.
“She will sleep deeply now, and the sleep will help her heal. That’s all we can do.”
Addie picked up and folded the soiled rags. “I’ll dispose of these bloody rags on my way home.”
They quietly left Oma’s teepee.
Little Oh’na spotted them immediately and ran toward Addie on her strong stubby legs in fur-trimmed booties. “You came! What took you so long?”
“I was busy making more of my meat for you, butterfly.”
“What is a butterfly?”
“It is a beautiful bug with large colorful wings. It brings joy to people.”
“But a bug!” Oh’na wailed.
Addie laughed.
“What is this woman doing here?” A hoarse, raspy voice inquired ominously.
Just like a storm cloud appearing out of nowhere and covering up the sun, the High Counselor Chemmusaayl’s presence cast a dark shadow over Addie’s pleasure of looking into Oh’na’s chubby face.
Chele jumped to her defense. “Her name is Addie, and she comes here as a friend.”
“A friend, you say?” His watchful eyes narrowed suspiciously. “She comes when men aren’t around. She hides something.”
“I hide nothing!” Addie spoke for herself. “And you are here. You’re a man, yes?”
“Silence!” he shouted at her and raised his hand as if to strike her.
She ducked.
The women turned to watch.
“Chemmusaayl,” a quiet, clear voice called out from behind Addie.
The old man’s hand lowered without making contact.
Zoark’s sudden appearance didn’t improve the High Counselor’s lousy disposition. “This doesn't concern you, Zoark. You may go back to your tent.”
“I think I will stay,” he said with unflappable calm.
Chemmusaayl’s eyes shot a shaft of ire at Zoark but his mouth closed. Suddenly, Addie wanted to giggle. The crippled and afflicted Zoark didn’t give a shit about the High Counselor’s almighty power, and Chemmusaaylknew it. He knew it, he hated it, and he could do exactly zilch about it. Interesting.
Chemmusaayl quickly recovered and pretended to ignore the tall warrior who rose like a small mountain behind Addie.
