Crossing the River

"Even so, she is human," Anbana replied. "You are surely not doubting what the spirits told me?"

"No, of course not," the doubter said hastily. It was not wise to go against the wishes of the spirits - or of Anbana, for that matter, who was both leader and shaman for their village.

"They must come from a very primitive tribe if they wear no clothing," the older woman said.

"Perhaps their tribe's gods forbid them clothes," the remaining man suggested.

"Yes, that could be the reason," Anbana agreed. "We had better not risk offence by offering them any. But we have discussed this for long enough. I will invite them to come to our village."

Fred and Astra saw that the three men, the woman and the girl seemed to be having an animated discussion, obviously about themselves. They managed to catch a few words here and there, though the distance was too great to hear very much. The few words that they did catch were not in any language that either of them recognised. After a short while, the one who had appeared to do most of the talking, a gray-haired man whom they guessed must be the leader, beckoned to them.

"He wants us to come across to them," Fred realised.

"Yeth. I don't thee any thign of a boat, though. Lookth like we'll have to thwim acroth. They don't appear hothtile, and it would be nithe to have human company again. I think we ought to rithk it."

"Yes, I agree."

The distance was no more than fifty yards, and the current was not very strong, so Fred and Astra had no difficulty in swimming across. When they emerged from the water, the leader held up his right hand towards them with the palm facing outwards. Guessing that this was intended as a greeting, Fred and Astra mimicked the gesture. Then the leader pointed at himself and said: "Anbana."

Assuming that this was the man's name, Fred indicated himself and said: "Fred." To her annoyance, the best that Astra could manage was: "Athtra."

1. The other natives introduced themselves, and then the leader indicated that Fred and Astra should come with them.

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