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| Gisco whistled to himself. Most
cultures carved ivory, and had done so since the beginning of time. Many of the pieces in
his uncle Hanilcar’s collection were dated from before the founders came to Usoos.
For a pair of tusks like these, the Cathay traders would give ten times their weight in
silk; great wealth for both sea trader and Buganada alike. As they turned to retreat and
join the others, Ndair grunted for their attention. Then he pointed with his spear at the
elephant, who was now moving around the tree, limping, half dragging his right rear leg.
Looking closer, beyond the awe caused by the elephant’s tusks, Gisco saw that it was
an old beast. The gray skin had unhealthy dark patches. Too, it was more than normally
wrinkled; sagging badly around the chest and forelegs. Sdana hissed, motioning them to
return to camp. Ndair quickly told the others what they had found. Kalala sat a little apart, thinking. The others sat around the edge of a depression that |
formed a bowl on the side of the slope. Gisco,
one leg dangling over the bowl's rim, his arms wrapped around the other, and his chin
perched on bent knee, was thinking this was the first excitement they had had since the
discovery of the gold. He still dreamt about that vision. The rest of the trip had been
boring for him, not having Thos’ need to learn about Bantu mining technique, or
having any personal desire for hiking or "running" through nature’s domain.
Though, he admitted to himself, much of what he had seen had been pleasing to the eye.
Also he knew, by looking at Thos, thus judging them both, the two of them were in better
physical shape than either had ever been in their lives – neither having started out
on this trip as weaklings! "He is a lone outcast," Kalala said, drawing their attention. "A very old bull, perhaps near death. Probably not right in his head, so very dangerous. Usually such a bull can run faster |
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