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diff --git a/26989.txt b/26989.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e6c25a --- /dev/null +++ b/26989.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1456 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of B. C. 30,000, by Sterner St. Paul Meek + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: B. C. 30,000 + +Author: Sterner St. Paul Meek + +Release Date: October 21, 2008 [EBook #26989] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK B. C. 30,000 *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: _With a roar, the apemen charged._] + +B. C. 30,000 + +By Capt. S. P. Meek + + + Back in the dim dawn of civilization + Anak the Hunter stands in his might + before the encroaching Neanderthal + men. + + +A scream of rage split the darkness. From the side of the fire where the +women sat darted Esle, the High Priestess, a bloody bit of liver in her +hand. Following her, and snarling like an enraged cat, came one of the +maidens of the tribe. The aged hag, Esle, whose duty it was to declare +to the tribe the will of Degar Astok, the mighty one who dwelt in the +heavens and sent the storms to enforce his will, came to a pause before +Uglik, the Chief and tribal Father. + +"Una was eating of the man's piece," she shrilled as she held the +fragment aloft. + +Uglik dropped the thigh bone from which he had been ripping the meat in +huge chunks. He took the liver from Esle and examined it. + +"Bring me my spear!" he roared as he lunged forward and grasped Una by +the hair. "Una has stolen that which is tabu to her and I will punish +her." + +Una moaned with fright but attempted no resistance. Uglik grasped his +spear and raised it over his head. + +"Hold, Father!" came a clear voice from the group of hunters who sat +near the chief. + +Uglik paused in amazement at the interruption. Anak, the Chief Hunter, +rose to his feet and made a step forward. + +"She stole it not," he said. "Anak, the Chief Hunter, gave it to her." + +Uglik released the girl and stared at the hunter in surprise. Anak +returned the stare coolly and Uglik raised his throwing-spear +threateningly. Anak did not let his gaze wander from the Father's, but +his grasp tightened ever so slightly on the sharp flint smiting-stone +which he had taken from the skin pouch which dangled from his leather +waist belt before he had made his announcement. + +"Anak, the Chief Hunter, gave it to her," he repeated slowly. "Anak +killed the buck, and half of the liver is, by the law of the tribe, his +to dispose of. Does the Father deny the right?" + + * * * * * + +Uglik lowered the point of his spear and thought rapidly. Anak's act +constituted unheard-of rebellion against his authority. On the other +hand, the Chief Hunter was the cleverest tracker of the tribe and a +mighty warrior in battle. The tribe of Ugar had lost most of its +warriors in their long six-month march north from the fertile valley +where the Mediterranean Sea now rolls. Uglik was too wise a leader to +waste men on a trivial quarrel, able though he felt himself to kill +Anak, should the latter cry the rannag, the duel to the death by which +the Father must at any time prove to any challenger, his right to rule. + +"It is the right of the killer to dispose of half of the liver of the +kill," he conceded. "It is also the right of the stronger to take what +he wills from the weaker. To Esle belongs the liver. The girl will not +be punished. Anak will join me at meat." + +Anak's face flushed momentarily at the arrogant tone of the Father's +ruling. He realized, as well as Uglik, what had caused the Father to +condone his semi-rebellion. He shrugged his shoulders and sat down +beside Uglik. + +Uglik ate slowly, looking meditatively at Una as she tore off chunks of +the meat with her strong teeth and swallowed them. The girl was about +eighteen and in the first flush of womanhood. Her tawny brown skin +gleamed like satin in the firelight, which was reflected from her +slightly curling masses of black hair. She stood eight inches over five +feet and her entire body was built on generous lines, lines of perfect +health and almost masculine strength. Anak's eyes followed the direction +of Uglik's gaze and he grew thoughtful in turn. + +"Is the Father satisfied with the Chief Hunter?" he asked ceremoniously. + +"The Father is," replied Uglik in similar vein. + +"Then the Chief Hunter has a boon to ask." + +"Name it." + +"I desire that maiden, Una, be given to me." + +"What?" + +Uglik could hardly believe his ears. All of the women of the tribe +belonged of immemorial right to the Father. While he might lend one for +a time to a favored hunter as a mark of distinction, the suggestion that +he completely relinquish his claim to one of them, and a young and +handsome one at that, struck him with such astonishment that he was +momentarily speechless. + +"I desire that the maiden, Una, be given to me," repeated Anak. "She +pleases me. I would have her carry my weapons on the march and sleep by +my side in the camp." + + * * * * * + +Uglik leaped to his feet, spear in hand, but before the Chief Hunter's +cool gaze, he wavered, again. Men were too scarce to waste, unless it +became necessary. + +"I will consider the matter," he said shortly. "I may lend her to you +for a time, but I will not give her to you. Such is not the law." + +"The Father who ruled before you gave women to his favored hunters," +replied Anak. "I was the son of such a one." + +"And Degar Astok assumed the form of a lion and punished him for his +impiety by destroying him," retorted Uglik. + +"Then Uglik killed the lion and so became Father," replied Anak, "since +none dared challenge the slayer of Degar Astok. Is it not possible that +Esle, who was young and who favored Uglik in those days, made a mistake? +Despite his death, Degar Astok still has power." + +Uglik's face flushed at the hunter's words. + +"Degar Astok may be robbed of one body, but he still lives," he +answered. "Say no more. I will consider your request." + +Anak saluted and strode to the other side of the men's fire. He dropped +down beside Invar, the youngest of the hunters. It was on his +recommendation that Invar had been initiated into the ranks of manhood a +full season before his time. The young hunter looked up with adoration +in his eyes. + +"This I saved for my friend, Anak," he said proudly as he extended a +generous chunk of liver. "Invar will be honored if his friend will eat +of the liver of his kill." + +Anak took the morsel with thanks and ate it slowly. His thoughts ran to +the tall maiden whom he had requested from the Father, and his blood +boiled at the way he had been put off. He was half inclined to cry the +rannag, but he was not yet ready for the death duel which would +determine whether he or Uglik would rule the tribe. There was no other +solution, for, while he ruled, the Father's word was law, subject only +to the higher law of Degar Astok as given out by the High Priestess. +This overlordship was more nominal than actual, for those priestesses +who lived long lives were invariably those who found that the will of +the Father coincided exactly with the law of Degar Astok. Anak revolved +the problem in his mind for a time, but the repletion of raw meat in his +stomach was not conducive to protracted thought. Gradually his head +slumped forward and he slept sitting. The other hunters followed his +example, leaving the youths from ten to seventeen to guard the camp, +keep the fires going, and rouse the hunters should need arise. + + * * * * * + +The night passed slowly without alarms. Womoo, the lion, roared in the +distance, and from near at hand came the coughing laugh of Kena, the +jackal, who always prowled around the camp when the tribe fed on meat. +Gradually the sky grew lighter. One of the children moaned in his sleep +and raised his head. He rose, and with a word to the youth on guard, +trotted off toward the stream which gurgled near the camp. He +disappeared in the darkness. Suddenly there came a sudden scream, shut +off in mid-note. Hardly had the cry ceased than the hunters were on +their feet with spears ready in their hands. + +"What is it?" cried Uglik. + +"Loda went to the stream to drink," stuttered the guard. "He screamed, +and I saw a gray shape run off into the darkness. It ran like Grup, the +bear, but it was small." + +"Bring fire!" cried Anak. + +The youth seized a burning brand and led the way toward the stream. By +the light of the torch Anak scrutinized the ground carefully. With a +sudden exclamation, he pointed out to Uglik the print of a long and +narrow, but unmistakably human, foot in the mud by the river bank. Uglik +studied it carefully. + +"What think you?" he demanded of Anak. + +"It is the mark of man, yet not of our tribe," replied the Chief Hunter. +"Such marks have I never seen." + +"Wait until Degar Astok sends the light," directed Uglik. "As soon as +you can trail, the hunters will go in pursuit." + + * * * * * + +Slowly the light grew brighter. As soon as he could pick out the trail, +Anak led the way, Uglik with the warriors and youths following closely. +The trail led straight up the valley for a half mile before it turned +and followed a branch of the stream which came from a ravine in the +valley wall. The hunters went a hundred yards up the ravine following +Anak. The Chief Hunter paused and held up his hand. He sniffed the air +and then led the way cautiously past a projecting shoulder of rock. On +a ledge, half way up the hillside, sat two monstrous things. + +They were manlike and yet hardly man. Their bodies were covered with +stiff, coarse, gray hair which lengthened into a mane on the head and +neck. Their foreheads were low and receding, an impression which was +heightened by the enormously developed brow ridges, although the cranial +capacity of the creatures was not small, as was evidenced by enormous +bulges at the back of their heads. They walked on two legs but with a +peculiar slouch, the torso inclined forward from the hips, and their +eyes bent perpetually on the ground. Their arms were long and at times +they bent forward so much that it appeared almost as though they were +going on all fours. A close examination of their hands would have shown +that it was impossible for them to hold a needle between the thumb and +forefinger. + +"Gumor, the gray ape!" cried one of the hunters. + +"It is not Gumor," replied Anak, "although they are like his cousins. +See what they eat!" + +As the hunters of the Cro-Magnon tribe of Ugar saw the meat which the +Neanderthalers were tearing, a cry of wrath broke from them. Uglik +stepped forward and raised the war cry of the tribe. The Neanderthalers +looked stupidly down at him for a moment. The huge male dropped the meat +he was eating and rose, his mane and beard bristling with rage. With a +roar, he charged down the slope, a huge flint smiting-stone in either +hand. + + * * * * * + +The hunters closed up on Uglik. As the attacker came within range, he +was saluted with a shower of stones which sprang harmlessly from his +huge rounded chest. Uglik hurled his spear. It pierced the apeman's +shoulder but did not make him pause. Other spears were hurled and struck +their mark, but without a pause the Neanderthaler came on with howls of +rage and pain, bloody froth flying from his lips. + +Anak had not thrown his spear, and Invar, who stood beside his hero, had +likewise retained his weapon. The apeman came on with a rush. Uglik +sprang forward to meet him, but another hunter was directly in the path +of the attack. He swung his flint smiting-stone with a will, but his +blow was futile. He went down before a sweep of the apeman's arm, his +skull crushed to fragments. + +Uglik struck at the attacker. The Neanderthaler turned toward him, but +as he did so, Anak hurled his spear. At close range, the stone-tipped +weapon passed nearly through the apeman. He stopped his rush and began +to cough up blood from