24  The Lady came into the kitchen, put a sharp knife in the boiling water, and turned to the others.  "We can't wait any longer," she announced.  "That girl's as dry as a bone. The egg is stuck.  It's going to rip her insides out, if we don't do something now.  It'll do her no good if the baby's born with a broken neck. I need you four men. You're big and strong. You'll have to hold her while I cut her open then sew her back up."
    25  She took a pair of tongs and lifted out the knife.  One of The Voice's guards looked pale. "Good Lords," he gasped, "I can't!"
    26  "It's all right," comforted The Voice, "I'll go."
    27  As they entered the room Great Bear was wiping his mate's forehead with a cool cloth. The bed had been pulled away from the wall into the middle of the room and the girl struggled on it. The men took up position.
    28  "O.k.," instructed The Lady, "hold onto her."
    29  "Wait a second," suggested The Voice.  The girl's face was turned away from him. He doubled his fist and with one quick blow struck her behind the ear.  She instantly went limp.  The Voice grabbed her arm and shouted "NOW!"
    30  The precious moments of unconsciousness was what they needed, but they passed all too quickly.  The Lady finished her work, and when the girl regained her senses she was only in a little pain.
    31  When she was done with the girl, The Lady turned to the egg. Lifting it to the window, she examined it closely, the shadows inside telling her much.
    32  "Nothing seems to be broken," she announced, "the life cord is intact, and the food sack doesn't seem to be broken.   We'll be able to tell more in a day or so, when the egg becomes more transparent. But I think you're going to have a fine son!"
    33  The girl on the bed lifted her head. "Give me my egg," she moaned. The old woman carried it over and laid it beside her. The girl pulled it to her, and put the covers over it, and smiled up at her mate. "It's all right," she comforted.  "The pain was worth it!  We have a son, and there'll be more!"
    34  The old woman looked away and headed for the door. The Voice followed her.  "What is it?" he asked.
    35  "When I cut her open," she explained, "I saw inside.  Everything is ripped open, torn up. She'll never have another child, she'll be lucky if she heals without dying!"
    36  The Voice put his hand on her shoulder.  "Go get some rest," he said.  "I'll tell Great Bear when he comes out."
   37  The old woman nodded.  "Tell him it's not his fault," she explained.  "Something just went wrong.  It could have been a dozen things.  I've seen women of normal matings that the same thing has happened to."
   38  The Voice understood her words.  The Healer finally arrived, spoke to The Lady, and then went in. Great Bear came out and The Voice told him what had to be said.
    39  The great man smashed his hand on the wall. "Oh, merciful Lords," he cried, "what have I done?"
    40  "You have done nothing," answered The Voice, "but love a woman and take the same chance that every man and woman takes.  Things sometimes go wrong. The Lords have told us that.  Not every child will be born perfect.  Not every woman will bear well.  That is The Way of Things.
    41  You could not know that there was something wrong inside of her. The Lords brought you together to fulfill her destiny with the man she loved.  You did not run away when she needed you.  If one child is all she is to be allowed, then make that child the best he can be. If one life is all she can bring, then let it be a life that will benefit the people. Don't let her suffering be in vain."
    42  The large man nodded his head.  "I will teach him well, Lord so he may choose the right Path; I will give The Lords to him."
    43  The Healer came out and Great Bear went back to his mate.  "She's bleeding quite a bit," The Healer explained, "but I think that's for the best.  I want to let her rest today.  Then, I'll have to open her back up, but there's a good chance.  I think she'll make it!"
    44  The Voice nodded and the man left. For the next few days little was done as Great Bear spent most of his time with Little Blossom Crow. But when the crisis passed, he came to The Voice and said, "We've got work to do!"  So they sat down at the kitchen table and began to discuss the city's problems.
    45  "Well, you've got the good beginnings of a Circle here," announced The Voice, "and I've got a couple of friends in the city ready to work.  Added to what you already have, we have a good beginning!"
 
Page 236

Go To The Next Page