Divergence
Chapter 1.
“They must not be too far now!” Sef’s father signed as he shuffled ahead excitedly. “We must find them before the night comes. Otherwise they will alarm if they do not recognize us in the darkness.”
“This is true, Father.” Sef said aloud, concerned that the noise his father was already making in his haste would be cause enough for alarm. “Remember, please! I cannot go with you to meet them. I am not one of them. They will not accept me.”
“Yes! Yes, I know!” the old simian signed impatiently. “You must hide when we approach so that they will not attack us. I remember . . . I remember!”
Since their departure from Amon and the rest of the clan, Sef had noticed how much more cheerful his father had become. Even the sharpness which he displayed now was better than the despondency which had possessed the old simian since the death of his mate.
The farther north they had travelled, the more depressed the old simian had become. Finally, out of desperation and concern for his father, Sef decided it would be better for both of them if they turned back so that his father could rejoin his old family.
He knew he would be alone once this happened. It would not be possible or even desirable for him to attempt to integrate with the simians. Amon had warned against this many times.
He reasoned that his isolation probably wouldn’t last too long anyway. His father was growing old, and in the harsh environment of simian culture, he probably wouldn’t survive long. Then, when his father passed, Sef could head back north to rejoin the others of his species. Maybe then he could find a mate. He was old enough now.
He recalled the stories his father had told him as he was growing up. He remembered vividly his father’s descriptions of how he and his mate had slipped away during the night, fearful that the ‘alpha’ clan leader would injure or even kill them both upon finding that they had mated without his permission.
He remembered the stories of how his parents had struggled from the very beginning, trying to care for him, a naked helpless infant, so much different from them. How they had spent all their waking hours, from the time of his infancy until his maturity, protecting him from would-be predators, torrential rains, deadly droughts and countless other dangers in the jungle.
He remembered the story his mother told him of the day they found the other humans, or rather how they had found them, resting beside a narrow rippling stream in the shade, not long before his birth. He remembered the stories of his parents’ amazement upon discovering that there were others like them.
He recalled how as a child he had learned to communicate with the others of his species, how he had learned language, and expressions foreign to him and to his simian parents. He remembered the simple joy of interacting with others of his own kind. How he longed to be with Amon and the others. . . .
But that was not to be . . . at least for now. For now he must resign himself to the fact that he owed this to his father. He must repay him in some small measure for all that he had done for him.
“Father, please slow down! You’re making too much noise!” Sef grasped his father’s shoulder, gently but firmly restraining him.
“I AM being quiet!” the old simian sloughed off his son’s grasp and again plowed forward as noisily as before.
“You must slow down! We will be discovered!” Sef grabbed his father’s arm with both hands, bringing them both to a halt. The simian was old, but still much stronger than his human son. With ease he escaped the restraint, then turned to confront his son squarely.
“I am your FATHER! You will NOT attempt to control me in this manner! I am wise in the ways of the world! You are but young, and lack the experience which I possess! You will say no more on this matter!”
This sort of confrontation had become more frequent over the last few days. His father seemed increasingly obsessed with returning to his “people,” as he was now calling his former simian “family.” He seemed not to comprehend the possibility that, because he and his mate had abandoned their former family, he would now be considered an outcast and would not be allowed to rejoin them. No matter what form of persuasion Sef used, nothing seemed to penetrate his father’s irrational determination.
Amon had spoken to Sef and the others about this very possibility on several occasions. He recalled how, on one occasion Amon had told them about how their race had come to be. He had spoken briefly about something he called the ‘darkness’ and how it allowed him to communicate with others like him and the others of their race. He had explained how it was imperative that their race make a clean break with the old. He had spoken of something called ‘racial purity’ and warned of the absolute necessity for the humans to learn to survive on their own. He had also said that should their plans go wrong, he and his father were welcome to return. Sef was concerned that this might indeed become necessary.
Night time came, and with it the realization that, yet again, they would not make contact with the old ‘family.’ The old simian sat across the small fire from his son, head hung low, eyes peering blankly into the dwindling flame. Sef tried to make conversation, hoping to distract his father from his brooding.
