Kybel’S World

By Mary E. Williams

Kybel is a tribesman of a primitive society. When he sets off on what should have been a simple hunting trip, his life is changed forever. A massive storm keeps him from returning to his people. While struggling to get home, he experiences a near fatal fall that means certain deathuntil he is rescued by a mysterious advanced society.

Under the care of this alien civilization, Kybels life is dramatically altered as he learns of technology, philosophy, and a modern way of life that he never dreamed existed. Upon returning to his own people, though, he faces a difficult choice. Does he stay with his tribe and teach them all he has learned, or does he choose a different path?

He feels pulled to return to the advanced civilization that not only saved him but now also feels like home, partially due to the woman he has come to love. Unknown to him, his decisions will soon bring him face to face with the greatest challenge of his life: a fight against an alien race that threatens to destroy all he cares about, in this world and others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Nov 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9781532010187

Mary E. Williams

Mary E. Williams spent many years surrounded by her children hanging on her every word as she read from Tolkien, Norton, and McCaffrey. Her passion for science fiction and fantasy inspired her to write her first novel. She is now a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who lives with her husband in Colorado.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

K ybel was a young man in the ways of his people. He was trying hard to impress the elders of his tribe. This morning Kybel was taking his turn hunting for food.

Taking the path down the mountain from his Uplands village, he paused before making his way to the flats below.

He looked down upon the flats from the high ledge where he lay in watch of game. The world looked immense and awe-inspiring. Below were large green patches of huge fern-like trees and open plains of flowing grass where many creatures, large and small, fed each day. Far to the northeast was a large blue blotch that provided water for the animals.

The wind blew through Kybel’s long, dark brown hair. Today it was not cold enough to require more than his thin, sleeveless, jerkin and his soft, suede leggings.

Kybel began a slow descent to the lower lands, being careful to make as little noise as possible. A large creature that his people called the hapru was often seen at this level of the mountain. It walked upright just like men. It had hair, golden to dark brown, covering its body. The hapru was not a killer, but legend tells that it had killed out of fear. Considering the size and strength of the creature, it was best not to frighten it.

Often the elders told stories at night around the tribal fires of encounters with the hapru. The stories were of men having come very close to communicating with this creature. Though the hapru seemed to have a language of their own, both past and present generations had been unable to master their so-called speech. Usually, an encounter with the hapru ended in a hasty retreat by the giant beings, leaving little opportunity for attempted conversation.

Old tales told of hapru giving aid to Uplanders after they had been attacked by wild creatures or nomadic tribes. It had not happened in Kybel’s lifetime.

Yet, there had been one incident when Kybel was very small, that might have been a tribal encounter with the hapru. A tribesman had fallen from the face of the cliff, not far from the spot where Kybel now stood. The man was later found unconscious, near the fire circle. When he revived, he could not remember how he had come there, but some unusual tracks to and from the spot where he lay looked much like those of the elusive creature.

Since the beginning of all life, to Kybel’s knowledge, his people had never deliberately harmed the hapru. The tribe believed them to be a special race. To harm them would be punishable by the tribal law as sent down to the Elders by their God Ta’law.

A narrow winding trail that led from the ledge where he sat earlier gave easy access to the valley floor. Sometimes the ground was a bit uncomfortable to his feet, due to the soft soles of the leather boots he wore.

The sun shone on his deeply tanned skin and sparkled from his dark green eyes. The sight of how handsome her son had grown would have made his mother happy.

He stole quietly down the mountainside on his way to the flats. The skies were clear and blue overhead, but in the distance farther west Kybel noticed the gathering storm clouds. It was evident he needed to finish his hunt as quickly as possible and it meant he must accept whatever game he first sighted and hurry back.

There will be no impressing the elders today, he told himself drearily. Storms on the flats could be dangerous. Extreme temperature changes and flash floods often occurred at this season.

The waters plummeted down the mountains that surrounded the flats, filling the washes, and the lower, deeper land areas on the plains. Men had died out there during severe storms. Some had drowned or were washed away in a sudden flash of flood waters. Others had been trapped on islands of higher ground for so long that they had starved to death. There were those who had even died by freezing from the terrible cold after an onslaught.

Kybel had come to a place in the mountain trail where he felt free to move with less care, more speed, and assurance. His concerns about the hapru were no longer necessary, for they seldom came this close to the valley floor.

