Free Visions by James C. Glass Page A

opinions? You talk as one who would protect the purity of the Tenanken people, but I will say what I think you really want. I think you seek power, and war with the Hinchai is only an excuse. You fail to see that elders exercise no power, no influence. It is done through concern, and love. You must learn to love, Maki, Tenanken and Hinchai alike. Or you will never be a leader. There, I’ve had my say.”
    Maki blinked back tears of embarrassment, his limbs shaking, anger at his mother coming with a fierceness he had rarely felt before. At the same time, he had never known such humiliation. His hands clenched and unclenched, and he saw fear pass over the faces of the elders sitting by his parents. In a dark flash of thought he wondered what would happen if he killed them all and called for Han and Dorald to help control the others. Too risky, he decided, but he could stand the humiliation no longer, and made a rash decision.
    “I will leave this cavern, and never return. I am no longer one of you!” Maki turned on his heel, and climbed quickly up the stone terraces towards the top of the cavern.
    “Maki!” shouted Anka after him, and there was murmuring among the elders.
    “Let him go!” shouted Tel. “Let him do what he must do.”
    Maki heard labored breathing, and glanced over his shoulder to see his father scrambling up the rock behind him. He lengthened his stride, reaching the top of the cavern and traversing it until he saw Han and Dorald waiting in an exit tunnel. “Get your things together, we’re leaving at once!” Han grabbed Dorald’s arm, pulling him down the tunnel as Maki plunged in behind them.
    “Maki, wait!” shouted Anka, and then he was gasping for breath. He stopped at the tunnel entrance, chest heaving, and sat down on a rock. There was sharp pain in his chest and one arm, but as he breathed deeply it seemed to get better. A strange kind of paralysis had set in, the reaction of an old body to an unacceptable workload dictated by emotion. Tel and others arrived to help him to his feet. He looked into her eyes as she helped to lift him up. “Why did you do that to our son?” he asked sadly.
    “He’s done it to himself, my heart. This is a critical time for the Tenanken, and we have our responsibilities. The new life is open for Maki also, but if he refuses it then he must find something better for himself. For now, we have more important things to attend to. Come, now, and rest. You’ve overextended yourself again.”
    They held him up, and Anka directed them to the little alcove he used for private meditation and re-enforcement of The Memories. They covered him with furs, and slipped quietly away, but as he lay still, drowsy, he became aware that someone else was near. He raised his head.
    “Who is it? Please come to where I can see you.”
    In the light of a small torch in his quarters, he saw the tiny face of a girl. Baela, the one who ran everywhere. “Come in, child, before I fall asleep.”
    She entered shyly and stood before him, something clutched tightly in one hand. “Teacher, I have a gift to make you feel better,” she said in the new tongue. “See how it shines?” She smiled, then leaned over and placed a glowing object on the fur that covered him. It was the size and shape of a finger, yellowish, pointed at one end. He touched it, hard and cold, reflecting the light brightly. He had never seen anything like it before, and inspected it closely. “It is a little treasure, Baela. Thank you for your gift.” He reached out to her with a feeling of affection that lit up her face with a smile. She took a step towards him, and for one horrible second he thought she might hug him, but then she stepped back a little nervously, and became a part of the shadows. Anka’s eyes were heavy, yet he struggled for a moment to remain awake, thinking the girl might return. At last he drifted into sleep without noticing she was still there, sitting cross-legged in darkness, watching him.