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The Petronicus Legacy
The Time
of Kadrik
by
Peter Tomlinson
From the Prologue:
"Mother
Mine," asked Kadrik one bright morning in mid summer, "when
will I hunt with the men? When will I stay with the Father of the Island?"
"When will you be with the Father?
Well," she said, "that will be when you are a man full grown."
That seemed to satisfy the youth but it
left her in sadness. She watched the boy set off further up the valley
to search for a sheep that had strayed from the herd. He seemed suddenly
taller and walked with the confidence of a man used to the hills. Kadrik,
whose face had been wrenched from a childish shape by the rapid growth
of youth, had nothing of the awkwardness normally associated with his
age. She turned sadly to her task of hand-feeding a young goat that was
sickly and weak.
Higher up, Kadrik turned to look back at
his Mother Mine and felt a strange desire to leave her, which was equalled
by a desire to stay with her. There was much confusion in his head, confusions
about brothers and sisters, confusions about fathers and how other children
seemed to have large families. He only had his Mother Mine. Apart from
her, he was alone in the world.
From Chapter One:
The
morning was bright and the sun had rested well during the night in the
great fires where the world ended. I could see the peaks of the High Mountains
of Far Island where no man had ever gone. Perhaps I could prove my manhood
by climbing higher than any man had ever climbed before. Or perhaps I
could kill a mountain wolf and take the pelt as a gift to the Father of
the Island and he would say I was ready to take my father's name and become
a man.
I remember looking back at my Mother Mine
who was hand-feeding a small goat that had been born weak and sickly.
I stood looking down the valley at her and felt a longing to be away from
her and to join the world of men and hunt with the Father of the Island.
And then my thoughts changed and I felt a painful need to remain with
her. I wanted to stay with her for the protection she had always given
me. But then I straightened my body, swung my hunting slings around several
times in my hands and felt I wanted to stay and protect her. I would make
sure she had food to eat in the winter and a warm, dry place to sleep.
I would ensure she had skins and blankets to keep her warm and I would
protect her. I had mindseeings of me fighting the Men Half Made and all
the people would admire me. But there were confusions in my head and I
turned away and walked up into the High Valleys.
I gloried in my developing strength as
I covered the distance rapidly. I was like a mountain antelope leaping
over rocks and small streams and I knew that my body belonged to the world
and the world would soon belong to me.
In later years when the world had covered
me with both joy and grief I would remember that day most vividly. Manhood
beckoned me but the loss of childhood and the coming separation from Mother
Mine caused streams of confusion to flow through my head. I looked out
beyond the sea into the vast distance hoping my eyes were strong enough
to see smoke coming from the Fiery Mountains where the world ended, but
my eyes were not yet strong enough for that.
From Chapter thirty-four:
I
was disturbed by the thought that Kilgorry could not look me straight
in the eyes as he spoke and, as everyone knows, that is a sign of insincerity.
The Father of All was watching me closely whilst Baltok and Calcis seemed
to want to support me but would not speak against Kilgorry. I felt an
overwhelming desire to answer Kilgorry and not set out on that most perilous
journey leaving things unsaid. However, I felt I had no choice so I held
my tongue.
Kilgorry continued: "I will ask the
Hidden Ones daily for your safe return, Kadrik. But if you do not return
by the summer feasting a year from now we will know that the ocean has
taken you and I will hope always that you have gone to the Upper World
where all is happiness and plenty."
I thanked Kilgorry for his thoughts and
was about to leave when Baltok stepped forward. He handed me a blade.
"Take this, Kadrik. It was made by the Father of Ironers himself.
It is of the finest quality. May it keep you safe." I clasped hands
with Baltok and thanked him sincerely.
Calcis then approached me and handed me
two slings of the finest twine and a pouch made of leather from the chest
of an antelope. "Protect yourself, Brother Mine." I clasped
and rubbed hands warmly with Calcis. I was not his Brother Mine; we both
knew that but to know he regarded me as such was a great honour.
| Also by Peter Tomlinson | |
 |
The Stones of Petronicus |
 |
The
Voyages of Delticos Coming Soon: October 2007 |
The moral rights of the author have been asserted.
The rights of Peter Tomlinson to be identified as the author have been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and patents act 1988
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