Beats

Lan’s body protested the early morning. Rolling over in the soft bed, he briefly took in the site of Ero’s nearly nude body. The sun would rise soon enough. Lan gathered his pouches and his knives wrapping his now clean and nearly dry wrap around his waist. He crept out into the ending darkness of the morning.

The grass was wet with the morning after rain it felt soft and slick under his bare souls. The plot he’d dug out yesterday was keeping wet. In the afternoon sun it would heat just enough to warm the seeds enough they wouldn’t die over night. Creeping through the underbrush in the early morning never quite settled right with Lan. Something about the quite of the village or the silence of the jungles and forests unnerved him. It was almost as if the earth itself was telling him to go back to the world of solitude and dreams. That entire notion struck Lan as completely ridiculous but there remained this small piece of himself that believed it just a little. Not too far from the village he managed to find four or five herbs growing wild that would help him through the rain season. Another one or two lurked near the far edge of the lake. Most he needed to rely on his dried stock from the Amba growing lands. There wasn’t much he could do but hope that they took and perhaps trade with the Amba next season if he could.

The light of day came quickly and today it brought its heat. The sun hung heavily in the arm making even the hunters stick to game under the canopy. The Women of the tribe ground continued their work in their huts or in the large communal area near the center of the village. Lan trudged from the lake lugging the heavy, borrowed skins on his back. If the ground dried too much he would lose the small crop. The water felt cool against his feet as he emptied the skins around him only to turn back and repeat the process another three times before the entire plot was covered sufficiently. His breath huffed hot and heavy against the oppressive warm air around him. He stumbled, falling to one knee and breathlessly cursed at his own clumsiness. When the world shifted on its axis he knew he’d been foolish. Somewhere in his mind he encountered the vague notion that he had to keep the plot safe above all else, sister needed the crop to stay healthy. On hands and knees he made it to the shade, drawing the last of the water from one of the oversized skins before telling himself he only needed a few moments rest, just a few.

. . .

Ero stalked to the village early with his hunt. They’d caught three of boar pack that morning. There would be enough fresh meat for everyone in the village today. He dropped the offering in the center of the village where some of the children danced around it only to pretend to kill it again. He laughed at the game. He took a moment and sat under the covering of the thatched roof talking with Kinma about the beginning of snake season and the necessity of the hunters to dedicate a few days to gathering thatching to repair some of the older huts.

Lala approached like a storm over the canopy. “Tell that lazy healer of yours to return the skins he borrowed from Plina. We have things to do.”

Ero looked up at her incredulously. “He borrowed them. He returns them. I’m neither the village messenger nor Lan’s keeper.”

Scoffing at the answer Lala stomped away.

From beside himself, Ero heard Kinma sigh, “She’s been that way since Lan first came to the village. He’s a pretty man but she thinks I’m going to take him for myself.”

Ero nodded in agreement. “She’s always been a jealous woman.”

“The women have not been kind to him.” Kinma added. “They see him as a threat to their mating.”

Ero raised an eye, “This is getting ridiculous. He is a man. Men have mated men before but I’ve never seen the women punish them for it.”

“Than I won’t tell you who it is they claim he’s going to claim.”

“Oh what silly notions Lala and her companions come up with. I can’t stand to hear any more of their rumors.”Ero stood up, and stretched his limbs.

“They denied him plot land.”

Ero spun around, “What?”

“Apparently the grounds for his plot lands went unmarked and some of the other women planted there.”Kinma stared down at the leather he worked over the large stone, softening it after the drying process hardened it. “None of the harvesters were willing to share their crop with him.”

“What has he been eating?” Ero kneeled back down under the shelter.

“Some of the children have seen him catch a few fish from the lake. Some of the harvesters have seen him around the brush gathering fruits that grow there.” Kinma continued.

“There can’t be much fruit left. Everything left must be overripe.”

Kinma nodded.

“He didn’t say anything to me.”

Kinma raised an eyebrow. “I doubt there was anything to say. The Amba have seen hard times. For him these are just the duties of a man.”

Ero nodded and stood again.

Kinma said nothing.

. . .

Lan sat in the shade pounding the small bones against the indent in the rock with the flat stone from the river. He wiped the sweat from over his eyes and stared out over the lake. The sun dried fish from yesterday melted on his tongue as he pressed it to the roof of his mouth. The small pile of bone dust was growing steadily stronger. Combined with the dead and de-rooted plants he’d used to fertilize his small plot of land, the fish bones might just boost the plants’ growth once they sprouted.

The breeze felt good against his face. He thought of his sister. She would be drying and pounding the last of crop that wouldn’t last the rain season, trading what she could for some more of the fresh meat to dry for the rain season. He’d patched the roof and walls of their small hut so she wouldn’t need to waste time caring for that. He cleared the powder from the stone into the empty bag at his side. Another bit of bone on the stone and he returned to work.

“Why are you out here.”

Lan looked up at the shadowed figure of Ero. “Watching the plot and preparing to fertilize in half a moon.”

“Why didn’t you tell me they didn’t save you harvest?” Ero accused.

“I wasn’t promised any harvest. There was no reason to say anything. This will grow in time for me to have enough to take care of the village through the rain season.”

“You know that Kinma asked land be set aside for you.”

“This plot is more than enough. I’ll have plenty of crop for the rain season. There was no reason to bring it to Kinma.”

“They have no reason to punish you.”