After a great deal of walking, he came to the flats and the waist deep flowing grass. He kept a steady pace as he watched for large game.

Ahead he could see a patch of tall grass that looked as if it had been disturbed. How long had it been since the creature had passed?

Several minutes passed when he came to a wide meadow. He entered the open ground cautiously, afraid that the beast might come charging from the grove of trees or tall grass at the edge of the clearing.

Keeping a low profile, he crept with stealth out into the open. Tracks came into his line of vision. Tracks he didn’t expect to see. He could not believe his eyes. The tracks appeared to be those of the nidu. Often, he had seen the gleaming black hooves that hung from the cave entrance of Alman, the high elder. He had only seen a nidu once in his lifetime.

After a terrible draught, a few families from his tribe had volunteered to go north to find food as the flats could no longer support enough game to feed the tribe. Weeks passed, when they finally returned carrying several carcasses of their hunt, the nidu being one among them.

Food and game had become plentiful these past five years. Still his memories of that time caused him sorrow. By the time the food gatherers had returned to the tribe, many older, weaker people and the very young had died of malnutrition. Among the healthier, young adults many were ill and suffering.

The returning tribesmen had told them of a land of plenty and beauty. There, the nidu roamed in abundance, north of the big blue waters far away.

Even when the drought let up, there was at terrible toll on the land. Some birds and small game had returned, but it would be a long time before the lowlands would supply enough grass and water for the herd beast and larger game.

The tribal leaders and the older members of the tribe made the decision to divide the people into two groups to ensure their survival. Those who were of younger, healthier households, along with three of the nine elders, had been chosen to return to the land of the nidu. Those households with members that were too old, too sick, or too young to care for themselves would stay behind. With fewer people remaining in the Uplands, there would be enough game on the flats for the smaller tribe.

Kybel had wanted very much to go, but he was the sole provider for his grandfather Upa, and younger sister Rhea.

Kybel’s mother died a short time after his sister’s birth. She had never quite recovered from the birthing ordeal and became weaker and sicker till her death about six months later. His father died three and a half years later from a wound he received when he was attacked by an animal while hunting. This left Kybel to care for Rhea and Upa. Upa was getting old and too feeble to hunt or work. Rhea was just a child of eleven summers.

What is it that has brought the nidu so far from its territory? he wondered, speaking his thought aloud. Kybel followed the tracks that went to the edge of the clearing, into the brush and trees.

He stopped suddenly. He thought he had heard something. Kybel kneeled and pressed his ear to the soil. Hooves. It was the sound of hooves.

Kybel’s heart began to beat more wildly. He increased his speed, and picked what he figured was a short cut and hoped his choice would let him cut off the beast in its path.

The trail of the animal never came in sight. Had he lost it? He chided himself. Maybe he should have been listening more often. He pressed his ear to the ground once more. However, he found it impossible to hear over his laboring heart and lungs.

Just a moment later he could hear beating hooves again. They seemed far away. Had the creature gotten too far ahead of him? The weight of disappointment struck him.

No, I will catch this beast!

The sound was definitely northeast of him. He set out immediately in that direction, running down a trail as he followed his prey.

A bit further on he discovered some fresh animal droppings. He broke one open and could feel the body warmth from the animal. It could not be too far ahead, he thought.

Now he might have a chance to catch up to it, if only his strength held out. He was beginning to tire. His urgency to succeed, to be worthy to the elders, had wiped out his reasoning and logic.

He pushed on feeling exhaustion creep over him, deciding to rest for a moment and survey where he was. He dropped beneath a large tree. He had just come through a large stand of trees, larger than he remembered having ever seen before. The range was covered with short yellowish green grass and was dotted with small groups of trees as far as the eyes could see. There was a strange hill and another forested area north and east. He knew he had never been this far from home. Fear gripped his breath.

No, no, I’ve come too far from Uplands. I’ve probably already lost the nidu by now! he exclaimed in frustration.

It would have been fantastic to have returned to his people with that magnificent kill, but now he felt discouraged. He thought he heard something. There it was again. Yes, far away.

Probably too far away, he sighed again.

