Free ICE BURIAL: The Oldest Human Murder Mystery (The Mother People Series Book 3) by Joan Dahr Lambert Page A

made the transition to adulthood. P erhaps she had not , since she alone among the women wore no head covering. Her pale hair hung to her waist, and her slender form moved with supple grace.
    To their surprise, Durak immediately approached the young woman and asked her name. “ I am Rofina, ” she said, glancing up at him quickly.
    “ And I am Durak, ” he replied, smiling at her. She looked up at him again with a tentative smile, her gaze lingering longer this time; then she dropped her eyes .
    Durak was about to say more when Korg appeared. “ The Leader wishes to see you, ” he told Rofina. His voice was quiet, without intonation, but it left no room for argument, and Rofina responded immediately.
    “ Good bye, ” she said to Durak. Once more, she gave him a long look before she walked away with Korg.
    Zena was intrigued. At first totally devoid of expression, Rofina ’s eyes had come briefly to life when she looked at Durak. As soon as Korg c a me, they closed down again and a puzzled look ca me over her face, as if she were a child trying to understand an idea that was new to her.
    Durak watched Rofina disappear with Korg. “ I must speak with her again, ” he said urgently. “ I do not like the way that man watches over her, commands her. ”
    “ Nor do I, ” Sorlin agreed. “ It is as if he is her master . He tells her what to do and she cannot disobey. ”
    Zena nodded in agreement. “ It is very strange, ” she mused. “ I watched her earlier, before the ceremony, and thought perhaps she was not fully aware, as if her mind had not matured with her body. But when she looked at you, Durak... ”
    “ I saw th at , too, ” Durak interrupted. “ It was as if a light came into her eyes, and then it disappeared again. ” He shuddered. “ I am afraid for her. I do not like the way Korg looks at her, either. It is not lustful exactly but it is wrong, bad…
    “S omething is very wrong in this whole place, ” he burst out suddenly, “ only I do not k now what it is. ”
    “ I do not know either, ” Zena answered slowly, “ except that I think that it is as Lief says. What the Leader says i s wrong , even cruel, but even worse is his ability to make peo p le listen to him and think that he is right. The wrongness comes from Korg, too. There may be kindness in the Leader but there is no kindness in Korg, and he also has great power. ”
    “ They said it was this Great Spirit that knew everything the people did, ” Sorlin scoffed, “ but it seemed to me it was Korg. It was he who accused the m . I think he watches everyone to see if they have transgressed and then tells the Leader. ”
    “ If a person has transgressed, perhaps they should be reminded, ” Hular said mildly. “ That helps to keep peace in the group. Besides, it is not right to take something that belongs to another or to betray another person. ”
    “ Perhaps the people did nothing except to offend Korg, ” Sorlin argued. “ He might have made up those accusations. ”
    “ Perhaps, ” Hular conceded, not wanting to argue with Sorlin, who was known for her stubbornness as well as her quick willingness to comfort anyone in distress. “ But you must admit that the man is wonderful to watch. Never have I seen such leaps. ”
    “ Yes, ” Zena agreed . “ Korg is remarkable , and so is the Leader. Because of this, they could convince many others to believe them, to follow the ways of this Great Spirit. What then would happen to the Mother People, to the Goddess? ”
    It was a question no one could answer.
    ************************
    From a distance, Mara watched the young woman approach Zena outside the hut where the traders were staying. As Mara had instructed, s he smiled and held out her baby for Zena to see. Now she was speaking. Mara could see her lips move, knew already the words she would say.
    “ You must look at the baby, admire her and have only this on your face, ” the young woman said softly, her own face still