Leaning slightly to his right, the troop leader peered past him. I was looking in the same direction. I saw
nothing.
They are very difficult to see, for men as well as monkeys. It takes the eye of an experienced tracker. It
was an eromakadi.
Gomo made a face. I do not know that animal.
It is not an animal. It is one of those creatures that lives in the spaces that fill the gaps in the real world.
An eater of light. Not the kind of light that comes from the sun, or even from a fire like that. He pointed
again at the flaming tree. The eromakadi thrive on the light that comes from a new mother s joy in her
babe, or an artist s delight in a new way of seeing the world around him. When they fixate on quarry,
they are relentless. They are responsible for much of the misery in the world. We do not see them a lot in
the south, where life is hard and there is little of glowing happiness for them to prey upon. The elders of
my village know them, and from infancy all Naumkib children are taught how to recognize and deal with
such creatures.
I see. Gomo considered. From what you tell me, I think I am glad I cannot see them.
They are all around, but very sly and unpredictable. Some days they are themselves preyed upon by the
eromakasi, the eaters of darkness, but this is uncommon. Unlike the eromakadi, the eromakasi seek to
avoid confrontation. He turned toward the river. It does not matter. I thought we might have to deal
with this one, but it was quite a small specimen of its kind, and it did not stay long. Perhaps it smelled a
greater happiness or inspiration elsewhere and went to seek it.
I hope so, Gomo replied with feeling. I dislike the idea of having to fight something I cannot see.
It is very difficult, both for men and for monkeys. The next time you are severely depressed, or
extremely unhappy, you can almost be certain that an eromakadi is close by, gnawing at your
disposition.
Even though the night was warm and the heat from the burning tree prickly against his fur, Gomo
shivered slightly. For all his disarming simplicity, it seemed that the tall human was in possession of
knowledge that was denied to the People of the Trees.
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The dead tree torch burned for another hour, and the embers that were its legacy glowed all through the
remainder of the night, but as Ehomba had surmised, the surrounding jungle was too green and too damp
to do more than smolder at the edges of the fire. The few nearby boles that did catch alight soon burned
themselves out, the incipient blazes smothered by humidity, sap, and lingering dew.
Later, Gomo sought him out again, this time to offer congratulations. Except for the eromakadi creature,
which only you saw, it went much as you said it would, Ehomba.
No, he replied reflectively, not as I said it would. I thought they would be blinded. I did not expect
them to be enraptured.
Well, you expected them to be dead, and that is what they are. A spidery hand reached up to clap him
on the side. The People of the Trees are in your debt til the end of time!
The herdsman smiled politely down at the troop leader. Until I reach Kora Keri will be sufficient.
It was something we would not have thought of. When we chose to remain in the trees while humans
and apes went down to the ground, we forswore the use of fire. Gomo shook his head and stuck out his
lower lip. Fire and trees make a poor mix. Fire in trees is much worse. Using the tip of his spear, he
tapped his friend on the shoulder. That is the trade you humans made when you came down out of the
trees. Freedom for fire.
I suppose. I was not there at the time the decision was made so I was not given the choice.
Oh-ho! A mastery of drollery as well as strategy. I will miss you, friend Ehomba.
Perhaps, but your troop will not. He indicated the trees where males who had been prepared to die
had joyfully reunited with their mates and offspring. The shapes and sizes and gruntings and chatterings of
the reunion differed from what he would have encountered back in the village, but the tender domestic
scene still left him feeling homesick. They will be glad to see me gone.
Gomo turned to follow the herdsman s gaze and sniffed. Yes, it s true. Humans make them
uncomfortable. Especially tall, fighting humans like yourself. He looked back up at his newfound friend.
Where are you bound?
Finally? Truth to tell, I m not sure of the exact location. For now, to the north. Hopefully to find
someone to carry me across the Semordria to a land I have never heard of before a place called
Ehl-Larimar.
The troop leader frowned. I ve never heard of the place, either.
A dying foreigner charged me with trying to save a beautiful woman from the embrace of a man she
does not love or want.
Gomo considered the man s words, rubbing his chin with an index finger longer than that which could be
found on any human. Let me see if I understand: You have left behind your country and your family to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]