Every inch of his body ached and throbbed. His legs felt as weak as a newborn baby. His energy was gone. Could he have heard the sound of hooves again? Pressing his ear tightly to the ground, he listened for a long time closing his eyes.

Sometime later he awoke to a cold splash of rain in his face. In his great exhaustion he had slept! It was drizzling. Storm clouds had begun to move in from the and it was quickly closing in. Soon the heavy rain would start.

It was time to turn homeward. He stood up, preparing to journey back. He stretched himself. The rain felt good on his face and his body, washing away the grime and sweat.

As he headed back, the storm became stronger. The drizzle became a downpour, and the winds began to pick up. A feeling of failure crept over him.

It was at that moment, that movement near him caught his eye.

The nidu, Kybel declared with certainty. Gazing in the direction, he could see the dark figure of the animal close to some trees, about a hundred yards away. The pouring rain made it difficult.

Cautiously he moved toward the animal, moving as fast as he could. Too fast. He lost his footing and fell into the mud with a resounding plop.

The nidu bolted and disappeared into the trees some way ahead. Kybel followed and came into the wooded area. The animal hid itself.

Walking lightly and quietly through the brush, his strangle cord and his stone knife in his hands, he was ready for the kill. The nidu was so close now he could hear its breath. When he came in range of his objective it was off and running again. He pounced, this time tripping over a fallen log in some dense fern growth.

Kybel jumped up, keeping his eyes on the nidu as it made its exit out of the forested area. It was going east toward a low hill in the distance. He chased after the creature barely keeping it in sight.

Running up the slope of the hill, he found the ground was covered in rough loose stones making the climb exhausting and treacherous. The nidu seemed to have run out of strength too. The beast stood part way up the hill, as if waiting for the kill. It was just a little further on, only a few yards ahead.

Kybel began to climb the hill, slipping often as the rain pounded down on him.

Ouch! He fell, hurting himself. Stones cut into his flesh. They stuck to his hand when he lifted it to examine his injured palm and wrist. They reminded him of the cinders found in the fire pit.

Looking above him, he could see that the nidu had gone farther up the hill. He put away his knife and pulled his slingshot from his pouch. He needed a heavy stone. It appeared as if all of the nearby stones were the lightweight cinder rocks.

Moving toward the south side of the hill, Kybel kept the nidu in his sight as he headed to a small outcropping of different rock. He grabbed a heavy stone, placed it in his slingshot as he climbed above the nidu.

The nidu had only moved a few feet farther away. He wondered why it did not run. It had had no problem getting to this place. Or was he wrong?

Lightning blazed across the sky, and the wind and thunder made an almost unending noise. He edged his way down the slope toward the animal, taking care not to slip and fall.

As the lightning flared again, he caught a glimpse of the animal’s foreleg and shoulder. It was bleeding profusely. The nidu must have fallen without Kybel having seen it. He must kill the creature now to end its suffering.

It seemed to wait, anticipating the final moment. Yet its natural fear made it move away slightly each time Kybel came a bit closer.

This must be a clean kill, for the nidu is a worthy prey. With the raging winds, he knew he must get in close and aim carefully. The animal did not move. Kybel crept close to the animal with care. He was soaked to the skin as he made his final move. By the will of Ta’law, the wind and the rain died down temporarily. He took careful aim and swung his slingshot. The animal barely moved for the stone had penetrated right between the eyes. It was done.

Kybel climbed down to it trembling with excitement and cold. Taking out his stone knife he cut the throat of the nidu to allow the blood to drain and made sure the body of the animal was uphill from its head.

He sat by his prey in the rain. Despite the downpour, he opened his waist pouch and took out some dried fruit and meat. In the excitement of the hunt, he had forgotten food. Now that it was over, his hunger became overwhelming, along with his exhaustion. He felt as if he wanted to lie down and sleep.

His knowledge as a hunter told him he must find a place to stash the animal until morning, or it would be eaten by night predators. It was necessary to do it soon or contend for it; yes, fight. The night animals would smell the fresh blood and move in.

Kybel finished off his meal. Looking about the base of the hill, he hoped to discover a hole, or a crevice, where he could place the nidu. This would make it easier to cover it until morning.

The storm appeared to be letting up, but he knew this was not true. In the west, thunder and lightning were strong, and seemed to be moving closer every moment.

