Shadows in the Cave by Caleb Fox Read Free Book Online Page A

behind a pine tree, which they did every chance they got, they lay down side by side and faced each other. Before touching her in the way that led to loving, he spoke to her from his heart. It was a small ritual they had, trading whatever words came tumbling out at that moment, even though they spoke different languages. She listened to his voice as she would to soft soughings of the wind, because she knew his intent without knowing what all his words meant. She felt like she understood the tones and shapes of his utterance.
    It was awkward, and sometimes funny, not being able to talk to each other in a clear way. They could communicate about practical things through the sign language shared by the tribes. Is this your sister or your aunt? The roasted chestnuts are over there. Why does the river look deeper today than it did yesterday? With the sign language and gestures, they could fumble through speaking about such things. They also taught each other short phrases. Sometimes they tossed words into the air and shrugged. After being together for one moon and a few days, they understood sentences about half the time. All they really needed was to touch, and kiss, and embrace, and touch more intimately.
    After he finished talking, their ritual was that she should take her turn speaking words he didn’t understand. But she hadn’t, not this time. The moon was rising out over the sea that she knew and he did not. She felt like the white globewas floating up into her throat, and no mere words could squeeze past it. She tried to say something and only felt a terrific pressure in her chest. She pulled him on top of her and urged him with her legs and her belly.

    Iona and Aku rolled onto their sides, still clasped together but spent. She looked at the last of the day’s sunlight on his face, and the glow it gave his brown eyes.
    Now was the time. She knew. She was content with the reality. At the Planting Moon Ceremony she and Aku had made love for the first time. Now they had been promised that they would be married during the Harvest Moon Ceremony. They hated to wait two more moons, but that was the tradition. Among the Galayi and Amaso peoples, marriages were agreed on as much by families as the couple, because it was not just a meshing of two people, but of generations of two families.
    Now was the time to tell him. Still she hesitated. Now . “Aku, I have your child inside me.”
    There, simple words, singing in the air between them.
    He looked deep into her eyes and saw play.
    Quickly, he rolled her to his other side. The last of the sun was in her eyes. She was warmth, endless warmth. And honesty. And a hint of laughter.
    He whooped. He whooped louder. The shushing of the waters, here where the river flowed into the sea, tossed his words away, made them no more than a gull’s cry.
    He bellowed. “I love you!”
    And louder, longer, “I love you!”
    In answer a bellow tapped at their ears.
    At first they weren’t sure what it was. They looked ateach other in question. They got up on their knees, crawled to the top of the low dune, and looked toward the village.
    Oghi was running as fast as any man-turtle could run. He was also shouting something.
    “What did he say?” asked Aku.
    “Don’t know! Shhh!”
    This time they both heard it.
    “She’s gone!” Aku wasn’t sure what he heard. He wasn’t that confident in the Amaso language.
    Oghi shouted again.
    “She’s gone,” said Iona, her voice pulled tight by strain. She made the hand signs so Aku would be sure.
    “Who’s gone?”
    “Your sister Salya.”
    “She’s gone?”
    “Get dressed!” whispered Iona fiercely.
    Aku stood up to get his breechcloth on. About sundown a gust of rain had driven them tighter into their robes and each others’ arms. Now a drop of cold water fell off the tip of a pine needle onto the part in his hair, right on the top center. He rubbed the cold spot with a stiff finger.
    “Your shirt!” said Iona.
    She was standing,