The Dream Cave Read online

  ‘Why do you talk like that?’

  Oak sighed, squatted down and brushed the water with his hand.

  ‘I don’t know. I’m thinking of us. After Koni it’ll never be the same again.’

  Juniper laughed loudly. ‘Of course it will be the same. A woman never fishes or hunts, she’ll never know our secret place.’

  Oak shrugged his shoulders. ‘Our friendship has meant more to me than anything—’

  Juniper prodded his friend. ‘Come on, I want to show you something.’

  Oak followed Juniper along the river bank to the corner that marked the end of Birch’s ground. Although they were forbidden to go further, Juniper and Oak had explored the river beyond and found a cave they had made into their hiding place. It opened out in a steep bank above the river. As they went Juniper scooped up a handful of mud and squelched it between his fingers.

  ‘Rose will never know about this place.’

  ‘You must never tell her,’ said Oak fearfully. ‘Never! Never! Not just because of me. If Birch finds out, you’re lost.’

  Juniper laughed. ‘How can anyone find out when they don’t dare to come?’

  They crept into the cave. At the back a stretch of hollowed-out ground held the bones of a bear. Juniper pointed to its skull.

  ‘Come on! They’d never dare jump over this. The sacred bear!’ he mocked, leaping across the bones.

  Oak shook his head but followed Juniper. His leap was shorter and he knocked his feet against the skull.

  ‘One more look before Koni,’ said Juniper.

  They moved quickly into the grey light of the inner cave. Oak peered behind but no one was there except the old fox who was nosing at the carcass of a bird.

  ‘His fur’s turning brown. Another sign of Koni!’

  Oak followed his friend deeper into the cave. Juniper reached up to a small ledge where they kept flints and animal fat and pieces of hide and small shells. They sat cross-legged while Oak rubbed a yellow flint with black stone and sparks began to fly.

  ‘I remember when you found out about the black stone.’

  Oak fell silent again as he thought of all the other things Juniper had drawn him into, the methods he had tried for making the mud easy to work with, the different tools he had made to shape the clay. Here their friendship had grown in secret, little by little, like an underground plant. Now it was tall as a tree.

  Oak lit the lamp and spoke slowly.

  ‘Will it really be the same after you have Rose?’

  ‘Of course.’ Juniper described her shape in the air with his hands. ‘Of course she’s beautiful like a deer, but she only—’ he laughed, ‘well—you’re the one who understands.’

  Oak smiled. ‘You’re often blinded by your own feelings, so it’s just as well.’

  Juniper looked blank.

  ‘I may be foolish and break rules. But listen, Oak: how can we know more unless we try things out?’

  ‘Maybe. But when you have Rose you’ll have to be more careful.’ Oak looked round. ‘You’ve already been very foolish for too many seasons. You know the punishment.’ Oak lit the thin hide wick in the animal fat and a little flame spurted up.

  ‘Look, Oak,’ Juniper spoke intently, ‘when I become leader of the family I won’t let us live in fear of Icegoddess.’ He made a wide gesture. ‘I’ll bring all my mud figures out into the sunlight.’

  ‘That’ll be your downfall,’ said Oak. ‘Changing everything. Think of Lime. He already hates you for winning Rose. He’s going to make things harder for you, not less.’

  They stood up and walked with bent heads to the back of the cave. By the lamplight their shadows grew over the roof and sloped down to another narrow ledge.

  ‘One last look before Koni,’ whispered Juniper and turned to nudge Oak. ‘There’s one you haven’t seen.’

  He held up the lamp and stood it on the ledge where it flickered over a row of little mud animals: a fox, a hare, a small bison, a little deer, a horse, a bull, none bigger than the size of two hands stretched together.

  ‘Here she is.’

  Juniper reached up for a mud figure that stood at the end of the row. She had long hair and breasts that hung gently over her swollen belly.

  ‘It’s Rose, with a child in her,’ said Juniper, tenderly.

  He carefully gave the figure to Oak who stared intently.

  ‘It’s like all women with children in them.’

  ‘Yes, but this one’s Rose.’

