The Totems of Abydos

CHAPTER 12





“It is to be a ceremony of some sort,” said Brenner.

It was now night.

On the next day they had been given to understand that the village would be reached.

“The git is apparently to play some role in the ceremony,” said Brenner.

“Naturally,” said Rodriguez.

“You aren’t going to use the camera,” said Brenner.

“No,” said Rodriguez. This made sense to Brenner. After all, the Pons might be familiar with cameras from Company Station, and the effects of their operation. Some primitive peoples objected to the capturing of their images, so to speak. Some feared this might steal their souls. For such reasons, and because they were still strange to the Pons, Rodriguez and Brenner would not attempt to film the ceremony, that in spite of the fact that the camera was dark-adapted. Rodriguez did have a small recorder with him. That, of course, could be easily concealed.

The Pons were in a circle.

Rodriguez and Brenner stood back, that they might not be obtrusive. They were close enough, of course, for the effective functioning of the recorder.

In the center of the circle of the Pons was a small cage of twigs. Within it, crouching down, was a tiny, stub-tailed rodent, the Abydian mouse, or git. Brenner could have held it, squirming, in his hand. This had been caught in a nest of rotted wood, half under a fallen log, earlier in the afternoon, in a sack, and then placed in the small enclosure of twigs, about which the Pons were gathered.

Rodriguez put on the recorder.

“We love you, father,” called a Pon, the voice high in the night.

“‘Father’?” asked Brenner.

“The totem animal,” said Rodriguez. “It is always referred to as “ancestor,” as “father,” as “primal father,” and such. The totem group regards itself as descended from it.”

“That is absurd,” said Brenner.

“Surely you are familiar with totemistic theory,” said Rodriguez. “The totem bond is regarded by these people as one of complete consanguinity, as one of blood, literally one of blood.”

“Forgive us, father, for what we have done,” called the Pon. “We are contrite! Show us forbearance! Be kind to us! Cherish us. Protect us! We will refrain from touching the soft ones!”

“That is exogamy, denial of the in-group females to the in-group males,” said Rodriguez. Brenner nodded. The two central tenets of totemism were reverence for the totem animal, respecting it, sparing it, and such, and exogamy. Mating was forbidden within a given totem.

“We beg your forgiveness, father!” called the voice.

“What did they do?” asked Brenner.

“Probably nothing,” said Rodriguez. “Maybe they have thought about breaking a taboo, or something, who knows?”

“Forgive us, father,” said the voice. “Love us! Cherish us! Protect us!”

There was then silence amongst the Pons.

“They are waiting for the response of the father,” whispered Rodriguez.

This rather surprising communication made Brenner, for no good reason, decidedly uneasy. There was only a little wind, however, amongst the branches. Some lantern fruit, softly glowing, moved on its stems.

Then, after a time, another Pon, from somewhere in the circle, called out the following:



Oh, I could get me in.

I could lay them waste.

But I will not do so,

for they are my children.

I am the father.



“That makes no sense,” said Rodriguez.

Brenner was forced to agree.

“Apparently the ceremony is over,” said Rodriguez. He turned off the recorder and slipped it into his pocket.

“Tomorrow,” said Brenner, “we reach the village.”

“It would seem so,” said Rodriguez. He then looked about, at the trees, and the clearing.

“You are still concerned that something is out there?” asked Brenner.

“Yes,” said Rodriguez.

“Surely the Pons know the forest,” said Brenner. “And they do not seem frightened.”

“They are stupid,” said Rodriguez.

“We reach the village tomorrow,” said Brenner.

“It will not be too soon for me,” said Rodriguez.

“You are concerned, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” said Rodriguez.