Free Death on the Trek by Kaye George Page B

did Hama not stop Hapa from spreading bad thoughts? Was she too tired? Was her spirit worn out?
    * * *
    One day the two birth-brothers, Teek Bearclaw and young Jeek, were sent to the top of a nearby hill to scout the land. Jeek was proud to be chosen for the mission. They scaled the hill in a short time and looked in every direction.
    Jeek was agitated about what they saw, jumping up and down when they spied it, although it was not good news. They ran down the hill to tell the tribe. Teek said Jeek could announce it.
    A very large river is ahead , Jeek thought-spoke.
    How large? Hama asked. Is it wide? Deep?
    Teek answered. It looks wide. I cannot tell if it is deep. But it does not look like there is a way around it. It flows across our path and blocks us for as far as we could see in both directions.
    Both Teek and Jeek sent out pictures of what they had seen.
    How wide do you think it is? asked Hapa. I cannot tell from your pictures since you were far away from it. Can we build something to take us over this river?
    I think we cannot, but I do not know , Teek thought-spoke. It is wider than either Fee Long Thrower or Ung Strong Arm can throw a spear. It may be that we can wade through it.
    Let us hope that is true . Hama nodded at them for a job well done, even though the news was not good. How far away is this water ?
    Jeek and Teek looked at each other and conferred in private before Teek answered. Maybe one more day of walking. Maybe two.
    As they trudged onward, more weary than ever, toward a destination that might be a big problem, Jeek could tell there was much unhappiness about other matters. Some were muttering against Panan, others against Hapa. Those two were rivals now for the favorable thinking of the tribe members. Hama called a halt for the day as Sister Sun was disappearing before them. Brother Moon was bright and had been showing his face for many hand lengths of Sister Sun through Mother Sky. Now he winked down at them, along with the many eyes of Dakadaga, shedding light so they could see well.
    They were not yet at the bank of the river. It would be one more sun before they reached it. There was much fear about what they would do when they got there.
    After they gathered in the usual circle, Panan once again was asked to give the Saga. He chose to give a short well-known one about Beaver.
    I will tell of the Saga of the Giant Beaver of ancient times. In the times that are the most dim in the memories of Storytellers, there lived a Giant Beaver, an Enormous Beaver, more great than the ones who live now.
    Jeek sat near Mootak Big Heart. Mootak poked Jeek with his elbow as the Saga started. He sent Jeek a private message. This is not the right Saga for this time. A Saga of river crossings would be better. Or maybe one of meeting obstacles as a tribe and working together to figure out our problems.
    Jeek could see that Mootak might be right. But what good would those thoughts do?
    Mootak Big Heart, we must be careful not to divide the tribe any more than it already is. We must not speak against the leaders.
    But I should be a leader. Not Panan One Eye. He is too old. With his one eye, he cannot see what should be done. I would do the job much better. I know all the Sagas. When Panan One Eye calls me to learn them, I do not go.
    Had Mootak made fun of the one eye of Panan? That was not good. Jeek closed his mind to Mootak and listened to the continuing Saga of the Giant Beaver and of Creation.
    He was given a task by Dakadaga, the Spirit of Mother Sky. Her child, Brother Earth, was covered with swirling waters and there was no dry land. Dakadaga and Beaver dove to the bottom of the waters and brought up piles of mud. They shaped the mud into hills and valleys.
    Jeek began to think that Mootak might be wrong. This Saga was about creating rivers. It was suitable for this time when a river was on the mind of everyone.
    Then Dakadaga built mountains and caves while Beaver made paths for the water so it could run