“They have every reason Ero. I hear what they say. I see the looks I get. There is no shame in my life.” Lan stepped up to the larger man. “They are worried that I will claim you as my mate. Some are worried I will seduce their Chief from the tribe. They dislike needing an outsider, worse a pretty man that threatens to deny them your offspring.” Lan laughed at the shock on Ero’s face. “If it weren’t you it would be some other worthy hunter. I’m not a child Ero. I came here knowing what they would say and what they would do.”

“Than why come?” Ero challenged.

“There is little I wouldn’t do to ensure my sister survival and acceptance into the tribe.” Lan turned his back to the hunter. “Now she can find a husband without there being rumors about me stealing him away. She gets extra land next season, fresh meat from the hunt your tribe traded for me.” Lan returned to the ground grinding the fish bones into the dry bits. “If you don’t mind I need to finish this.

“You’ve caught quite a few fish.” Ero noted the way he’d laid them out on a series of large flat stones, their bodies gutted and split in half to dry faster.

“I can trade some of the fish for a skin or two or maybe a decent grinding stone.” Lan thought out loud. “The bone is good for the soil. The innards are good for catching more fish.”

“Someone taught you well.”

Lan nodded. “I thought about spreading some of the oil around the trees, maybe lure some deer, but I didn’t want to lure something bigger around.”

“Do you hunt?”

“All the men in our village can hunt.” Lan growled. “I’m a healer. There usually isn’t much time for it. Not a lot of practice.”

Ero nodded. “We caught a lot of game this hunt. Fresh meat for all of the village.”

“The children will need as much as they can get. I don’t imagine the rain season yields much of it.” Lan nodded.

“You will get a share as well.”

Lan glared at him. “I don’t need your charity.”

“It’s not charity.”

“I can take care of-”

“Yourself. Yes I know.” Ero continued over him, “In our village whatever the hunter can’t eat we trade or give to those that can’t hunt or didn’t. We caught three boar.”

“I will be fine with the fish. I have plenty.” Lan grumbled as he worked.

“Take the meat. You are of this village you will take your share.” Ero stated. “I will trade you fish for water skins.”

“You have more than enough meat.”

Ero scoffed. “You need the skins. I have more than enough. Why won’t you trade? It does you no harm.”

“Why would you trade? It does you no good.” Lan growled.

“Why are you so damn stubborn?”

“You know what they will say if I trade with you!” Lan shouted. “You know they will claim that it has nothing to do with fish or skins and everything to do with my body and yours.”

“Let them talk.”

“No.” Lan said. “You and Kinma have been more than generous. I will be fine without your charity. I will not gieve them any solid reason to call me a whore.”

“What will you trade?”

“Nothing.” Lan continued. “I have nothing to offer you.”

“Healing.”

Lan looked up at him skeptically. “You are fine you aren’t in need of healing.”

“I will trade you in advance.” Ero explained. “I’m a hunter. Sooner or later I’m bound to get hurt by something.”

“No.” Lan explained. “I don’t trade in advance.”

“So stubborn.”

“I’ve survived so far.”

“You’re thin and weak.” Ero stated.

“I’m not thin and I’m not weak.” Lan set the stone aside and gathered himself up. “I have survived eighteen rain seasons. I can fish. I can hunt. I can take care of myself.”

“Can you?” Ero stepped forward. “You think you can survive the rain on fish without any water shedding hides, without more than a few bowls and some satchels of herbs. You think you’ll live with no water hides in the sun season.” Ero mocked pushing the smaller man backward.

Lan held his ground. “I’m not a fool. I will grow my crops. People get ill in the rain. I’ll trade for what I need. I’ll build my own hut in the sun season and I’ll repay you for the use of yours when I can.”

Ero continued to stalk forward and pushed the smaller man against a tree. “You have nothing with which to repay me. Isn’t that what you said.” A smirk came across his face.

“Back away from me now.” Lan growled.

“No.”

A knife poked Ero in the stomach. “I’m not a woman. I won’t be intimidated.”

“Shut up.” Ero silenced Lan with his lips. Teeth bit at him for a moment and Ero looked down at the slighter man in shock. “Did you just bite me.”

The knife poked at him harder. “Back off.”

“No.” Ero kissed him again. This time the knife bit into his skin. Blood oozed from the wound.

Lan gasped into Ero’s mouth. The blood from the hunter was wet on the blade.

Ero didn’t break the kiss just deepened it. He pulled the boy close, the knife falling to the ground, their bodies coming together, the blood wet between them.

Lan fought the kiss. He fought against the lips and pushed against the large shoulders helping to pin him to the tree. He moaned as one hand fisted his hair, wrenching his head back.

A smirk crossed over Ero’s mouth as he watched the young man moan openly. He kissed those parted lips and plunged his tongue inside, happy to elicit louder and brighter moans.

Somewhere in Lan’s mind his own words echoed. If anyone saw them he’d be the new whore as well as the new healer. He pushed against Ero, feeling the other man flinch when his hand touched the new wound.

“Now you have something to trade, healer.” Ero said looking him in the eye. “I’m in need of you services.”

Lan backed away wiping the blood against his wrap. “Let me gather my things we’ll return to the village.”

“Fine. One of the boys will watch your fish.”

Shaking his head, Lan gathered the fish bones together in one bag, the stone under one arm he moved to leave. “No I’ll have to toss them. They can’t go untended and no one will watch them.”

“Than I will simply wrap the wound and you can treat it later.” Ero said moving toward the village.

“Wait. You can’t do that. You’ll let in the sickness. Let me take care of it now.”

“You can’t live without the fish and I can live with this small cut. Watch your crop.” Ero affirmed leaving the young man to his work. Smiling at his own brilliance, Ero looked down at the small wound on his stomach. Small enough he’d be fine without treatment, not that he’d tell Lan that.

. . .