Daughter of Kura by Debra Austin

Author:Debra Austin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2009-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

Everyone had something to say about the twins. When Warble visited Whistle the day after the twins’ birth, she observed that Peep was lucky to get two grandchildren at once, after losing so many of her own children, and Whistle agreed. Snap told Hum that Bubble had her sympathy, and she hoped to escape the same fate. The men seemed to be discussing the twins almost as much as the women. Bapoto, on his daily visits to Whistle, propounded the idea that the birth of twins was undoubtedly another message from the Great One. Whistle attended patiently while he explained that the birth of a boy and a girl at the same time obviously meant his interpretation of his vision had been correct; men and women should live together. Snap rolled her eyes and watched for a chance to meet her mother alone.

Several days later, Whistle proposed a trip to collect shea nuts. Rustle seemed to think nut collecting was unmanly, so he marched slightly ahead of his family with his small spear held at the ready, as if he were only there to protect them. Walking short distances was as much as Snap could manage, and running almost impossible. As she waddled at Whistle’s side, Snap attracted her mother’s attention with a chht and signed, “What are you thinking about Bapoto’s vision? He seems eager for you to make a decision.”

“Is that right?” Whistle’s sarcasm was atypical but unmistakable. “He’s tried to bring his sleeping hides up to the shelter four times. He’s been to every single shelter in the village to explain his ideas in every possible way. He’s had three of his men-only prehunt parties, even though all they ever do is talk and snare rabbits. Everyone expects me to announce that the Bonding this fall will be permanent, and no more summer journeys for the men. They are going to stick to us like tree sap.”

Maybe she’s coming around, Snap thought. Surely Whistle could see Bapoto’s plan would be disastrous. “Terrible idea, don’t you think?”

Whistle flattened her lips over her teeth. “Having the men around all the time will be troublesome, but being attacked by the Fukizo would be worse. Our ways have worked well for us for a long time, but it’s possible that doing things differently might be safer, just for a year or two, until we are sure the Fukizo will leave us alone.”

Swish was leaning around her mother in order to see what she was signing to Snap, and stumbled on a loose rock. Whistle pulled her younger daughter upright, and her older daughter stopped to take a few deep breaths. As they started again after an impatient Rustle, Snap looked at her mother. “I don’t think this would be good for the ukoo. There would be less hunting, less meat, more of the children would be hungry. Men would fight more, and mates would argue more. And what’s more, if our boys are raised like this, women in other ukoos will think they’re peculiar, and they won’t be able to find mates.

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