Sharpening his senses and constantly alert for danger, he knew jackals and wolves were natural predators to the cattle and sheep. They also had the uncanny ability to know just when to strike. Under Zarek’s careful instruction, they put the weaker, younger animals in the middle and allowed the bigger and stronger animals to graze on the edge of the herd. Now, it was not often that they lost an animal.
However, keeping the animals safe was only one of many challenges. Battling against the elements and weather proved difficult at best. Perhaps, the hardest time to keep watch was when the sun reached its high point in the sky. The scorching heat sapped them of their strength and energy. Most of the boys, especially Soma, preferred napping in the scant shade provided be the rocks, while a selected few kept watch.
Zarek quickly tired of the oppressing heat that smothered him, evaporating any moister in his body, and leaving him chapped and blistered. The others fared no better. It was only sensible that they begin working on some sort of shelter. Sensible it may have been, but the simple idea had evaded the boys up until that time, never crossing their minds to somehow build a shelter to escape the elements.
Under his instructions, they started early in the morning and labored several hours before their shelter was complete. Just in time too, because the midday sun was waxing hotter with each passing moment. The boys congratulated each other as they crawled under the shelter and into the shade, immediately appreciating the coolness their shelter offered during the hotter part of the day.
This, among other things, ensured Zarek’s position among the little band. His consideration to others were a welcome change to Soma’s indifference.
Even in the heat of the day, while some boys dozed and others stood watch, Zarek was never idle. It took nearly a month, but at last he fastened for himself, a spear. The heavy wooden staff was oak. Smoothing out the knots had blistered his hands but the effort was well worth it.
The spearhead was a black obsidian rock he had found near the sea. It had taken many weeks to sharpen it to the desired shape and weight. At last he was satisfied and he secured it to the end of his staff with cured seal intestines. Pleased with the end result, he practiced hurling it at dry tuffs of grass. In little time, he was expertly driving the spear in whichever direction he aimed, hitting his target directly almost every time. The spear was a useful weapon and tool.
One day, a young, and over confident jackal attacked one of the sheep. Zarek’s aim was true. The spear buried itself deep in the jackal’s chest, killing it instantly. The staff remained strong, not splintering as its head was rammed through bone and flesh. This feat was not easily accomplished, and earned him much respect from the other boys.
Weeks passed in its usual rhythm of daily living. They drove the animals to the grassy hillsides before the sun rose, and returned to the village just as the sun set behind the hills. The cattle became healthy and fat. Many days passed with little to do, save drive the animals and watch to be sure they didn’t stray.
The period of inactivity left Zarek feeling short tempered. When his hands weren’t busy, his mind wandered to things he would much rather forget. He thought of his mother’s death, his father’s abuse, and his own pitiful survival as he desperately tried to scrape a living out for himself. Such thoughts rattled him. They gave him a terrible sense of vulnerability.
His darkening moods did not go unnoticed. One afternoon, the cattle seemed particularly reluctant to leave their grazing and return to the village. Normally, Zarek would have gritted his teeth and endured their lumbering gait, but coupled with his tormenting thoughts, and the fact that his ribs were sore from last night’s beating, his temper finally snapped.
He shoved against one of the cows who had planted herself on the path and began chewing through a tuff of grass. The swishing of her tail and blatant stare made it clear she was not willing to move along with the others. “Move!” he snarled, shoving his shoulder into her side. She shifted and butted him in the ribs with her head.
The pain flared in his side, making his breath hitch. Thoroughly angry, he snatched a stick from the ground and brought it whistling through the air and across her rump. She started forward and bawled in protest.
“Zarek!” Natan gasped, appearing from seemingly nowhere. “What are you doing?”
Zarek brought the stick down again and the cow finally ambled forward with others. He turned to scowl at his friend. He was in no mood to explain his actions, because the reason for them was humiliating enough. Yet, Natan stood with arms crossed, waiting. Annoyance flared in Zarek’s chest. “What does it look like?” he snapped. “I’m trying to get this lumbering, poor excuse of an animal to move.” His voice was a tight, angry growl.
