While Vincent was being confined with the rest of the slaves in the slaves hut a couple of days later; he heard from a fellow prisoner about a war that took place a very long time ago far to the south.
This man had been captured the previous year by Haski's people. He was one of eight males that undertook a trip north of his village in an attempt to capture a "weega" which was, from his description, a kind of three foot long reptile. Its bones, once ground and mixed with other ingredients so that it could ferment, had the power to produce dreams that were revelations of things to come.
Haski's people had attacked them and five of their group had been killed while the three others were taken prisoners. He also told Vincent about a tribe of strange people living much farther south of his own native land.
These people knew much about the 'war of the gods'. They claimed that the land in their vicinity was marked with the scars of battles. Fire and lightning produced by the gods as they engaged in war struck the ground had destroyed everything over large areas.
Judging by the slave's description of the widespread destruction of the land and the scars that were still visible there to this day, Vincent could only think that modern weapons had been used in this war. He decided that it would be worthwhile to investigate this place if he ever got the chance since these so-called gods could well be those that had built the arch.
At last, the day of the feast of manhood arrived and everything was prepared for the ceremonies. Most of the fires in the central portion of the village were lit and they all had clay caldrons hanging over them while in some cases whole carcasses of animals were slowly roasting over them.
At the back of the chief's living quarters were two small huts. One was used to store tools while the other was used to make and ferment the strong sour beer that the inhabitants of the village liked so much.
On that day, half a dozen female slaves - all the male slaves were locked away in the male's quarters - were busy carrying clay vases full of beer from this hut. Quite a few people were already in an advanced state of intoxication from the potent brew, even if the ceremonies had not yet begun.
The feast officially began in the middle of the afternoon with the killing ceremony. Each of the two boys that were to be initiated into manhood, had to kill with their bared hands a small deer-like animal no taller than a small dog.
To Vincent, who was watching from the confinement of the slave's quarters, it was unnecessary cruelty. When both animals were dead at last, they set them to roast over a sacred fire that had been especially prepared for this purpose.
Each boy was then given a leather necklace, then in a ceremony of magic signs and words, their weapons and faces were decorated by Haski. Once this ceremony was over the feast really began. There was much over-eating and drinking, soon almost everyone was in an advanced state of drunkenness while most of the women slaves were called upon to sexually serve the men.
Both young men that had been initiated into manhood were offered a female slave and in front of the whole village they were expected to perform and have sexual intercourse with them.
There was much cheering and laughter from the crowd and as soon as this deed was performed, and having now having become men, were offered a jug of beer.
The eating and drinking went on well into the night. During all that time, Vincent watched them through the vertical cracks between the logs of the slave's fence and more than once he was shocked by the villagers' lack of decency.
As the hours passed by, half of the men were too drunk to stand on their feet while the other half was were busy copulating here and there either with slaves or with women from the village. Some of the slaves were actually enjoying themselves while others were being forced to do things that Vincent hadn't even dared to imagine before.
As he was observing the feast in the dark, Vincent suddenly saw two women appearing out of nowhere. They were just outside the fence of the males slaves quarters.
They approached the pole fence nearer to him and he was soon able to recognize them. They were Nika and Verla. As soon as they were near enough, he signaled them with his hand through a crack between poles and he whistled at the same time so as to attract their attention. As soon as they noticed him, they walked toward him immediately.
"Nika, I am so glad to see you. Are you hurt?
"I though that I would never see you again," said Nika as she reached for his hand. She had tears in her eyes.
"Don't worry we will get away from this place, and very soon at that. As a matter of fact as soon as they are all drunk tonight we will get away."
He next turned his attention to Verla. "Are you still willing to escape with us? Will Lomac your mate come with us?"
"Yes we will go with you. We will do what you say."
"Very well then. We will escape in the night, when most of the people of the village are drunk, you must tell Lomac to prepare himself."
"Nika, do you know where Haski keeps my riffle?"
"Yes. I have watched him once as he was examining it. When he was done with it he then wrapped it in a fur and placed it in a hole under his mat. He believes it is strong magic and I can tell he is afraid of it."