“We made good progress today.” he said. “Perhaps tomorrow we will find sign of their passing.” The old simian only shrugged in response.
“We should rest now” he continued quietly. “Tomorrow we should reach that barren valley that gave us so much trouble before. Remember?” His father made no response. Smiling gently, Sef handed one of their deer-skin blankets to his father. Absently, the old simian accepted it. But instead of curling up next to the fire as had been his custom of late, he arose and headed toward a nearby tree. Slowly, deliberately he climbed into the low-hanging branches and began building a sleeping nest. He made no gesture of acknowledgement, just curled up into a ball and pulled the cover over his head.
For what seemed a long time Sef just sat there, staring first at the place where his father had been sitting, then up into the branches. Resolutely he climbed into the same tree, careful not to disturb the huddled form in the nearby branch. From there he would keep watch over his father through the night.
Sef peered up into the darkening sky as the last embers of the fire flickered out below. Stars twinkled into view as tears welled up in his eyes. He wondered; “Maybe it would have been best if we had remained.”
The morning dawned gray and dismal. Thick clouds seemed almost within reach, they hung so low. The air felt thick, heavy laden with humidity.
The nest where his father had slept was empty. Sef looked toward the ground, where he saw his father huddled next to the black smudge that was last night’s fire, his back toward the tree where they had spent the night. Carefully Sef untangled his legs from the limbs he had pulled close to him for warmth during the night.
The old simian remained motionless as Sef made his way down the short distance to the ground. He made his way around behind the massive trunk and stood quietly, relieving himself.
“How was your night? Did you sleep well?” he said as he made his way back around, toward the place where his father sat. A single arm wave was the only response.
“It’s cold this morning. I’ll make a fire so we can warm up before we start.” Sef could sense his father’s glum mood, shoulders hunched, head lowered, eyes staring at the ground.
“We should come to that valley this morning . . . mid afternoon at the latest.” Sef signed rather than spoke, forcing his father to look in his direction.
After an uncomfortable pause, the old simian replied. “This time we should cross it directly, rather than try to skirt the most difficult parts.”
“Perhaps you are right, Father.” Sef was relieved that his father was finally willing to converse. “We’ll need to spend some time on the far side when we get there though. Our food supply is running low. I remember there were several bushes with ripe berries on the far hillside.”
Sef pulled out the fire stones from his pou
ch as his father piled a small mound of kindling in the center of the blacked remains of last night’s fire. After only a few tries, he got a small fire started. The old simian edged closer, extending his hands and feet toward the welcome warmth.
“Father, have you thought much about what you will do when we arrive?” Sef parcelled out a handful of dried berries for his father, and then took the remainder for himself. They both sat quietly for a few minutes, chewing carefully, and spitting seeds into the fire. The seeds sizzled for a few seconds, then exploded quietly as the heat penetrated them.
“I must perform obeisance to the leader, maybe even endure a beating. He will be angry because of my disrespect. He must save face before the others, also.” Sef finished the last of the berries and stood. “He cannot maintain order otherwise.” He kicked dirt onto the fire. It sputtered and died, sending small fingers of smoke swirling upward. Quickly, they too disappeared. “Come then. Let us head out.”
The old simian rose to all-fours, tossed the last of the berries onto the ground, and shuffled off following his son.
Toward mid day they came upon a burned out clearing that marked the beginning of the barren valley the clan had crossed on their northward journey. To the left and right, charred tree trunks jutted out from between blackened boulders.
The ground was reasonably flat, but traversing it would require picking a circuitous route through the tangle. Going around the perimeter would be less difficult. There were fewer boulders higher up on the slopes, but they would not be able to make their way around before nightfall. Their water supply was dwindling, and they had no more food. They must reach the far side before night if they expected to replenish their supplies.
Sef’s father took the lead enthusiastically. His excitement overcame his feebleness as he hurried forward. Sef struggled to keep up.