Natan looked horrified, and whispered, “What if you offend Sumuqan?”
For a moment Zarek’s mind blanked, Sumuqan was the god of cattle. Then it dawned on him and he stared at his friend in annoyance. “Natan, will you quit trying to please the gods. You’ll never please them for all the worrying you do. Sumuqan is no more god of the cattle than I am!” He crossed his arms defiantly. “Come to think of it, I am more worthy of the title than he is. It is I who fend of the jackals and wolves.”
“Don’t blaspheme the gods Zarek!” Natan looked thoroughly frightened as if expecting him to be struck with a bolt of lightning.
Seeing his friend’s fear, Zarek’s annoyance ebbed a bit and he shook in his head in exasperation. He would press the matter no further and moved to change the subject, “At this rate, the sun will have left the sky long before we arrive back in the village.”
His friend looked relieved, and followed easily. “At least stop by my father’s hut and have a bowl of stew before you leave to your own hut.”
Zarek pondered the offer and nodded in acceptance. He wouldn’t be going back to his hut anytime soon, not after the beating last night, but there was no reason to tell Natan that. He would sleep among the rocks tonight, and give his battered body some time to heal.
Natan sighed as he plucked a long piece of grass from the side of the trail and twirled it idly between his fingers as they walked along the path. “It has been rather dull as of late. I wish something exciting would happen.”
Zarek shrugged his shoulders. “I have heard that a rogue lion has been attacking and killing sheep and cattle in broad daylight at a neighboring village.”
“And I didn’t want to hear that,” Natan stated with some chagrin.
“You would get the excitement you want.”
Natan appeared horrified by the very idea, “Zarek!” he hissed, his voice horrified. “I wouldn’t tempt the gods!”
Zarek rolled his eyes, “I have always thought you to be very strange my friend.” He had a new thought and looked at Natan mischievously, “Perhaps you could beseech the gods, Natan. They might listen to you, and spare you the excitement.”
His friend, oblivious to Zarek’s sarcasm, rubbed the amulet around his neck. “Oh Sumuqan please protect our cattle, and your servants who watch over them.”
He couldn’t help himself, he laughed, shaking with mirth as he tried to prevent more laughter. His friend glared at him, realizing that Zarek was only making fun of him. Natan pretended not to notice, and added, “Also, please forgive Zarek for hitting Bonsa, the milk cow. He didn’t mean to offend you.”
Immediately, the laughter stopped and Zarek sniffed in derision, “I could ask forgiveness for my own sins, thank you.”
Natan glared at him, “But you don’t!”
“And who says hitting a fat, milking cow is a sin?” Zarek scoffed. “Anyway, he’s not going to answer, he can’t even hear you.” Zarek strode ahead to the village and Natan followed behind him chanting a prayer and praising Sumuqan as he went. Zarek tried hard not to roll his eyes. His friend was perhaps even more stubborn than he was.
The following day came and went. Another week passed. Zarek continued to climb ahead of the others and send out sentries. Today, he sent Tamraz and Naba to scout the pastures and to send back any word if there was danger. There was none. The cattle fanned out as usual and Zarek kept to his usual sentry spot, watching as the cattle grazed through the dry tuffs of grass in their usual lumbering fashion.
The heat of the day came and went. It was still light when Zarek thought that they might head back a littler earlier than usual. It would be easier to keep track of the cattle while it was still daylight, rather than in the waning light of the late afternoon sun. He was about to call to the others when a feeling of dread fell over him.
Something was amiss. The birds in the trees had ceased their lively chatter. Perhaps a wolf or jackal. His first thought was of the cattle, but they seemed to be grazing peacefully enough. Zarek scanned the grassland, peering long and deep amidst the swaying rows of grass. There was a slight movement to his left, then he saw it, two black pointed ears and dark, amber colored eyes.
His heart leapt into his throat. He could barely make out the crouching cat, but he knew it was much bigger than any of the jackals he had hunted. He turned back to the boys who chatted and laughed below him.
