Kidogo ran over to Pandion and hung a bag on a long leather thong round his — neck.
“I looked after that for you while you were ill,” said the Negro. “It’s your sea amulet… It helped you defeat the rhinoceros, it will help us find our way to the sea if you go with us…”
Pandion remembered the stone that Yakhmos had given him. Until that moment, he had completely forgotten that gleaming symbol of the sea in the same way as he had forgotten many other things. He heaved a deep sigh. At that moment a tall man with a long spear in his hand entered the house. It was the father of Iruma. He sat down on the floor with natural ease, tucked his legs up under him and gave Pandion a friendly smile.
“I’ve come to you on an important matter,” he said, turning to Cavius. “You told us that you have decided to leave for your own country one sun from today.”
Cavius nodded his head in affirmation but did not speak, waiting for what was to come next. Pandion looked with disturbed feelings at Iruma’s father, who behaved with simple dignity.
“The journey is a long one, and there are many wild beasts lying in wait for man in the plains and in the forest,” continued the hunter. “You have but poor weapons. Remember, stranger: you cannot fight against beasts as you do against people. Swords, arrows and knives are good for use against man but against beasts the spear is better. Only the spear can stop an animal and reach its heart from a distance. Your spears are useless in our country.” He pointed to the thin Egyptian spear with its bronze head leaning against the wall. “This is the sort you need!”
Iruma’s father laid the weapon he had brought on Cavius’ knees and removed the long leather bag that covered it.
The heavy spear was more than four cubits long. Its shaft, two fingers thick, was made of hard, firm wood that was polished like bone. The shaft was slightly thickened in the middle where it was covered with the rough skin of the hyena. Instead of the usual spearhead it was surmounted by a blade, three fingers wide and a cubit long, made of light-coloured hard material — the rare and precious iron.;
Cavius touched the sharpened edge of the blade thoughtfully, tested the weight of the weapon and with a sigh returned it to its owner.
The latter smiled, studying the impression he had produced, and then said cautiously:
“It takes a lot of hard work to make a spear like this… The metal for it is obtained by a neighbouring people, who sell it at a high price. But that spear will save you time and again in mortal struggle…”
Cavius could not guess what the hunter was driving at and kept silent.
“You brought strong bows from Tha-Quem with you,” continued the hunter. “We cannot make such bows and want to exchange spears for them. The chiefs have agreed to give you two spears for each bow, and the spears, in my opinion, will be of more service to you.”
Cavius glanced inquiringly at Kidogo and the Negro nodded his head in support of the hunter’s opinion.
“‘There is plenty of game in the plains,” said Kidogo, “and we shall not need any arrows, but it will be worse in the forest. Still, the forest is a long way off, and six spears in place of three bows will be of more use against wild beasts.”
Cavius thought for a while, then agreed to the exchange and began to haggle. The hunter, however, was not to be moved — he pointed to the great value of the weapons he offered. They would never have given two spears for a bow, he said, if they had not wanted to know how the bows of the Black Land were made.
“Good!” said the Etruscan. “We would have given you our bows as a gift in return for your hospitality if we had not been travelling so far. We accept your terms. Tomorrow you will receive the bows.”
The hunter’s face beamed, he slapped Cavius’ hand, raised the spear, examined the red reflection of the torch on the blade and covered it again with the little leather bag, decorated with pieces of different-coloured skin.
Cavius held out his hand, but the hunter did not give him the weapon.
“Tomorrow you will get six spears as good as this. But this one…” Iruma’s father made a slight pause, “this one I bring as a gift to your friend Golden Eyes. Iruma stitched the bag herself. Look how pretty it is!”
The hunter held out the spear to the young Hellene, who took it hesitantly.
“You are not going with them,” said Iruma’s father, pointing to Cavius and the Negro, “but a good spear is the first thing a hunter needs, and I want you to make my family famous when you become my son!”
Kidogo and Cavius peered into the face of their friend, and the Negro pressed his fingers till they cracked. The decisive moment had come unexpectedly.
Pandion turned pale and suddenly, with a sharp gesture of dismissal, returned the spear to the hunter.
“You refuse my gift? How is that to be understood?” shouted the hunter.
“I’m going with my companions,” muttered Pandion with difficulty.
Iruma’s father stood immobile, staring at Pandion without saying a word; then he hurled the spear down at his feet.
“Let it be so, but don’t dare so much as look at my daughter again. I’ll send her away today!”
Pandion stared at the hunter with wide-open, unwinking eyes. The genuine grief that distorted his manly face softened the wrath of Iruma’s father.
“You found courage enough to make your decision before it was too late,” he said. “But if you are going, go immediately…”
The hunter again gave Pandion a saturnine glare, examined him from head to foot and made an inarticulate sound.
As he left the house Iruma’s father turned to Cavius.
“What I have said holds good,” he said rudely and disappeared into the darkness.
Kidogo was greatly troubled at the gleam in Pandion’s eyes but realized that he would have no time for his friends at that moment. Pandion stood staring into space as though he were asking the distant expanses how he should act. He turned slowly round, threw himself on his bed and covered his face with his hands.
Cavius lit a new torch — he did not want to leave Pandion alone in the darkness with his thoughts. He and Kidogo tried to keep awake without speaking. From time to time they looked at their friend in alarm but could not do anything to help him.
The time passed slowly and night fell. Pandion moved on his bed, jumped up and stood listening and then rushed towards the door. Cavius’ broad shoulders, however, barred the way, and Pandion was brought up short against his folded arms and frowned wrathfully.
“Let me out!” shouted Pandion impatiently. “I can’t help it, I must say farewell to Iruma if she hasn’t been sent away yet.”
“What do you think you’re doing?” answered Cavius. “You’ll ruin her, yourself and all of us!”
Pandion did not reply to that but tried to push the Etruscan out of his way; but Cavius stood firm.
“You’ve made your decision, so that’s enough, don’t make her father more angry,” continued Cavius in an effort to convince his friend. “Just think of what might happen.”
Pandion pushed Cavius still harder but received in return a blow in the chest that made him step back. Kidogo, seeing the clash between his friends, did not know what to do. Pandion clenched his teeth and his eyes gleamed with the fire of wrath. With dilated nostrils he rushed at Cavius. The Etruscan rapidly pulled out his knife and, holding it with the hilt towards Pandion, said:
“Here you are, strike!”
Pandion was dumbfounded.
Cavius thrust out his chest, placed his left hand on his heart and with his right continued offering the dagger to Pandion.