The Future Visits the Boneyard
Audio Version
Captain Mona Ann Lisa, looks mystically over the thermals, a location that will be called the Yellowstone National Park thirty thousand years hence. Mona is not just the run of the mill ship’s pilot and her visit here has profound implications. This place is the epicenter of an ancestor’s life struggle. In fact, genetic studies indicate the person in question is the mother of all humans that now exist in the Captain’s universe. Her name was Eva and Eva called this unique geography the Boneyard.
This human being started Mona’s ancestral line (confirmed by maternal mitochondrial DNA mutation regression analysis) because (Eva’s) memories represent the first M-bundles (Memory Node Clusters confirmed by electron microscopic techniques) in Captain Lisa’s coded storage embedded in her DNA. Stored memories of Eva (within Mona’s genetic memory) were unlocked and found and were estimated to be seventy-five thousand years older than Mona’s. While Eva was obviously not the first sentient human, the lack of previous memory in Mona and other humans was theorized to indicate some type of traumatic event or technical disruption of the code passed down to Eva from her mother. This anomaly alone could take forever to research.
The Captain’s voluntary memory regression analysis revealed a fascinating story. Eva was a rare individual by anyone’s standard. Her story read like a novel and was exceptional entertainment. This woman was simply amazing. Even if one did not allow for the primitive conditions under which she struggled, Eva thrived in unimaginable conditions and was arguably one out of a billion or one out of a trillion beings. Captain Lisa was profoundly drawn to her and felt Eva’s story had to be fully researched and shared with creation. So, for her vacation Mona was going to deep dive into the origin of all of humanity’s ancestor’s.
Why is this important? It seems Captain Lisa is the single most powerful entity in several galaxies. She is human but more importantly is the uncontested science administrator and military commander of trillions upon trillions of sentient beings within the major and minor galaxies comprising the Milky Way and Andormeda. She like her ancestor Eva fell into her role. Mona did not seek her power and it seems neither did Eva. Mona as Eva thought was simply lucky to have reached adulthood. Both child prodigies were benefactors to their people. Their wisdom, courage and intuition saved the day many, many times. In both cases their parents were pivotal in their lives and created the foundation for their later successes. Both were tormented by dreams and visions that disturbed and just as likely enlightened them.
Mona came here to connect to Eva. You see Mona had the ability to travel in time or at least view history first-hand. It was feared disaster might result if the past was changed; however, science was not certain one could alter the past in any way that would create a new future. Yet, one could return to the past and observe what happened and ascertain how it most likely led to the present. One could study these things for ever and Mona did not have the luxury to do so. However, with the resources she had, she wanted to do as much investigation as her time allowed.
Mona came personally to the Boneyard in Mona’s present timeline (though 75,000 years after Eva lived there) to get a feel for what her ancestor might have felt. Based on the Captain’s geophysics experts very little had changed since her ancestor walked these same grounds. There were thermals that dotted the area belching steam and sulfuric odors continually. Herds of Bison, Elk and occasionally Mammoths visited the immediate area. The Thunder Birds that once lived here cooperatively with Eva had long since become extinct; however, they were still found in the southern continent in this hemisphere of Earth. The Global war that Mona survived destroyed most surface animals two thousand years ago and almost eliminated humans from existence, and was now a disturbing but distant memory. The surface population of earth was reaching a few million humans again. Mona left the Earth herself just weeks before 500 million people were vaporized, burned and starved. .
Eva and her people are remnants of the humans that survived the catastrophe that destroyed the high human civilization over seventy thousands of years before Captain Lisa was born. The irony is the same cycle of events that destroyed Eva’s world was repeated in Mona’s present time. Interestingly, in Mona’s present era a primitive human culture now exists on the Earth’s surface. The difference is Captain Lisa was fortunate enough to lead a remnant from the Earth with their advanced technical culture intact. While in contrast, Eva was unable to benefit from a surviving technology in her era. Mona returns occasionally to see a fledgling, primitive human culture slowly progressing from utter destruction two thousand years prior but still within Mona’s lifespan.
