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

the forest
and the repeated action of picking the beans, and her back and legs ache
terribly. She sits down heavily on the ground and is surprised to find that she
is sweating.
    Ka walks over and strokes her
belly with a smile. “Soon,” she says.
    Mi turns and glances through the trees towards the lake. Its sparkling
surface is inviting, promising cool relief and refreshment. She pats her chest
and points to the water. “Swim.”
    Ka nods, though she makes no move
to join Mi. Instead she returns to picking the slender goa bean pods, singing
under her breath. Struggling to her feet, Mi heads through the trees, the bag
left forgotten on the ground. At the edge of the lake, she loosens the knot on the
loincloth. Like all the womenfolk, Mi is bare-breasted, though all the adults
in the tribe wear animal skins around their waists. Mi lets hers fall to the
ground before stepping into the water. It is wonderfully cool and, with a shout
of joy she dives beneath the surface. The feeling of weightlessness as the
water envelops her is wonderful and she sighs with relief from the heaviness of
her belly. Like all those in the tribe, Mi has been swimming most of her life
and the lake is safe thanks to her ancestors wiping out the crocodiles that
used to gather here. She laughs happily as she kicks away into the deeper water
and dives below the surface. The water is so clear here and Mi is fascinated, as
always, by the underwater world she can see. Flashes of light and color
indicate the presence of fish darting around beneath her and the long tendrils
of water plants reach out, caressing Mi’s legs and she soon loses track of time
in this sparkling paradise.
    Late, she thinks, glancing up to see
the Sky God has moved over the hills. Home
now.
    Refreshed and contented, she
heads back to the shore and the other womenfolk, who must surely be finishing
their work of gathering in the forest. Mi emerges from the water, the weight of
her belly suddenly returning, and looks for her loincloth. A shadow falls
across the ground in front of her. She looks up in surprise to see Zo standing
over her, the discarded piece of animal skin hanging limply in his hand.
    “Zo give!” she says, reaching out
for it, but he snatches it out of her reach. With his other hand he grips an arm
and pulls her against him.
    “No.” He shakes his head and
points at her, an unpleasant grin on his face. “Zo take!”

 
 

Chapter Five

 
    N o!” Mi shouts, thumping Zo’s massive chest as hard as she can. He
doesn’t even seem to notice, and his grip on her only tightens.
    “You Zo’s,” he says, his voice
deep and gruff. His grin widens, emphasizing the four long scars across his
cheek, the result of a fight with a saber-toothed tiger… which Zo won! Filled
with an icy terror, Mi struggles against him, crying out.
    “Away, Zo! Off!”
    He lets go, but only to push her
roughly to the ground. Standing over her, his intention is reflected in the
hungry expression on his face. He steps towards her. Mi turns her head away and
closes her eyes. No hurt Wu, she
thinks, imagining the weight of Zo forcing himself on her, pressing against her
swollen belly. She dreads what must surely be about happen.
    But nothing does happen. Opening
her eyes again, Mi looks up to see a very different look on Zo’s face. He is
afraid. And no wonder, as Lu is standing behind him, hefting a heavy ax in his
hand, ready to strike.
    “Touch,” says Lu with a growl,
pointing towards Mi and then back at Zo. “Dead.”
    “Hah!” Zo tries to pretend he is
unafraid, but he swallows nervously. Lu raises the ax threateningly and Mi
looks up at him in admiration. He looks especially strong and handsome when he
is angry and now that he is here, she doesn’t feel afraid anymore. She isn’t
scared of anything when Lu is with her. He steps closer to Zo, his eyes
narrowing in anger and makes as if to strike him. Zo quickly raises his hands,
looking pitiful and cowardly, and cries out,