The Caveman
Copyright© 2016 by Colin Barrett
Chapter 23
I am almost sorry that Danny must leave. I have come to like him well in the days he has been here. And I think he feels so about me as well. Before he leaves he reaches out again with his hand to touch mine, and when I extend mine to him he grips it as before and then pulls me to him for an embrace as a brother. He clasps my shoulder as he says his farewell.
Afterwards Linda and I spend our time together as before, and she teaches me again. At first it is still language, but as time passes she goes on to other things and I learn more of the strangeness that is the place where I have come.
In the time when I live before all things may be had by work. Food, clothing, dwellings, all may be found in the world around or made from things that are found there.
Here it is the same some ways, but very different and more complicated.
A thing called money now is at the heart of almost everything. When people work today it is generally for the purpose of receiving this money from others, not for bringing food to the hearth or building the house or other things for themselves. Instead, the money is exchanged with others for these things, and it is by this means that people make their lives.
In one way this is familiar to me. Among my people one named Akkuda is the best knapper of flint. Akkuda does not himself hunt, his time is given to his craft. He makes the spearheads that are on my spears and the spears of most others. But when I succeed in a hunt, a portion of my share must go to Akkuda; and some of the furs and skins and things of the hearth also are given to Akkuda for his work.
When I tell this to Linda she says some of this is so today. Sometimes people trade with one another in such a way still, she calls it “barter,” though most exchanges are with money. Also she says that if one is skilled in a craft that is needed, in the way that Akkuda was, one receives greater money than others who lack such skills. And she says that there are also other ways to acquire money even without work.
All things in this time are owned, are the possessions of this one or that one. Even the land itself is apportioned out, and all things on that portion; one may not hunt, or take wood, or do other such things without permission of the owner.
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