When Mona recounted the decoded memories of her beloved Eva, she felt a deep connection and could almost recite Eva’s thoughts without reading them. Thankful to be alive, Eva thought: I raged against the odds . . . but I prevailed for some purpose. Mona had felt exactly as her ancestor had thought and visualized. The Captain wanted to know more details than had been decoded from her DNA. The simple fact was, the only way to discover more details about Eva’s life was to observe her ancestor real time, and Mona resolved to do just that!
Captain Mona Ann Lisa returned to her ship the Dragonfly and reported to her Sisters’ laboratory quiet room to undergo a process referred to as the Shadowland journey. In this status one could dilate time and go anywhere one had the 4D coordinates for. She had three of the four coordinates by identifying the location. What she needed now was to pinpoint the exact time coordinate to begin her study. This was no easy task. Though certain clues were apparent based on geological and astronomical markers, the precise timing of events thousands of years in the past was most problematic.
In one of the M-bundle dumps was noted a visible comet seen while a total solar eclipse occurred. This was the key to a time anchor from which she could investigate days before and after. This had happened only three times in the last one hundred thousand years in and around the Boneyard.
As she laid down on the padded recliner and started the preliminary pre-launch procedure her heart began to race. Moonbeam her sister placed the headphones over her ears and smiled and gave her a thumbs up signal. Within seconds she lost consciousness and arrived at the predetermined coordinates at the Boneyard. Her body remained on board the enormous Dragonfly Mothership. This ship was the size of a small planet and sported a crew of millions of sentient beings, not all of which were humans. The adventures she had participated in over the past two thousand plus years since her birth were amazing but this journey to the ancient past was equal to anything she had done before. Mona had stared death in the face many times but for some reason this was just as frightening. What would she find? Were there to be discoveries made in her journey to the past that would have implications to her present life and future?
Suddenly sunlight burst upon the good Captain’s face and she could sense a breeze. Though her body was not on the Earth’s surface her shadowland avatar was. Additionally, her technology was able to simulate the physical senses she would have experienced if her physical body was there. Mona was hopeful her sisters Moonbeam and Levie had through a process of elimination chose the correct time target of the three options. She was impervious to any physical threat she encountered. She had the capability to remain cloaked (invisible) or uncloaked (visible) to anyone near her shadowland presence. Her duty was to remain undetected. The Federation Time Travel Management Council had several guidelines that Captain Lisa must adhere to in her investigation, this one was the most basic. No one time traveling could visibly or auditorily without pre- approval of the Council reveal their presence. Since Captain Lisa was the enforcement agency for such issues she was not going to defy the guidance.
In her present status Mona was not confined or limited to her human physical capabilities. Simply stated the Captain could instantly go where she imagined or wished to be as long as she kept track of the 4D coordinates of her resting physical body. This technology had long since been perfected and she hardly thought about it.
Not seeing anyone or any living creature at the edge of the Boneyard, Mona flew to three thousand feet above to get a better perspective of the area. Instantly she was there and discovered smoke from campfires in the direction of a large rock ridge. Mona sensed this was Eva’s Clan’s encampment. She was giddy with excitement as she slowly approached the site, taking in every detail she could observe on her approach. A cloaked physical recording device mounted on a drone appeared and allowed her sisters to observe what their sibling was now seeing. This physical drone was not an avatar. It was actually real and had been sent back in time as a physical object. This was costly technology and took significant energy and resources to deploy.
There were several clansmen leaving the camp obviously on a hunting excursion. Mona counted a total of six adults, one of the group was carrying a small young person on their back. This tiny package had to be Eva. This was amazing! Mona’s first shadowland mission hit paydirt. This normally did not happen. These types of investigations usually took teams of investigators weeks to get this type of result.
Mona continued to observe enthralled and obsessed with every detail. What an opportunity and responsibility. These were precious lives, the foundation of the future, the initial building blocks for thousands of generations to come.
From the manuscript of Eva’s memories Captain Lisa knew the Tribe took the young girl on hunting parties because she was the best tracker in the Clan. The child was capable of anticipating danger and steered the warriors into the best location to kill game. Eva bond with the Clan was exceptional and she was treated as an adult. Though cripple, having been born with a clubbed foot she became integrated into the survival of her people by the age of seven. Her parents were the healers and midwife of the Tribe. The three of them were highly respected and loved by everyone except for the Clan leader or Chief who saw them as a threat to his power and control.
