They had
broken into groups, to circle and surprise them. His father and his
brother, still a boy, had gone alone to the far left-hand side where the
clearing ran through a sunken gap, to cut off that way of escape.
But as they drew nearer the prey, from their respective paths the others
had heard the sounds of sudden, deep growling and forgotten the deer,
who scattered as they left cover and came running to the place where his
father was being mauled and dragged by a bear, also far from its home,
with his brother stabbing futilely with his tiny spear and crying and
screaming as his father made no sound. And the men had killed it in a
fierce battle, but his father lay bloodied and unmoving.
Barabbas had stood for a long time---alone, shaken but not from
fear---then had taken the two of them aside. His heavy hands said
simply, 'I am your father now.' He had turned to walk away, then
turned again and said. 'I am sorry.' A sob made him breathe
heavily and drop his head: a single tear. And that was the only emotion
he had allowed himself to feel.
Now, as Kalus watched him, it was as if a veil had been lifted and he
saw him for the first time, not as the hard and untouchable leader, but
as a man---real, and therefore vulnerable. And he remembered other
things as well.
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