Breath of the Feathered Serpent

by Pelaam

  Mecatl touched the stone reverently. “Behold the Breath of Quetzalcoatl,” he said. His voice was loud in the silence that had descended on the room. “If we leave today, we should still have a day to spare before our king hosts the emperor.”

  He’d barely finished speaking when a shot rang out, shattering a window and sending everyone in the room to the ground. One of the Jaguar Warriors grunted as he fell, the bullet hitting him high in the shoulder. Weapons were quickly drawn, and everyone headed to a window to defend the house.

  Madison tapped the shoulders of a couple of the Lazy E ranch hands. “Give us some cover,” he said and headed to the door. “We can’t let ourselves be trapped in here.”

  Adam watched as his friend and the other men ran from the house, firing wildly. A barrage of gunfire from the house provided cover, and Adam sighed with relief as Madison made it safely. He crawled over to Mecatl and indicated for the warrior to follow him.

  “Look, we know it’s Stone, and he wants that statue. So here’s my thought. I’ll fill the bag with a sheet and hightail out of here. Stone can’t take the chance that I don’t have the statue. I’ll head east to the next nearest town. West will be too heavily guarded. Some of his men will have to come after me and reduce the numbers here.”

  Mecatl nodded. “I have a better idea to make it twice as difficult.”

  Adam listened to his friend and nodded. A couple of minutes later he, Mecatl, and two Jaguar Warriors ran to the stables under a hail of cover fire. Adam took a few seconds to tell Madison what they were doing as he mounted Cinnamon, and then the four men galloped out, jumping the fences to ride hard and fast away from the ranch.

  Yells and shouts sounded around them. Adam risked a glance behind him and saw the ploy had worked. Some of Stone’s men were coming after them, reducing the number attacking the ranch house. He smiled at Mecatl, and then they peeled away from each other heading in different directions, each taking a warrior with them.

  Adam headed towards the gulley that led to open ground and the next town, but a volley of gunfire alerted him to Stone having thought of this avenue of escape. Adam grimaced as the warrior fell from his horse. Then he gave a sigh of relief as the Aztec crawled into the rocks. Another round of gunfire forced Adam to dismount and scramble up into the rocks. He cursed. He was surrounded.

  There was only one option left to him. Upwards. If he could climb up the rocks and across, he could either lose his pursuers or put himself in a position to pick them off. He started to clamber upwards, but gunfire sent rock shards zinging past his face and dust into his eyes.

  With a yell, he lost his grip and fell. Landing heavily, the air left his lungs in a whoosh, and his vision grayed. By the time his head stopped ringing and he opened his eyes, he was looking down the barrels of pistols held by two hard-looking men.

  When he was tied securely with his hands behind his back, one of the men caught Cinnamon and brought her over. Adam mounted with difficulty and had to content himself with being their prisoner. He could only hope Mecatl had fared better.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Adam was taken back toward the ranch by Stone’s man, the two shooters remaining behind in case of any other escapees. When he reached the rest of Stone’s men, Adam was pulled off his horse and shoved in front of Stone.

  Stone’s eyes were gray, cold, and flat. A frisson of fear skittered down Adam’s spine as he looked into them, but he tilted his chin defiantly. “You may have me, but you still don’t have the statue,” he said.

  “You didn’t have it. Neither did the Indian. So it’s still in the house.” Stone turned away from Adam. “Come here.”

  Initially Adam couldn’t see who he commanded, but when he did, his blood ran cold.

  An automaton marched stiffly forward, a semi-conscious Mecatl in its embrace. His friend’s back was against its chest, and the automaton’s arms wrapped around him, holding him off the ground. Adam winced as he saw a crude bandage high on Mecatl’s arm, and a trail of blood snaked down from the still-oozing wound.

  Stone half-turned and smirked at Adam. “You come,” he said turning back.

  A second automaton lumbered forward. Unlike some automatons Adam had seen, Stone’s were very basic models, man-shaped but without any refining features. Their movements were slow and jerky, but there was no doubting their strength.

