Things Change, Things Stay the Same

Setting: Moravia, December 25,000 B.C.; at the mouth of a Cro-Magnon clan rockshelter; shortly after sunrise; temperature -20°C

The small group of Cro-Magnon hunters stood shivering in the chill morning air. They carried food for a hand of days; the mammoth hunt might take them far across the icy, windswept steppe. They leant upon their spears, waiting for Jahrn; Jahrn was late … again.

The leader, Krug, looked at his assembled kinfolk. They were bundled warmly against the frigid air; bearskin cloaks gathered tightly over their reindeer-skin leggings and tunics; rabbit-skin hats and mitts covering as much exposed skin as possible. Then he looked at his nephew Throg. Throg was wearing reindeer-skin leggings and an open vest.

“Uhm, Throg, are you sure you’re dressed warmly enough?” asked Krug.

“I’m fine,” replied the young man.

“It’s cold now, and it’ll be a lot colder when we get out on the steppe.”

“I said I’m fine.”

“We’re going to be out for a long time, probably days, and …”

“I’m not cold, I’ll be fine,” grumbled the young man.

Krug looked at his nephew. The boy was trying to look like a tough, experienced hunter but Krug thought he could detect a continual slight shiver; and the boy’s teeth were starting to chatter. “Idiot,” Krug thought.

“Maybe you’re not cold now, but you might be later. You should at least wear your hat and mitts, and you could carry your warm cloak,” suggested Krug, trying to keep his tone light.

“Krug’s right,” said Derhn, the boy’s older cousin, “the wind out’n the plain is pure nasty; she’ll steal all your heat if you’re not dressed right.”

“Look, I said I’ll be fine,” bit out the young man.

Krug couldn’t help it; he turned his head and rolled his eyes. “Damned fool idiot,” he thought.

“Hey, are we going hunting today or not?” rumbled Krahg, the leader’s brother, “’cause if we’re not I’m not standing out here all day in the damned wind.”

Krug looked up as his cousin Jahrn finally saw fit to put in an appearance.

“We’re going hunting,” he said, “and” - turning to his nephew - “if you get cold, or your ears turn black and fall off don’t come complaining to me … or to your mother”