Free Return to Eden by Harry Harrison Page A

annoyance when a horde of screaming children ran by and kicked sand upon him. He brushed it off and turned his attention to Herilak who rose to speak.
    "Much has been done. Fresh poles have been cut for the travois, leather harnesses have been repaired.
    Meat has been smoked and is ready. I think all has been done that needs to be done. Speak if anything has been left unfinished."
    Merrith climbed to her feet, made insulting gestures at the hunters who tried to shout her down. As big as a hunter—as strong as one too—she had been on her own since Ulfadan's death.
    "You speak of leaving this valley of the Sasku. I speak of staying."
    The women behind her were silent, the hunters noisy in their disagreement. She waited until the shouts had died down, then spoke again. "Hunters you have mouths at the wrong end—when you talk it sounds like farts. We have good food here and there is good hunting in the hills. Why should we leave?"
    Some of the women called out in agreement with this and the discussion became heated and confused.
    Sanone listened, expressionless, guarding his thoughts. Herilak waited until he saw that it would not end easily, then shouted them into silence. They obeyed since he had led them in war against the murgu and they had survived.
    "This is not the place to discuss these things. Tanu does not kill Tanu. It is also true that Tanu cannot command Tanu. The hunters who wish to come when we leave will come. Those who wish to stay will stay."
    "Hunters only?" Merrith called out brazenly. "Is it that women no longer have a voice?"
    Herilak controlled his temper and wished that one woman at least had lost hers. "A woman will talk to her hunter, they will decide what they must do. We are here now because those of us who wish to leave this valley must get all in readiness…"
    "Well here is one who does not wish to leave," Merrith said, standing and pushing her way through the crowd, then stopped to look back. "Unless I am not welcome to remain here. What do you say, Sanone, mandukto of the Sasku?"
    They turned to Sanone now, with great interest. He raised his hands as high as his shoulders, palms outward, and spoke in accented but good Marbak. "Sasku and Tanu fought as one in the city on the shore, came to this valley and fought side by side again. The Tanu are welcome to stay, free to go. We are as brothers."
    "And sisters," Merrith added brusquely. "This one is staying." She turned her back and left.
    If any of the other women felt as she did they kept their silence. They were free, as all Tanu are free, to live their lives just as they wished. If a sammadar displeased them they would go to a new sammad. But the bonds to a hunter who had fathered their children were not as easily broken. And the hunters yearned for the forests; they could not be prevented from leaving.
    The discussion went on for a long time. The fires died down and children fell asleep. Sanone waited patiently and when it was time he rose to his feet.
    "I am here because of two matters—may I speak?"
    "Do not ask," Herilak said firmly. "The bonds of battle tie us close."
    "Then I have a request. The mastodon who was born here, that is named Arnwheet and through which Kadair speaks to us. Is it clear that this mastodon will stay when you leave?"
    "This was never in doubt."
    "Then we are grateful. Now, the other matter. There is one here who is not Tanu but Sasku. Malagen the woman of the brave warrior called Simamacho…
    "Who is now dead," Newasfar called out angrily. Sanone nodded solemn agreement.
    "Who now is dead, killed in the battle against the murgu. But his woman Malagen lives and she is Sasku."
    "She is my woman now and that is all there is to it," Newasfar said, strjding forward, fists clenched. "She goes with me."
    "I thought that among the Tanu each decided for oneself. Yet you speak for Malagen?" Sanone looked up at the tall hunter out of slitted eyes, did not move. Newasfar trembled with anger. Herilak took him by the arm, spoke