Never before has he experienced such freedom!
The curve of his beak parts the dawn sky as he spirals upwards from where his man-body lies inert on the koppie. A wisp of fragrant smoke from the flickering embers of the camp fire floats upwards in his wake. Then the last remaining log splits asunder and explodes in a shower of pin-prick scarlet sparks.
He soars on the thermals; the warm air fills his wings and transports him over the purple veld. He flies east, as the new day’s pink-gold sun emerges and spills over the purple mountains. Below him, he watches his own shadow running beside a long ribbon of eland as they follow-my-leader across the parched earth.
His keen eye discerns the path his companions have taken and he smells their scent which lingers in the breeze.
The song of the San Man reaches out to him across the sapphire sky.
Soon he alights on a branch of the solitary thorn tree. His companions are resting in the still-silence; neither awake nor asleep, drifting in the half-light of the awakening veld. Now, with his arrival, they let go and he watches over them as they sleep.
The San Man picks up his spear-stick and walks silently off into the veld.
Back on the koppie a slender figure emerges from the cave. She kneels down by the man who lies by the dying fire. He stirs, staring up at her with unseeing eyes. She shakes her head. He sleeps on.
/… to be continued
luna's on line 
The story continues to be more and more interesting.
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I’m pleased that it’s continuing to draw you in 🙂
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It sure it! 👌
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Love the voiceless action! The silence is filled with movement and promise. xxxxxxxxxx
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I’m really pleased you find this works, Jean. It’s a bit of a departure for me to detach myself so far from the characters and the action.
By the way, did you receive the email I sent?
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YES! Ugh, the teaching stuff makes me so slow on everything else. Sorry I didn’t say anything!
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No, no problem 🙂
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Wonderful writing, Chris. This story continues to fascinate me.
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🙂 It’s very pleasurable to write. The mood and style take me to a quite different place. I hope I’m taking my readers there too.
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It really does transport the reader. I love the mood you’ve set up.
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I love the ‘mood’ of this, Chris. – sorry, sounds a little cliched, but I can’t think what else to call it.
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Thanks Cath 🙂 – I’ve been experimenting with this POV for my ‘San Man stories’ and it does affect the ‘mood’ of these short pieces. It feels very different working with this level of detachment; it’s quite hard to explain, even to myself.
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I am captivated by the story, wonderful detail and continuity.
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Thanks, Paul 🙂
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Very welcome Chris
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[…] /…previously […]
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