Stone Age Rampage by Chris Blake

Author:Chris Blake [Chris Blake]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2013-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

Zuma gulped. “Uh-oh!”

“Faster!” cried Tom. “Paddle faster, or we’re done for!”

They redoubled their efforts and at the last second the canoe pulled clear, rocketing down the right-hand branch of the river and away from the waterfall. The water was pouring down the waterfall on to a jagged row of rocks below. If the canoe had gone over it, it would have been smashed to pieces – along with Tom and Zuma!

As they left the waterfall behind, the water grew calmer. Tom and Zuma’s canoe drifted gently along, and they saw that they were going to rejoin the main river. When they did, they heard a splashing sound behind them. Tom turned to see Gam and Arn paddling up to their canoe. Both the hunter and his blood-son had been looking worried, but they smiled with relief when they saw Tom and Zuma were unhurt.

“Gam fear you were dead,” said Gam. “Worried the water ate you.”

“Ha!” Zuma gave a dismissive wave. “It’s going to take more than a few bumps in a river to beat us.”

“We saw you go off down the channel, but we couldn’t follow you,” Arn told them. “It took a lot of skill to come out alive. How did you manage to avoid the waterfall?”

“Well,” grinned Tom, with a glance at the black pendant hanging around Zuma’s neck. “Let’s just say we had a little help.”

“Head for the riverbank,” Gam instructed. “We go ashore here.”

Obediently, Tom and Zuma paddled towards the river’s edge, where there was a thick wood. The canoe had barely brushed against the bank when Chilli threw himself on to the grass and rolled around joyfully. He was obviously very happy to be back on dry land!

As Gam dragged the canoes on to the bank, his face darkened.

“What is it, Blood-Father?” asked Arn.

Gam pointed to the ground. “Fresh tracks,” he said. “A large group of men walked through here not long ago.”

Tom’s heart sank. After all they had been through on the river, they still hadn’t managed to overtake Orm’s warrior party. There was no time to waste. They plunged into the trees, not waiting to cover up the canoes with the woven grass mat.

Inside the wood it was dark and cool. As they walked quickly along a narrow trail, they heard animals scampering through the leafy undergrowth. High above their heads, birds called out to one another in strange screeches and chilling shrieks. Tom shuddered when he felt something slither across his feet. Everywhere he looked in the shadows, he thought he saw one of Orm’s men, ready to jump out.

“I think I’d rather be back dodging rocks on the river,” he whispered to Zuma.

“Me too,” Zuma whispered back.

The narrow trail curved to the left. As they marched on, Tom saw a bush on the edge of the path shake violently.

“Look out!” he cried. “There’s someone in there!”

“Get back!” Gam ordered. He drew his bow and nocked an arrow on the string.

The bush rustled again, and a large deer sprang out on to the path.

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