a pierced lung. Anak seized Invar's spear and +sprang to the attack. An unfledged youth who craved distinction, rushed +ahead of the Chief Hunter, but his act spelled his doom. One blow of the +huge smiting-stone laid him dead. Anak hurled Invar's spear and again +his weapon found its mark. The Neanderthaler roared with pain and sank +gradually to his knees. Uglik dashed in, knife in hand. He threw himself +on the prostrate monster and stabbed him again and again. The blows +struck home, but with a last effort the apeman threw off his assailant +and struck at him with the huge stone which had already robbed the tribe +of two of its members. Before the blow could fall, Samo, one of the +hunters, threw himself in the way and took the blow on his arm. The arm +bone snapped like a pipestem, but it was the monster's dying effort. +With a shudder, he fell back dead. + + * * * * * + +A ferocious howl rent the air. With a smiting-stone in each hand, the +female charged down at them. She was somewhat smaller than the male, but +still a match for any two of the men. Uglik's face paled as he wrenched +Invar's spear from the dead male and turned to face her. The howl was +repeated from farther up the ravine. Two more males were approaching at +a lumbering run, smiting-stones in either hand. Uglik was a brave man, +but he was also a cautious leader. He did not care to expose his tribe +to almost certain annihilation and he led a wild retreat down the +valley, Samo, with his arm hanging limp, bringing up the rear. The +Neanderthalers did not follow into the open valley. + +Again at the camping place, Uglik called his hunters into council. The +situation was grave enough. With the Neanderthalers so near them, it +meant eventual annihilation to stay where they were, yet there was no +place they could go. They had been driven from their old home by hordes +of men who came up from the south. They had fought to retain their +ancestral hunting grounds where they had dwelt since the beginning of +time, but a series of defeats at the hands of overwhelming numbers had +dwindled down the tribe until a migration was necessary. They had +followed the migrating game toward the unknown north. + +Several times they had tried to stop, but each time they had found the +land in possession of other and stronger tribes. Their men had been +killed and their women stolen until they again took up their march to +the north. From the hundred that had formerly called Uglik "Father," +there now remained only a score of women and children, a half dozen +youths, and five able-bodied hunters, besides Uglik. + +South, they dared not go. North, there lay unknown horrors. West lay the +raging sea. East, the Neanderthalers blocked the way. + + * * * * * + +The council broke up with no action decided on. Faced with the +alternatives of moving or staying, there seemed to be little choice. +Only death faced them, whichever way they turned. Uglik posted guards +about the camp and announced that he would retire and consult with Degar +Astok as to their future course. + +As he disappeared into the woods, Esle sidled up to Anak. + +"It seems that Degar Astok no longer loves Uglik," she said slyly. "Does +not the Chief Hunter agree with me?" + +Anak looked at the withered hag coldly. + +"Who am I to tell his Priestess whom Degar Astok loves?" he asked. "You +are his voice and should know." + +"True, Anak, I am his voice, and the God loves me," she went on, "yet it +may be that men do not always love me. Uglik thinks that I have given +him false counsel and he is ready for a new Priestess to announce the +will of Degar Astok to him. He believes that a new and younger Priestess +would bring back the favor of the God." + +"What is that to me?" asked Anak. + +"You desire the maiden, Una?" + +"And if I do?" + +"You are not to have her. Uglik will never grant your request. Already +he plans to make her the High Priestess, should an accident happen to +me." + +Anak started. If Esle spoke the truth, it ended his chances of having +Una. All women were tabu to all save the Father, but the High Priestess +was doubly sacred. + +"What am I to do?" he demanded. + +Esle smiled slyly. + +"I was the Voice of the God before Uglik was Father," she said in a low +voice, "and I would be so after he is gone. Cry you rannag on him. I +know many things, and I will cast a spell on him so that victory will be +easy for you. Then will you be Father. The maiden Una will be yours, and +old Esle will remain the High Priestess." + +"To give me false counsel as you have Uglik, and in time to plot my +overthrow and death with another," said Anak sternly. "No, woman or +devil, whichever you are, I want no help of yours. If I ever cry rannag +on Uglik, I will defeat him by my strength or not at all. If I win to be +Father, be assured that an 'accident' will happen to you shortly." + + * * * * * + +Esle frothed at the mouth with rage. + +"You shall never have the maiden!" she screamed. "Rather will I kill her +than that you shall have her. It was in my mind to make you Chief and to +lead you from this trap that Uglik had brought you into, but you have +sealed your doom and hers. I go to prepare a curse." + +She turned to depart, but Anak grasped her by the arm. + +"Listen, woman," he said sternly as he raised his spear, "it is in my +mind to kill you and make an end of your evil plottings." + +"Spare me! Spare me, noble Anak!" shrieked the hag, dropping to her +knees as the flint point of Anak's spear hovered over her. "I will not +harm her nor you, either. I will soften Uglik's heart toward you and +make him give you the maiden. I will declare it is the will of the God." + +Anak lowered the spear. + +"As long as Una is safe, your life is spared," he said grimly; "but pray +to Degar Astok to keep her safe. Should any harm befall her, your life +will answer for it." + +"I will weave spells to guard her from harm, Anak," she cried eagerly. +"Only let me live, brave hunter!" + +Anak spurned her contemptuously from