Zarek whistled sharply, making the hand motion for danger, the boys instantly ceased their chatter. Climbing down from his sentry point he approached the group and mouthed, “Lion.” He lifted a finger and pointed to the golden boulder that crouched in the grass, not far from them.
A look of fear struck their features as they stood to their feet and glanced at each other in pale uncertainty. Tamaz’s eyes were wide with fear as he looked to where Zarek pointed. The cattle were between them. Still, they knew the danger. Tamaz looked at him anxiously. “It is the rogue lion. What are we to do?!”
“We should run to the village and hope it doesn’t go after us instead of the cattle,” Naba whispered, looking about ready to do as he had suggested.
Zarek frowned at them, as more than one boy whispered loudly in agreement. “Enough, we are not going to run. It is our duty to protect the cattle and see to it that they are not slain.”
“What can we do? We are only boys,” Soma protested.
Zarek spared him a withering stare, trying not to look scornful. “Unless the giant stick you hold in your hand is to hold your weight up, then I suggest you employ it in the defense of the cattle.”
Natan began to moan, “If only Sumuqan…”
“Well it appears that Sumuqan decided to take the day off.” Turning to his friend, his eyes narrowed, “Natan I need you to keep your wits about you.”
Zarek turned to the others, “Naba, Tamraz, and Chikku, I want you to approach the lion from behind. Be sure to stay downwind. When I give you the signal you will start shouting. With any luck, it will frighten and confuse the lion toward the giant rock over there.” It wasn’t the best plan, he knew that, but they needed to do something. Hopefully, he wouldn’t get anyone killed. His grip on his spear tightened and he gritted his teeth in determination, No one is going to die. Have courage, he thought grimly.
“And what will I do?” Soma asked, eagerness making his chubby face fuller still.
Hunting a lion was dangerous, but if done successfully, it would win the slayer the respect and gratitude of the entire village.
Zarek could almost read his thought, and his eyes narrowed. “Stay out of the way.”
The boy looked offended. “Now look here, I have a spear in my hand. There is no reason I can’t go with you and spear the lion myself.” Soma puffed up his chest importantly, “After all I am the chief’s son.” His eyes challenged Zarek to refuse him.
Zarek didn’t have the time to argue his point. Every moment they delayed, the cat was getting ready to attack the cattle. Instead, he growled in irritation. “Fine, just stay out of sight. Crawl behind the grassy knoll there.” He glanced toward the lion which was still a great enough distance away that they should all get to their assigned positions, though with little time to spare.
“Now go! All of you!” He tried to appear confident of their success, the way he had seen Ciara, the ship captain, act when he was trying to get the men to do something they feared. It worked. The boys turned and fled to their assigned positions.
In the space of a couple seconds, Zarek found himself crouching behind the giant boulder that the cat would soon be approaching. Peering from behind it, he studied the situation again.
The cattle must have sense their danger, because they started to amble away. His flickered to the tensing cat, before they fell to where the boys lay waiting for his signal. He gave it and they stood tall, and began shouting and waving their arms.
The giant cat, realizing that it had been discovered rose to its full height. Zarek was surprised how massive the big cat was and a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach began to form. The lion shied closer to the rock and Zarek was just about to step from behind it when Soma suddenly jumped from behind the grassy knoll.
Zarek was sure that the boy had taken leave of his senses in order to prove himself to the others. His suspicions were confirmed when Soma looked proudly at the awestruck boys.
“I will spear the lion. I will become a warrior and chief after my father. The village will speak proudly of this heroic deed,” he declared, brandishing his spear as if the mere sight of it would cause the big cat to die.
The lion confused by the noise behind him, and suddenly seeing the boy on the grassy knoll snarled and roared loudly. It dropped into a crouch, flickering its eyes steadily at the boy that had appeared from the grass from seemingly nowhere. Any moment it would spring forward and attack.
