Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Then smoke came into view. Ahead, the hilly horizon flattened out, and the winding river straightened into a long, straight stretch. Crude huts came into sight. They were clustered haphazardly on a low riverside embankment, without proper roofs— a setup where a single heavy rain would wash away half of them. Below the riverbank, a large field was under cultivation, with furrows running straight back from the water's edge. There were clear attempts to channel water in, but no proper barriers or drainage ditches were visible
Farming right up against the riverbank like that meant floods would leach away a ton of soil nutrients. It looked like last year's heavy rains had somehow made the crops work out okay. Not being a place like the Nile that floods regularly, this tribe—only just entering agriculture—seemed to be laboring under some serious misconceptions. Yellow-haired warriors wielding stone axes, stone knives, and bone-tipped spears were visible herding people along. A few were putting up resistance, suggesting the potential for rebellion
No real organization, just brute-force management—the enemy chieftain must have been thinking in one dimension. To sum it up in one word: "What a mess." "You mean a disaster?" "Exactly." I'd had some slight hopes for a tribe transitioning to early agriculture, but their level was lower than expected. No need for a personal recon like this. I'll give credit for scouting the terrain, spotting the cattle herds, and—even if it's far off—identifying satellite city candidates. As we openly scouted the enemies, the yellow-haired ones spotted us too
Shouts rang out, and warriors burst from between the huts. Utter chaos, of course. No formations or anything. They charged with war cries, brandishing primitive weapons. All momentum, no substance—everyone here knew how vulnerable that made them. Eagle's Eye sighed. "Hard to believe that just a few years ago, that was us." "My face is burning all of a sudden." "Chieftain, what's the plan?" Figuring it was a good chance to test the new weapons, I decided to step up myself. "Just four of you, follow me!" Eagle's Eye, Broad Foot, Black Bear, and Yellow Hand fell in behind me
We descended a gentle side slope. These padded saddles really proved their worth in moments like this. They even seemed to grip against slips, keeping our posture steady. Stirrups? Game-changer, no question. The enemies entered spear-throw range. "Ready arrows." Kwaduduk! I drew the improved bow. Reinforcing the inner limbs with sinew and laminating thin horn plates had added some weight. Of course, it boosted draw strength, range, and power. Not just the bow—metal arrowheads ramped up penetration too
Thung! Thung! Continued refinements had tripled the range from the original version, with more improvements to come. As enemies dropped under the arrow barrage in confusion, some hurled javelins—but they fell halfway short. A few more volleys during their approach cut their numbers by ten. "They're fleeing!" We pursued on horseback, pinning arrows into their backs. Wheel around to shoot as they ran, chase when they turned— their ranks halved in moments. An enraged voice boomed from their camp
"Cowards! We demand a fair duel!" One yellow-haired brute raised a stone axe high and bellowed. A few of our tribesmen snickered. Do we have to fight fair on the battlefield? If that's how they wanted it, they should've just boxed. Anyway. Since that's their dying wish, I'll grant it. I wheeled my mount and charged. Drew the short spear from my belt. "Hup!" Might as well show off some superhuman strength while throwing. Riding full tilt for momentum. What happens if I hurl it at full power? Pang! It tore through the air
In an instant, it slammed into the yellow-haired enemy leader's chest. His body lifted off and flew a good distance. This time, he smashed into a rock, neck snapping back, skull caving from the impact. The spear hadn't even stuck in the rock, but the sheer force made them think it pinned him there. "B-Bear!" "A massive bear!" Screams like tearing metal. The enemies panicked, tripping over each other, impaling themselves on their own spears—total pandemonium. I slowed my horse and leaped down. In one motion, I cleaved a throat with the iron-bronze sword
Sek!Spurt! The feel of bone parting. No bone knife, no matter how sharp, could decapitate in one swing like that. As they screamed and fled, I hacked a few backs. Razor-honed, the blade bit beautifully. Blood sprayed everywhere. Severed arms from runners, stabs opening guts. Some collapsed mid-flight from blood loss. Five made it back alive. Hoofbeats thundered as tribesmen arrived. "The chieftain's unmatched!" "Hey, don't hog all the fun yourself." "Hahaha!" I flicked the blood from my sword and sheathed it
Black Bear asked, "Chieftain, let the runners go?" "Yeah. That's how our story spreads." We gathered spent spears and arrows, heading back at a leisurely pace.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Fertile Land Tribe Chieftain Swift Wind couldn't believe the scene unfolding before him. "A man riding a horse?!" "Impossible." His own warriors were equally stunned. The enemies kept moving, peppering them with small spears. Chase and flee, over and over. They were utterly toyed with. Finally, a hulking enemy warrior slaughtered their men with a weapon none had ever seen
A warrior who'd witnessed it up close was half out of his mind. "Th-That wasn't human weaponry." "Not human?" "It wasn't a man's tool!" So were they even human? The rumor spread through the tribe like wildfire. They ride swift beasts and wield weapons beyond experience. And their leader. A terrified warrior testified, mind frayed by fear. "The fierce river rat flew up and smashed into the rock." "Possible?!" "Swear it! Not human." If not human, then what? As fear infected the tribe, Swift Wind thought differently
"They're few in number! We outnumber their warriors—this is our chance." "Chance...?" Kill the enemy, steal their tech. That's how they'd grown their tribe all this time, right? Capture them, wrench out their secrets. He wasn't clever himself, but blending other tribes' specialties? That was Swift Wind's forte.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We took our time returning, surveying the surroundings. Not sightseeing—for resources that could benefit the tribe. Satellite cities are a distant prospect, but worth scouting candidates now
I paid special attention to mineral colors and riverbank sands. Civilization is half civil engineering, so quality sand and limestone got marked. The civil officials scanned fields for bean varieties. Thanks to yesterday's river(weed?) lesson on crop rotation, they aimed to test which beans restored soil best. Beans are food themselves; their pods make prime horse fodder. Multiple perks? Eyes lit like torches. Yellow Hand noted it on a thin stone tablet. Quality lime, silica, sand, clay. Satellite city sites too
As territory expands, finding fertile land gets tough—better mark early. But as tablets piled up, his horse got feisty, so tribesmen shared the load. Knowledge accumulates; we've expanded the proto-library (stone tablet warehouse) several times. This has me thinking we need paper soon. Early papyrus should be doable. Nothing high-tech; ancients used it pre-BC. Crush reeds, peel thin, dry. That's why I eyed the reeds on this expedition. How long can we keep etching stone? Bamboo slips are better, but still inefficient
Down took two days; back with detours, four. Military officials weren't worried about war prep, but some civilians voiced concerns. "Chieftain, the longer we wait, the more thoroughly they'll prepare." "That's why we're taking our time." "Why?" "To instill overwhelming terror. Only then won't they dare rebel."