  Adam struggled in the grip of the men holding him, but they positioned him with his back to the robot. They kept their pistols pointed at him as they slashed his bonds. The machine was a good foot taller than him, easily putting it over seven feet. At Stone’s command, the automaton wrapped its arms around Adam, pinning his arms to his sides and lifting him into a near-crushing embrace against its chest.

  Stone’s lips still curved upwards, but his eyes were devoid of emotion. “At my command, these automatons will crush you and the Indian to death, marshal. Your status means nothing when facing death, does it? Man or Federal Marshal, you’ll still die, unless the statue is given to me.”

  “They won’t hand it over.” Adam gasped the words, the position and the tightness of the automaton’s grasp made breathing difficult.

  “Then those in the house will watch you die. Then we’ll kill them all and take the statue anyway. As you saw, my automatons move slowly. If I’d got them here sooner, I’d have sent them to the house with explosives. I still can. Once you’re dead.”

  “You won’t find it that easy,” Adam said, despite the dread that seeped into his veins. “They’re good fighting men.”

  “One more full day and even the fastest rider won’t get to Xipil in time. They’ll all die for nothing, marshal, just like you. Even the boy who’s so enamored by you. You know, he even asked me, his dear uncle, how to woo you.”

  Adam ground his teeth as fury gripped him. He knew Stone was goading him, and the man knew Adam’s weak spot, exploiting it ruthlessly.

  “Walk and follow.” Stone voiced his command to the automation and led it toward the house. Adam knew he was now visible from the building. He hated the thought of Elijah witnessing his death. Of all the scenarios Adam had envisioned, being crushed in the arms of a mechanical man had never entered his mind.

  “You in the house,” Stone shouted. “I have your marshal and the Indian as my prisoners. They didn’t have the statue, so I know it’s still in there. I’ll offer you a deal. Send one man out, not the other marshal, who will be a hostage along with the statue. Once I’m well away from here, I’ll release the hostage. If not, then you can watch your friends die inch by inch as my automatons crush them. I’m sure they’ll scream when their ribs snap and splinter.”

  Adam struggled as Stone walked away to return a moment later with Mecatl. Stone then stood behind the solid, brass bodies of his machines, safe from any gunfire from the house or outbuildings. He waited another minute, and Adam felt the sweat from his brow run down his face.

  “Automaton one, increase pressure.”

  Adam tensed at Stone’s words, but it was Mecatl who groaned. Fear was a cold, hard knot in Adam’s stomach. If he’d been held by a man of flesh and blood, he’d stand a chance of escape. He tried to move, but the grip never faltered. His legs kicked in futility at unforgiving metal.

  “It would seem the Indian has temporarily lost his voice. Let’s see if we can get a better response from the marshal. Number two, increase pressure.”

  Even knowing it was coming and tensing his body, the tightening of the grip around his chest made Adam’s eyes widen as he struggled to draw a full breath. He thought he heard his ribs groan in protest as they were squeezed. Black and white spots filled Adam’s vision as he wheezed, drawing air into his lungs.

  For a minute or two there was nothing. No movement, no sounds. It was as if time ground to a halt. The door of the house flew open, and Elijah ran forward with the statue in his hands.

  “Don’t hurt them anymore, please. Take me. I’ll be your hostage...” Elijah yelped and staggered as a shot rang out.

&
nbsp; “No.” The sound was little more than a whisper of breath from Adam as he saw the blood on Elijah’s thigh. He closed his eyes, praying for the miracle.

  “No shooting!” Stone bellowed. “Any man that opens fire I’ll kill personally.”

  “The Breath of Quetzalcoatl. It answers him.” Mecatl’s voice was weak but audible.

  Adam’s eyes snapped open. Elijah still stood in the center of the yard, but his attention was completely focused on the statue Elijah held. A faint blue mist gathered around the head of the serpent.

  “Can’t be,” Adam whispered. It was a story, a fantasy. It couldn’t be real. Could it?

  “Quetzalcoatl answers him.” Mecatl’s voice sounded stronger as if he drew strength from the events unfolding.

  Adam could do nothing but stare as the mist coalesced into blue light that headed toward him. The light split into two and hit the arms of the automatons holding him and Mecatl.

