Blood Red Road

by Moira Young

  The King requires your life in payment, says Pinch. It’s simple. You give yourself to him and they all go free. Your precious brother, your innocent little sister and your friends.

  I don’t say nuthin.

  No one is holding you, he says. You’re free to walk away. But the moment you do, his finger will slip and … pop! No more little sister.

  I stare at him. Frozen.

  DeMalo’s watchin me, his face blank.

  Think, Saba, think!

  Ah, says Pinch, so many questions going through your mind. Does he have more men? Waiting out of sight? Your friends probably told you not to trust him. You’re thinking, how do I know if he’ll keep his word?

  He pauses. Then, You don’t, he says. That’s what makes this so delicious.

  Let her go, you bastard, I says.

  His face twists. He backhands Emmi across the face an she falls to the ground. Right away, he hauls her back up by one arm. There’s a ugly red mark spreadin over her cheek.

  Your fault, he says.

  The red hot rushes through me. I’ll do whatever you want, I says, but you gotta let her go first.

  A show of good faith? He shakes his head. No.

  I feel sweat tricklin down my back. I look at Emmi. I look back at Lugh, Ike, Tommo, Ash. Watchin me. Waitin. An Jack.

  Ah Jack.

  None of ’em move.

  The blood pounds in my ears. My heart’s in my throat. My belly twists.

  I turn back to Pinch.

  You win, I says.

  I hold my hands up slowly.

  He waves a hand. DeMalo stays where he is an the Tonton guard runs over. He jerks my hands behind me an ties ’em tight.

  Now let my sister go, I says.

  Pinch don’t move. He jest stands there, starin at me fer a long long moment. Then his lips stretch in his ruined face. He’s smilin.

  For every winner, he says, there must be a loser.

  He raises a hand. DeMalo lifts a twisted piece of metal to his lips an blows. A loud noise splits th’air. A flock of birds rises up in a flurry

  I look around wildly, my heart racin.

  Tonton step outta the woods at the top of the hill. Right behind Lugh an the rest. Twelve of ’em, with crossbows an bolt guns aimed an at the ready. They must of circled out to come at the hill from the north.

  I hear a strange sound. Like … a hammer poundin a nail in. I whirl around.

  Behind Pinch, from the direction of Freedom Fields, even more Tonton, at least fifty armed men by the look of it, come into view. They run towards us, across the plain, keepin in step with each other. The ground shakes as they approach.

  Tricked.

  Trapped.

  No way out.

  The Tonton line up in formation behind DeMalo.

  I watch as my friends lay down their weapons. Jack an Ike, Lugh an Ash an Tommo. The Tonton on the hill make ’em all lie flat on the ground with their hands behind their heads. They git a kick in the back when they resist.

  So.

  After everythin we done, after all we bin through, this is the way it ends. Not even the chance to die fightin. To die together.

  Twelve Tonton on the hill. Another fifty down here. Pinch ain’t gonna let us die easy. My mouth’s dry. The red hot’s gone.

  I’m small. Weak. Alone.

  Saba, says Emmi. Saba, do somethin. She starts to cry.

  Please, I says to Pinch. You got no reason to hurt her. Let her an the boy go. They ain’t done you no harm.

  Oh no, he says, they’ll be the first. So the rest of you can see what’s in store for you.

  I go down onto my knees. Please, I says. Let ’em go.

  A long pause. Then,

  No, he says.

  I look to DeMalo. Our eyes meet.

  Help me.

  My lips move. But no words come out.

  Pinch strokes Emmi’s face with the bolt shooter.

  Slowly or quickly, he says. Cutting or shooting. He kisses the top of her head, looking at me.

  Please, I says. Please.

  He breathes in deeply. There’s nothing like it, is there? he says. The smell of fear.

  Suddenly a hoarse cry rings out—caw! caw! caw!

  A black bird sails out over the red ridge to the west.

  It’s a crow.

  My heart stops.

  Time stops.

  There’s a low rumble of hoofs. A long line of horses an riders appears at the edge of the ridge. It’s the Free Hawks. But it’s more’n jest them. There must be another thirty or so riders who ain’t Hawks. Maev’s right in the middle. Nero swoops above me, screamin in triumph.

  The red hot kicks me in the gut. Slams into action. I leap to my feet.

  Nero! I yell.

