Action/ Adventure Box #2

By D. E. Harrison

Red Bird’s people lack a written record and barely have a small record on a twisted piece of string.
Red Bird is an outcast. She is claimed by no clan in the ceremony. She will be sent to the never land, never to return. She grows enough to be accepted by the twiners. She is sent to collect food from the great waters where only the burial log is permitted to be and those who build them. But there is some history of every burial log. The size, cycles required to build, trees prepared but never used. From this comes the cycle of the queen. But Red Bird sees a log so large on the great waters that it must be the Gods. But why did the Gods return to Red Bird for a second time?
There are social events about to overtake this society. There may be more bloodshed in these changes than in any war. Several generations later even oral history unclear.
What could the Gods possibility bring that Red Bird and the newly installed Queen need? Will this society even accept help from the Gods? Finally the Warrior clan is unaware of the menace that is preparing to pluck their queen. Does this society have the desire to preserve themselves?

The Karlskrona Find is six days in the lives of the strongest and oldest Mafia family in their upstate New York mansion in the mid-1950. The family is run by the Patriarch, the last of the 4th generation. He is wheeled into the monthly meeting of the family. His word is law on every matter. The young great, great, great grandsons have no chair at the meeting table but must sit next to the wall and speak only to answer a question.
The family is feeling pressure from the Puerto Ricans and Blacks in the docketing area of the City. The Chinese wish for more but are wise and waits.
It all starts in Sweden when a new ‘dig’ using new equipment uncovers a strange black stone box found several feet under a false subsoil of a picked clean site.
Its history is lost but goes back to a time when the Vikings were raiders and feared beyond belief. Four young Viking princesses are allowed to take goods and travel to trade with only an old man. It is beyond trading time in Eastern Germany, but people fear not to trade.
Next they trade across the waters in what is now Denmark. The ruler there wishes to part take of a Viking princes and the booty that the Vikings have. He offers to build and help with supplies for their raiding. It all goes bad, and the Viking Chieftain is looking for blood to pay for those slain on his home soil. At the end of the raid a princess shrills a cry that even has the Viking warrior’s blood runs cold.
Hundreds of years later, a Viking ship in a storm hits the rocks on Sicily; it sinks, and smugglers kill all for the supplies. One man is saved and hide until he can get back home safely. The shrill cry is heard again on Sicily but there is no one but Vikings to hear it. The towns people say their neighbors are far distant relatives and should have the property. Since the taxes are the same, the neighbors can have it. This family moves to New York City in the late 1800’s to continue their smuggling. They bring only with them one original cabinet and a small black box in it.
The Icelanders (Vikings) come to New York many years before the family from Sicily. They fish, work on the docks, and have their own city in New York City. The grandsons from the Mafia family go to collect protection money from the Icelanders but are thrown out by force but say they will return.
The Patriarch has a seizure when informed of their action at a council meeting. He is wheeled out by his nurse. Recovering the next day, he is stronger than ever, mixing Sicilian and English, “You have killed us all. There is nothing to prevent it. There will be no one left with our blood here or in the old country.”
He spies the family’s old black box from his wheelchair, “Get a car, I must go now.”
What can the old Patriarch do to save the family. Did he hear a shrill cry from a prince

• Language: English
• Publisher: D. E. Harrison
• Release date: Dec 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005293895

D. E. Harrison

I am trained as a theoretical mathematician. I am an emeritus member of the American Mathematical Society for fifty odd years. I have lived in Seattle since 1967. I starting writing fiction after writing a family history.

