The Standing Dead sdotc-2

by Ricardo Pinto

  Carnelian was chilled by how close this was to what Osidian believed. 'I could slowly undo what he has done. Eventually restore the Elders.' The very thought warmed him, but then he was pulling his blanket round him. It was one thing to kill Osidian in the heat of anger: quite another to plan it coldly. There was no other way. 'When would we do it?'

  'Not now. It's too close to the migration and, with the other tribes involved, only the Master knows how it is to be arranged. We can do it in the mountains.'

  Carnelian felt Fern's hand seeking his own and clasped it to seal their agreement.

  Poppy insisted on going with Carnelian to the Crying Tree. They walked down hand in hand as dawn was breaking. People were dowsing their fires in preparation for leaving the Koppie. The Tribe's palpable relief they were not losing any of their own children was soured by the shame that they were putting others in their place.

  Glancing round, Carnelian saw Akaisha, helped by Sil, following him with Whin and Fern behind them.

  'At least we'll be off to the mountains,' Sil had said, smiling nervously, for the moment it seemed, having forgotten that her husband and almost all the men would be returning across the desert to the parched Koppie. Still people had smiled back though their eyes avoided contact.

  The five Bluedancing children were there with their mothers beneath the Crying Tree. A forbidding circle of Tribe warriors stood nearby with Ravan as their commander.

  Fern indicated the men. 'Did you really need to bring these?'

  'We wouldn't want any of them escaping,' said Ravan. 'Have you come to gloat, brother, or to give thanks that, through his mercy, the Master will one day spare your daughter?'

  Fern scowled. 'I've come to show respect to those whose sacrifice saves our own.'

  Ravan frowned. 'I don't know why you're all so grim.' He indicated the tithe children with his chin. They would've all been sent to the Mountain anyway.'

  'Ravan, if you've nothing kind to say, say nothing at all,' said Whin.

  Ravan flushed. 'Who do you think you are speaking to me like that?'

  'What're you going to do, nephew, have me killed?'

  Ravan was unable to hold his aunt's glare and ended up glowering at his fist gripping his spear.

  The Bluedancing mothers were taking leave of their thin children. All were crying, the tears smearing their dirty faces into fearful masks. Akaisha hobbled towards them. Her hair snaked out from under her head blanket and clung lifeless to her face. She lifted her hands shakily and then let them flutter down to her side. 'It's better… but then you must know. It's better to let them go quickly.' She was crying.

  One of the Bluedancing mothers began shrieking at her and all Akaisha could do was nod her head. Ravan bellowed at the woman and, instinctively, she grabbed her boy and put her body between him and Ravan's lowered spear.

  Akaisha flew at her son, snatched the spear from his grip, then flung it down. She spluttered something angrily. He stooped to pick it up and backed away. Ashen, Sil was holding Fern back. Poppy was watching it all through tears.

  Whin took some steps towards Ravan menacingly. 'Where's the salt the Master gave you for their journey?'

  The youth fished a loaf from his robe and handed it to Whin, whose eyes were stony. She gave the salt to one of the tribute bearers. They made sure the children were secure in their saddle-chairs. Then, without ceremony, the tributaries rode away.

  They're the lucky ones,' said Ravan.

  'What do you mean?' asked Carnelian.

  The rest of them are staying. here with their mothers until the Rains come.'

  Sil and her mother exchanged a look of misery. Akaisha was frowning while staring at nothing. Carnelian was imagining how terrible the coming heat would be.

  'Where's the Master?' he asked Ravan, who shrugged, already busy bustling the Bluedancing mothers back to their digging.

  That the steps leading up to the Ancestor House were unguarded made Carnelian certain Osidian was not on the Crag summit. He wandered around asking any men he saw, but none knew where the Master was. When he glimpsed through the cedar canopy men gathering by the cisterns, Carnelian went down there.

  Osidian looked up as Carnelian approached. 'You have saved me having to send for you. Come walk with me.'

  Osidian waved Krow and his other guards away and Carnelian fell in beside him as they sauntered up towards the Grove. Neither said anything until, with sighs of relief, they reached the cool of the cedar shade.

