Page 42 of Fall

He shook his head after a moment. “Desh boy. Desh no hunt.”

“Desh no boy. Desh man. Desh fight Hosh, help Lenna.”

Very slowly, Rone nodded in acknowledgment over the part Desh had playedin trying to save Lenna.

“Desh hunt. Rone good hunt. Rone help?”

He was frowning with a familiar look of confusion and jealousy. “LennaRone mate.”

“Yes, Lenna Rone mate. No Desh mate. Rone help Desh hunt? Desh man?”

Rone rubbed at his face with one hand, clearly torn.

Seeing that he might be caving, she leaned over and kissed his cheek.“Lenna ask good.” There was no way to say “please” in their language, so thatwas the closest she could come.

After a brief hesitation, he laughed softly and shook his head. “Lenna askgood. Rone help Desh hunt.”

She made an excited exclamation and wrapped her arms around him in atight hug, and Rone’s reluctance disappeared.

***

The followingafternoon, Rone took Desh out to help him practice hunting. Lenna went withthem because it was a lovely, crisp day and she didn’t want to stay at the caveand clean turnips.

Rone started by giving Desh tips on how to hold the spear, how to aim it,and how to throw.

Desh was clearly pleased with the assistance, and he listened carefullyand tried to follow Rone’s instructions.

Lenna watched them at first, but then she got bored, so she picked upRone’s spear and tried to hold, aim, and throw it herself.

As Desh went to pick up his spear after one particularly long throw, Roneglanced back and saw what Lenna was doing.

Making a wordless sound in his throat, he walked over and took the spearfrom her hand. “Lenna woman,” he said with an affectionate smile. “Lenna nohunt.”

She wasn’t surprised or particularly offended. Rone had spent his entirelife believing that this was true. It would never occur to him that anyonewould want to challenge this basic truth.

“Lenna woman,” she said, reaching to take the spear back. “Lenna tryhunt.”

“Spear hurt Lenna.” His smile had faded into concern. “Men strong. Menhunt.”

“Lenna strong.” To prove her point, she aimed and threw the spear as hardas she could.

It was a much better throw than she’d managed when she’d practiced withDesh, since the tips Rone had given had helped her with holding the spear inthe right way. The spear went almost as far as Desh’s had.

Rone’s eyes widened in astonishment at the length of her throw.

“Lenna strong,” she said again. “Lenna try hunt.” Then, realizing hisallowing her to do this might cause conflict in the tribe, she added, “No tellKroo.”

Rone thought this through for a minute, and then he nodded. “Lenna hunt.Lenna hunt no alone. Rone help.”

“No alone,” she agreed, smiling as something fluttered in her chest.

It might just be a small thing, but it felt significant.

People could change. Rone could change. The difference in theirworldviews didn’t necessary have to be an unmovable obstacle.

He wanted what was best for her, even if it wasn’t what he’d alwaysassumed.

She wanted the best for him too.