Mona knew the Chief was to die from injuries sustained in a hunting accident within seven years from this point in time and in an unexpected turn of events Eva would be appointed Clan Leader. Within two years from today Eva’s father would find Credo. A Saber Cat juvenile that would become the growing child’s constant companion and protector.
Mona was ecstatic over her good fortune to establish the anchor point from which further research could be planned. She returned to the quiet lab on the Dragonfly and regained consciousness. Her sisters were already reviewing the sensory data from the surveillance drone. They were laughing and making noises like two teenagers talking about their first kiss. Levie and Moonbeam, were respected as being the best scientists in two galaxies. However, they were acting more like children than serious adults with an important mission to complete.
The three sisters spent hours reviewing the data and the two scientists interrogated Mona until she was so fatigued she had to leave to decompress. They were already planning a new mission when the Captain left to retreat to her wardroom.
Like Eva, Mona sometimes had disturbing dreams and visions about future events. However, she had not had such an experience for years and years. This was about to change. When Mona entered her suite she fell to her knees. The flash of light in her visual cortex was overwhelming. It was extremely painful and disorienting. She smelled a pungent odor that was very unpleasant. Mona witnessed a vision, a disturbing sight. Was it a metaphor or a reality? What this meant exactly, she did not know, but never-the-less knew it was about Eva. Situations like this had happened before. There was serendipity in the Captain’s life. Mona’s fate often intersected or collided with enormous events that changed history. Was this just one more such event. She went immediately back to the laboratory to talk to Moonbeam and Levie.
After she related her vision with her sisters the discussion went on for hours. Seems the Clan leader plotted with his son to rid himself of Eva. What could be done and should they interfere? They decided to take it to the Time Travel Management Council. From the vision the attempt to kill Eva was a few weeks from the anchor date presently established by their research. Interference by future timelines had been authorized before, however, it was rare and extremely limited. Not until all unintended outcomes were fully investigated and plotted was approval ever granted. Analysis of thousands of outcome decision branches indicated no harm would occur if Eva survived. However, her death prior to her birthing a child provided outcomes that were universally disastrous. The Council with minimal debate approved mitigation with strict oversight. The sisters were required to submit multiple proposals for review and approval. However, Mona was authorized to make necessary emergency modifications if circumstances required. The science of Time Travel had established some mandates of nature that seemed consistent. One such law was interference from a different timeline was a one time attempt. If it worked it worked, if it failed it failed. Only one chance was allowed. Any additional attempt was blocked by some natural force preventing anyone from returning to that point in time. Because of this restriction Mona was terrified. She had one chance to protect Eva, if Mona failed she and everything she knew and loved might disappear from existence.
Because of what was at stake Mona decided she would physically return to the timeline in question. This was an extreme measure and was reserved only for the most serious situations. She would be by herself and would have the assistance of minimal advanced technologies. Most hardware could not be sent because of its inability to withstand time dilation. However, observation drones were specifically designed and available. Via the drones Mona would have restricted communication with her sisters in real time. She could not travel in her clothing from her era and had to transfer naked. This was inconvenient to say the least. Her normal energy weapons were useless because they would be drained of all power via the transfer and were nonfunctional. This did not leave her defenseless, Mona was an expert with sword and bow and arrow. The problem was both these weapons were not yet available in Eva’s era. So, by the rules imposed she had to use those available to persons in the time targeted.
Mona immediately went to her weapons experts and started to practice with a sling and spear. The Captain was a natural athlete having won the equivalent of a Gold Medal in the Olympics as the youngest archer in competition history. Mona found the sling as Eva had, her natural weapon of choice. It was amazingly effective. She could see how lethal it was within a radius of 150 yards. The time traveler spent hours with the weapons and became as efficient as possible within the few weeks she had before the event was to happen.