  Carnelian found it strange Osidian felt safe to be with him unguarded. 'Are the cisterns what you wanted?'

  They are functional,' Osidian replied.

  'Why are we not taking the Bluedancing children with us?'

  'You are not coming.'

  Carnelian stared at him.

  'You will stay here to oversee the Bluedancing.'

  Carnelian realized that he should have expected this.

  'You seem surprised.'

  'Who will you leave with me?'

  'Krow and enough men to make sure you can control the slaves.'

  'It will be hard here.'

  Osidian searched the canopy as if he were looking for holes. These cedars will maintain their leaves and you will have water. Use it sparingly. Remember I shall be returning here with the men of all five tribes.'

  Carnelian realized his plotting with Fern had come undone and became terrified his friend might act alone.

  'You seem distracted, my Lord.'

  Take the Bluedancing children with you.'

  Osidian shook his head. Their mothers will work better if they remain here.'

  'In the mountains the children would act as a guarantee of their good behaviour.'

  Silence deepened between them before Osidian fixed Carnelian with a cold smile. 'I will take the children, though it is transparent that you only seek to protect them.'

  Carnelian would not look him in the eye.

  'You will make sure the earthwork continues apace?'

  Carnelian nodded. 'I had better go take my leave of Akaisha and the others.'

  Osidian assumed the pose of a Master weary of the world. 'I suppose you had better.'

  Carnelian walked away and only broke into a jog once he was sure Osidian was out of sight.

  'Cisterns or no cisterns, anyone who stays here during the Withering will die.'

  Carnelian was desperate to find Fern, but he could see Akaisha was getting upset and was reluctant to abandon her. She looked so wretched. Reaching up to stroke her hair, her hand hesitated when it did not find the familiar beads.

  'Really, my mother, we've taken every precaution not to run out of water,' he said, reaching out to reassure her.

  She threw his hand off angrily. 'You've no idea what it'll be like here.'

  She turned away, wet-eyed, blind, her eyebrows raised. She gave a little shrug. 'Not that what I feel matters any more.'

  Her dark eyes fixed on him. 'What about the huskmen?'

  Carnelian knew nothing about that but supposed it unlikely the Grove gates would be sealed with so many people left behind.

  'I'll be here to protect the Koppie.'

  Akaisha made a face.

  At that moment Poppy ran up. 'Carnie, it's time to go.'

  Carnelian sagged. He had forgotten he would have to say goodbye to Poppy. 'Have you seen Fern?'

  Poppy shook her head. Carnelian was in an agony of indecision. Akaisha hefted a sack. He disliked seeing her burdened like that.

  'Is there no one coming to help you?'

  'I can manage.'

  Carnelian grimaced. He insisted on taking the sack, then, motioning Poppy to go round to Akaisha's other side, they proceeded towards the Lagooning.

  ***

  On every side, under the trees, people were moving, converging on the Lagoongate. Carnelian, Akaisha and Poppy reached the crowd and had to wait until it was their turn to cross the earthbridge into the ferngarden. As they walked along between the cisterns and the magnolias, Carnelian kept scanning the c
rowd looking for Fern.

  'Carnie,' cried a woman's voice. They turned and saw Sil pushing her way towards them.

  Thank the Mother,' she said as she saw Akaisha. 'You were supposed to wait for us by the mother tree. My mother and I didn't know where you were.'

  Akaisha scowled. 'I'm not a child, Sil.'

  'No, my mother.' She and Carnelian exchanged glances.

  'Do you know where Fern is?' he asked her.

  She frowned. 'Ravan came for him. No doubt he's off with the Master.'

  He must have shown his dismay because she said: 'What's wrong?'

  'Will you tell him something from me?'

  'Why can't you tell him yourself?'

  'He's not coming with us,' Akaisha growled.

  'Carnie?' cried Poppy, her eyes wide with panic.

  He lifted her up and looked her in the face. 'I have to stay here, Poppy, to look after the Bluedancing.'

  'You can't!'

  'Don't waste your words, child,' said Akaisha. 'His mind's made up.'

  Poppy's lower lip quivered. Then I'll stay with you.'

