Valley of the Hominid People

This book is set about a million years ago. The land, animals, and the specie, homo erectus, are described. It is the first hominid to settle; and where, when, and why is portrayed. A young hominid, Eedah', is compelled to explore a valley above the large falls that begin the river system where they have settled. In the midst of this valley he discovers a tree and eats a fruit from it with psychedelic affects that changes his thought patterns. After exploring to the end of the valley he sets back to return home. Determined to hide the tree and what it has done to him he goes to destroy it, but cannot. He returns home and then leads his fellow homo erectus, the Ahda, into the valley. He leads them to the tree to show them and forbid them to eat of it and he finds it has been destroyed by lightning. He has them erect a barrier around the area and tells them that if it ever grows back to never touch or eat its fruit. His descendants build a wonderful hominid civilization in the valley. In time the tree has grown back. The mate of the last leader of the valley discovers the secret of the fruit. She tricks her mate into eating it and they then poison the entire valley with the fruit. At the same time the party comes to a disastrous end, the valley is destroyed by an earthquake and volcano forcing them to leave the valley.