An Alex Hawk Time Travel Adventure | Book 3 | Return from Kragdon-Ah, стр. 44
“You are too soft-hearted. Sometimes it is better to just kill someone and be done with it.”
Over his shoulder, Alex said, “Klipta-ak. Will those men try to run away?”
“No. They are not clever or strong. They know they are safe in the tree, so they will stay there and care for the birds. They know they would be eaten before they made it halfway home by themselves.”
Alex glanced at Senta-eh, trying to keep the smugness off his face. “And sometimes it is better to let people live.”
When they returned to Winten-ah, Alex picked back up the project of building his cabin. Sekun-ak offered to give him more workers, but Alex declined.
“Senta-eh, Untrin-ak, and Harta-ak have all volunteered to help. We will get it done.”
First thing the next morning, they went to work. Versa-eh sat in the grass beside the growing frame of the cabin, playing with Tinka-eh. Alex watched the two of them together and said, “She takes to Tinka-eh. Before long, she will want one of her own.”
“She already does,” Harta-ak answered. “But I don’t want the same thing to happen to her as happened to Tinka-eh’s mother. I don’t know what I would do without her.”
Alex didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. This threat hung over everyone. When birth equaled death for a mother, how could humanity survive?
The site of Alex’s cabin was located just above the makeshift jail that held the prisoners from Lasta-ah. Klipta-ak in particular took great pleasure in sitting against the far wall of their enclosure and peering up at the progress Alex made. On some days, it was the lack of progress.
Alex had spoken confidently of being able to build their cabin, and he had done well with laying the logs for the exterior wall. It was very much like playing with the Lincoln Logs he had received as a Christmas gift as a child.
Other aspects of the build, though—the roof trusses in particular—caused him much angst. Klipta-ak watched Alex struggle with getting his roof up for most of one day before he had quit in disgust. Finally, Klipta-ak had called, “Manta-ak, can I see you when you are done for the day?”
Alex stood on the edge of the ledge above and looked down on the prisoners. It was an unconscious recreation of the method he had used to capture them in the first place. He wiped the sweat out of his eyes, peered out at the setting sun, and said, “I think I was done for the day a long time ago. I just didn’t know it.”
Alex walked to the pool of clean water that filled next to his building site, pulled a bucket of water out and poured it over his head, shaking himself like Monda-ak, who woofed with excitement at the opportunity to play a new game.
Alex hopped down to the ground and walked to the enclosure. There were guards who stood outside all day, but so far at least, they had been unnecessary. The Lasta-ah had made no attempt at escape. Alex assumed it was because they thought they would be released outright soon enough and then they wouldn’t have to look over their shoulders.
Alex walked inside the walls, and Klipta-ak was waiting for him. “Can I tell you what I was trained as?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “I was trained to be a builder. So, what does our leader do? He takes one of his best craftsmen and sends him across the wilderness to wreak his revenge.” He lowered his voice so only Alex could hear. “Sometimes, I think our leader is not so smart, but you did not hear that from me.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“I am suggesting that it would be less painful for me to help you finish your hut than it would be to sit here all day and watch you not finish your hut.”
“What do you want in exchange for helping me?”
“I just want to get outside these walls and smell something other than the farts and bad breath of the rest of my men.”
“Good enough. Tomorrow I will bring you up where you can smell the farts and bad breath of Monda-ak. It will be even worse, but at least it will be different.”
The next day, Alex walked Klipta-ak through what he had done, and talked about his plans for finishing the structure.
Klipta-ak held his chin in his hand, but did not speak.
Eventually, Alex said, “Go ahead, tell me what you are thinking.”
Klipta-ak still hesitated, but eventually said, “Do you want to finish it as you have described, or do you want the best home you can have?”
Some men might have flushed and kicked Klipta-ak off the building site and back down into the enclosure. Alex Hawk did not hesitate. “This is the home I will share with Senta-eh and Monda-ak. I want it to be the best it can be. But,” he added holding up a warning finger, “I don’t want anything grand. Just simple and well-built. Something that will withstand the elements.”
Klipta-ak picked up a sharp stick and cleared a patch of dirt. “I understand. But, instead of what you designed, what if we change it like this...” He quickly sketched out essentially the same layout Alex had, but with modifications.
Instantly, Alex said, “That is better.” He shook his head, which had no meaning to Klipta-ak. “Let’s do it your way.”
“If you will let me bring three more of my men up, we can finish this for you in just a few days.”
Alex looked steadily at him. This man had been part of a group that killed his friends. And yet, Alex believed he had nothing to do with that. The kindness Alex had done in not killing him when he so easily could have seemed to be having an effect.
“Why not use three of my men instead?”
“Because your men are not builders. Look around at Winten-ah.”