  Carnelian shook his head. 'No.'

  Poppy clung to him. 'I'm not going!'

  'Oh yes you are,' he said with a voice that froze her. He forced a smile and kissed her. 'I'll be here when you return.'

  'Sil will look after you.' He glanced round at Sil, who gave a nod.

  Whin caught up with them and he stayed with them until they reached the Far Lagoonbridge and saw the Tribe gathering in the blaze of the open plain. Carnelian took his leave of them. He hugged Poppy, who had still not got over him shouting at her. He was thankful because he knew that if she began crying he might end up joining her. He put Poppy down and put her hand in Sil's.

  Sil looked distraught. 'What did you want me to tell Fern?'

  Carnelian thought. Tell him he must wait until he returns here with the Master.'

  He kissed her lips to stop questions. She frowned, then turned to allow him to kiss Leaf. Akaisha took her bag back from him. He leaned in to kiss her but she turned her face away.

  Krow had found him and together they watched the Tribe march away. Carnelian saw riders and was sure one of them was Fern. Dust rose in clouds to hide them but still he stood watching the dark shapes trembling behind the veils. Soon the plain had claimed them all. The few men who had come to watch began to slog back to the cedar shade. It was Krow's discomfort from the heat that made Carnelian leave. As they walked back, he glanced over to where he knew the Bluedancing were slaving in the sun. He was not feeling brave enough just then to go among them. At that moment, what he most wanted was to go and sit against his mother tree.

  THE ORACLE

  It is too late to avoid a scorpion once you have felt his sting.

  (A Chosen proverb)

  Smoke from the burning plain turned the days to dusk; at night it stole the stars, leaving the blackness to come alive with furtive smoulderings. It was hard not to believe they were witnessing the end of the world.

  Then the sun began to peer through the haze. The moon rose full and flooded the cold dead plain. Through numberless molten-glass days, Carnelian craved the shade of his mother tree but he chose instead to stay with the Bluedancing. He spared the warriors exposure to the terrible gaze of the sun and left them cowering in the shade of the cedars. Krow chose to join him. With his help, Carnelian tried to arrange the labour of the Bluedancing so that as many as possible should work in the shade of the ditch wall. Still, many women were forced out into the torrid air; onto earth so hot they had to wrap cloth around their feet or else be blistered. Even in the ditch, the sun threatened to sear tongue and eyes. Drinking, each gulp had to be held in the mouth to cool it a little before swallowing. The more unbearable it became, the more Carnelian refused to abandon the women. He could give them no promises, no reassurances. He hoped it was enough they knew their children were safe in the mountains and that each day they saw him suffering at their side.

  On a day like any other, a warrior not of the Ochre came to find Carnelian at the diggings. Carnelian ignored the man's stare. Skin slimy with sweat and dust, mouth and throat choked dry; Carnelian's eyelashes gummed together every time he blinked. He closed his mouth and allowed it to fill with spittle. When his tongue came loose, he used it to scour his mouth. He gathered it all and spat it out, licked his lips, spat again, swallowed.

  'What is it?' he croaked.

  The man's eyes widened. 'Smoke.'

  Carnelian peered at the man waiting for more. Krow appeared.

  'What's happening?'

  The man pointed back the way he had come.*Smoke rising. In the direction of our… my koppie. The koppie of the Darkcloud.'

  Carnelian stood for a while unsure what the man wanted of him. 'You want me to see it?'

  The man answered with a vigorous nod.

  Carnelian and Krow covered themselves with their robes and the youth led them up out of the ditch. They surfaced into blinding incandescence. Beneath a flat, colourless sky, the land smouldered, wisped with dust. Carnelian concentrated on drawing scorched air slowly into his lungs. Sweat trickled down his neck, his back, his inner thighs. He realized the man was waiting for him, impatient. He pointed up at the Crag.

  Carnelian measured the burning distance lying between him and the Newditch and began walking. Staggering, swooning, he cursed himself that he had not drunk for a while.

