Rita Moon - Final Destination - Earth. First book

A small lamb was executed and sacrificed, and now his corpse, anointed with ancient incense (backgammon, incense, camphor, sandalwood, myrrh, musk, amber, operculum) was smoking on the ashes at the altar.

Hiawatha uttered sacred words, a prayer-spell, designed to invoke the mercy of the gods. For the seventh month there has been no rain in their area. The river dried up, the animals died from dehydration, the children were thirsty.

Hiawatha closed his eyes and whispered tirelessly:

Ee Mungu! utuhurumie, watoto wako! tunatamani unyevu! wanyama wetu wanatamani unyevu! wanawake wetu wanatamani unyevu! watoto wetu wanatamani unyevu!

(Swahili version – author’s note)

What in translation meant:

Oh Gods! have mercy on us, your children! we crave moisture! our animals crave moisture! our women crave moisture! our children crave moisture!

The lamb’s corpse was quietly smoldering, and the shaman continued to whisper requests for a change in the weather.

The children of the Mohawki tribe behaved strangely: at first they played, frolicked with might and main, and then everyone sat down on the ground and began to cry. One of the mothers, Arenk, sat down on the ground next to them and began to lull them to sleep with singing. Baby Amedehi calmed down first and began to smile with might and main.

Well done, Amedehi, – praised

Arenk. Now it remains to wait for the rest to calm down. Arenk hugged another girl, Aponivi, and began stroking her head.

Having finished the prayer, Hiawatha approached Arenk and the children sitting on the ground and turned to Arenk:

I trust in our Gods. What are they

will send us rain next week.

Arenk nodded.

O great Hiawatha! I, too

hope it rains soon! We need water so much!

Hiawatha smiled.

The gods will not leave us, Arenk, here

you will see.

He turned and looked towards the thicket.

Avoneko with brothers today

bring some water. Prepare your own and warn other mothers.

Arenk nodded.

The weather is getting worse. May be

Hurricane. – Having said this, she raised her head, and began to peer into the dull gray sky.

Hiawatha closed his eyes and said:

Kutakuwa na siku, kutakuwa na

chakula.

Which in translation meant: «There will be a day, there will be food.»

Arenk smiled reverently.

I trust you, Hiawatha. Husband

says Hiawatha is a strong leader. You can trust him. And I believe my husband.

From the direction of the thicket, voices were heard, it was Avoneko and his brothers who were walking from their forest absence – they were carrying water.

At last! – Arenk beamed.

She rose from the Earth and sang, addressing the children to their folk song.

«Sweet rain, oh great rain!

Come to us soon!

To our beloved leader!

He was able to pray for us in April!»

The children happily picked up.

When Avoneko and his brothers were very close, Arenk called out to Avoneko.

Avoneko! What a fine fellow you are!

Today you are a hero of the tribe! The children were waiting for the water!

Avoneko smiled benevolently.

Yes, dear, Arenk. We brought

water, a lot of water… do you want to drink a little right now?

Arenk was frightened.

Can i?

Sure! Go

Avoneko waved his hand as a sign for Arenk to follow him, and they approached a huge reservoir built of vines and small tree pillars, inside there was at least 200 liters of water. Enough for everyone!

Avoneko scooped up a small ladle from the vat, and handed the ladle to Arenk.

Here. Have a drink.

But the kids want it too, I can’t

first…

Come on, Arenk, enough for everyone!

Arenk gave up and obediently drank from the ladle. The water burned pleasantly with cold ligaments and larynx.

How wonderful, Avoneko!

Yes. Arenk. But if it doesn’t go

rain in the next few weeks, water will not be left anywhere else. Now call the children! Let’s give them water!

Arenk ran, shouting the names of the children, and circling around their village, calling everyone to gather at the vat.

Avoneko called out to Hiawatha.

Leader! We have to talk.

Hiawatha nodded and they went to the chief’s hut.

Ooooh! Yes, this is our baby

woke up!!! Shea whistled as he saw a sleepy Luana in the cockpit opening.

Luanu smiled. He was still bad at thinking. All these adventures exhausted him in order, and he just wanted to blink silently.

How did you sleep? – Shea threw in

air flask with water, Luanu coordinated hand movements, caught it.

I slept fine, Shea. Where

did the devils wear you? I screamed so desperately into the radio when I ran away from that fucking monster that I thought I’d lose my voice! Were you looking for me at all? Even a little? Luanu sank into the copilot’s seat and began to drink greedily.

Hey, hey, take it easy with the accusations! I

got into trouble no worse than yours! This was chasing me!! That you won’t even dream in a nightmare.

Luanu drained the flask to the bottom, threw it into the corner of the cockpit and coughed.

Means, too, was in the alteration.

Clear. I already thought you decided to leave me here, but you flew home…

Nonsense. You know that

I couldn’t let you feed the dinosaurs alone! Shea burst out laughing.

These creatures are very bloodthirsty,

Shi. I was really scared.

I know Lou. But now you’re in

security and let’s not get hung up on that. I’m afraid we will have to compete with them in endurance more than once!

Luanu leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

In front of my eyes all the time

Anu’s face stood. She was worried, I saw it. Do you think I could catch her thoughts at such a distance?

Unlikely. Too much

light years separates you. Speaking of girls. I have already contacted Liara, said that we are alive. He calmed her down a little. They were all on their ears already, we did not get in touch for more than two days!

Luanu looked up at his friend and smiled.

And what is Liera? Fainted from

happiness that you are alive?

Nearly. – Shea patted Luana’s

shoulder. – We’ll go back and get our girls. I promise you. You and Anu and Lee and I will definitely come back here. But already the winners. Not as a snack for these critters for lunch.

What are we going to do with them?

If we settle here? You can’t kill everyone, can you? Luanu looked anxiously in Shea’s eyes, knowing he knew the answer.

No, you won’t interrupt, friend. But! On the

there are areas on the planet where there are none at all. To begin with, we will coordinate the reservations at these points, and later we will think. I would generally find a use for the friendliest of them. You can fly on pteranodons. For example. These large ones with long necks can help with construction. Etc…

You think like a dreamer, Shi.

And this is good. But there is

reality… and so far these animals are not particularly friendly. Luana slapped Shea on the knee with his palm. «Okay, Shea! It’s time for me to grab something to eat. I hope you didn’t eat and drink everything under stress?

Not yet. Shea laughed again.

You’re kidding – it’s already good. So fear has receded. Come on, go and refresh yourself, and for now I’ll deal with the devices.

OK. – Luanu nodded and left

cockpit.

«Eh, Lou! What a child you are!» Shea glanced through the ship’s front glass. – outside the spaceship there was nothing but peace and quiet.

***

If life touched us at the point X at which it begins, then people would not experience grief. But life is multifaceted. And one of her faces is pain. The other is fear. And also – conscience. Or rather her torment. Luanu suddenly realized that he had never allowed himself to be kind before, to the fullest extent, as TOTAL LIGHT commands, Here on this planet, inhabited by unknown creatures, he is just a guest. And must respect the laws of existence on it. Luanu never allowed himself to be kind and light. Throughout his adult life (which took place up to this moment), he portrayed himself as a malicious bully, but the example of Shea, his older friend, made something like a revolution in him. Shea was such a fatherly guardian of Luana (who was younger) that the belief in unconditional love and acceptance was resurrected in the soul of this Lemurian cynic. He longed to be like Shea. Become the same as him. The same kind and generous. And he knew he could do it. With such a mentor, it could not be otherwise.