“For what?”
“For the compliment.” Addie smiled.
Chapter 11
It took two more sunny days and a lot of patience to finish the jerky, and it turned out delicious. Addie could barely stop herself from eating it all. She settled on saving a small quantity for herself and set out an equal number of pieces to give to the girls. She stored her precious meat supply in her only vessel, her clay pot, and tucked the pot inside her teepee, away from where the Yuux could smell it.
Melmie didn’t come back the next day, but Addie hadn’t expected her to. Resolved to wait, she didn’t want to sit around idle but spent the next few days organizing her life. She even dug for some clay which she liberally soaked in berry juices to make it pliant, and made another pot, a bigger and uglier version of her previous creation.
Melmie didn’t come on the second day, or the third, of the fifth. Finally unable to stand the solitude after having tasted human interaction, Addie made a decision to follow the red moss back to the For settlement.
With her sort-of knife tucked in her sock-boot and her spear in her hand, Addie carried jerky in her sack and whistled as she walked.
It had taken her longer than expected to find the correct path to the sands, but from there she easily plotted her course.
The settlement was busy today. From afar, she saw people dashing back and forth. The High Counselor Chemmusaayl’s yellow robes emerged from a teepee, crossed an open area, and disappeared behind a different teepee.
Head held high, Addie approached the camp. Little boys yelled her name in their high guttural voices. Women glanced up but didn’t raise an alarm. The few men that were around regarded her with unabashed curiosity, like an exotic little monkey.
No one stopped Addie as she proceeded to Chele’s teepee.
“Chele?” she called through the closed flap.
The flap opened, and Chele’s lined face appeared.
“Hello, Addie.” Chele was holding a large tray laden with something like cold cuts. She didn’t look surprised to see Addie.
Addie stepped aside to allow Chele out. “I came to visit. Is this not a good time?”
Chele rotated her head. “The training is over, and the contest is about to begin. Men will want to eat after.”
“Training? Contest?” She had a hard time keeping up.
“Yes, come. You can watch. Come, I need to bring the food out.”
Addie hastily untied her pouch. “Wait. I brought my dried meat for you to try. My people call it jerky. It’s really good. Here.” She pulled out thin crispy slices and added them to Chele’s tray. “I’m keeping a few for Melmie and Oh’na. I promised them, you know.” She smiled.
Chele gave her an odd, intent look.
“The girls like you,” she remarked.
Flustered, Addie lost her smile. “I’m glad to hear that.”
Chele’s face relaxed and she motioned for Addie to follow.
They weaved their way around the teepees and went all the way to the back of the settlement, to a place where the ground was flat and sandy, cleared of all vegetation and rocks. It was a court, and to the side of it, a sturdy rack held an assortment of spears, axes, and clubs. They were not Addie-sized axes and spears. The axes were massive, the wooden handles made of branches fitted together were as thick as her forearm and no less than four feet long. The stone heads, polished to a smooth sheen, were like two of her palms put together, sharpened to a deadly blade. They were no toys.
Oh’na found her and latched on to her leg, silent and cuddly. Surprised and a little unsure, Addie raised her hand and placed it on Oh’na’s head.
The High Counselor Chemmusaayl glided past and did a double take.
“What is this creature doing among For?” he intoned loudly, making sure everybody heard the displeasure in his voice.
People looked her way. Oh’na hugged her leg tighter.
Chele’s head rotated. “This woman is my guest, High Counselor.”
His face darkened, and Addie quickly looked away, pretending to not understand their exchange.