Based on details in Mona’s vision the sisters had determined with 98 percent certainty the day of the event. (They pinpointed the time from the phase of the moon and location of Venus observed by the Captain in her visual experience) Extreme care needed to be taken as they were approaching the possible event. The Federation could visit only once in any time sequence. So, impatience and premature intervention could lead to disaster at worst and lost opportunities at the least. The Galactic Federation might be the most powerful entity in their era but was almost powerless in the historical crisis in Eva’s world. The plan was to send Captain Lisa back to a time three days before the suspected attempt on Eva’s life. She was to shadow the Clan and act decisively to prevent Eva’s death or injury. This would be very difficult because of the natural abilities and finely honed observation capabilities of the Tribe. The Captain had an enormous challenge. Their plan was to observe undetected until Mona would act. Sounded nice but its execution was a different story.
The day of Mona’s insertion began. She had a small pouch with flint to make a fire, a pre-fabricated sling, spear, stone hatchet and an obsidian blade mounted securely into a wooden handle. This was the extent of her companions. From these she would have to fashion her clothes, find food and survive until she could act to save Eva. The weather around the Boneyard was unpredictable. At night the temperatures could plunge into the high 30 degrees Fahrenheit and often rose into the low nineties during the day. Without proper protection, hypothermia was a real possibility during the night, especially when it would sleet, snow or rain as was common. A fire at night was required to survive and this would easily lead to detection.
Mona had a plan but it was definitely distasteful. She would raid the funeral platforms where the Clan left their dead. There would be clothes left on the skeletal remains of the deceased. Over the several centuries of her life Mona had experienced many things most people had never even thought of; however, this was the most disgusting thing she had ever voluntarily done. The graveyard would be the location of insertion, it was separated from the Tribe’s encampment far enough to allow the Captain to get established on her mission but not so far as to delay her initial snooping.
Once transmitted to the initial landing site any time traveler would be on their own for several days. To be retrieved too soon after placement could result in irreparable DNA damage and many times death. While the Federation had universal translators Mona would not be able to bring one with her. So, she dove into a crash course on Eva’s language. The Sisters had insisted on all communication between Mona and them to be in this dialect for weeks before the mission. This was difficult but the good Captain was a fast study. While not yet conversant she could along with sign language get her meaning across consistently.
It was now time for the transfer. Mona stripped and entered the round capsule with her meager belongings. The Captain nodded and the technicians started the countdown. There was a high-pitched whine and tunnel of sorts opened below her. Mona fell downward for what seemed to be five minutes. Suddenly, she was laying on the cold ground. The landing area was full of low bush cranberry shrubs and one was sticking her in the small of her back. Rather uncomfortable but no permanent damage. The air was chilled and she shivered. In the small trees around her were platforms where a few remains of Eva’s people were decomposed. All that was left were clothes and bones. Mona had her choice. She spotted one corpse looking to be around her size. The nude traveler either got most of her items from one body or selected from several like a buffet. Both strategies seemed disrespectful; however, Mona apologized profusely as if the dead individuals were aware as she took items to cover her freezing body. Surprisingly, the Captain was frustrated because she didn’t have a mirror to see how her selections were shaping up. The reluctant thief turned where she thought one of the drones might be and displayed her selections as if she was a runway model. The Sisters were watching everything and between themselves complemented Mona on her selections. While they could see and hear, their wayward sister could not receive sound communication from them. The gawking sisters did however decloak one drone for seconds and sent two tiny light flashes which meant agreement. Mona just used her hand (breaking her wrist) to give the “Oh you don’t say” sign.
The clothes selection process took about forty minutes. The thief even found a good pair of leather boot like foot ware. Moonbeam declared she loved the boots Mona selected and told Levie she wanted a pair just like Mona’s. Within an hour the good Captain looked like a native and could feel her body temperature returning to a comfortable range. Finding some leather pouches, she used them to carry the few items brought with her and as a bonus discovered a small cache of pre-selected sling stones. Mona also found two useable slings. She reverently thanked these ancestors and prayed the appropriation of their last worldly possessions would help secure the future for everyone.
Mona had a fantastic sense of direction and had a map emblazoned on her brain. She knew the Boneyard vicinity as well as she knew her own spaceship. The Captain decided to approach the camp to see if she could get close enough to hear or observe without detection. This turned out to be a poor decision. The intruder from the future was not a primitive hunter nor was she accustomed to tracking or sneaking up on game. Eva’s Tribe was not as clumsy or noisy as she and quickly became aware of her approach and surrounded the spy within three hundred yards of her objective. Standing with her spear Mona dropped it at the first challenge she received. The petty thief prayed the clansmen did not recognize the clothing she had stolen from their deceased loved ones.