him. The hag scuttled away and took +the path into the woods which Uglik had taken earlier. Later in the day +she returned with the Father. Uglik announced briefly that it was the +will of Degar Astok that they remain at their present camping place. + + * * * * * + +Then began a time of horror for the children of the tribe. If one of +them strayed for even a short distance from the circle of the camp fire +at night, there came a scream from the darkness and the tribe would +mourn another lost member. The tales of man-eating giants and ogres +which even yet haunt the dreams of childhood have descended to us +through the ages from those grim times when the race of men learned the +lesson of fear of the dark that they are now slowly and painfully +unlearning. + +Anak did not renew his request for Una. He knew from her smiles that the +maiden was more than willing to become his property, but in the face of +their daily peril, he was not willing to precipitate a crisis which +might easily cost the tribe most or all of their few remaining warriors. +He kept a sharp watch on Esle and on Uglik, but neither the High +Priestess nor the Father seemed to notice the girl. + +As time went on, the Neanderthalers lost their fear of the fire and grew +bolder. Their gray shapes could be seen prowling around at night, just +outside the protecting circle of light. The climax came at last. There +was a scream in the night. A howl of triumph came from the darkness. The +quickly aroused hunters could see nothing at which to cast their +spears. + +"Who is missing?" demanded Uglik as the hunters returned empty handed. + +"The maiden, Una," cried Esle shrilly. + +Anak rushed at her, spear in hand. + +"Unsay those words, hag of evil omen!" he roared. "Where have you hidden +her?" + +"Ask of the cousins of Gumor," she replied as she ducked behind the +protecting frame of Uglik. "They have taken her from us." + +Anak dropped his spear and buried his face in his hands. When he raised +his head again, resolution showed in his handsome face. + +"Prepare spears and throwing-stones," he cried. "To-morrow we attack the +cousins of Gumor. Either they or we shall be no more when the night +falls again." + +A murmur of dissent went around the camp. Uglik sprang to his feet. + +"What means the Chief Hunter of the tribe of Ugar?" he demanded. + +"I mean that to-morrow we settle for all time who rules in this valley, +the tribe of Ugar or the cousins of Gumor." + +"And has the Father no voice in the council of the tribe?" + +"We have come to the end," replied Anak. "If we do not strike now, soon +we will be too weak to strike. To-morrow we attack!" + +"I am Father of the tribe of Ugar," replied Uglik with a dangerous note +in his voice. "No one gives orders here except me. On you, Anak, the +Chief Hunter that was, I place the word of death! Slay him!" + +The hunters raised their spears doubtfully. Anak raised his, ready to +cast it at Uglik. Before a blow could be struck, a figure sprang across +the fire and took a stand, back to back with Anak. + +"Who strikes my friend, strikes me!" cried Invar. + + * * * * * + +Uglik gave a gasp at this fresh defection from his authority. He roared +to the hunters to strike. The three hunters remaining to the tribe +advanced half-heartedly. None of them cared to face Anak; and Invar, +young as he was, had already proven himself a mighty warrior. Uglik +shouldered them aside with a roar of wrath. Before he could attack, +Anak's cry stopped him. + +"Hold, Uglik!" cried the Chief Hunter. "If you attack, the tribe will +lose most or all of its hunters. You have put the death word on me, as +is your right. I go now against the cousins of Gumor, and that, I think, +is death. Let me go in peace and with weapons. Before they tear me limb +from limb, at least one of them will not be alive." + +"And I go with Anak!" cried Invar. "More than one of the cousins of +Gumor will know that the Chief Hunter of the tribe of Ugar and his +friend have visited their home." + +Uglik paused. No trace of fear entered his heart, but the wily +politician saw the force of Anak's argument. He would gain doubly by the +course that the hunter had proposed. + +"Go in peace, and with weapons," he said as he lowered his spear. "Esle +will take your weapons and make spells over them that will increase +their might. At dawn you shall go. The word of death is on you, so come +not back to the tribe again. Once you leave the camp, you are outlaw." + +"So be it!" replied Anak. + +Shortly before the dawn, Esle crept to Anak's side. + +"I've wrought spells over your weapons, Chief Hunter," she said softly, +"and over those of your companion. Remember this when the cousins of +Gumor attack you." + +"I will, hag of evil," said Anak grimly. "Better will it be for you that +we never return." + +"Why leave?" came Esle's insinuating voice. "I am still ready to help +you. Cry rannag on Uglik in the morning. Your weapons have had my +attention and his have not. That alone would decide the fight. Slay him +and the warriors of the tribe will fight at your back. I know spells, +and mayhap, they will prevail even against the cousins of Gumor." + +"I go but for vengeance, Esle," said Anak wearily. "With Una gone, I +have no desire to live." + +"There are other maidens who are fair, Anak, and when you are Father you +will have them all." + +"Leave me, Esle," said Anak shortly. "I desire none but Una." + +"And may the cousins of Gumor crack your bones between their teeth," she +hissed venomously as she slipped away into the darkness. + + * * * * * + +As the sun rose above the horizon, Anak and Invar took their way up the +valley. Each carried three flint-tipped throwing-spears, while a good +supply of flint throwing-stones were in their skin pouches. Half a mile +from camp, Anak turned to his companion. + +"I thank you for coming with me," he said, his hand on Invar's shoulder. +"It is the deed of a brave man." + +Invar flushed and looked down. + +"The least that I can do is to