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By D. E. Harrison

Copyright 2006 by D. E. Harrison

Smashwords Edition

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Red Bird and the Floating Log

Chapter 2 Red Bird’s Choosing

Chapter 3 Red Bird’s daily Activities

Chapter 4 Population Growth

Chapter 5 Temple Square

Chapter 6 Visit the Stone Cutters Clan

Chapter 7 Red Bird Flees

Chapter 8 Assemble the Warriors

Chapter 9 The Enemy Most High leader

Chapter 10 High Priestess Prepares for Battle

Chapter 11 The Enemy Gathers Its forces

Chapter 12 Visitors from the Floating Log

Chapter 13 high Priestess meets the Log People

Chapter 14 The Enemy Arrives by Water

Chapter 15 High Priestess and Derora meet Again

Chapter 16 Forging Weapons

Chapter 17 the Final battle is Enjoined

Chapter 1 Red Bird and the Floating Log

Red Bird looks out from behind a towering rock toward the setting orb. She is high on the bluff overlooking the vast empty shoreline from her concealed spot. These waters are warmer than other places and are a poor place for the Fishers clan.

Red Bird is still slight of form but maturing late into a young female. Her long black hair is down to her soft slightly brown shoulders. The slight color is not from the orb, but it is the natural tone of her skin and of everyone she knows. Her dress is nothing more than a robe of vegetable fibers with some markings in it. The length slightly covers her knees. Sandals cover her feet from the Covering clan. Red bird has considered as she became older that there should be a separate clan for sandals only. They move everyone in their journey to complete their mission.

Red Bird is of the Twiners clan; also known as the Knotters. The material used by her clan and a few others comes from a soft white ball that grows in the Black Forest burnt by the orb spirit many rains ago. They burn fields in the holy twelve cycles of the rains to grow the soft white balls.

Unknown to very few is that the clans are slowing growing and consuming all the food the jungle can provided.

Looking out over the bluff, she reasons, the great waters have washed a strange piece of wood away from the shore. It is hard to tell how far away it really is. The great waters are so large that they make everything seem small. Only on ceremonial orbs are the other clans allowed to view this stretch of the great waters. Red Bird punishment is unknow because she has remained longer, then she should.

Never has Red Bird seen such a log this large float. When a great High Priestess dies, she is set upon the waters to return to her priestly clan from this holy shoreline. There she will be the lowest of the low, until another arrives to take her place.

Red Bird dares not stay longer, but the log is magnificent, with many colors of vines covering it.

"Could this be the High Priestess’s clan preparing to claim their own? It has been but a few orbs since the dead Priestess sailed from this spot. It is no wonder she will be the lowest of low. Her log is nothing compared to what is on the water to receive her.’

Red Bird runs the faint path back to her clan’s lodgings as the yellow orb sinks into the great waters. At the lodgings, her Master says nothing to show her distress by her late appearance.

Her tender speaks, Red Bird, you return late. You will clean the bowls. Your food will be what the others have left.

The words could have been harsher, coming from the senior tender.

Red Bird is still hungry after cleaning all the bowls. Only enough food is prepared for each meal. To miss the start of the meal means your bowl goes empty and everyone receives a little more.

The Master Twiners, twelve in number, are sitting as usual with their young helpers at their sides around the fire. Her Master must wait to speak until Red Bird completes her punishment. All eyes follow her as she sits down on the hard, bare ground. Only the Masters have skins to sit upon. Every evening before the fire, each Master repeats her oath, history, and then describes her special service, with the number of rains she has been in the clan.

The helpers hear all but repeat only their Masters’ words. After many hours, the Masters return to their enclosures to rest. The helpers sleep wherever it is dry. Under a tree if it rains or in the open if warm enough.

After leaving the fire, the senior tender speaks again, Red Bird, you do your Master dishonor by being late. Did you forget the way?

She ignores these fighting words and will dream of large logs and how one might vine them together. She will twine one such log for the next High Priestess to meet her clan.

This society chooses their young members for their life’s work when their cycle is in its twelfth rain. Those born late in the dry cycle are usually smaller at their choosing. It is normally three rains later that the young females go to a clan and then only as a helper. In rare case the Council of Twelve assumes its full power and determine the fate of the young female. Even the High priestess cannot change their decision. The utmost goal in all their decisions is the well-being of all the members of the society.

At dawn several of the helpers get up to prepare the first meal, Red Bird being late will be one of those. She knows her duties.