Soma paled and dropped his spear. “That fool!” Zarek snarled to himself, and yet he was filled with terror anticipating what was sure to happen. The lion would rip Soma into so many tattered ribbons they would not even recognize him. The giant, tawny colored cat began to creep toward Soma.
Even if Soma deserved it, he couldn’t let it happen. He was in charge of them, and he couldn’t fail in his duty to protect them. Without another thought, Zarek jumped from behind the rock and shouted.
The lion turned swiftly at the new enemy, before it snarled again and crouched. The muscles tensed and then the lion sprang forward. Zarek had no time to hurl his spear, having lost the element of surprise when Soma had sprung from the grassy knoll, it didn’t matter anyway. Though his spear had not splintered during his previous hunts, he knew the weight of a crouching lion would be too much. His spear would snap, and he would be dead.
It looked like he would be dead anyway.
Everything was happening slowly, as if time had decided to crawl. He was aware of the lion bounding toward him. In a second, he would be down, perhaps slain. He thought to feel fear, instead he felt calm. It was as if it was happening to someone else and he was only an observer. He was surprised at his sense of detachment.
Then just as quickly, everything sharpened, returning to a blur of speed. In that brief moment, the lion had bounded across the plain and pounced on him, pinning him to the ground. It slapped a heavy, paw catching Zarek across the side of his face and down his neck with its sharp claws. The lion snarled and its jaws clamped down on Zarek’s shoulder. It shook its head violently, like a dog would shake a rat.
Zarek felt paralyzed from the shock of it. He was going to die. He stared into the big cat’s eye and marveled at the tiny white hairs that crossed the lion’s silver tipped main. The lion must have lived many years. Odd that he would be making these observations at a time like this.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a spear flying toward them. It grazed the lion’s back. Angry and surprised, the cat dropped him and turned to Soma who had actually snatched up his spear and had hurled it at the great lion.
For a moment, Zarek lay dazed in the sand. There was a terrified shout. His mind screamed danger and cleared enough for him to reach for the spear beside him. With one giant effort, he forced himself to his feet and raising his spear at the charging lion, hurled it with all his remaining strength.
His aim proved true and the spear buried itself deep in the lion’s back, piercing its heart. The great cat slammed against the ground only inches away from Soma who stood looking at it with a gaping mouth.
Zarek stood there, eventually all his senses began to sharpen. He was becoming aware of the other boys rushing toward them, worst of all, he became aware of the fiery pain in his shoulder, neck, and face. It tore through his body, making him go limp from the pain. He sank to ground and realized that he was lying in a growing pool of his own blood.
The boys were approaching closer, even as the cattle moved further away from the dead lion, still fearing the danger they smelled. Zarek was surprised that they had not stampeded. They were not the most intelligent creatures, and only seemed confused at present.
The sun was suddenly unbearably hot as it blazed down upon him. Bright. It felt as if his whole body was being burned in an intense fire, and he couldn’t stop himself from shivering violently. Was he dying?
Soma reached him first and cradled Zarek’s head in his lap. Zarek stared up at the boy, the mean, ugly, flat-faced boy he had just risked his life for. It was faintly ironic. “I should have let the lion eat you,” he said weakly, though his voice came in a faint gurgle.
The boy’s eyes locked with his. “Why did you do it? Why Zarek?”
Zarek stared at him, his mouth moved but he could get no sound to come out. Everything seemed to be fading. He saw black shadows and the whirring of voices that refused to make any sense to him. Most of all, he was aware of the intense pain he was feeling. Yet, he couldn’t surrender to the darkness that tore at his vision, mercifully offering him an escape.
The pain flared stronger, tugging at his chest and he was aware of someone shoving his mangled arm. A raw scream tore from his throat and the pressure immediately lifted, and then pressed down a second time, even harder than before. He screamed again and struggled.
Bright flashes tore through his vision, and then his energy deserted him. At last Zarek lay there, the pain growing increasingly worse. There was a loud buzzing in his ears and the voices became louder and more insistent. The darkness was coming closer, he couldn’t resist it this time, death was bound to be better than the intense pain he was now suffering. He embraced it.
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