River Story (fragment)

This is the start of a story that I'd completely forgotten about until I recently found it in an old record book journal I used to keep. I don't know why I didn't continue it.

        The sky was overcast with clouds, smoke and ash. It seemed as if the sun had begun to pale and age. The trees stood out in black as Mons began to laugh as he stood naked in the branches. Others stood smiling in nearby trees, their branches naked without leaves.  Mons laughed louder and the others began to laugh along with him, the laughter echoing from black buildings standing on the horizon.

The front tire was flat but Mons couldn’t fix it because there were no tools or even a jack. As he got up from looking at the tire he looked at the sky. It seemed like ages since the sun shone through but the mass in the sky was getting lighter. Dan stood with his shirt fluttering in the breeze and said there was no more water, so they tumbled into the dusty ditches and lay among the crisp dried leaves.

The sun shone down from a clear sky as Mons put his mouth to the clear cool river.  Downstream the women were playing in the water as his heart beat happy and he walked up the hill to the other men standing in a large dirt circle that lay in the glossy green grass of the hilltop. They watched him in silence as he studied the circle and the rocks arranged within it. Then he stepped into the center of the circle and stooped to arrange a few rocks and pebbles. As he stood back the men smiled at him and gestured congratulations. Mons stepped out of the circle and looked at the wide wide river glistening in the dim sun. As the breeze blew gently across his skin a sharp tingle went down his spine and he cocked his head for a second. Then gesturing hurriedly he sent the men running down the hill to the river. He and the other men pulled the women to an inlet where weeds and brush hung over the water and they lay down in it to their necks.  Just as the water lost the waves of their movement, a sliver winged object, glistening in the sun, flew high overhead without a sound. As they gazed at it in fear and wonder it tipped on a wing, made a circle above them and disappeared over the horizon on the other side of the river. The others looked at Mons and he knew what they wanted, so he gestured to another man to come with him and they started to swim across the river.