|
85.
During the time Alex, Keetoo, and Leeree were in the woods visiting Lector’s obelisk, word had arrived of at least one more murder in a distant village.
The victim, a young woman getting water from a pond, had her skull opened like the first, and her brain devoured. It was the unmistakable handiwork of a Siirk.
They sat at the council fire—Alex, Tzoofaa, Keetoo, and the lead warriors plus several of the alpha females including Leeree.
Leeree offered her thoughts: “This killer stalks water holes. He operates far across the land, because the second village he violated is far from the first. I dread that he comes here again.” She had looked across at Alex. “It is your woman he took here. Does that mean he will not strike here again, or was it a signal that he has marked us for death and we should wait in fear for his return.”
The warriors had clashed down their weapons with a loud shout.
Alex held up his hands to signal he was about to speak. “I will go search for this Siirk, and I will go alone. I will take his head myself.”
“Where do you go?” Tzoofaa said in surprise.
“Into the dead city if I need to. I will hunt him—“
“You can never come back here if you go there,” Tzoofaa said.
It was dark-light, and the fire flickered on the sweaty surfaces of Tzoofaa’s wizened head under the thin white hair. His eyes were filled with pain and finality. “If you go, Alex Kirk, do not come back here.”
“What if the gods are pleased with what I do?”
Tzoofaa wrinkled his brow, perplexed by Alex’s audacity and puzzled by the very concept of challenging the way things had always been and must always be. “The gods will deal with you, Alex. They brought you and that murderous fish-creature here, and they will take both of you away.” He spat. “What did we do to deserve this?” He rose, signaling the council was over for now. The spears came down with a vehement shout of “Wooloo!” Tzoofaa waved his hand in a dismissive gesture, and those attending dispersed into the night.
Tzoofaa signaled for Alex to stay. “I do not send you away in complete disfavor.”
“Thank you,” Alex said gratefully.
Tzoofaa stood on a boulder so that they were eye to eye. “I do not confuse what causes things with what happens from them. We have learned much from listening to Lector’s visions, including our speech, which is so much like yours. I know this, Alex.” He looked at Alex gravely, and Alex waited. The old man projected power and insight, and anyone would feel intimidated despite his small stature. “You are a new person, like we are, but you represent the past, Alex. The old people had great power, but they displeased the gods and therefore they are all long dead. We are the new people, and we remain in the favor of the gods. Whatever you do, good luck.” He put a hand on Alex’s shoulder.
“Thank you,” Alex said.
“Sleep well. In the new light we will pray goodbye, and never see each other again. That is how it must be.”
|