The food will be the fruit from the Dark Forest, nuts provided in twine sacks. Before she finished last night, she set to soak enough nuts to fill the 24 bowls.

The fire is set to heat the twelve clan stones. These are special stones from the heavens, with many holes and yet heavier than any stone in all the clans. Some are black; others shine all the time. Each morning they wash them in the eternal spring and places them in the fire.

The three food servers have completed cleaning the cracked nuts and mashing them somewhat. They now await the stones in twelve individual wooden bowls filled with water. Special grabbers remove only its Master’s stone from the fire. Each Master’s bowl will boil and finish cooking the nuts.

Pieces of shells and ash from the fire are removed before being set in front of each Master.

The Masters have been up since the fire started for their morning salute to the yellow globe. They implore it to continue its journey and warm the earth. They express gratitude for another unit of the orb and ask that their labors be acceptable. They wash in the small stream and return for the meal.

Each of the twelve Master’s bowls has two spoons. The Master’ spoons are large with many fancy and symbolic carvings. The helper’s spoons vary in size and usability to scoop out the cooked nuts from their smaller bowls. Each Master will spoon from her bowl to her helper’s bowl. A worthy effort may result in more to eat. An inferior performance will mean less to eat. The Dark Forest does supply fruit for those still hungry if time allows. The Masters eat in silence. Red Bird punishment is light for her deeds of yesterday.

Her Master will work on the holy log this orb and Red Bird will help. It is a rare event to be present when a log has its work begun. Few Masters this orb will live to see another log so selected.

After the meal, the clan all walks by honor and age to the selected tree. The clan that selects the tree has been at the site for many orbs, the tree fell in a storm during the rains. The choice of the tree was many rains before, as were others. The ground around it was prepared to weaken it enough to topple. Several others had toppled in the past, but the time was not right, and they had no use. The High Priestess lived for more rains than anyone ever suspected.

This tree was prepared to topple this very season. The stump is half-buried, with much skill the tree is prepared.

Red Bird sees the tree for the first time, as does all her clan. Never would they ever interfere with the sacred duties of other clans.

Her thoughts go back to the sight of the log on the great waters, ‘the logs I saw floating were larger than this one, with many somehow vined together.’

She returns to the present by her Master, Red Bird brings the twine and measure around the tree.

Debarking the tree is complete. She crawls under the tree through a small tunnel in the ground, handing the twine to her Master. The Master ties the knot in the twine for the tree size. The twelve Masters meet and compare this twine with the twine from their last log prepared for the High Priestess. The twine must exceed the last one by the holy number kept in a special box. Her Master opens only once at each tree.

The senior Master, keeper of the holy box speaks, Yes, it exceeds the holy number; you and your clan of Fellers have done well. I will now mark the holy location where you will trim and prepare the holy vessel.

Red Bird crawls again under the tree until her Master is satisfied the twine is in the proper place around the tree. The senior Master makes the twelve holy marks completely around the tree, guided by the knots of the twine.

All the Masters inspect the twine, marks, with no changes.

The senior Master gives her final approval, The log has met the holy number. It rejoices in its mission. Let the Circle clan come and prepare the log to begin its holy journey.

The Fellers clan and Masters back away from the site as the Circlers clan appear, each with a helper.

The senior Circler mounts the tree, We accept the noble and holy task to prepare this to be the holy vessel.

With that she removes from a wooden box, a blade the size of Red Bird’s hand. She marks both sides of the twine completely around the tree with a cut so fine it is hard to see.

It is done, may the holy one guide each blow. May this be prepared as a holy vessel.

Chapter 2 Red Bird’s Choosing

Red Bird has been in the Twiners clan for three rains. During the preliminary choosing she was too small to be a Warrior’s clan. Nor was she large enough to be a Fisher, Hunter, or any other clan. All other unholy work the males do; they are also the food gathers of fruit and nuts and oversee the nurseries.