go to Degar Astok with my friend," he +said. + +"It is the deed of a brave man, yet I think we are not yet ripe to die." + +"We go against the cousins of Gumor, do we not?" asked the lad. + +"We do." + +"And is that not death?" + +"Mayhap, and yet, I have a plan. We may live." + +"How can we two expect to do what all the tribe of Ugar dare not try?" + +"The tribe of Ugar, or a dozen tribes of Ugar, could not conquer with +Uglik leading them," replied Anak, "yet we two may do so. Hark now to my +plan. Like Gumor, the gray ape, his cousins walk ever with their eyes +cast down. While we have been hunting, I have been spying on them in +their home. Never have I seen one look up, and it may be that they +cannot. Above or on a level with us, they can easily kill us. If we +stand on the rocks above them, they cannot see us and will be at our +mercy. They can run as fast as we on level ground, but going uphill, we +will leave them as Guno, the deer, leaves Kena. They are few in number; +I have watched and seen but two hunters and three females. It is my plan +to scale the cliffs and watch them below us. When the time is ripe, we +will launch our throwing-spears. If we fail to make a kill, we will +bound up the hill and escape to strike again." + +Invar looked with admiration at his leader. The habit of connected +thought and reasoning was new in the world in those days. Such boldness +of conception as was shown by Anak's plan was a thing for marvel. As the +ramifications of the plan seeped into Invar's brain, his face glowed +with enthusiasm. + +"Anak should be Father of the tribe of Ugar!" he cried. + +"That may yet come to pass," replied Anak enigmatically. "If I kill +Uglik, however, it will be to avenge Una, not to win the chieftainship. +Now keep silence, for here is the home of the cousins of Gumor." + + * * * * * + +Cautiously the two hunters passed the mouth of the ravine and climbed +the slopes of the valley. Once on the level ground, they moved to the +edge of the ravine and looked down into it. Nothing could be seen +moving. Anak led the way a hundred yards farther up the ravine. + +"Below us is a cave where dwell two," he whispered. "Make ready your +spear while I sound the challenge." + +He raised his voice in a wild howl of challenge. For a moment there was +silence. Then from the ravine came a hoarse rumbling bellow. An enormous +male made his appearance, his mane and beard bristling with rage. He +darted his eyes hither and thither, seeking the source of the challenge. +Again a hoarse roar came from his broad, thick lips. As it rose to a +crescendo, Anak hurled his spear. + +His aim was true. The point struck the Neanderthaler at the junction of +his neck and shoulder. As it struck, the haft flew from the spear and +bounded down the slope. The first point made only a surface wound. + +The apeman roared with pain and rage. Still he did not see his enemies. +With careful aim, Invar launched his weapon. The stone-tipped spear +struck the giant's groin, but the haft broke and the head was barely +buried in the flesh. The Neanderthaler pricked up his pointed, lobeless +ears, and located the source of the shout. By bending back his torso, he +looked upward. With a roar of rage he started up the slope, a huge flint +smiting-stone grasped in each hairy paw. + +Anak and Invar dashed up the slope ahead of him. The keenness of the +Chief Hunter's powers of observation was attested by the fact that they +easily increased their distance from their pursuer. As they ran, Invar's +foot dislodged a boulder which thundered down the slope. The +Neanderthaler did not see it coming until it was too late to dodge. The +stone took him full in the chest and he rolled down the slope, a shower +of smaller stones going with him. + +He smashed against a tree. With shouts of triumph, Anak and Invar +bounded down the slope. The Neanderthaler was dying, his chest crushed +in. Invar raised a spear and drove it at his heart. The weapon struck +fair, but again the head of the spear came off the shaft. A sudden +thought illuminated Anak's brain. + +"Esle!" he cried in rage. "She had our weapons last night!" + + * * * * * + +He studied the two spears remaining in his hand. Each of them had the +hide lashing which bound the head to the haft cut through. The weapons +were useless. + +Invar's face paled. From up the slope a roar assailed their ears. The +female was rushing down at them, smiting-stones in hand. + +"Fly, Invar!" cried Anak. "Run up the slope and throw down stones at +her. I will hold her for a moment." + +"Invar stays with his friend!" cried the boy stubbornly as he gripped +his useless throwing-spear. + +"Run up the slope!" stormed Anak. "It is our only chance. Remember how +the male died!" + +Slowly the idea penetrated Invar's brain. With a shout he dashed away. +He circled the oncoming female and got above her. Anak hurled one of his +crippled spears. It struck her full in the chest, but made only a flesh +wound as the handle dropped away. The female roared with rage and hurled +herself at the hunter. Anak leaped to one side and ran for dear life. +The clumsy female checked her rush and turned after him. He rapidly +gained on her. A shout from above reached him. + +"Run to your left, Anak!" + +The hunter swerved sharply to his left. Invar threw his shoulder against +a huge boulder on the slope. The stone rocked but did not fall. Again +the lad exerted himself until his muscles cracked under the strain. The +boulder tottered for a moment and then rolled down the slope, gathering +momentum as it rolled. It was deflected from the direct line of the +female's attack, but a smaller stone it dislodged struck her on the +shoulder and knocked her from her feet. + +"More stones, Invar!" cried Anak. + + * * * * * + +The two exerted themselves and an avalanche of rocks thundered down the +slope. The female strove to rise, but she was overwhelmed. Down the +slope rushed the two hunters, intent on finishing her with their +smiting-stones and