He tugged at the loin clothe of one of the men. “Where is he?” he asked.

The man was Monokai, his eldest brother. He looked down at Lor Dak. “It looks like your plan is about to be put to the test. Cholai is half way across the field and running fast.”

Lor Dak moved to the front of the warriors just as Cholai joined them. “They’re coming,” he said to the chief as he panted heavily. “I could hear them coming along the path. They can’t be more than five minutes behind me.”

“Okay,” said the chief to Cholai, “you go find your designated tree and rest, and get your blowtube ready for the battle.”

It was less than five minutes, closer to three that the Sartoris came charging into the open field. When they saw the Daki waiting for them on the other side of the field they came to a halt and waited for orders. The commanders stepped forward to assess the situation.

“It won’t be long now,” said Chief Molini. “We have never been a threat to the Sartoris powerful army, and because of that, they will attack without hesitation, without taking time to ponder the situation or to assess the lay of the land. They will attack full force, so make ready to retreat.” Looking at the Sartoris the chief was obviously having second thoughts. “And may the jungle God be with us this day. We will need a little of His help to overcome this fierce army.” He paused, then said, “I fear we may have made a mistake.”

But Lor Dak was beginning to feel confident about his plan. He watched the Sartori commanders form their soldiers into ranks preparing to charge, and he thought, With their high vaulted egos, it will never occur to them that they are being baited to their deaths. In a way, he felt bad that these men had to die, but it was not right that they took his mother, it was not right that they killed his father and the father’s of other children in the tribe, it was not right that they stole tools and food, it was not right that they roamed the territory of the southern continent doing the same to other tribes. They were thieves of the worst kind.