“Father, keep watch ahead. We must not let our excitement overcome our caution.” Sef was surprised at how quickly his father could move when motivated.
“YOU watch, my son! I will choose the fastest path.” He stopped only long enough to sign the words. Then without waiting for a response he turned and continued forward. After only a few minutes Sef began falling behind. His two legs were no match for the shuffling gate his father made on all fours.
His father was relentless, pressing ever forward, seemingly unaware that his son was falling farther and farther behind. By the time he reached the far side of the valley a few hours later, his son had lost sight of him.
The fire which had swept through the valley had not made its way up this side of the hill. Tangled vegetation covered everything, stones, boulders and dead-fall alike. In places it was so dense that one could easily walk on it. Scattered here and there, berry bushes pushed their way through the tangle. This close to the fire line, though, few had ripened.
The old simian made his way deeper into the tangle, stopping only long enough to gather what ripened fruit he could find along the way. In his haste he failed to hear the sound approaching stealthily from his left.
Below, Sef was just emerging from the valley floor. He scanned upward and ahead, trying to see some sign of his father. Almost immediately he saw rather than heard a group of simians slowly inching forward from left to right. And there, only a few yards ahead of them, was his father, oblivious to the on-coming threat.
Sef shouted a warning, but was too far away to be heard. He stood erect, frantically waving his arms and shouting. Still, his father made no notice.
Sef saw the leader of the group suddenly charge forward. Too late, his father finally noticed Sef’s gesticulations. He turned to his left to wave in acknowledgement. Just as he did so, the alpha male plowed into him, knocking him flat to the ground. Immediately the alpha was on him, pounding, clawing and biting.
Sef began running forward, screaming and flailing, oblivious to the tangle which impeded his progress. The others in the pack saw this and stopped dead in their tracks. The alpha too was momentarily distracted.
In that brief moment the old simian was able to struggle to his feet and stumble/roll back down the hill toward his son.
The alpha overtook him almost immediately, slamming into him and sending him tumbling.
Sef charged forward, frantic to assist his father. The alpha swung one arm out, slapping the frail human aside. Sef lay where he had landed, momentarily stunned. Regaining his wits, he sat up quickly and struggled to stand.
Sef’s momentary distraction was enough for his father to get his feet under him. His right arm didn’t seem to want to work. It hung limply at his side as he stumbled down the hill.
Again the alpha charged, sending the old simian rolling uncontrollably down toward the boulder-strewn valley floor. He slammed into the base of a burned out sappling, his useless right arm pinned under him.
The alpha paused long enough to scream a warning toward Sef, then once again charged down the hill toward the old simian.
Sef’s father was stunned. Desperate to right himself, he grasped what remained of the charred sapling, trying desperately to stand erect.
In less than a heartbeat, the sapling snapped.
Too late, the alpha saw this and tried to stop. His mass and momentum propelled him uncontrollably forward, impaling him on the sharp, blackened end of the sappling. He screamed in anger and pain as he struggled to free himself, but to no avail. Blood gushed from his mouth and the wound in his chest. In less than a minute he was dead.
Sef finally made it to his father, who was now standing shakily erect. He pulled on his father’s arm, easing him away from the dead alpha male. He heard a loud pop as the old simian’s shoulder snapped out of it’s socket. His father screamed only once, loud and long, as much out of triumph and relief as out of pain.
The others saw everything. They saw and heard the strange being as it charged up out of the valley and into the fray. They saw how frail it was, how their leader slapped it aside with ease. They saw how their leader pummeled the challenger relentlessly. They heard him scream his superiority. They saw the hair on his back bristle as he charged again and again, having his way with his hapless victim.
Then they witnessed in stunned silence as their leader was impaled. They watched in horror as a bloodied shaft broke through his bristling hair. They heard as the triumphant roar diminished to a gurgling scream, and finally to a fading groan.
They watched as the strange creature approached the old simian, how it walked past the now-limp form. They watched as the two embraced. They heard the roar of triumph emanate from the victor, their new leader, the new alpha male.