Finally, after diligently searching, he found a deep hole. It was so dark inside that he could not see into its depths. Kybel knew what he needed was a torch so he could find out how deep it was.

He searched further and found a branch, covered by a cinder rock slide that was dry enough to burn. Taking some dried leaves from the branch, he made a pile. He produced some animal fat, wrapped in hide, from his belt pouch and rubbed this on the branch. Then bringing out pieces of fire stone, he repeatedly struck them into the dried leaves. After much persistence, a small fire blazed to life. From this he lighted the tallow covered branch.

Before Kybel entered the hole, he went back to check on the nidu. It was still there. The rain had discouraged the advance of scavengers. It was just a matter of time though before their growing hunger brought them out.

He went down into the unknown darkness of the deep hole. It was apparent that the hole was a cave. Angling back into the hill, he found it was much colder. Ahead of him the light danced off a glistening surface. When touched the crystal covered walls, he discovered that it was truly ice.

Ice! he thought, The nidu would be well protected. There was no sign of anything having ever lived here.

With the last of his energy, he dragged the animal down the cinder hill and down into the cave.

After placing the nidu deep in the cave, he made his way back out. As he left the cave, he noticed the darkness around him was not just due to the storm. Night had come. The storm was increasing. The wind and rain were getting worse. Thunder and lightning surrounded him.

Kybel chopped down a good sized bush with his knife. He wedged this into the low opening of the cave and secured it tightly with a pile of cinder rock at its foot.

Where was he going to find shelter for the night? The cave would have been far too cold. Where then?

Feeling somewhat frightened and alone, Kybel started looking around for a warmer spot, where he could take cover from the storm. It was too late to return to Uplands. He would probably become hopelessly lost in the attempt.

Taking his torch, he headed into the trees he’d come through earlier. He looked about and found the fallen log he had tripped over. He leaned it against a large tree and piled fern branches around it to construct a fair shelter of sorts. He crawled inside and fell asleep. He hoped the gallant nidu would be all right.

CHAPTER TWO

K ybel arose, before the full light of dawn feeling fatigue and soreness. He had slept poorly in the dampness.

When he woke up that morning he began to construct a travois to haul his kill. After he collected the materials he needed, mostly branches and vines, he wove a thick mat, which he put near the entrance of the ice cave. He then took some good sturdy vines and went back into the cave and hauled the animal out.

Though he was strong, it was an exhausting task. It had been easier to push the nidu into that hole than to draw it out. In his excitement, he had not noticed how large the beast was. Now, he shook with his effort, slowing under the strain. When Kybel finished, he sat for a moment to rest, taking small swallows of water from the skin that hung at his side.

He enjoyed the sun on his face. The rains had stopped, but there were still clouds high up in the sky, a reminder of the passing storm. A slight breeze was blowing and it was cooler than it had been the day before.

After he had rested a bit, he gutted and cleaned the animal, placing the waste on a mat of boughs, to be hauled away from the spot. He then cut some small pieces of meat and wrapped them in a scrap of the Nidu’s hide, and tucked them into his pouch. Kybel secured the prepared animal to the travois with the strong vines.

Ready to go back to Uplands, he had never come this far from his home in the past. He was unsure of the way home. The sunshine helped to lift his spirit, creating the feeling of confidence that he would get back to his people. He concluded that finding his way back to Uplands was not the real problem. He could see the sun, so his concern was not in the direction. Retracing his path from the day before would not be too difficult. He worried that his way back might have been destroyed. Maybe there had been mud and rock slides, flooding, or who knows what.

Destruction from the storm could be seen everywhere. Broken branches torn from trees were strewn about, and ankle-deep water in some places was too wide to pass. Wading through this made for one pair of very wet feet.

He thought to himself that he had been a fool to make the nidu his all-consuming quest. If he had sought out other prey, he’d surely have ended his hunt before dark. He would have made it home in time to have eaten the evening meal with Upa, Rhea, and the rest of the tribe around the fire.

He looked across the flats. They were completely under water. There was no way of guessing how deep it was, or what obstacles lay beneath its surface. Another danger was that parts of the flats became quicksand in wet weather.

At least he had not drowned. Even if he wound up marooned here he felt he could last a long time. If the weather was no worse than last night, he would not freeze.