Two warriors came up from behind her and pushed her toward the camp. Mona’s heart was racing and her brain was going a thousand miles a second. Panic was not usually in the highly trained Captain’s tool kit. But this time she was totally vulnerable and at the mercy of strangers. She was a fish out of water and this group of clansmen sensed it. Fear was painted all over her face. As they entered the camp the captive was directed at the tip of two spears to the common fire pit. There, what appeared to be the entire Clan formed a circle around her. The Clan Leader, the one who was plotting against Eva approached her directly. He stopped within six feet and stared directly into Mona’s eyes. He said in his language; “what is your purpose? Where is your people?” There were muted conversations going on all around them.
The felonious spy knew any lie she used would be quickly discovered. So, the captive used the best words she remembered of the Tribe’s language and said: “My name is Mona. I come alone from a Tribe far, far away. I came here to speak to Eva. I mean no harm.” The Chief looked stunned and the talking grew in volume. The Clan Leader motioned for the two warriors guarding her to take the intruder away to some unknown location.
She was not bound or harmed, this was a good sign. The guards looked more curious than angry and she just sat waiting for the next thing to happen. After what seemed to be an hour two persons appeared. Mona sensed the couple was Eva’s parents. The female of the pair came up to Mona and handed her some Elk or Bison jerky. She took the offer and proceeded to eat the gift. The taste was actually pleasant. Mona responded with the phrase “A-Key-yeh” hopefully meaning “Thank you.” The woman smiled and nodded her head in response. Then Eva’s mother pointed at herself and said in her language, “My name is Sunrise, I am the midwife of the Clan. My husband’s name is Rain Child and he is the healer of our people. Our daughter is Eva. How do you know of her?” Mona almost cried but steadied herself.
The reluctant guest continued with the truth that she had started earlier. “In my time and place your daughter is known as a great ancestor, her offspring will fill many lands and worlds to come. She is to be a respected leader, warrior and is wise beyond measure.” Looking around to see if anyone else could hear, Mona continues; “I came because she is in serious danger, your Chief and his son wish to kill her.” Rain Child, confronts the stranger and says: “How can this be, Eva is deformed and will not have children, it is our way?” Mona takes a deep breath and responds: “Eva will not marry someone within your Clan but a member of a rival people who are first your people’s enemy and she defeats them against impossible odds, his name is Toby.” Sunrise looks in amazement and says: “How do you know such things and what do you want?” Looking into the woman’s face Mona says: “I come from many cycles into the future . . . as many cycles as there are trees in this forest. I come from the stars far beyond the sun and moon. I come to keep Eva from death at the hands of your Clan Leader.” The parents look at the stranger in amazement, acknowledging the obvious hatred from the Chief and his son towards Eva.
Mona felt great relief that Eva’s parents were believing her story. She told them the attempt would be made during a hunting mission in the next three days. Rain Child and Sunrise took the captive to their shelter and told the guards they would be responsible for her. The guards did not hesitate the offer and left. Mona was about to see Eva and didn’t know how to react. The seven-year-old female was almost towheaded, fragile looking and shy. Her parents introduced her to the strange visitor. Mona did not want to stare at the child and frighten her but she was fascinated by the object of her obsession. She wished to give the child a gift and impulsively pulled out one of the extra slings she took from the graveyard. She asked Eva if she knew how to use it. Eva shook her head no. Mona asked if she would like for her to show her. Eva smiled in agreement. The Captain asked Eva’s parents if it was ok to instruct their child on the use of the weapon. They both thought it was fine. Neither of them used the sling and would not have instructed their daughter in its use. The married pair were healers and were training Eva in the healing arts. They had concluded despite Eva’s unique ability to track game, her future as a warrior or hunter was limited by her club foot
After Eva fell asleep, the three adults discussed the possible strategies they could employ in the next few days to protect the child. The strange visitor revealed despite her small size she was a deadly warrior. She feared no person and had neutralized many several times her size and strength. If necessary, Mona would take care of anyone that would attempt to assault Eva. However, she needed to be within weapons distance from the potential threat at all times. The question is how would this be accomplished.