  Adam waited for the either the other-worldly light or the machine to kill him. Instead, the mechanical grip relaxed until the robotic arms fell to the automaton’s side. As Adam dropped to the ground, he saw the light in the machine’s eyes had gone out. It had deactivated. He swiveled, ready to face Stone, and shuddered.

  The blue light enveloped Stone, whose eyes bulged from their sockets. His mouth was open wide in a silent scream, but only a hideous gurgling sound could be heard. For a second or two, Stone seemed to glow. The light vanished, and he dropped to the ground.

  Adam darted forward and grabbed Stone’s gun. He was ready to shoot, but Stone’s men were already retreating. The death of their boss, in such a gruesome and unnatural manner, was clearly more than enough for them.

  He took a deep breath, glad to be able to breathe freely. Then he took off at a run to where Elijah swayed, the young man’s eyes still fixed on the statue.

  “Let me take it.” Adam eased it from Elijah’s hands.

  Slowly Elijah raised his head and looked into Adam’s eyes. “Did you see?” Elijah whispered. “The Breath. The serpent’s Breath.”

  “I saw, beautiful. Let’s get you inside.” Adam didn’t want Elijah dwelling on what happened, especially since Adam couldn’t explain it. “Someone help Mecatl,” he shouted as Ellen and some men from the house ran toward them.

  Adam set Elijah down in a chair, and Abe immediately set to tending to the wound on Elijah’s leg.

  “Left a nasty graze,” Abe said as Adam looked on anxiously. “Nothing serious.”

  Adam let out a deep sigh of relief. He set the statue on the table. It looked innocuous enough now. Just an inanimate statue of a snake inset with precious stones. Adam marveled how something so beautiful could also be so deadly. He’d be happy when it was back in Xipil’s hands.

  He knelt at Elijah’s side, brushed back the hair from his face, and kissed him tenderly. “Seeing you out there scared me more than being in that automaton’s arms,” he whispered.

  “I couldn’t let you die,” Elijah said. “I couldn’t. Not when there was something I could do to save you.”

  “I need to tend to Mecatl, Elijah. Just keep your leg immobile for a while to let the bleeding stop.” Abe patted Elijah’s shoulder and moved to where Mecatl had been laid on the love seat.

  Looking around, Adam realized that Mecatl’s men were down on one knee near their captain. They looked at him and Elijah with reverence in their eyes.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Adam grimaced at Mecatl’s stifled groan of pain as he was laid on the bed. He’d been lucky. He’d have bruises galore across his chest and back, but nothing was broken. Adam reckoned the other man had cracked or broken ribs as well as a bullet wound. There was no way Mecatl could take the statue back to Xipil.

  “Ask my men for Yaotl,” Mecatl said.

  “I’ll go.” Abe hurried out of the room.

  Mecatl caught hold of Adam’s arm. “You have the blessing of Quetzalcoatl. You must take the statue to Xipil. It’s what our god wishes. Yaotl speaks English well. He will go with you. He can get you into the palace. We have only two days. There’s no time to waste.”

  Abe returned with Yaotl who came into the room and knelt at Mecatl’s bedside. Adam stood by as Mecatl spoke quietly and urgently in his own language and finally touched Yaotl’s shoulder. Yaotl stood and bowed to Adam.

  “He is now your man, Adam,” Mecatl said and indicated to Yaotl. “He will obey and protect you as he would me. My papers now empower you, as I was empowered, to do whatever it takes to accomplish your mission, and you have the full authority and protection of Xipil, King of Chimalli.”

  “Look, I was meant to go, and given what you and Adam went through, don’t you think that I...” Madison started but was stopped by Mecatl.

  “No. I understand why you make the offer, my friend, but Adam was rescued by the Breath of Quetzalcoatl. He has the god’s blessing. He must perform this task.” Mecatl coughed, and Ellen came quickly to his side.

  “He needs to rest. Please,” she said and looked imploringly at everyone.

  “It’s all right, Mecatl. I’ll go. Madison, I’m fine. I was just bruised by those mechanical men.” He hugged his friend hard and eased back. Madison’s eyes reflected his friend’s concern, and Adam smiled reassuringly. “My worry is leaving a whippersnapper like you in charge of things here. Keep an eye on Elijah for me.” He whispered the last, and Madison nodded.

