CIRCLES OF STONE (THE MOTHER PEOPLE SERIES) Read Free

closer and sniffed carefully at each boulder.  Without
conscious thought, her sense of smell told her what animal had left a
particular scent, whether it signified danger, whether it was old or new.
    A
strong musty smell permeated the air near a wide crack between two of the
largest rocks, and she leaped away.  The scent was not new, but still it
alarmed her, for it told her a tiger had once lived in this place.  She
called nervously to Zena and began to investigate a smaller opening at the
other end of the rock pile.  No smells assaulted her, so she squeezed into
it and gestured to her daughter to follow.  Zena sniffed the rocks as her
mother had, so she would remember the predator's scent.  Then she followed
her mother through the other narrow opening.
    The
space beyond was cave-like and dark, and a welcome coolness radiated from the
rock walls.  Zena crept into a corner and watched as her mother fingered a
few bones that were scattered across the floor of the enclosure.  They
were old and brittle, with no remaining scent.  Mother and daughter
dropped wearily to the ground.  No other creature lived here, and no
animal larger than themselves could enter their refuge.  Here they could
sleep, finally, without fear.
    **************************
    Zena
was awakened by a drumming sound on the boulders above her head.  The air
had a strange smell, faintly acrid, and moisture had collected on the rock
walls during the night.  Its presence surprised her.  Never before
had she known wetness on rock.  Still, she was grateful.  Water could
be found in the river bed, but they had to dig deep to reach it.  She
licked the damp places eagerly, her tongue describing a wide arc against the
rough surface.
    Abruptly,
she realized she was alone.  But the scent of her mother and baby brother
remained, reassuring her, so she began to explore the crevices where rocks met
ground with her sensitive fingers, looking for food.  They had been here
for almost a year now, and she knew all the places where plump worms hid or
beetles scurried for cover.  This time, she discovered a cache of moist
seeds. She chewed them quickly, making smacking sounds of pleasure.
   A slender snake, disturbed by her probing hands, slithered toward
her, and she jumped away with a cry.  It hissed at her and disappeared
beneath the rocks.
    Frightened
by the snake, she thrust her head out of the enclosure to look for her mother,
but withdrew it quickly.  The unfamiliar smell was stronger outside. Even
more disturbing were the cool drops of moisture that landed unexpectedly on her
face.  She mewed apprehensively, bewildered by these strange events. 
But the need to find her mother was stronger than her fear, and she soon pushed
herself out again.
    Immediately,
she was wet.  Drops of water landed on her face, her arms, her back. 
She shook them off, but more returned.  Puzzled, she looked at the
sky.  The drops seemed to come from up there.  She had never seen
drops fall from the sky before, and they alarmed her.  Even more
terrifying was the absence of sun.  Never before in her life had the sun
failed to rise and spread its harsh glare into every corner of the
landscape.  Now it had disappeared completely, and the day was gray and
muted instead of blindingly bright. 
    Zena
mewed again, this time a louder call of distress.  An answering call came
from the dry river bed below.  Wide and deep, with high banks, it carved a
winding gash through the land.  Her mother was standing inside it, holding
the baby with one arm.  The other arm she stretched toward the sleeping
place on the hill, as if in invitation.  She uttered another low call, then
bent down to resume her search for grubs and snails.
    Zena
hesitated.  Still the sun had not returned, and the peculiar, acrid smell
was stronger than ever.  A loud rumbling noise suddenly came from the
sky.  She looked up fearfully, but she could see nothing, for the drops of
water came hard and fast