The plan was hatched that night. The Captain would state she knew where game could be found based on her journey to the Tribe the last few days. She promised to lead a hunting party to it. That way Mona would be able to stay with the group that Eva was part of. To Mona’s surprise the Chief agreed. He had no reason to fear a tiny female from parts unknown and probably thought he could rid himself of Eva and the unwanted visitor simultaneously. However, if he were to succeed on the hunt his status within the Clan would rise even though Eva was a casualty. The party would be the Chief, his son, four other hunters, Eva and the strange female in the lead. Mona wondered if the other members of the hunting party were part of the conspiracy. Her intuition told her the Chief and his Son were the only plotters. In their arrogance, they felt they needed no one else involved, the fewer the better.
The hunting party gathered just before dawn. Mona’s spear, hatchet, knife and slings had been taken from her and were replaced with a couple of bone weapons that were all but useless. She was told to lead the way and the party formed behind her. Mona’s sense of danger was not yet activated. She was calm and behaved like everything was normal which was awkward to say the least.
Here she was with her back turned to a group of total strangers who were all lethal with their weapons except for a seven year old child. Could this get any crazier? The Captain did know where game was. Mona had studied their locations and behavior in the days just prior to her insertion. Leading them to the animals was the easy part. How she would react to the assassination attempt was a different thing. Her brain was churning all morning as she led them to a herd of bison near a slow-moving stream just before a waterfall. There was brush in a deep gully near this favorite resting area for the herd. The sound from the waterfall would cover any noise made by the hunters approaching. The small group could therefore get close enough to the bison with their spears and slings to do some considerable damage.
The stranger led them to the gully and motioned them to assume the stalking mode. They crept down the gully toward the river. While she knew the two plotters could act at any moment, Mona felt the triumph of a good hunt was too important to their political strategy and would therefore not sabotage its success. They positioned themselves as the Captain indicated. She was allowed to place Eva on her back as the rest prepared for a simultaneous and coordinated attack. The Chief gave the sign and they all launched themselves together. Within seconds the herd alerted and fled the area. However, before their rampage, three bison were mortally wounded. This was the most success any hunting party had ever had on one trip in anyone’s memory. There would be an immediate feast and bison jerky for months to come. One of the hunters left to bring as many people from the camp to process their kill in place. This left Mona, Eva, three hunters plus the Chief and his Son.
To help clean and butcher the bison the Chief gave Mona back her obsidian knife. This was a great relief to her. This knife contained the sharpest natural blade known to science. In the hands of an expert it was highly effective and lethal. Mona suspected the Clan Leader would have to act before the additional clansmen would return. This she calculated would be about three hours from now. Her senses went on super alert. Mona decided to create the opportunity when she decided not when they decided. She removed herself from the bison processing and picked up Eva and left to clean the excess blood from herself in the river just above the falls. This Mona suspected would be too tempting for the plotters not to respond to.
With Eva on her back the Captain proceeded to the river. She sensed someone was following them. She told Eva to trust her and when she stopped she was going to give her the obsidian knife. The small child was to take the knife and move away from Mona as fast as she was able. She was to go to the head of the falls where no one could get behind her and stay there until Mona came to get her. Eva was to hide the knife but use it if necessary to protect herself. Eva understood and was ready to act.
Mona heard a loud sound behind her. She squatted down and unloaded Eva. The warrior from the future turned to see The Clan Leader and Son standing above her with spears in hand in attack position. The Captain moved her bone weapons, one in each hand and stood in a defensive stance, crouching, awaiting the next move of her potential assailants. A smile came across the Chief’s lips and a smirk on his Son’s face. Eva was moving off as fast as she could. The Chief’s son acted as if he was going after Eva but the Clan Leader motioned for him to ignore her and concentrate on Mona. That was perfect as far as the Captain was concerned. Mona instinctively reacted to every move the two made. As they approached, her military conditioning prepared her to anticipate one or both of the attackers to throw or thrust their spears. They were seasoned hunters, she knew even a small error would lead to her painful death. The warrior Captain practiced this situation multiple times with her weapons experts. Well not exactly like this. In her practice sessions Mona had better weapons than she presently did. While her trainers had guessed correctly about the assault weapons held by her attackers, she was otherwise almost unarmed, not a comforting situation at this particular moment. The Son lunged first. Eva blocked the spear with her left hand and executed a round house kick that found its full force applied to his throat. He fell immediately unable to even scream with pain. The Chief was next. He attempted to lunge, but before he even moved Mona’s knee was crushing his nose. He fell with blood gushing from his face. With both men incapacitated, she completely disarmed them. Taking one of their knives she stood over both and talked calmly.