  ‘It’s beautiful,’ said Oak, despite himself. He wanted to smash the figure but held it carefully as if she was alive. He stood in silence while the little flame flickered over the mud girl. Only when the wick bent and the flame grew tiny did he put the figure back on the shelf. He didn’t move for a while. Perhaps it would be the last time he would stand there, secretly, with Juniper.

  It was the night before Koni. Moongoddess was reborn and only her bone bow was visible in the sky. The old ones stayed up to watch her and weave the Konicrown they made from little new leaves and buds the women had collected. Although their fingers were stiff as sticks, they wove the crown delicately. They finished just in time. Sungod rose and flooded the entrance of the cave with spring. The new men leapt up and gave the first Koni cry:

  ‘BIRCHKONIGREEN, BIRCHKONIGREEN!’

  The rest of the family woke with cries and yawns and shouts. They crowded to the entrance of the shelter and stretched their hands out to Sungod. One of the old ones put the crown on the newest baby and carried her down to the river where everyone shouted and sang.

  From old to new,

  From cold to warm,

  From snow to flower,

  From moon to sun,

  Stay with us, great Pollon.

  Keep away, Icegoddess.

  They chanted their prayer over and over again until Greenwater chanted back. Then Birch stepped forward and took the crowned baby and dipped her naked into the cold water. If she lived all would be well. If she died, Icegoddess might come back in a disguise they wouldn’t recognise.

  After the dipping the baby girl’s mother rushed her over to the fire and rubbed her down with a deer skin. The baby was blue and whimpered quietly under her cover.

  The family drank water from the bone cup they kept for celebrations. Then the new men sharpened their weapons for the Koni bear hunt. The girls would wait in the shelter for their return, and at night they would light the fire and dance for the new men. Not one of them would dance as well as Rose, thought Juniper.

  Chapter 7

  BEAR HUNT

  Mema uttered a high wordless whine. It would entice a bear down from the rocky slopes and lead him to the snare pit. The bear would be killed and offered to Marin who protected small children. The god was angry and had already taken three babies in the winter. Juniper eyed the Koni baby. She was blue and whimpered feebly.

  As Mema finished his strange chant, he watched Birch set out to find bear prints. At Koni the leader or his son had to go alone. It was never easy and often dangerous. The hunters sat round the fire and waited for Birch to return. It was evening when he came back and he went straight into the cave and sent for Juniper.

  ‘You’ve changed,’ he said. ‘If you hadn’t—’. He shook his head. ‘I searched all day and found no trace of the Koni bear. Now it’s up to you.’

  He stepped forward and put his hands on his son’s shoulders. ‘Sleep well and start early.’

  Juniper smiled. At last he had a chance to please his father! He hardly slept for excitement and before Sungod rose he ran towards the trees. The ground was soft and he could smell rain. Although he travelled as silent and light as air, his feet made marks in the damp grass. It was always dangerous to be alone among the animals and he lay low when a wolf stalked through the trees. From the edge of a clearing he watched an auroch pawing the earth. Once he had seen an auroch viciously attack a hunter, giving him wounds too deep to heal. But if aurochs could be fierce, the hunted bear was the most dangerous animal of all. Ju
niper moved carefully and when, like a sign, he came across a file of bear prints on a path to his left, he ran back quickly to tell his father.

  Birch spoke without smiling.

  ‘It’s just as well! The Koni baby’s ill. It’s a bad sign. I was beginning to give up—’

  He looked hard at Juniper as if his son might still have bad power inside him.

  Straightaway the hunters and new men set out. Sungod was high in the sky and Greenwater was singing softly. Juniper led the way, holding his spear up and leaning on the air to smell bear. In times of danger he had no pictures in his head: it was clear and open like the sky.

  Windgod was running towards them with the sounds and smells of the bear. Then suddenly the animal was there, ahead of them on the path, his brown fur shining, his small eyes bright with fear. The men threw stones and spears at him. The bear reared up then tumbled down on all fours and blundered through the trees. They tried to drive him towards the pit but the bear lumbered on down towards the river. Immediately, the hunters fanned out—to trap the bear before he approached the camp.

