The Great Escape Chapter 11, Part 6 of 6

The Great Escape
Chapter 11, Part 6 of 6

"So that's one thing to think about. There are other places to explore, as well. I don't suppose the Woodlanders have explored all the forest. Who knows what there is to see if you set off eastward and keep going."

"Mountains. There are mountains east of the forest. You can see them from the plain."

"You can see their peaks, but what is there in the forest before you reach the mountains, and what kind of mountains are they?"

"I don't know."

"See, there are lots of adventures left."

She considered it as she helped Ezra tie up the poles in a bundle and pack the rest of the gadgets into baskets. When they finished, they sat back down. Ezra had some questions of his own for Tamar.

"Why does Wildchild hate her mother? Don't answer if it's a secret."

"It's no secret among the Herders. Everyone knows that Galatea was training Wildchild to be a chief. She gave her extra tasks and punished her when she failed or disobeyed. Then Wildchild would do things wrong on purpose, but Galatea punished her more. She was often sent to her tent without supper. I took her food until one time they caught me. She never let me help with her extra chores, though I offered to share her punishment."

"Why did you do that?"

"Wildchild has always loved me since I was little. And I loved her back. She used to fight with all the other children and some adults but never with me. The Herders are rough, and the bigger girls sometimes bully the smaller girls, but Wildchild never let anyone bully me."

"I see a real connection between you girls, something almost psychic."

"What does psychic mean?"

"Mind-reading, communicating by thought alone, without speech. Like how you always know what she's thinking or that you can soothe her when no one else can."

"I can't do that. I can't always understand her, but we usually feel the same. We both know what it's like to be loved, to have someone always look after you. When I'm bigger and stronger, I'll look after her as much as she looks after me."

"I see. So why didn't Wildchild want to be trained to be chief?"

"I don't know. She just didn't. She thinks I should be chief, but I don't want to."

After this talk, Tamar began to feel better. In addition to her chores and spending time with her non-clinging mother, she devoted the rest of the week to archery lessons and bow practice.

She went on pigeon hunts and was always unsuccessful, but she never stopped trying.

As usual, Tamar told her mother everything. She reported her conversation with Ezra when she and her mother dried off after bathing together in the river. Eloise, braiding Tamar's hair, nodded wisely but said nothing.

She was disappointed that her daughter seemed to reject the name her mother gave her—at least, she never corrected anyone who called her Tamar. However, Adarna had persuaded her to be philosophical about it. Yael wasn't insulting her; she was merely a girl unable to decide exactly how she felt or what she wanted. On every other matter, she was a dutiful daughter.

"Yael," Eloise asked, "do you want to stay in the forest?"

"I want to be with you, Mum, wherever you go."

This was the answer Tamar gave every time she was asked; this time, Eloise accepted the truth and made up her mind.

When the tribe gathered around the campfire for dinner, Eloise told Mirselene that she and Adarna had made a decision.

From her seat on the dais, Mirselene called for silence.

"Madam," Eloise said, "Adarna and I should come to the Cloner Fair with you. We haven't seen any Miners for a few years and have lots to tell them."

"A good choice. It will be a merry trip, with good company. Anything else?"

"Yes, Madam. We are conscious of the great kindness the Woodlanders have shown us and admire how you live. We would like you to accept us into your tribe."

"A perfect choice!" Mirselene exclaimed. "Ladies!" she addressed the tribe in general. "Eloise and Adarna would like to join us. Does anyone object?"

No one did. Mirselene beamed with pleasure, but Tamar was delighted and hugged her mother.

There were formal matters to agree, of course, to which Mirselene happily proceeded:

"We know your good workers. Do you agree to perform any reasonable task required to contribute to the commonwealth?"

"We do. We also have skills we can teach that the Woodlanders may appreciate."

"Excellent! ... I have told you the rules of the tribe. Do you agree to abide by our laws?"

"We do, Madam."

"One rule applies to you in particular, Adarna. Can I assume you are content to become Ezra's bedmate?"

"Not only content, Madam, but willing!"

