ICE BURIAL: The Oldest Human Murder Mystery (The Mother People Series Book 3) (8 page)

Mara studied her mother, amazed at the change in he
r manner. Since
Zena
had come
, strength seemed to have flowed into Runor, and she sounded like a wise one again. Mara hoped she would be careful. Korg would surely notice and guess the reason.

Rofina came in and greeted them. Mara sensed immediately that something was different about her. Her normally placid brow was creased into a frown, as if
she were puzzled
, and there was tension in her body.

“
You are well, Rofina?
”
Mara asked curiously.

“
I am well,
”
Rofina replied. Her frown deepened.
“
I feel strange, though, as if I have been asleep and am now awake again.
”
She pressed a hand against her eyes in confusion.

“
Has something happened?
”

“
I am not sure,
”
Rofina answered
slowly.
“
Perhaps I should go back to the Leader now
,
”
she added, but
for the first time Mara could remember,
doubt crept
in
to
her voice.

Runor approached Rofina and studied her face.
“S
oon, you can go,
”
she sooth
ed
.
“
Perhaps
first
you would like to help me grind the grain I have gathered?
”

Rofina nodded and began obediently to press the big pestle against the grains. Calmness soon returned to her face, and her taut body relaxed.
“
It is good to do this,
”
she remarked after a time.
“
I had forgotten.
”

“
When your arms tire, I will take a turn, and then you can do it again,
”
Mara suggested, hoping that Rofina would tell her more if they worked together as they used to.
“
The strangers who came have some fine grain for trading,
”
she
added
.
“
It is less coarse than this.
”

“
One of the men spoke to me,
”
Rofina answered, and the look of puzzlement returned.
“
He had a very kind face.
”

That must be it, Mara thought, astonished. Someone, finally,
had
penetrated Rofina
’s
aloofness. Joy filled her as she imagined for a moment that it might actually be possible for Rofina to be
as she had been before. Fear followed. The Leader might not wish Rofina to be different - especially if a man from another tribe changed her. Korg
would not
like it either. He would be watching.

Rofina turned back to the pestle; again, the rhythmic action calmed her. Mara watched her sister, and her fear grew. Rofina was so innocent! Even before the loss of her baby, and her mind, Rofina had never understood that not all people were kind, nor had she
ever
understood the rules the Leader had laid down. Rules had no meaning for her. Nothing had meaning for Rofina except what was in her heart. It had always been so, though before she had not been so child-like. While she remained devoted to the Leader, her simplicity protected her, but now... Now it could bring still more suffering...

Seeking distraction, she began to sing, as she and Rofina had in the past as they went about their chores. Rofina
’s
high, clear voice joined hers. Too late, she remembered that Korg and the Leader
did not
approve of singing, lest it attract the men
’s
attention. She kept on singing anyway.

“
That was beautiful,
”
a voice said, when they stopped to rest for a moment.

Mara looked up sharply. It was one of the young men who had come with
Zena
. Was this the one who had spoken to Rofina?

The answer was clear from Rofina
’s
face. The puzzled look had gone; in its place was a spark of animation. She rose slowly and went to stand near the man, all the while watching his face carefully.

“
I am Durak,
”
the man told Mara.
“
I know this is Rofina, but I
do not
know your name.
”

“
I am Mara,
”
she said quietly.

“
I am glad to know you, Mara,
”
he answered, and to her relief, his face revealed nothing. Either
Zena
had not spoken her name, or Durak knew enough to be careful.

“
Would you like to look for flowers with me?
”
he asked Rofina.
“
I have seen many beautiful ones in the fields.
”

“
That will be fine,
”
Rofina answered, and gave him her hand.

Mara was
beside him
instantly
.
“
The Leader
would not
like that,
”
she said urgently to Durak, deciding she must trust him.
“
He
does not
like us to be alone with a man unless the man has been chosen by him as the woman
’s
mate. Rofina... Rofina
does not
always understand.
”

Durak nodded, and she saw compassion in his eyes. No wonder Rofina liked him!

“
Then I will gather some
flowers
and bring them back,
”
he said cheerfully.

Runor appeared at the entrance to the hut. Gently, Durak disengaged his fingers from Rofina
’s
and went to her.
“
I am Durak,
”
he said again.

Runor nodded and stared intently into his eyes.
“
You are welcome here,
”
she said finally, and touched his arm with her gnarled fingers. To his surprise, Durak clasped her hand and held it warmly between his own wide palms. Runor nodded again, seeming to be satisfied with something he
could not
interpret, then she turned and re-entered the hut.