Because of her size she goes with the lower aged females. They never accepted her, and her own age group considered her an outcast. They have their life’s work.

In the last rain before the Counsel of Twelve were to make their determination, Red Bird grew. Her assignment to the Twiners clan, pleases all.

Chapter 3 Red Bird’s daily Activities

While at the log, Red Bird watches as another ax is prepared for the holy work. Pelling many strips from plants in the bog some are a thumb wide, and some are longer than the log. The black ever so sharp stone is removed from the old broken ax handle. New handles come from bending the holy plants. Placing the stone into the handle and the holy wrapping is twelve times. A Warrior’s ax wrapping is but six times.

The Master of the Circular clan inspections the wrappings and when satisfied, plays the ax over the coals of the holy fire chanting the words. In a brief time, the ax is complete and will return to the holy work.

Red Bird back in the twining hut spends the rest of the orb making twine, stretching it, and preparing it for inspection. Other clans take the rejected twine for their use. In this way all the knots not used to talk with become the ropes, nets, sacks, huts and even bridges. Only the perfect twine in size, strength, and those that will not stretch is holy for the log building and talking knots.

After finishing with these daily tasks, she continues the physical routine of every day. She moves large rocks from one end of the huts to the other end. Others will move them back tomorrow. She will run to the mark and return before the yellow orb moves a mark on the ground from a stick placed in the center of the clan’s huts. All must do so every orb. Even the Masters must move their pile of rocks and run to the mark and back.

After the run Red Bird again takes the path to the water unfit to drink. From the bluff she sees the shoreline is empty, no sign of the giant log or even birds this orb. She walks to the shoreline.

Later the water is lapping at her feet, and she knows that the eatable water nuts will be out soon. She carefully watches as the water rushes past her and then recedes Her keen eyes see the stalk come out of the water and then disappear as the water leaves.

She has a special spoon and soon fills her sack with the water nuts.

On the walk back, ‘I wonder if the large log was early today, and I missed it. There is not a sign of anything on the shore. Even the Tracker clan would have seen nothing. I will come again, but sooner.’

At her clan’s huts she knows that it would dishonor the water nuts if someone else were to handle them. She first places them in several bowels of clear water from the holy spring. This removes all the sand and other things. They place fire stones in the bowls with the water nuts. The water bubbles and froths for a time. They remove the stones, wash, and returned them to the fire. Each water nut has split open from the holy fire, and she places the soft, delicious inners into the nut bowl.

In several units, they also will be reheated for the last meal of the orb and eaten. All agree and thank Red Bird for the meal. No one asks why she was at the corrupted waters.

At dusk, they repeat the holy chants, and all retire to sleep. Her last thoughts are of the large logs, will they return?

In the second orb, everyone has the ritual of bathing in the stream. During the warmth of the orbs it is most pleasant. In the rains it is sometimes cold. Only the young, old, or ill would ever accept a hollow log filled and warmed by some of the fire rocks.

This morning Red Bird will have her hair measured to the 4th holy number and the rest cut off. On her joining orb shows her mate how she controlled her passions until she presented herself to the chosen male. Later she will cut and burn her hair showing she no longer has any need of him. From this time forward, her hair is cut only if needed to aid in the clan’s holy work. Some clans have long hair, like her Master; others, like the Warriors have short hair to speed their journey.

Chapter 4 Population Growth

During the early warm orbs after the long rains, the seeders take of the seeds stored during the rains and kept dry. On huge leaves they spread out the seeds, inspect, and bless by the High Priestess and aided by another Priestess.

The seeds that appear to be less than ’holy’ are set aside for added blessings.

At a special time foretold by the twine’s knots and the lesser orb, the sprinkling of the seeds with the holy waters from the spring under the Temple Square. The High Priestess officiates at this blessing, even this very orb.

She sings. Let this water bless and instill the living spirit from the most sacred of all waters. Whose life has flowed before the knots can tell. Let the seeders choose well that life may continue.

