Читать книгу David - Allan Boone's Wargon - Страница 4

As he grew older, his solitary pursuits became habit. He was formally in charge of the herds, but in effect had much time to himself. He had a larger lute now, and became proficient at it. He also composed more songs, addressing them to his intimate Friend, the Almighty. He would sing them in a low voice, accompanying himself with music of his own making. And as he could not yet draw a bow, or wield a sword, he practised often with a sling. Slingers were a valuable part of the army, and he fantasized being captain over many. Before long he became so good that he seldom missed his targets. They went from rocks to thin leaves and the twigs of bushes. He liked watching them fall under his stones, imaging it was the stranger who had violated him. That detested being — him he would thoroughly pierce with stones, like a shield punctured everywhere by spear jabs! With blood spurting from each wound!

*

One day he heard the strangled cry of a lamb. There was commotion at the near edge of the flock. The herdsmen, talking together on the farther side, were out of hearing. David ran quickly towards the sound, and was surprised to see a sand-coloured bear, a young one, mangling the torn body of a little sheep. He was too excited to think that the bear might turn on him. Finding a heavier stone, he fitted it into his sling.

Attracted by the movement, the bear swung towards him just as the stone struck its head. The animal staggered, made one feeble clawing motion, and fell. David knew it was only stunned. He rushed to the twitching beast. There was sheep’s blood, real blood, in the bear’s mouth, and as David threw sharp rocks more blood ran down the bear’s neck. Panting, the boy took the heaviest stones he could lift and crashed them upon the head of the marauder. They were hurled with an uncharacteristic ferocity, as if he were taking out on the animal the evil that had been done him as a child. Finally, his chest heaving, David could look down at the still corpse of the bear. And next to it, the ravaged remains of the lamb.

*

His brothers skinned the bear, which proved to be a female. And they grudgingly admitted that David had killed it, the herders having told them that no one else was near. However, the boy refused an offer of the fur. His proud mother made it into a cape for the oldest to wear in winter. Though she had two women helpers, David’s mother still did most of the sewing and weaving, and she daily shaped the bread for baking. It was customarily barley bread, whether flat or round, but for special occasions or sacrifices a little wheat flour was sometimes added. Once she made an all-wheat bread for David’s birthday. The brothers put it on the tip of a spear and danced around, passing the shaft from hand to hand, keeping the bread out of reach, and laughing at the others’ chagrin. Until they finally lowered it to be shared in pieces by all. By then the enjoyment had gone out of it.