knives. She lay in a twisted heap, whimpering +plaintively. Invar's knife found her heart, and she sank back dead. + +"Well struck, Invar!" cried Anak. "Would that we had spears. Others of +the cousins of Gumor are coming." + +Bellowing roars came from higher up the ravine. The two hunters bounded +back up the slope. Down the ravine came another female, followed by a +fourteen-year-old boy. Contemptuous of their assailants, the hunters +betrayed their whereabouts with shouts. The female accepted the +challenge and climbed heavily up the slope toward them, the boy trailing +her and aping her cries with shrill shouts. + +The hunters allowed her to approach to within a few yards before they +threw their combined weight on a huge mass of rock. The boulder gave and +thundered down the slope. It brushed past the female but did not strike +her. + +"Higher up and try again, Invar!" cried the Chief Hunter. + +They bounded up the slope. Anak paused and hurled a flint throwing-stone +with deadly aim. It struck the female a glancing blow on the face, +tearing the flesh from one of the prominent brow ridges. She stopped, +momentarily blinded. Invar raised a rock high above his head with both +hands and cast it at her. It struck her on the chest and she fell +backwards. Again Anak's strategy was successful and an avalanche of +rolled rocks overwhelmed her. The boy turned to fly, but the +fleet-footed Invar overtook him and the knives of the two hunters +quickly put an end to his career. + +As they bent over his dead body, a shrill scream rose on the air. It was +not the voice of an apeman, or an apewoman, but held a human quality. +The hunters straightened up and sought the source of it. Again came the +scream. From the mouth of a cave above them bounded a girl. She won +momentarily to freedom, but a huge Neanderthal male followed her from +the cave. His hairy arm seized and dragged her back. + +"Una!" cried Invar and Anak in one voice. + + * * * * * + +Forgotten were strategy and tactics. Anak bounded up the slope, Invar at +his heels. Into the mouth of the cave they charged. The huge male +dropped the girl and faced them with a growl. Anak hurled a +throwing-stone, but his aim was poor. It rebounded harmlessly from the +great arched chest of the Neanderthaler. With a roar, the apeman +charged. + +The hunter sidestepped the rush and swung his smiting-stone. The blow +was deflected by the upraised arm of the apeman and fell on his +shoulder. Invar hurled a throwing-stone which found the monster's face +and made him pause. The apeman recovered himself and rushed at the +youth. The boy met him, smiting-stone in hand, but one swing of the +heavier flint broke through his guard and stretched him senseless on the +floor, blood flowing from a gash in his head. + +Anak hurled another throwing-stone which caught the apeman on the back +of the head, dazing him. With a shout, Anak closed. The effects of the +blow had been only momentary and the Neanderthaler met his rush with +both his stones swinging. One of them tore a long gash down Anak's back +while the other laid open his thigh. The apeman dropped his stones and +wound his long hairy arms about the hunter's body. Anak threw himself +back and the two rolled on the floor, the apeman striving to crush the +life out of his slighter opponent, while Anak smote futilely with his +smiting-stone at the hairy body. Slowly, the hunter's ribs gave under +the pressure. Spots of fire danced before his eyes. He strove valiantly, +but his muscles were as a child's, compared to the enormous development +of his opponent. With a gasp, his body went limp. + + * * * * * + +Una had watched the struggle with horror-stricken eyes. As the apeman's +grip tightened about Anak's body, she gave a low moan. Her gaze fell on +the discarded smiting-stones of the Neanderthaler. She sprang forward +and lifted one in both hands. The apeman threw back his head to give a +roar of victory. The note never issued from his throat. The huge flint +which he had chipped patiently to a sharp edge, struck him on the back +of the head. With a gasp and a convulsive shudder, the apeman rolled +over, his skull crushed in. + +Invar slowly recovered consciousness, and now sat up. He looked dully at +the dead body of the Neanderthaler. Beside it, Anak lay in a pool of +blood. He staggered to his feet, asking dully: + +"Is Anak with Degar Astok?" + +"Not yet," replied Una. "Help me to stop the flow of his blood." + +"He said there were five of the cousins of Gumor," said the boy as he +looked around apprehensively. "We have slain but four." + +Una pointed toward the ravine. + +"The other lies there," she said. "This one slew his mate an hour gone. +I think he designed me to take her place." + +Fever took Anak, and for three days he hovered between life and death. +Then he slept and woke conscious, although his strength was badly sapped +by the fever. There was no lack of food, for game was plentiful and +Invar had found and mended the throwing-spears which Esle had tampered +with. Slowly Anak recovered his strength. A month after the fight he +stretched his muscles and announced himself as well. + +"I return to-day to the tribe of Ugar," he announced. + +"Can you return?" asked Invar doubtfully. "Remember the word of death." + +"That, let Uglik answer," replied Anak. "In peace or in war, I will +return. Soon the winter will come and here are warm caves and game in +plenty. Here shall the tribe make a home." + +"Where you go, there go I," exclaimed Invar. + +"And I likewise," said Una. + +"Una will stay here until we return," replied Anak in a tone which +brooked no argument. + + * * * * * + +The girl pouted, but a sharp word from Anak settled the matter. +Throwing-spear and smiting-stone in hand, the two hunters approached the +camping place of Uglik's tribe. They were within a hundred yards before +they were seen. Esle set up a shrill cry. + +"Here come those on whom the Father passed the death word. Slay, oh, +hunters!" + +Anak raised his hand