It was like an angry parent purposely instructing two petulant children. “Now that I have your undivided attention, I would like to have a meaningful discussion. Are you paying attention?” She stuck the knife in each man’s face cutting them enough to bring a flow of blood. Their eyes showed fear and anger. The Son having recovered from his inability to breathe tried to grab Mona. She put her knee in his groin, and said “one more move like that and you won’t be able to have children from this day forward.” Mona turned to the father and pointed the knife at his groin as well. “Again, I ask are you paying attention?” They both nodded yes. “Well, excellent. I know you wanted to kill Eva. I came here to prevent your plans from succeeding. You see I am her guardian spirit. You will not harm her. You will protect her from this day forward. If one hair is harmed on her head I will hold both of you responsible. That means you will die if you are lucky. There are things worse than death. I will be staying for a few more weeks to see things are properly done. However, I will know what you are doing continually.” Mona waved her hand and three drones appeared over their heads. The lights were blinking feverishly. The two men on the ground looked up in disbelief. “These are watchers, they never tire, and they never go away. They are invisible except when I command them to appear. If you wish to die now, I will accommodate your wishes, if not, both of you will live at least until Eva grows into a young warrior.” The Captain waves her hand and the drones recloak. “Now get up and return to butchering the bison. And I mean now!” They both scrambled to their feet, picked up their spears and ran back to the processing area. Mona just stood there and smiled for a few seconds before she turned to retrieve Eva.
Over the next few weeks Mona instructed Eva on the sling, teaching her how to swim, military tactics and the basics of martial arts. She told her parents that they would find a juvenile saber cat in the years to come. This animal was blind in one eye and needed to be rescued and protected. The animal would become Eva’s constant companion and protector. As Mona was a common sight within the camp, the Chief and his Son retreated into the shadows. The day before the Captain was to leave she told Eva and her parents that she had to return to her people and the next morning she was leaving. Eva was very sad but had strengthened remarkably in the few weeks spent with Mona. The Captain sent word that the Chief and his son should meet her outside the camp.
Mona was sad to leave but hugged Eva and her parents. She held back her tears and turned to leave. Eva stopped her and handed her mentor a small gemstone, it was turquoise. Mona accepted it and thanked Eva. She told her it would be one of her most prized possessions. The emotional visitor then left to meet the two reprobates outside the encampment. On seeing the two the Captain almost became nauseous. She told them she was leaving but would return if they ever attempted to harm Eva or her parents. They both acknowledged her threat before she left.
Captain Lisa with her weapons ran out of the camp and into the trees, she was returning the clothes and items to the Clan’s graveyard. Before the return she stripped and placed the items as best she could where she found them. She again apologized for her larceny and thanked the donors for their help. It would be from the cemetery she would return as she arrived . . . naked and cold. But this trip would be with a small turquoise stone.
One last thing. After Captain Lisa returned to her ship, she scheduled one more trip. This one was to a time after Eva was selected Clan Leader and would coincide with her heart wrenching decision to leave her parents behind to care for the sick and injured during the height of the drought. Mona knew Eva never saw her parents again. The Captain was going to intervene and assure they were taken care of. It was the least she could do for the parents for arguably the most important ancient human nexus in all of human existence.
To be Continued:
Eva with Toby and her child Mona.
All rights reserved George B; with exception allowed for unlimited reproduction for educational purposes to all School Districts within the Greater San Antonio, Texas Metropolitan Area. For requests beyond the above please contact George Berberich at gberberich@satx.rr.com or call 210-381-7092.