He climbed to higher ground to get a better view of the lands. It was a tough climb to undertake, entirely impossible while hauling the travois, so he’d left it below. Finally, he reached a vantage point where he could see everything. In the approximate direction of his village, as far as he could see, there was water from mountain to mountain.

The only way home for some time would be to become a fish, which he could not do, or to attempt to drag the travois with the heavy animal around the circular heights of these mountains. This would be too exhausting and time consuming. He would have to come up with a better plan.

To the northeast, he could see the hill where he had made his kill the previous night. He had noticed this morning, not only were the stones on the hill strange in color, the hill was unique. It started off being a rusty brownish red at the top, and became a duller grayish color when your eye reached the bottom. The top was oddly shaped. Very little grew on the sides of this bizarre peak. From up here he believed he could see an opening in the top. It also looked as if puffs of smoke or steam came from this opening.

I think I can make it back there by late day, he thought. I will put the nidu back into the cave of ice and wait a day or two. Maybe the way will become drier.

Kybel spent the day making his way back. Finding the ice cave again, he used a lighted torch fastened to the horns of the carcass and labored hard to haul the remains of the beast down deep into the ice cave one more time. This time, he had come much deeper than before. The torch light glinting off the ice was a fantastic sight. It was unlike anything he’d ever seen, even in the coldest winter on his mountains.

When he left the cave he made sure that the opening was hidden again, as he had done before.

I hope that this will be one of the last times I have to do this, Kybel said to himself.

Building himself another shelter, he decided to make it somewhat sturdier than his makeshift one from the last night. He cut large fern branches and piled them at an angle against a very big tree, securing them with heavy vines.

Once he had finished his new shelter, he sat, resting for a while. Before long, hunger and thirst began gnawing at him. He went in search of water and found a small pool formed by last night’s rain, not far from the trees. After filling his depleted water skin, and drinking to his fill, he returned to his camp.

He ate the last of his dried food and he sat silently listening to the quiet breezes blowing through the branches. It is too quiet, he thought.

He felt restless and got up, He needed to walk about and look for signs of life. At first, he saw nothing, save a few ground beetles and a flying insect or two. He walked deeper into the forest; he strolled beneath huge old trees. Even though he was very quiet, he managed to stir up some small animals and birds.

Well, at least the Gods did not choose to stop the world, leaving him and the insects as sole survivors.

He went back to his shelter to sleep. Lying in his meager fern hut, of two and a half feet high, he thought of what it would be like as the sole survivor of the world. What a truly frightening thought.

The Gods? he said out loud to himself. Why would I think such a thought? Ta’law is the only God. The other tribes have many gods, but Ta’law, of course is the only true God. With that Kybel fell asleep.

The sun came up on another day. Kybel awakened at its first light to some song birds trilling outside his dwelling. He lifted the flap, constructed of some overlapping branches, to enjoy the view. It was beautiful.

Everything sparkled with dew, from the leaves of the trees to the smallest blade of grass. He could see an empty spider’s web not far away from him, suspended between two large ferns. The dew which clung to its lovely form looked like many tiny crystals blinking with rainbow light.

Crawling out of his resting place, he found that there was a sharp nip in the morning air. Pulling a small scrapped hide as soft as a baby’s skin from his pouch, he wrapped his neck and shoulders and soon felt warmer.

Using a few dead limbs and the underside of a rotting log, he made a fire. Then he set out to forage for food. The chirping of a mother bird in her nest could be heard not far from the sight of his shelter. He found the spot where she nested and waited until she flew away to feed. Climbing up the tree, he held the eggs up one by one toward the sun. Through the thin shells, he could see that three of them were good for eating. The others held chicks in various stages of development. Alman, the eldest of the elders, had taught him that skill a long time ago. He climbed back down the tree with the eggs.

As he wandered back toward camp he heard a sound in the brush to his left. He picked up a rock and waited patiently. Soon, the whiskered head of a small animal poked out from below the branches. Not sensing Kybel’s presence, it continued out into the open. Plunk! The rock struck the creatures head, ending it quickly. It had felt no pain.

Kybel picked up the malaku and started back to the fire. He paused at a bush loaded with reddish purple berries. They resembled the Filana berries that grew on the side of the mountain near the village. He gathered several hands full and carried them back with him in the upturned edge of his jerkin.