and made the sign of peace. + +"Wait before you attack two such as we," he said. "We are bearers of +good tidings. By our hands, the cousins of Gumor have died. Think you, +do you care to attack two such as we?" + +The hunters looked at one another doubtfully. + +"He lies!" shrilled Esle. + +"We do not lie!" retorted Anak. "Their bones, picked clear by Kena, lie +in their ravine. We come in peace to lead you to their home. There are +warm caves and game in plenty. We will rejoin the tribe if the Father +will remove the death word. Otherwise, attack us if you dare, and the +tribe of Ugar will join the cousins of Gumor." + +Uglik's face plainly showed hesitation. + +"The death word his been passed," he said doubtfully. "It can be +withdrawn only by a sacrifice to Degar Astok." + +"We two have offered five of the cousins of Gumor, and a boy. Is that +not enough?" + +"It must be a human sacrifice!" cried Esle. + +"Then, hag of evil omen, traitor to Uglik, attempted slayer of Invar and +me, I offer you!" cried Anak furiously, his spear raised. + +"Sacrilege!" she shrilled, darting behind Uglik. "Slay the defamer of +the God!" + +"What mean these charges, Anak?" asked Uglik darkly. + +"Esle tampered with our spears, which you ordered her to strengthen for +the battle with the cousins of Gumor," said Anak. "They broke in our +hands. With only smiting-stones and knives, we overcame them. Further, +she tried to plot with me to kill you and take your place." + +"He lies!" cried Esle in a quavering voice. Uglik turned a black face on +her. + + * * * * * + +"Enough!" he roared. "The sacrifice is sufficient. I withdraw the death +word. Anak, the cause of dissension between us is gone. Rejoin the tribe +in peace." + +"I bow to the Father," replied Anak, suiting his action to his word. +"The tribe of Ugar has gained three members." + +"Three?" asked Uglik. + +"The maiden, Una, was not slain, but borne away alive by the cousins of +Gumor. I have rescued her and she waits in the valley of plenty." + +"Then Degar Astok was right when he told me he should have a new High +Priestess," said Uglik, licking his lips. "She shall come to my cave and +take the place of that worn-out hag, Esle." + +"She will dwell in mine," said Anak shortly. "I have taken her for mine +and I will not give her up." + +"The word of the Father is the law of the tribe," said Uglik. + +"That is true. I ask that the maiden whom I have taken in war be given +to me in peace." + +"The maiden, Una, dwells in the Father's cave!" said Uglik. + +"Then cry I rannag on you, Uglik, the Father!" cried Anak. "I challenge +you to the fight to death, which you may not refuse and continue to +rule." + +"And on you I pass the death word!" shouted Uglik. "Hunters--" + +"The Father may not pass the death word on one who has cried rannag," +retorted Anak. "Such is the law!" + +"Such is the law!" echoed the hunters, glad of an excuse not to attack +the two hunters of whose prowess they knew so much. + +Uglik looked from one group to the other. + +"When the sun starts to rest, the rannag will be fought," he answered. +"When I have slain this traitor, Una becomes High Priestess. Hunters, +bind the hag, Esle, that she may not escape. Anak, lead the way to the +valley of plenty." + + * * * * * + +Packing up was a simple matter for the tribe of Ugar. In five minutes +they were following Anak to the valley of the Neanderthalers. When they +arrived, Uglik picked out the largest of the caves, and told the hunters +to choose their own. In a few minutes the tribe was established in their +new home. Esle was released from her bonds, for it was essential that +the High Priestess of Degar Astok prepare the ground for the rannag. + +Anak and Invar walked slowly up to the cave where Una waited. + +"Uglik is a mighty warrior," said Invar doubtfully. + +"So is Anak," was the reply. "Further, I have a plan." + +"Then are Uglik's days numbered," replied Invar with delight. "Tell me +what I am to do to aid you." + +"When we get to the cave, you may cut off my hair and beard." + +Invar started back aghast. + +"Your strength will go with it," he protested. "The glory of the warrior +is his beard." + +"I do not believe it," said Anak. "By cutting it, I will rob Uglik of a +handhold he could use to my downfall. Fear not, I know what I am doing." + +With a flint knife, Invar slowly and painfully hacked off Anak's long +hair and beard. When the operation was over, Anak smeared himself +plentifully with the fat of a wild pig which had fallen to one of +Invar's spears the day before. When he was ready, he threw himself down +to sleep. When he had dropped off to slumber, Una rose. She took the +liver of the pig from the back of the cave and approached the doorway. + +"Where go you, Una?" demanded Invar. + +"I take this to the Father that he may strengthen himself for the +rannag," she said enigmatically. "Should not the best be given to the +Father?" + +Invar's hand tightened on his throwing-spear. + +"Minded am I to slay you," he said darkly. + +"And fight to the death with Anak when he awakens? Listen, oh, fool, if +the Father eats greatly, he will be slow and Anak may slay him with +ease." + +A light of admiration flashed into Invar's eyes. + +"It is well thought," he said. + + * * * * * + +With a swift glance around, Una took from her girdle a tiny skin packet. +She opened it and displayed a brown powder. + +"This, Esle gave me," she whispered. "She said that Uglik had threatened +her death and she wished Anak to kill him. If I give Anak this, Degar +Astok would make him strong." + +"Why did you not do so?" + +"Because I am a woman, and I know a woman's heart. It would have the +opposite effect. I will rub it into the liver I give to Uglik." + +With the aid of the women, Esle laid out a rough oval on the ground +where the two combatants were to meet. Throwing-stones and spears were +not allowed in rannag, the two combatants fighting their duel with +smiting-stones and flint knives only. At the appointed hour, the