  “Yeah? Well mine is that an old man like you is gonna fall asleep on his horse and tumble off.” Madison patted Adam’s back. “You take care and come back safe.”

  Adam nodded, took a deep breath, and turned to Elijah. His lover rose from where he’d been sitting, and Adam’s throat constricted. Tear tracks were visible on his cheeks. Elijah took a faltering step forward, trying to avoid putting too much weight on his injured leg.

  “I can still ride,” Elijah said. “I can go with you.” Elijah’s voice cracked, and Adam quickly closed the distance between them.

  He enfolded Elijah in his arms and held tight. He kissed the top of his head. “You saved me once. I can’t risk you when you’re already injured. This isn’t going to be an easy ride, and the danger isn’t over. Numa will still try and stop the statue from getting to Xipil. Whatever happens, I want you to remember that I...I love you. I always have, even though I was afraid to say it. I...I just didn’t have anything to offer a man like you except an old, battered body and heart.”

  Elijah’s grip around him tightened, but Adam ignored his protesting ribs and happily endured the discomfort without complaint.

  “Don’t say things like that,” Elijah whispered. “I love you, too. Please be safe, Adam. Come back to me. I don’t need anything else. Just you.”

  For a minute or two, Adam rocked Elijah gently in his arms. In part to let his lover get control of his churning emotions, but also because if this was going to be that last time Adam held Elijah in his arms, he wanted to wring every last sensation and memory from it. He pressed his lips to Elijah’s brow, tasting his skin. He inhaled Elijah’s unique scent, committing to memory the feel of his lithe body. As he released Elijah, he drank in the sight of his beautiful face. These memories would last him a lifetime.

  Adam took a step back, grateful to Madison as his friend came over a wrapped his arm around Elijah’s shoulders. Madison met Adam’s gaze squarely, and he knew without doubt that if anything happened to him, Madison would take care of Elijah. Adam tilted his head almost imperceptibly, and Madison copied the action.

  Adam looked around at the people in the room. “Look after each other while I’m gone,” he said. He couldn’t trust his voice to say anything more. In just a couple of weeks, these people had all become friends, people that he cared for.

  Mitch cleared his throat. “We’ll be fine. Just get that statue to its rightful owner and come back safe.”

  With a nod, Adam turned away, picked up the statue in its muslin bag, and walked out of the door without a backward glance. He hurried over to the stable with Ya
otl right behind him. Time was against them. They had a long, hard ride ahead, and less than two days to get to Xipil with the statue.

  The rest of Mecatl’s men stood around Cinnamon and another horse, both of which had been equipped for the journey. The men fell back, bowing and murmuring in their own language as Adam took his horse’s reins. He looked quizzically at Yaotl.

  “They say you have the blessing of Quetzalcoatl. That he has chosen you himself to return the Breath to King Xipil and prevent war.” Yaotl gave a red-toothed grin.

  Adam nodded. “Tell them thank you,” he said. The idea of being blessed or chosen by the Aztec god made him feel uncomfortable, but he couldn’t deny what his own eyes had seen. Nor could he forget the choked scream he’d heard from Stone when the eerie blue light had enveloped him. He’d be more than happy to get rid of the strange artifact. He tucked the statue securely in his saddle bag and mounted Cinnamon.

  “For King Xipil and the Breath of Quetzalcoatl,” Yaotl said.

  “Let’s ride,” Adam replied.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Adam rode hard and fast, pushing both Cinnamon and himself to the brink of exhaustion. Yaotl kept pace with him. Each hour that ticked by was one that Adam knew brought them closer to war if Numa succeeded.

  Finally, they crossed the border, but Yaotl didn’t take them directly to the capital. Instead, he bought a wide hat and colorful wrap for Adam. They then rode a seemingly tortuous route to the capital. Adam was taken through small streets until they reached a small house at the end of a row. Yaotl tethered his horse behind the house and indicated Adam should follow him.

  Once inside, Yaotl embraced an older man as Adam removed his hat and wrap. He stood back while the two men conversed quickly and quietly.