For the Good of the Clan by Miles Archer Page A

flowers.
    Matha sat next to me.
    “Father Ledeth,” she began. She always is respectful of me. “Ulat has not returned. He went hunting at first light.”
    I understood her worry.
    “Ulat is a great hunter, Matha. Perhaps he is tracking a large herd. You’ll see in the morning. He will return with meat for all. He will need six men to help him fetch it.”
    She nodded. “Of course. I am foolish to worry.”
    “No, Matha. You are not foolish to worry. There are many evils that can befall a man. But his fate is his, and neither you nor I can change it. He is strong and wise. That is enough to protect him.”
    I know this is not enough to protect one from evil, but I didn’t want to upset her. There is enough pain in the world without creating more.
    In the morning, when Matha brought me some hot porridge, she told me Ulat had still not returned. I walked to Balog’s hut. He was directing the men who would hunt that day.
    “Balog. I must speak to you of Ulat.”
    “Speak then, Ledeth. Where is he? I understand he went hunting yesterday and has not returned.”
    “Yes. Can the men who hunt today look for him?”
    “We must seek him. Perhaps he has been injured.”
    He turned to the five men who waited.
    “Follow Ulat’s trail and find him. He is a good man and we must help him if he is in need.”
    They nodded silently. Turning as one they trotted off to the west, through the grove of white birch trees, following the brook.
    Daneel, the fastest of the group, returned before the day was full. I saw the disturbance at Balog’s hut and started in that direction.
    Daneel spoke to the group.“Ulat is dead. We found his body along the brook, at the sharp bend near the red rock, just before the crossing.” His breath came harsh and fast.
    Balog gave me a sharp glance. “You must go and see what you can learn.”
    I could hear Matha keening in the distance. The news had reached her ears. I went back to my hut and gathered my medicine bag, threw a skin over my back and followed Daneel to where the rest of the men remained, protecting Ulat’s corpse from scavengers.
    Daneel lead the way, slowing his pace out of consideration for these old bones. We traveled only a short distance, perhaps two parts of the day, when we came upon the scene. The other four hunters stood many paces from Ulat’s body. They feared evil magic might touch them. I am protected by the bear’s claw and my amulet, which I always wear. Man must protect himself from the power of the spirit world with strong spells or he will succumb to them.
    Daneel stopped near the others. I proceeded slowly. The men had driven off the carrion eaters—birds and skunks. The wild dogs had their fill last night, apparently, and there was much damage to the corpse. I could see a dark smear of blood trailing away toward the sunrise.
    “Daneel, take another with you and go that way,” I pointed toward the sunrise. “See what you find.”
    I saw some tufts of fur. Behind a rock I found a hoof.
    “I expect you will find the carcass of a deer. If you find anything else, do not touch it.”
    They set off reluctantly.
    The night cold had kept the stink of death from the corpse. But it had not discouraged the beetles and small flies. They scurried about their business. I motioned to another one of the hunters.
    “Bring a large mat so we can carry Ulat. And tell Donathan to begin preparations for the dark journey.” I used my stick to turn the body over. Most of the large sections of muscle had been taken, and Ulat’s face was torn in places, especially the soft parts. As I turned him I saw the back of the skull was damaged, the skin torn, fragments of bone pierced into his brain. I did not see where this injury came from; there was no rock nearby bearing the bloody mark where his head might have struck upon falling.
    His back musculature was mostly gone, as were the organs of the belly. I saw great wounds from some large beast, larger than wild dogs would make. A boar