two +combatants appeared, stripped to their loin-clothes only. The Father was +hideous with streaks of paint, red, yellow, white, and black. Anak +glistened from his coat of grease, but his skin was bare of ornament. + +The two combatants took their places, while around the fighting ground +gathered the hunters and youths, throwing-spears in hand. Their +privilege and duty it was to slay either of the fighters who fled or who +was forced out of the ring. Esle intoned a long prayer to Degar Astok. +The word for combat was given. The two men approached each other +cautiously. The Father confident in his strength, but he felt heavy and +lethargic. Anak was clear-eyed and alert, ready to take advantage of any +opening offered him. + +The two men circled, wary as great jungle cats. Anak, suddenly ducked +his head and rubbed his eyes. With a roar of triumph, Uglik charged. + +Outside the ring, there was a commotion. A woman's scream, rent the air. +Invar leaped to Una's side, to find her wrestling with Esle. + +"Kill her, Invar!" shrieked the girl. "She tried to cast a spell on +Anak." + +The young hunter forced open the High Priestess' hand. In it was grasped +a bit of shiny quartz with which she had reflected the sun into the +hunter's eyes. With upraised hand, he struck her to the ground. + +"She shall be judged after the rannag," he said. "Take you this spear, +Una, and drive it through her if she moves." + +The girl took the spear. Invar returned to watch the fight. Anak had +sidestepped the first rush of the Father and his smiting-stone had bit +heavily into Uglik's shoulder. Uglik had whirled and charged again. Anak +made as if to leap to one side. As Uglik changed his direction to meet +him, Anak swayed back. Again his smiting-stone bit heavily into the +Father's side. With a cry of pain, Uglik paused and changed his tactics. +He approached cautiously, ready to leap to either side. Farther and +farther Anak retreated until the hunters at the end of the oval raised +their spears in anticipation. Then Anak charged. + +Uglik was taken by surprise. His blow glanced off Anak's upraised stone +while an upward sweep of the weapon took him in the neck. He dropped his +stone and threw his arms around Anak's body. Well had Anak planned when +he greased his body, for Uglik's grip failed. Anak shook him loose and +struck again. Once more Uglik grasped him, and this time threw him +heavily to the ground. Again the grease made his hold slip. Anak +struggled to his feet, but it was evident that the fall had hurt him. + + * * * * * + +Uglik followed up his advantage. He warded off the blow of the hunter's +stone and again flung him to earth. Anak dropped his stone. + +Uglik's hands fastened on the hunter's throat, and mercilessly he banged +Anak's head on the rocky ground. Anak wound his mighty legs about the +Father's middle. Silently they put forth their strength. Uglik's hold +was the more deadly, and slowly the hunter weakened. + +"The Father kills!" screamed Esle. + +She strove to rise to her feet, but Una had her orders from Invar. She +pressed home the spear. With a sob, Esle fell back. + +Anak's tongue began to protrude from his mouth and his eyes swelled. An +expression of triumph spread over Uglik's face, which suddenly changed +to one of amazement, and then to pain and fear. + +As they rolled over, Anak had felt something pierce his leg. The pain +was nothing, but it persisted. As his consciousness slipped away, only +that one feeling remained. He reached down to his leg. Thrust deep into +his thigh was a knife-like sliver of flint. With a supreme effort, he +rallied his failing consciousness and grasped it. The Father's chest was +directly over him. With his last conscious effort, he thrust upward with +the fragment of flint. His aim was true. Uglik suddenly released his +hold and raised himself to his knees, his hands plucking at his chest. +For a moment he swayed forward and back. Then, with a cry, he pitched +forward, blood gushing from his chest over the unconscious hunter. + + * * * * * + +Anak recovered consciousness to find his opponent lying dead before him, +the sliver of flint buried in his heart. He staggered to his feet and +tried to speak. His vocal cords refused to act and he massaged his +throat gently. + +"I am Father of the tribe of Ugar by right of rannag," he said hoarsely. +"Do any challenge the right?" + +There was no answer. Anak stepped to Una's side. + +"Uglik spoke truth when he said that Una would be High Priestess of +Degar Astok," he said. "This I now proclaim her. You, Esle, stripped of +your office, shall do menial tasks for all who will until death claims +you. If your homage wavers, death will not be long. + +"Lo, I make a new law for the tribe. No longer shall all the women +belong to the Father, but to those to whom the Father awards them. To +each hunter, I now give one woman. He shall take her to his cave and +hunt for her. She shall obey him and no other. The others shall live in +a woman's cave, and shall be tabu until they are chosen by one who has +no woman, or until a hunter desires more than one woman to chip his +flints and dress his skins. Hunters, choose your women and take up +caves. Here stays the tribe of Ugar forever, and we will allow no others +in the valley." + +Followed by Una he strode toward the Father's cave. Below the hunters +and the women eyed one another a trifle fearfully. At last Invar stepped +forward and grasped one of them by the arm. + +"Come to my cave!" he ordered. + +The woman followed him submissively. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Astounding Stories_ April 1932. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. + copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and + typographical errors have been corrected without note. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of B. C. 30,000, by Sterner St. Paul Meek + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK B. 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