  They started to shout partly to confuse the bear and partly to warn the women and children who were working and playing by the river. Birch let out the kill cry, long, piercing, like a dying spirit. The men circled closer, throwing stones and aiming arrows at the animal who was half blinded and streaked with blood. The bear’s strength and determination was immense. Suddenly he plunged through the tightening circle of men towards the camp where Lime’s mother, frigid with terror, was blocking his way.

  The animal reared up and clutched the woman in his huge front paws. The rest of the family cowed back into the shelter. Birch aimed one of his spears and hit the bear in the leg. Lime’s mother fell back and Juniper lifted his spear. His shot went home. Blood spurted from the beast’s eye sockets and, maddened by the blade stuck in his head, he blindly rampaged back towards the hunters.

  The men leapt aside, throwing spears and stones until the tiring beast veered away from the shelter and stumbled along the river bank.

  Juniper and Oak plunged into the water, hoping to pass and waylay the animal. The water renewed their strength. It was like a silky blanket between them and the blowing bear. The other hunters followed, shouting and chanting. Oak splashed the water and whispered urgently to Juniper, ‘The bear’s making for our cave. That’s where he’ll die, I know it!’

  ‘It’ll be all right,’ said Juniper, watching the bear lumber on. But to his horror the animal reached the cave in the steep bank and stumbled inside.

  They ran out of the water and joined the others. Some of the hunters had not dared to go into the cave but most of them went inside to watch the bear sink onto the shadowy ground.

  ‘Kill! kill!’ shouted Birch at which all the hunters ran inside the cave. They threw stones and spears until the bear’s eyes were dull and his head rolled limply against his shoulder. Then they stood in silence, looking at the dead animal. Birch said the killing prayer and ordered Lime to bring a fire stick, so they could see to strip the carcass.

  ‘Fategod has led us here to the forbidden cave so we must strip the animal here, where he died.’

  Juniper stared at Oak, who was stretching his hands in despair. Only the dead bear lay between the hunters and the secret ledge.

  Birch held up the firestick and gave the order to strip the animal. The tall flame flared up and lit the little mud figures on the ledge. Birch waved the firestick round and round as if he couldn’t believe what he saw. Then, holding the flame high, he leapt over the carcass and without a word smashed the figures to the ground. His anger filled the cave. Juniper ran outside and slipped into the river. He tried to touch Sungod’s light as it danced on Greenwater but it broke up into many pieces. Everything broke into pieces. He knew it was the end. He dived down as if he wanted to disappear forever but Rivergod bore him up and calmed him. Perhaps Birch would forgive him.

  He walked slowly back to the cave. By now all the family had gathered for the sacrifice to Marin. Oak stepped through the crowd and held Juniper’s arm.

  ‘Stay here. It’s the only way. You found the bear prints. He might forgive you.’ Oak’s voice was thin as if he didn’t believe what he said.

  The bear’s heart was cut out and offered to Marin while the family prayed and Mema sang another song. Lime wept noisily for his injured mother and Juniper and Oak whispered in fear.

  The hunters roped the carcass to a platform of twigs and branches then dragged the body along the riverside and back to the camp. At night they cut up the meat and placed pieces onto the fire. They danced to Marin and to the newborn child whose spirit was now freed from the bear. Mema lit a stick and waved it round and round then walked slowly down to the river and drowned the flame. It was a signal for all the women to stand up, raise their hands and sing to the unknown baby.

  All the time Lime’s mother lay dying on the sickness stone and Birch kept an angry silence. It was the Koni feast and nothing could be done until it was over.

  Chapter 8

  THE JUDGEMENT

  As Moongoddess travelled further and further across the sky the Koni baby died and Birch took the body into the cave to pray over it. Lime’s mother had already lost her mind. She was screaming at the bear as if it was still before her. Lime put his hands over his ears and circled round the fire. Suddenly he hit Juniper on the back.

  ‘The Koni baby’s dead, my mother’s dying. It’s you, it’s you, it’s you . . .’

  At every word he shouted he struck Juniper until Oak came between them and forced Lime away from the fire and into the shadows where no one could hear.