  A small group of Free Hawks, maybe ten of ’em, come runnin outta the woods on Pine Top Hill. They take the Tonton completely by surprise. Lugh, Jack an the rest leap up an grab their weapons. The fightin starts.

  Maev comes thunderin down the ridge in a cloud of red dust, with the riders spread out behind her. They whoop an holler as they head straight fer the Tonton lined up behind DeMalo. Arrows fly ahead of ’em. The Tonton start to reel back, scream, as they hit their mark.

  What? shrieks Pinch. What is this? He looks around, frantic.

  DeMalo walks towards me. He’s got my bow an quiver slung on his back. He’s holdin my knife in his hand.

  That’s it! says Pinch. Slice her!

  DeMalo stands in front of me. He drops my bow and quiver at my feet.

  What … what are you doing? says Pinch.

  DeMalo puts his arms around me. Holds my eyes. With one slash, he cuts the ropes tyin my hands behind my back.

  DeMalo! Pinch yells.

  Until next time, DeMalo says softly. He tosses the knife on top of my other weapons. He turns to go.

  DeMalo! Pinch screams. Are you mad?

  DeMalo swings hisself onto his horse an rides off, away from the action, back in the direction of Freedom Fields. A few of the Tonton see him go an run after him.

  DeMalo! Pinch howls after him. DeMalo! Where are you going? Attack! Attack! He circles like a mad dog, wavin his bolt shooter. His lips is drawn back over his teeth. Like a wild animal in a trap. He’s still holdin Emmi to his chest. She looks terrified.

  I run at him, leap at him feet first. I kick his hand an the shooter flies up in the air. He yells in pain, spins away.

  Run, Emmi! I yell.

  Pinch lunges at me. A arrow whistles through th’air. Hits him in the chest. He screams. He staggers an falls back. I look to see who’s saved me.

  Maev gallops up. She’s got Hermes in tow behind her. He rears up, squealin with excitement.

  About time, I says. Who’re yer friends?

  The raiders from the western road, she says. We called a truce. They’re a wild crowd. When they heard there might be a fight, I couldn’t keep ’em away. She tosses me Hermes’ reins. Just outta interest, do you go lookin fer trouble, or does it jest find you?

  I wish I knew, I says.

  See you later! she says. She rides off to join in the fight.

  I swing Emmi onto Hermes. Put the reins into her hands.

  I point to the ridge that the Hawks jest rode down. See that? Git yerself to the top. Stay outta the way till this is over an fer gawdsake, hang on this time.

  But I wanna fight! she says. You gotta let me stay an fight!

  No way! Heeya! I slap Hermes on the rump an he takes off like a shot. He’ll keep her safe.

  Up on Pine Top Hill, the fight’s over. All quiet. Them twelve Tonton’s eether dead or fled.

  Lyin on the ground below, Pinch ain’t movin. A arrow sticks outta his chest. He won’t be gittin up no time soon.

  Nero calls. He swoops down. I hold up my arm an he lands on it. I stroke his feathers, kiss his soft black head, breathe in his dusty bird smell. Gawdammit, Nero, I says. You sure took yer time.

  He’s a crow that likes excitement, Nero. If there’s somethin ha
ppenin, he ain’t gonna hang around. He flaps his wings at me, caw-caws an flies off to watch the action from high above.

  I start runnin. Head fer the thick of the fight. Hawks, western road raiders an my friends aginst the Tonton. Excitement races through my body, speeds my feet.

  I snatch a arrow from my quiver as I run. Load my crossbow. I start shootin the second I catch sight of a black robe.

  Ike’s slashin away on the edge of the action, a wicked lookin longsword in one hand an a studded chain in th’other. Tommo’s at his back, busy with the slingshot.

  Ike grins when he sees me. Now this is what I call a fight! he shouts.

  I wade into the middle of the battle. At one point, me an Jack’s fightin back to back. Then Lugh an me. Then me an Ash.

  Look! yells Ash. Pinch! He’s gittin away!

  I spot him. He’s managed to pull the arrow outta his chest. He’s climbin onto his big white stallion. Slowly, painfully.

  Got him! I says. I run towards him flat out. As he pulls hisself onto the horse, I shoot my last arrow. It hits him in his bad leg an he cries out.

  He tries to wrench the arrow out as he fumbles with the reins. The horse rears up. It squeals an dances as it tries to throw off a rider it don’t trust.

