Free Death on the Trek by Kaye George

she afraid of Enga?
    “Tiki hoo,” Enga murmured. The words had arisen unbidden from her mind. They meant, “large one.” The woman grew still and drew her head back to look Enga in the eyes. Enga said the words again out loud. “Tiki hoo.”
    The female smiled, showing a row of even white teeth, large, like the rest of her. She pointed to her chest and repeated the words Enga had said, but making them sound like one word, “Tikihoo.” She tapped her chest again and again and said, “Tikihoo.”
    Finally, Enga understood. The female thought her name was Tikihoo. Maybe it was. Dakadaga had to pick names for the Hamapa, but not for this one. Hama had said that would not happen.
    Enga tapped her own chest and spoke, “Enga.” She left off the rest of her name, not wanting to make this too complicated.
    The other woman nodded and tentatively repeated, “Enga.”
    Enga took the hand of the female as they stood. Together they brushed through the branches and returned to the tribe.
    Enga, still holding the hand of the female, raised both their arms into the air and sent out a public thought-speak message: Ba Tikihoo . The heavy stone band that the Hooden always wore slipped up her arm. For emphasis, Enga spoke the name aloud, “Tikihoo,” still holding up the arm of the Hooden female.
    Panan One Eye rushed to them. He hugged Enga, then hugged the female. Tikihoo , he greeted her, then remembered that she did not receive thought-speak, so he, too, spoke the name aloud, “Tikihoo.”
    Enga saw many smiling, nodding faces. But not all smiled and nodded.

Chapter 12
    “The Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains was formed around 70 million years ago during the Laramide Orogeny (mountain building). A trough of late Paleozoic sedimentary rocks running through central Colorado was uplifted as a massive dome to create this mountainous range. Drainage off this range, then, created streams; these began flowing eastward, forming valleys. The Arkansas Valley is the northernmost of these valleys and conclusive geologic evidence establishes that this valley was formed no earlier than 29 million years ago.”
    —from Origins and Geology of the Arkansas River, http://salida.com/salida-best-of/best-of-arkansas-river.html
    Both Hama and Hapa stood back, frowning. Enga Dancing Flower observed the Hooden female beside her, regarding each member of the Hamapa tribe. Tikihoo ended by staring in the direction of the two high leaders, Hama and Hapa, and a look of fear crossed her face. Her smile returned when some of the Hamapa swarmed around her and gave her gentle pats on the arm and the shoulder.
    Panan One Eye came to stand beside her and she seemed content with that, so Enga slipped away and confronted Hama.
    Are you angry that I have named the Hooden female?
    Hama did not answer. She pursed her lips, raised her eyes to Mother Sky, and looked like she was thinking about whether she was angry or not.
    Enga was frightened that she had done something wrong. She tried to explain. It was not what I meant to do. She wept and wept and I comforted her. When I spoke those words, I only wished to communicate. She is lonely here. She has no one to speak with. No one can understand her and she cannot understand us.
    The expression of Hama changed. Her dark eyes grew kind and her mouth relaxed. Ah. So you were comforting her and called her “tall one, large one” and she thinks you gave her a name.
    It made her so happy.
    You are a gentle person, Enga Dancing Flower. It will do no harm to call her Tikihoo. Dakadaga will understand. Hama touched the mind of Enga with softness and warmth.
    Her mate, Hapa, heard the conversation, but did not quit frowning. He thought-spoke with harshness to both of them. Dakadaga will not understand. And that female will become part of our tribe. We will run out of food in less time. This is the fault of Panan One Eye. He did not make her understand that she could not come with us when we left her tribe. No good will