And Kalus lifted him and laid him on his
undamaged side, then felt the shoulder gingerly for broken bones.
Finding none he turned to Komai, and one other, and asked them to help
him make a stretcher. His brother was the first to come and kneel
beside him, laying down his spear and taking off a heavy fur he wore
wrapped about his shoulders. Another offered his spear, and they
wrapped the fur carefully around the two shafts. Barabbas watched them
quietly and smiled, though not on the outside, as Kalus signaled to his
brother.
'Help me take him to the Mantis' cave.'
The two of them lifted the stretcher, and began to walk toward the stone
channel to descend. Akar was still in great torment of mind and body,
and it was all he could do to raise his head to the pack, which he must
now rule, and tell them:
'You must go to the South alone. I will follow when I can. Be
cautious, hunt together, and hold fast to hope.' And Kalus, limping
but proud to walk, with his brother behind him carried the stretcher
down the hill.
The others followed.
PART II
The Cold World
The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao The name that can be
named is not the eternal name The nameless is the beginning of heaven
and earth The named is the mother of ten-thousand things.
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