Redemption: Supernatural Time-Traveling Romance with Sci-fi and Metaphysics by Jacklyn A. Lo Read Free Book Online Page A

a thin,
sharp stick and a strip of leader, she begins the hard work of stitching the
hide together, pushing the wood needle through small holes that have been cut
into the skin and drawing the leather through. From all around her comes the
staccato chatter of the women talking excitedly about the hunt.
    “Look,” says one woman, holding
up her handiwork. “Big bag.”
    Another woman nods in
appreciation, reaching out to feel the item in question. “Big bag, big meat!”
    Apart from the fish that are
caught in the lake each day, the tribe has not had meat since the last strips
of dried buffalo were eaten over a month ago. Tomorrow the men would set out in
search of a rhinoceros herd that, at this time of the year, passes through the
hills that lay beyond the forest, a two-day walk away. It would be a long
journey and the fight that followed would be hard. A rhinoceros is a formidable
creature, far more dangerous than the antelope and buffalo. Last year they had
lost two men when one of the beasts, his hide bristling with spears, had suddenly
charged. One man had been impaled through the chest by the beast’s horn before
being tossed aside. The other had been crushed as the creature fell, finally
succumbing to the weapons that pierced its skin and body . It had been sad, but the meat had been wonderful and had ensured
the tribe’s survival through another harsh winter. They need a good hunt if
they are to make through the cold to come.
    Mi holds up her bag, turning it
around so she can inspect it properly. As she lowers it, she finds herself looking
into the frowning face of Im. She is one of the oldest women in the tribe. At
almost forty summers, she is older even than Bak. Im leans forwards and takes
the bag out of Mi’s hands, scrutinizing the stitching carefully. She does not
look impressed.
    “No,” she says, lifting it up to
look inside. To the great surprise of Mi and the other women, Im drops the bag
over her head and jumps to her feet flailing her arms as though she is being
strangled and emitting loud moans. After a few moments she stops and raises the
bag so she can peep out at the others. Seeing their stunned expressions, Im
begins to laugh and drops the bag back over her face, flailing and moaning once
again. All around her the women burst into laughter and Mi laughs.
    “Funny Im!” says Mi, laughing so
hard she has to put her arms around her belly in case she brings on the birth. “Stop
now.”
    Sitting back down on her rock, Im
takes off the bag and tosses it back to Mi.
    “Good,” she says, still grinning.
“Big hat.”
    As the Sky God reaches his full
height, the last of the bags and other preparations are completed, and it is
time to head into the shade of the forest. Each of the women has a bag. Not one
of the large ones they have been making all morning — these are
for the men to use to carry the butchered rhino meat — but
smaller bags, slung over their shoulders, each one containing a sharp flint to
help them with their work.
    The forest begins a short
distance around the lake and stretches away far into the distance. As they make
their way towards it, the group of women are accompanied by a number of the
menfolk, who will keep an eye out for wild animals as the women search for
food. Mi is pleased that Lu is among the men keeping watch today. Though she
has never felt in danger in the forest, his presence reassures her that they
are safe. Mi loves the forest, reveling in its cool shade and the abundance of
food that can be found here. The forest is full of trees bearing nuts, fruit
and berries of all kinds, together with edible flowers and leaves. She and Ka
find a grove where the shrubs are overrun with goa beans, their pods ripe for
picking, and they settle down to fill their bags and stomachs at the same time.
    Despite the shade of the trees
the heat is stifling, and it is not long before Mi begins to feel tired. The
work is not especially strenuous, but she is worn out by the walk to