The fire he started upon rising was burning brightly when he came back from berry picking. With the things he had foraged he made himself a nice breakfast. When he had finished, he covered the evidence of his fire and feast.

Leaving his camp, he decided to climb higher up the strange hill where he had slain the nidu. Kybel wanted to see what made this hill so unusual from the others in the area.

Reaching the summit proved to be much higher than he’d thought. In the center of its peak, he found a gigantic opening going deep into its heart. Far below, within the opening, the land seemed to bubble, and tiny clouds of smoke puffed up from the ground. The smoke, or steam, disappeared before it reached the rim.

Could this be a mountain that spits fire that the elders of ancient time told of around the tribal fires? It seemed peaceful right now.

Maybe I should leave here before I disturb the mountain’s anger, Kybel thought. He felt uneasy at that thought.

From the summit, he could tell that the land in the north was not flooded. He could see the big blue waters clearly. Here at the top of this unusual spot, Kybel could see far off in the distance.

It looked as though it would be quite a while before the lands in the valley would be passable. His mind was made up. It was his intention to go northwest tomorrow, to the big blue water, in search of the split tribe. That was what his people had named the northern half of their tribe.

Kybel returned to rest and prepare for the journey ahead of him.

When the morning came, Kybel lay inside his hut, finding it very difficult to move his muscles. He had slept in a curled position trying to keep warm. During the night it had become colder. Fewer birds sang outside his dwelling. He climbed out of his shelter and found frost on the ground.

Shivering as he stirred the coals of the previous night’s fire, he generated a new blaze as he added the remaining wood from his pile, and stood close to warm himself. He wrapped the small animal hide about his neck and shoulders for warmth and made himself some food.

To remove the evidence of his visit again, he covered his fire, and tore down his shelter.

Now, to the northwest, in search of old friends, near the big blue water. he thought. Kybel could not be sure what he would find, but he wished to locate the split tribe. Though it had been a long time since they had gone, he was still sure he would be welcome.

He could remember many of them, especially Mee’la. She was a pretty girl with hair the color of sunshine. He had enjoyed having her near him, but he was too timid to let her know this. Of course at that time they’d only been about fourteen summers old.

It was likely that she had taken a mate by now. She may even have little ones. Still, the memories and the feelings he’d had for her, caused his face to grow warm, and his heart to beat faster. He walked on with these warm memories helping to make the struggles before him all worthwhile.

Walking at a brisk pace, he tried to keep warm, and enjoy his new surroundings. It felt as if it were getting colder the farther he went. Thinking, he wondered how far he had come today. He had been walking through a large forest for some time, coming rather deeply into it already.

I hope the great beast will still be where I put him when I return, thought Kybel.

The trees thinned out. In the distance he could see some large hills or mountains. It was his goal to reach there before dark. Maybe he could take shelter in a cave or among some large rocks. He continued to stride along at a steady pace to keep warm. Nevertheless, he was still cold.

Twice since entering the wooded area he heard strange sounds. He had actually hidden himself in the brush for a while, but had seen nothing, except for an occasional flying insect or bird.

He entered a small clearing, where he looked about for a sunny, but elusive location, where he could pause to rest and eat. To his left, he saw an outcropping of rock slabs about twelve to fifteen feet high. There was an opening among them he entered. Inside was a small area where he sat, facing a large rock wall.

His apprehension grew with each passing moment at the possibility of an enemy tribe somewhere ahead. Trees, brush, and other places to hide had become fewer and farther apart. Kybel felt vulnerable, naked, as if he’d been caught that way by the most beautiful woman of the tribe. If anyone lived in this area, he believed it was just a matter of time until he would be sighted. Taking that into mind, he moved from cover to cover as best he could.

Night was coming. The mountain breezes blowing down upon him cut sharply into his flesh, stinging bitterly at his face, hands and other exposed skin. Daylight was ebbing away.

Kybel paused, believing he’d heard something again not very far off. He peered in the direction he believed the noise had come from. At first, he thought he saw one or maybe two dark shapes. Kybel squinted and blinked. The shapes were gone. Could his eye be playing tricks on him, or could it be his own inner fears?

He hurried on with almost too much speed for his own safety. It would be dark soon. He must find shelter.

Another noise. Startled, he turned his head sharply to the right. He was