The Gorge

A deft exploration of the subjugation and exploitation of women in early civilizations, The Gorge recounts the adventures, trials, bravery, and sacrifice of four girls struggling to understand their place in a world that undervalues their skills, their dreams, and their abilities. Together, they will prove themselves the equals of any warriors, triumph over their enemies, and learn to defend themselves both morally and intellectually. With a little help from the Others, they might just change the world.The People have walked the land since time began, migrating as the seasons changed. They do not plant crops, like the Lowlanders, nor do they pillage and plunder like the vicious Raiders. Micaela is of the People, one of four orphaned girls within the clan. All four eagerly anticipate the annual winter migration, but first they must undergo a rite of passage. The Breeding is an ancient ceremony, vital to the continued existence of the tribe. It's also the one area where young women have any semblance of worth.But The Breeding has unexpected consequences for the four girls, leaving them ostracized from their clan. To survive, the four need to draw upon resources and strength they never knew existed. By doing so, they may just change their society-presuming they don't fall prey to Raiders, the harsh desert, or their own people first.Four young orphan girls look forward to the annual winter migration of their early civilization hunter/gatherer clan with happy anticipation. Surely there will be a mate for each of them when the people of all the clans come together. But a ceremony, whose purpose is to guarantee the continuation of the species, crushes their plans. Little did the girls realize that their participation in and acquiescence to The Breeding would result in them becoming outcasts with little prospect. To rise above the stigma, they must take control of their lives, confound expectations, and become independent of those who would control them.The Gorge is an early civilization action adventure with a sinful side that centers around the migratory traditions of several groups: The People, who have been here since the beginning of man; The Others, who have assimilated themselves into this world to effect change; The Raiders, whose purpose is to pillage and plunder at will; The industrious Cliff Dwellers; The Lowlanders, whose society is based on an agrarian economy; and The Traders, who barter for and with the materials necessary for all groups to survive. The People as a whole are the main character of the story about how the actions of just a few individuals can start change in a whole civilization.God has instructed The Raiders, the most spiritual of the groups, to practice polygamy and to "bleed the sheep." These habits introduce the conflicts between groups. The conflicts between men and women are inherent - for now. But, things are changing. Based on the circumstances of humans on Earth 10,000 years ago The Gorge is about the physical and mental subjugation of women. In most cases, the exploitation was not mean spirited. Rather, it was a consequence of the social norms of the group. However, on other occasions, it is brutal. And, it is the story of adventures, perseverance, bravery, and hard work of four young girls struggling to understand and to overcome their situation.The action is continuous as Micaela and her friends face famine, flood, animal attacks, and The Raiders. They suffer the cold of the upper Canyon counterpoised by the heat of the desert. In the process, they prove the equal of the warriors and victorious over their enemies, all the while learning to defend themselves, both morally and intellectually.The girls work toward the empowerment of women, starting with themselves.