“S
he is a very wise woman,
”
Durak remarked, surprising himself again.

“
That is true,
”
Mara answered distractedly, puzzled by Runor
’s
acceptance of Durak. Her mother had been very suspicious of strangers since the Leader had come, but she had accepted Durak right away.

She glanced at Rofina, who was still watching Durak. She had made no move to go close to him again, but the expression on her face
was different.
Stubbornness, Mara realized, astonished. Rofina looks stubborn! What might that mean?

Durak came up to Rofina and touched her lightly on the shoulder.
“
Perhaps one day we will find flowers together,
”
he said quietly. He nodded politely to Mara and walked away.

Rofina sighed, a long sigh that seemed to come from a place deep inside her.
“
Perhaps one day,
”
she repeated, and picked up the pestle again. This time, she tired quickly.

“
I must go back to the Leader,
”
she told Mara. Without waiting for an answer, she walked quickly across the clearing and into the trees.

Rofina
’s
steps slowed when she was out of sight of the hut. The idea of picking flowers had appealed to her and she wanted to do it.
Beyond this
grove of trees
there was
a big field of flowers. Her pace picked up again and she walked eagerly into the field. All her attention was absorbed by the multi-colored blossoms, and she
did not
think of the young man again until he appeared unexpectedly in front of her. He
did not
speak, only looked at her gravely. Rofina returned the look. Many moments passed
while
they stood motionless, searching each other
’s
faces. Rofina felt something move inside her, and her eyes widened in surprise.

“
You are Durak,
”
she said finally. The feeling inside her grew stronger. She thought she liked it but she
was not
sure.

Durak reached out and caressed her arm with gentle fingers. The strength of his feelings astonished him. Never before had he felt so drawn to a woman, even before he knew her. It was as if Rofina was already a part of him, or he was a part of her, and now they must never come apart. His mind knew the thought made
little
sense, but his heart
paid no attention.
Her eyes drew him in, and the scent of her skin; everything about her was perfect, was all he wanted. Leaning down, he kissed her soft cheek gently.

Rofina smiled then, a wide smile filled with certainty. This was a good feeling; it could not be otherwise. Delight suddenly transformed her features. Grabbing Durak
’s
hand, she began to run, light and swift as a gazelle, through the fragrant flowers. Durak followed, entranced. Around and around they ran, laughing, clinging to each other, until finally they collapsed in a small hollow, gasping for breath. The tall flowers hid them, sheltered them.

For a long time, they lay still, their bodies touching from shoulder to foot, separated only by the soft linen garments they wore in the summer. Durak raised himself on one elbow and looked down into Rofina
’s
face.

“
I care very much for you already, Rofina,
”
he told her.
“
Never have I cared for a woman in this way before.
”
He stroked her face with tender fingers.

Rofina looked startled.
“
I
have not
cared for a long time,
”
she said.
“
I had forgotten.
”

“
Why is that?
”
Durak asked, puzzled by her words.

Rofina
’s
face
was
suddenly
suffused
with torment as a memory came rushing back. Closing her eyes tightly, she
pushed
it away.
“
I
do not
know,
”
she said helplessly, and he saw tears forcing their way under her closed lids.

“
It
does not
matter,
”
he soothed her.
“
But if anything pains you, you must come to me. Remember that, Rofina. If ever anything pains you, you must always come to
me.
”
He pulled her stiff body gently against him.

“
I will remember,
”
she promised, holding him tightly.
“
I will remember.
”

Durak
did not
speak again, only held her until he felt the tension leave her body. Slowly, gently, he began to stroke her back, her smooth arms and shoulders. Desire built inside him but he ignored it. Rofina was too fragile for Akat. He knew that intuitively. But one day...

A rustling sound aroused him. Was someone coming? He lay perfectly still
.
Fear made his heart pound, but Rofina
did not seem
disturbed. She was almost asleep, he saw, and her face was filled with contentment. His heart beat still faster at the sight. Already, Rofina was dearer to him than life itself, and he wondered anew how such a thing could happen in such a short time.

The rustling stopped and he dared to raise his head. A deer bounded away, and he relaxed. Still, he must not keep her here any longer, lest her absence be noted. As Mara had warned, the Leader
would not
like her to be alone with him. To think that harm might come to Rofina because of him was unbearable.

He roused her gently.
“
You must go back now,
”
he told her.
“
The Leader may be looking for you.
”