Only Human by Gareth Roberts

Author:Gareth Roberts [Roberts, Gareth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels
ISBN: 9780563486398
Publisher: BBC BOOKS
Published: 2005-09-07T07:00:00+00:00

Neanderthal camp. Rose pushed through a particularly tangled mess of branches and suddenly found herself in a clearing the size of a large suburban garden. There seemed to be about forty Neanderthals.

Many were gathered round a large bonfire in the centre of the clearing. A smaller group of males and females sat making spearheads in one corner, chipping away at lumps of flint with small hand-tools.

Some other men were skinning and preparing the dead pig, which on closer inspection Rose realised was an enormous wild boar. Some children were playing with little dolls made from twigs, being super-vised by a young female with all the patience of a nursery teacher. She looked up as they entered and smiled, displaying a row of gleaming white teeth.

‘Reddy!’ she cried, waving.

Rose winced. Her voice was even higher and more piercing than Das’s. To her surprise, the others in the camp barely paid them a second glance. They were obviously accustomed to Reddy’s visits.

Reddy led Rose over to the girl. ‘Hello, Ka,’ he said, nodding curtly.

Rose was astonished to see him lean down and give the Neanderthal girl a quick peck on the cheek. She was also put out when the girl, Ka, shot her a look of suspicious disquiet. It was a look Rose knew well –what are you doing with my boyfriend? The implications of it made her head reel.

‘This is Rose,’ said Reddy quickly. ‘And she’s not my girlfriend, before you get any ideas.’

Ka’s face perked up and she shook Rose’s hand. ‘Oh, you’re pretty for a Them,’ she said. ‘Very clean.’

On the back foot, Rose just smiled back and said, ‘Thanks.’

‘Are you from Osterberg too, then?’ said Ka, slipping her hairy arm casually through Reddy’s.

‘Yeah,’ said Rose, ‘kind of.’ She found herself instantly warming to Ka.

‘Well, I knew you weren’t from the Cave obviously. Sorry,’ said Ka.

Then she called out to the rest of the camp, ‘Everybody, this is Rose.

Another of the Good Them from Osterberg.’

There was a general cry of greeting and some applause.

81

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