  At last they crossed a bridge into the delicious shade under a magnolia. Running from one shadow to the next,

  Carnelian led them to the first cistern. Reluctantly, the man helped him wrestle its cover aside. Carnelian lowered a leather bucket to the water, swaying, ribboned with light. He drew the bucket up and let Krow drink first before he took a long, cool draught.

  'Nectar,' Carnelian said and saw by the others' puzzled expressions that he must have spoken in Quya. The man refused a drink. He and Krow slid the cover back. A little more himself, Carnelian saw how desperate the man was that they should hurry. They jogged all the way to the Homeditch and were soon under the cedar canopy.

  They took a route up the hill that was wholly in shadow. Other men, evidently all Darkcloud, were waiting anxiously by the Crag steps. As his guide ran up to them, he half turned. The stone will burn you if you touch it.'

  Reaching the summit, Carnelian could feel heat radiating off the rock. They would shrivel up if they stayed too long.

  'Show me,' Carnelian said.

  The man led him across the summit and then pointed west over the simmering plain.

  Carnelian peered and for a while could see nothing. Then he saw a dull haze smudging the horizon.

  That's in the direction of your koppie?' Carnelian asked.

  The man nodded, staring.

  'It really is fire,' said Krow.

  'Let's talk down there,' Carnelian said moving back towards the steps.

  In the clearing bathed in the deep shadow of the Crag Darkcloud men collected around Carnelian. He looked into their anxious faces. 'You're worried it might be your mother trees?'

  There's nothing else left to burn, Master,' said one.

  'What do you want me to do?'

  'Let us ride home,' said the man who had fetched him there.

  Carnelian asked them to give him a little time to think. He leaned against the coolness of the Crag steps, wondering how Osidian might react to him letting them go. He imagined the Hold on its island several worlds away. He remembered how he had felt about his home. He had been unable to stop it being destroyed but the Darkcloud might still save theirs.

  'I'll lead them, Master, if you want,' said Krow.

  Carnelian looked round at the fretting Darkcloud.

  'Gather every man you can find. We will all go together.'

  While they filled waterskins and saddled aquar, Carnelian returned to the diggings. Locating some of the Bluedancing Elders, he told them he was leaving the Koppie in their care. While he was gone, they could rest from their labours. Though it had never been his int
ention, he realized that their children being in the hands of the Ochre would ensure their good behaviour.

  He led the warriors out of the Koppie along the Southing and then turned west. He suppressed panic as he saw the green of the mother trees recede. They were adrift in a desert spined with a few charred acacias. The rest was dust and ashes. As the sun poured down its fire, Carnelian could not believe the earth would survive until the Rains. He drew his uba down over his eyes and rode blind, trusting to the Darkcloud to find their way home.

  At last they came within sight of the dusty bed of a lagoon. At its narrowest point, a ring was incised into the earth.

  The Master's earthwork,' said Krow.

  Curious to see one of Osidian's camps, Carnelian rode closer and was surprised how small it was.

  'Rather cramped,' he said to Krow, then noticed the youth was staring off across the lagoon to where smoke was rising in two columns from a koppie on the horizon.

  As Carnelian's eyes met Krow's, understanding passed between them. The fires seemed man-made. But who? Carnelian watched Krow's face grow pale as his lips formed the word: Manila.

  Others had seen the smoke. Several Darkcloud rode up to Carnelian clamouring. He explained what he and Krow suspected.

  'We must go and kill them,' said one, his face dark with fury.

  Glancing at Krow, fearing his reaction, imagining Poppy's, Carnelian shook his head. They're likely to outnumber us.'

  Cries of protest rose from the Darkcloud. Carnelian regarded them, agonized. 'We must wait for the Master and then hit them with our combined forces.'

  They might escape us,' said Krow.

  'We risk heavy casualties, perhaps annihilation.'

  'You fear them because they massacred my tribe,' said Krow through gritted teeth. 'Even with surprise on then-side, they still took a mauling. This time surprise is ours.'

  Carnelian paused to watch the smoke again. It must be rising from among the Darkcloud's mother trees. He glanced round and saw their anguish. It was not hard to imagine their women's grief should they return to find their trees harmed in any way.

  'I'll ask the others,' Carnelian said to Krow.