The young male called yellow feather is attending his fourth season of life as a Seeder’s helper. For the last 20 cycles of rain he has worked as a cleaner, grubber, smother and finally a carrier of life, this orb he will follow his craftsman and ensure that the earth is ready for the seeds of life. None of his activities qualifies for the status as a clan.

His craftsman says. Come yellow feather, we have been honored to inspect the earth for new seeds. We will travel many orbs. Prepare those who carry for our needs. We leave before the next meal. The other carries of life will follow us.

Before the yellow orb is high, yellow feather follows his craftsman with a few carries. The carries of life will follow them. They walk many orbs until they can no longer see the trail even in the distance. The craftsman continually checks the knots to ensure their travels are correct. They have a hard bed on the bare ground this night at a site that was prepared for them. Before the orb is up, they dress and eat before a small fire.

Before the yellow orb hides, they inspect the first of the scared earth that has been prepared. This first place is a symbolic planting only. The earth here must rest for a time longer, but it must not forget its duty. A small, twined patch of earth for the seeders that follow.

Yellow feather and his craftsman move on until the knots say they can rest. The next four orbs of travel have only two seedings of size. A third one is a new section. It may or may not be sacred ground only testing will tell. On the fifth orb the craftsman is at the brow of a hill overlooking an exceptionally large valley, Look yellow feather, as the knots report, open earth larger than I have ever seen. Here we will help the seeders place all the sacred seeds in mother earth. I have three knots left, after that we must start back.

The following orb the seeders arrive with the carries. Twining the land off in distinct colors gives each Seeder has his own color and type of seed.

The craftsman turns to yellow feather, Yellow feather, never has so many seeders been used. The land is well spaded, it goes well. Come we must take six seeders and travel to the end of the knots.

In two orbs they are at the ends of the knots. A Seeding Priestess, a Warrior and a few grubbers are visible in the distance. The Priestess and Warrior leave the grubbers and approach the eight males. Normally, neither woman would associate with any males.

Greeting’s craftsman.

This is more conversation than normal from any Priestess to a male. The Warrior hangs back. Her role is to protect all, but without the Priestess here, she would not be here.

The craftsman bows, Greeting Priestess.

Come craftsman, let us talk in private. No need to make this harder on everyone than need be.

They retire back over the hill. The Warrior goes halfway then halts. Her duty of the safety of the Priestess has been satisfied.

Yellow feather instructs his carries and seeders to prepare to stay. He, with the senior seeder goes to the grubbers. An older overseer of the grubbers comes to meet them.

He speaks, Greeting’s craftsman and seeder. We have completed the tasks of the knots. Do you wish more of us?

The senior seeder would never speak in the presence of a craftsman, but since it is only his helper, he feels free to speak to the grubber.

You have done well, grubber. The Priestess will decide tonight at the fire how we are to proceed.

They turn and resume their duties.

After dark, they all gather around the single fire. It is still cool when the yellow orb leaves the heavens. The Warrior takes her bowl of food and leaves the light of the fire. She will not associate with them directly. The Priestess does come and join the circle for the meal. It is better than anyone has eaten in many orbs.

Afterwards, they all retire to their own areas around the fire and are soon asleep.

Before the orb is up; the meal is over and all walk to the twined off earth. The craftsman compares his knots with those of the head grubber. He then does him a great honor. He places his knots back into their sacred box and uses the twine of the grubbers.

The knots measure the grubbing. The slope, depth, length, width, and run per knot.

The Priestess inspects the entire field, It is well grubber. Your work is acceptable. She leaves.

From yellow feather’s craftsman, the instructions come, Yellow feather, return with four grubbers to the far hill. The Priestess blesses the logs and marks them. Remove the earth from the stone. Let the life flow down to the seeders. In sure it has a perfect path to follow. Check every marker stone to insure proper flow.

Yellow feather follows his instructions. He knows it will be at the last meal, he will meet and report.

It is several units of the orb to walk up the hill. At the brow they reach a small pond made by the grubbers. Unknown to yellow feather many rains have passed before approval of such a project. The old High Priestess wanted nothing to do with redirecting any sacred waters from their holy paths.