There were understanding smiles all around, which made Adarna self-consciously realize she'd spoken too boldly.

"I mean, that is, if Ezra will have me," she added meekly.

"Don't worry about that," Mirselene imperiously reassured her. "Ezra will do as he's told!"

"Oh, Mother!" Dagma was exasperated.

"What is it, Darling? What did I say?"

"Ezra's a man, not a machine. He doesn't copulate to order."

Mirselene stopped short and thought for a minute, blinking.

"Of course, Darling. Thank you. Ezra, I apologize. I have been overbearing and thoughtless. I hope you're not offended."

"Not at all, Madam. I'm honored that you treat me just like any other Woodlander."

"Well then," she started, then stopped, realizing that Ezra's statement was double-edged. For a short-sighted woman, Mirselene was capable of a penetrating stare, which she turned on him. Then she relented and smiled.

"I see what you mean, Ezra. You think I'm overbearing toward everyone. You're right. It's a fault I don't try hard enough to remedy. I will try harder in the future."

"Mirselene, I assure you." Ezra started to say.

"Mother, Ezra didn't mean that at all," Dagma tried to interject.

"Nonsense, I'm not above criticism. Now come on, everyone, we have two new members of the tribe to welcome: there is celebrating to do!"

The feast got underway. The kindly Woodlanders did everything they could to assure Eloise and Adarna they'd made a good choice. Ezra did not have any complaints about taking Adarna as his bedmate. She was a good-looking woman: brunette, curvy, middle-height with a deep chest and a beckoning smile.

The night descended, and the feast finished before the rain came.

Although she didn't know when she would become Ezra's bedmate, Adarna was keen to learn what sex was like with a man. Before Urulla and Ezra arrived at breakfast the following day,

Adarna asked the others what she needed to know to do it right.

Sharne, Annela, Dipti, and Dagma were present and happy to give their answers, which conflicted with many details. As always with the Woodlanders, however, this led to a lively discussion. What was shaping up to be an informative morning was unfortunately interrupted by the arrival of the man and his current bedmate; Sharne announced that they were taking Annela foraging. It would be her first long trip from the camp, where she was going stir-crazy.

The foraging party, armed with empty baskets and a full one for Freya, left to wander the forest on a hot day. They found a good spot where Freya could be gone, swaddled in light sheets and a blanket in the shade of a tree, and Annela, never out of earshot, could help the others pick nuts and berries.

They talked as they worked, and whenever the topic tended to stray, Adarna brought it back to sex with Ezra.

They discussed everything, from favorite sexual positions to clitoral versus vaginal orgasms, from going on top or bottom to a man's tongue compared to a woman's. Each bedmate had her own opinion and experience, which was not always enlightening for Adarna. A case in point was the size of Ezra's penis.

Here was a serious debate. Dipti said she wished it were more extensive, Annela said she didn't want it any more significant, and the relentlessly loyal Dagma couldn't be shaken from her conviction that it was the perfect size. The women had a merry half-hour arguing until Sharne used her casting vote to decide the matter by agreeing with Dagma.

It so happened that, in another part of the forest, while the women were discussing Ezra's cock, he was stuffing that very organ balls deep into Urulla's warm wet pussy. They had gone foraging on their own, away from the leading group, but luckily found some soft bracken to lie on and make love.

When the women were discussing their favorite positions, Urulla had already sucked Ezra to hardness and was riding him slowly. When the women had exhausted the topic of orgasms,

Urulla had already lost count of the number of climaxes she'd enjoyed, moaning and gasping in response to Ezra's tongue and fingers.

When everyone agreed that they liked best going on top, Urulla turned around on all fours, pushed up her bottom, and invited Ezra to take her from behind. And by the time Sharne had settled the argument, Urulla's final squeals of pleasure as she hunched and relaxed were Ezra's reward for his hard work ramming her.

Finally, the month was over. The next day was the trade meeting, after which Ezra would be gone for another two months. It seemed unfair to his bedmates, but he intended to return before Dipti gave birth. He felt guilty about leaving Annela alone with Freya.

