Free Death in the Time of Ice by Kaye George

Hama.
    Jeek’s eyelids were sagging in boredom when Nanno Green Eyes rose.
    The males should leave on the trading mission at new sun , thought-spoke Nanno to all.
    Jeek was alert now. His mouth pursed into a small circle. Nanno had never brought up something the leaders had not already started a discussion on.
    There were two waves of unenthusiastic opposition. Jeek intercepted the thoughts of Enga Dancing Flower.
    I do not like the idea of Tog Flint Shaper being gone for several suns. But that would be better than being gone several full moons.
    Then Jeek caught the agitation of Roh Lion Hunter, birth mother of Gunda and mate of Donik Tree Trunk, the largest male in the tribe.
    It is not good for all the prime males to be away, put in Roh Lion Hunter. And two of them just returned from a hunt. She had recently lost a baby and her mood had been irritable lately. Her mate was still doing many things for her, helping with the other children. The rest of the tribe digested her feelings, but didn’t agree with her and Enga. The other females thought the trading mission was needed.
    Jeek was surprised Roh had spoken out against Nanno, who was her own birth mother. But, after he considered it, Jeek thought Roh was a lot more like the Hama they had just buried than like her own mother, and was closer to her, too.
    They discussed the plans until all agreed that a group of four males would depart at first sun for the nearest tribe of fellow beings, strong, sturdy people like them, some with fiery hair also, called the Cuva.
    I hope the Cuva have much food to barter for our fine Hamapa knives , thought-spoke Tog.
    The tribes of different statures, as well as more who were similar to the Hamapa, lived farther away. Some, the Tall Ones, looked like the New One, slender and even taller than him, but with dusky skin. Others, the Mikino, were tiny and dark-skinned, with small heads on their sharp little shoulders. All these were potential trading partners if, for some reason, they could not trade with the Cuva. The Mikino must be treated with care, but Jeek knew they had been traded with in the past.
    Finally the Most High Male stood with a loud grunt. He lifted both arms high before he spoke.
    Jeek knew from his teachings that the Hamapa spoke rarely. Only when they wanted to be sure the Spirits could hear them. His mother taught him that thoughts served as their communication with each other. Tribes built like the Hamapa, compact and stout, could generally understand each other. Kin could always understand kin. And the more closely related, she told him, the better and more complete the communication. The Hamapa were mostly kin, so they had no trouble giving thoughts back and forth. Enga Dancing Flower and Ung Strong Arm, who came from another tribe as babies, had learned the Hamapa thought-speak quickly when they came. Others, who came to mate and stay, adjusted without much trouble.
    A decision was going to be Pronounced. Jeek sharpened his hearing and jiggled one foot with excitement. Concentrating, Jeek watched Cabat’s fleshy lips carefully. He was proud that he could understand all the words.
    “Hoody! Listen! The Most High Male Speaks. The Hamapa trade with the Cuva people. Mother Spirit of the Sky, Dakadaga, bless the Hamapa.”
    Now , thought-spoke Enga, since Hapa has spoken it and the Spirits have heard it, it is official. We will trade with the Cuva. Dakadaga, bless our mission.
    Jeek joined the others. Dakadaga, bless our mission. He drew a wisp of hair into his mouth and chewed on it, pondering the decision of the tribe. It did not seem like a good time for this mission, so close to so many other things happening. But he knew the journey must be made. Rumbling noises came from his hungry, empty-feeling belly.
    The bigger problem he saw was that the Pronouncement had been made without any discussion or vote. And without an official leader. A Pronouncement, heard by the gods, was a powerful thing. Jeek wondered if this