  I make a dive fer him. Grab at his caged leg. He kicks out an the cage catches me unner the chin. I go flyin back an slam onto the ground. Git the air knocked outta me.

  As I drag myself to to my feet, he gallops away. Towards the Hoodoos. I look around me, frantic. Not a horse in sight.

  Then I see Ash gallopin towards me. On the black mustang we took from Pinch’s stable. He goes like the wind.

  Quick! I yell. He’s gittin away! Let me take Titan!

  She jumps down right away. I swing myself on to his back.

  Wait! she says, holdin the reins. We’re winnin, Saba. You got Lugh back. Emmi’s safe. Let him go.

  No, I says.

  What does it matter?

  It matters to me, I says. Let go, Ash.

  Then I’ll come with you, she says.

  This is my fight, I says. Don’t tell the rest of ’em where I’ve gone. Promise me, Ash.

  All right, if that’s what you want.

  She lets go the reins. Steps away.

  I wheel Titan around.

  Saba! Here! Ash tosses me her half-full quiver an I catch it. Good luck!

  I’ll be back. Heeya! Heeya! I dig my heels into Titan.

  An we tear across the plain towards the sharp red fingers of the Hoodoos.

  Titan feels good unnerneath me. Strong an wild. He can feel the red hot burnin in me. It’s burnin in him too.

  Nero flies above, a little bit ahead. He’ll scout the way.

  The Hoodoos rise in front of us. They look even stranger close up.

  Deep channels etched down their high sheer sides. Sharp points. Crammed tight together. I start to see crevasses. A few thin trees cling to the mean red dirt.

  I bin watchin Pinch. He disappeared through a gap in the rocks. I walk Titan through the gap. We’re on a narrow path worn into the earth that snakes its way around the rocks. Right away, I see the prints of Pinch’s horse.

  It’s gloomy here. Like bein in a deep canyon.

  An it’s silent. A heavy silence. Like the very rocks is holdin their breath.

  But there’s alway somethin to listen to, even in silence. Up ahead, a nervous horse whinnies. Stamps his feet. There’s alway somethin to smell. There it is. The faintest whiff. Sour, sweet, rotten. The smell of Pinch.

  Then, a echo.

  I halt Titan. Wait while it dies away. It’s the sound of rocks fallin. An a faint, scrapin sound as Pinch drags his injured leg behind him.

  I slide offa Titan’s back. Wait here, I whisper.

  There’s a couple of Hoodoos rounder an smoother’n the rest. I can see a way up between ’em. I start to climb.

  The earth’s dry an loose unnerfoot. I move careful, tryin not to make any sound. Nero comes down to see what I’m doin. He hops an flaps from rock to rock, always stayin ahead of me. I hold my finger to my lips so’s he knows not to squawk or caw.

  I reach the top. Check that Pinch ain’t in sight. Pull myself up. I’m on top of a flat Hoodoo. There’s drag marks in the dirt from his leg. He couldn’t of got far. He’ll be in a lotta pain.

  I slide my bow offa my back. Fit a arrow to the strings. Then I start to follow the drag marks. They stop at the edge of my flat Hoodoo.

  I send Nero up into the air. Almost right away, he starts circlin. He’s found Pinch. Looks like he’s on the next Hoodoo to this one. It goes straight up, like a jagged chimley.

  He must be on the far side of it.

  There’s a little gap between the Hoodoos. Maybe two foot. Only a small bit of flat rock to land on, then a narrow ledge goes off to the left an disappears around the corner.

  He could be right around that corner. He’s got his bolt shooter. But he’s injured. He’s weak. Maybe even dyin.

  The devil ain’t so easy to kill.

  I look at Nero, still circlin above. He seems calm enough. I jump over the gap an land lightly. I’m on the Hoodoo with Pinch.

  My breath’s tight in my throat. I flatten my back aginst the rock. Then I start to sidle along the ledge. To inch my way around the corner.

  Be ready.

  I move slowly. Feel ahead with with my right foot. I don’t make a sound. I only got a chance if I take him by surprise.

  Be ready.

  The ledge starts to widen out. Wider. Wider. I’m turnin the corner.

  Now.

  I move fast. My bow at the ready.

  I take it in at a glance.

  I’m on a wide ledge on the side of the Hoodoo. Pinch is sittin on a rock, restin his leg.

  He looks up, startled. He reaches fer his bolt shooter.