  ‘It’s nothing to do with Juniper,’ he whispered angrily, but Lime shook him off.

  ‘I’ll speak to Birch, I’ll tell him his son is evil. I’ll tell him he’s a murderer!’

  He ran off, crying over and over again in a shrill voice, ‘The Koni baby’s dead, my mother’s dying!’

  The fire was low and in the half-light women were moving about, preparing Lime’s mother for her death. The Koni baby’s mother was begging Stonegod to look after her baby on its long journey. Clouds hung low in the sky and it began to rain. Juniper put his head on Oak’s shoulder and wept.

  ‘They’re right. I’ve brought madness and death to the family.’

  Oak held Juniper against his wide shoulders. ‘It’s not you, it’s not you, I know it isn’t. It’s something else. It will be all right. I’ll have Marigold and you’ll have Rose and—’

  The rhythm of his voice was comforting but it lacked conviction and Juniper shook his head.

  ‘I’ll never know her. I’m not good enough to know her!’

  What were his little mud figures worth beside the misery of his family?

  ‘You must fight,’ whispered Oak into his ear. ‘You mustn’t give in. If Pollon hadn’t fought Icegoddess where would we be? It’s your fate. You can’t help it. I know you can’t help it.’

  ‘What use am I if I bring misery?’

  ‘It’s Cloudgod speaking to you now. You must fight him as well. Fight him, Juniper.’

  Later that night Lime’s mother died and Birch asked Oak to cup her blood in the skull of a deer. This would give her strength to make her journey with Stonegod.

  The rain dripped quietly as Sungod rose to mark the end of Koni. The family moved off to rest but Birch came striding out of the shelter and everyone stopped. Rose and Marigold and the other girls stood silent and white. Birch pushed Oak aside and flung Juniper to the ground, thumping him across the head and shouting, ‘You’re no son elect of mine. You’re evil. You’re not my son, you’re not my son.’

  Juniper wept loudly. ‘I love you, father. I didn’t mean—’

  Birch hit him again and pulled him up. His voice was like ice. ‘Follow me. We go to Wala, together.’

  Wala, the judgement name for Rivergod.

  Rivergod, thought Juniper. Above, sweet, cool, caressing. Below, dangerous, with many hands that gripped in every direction.
Above, the provider, his flowing tunic full of fish and plants and clear water. Below, the judge, his many hands pointing in every direction. There was no knowing: the pebbles he held in his long green fingers were sacred and blind.

  Birch straightened up and shouted out, ‘Walnut, Walnut—’

  The old man hobbled towards them. He looked even older than Hornbeam. His back was bent and he strained his neck upwards as he shuffled along. The lightstone that hung from his neck dangled below his waist.

  Birch nodded to the old man. ‘Guard Juniper while I fetch my leaderstick.’

  Juniper looked through Walnut for it was Hornbeam’s presence he felt, calming him until his father returned.

  Birch came back and gave the leaderstick to Walnut. It was made of beautiful white bone, about an arm’s length, with a hole at one end and a curve at the other. Walnut carefully placed his finger through the hole so it would become a judgement stick. As he walked towards the river it tapped against his shrivelled thighs. To and fro the judgement stick swung, to and fro, gathering clearness from the air and balance from its slow swing.

  Everyone shivered with exhaustion. Gentian cried, Rose and Marigold and the other girls wept. Mema was silent and Juniper watched Walnut sit down on the tree trunk where Hornbeam used to sit. To and fro went the judgement stick, to and fro, as he prayed out loud.

  ‘You are old, Wala, old as Stonegod and young as a new baby. You fill Greenwater with food and water. You are the final judgement. If you give up a grey pebble, Juniper must be exiled. If you give up a white pebble, Juniper must never leave you. He must drown!’

  Birch walked into the river and Juniper followed a few paces behind. When they reached a deep pool Birch plunged underwater and Juniper followed his father’s strange, underwater form. Birch’s feet were like two brown fish and his long brown hair streamed round him like water weeds. They were swimming to the place where the law had been broken. It was there that Wala would make his judgement.