Free The Trek: Darwin's World, Book II (The Darwin's World Series 2) by Jack L Knapp Page A

anyway.
    “Lilia said you lost your memory, at least some of it?”
    “It’s been returning in bits and pieces, Robert. Anyway, I’m glad to be back. Lee’s not with you?”
    “No, he took Marc and Philippe hunting. We’ve been getting pretty hungry over the last few days. We need meat.”
    “Lilia and I brought some. Probably not enough for everyone, but every little bit helps.”
    “You said Pavel took off?”
    “Yeah. They were running and I didn’t think they were worth chasing.”
    “Good thinking. Well, if they try to come back, we’ll get to use that firing squad. But if they’re gone, good riddance. Maybe a saber-tooth will get them.
    “Let’s head back to camp. People will want to see you. I imagine you’re tired, too. It’s noon, and Colin will probably have food ready by the time we get back. How about a salad and a nice horsemeat steak?”
     

Chapter 7
     
    Lilia led several of the women downstream to look for vegetables. Another group, led by the Wise Woman, went north.
    Sandra and Millie went with the second group. Accomplished archers, they went along to protect the gatherers. Cindy went with Lilia; the two were more than enough to keep watch over the group that went south.
    The camp soon resounded with saws and axes as men cut firewood and selected wood for making wheels.
    Matt found his weapons belt at his group’s campsite. Buckling the belt around his waist felt very natural, and he soon found comfortable positions for the knife and axe.
    He walked through the camp, spoke briefly to the three people working around the kitchen, and soon met Robert. After exchanging greetings, they discussed what to do about Pavel and his remaining men.
    Pavel, Gregor, and Vlad were gone, fled to who-knew-where. Nikolai’s body had been left in the forest; animals would soon dispose of it.
    The tribe now consisted of twenty-six members, fifteen women, eleven men. Seven of them camped as part of Matt’s group, five including Colin had come from the mine and camped together near the kitchen, the rest were from Robert’s original tribe. Of those, three remained who had come to the tribe with Pavel. Their camp was situated a little apart from Robert’s, at the far end of the site from where Matt’s group had set up.
    “What do we do with the rest of Pavel’s group, Robert?”
    “Matt, they’re camped a little away from us, mostly because Pavel wanted it that way. I think they will need to be join with your group or mine now. I can’t see them fitting in with Colin, and if they remain together, they’ll be...well, not outcasts, but not part of the tribe either. I could take the two women, they’ve already got friends in my group, and I think the Wise Woman could use their help. Can you take the man?”
    “I guess so, Robert. I’ll give him a chance. He can work as a scout when Lee gets back. Maybe I’ll take him hunting first, see what he’s like.”
    “You’re going hunting too, Matt? Lee’s already out.”
    “I know. But I want to see what my new member is made of before I consider him one of my group. I can do that better out in the bush.”
    “Well, you know best. I think he’s been mostly a maker of things, arrows and sleds and travois and such. He’s good with his hands.”
    “We can always use someone with those skills, Robert. But he’s going to need to know more. Does he have weapons?
    “Flint-tipped spear and bow. I don’t know how good he is, but he’s got the weapons. I think he made them himself, but he used your chipped points and a bowstring made by Lilia.”
    “Yeah, she’s handy, really knows a lot of stuff. OK, it’s settled. I’ll take him with me and we’ll leave at dawn tomorrow. What’s his name?”
    “Piotr. I get the feeling Pavel never trusted him.”
    “A point in his favor, Robert. Well, I’ll soon know.”
    Matt got up and went off to find his new man.
    He wandered through the camp, observing, greeting and being greeted by the few who weren’t