The new High Priestess is about to form two new sub-clans to help feed an increasing population. If this project succeeds, the grubbers and seeders will receive a lessor position among all the clans. But much more than any male has ever had before.

All the female clans will look down on these ‘new male clans.’ Males serve only two purposes.

At the pond, yellow feather instructs the grubber to enter the water and remove the soil from the shallow trench. It fills quickly. The sacred logs blessed by the Priestess just yesterday halts the water. Yellow feather measures the water three time; before he is certain the water level is at the proper number of knots.

Remove the top log

The water rushes down the long rock lined trench. It flows between a wall of rocks, each carefully fitted over many rains, to be the exact measurement of knots in every direction.

Yellow feather again chooses a different colored twine and its knots. He attaches these to special hooks carved into the side of the stone wall with much care and effort.

Again, the knots show all is well. yellow feather turns to the grubbers.

I will wait here to insure all is well. You have carried out your tasks, faithfully. Follow the life as it runs to the valley below. Ensure all is clean. Leave one at each new stone way, to watch. I will come later.

In two units of the orb, yellow feather again verifies the height of the pond with his knots and the flow through the rock channel. He starts down the hill coming upon the first grubber.

I will verify your stone.

He uses a special knot to measure the flow above and below the first stone, which has split the flow.

Yes, all is well. Come we go to measure the others. Clean as we go.

So, it goes, and finally the last stone and flow matches the knots. Here is where it will be determined if it was a success. The craftsman is at the last stone waiting for yellow feather’s report.

Your report is good. Give me your knot from the first stone.

Yellow feather opens the sacred box; the craftsman withdraws the now dried colored twine knot. He attaches it to the first hook and inspects it. Then he hooks it to the second hook below the stone. Again, inspecting it. He humbly motions and requests the presence of the Priestess to now come and verify what he has reported.

Holy one, yellow feather confirms all the stones meet the holy knots. Only here past the last stone does the flow of life slow down.

The Seeding Priestess speaks more than usual to a male, Many of us thought it might. No, we will wait until after the first meal before we again inspect and adjust as we planned. The seeders have completed their tasks and will have now prepared our meal.

At the last meal of the orb, the craftsman and yellow feather are under a tree eating.

Yellow feather, it went well today. Some of us expected the last stone to be different than the knots. Mother earth is always thirsty, or we would swim rather than have feet to walk with. You will take the first meal with you and be at the pond as the orb rises. The Priestess has so ordered.

As the yellow orb rises yellow feather is at the pond. Removing debris from the stones and logs frees the water. The knots tell all. The knots go to the craftsman. At the last stone, the craftsman awaits yellow feather coming and his report.

Craftsman the flow of life is as the knots fore told; the pond is at the proper knot which I checked three times.

Yellow feather, this is good. I will talk with the holy one.

The craftsman’s steps are lively as he hurries to the place of the meals. The Priestess can tell the report will be good.

Your Holy One, the flow of life is as the knots predicted. I see the seeders are in the field with the grubbers That is good. Will the Warrior stay?

She motions toward the fields, Only until I leave, Junior seeders and grubbers will remain to tend the fields.

Chapter 5 Temple Square

The next morning after the meal, the Seeding Priestess, Warrior, craftsman, and yellow feather leave. The Seeding Priestess sets the pace and many orbs later they approach Temple Square, the main dwellings of all the Priestesses and the highest officials of each of the clans. Yellow feather has never been here.

The craftsman turns to him, Continue on to the visitor’s dwelling. I will send you word if I have need of you.

The visitor’s dwellings are plush compared to the clan’s dwellings. Even more so than any male quarters. Separate rooms with mats on the floors and even the walls. The walls decorated with colored knots each tells a story. They treat yellow feather as a craftsman. Those lodging here are important people, no matter their dress or lack of it. Never has he had so much free time.

A keeper of the rooms asks,