Rise of Man Book 1: Ascendance by E. Wayne Stucki

Author:E. Wayne Stucki
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: adventure, science fiction, dinosaur, evolution, cave man, battle in space, asteroid strike

Chapter 7

Makok, son of Kok, son of Karg, walked along the eastern trail leading to Home Canyon. He followed the well worn path as it wound through the trees and rocks which dotted the bottom of the side canyon. There were birds rustling in the branches that arched overhead making a cheerful racket. Behind him were men talking and laughing which added to the din. Everyone was excited to be returning home.

Taking a deep breath he could pick out the familiar smell of bushes and water and dirt that meant home. It had been fifteen days since his trading party of six men had left Home Cave for Circle Cliffs. While the hospitality of their trading partners couldn’t be faulted he was looking forward to seeing his family once again and sleeping in his own hut.

A sound that didn’t belong with the chirping and talking made it through all the noise and caught his attention. Stopping underneath a large tree, he held up a hand to halt the small group of men who were with him. The pots banging, spears jostling, feet slapping, and men talking ended as the men bunched up.

“What’s going on?” asked Terlon who’d stopped just behind Makok. “We’re almost home!”

“Quiet!” hissed Makok. “Listen.” The rest of the party obeyed. Some even held their breath to cut down on the background noised as they listened. After a few heartbeats of silence the sound came again. It was still faint but it seemed to be growing louder.

“What is that?” whispered Hert.

“I’m not sure,” replied Makok. “I’ve never heard this before. That’s what caught my attention in the first place.”

He’d never heard the sound before, that was true, but he thought he could make a good guess at what made it. Years earlier his father, Kok, had told him of a visit to the Valley of Suns and the families experience with the thing-in-the-air. Kok had even imitated the sound so his son would know what to recognize. That imitation was similar to the sound he was hearing now.

“How did you hear that?” wondered Terlon. “It’s so quiet.”

“It’s different,” Makok replied. “That’s what caught my attention.”

“Come on!” he said to his men and waved them forward. “The sound seems to be coming from the direction of home. Around this ridge and on a spur overlooking our village is a clump of trees. That’ll be good cover. We’ll stop there and see if we can find out what makes that noise.” He looked at each man of the trading party as he added. “And be quiet!”

After getting a silent acknowledgement from his men the son of Kok turned and moved down the path at a trot. The rest of the party followed. Hands cradled pots of seeds and grasped spears to keep any noise they made to a minimum. A thin cloud of dust was thrown into the air from the feet of the trading party pounding against the beaten path as they ran for home. When they reached the

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