  I let fly with my arrow. It glances offa his hand.

  He yells out but keeps goin fer the shooter.

  No time to reload my bow.

  I dive at him. Knock him offa the rock.

  Somehow he’s managed to git hold of his shooter. He tries to jam it unner my chin. We struggle an I knock it outta his hand.

  He gits his fist unner my chin. Pushes up into the soft bit.

  I cain’t breathe. He’s pressin on my windpipe. I grab his hand with both of mine. Try to pull it away. I kick an squirm.

  But he’s stronger’n I ever imagined.

  The rank stink of his breath, his sweat, fills my nostrils.

  No escape this time, he says.

  I claw at his robes. Then I claw his burnt face.

  He shrieks an rolls offa me.

  I dive at my bow. I dropped my quiver when I jumped Pinch an my arrows is scattered all over. I scrabble around on my hands an knees, reachin fer one.

  But Pinch is on his feet. Holdin his bolt shooter with both hands. Aimin it right at me.

  I scuttle as far away from him as I can. Press myself aginst the rock.

  Pinch comes towards me. His face bleedin where I clawed him. He’s a terrible mess. Blood an burnt flesh an flaky gold paint.

  Somethin sharp’s cuttin into my hand. I’m clutchin somethin in my hand. A little bit of mirror from Pinch’s robe. I must of ripped it off.

  Suddenly the sun catches it. It throws out a sharp shard of light.

  Pinch flings up his hand. Covers his eyes.

  A chance. I got a chance.

  I flash the mirror at him agin. Then I move. Quickly. Silently.

  He aims the shooter where he thinks I am.

  I move. Flash the mirror agin. Move.

  He waves the shooter around. Stay still! he yells.

  I flash the mirror. Move.

  He shoots.

  I duck.

  The shot goes wild. Ricochets offa the rock, sendin red dust flyin everywhere.

  As the echo dies down, as the dust clears, I see Pinch.

  He’s standin a few paces from the edge of the ledge. He looks surprised. There’s blood gushin
outta his neck. The bolt’s ripped through it. He touches his neck. Looks at his wet red fingers like he cain’t believe what he sees. Then he presses his hand to the wound.

  But I’m the King, he says.

  You ain’t no King, I says.

  They said you were the Angel of Death, he says. He takes a step towards me, blood gushin out from between his fingers. I didn’t believe them.

  Suddenly Nero dives at him, squawkin an flappin. Pinch’s arms fly up. He staggers. Steps back into thin air.

  I rush to the edge.

  He’s on his back. His arms an legs flung out. His eyes wide open.

  Speared on the sharp point of the Hoodoo below.

  Nero flutters down to land on my shoulder.

  By rights, I should feel somethin. Joy or relief or triumph or … somethin. But I don’t. I don’t feel nuthin.

  The wind moans among the red teeth of the Hoodoos.

  The sound of birds above me. I look up at the sky. The vultures is already startin to circle.

  Let’s git outta here, I says.

  As I ride up to the battlefield on Titan, they’re clearin up.

  I spot Lugh. He’s sittin on the ground a little ways off, lookin exhausted. When he sees me, he raises a hand. Jack an Ash is helpin out with a few injured Hawks. Luckily, it don’t look like nuthin too bad. But we lost two Hawks an one of the raiders. They’re bein tied onto the backs of their own horses to go back to Darktrees where they’ll be set on a funeral pyre.

  Emmi rides up on Hermes. She jumps down, goes runnin over to Lugh an throws herself into his arms.

  Everybody else is movin around, gatherin weapons an anythin else that might come in useful. Ike’s bendin over a dead Tonton, checkin to see what he’s got on him. Tommo’s standin beside, watchin him.

  A movement catches my eye. A Tonton. Lyin on the ground not far from Ike an Tommo. He’s raised hisself up on one elbow. He lifts his bolt shooter. Aims it.

  Ike! I scream.

  He straightens. He turns.

  I yank my crossbow around. Snatch a arrow. Load. Fire.

  It all happens at once. It all happens too fast. The Tonton shoots, jest as Tommo throws hisself at Ike. They both go down.

  My arrow hits the Tonton.

  Ike! I scream. Tommo! I gallop over an leap off. I’m there the same time as Jack.

  Tommo’s lyin on top of Ike. I haul him into my arms. He lays there, limp. His eyes is closed.