"I'm not alone," she said in her 'Don't be so stupid' voice. He resigned himself to leaving and prepared.

The Woodlanders were the last to arrive at the trade meeting, and they came in force. There was so much to transport that almost the entire tribe was loaded up with the enormous baskets they could shoulder, leaving only Lenta, Annela, and Freya behind. Ezra and Dagma carried the stack of bamboo poles and other equipment for his project.

Waiting for them were six Mariners and four Herders with eight horses. They had already exchanged and were seated on logs, enjoying a friendly chat. They looked up when the Woodlanders trooped into the camp. Then the Herders stood up, seeing golden-haired Tamar and raven-haired Wildchild, whom they recognized as Samothea, of course, despite her peculiar clothing, march boldly into the camp. They were followed by a taller woman who was unmistakably Tamar's mother and another stranger.

When the Woodlanders were assembled, the surprise was dying down, and Mirselene, puffing with exertion, let down her heavy load with a sigh and gratefully took a seat by the other chiefs.

"Ladies, I have some new tribe members to introduce to you," she said, inviting Eloise and the others to come forward, but Wildchild hung back.

"These are Eloise and Adarna, formerly of the Miner Tribe. You know the others, of course.

Ladies, this is Solange, chief of the Herders, and Calliope, chief of the Mariners. These are their deputies, Galatea and Ferne."

The women greeted each other. Then there was an awkward silence until Solange said:

"Hello, Tamar. You're looking very well."

"Thank you, but my name is Yael."

Eloise smiled with pride.

"Yael? Of course. Congratulations on finding your mother," Solange said. "It must have been quite an adventure. I hope you'll tell me about it. I see Sam Wildchild over there. Will you come with me to talk to her? She should at least greet her mother."

It was a reasonable request, as Tamar had helped Solange try to be a peacemaker between Wildchild and Galatea. The other women unloaded and sorted out the trade goods.

Wildchild was reluctant at first, but she didn't run away. She spoke to Solange for a few minutes, and then the Herder chief walked over to her deputy for another chat. Solange had a considerable power of charm and must have used it all because, five minutes later, there was a poignant moment when Wildchild and Galatea stood together and spoke politely. The estrangement between the two women was unresolved, but they were civil enough to talk for a few minutes.

When she was back with the chiefs and other deputies, Solange whispered to Galatea:

"You took it very well. I'm proud of you."

"What choice did I have? She's nearly of age, and while anger may drive her away forever, kindness may entice her to return."

This was a gentler woman than the stern and proud fighter of the past. Galatea regretted giving a harsh message to Ezra for her daughter and was making up for it.

"Very wise," Solange said. "Especially now. I don't want you distracted. I think we've some keen negotiations at the Cloner Fair."

"Are we ready, Ladies?"

This was Calliope, who was keen to start the meeting. When everyone said "Yes," she suggested that Solange talk first.

This was out of politeness. Although Mirselene had been chief longest, Solange was chief of the largest tribe.

"No. I think I'll let Mirselene go first. I want to know what other surprises she has for us."

"Only one," she said, "though I'm sure you've already worked it out. Ezra will give you the details of your parts during the salvage operation, but I suggest it happens during the Clon.

This led to a lively meeting with this, though the consensus was, in a sense, agreement. The only question was who should go with Ezra and his party. At this point, Ezra was invited to join the discussion.

As the meeting continued, the women exchanged and began packing the horses and baskets.

Overall, it was a short meeting. The Woodlanders needed to get home to prepare for their long journey to Cloner City. The Mariners had a similar journey and had to prepare extra accommodations for Dagma, Wildchild, Carlin, and Tamar. The Herders had a short trip to transport the goods to their Northern Camp.

So, with friendly goodbyes all around extra-friendly between Eloise and Tamar, more restrained between Wildchild and Galatea, tearful between Erin and Carlin, poignant between Ezra and his bedmates, the first members of the salvage party were loaded up with their equipment and set off with the Mariners on the two-hour trek across the hot plain to the beach settlement.


To be continued