By the time the weak fire had almost dried us, it was near morning. Faint glows gathered in the crack of sky above and we felt as if we might have a moment of peace. But Chief John said he thought that Toohoo-emmi would send men down the canyon after us in an effort to sweep thru after the flash flood in the likelihood we would be weak and disoriented. I asked that if he had sent that wave of despair out like a cloud over us, did he not know we yet lived?
He said yes, he knows at least a few of us live but how many he could not be sure. He also said that Rockwell’s life force may have given the impression that we had greater numbers than we truly had and we should be wary of a great force coming.
Rockwell laughed at that and said he liked those odds.
I was not amused and took to finding stones I might use in a sling, which I fashioned myself from a torn shirt sleeve.
The other unarmed brave also hunted for something he might use as a weapon while Pu’wihi said he knew where a cache of weapons were though they were not for our size. We said we should gladly take them all the same.
He had us follow him upriver just a short quarter mile until we came to a small side canyon, we could not fit thru the entrance but Pu’wihi quickly disappeared thru it. I did doubt we would see the diminutive big-headed man again but he did return with a few of his peoples spears which were almost the size of regular man’s atlatl. I gladly accepted three of them as well as a tiny obsidian knife. The other braves received the same as I, but Rockwell was not interested in such primitive weapons. He took to rolling his ammunition in his hand hoping the powder was dry and complaining that he had lost his whiskey while I had no shoes!
The day had broken and we heard forces echoing down the canyon walls. Chief John said it sounded like at least a dozen men, surely the shock troops of this terrible magician. We made as ready as we could in a fork, where we thought it would be best to ambush them and strike first, hard and fast. It was not gentlemanly by any means what we planned to do but these are desperate seasons.
It was more than a dozen men, perhaps two dozen. And as I steeled myself to cast one of the atlatls in my hand, Chief John cried out, not in outrage or the call of the warrior but in joy. These were his friends and compatriot tribesman from further afield come to join us in the good fight.
They spoke quickly but with some enthusiasm. It seemed that some brave rafting downriver soon after us came across the dead snakes and went back and spoke of our victory. This so heartened the chiefs that braves were eager to join our cause whereas earlier the few who had come were indeed brave souls fully expecting to be killed in the struggle. There were some words I could not follow for the sake of the two men who had died, Two-Sheep and Antler Head. But now we had a veritable army to bring Toohoo-emmi to task.
Rockwell was also quite pleased as they gave him some of their stores of ammunition and one of the braves had an extra pair of moccasins for me which meant the world in the sandy rocky ground.
We forged ahead up the canyon, I couldn’t help but hum my favorite tune by Sabine Baring-Gould[28] upon our march. This was indeed a glorious day and we would triumph I was sure of it now!
We did not have to go more than a few miles to where the canyon widened somewhat allowing a fuller view of the sky. Here the canyon walls were incredibly high as black things circled far above.
Chief John pointed out Kai’Enepi and the cliff palace of Toohoo-emmi above and we did marvel at its ominous face. It was near the top of a sheer mesa, small black windows stood out from the angled towers of red gold stone and I found myself thinking that it looked like the eyes of a three headed predatory raptor. In all my wildest dreams I never saw such a cruel edifice and did wonder again at the circumstances of my place here.
Rockwell alone was undaunted, spouting such raw words of American courage as I did doubt the Paiutes save Chief John even understood though they did acknowledge the spirit of his good intent and were ready to follow him up the spine of sharp rock to the terrible cliff palace.
Here Pu’wihi said he must leave us for he could not engage in this open rebellion of his Lord’s people, but he did whisper that he hoped for our success and that if we should survive, he would be grateful as it would mean the dark lord’s mastery over his people must be ended. He seemed to express some trepidation in such being possible.
Rockwell urged him to tell his people to join us and fight back against this common foe, but the Paiutes were indeed skittish at this suggestion having always regarded the Nimerigar as their sworn racial enemy. I could readily tell that the diminutive man regarded them in the same light.
Pu’wihi said he would speak with his elders but to expect no such help from his broken people that they were few in number and he did not know if even he might be shunned for his association now.
Fair enough, said Rockwell.
High above we could see dark shapes of men moving about the citadel and we did wonder at their numbers and resolve. Surely there must be more of us, but it would be a far climb to the summit and even then we should be wearied and worn. The angle up looked to be quite steep and had just enough slant that a man might walk or crawl with his hands, but should he slip or tumble I did not think anything would stop him until he should hit the ground, and of that end, I am sure that man would be no more.
We prayed as a group and some of the Paiutes did sing their death song. Some smeared colored mud upon their bodies and hair and in so doing they looked positively monstrous, appearing more like golems of mud and clay than men of flesh.
We all drank our fill of water and did fill our skins. Rockwell and Chief John did set us to go up the cliff face but to have some small amount of distance between the men so that if one should be shot with arrows and fall and roll he should not force the rest of us to tumble after. Also they had it in mind that a wave of our fighters might be able to loose arrows while one group advanced, then the other would cover them while the other climbed higher. In such a way we might minimize our possible casualties and save lives. I must say I was surprised at both Rockwell and the savage’s tactical sense. It was wholly unexpected.
Rockwell led the foremost group while Chief John should lead the second. I was with the second as I had no gun nor was I of any real experience with a bow or spear. I just hoped to find a useful means of assistance somewhere along the way.
Rockwell became the point of the spear going forward and did find his way about some jagged boulders and did warn others coming behind of loose stone and what he perceived might be traps or purposeful rock slide spots.
The long haired gunfighter of a saint had gone past a few of these hoolies[29] when a catamount leapt upon a man right behind him, tearing the poor brave to pieces before Rockwell and the others shot it to death.
It was indeed suspicious and quite unnerving to the men. It was also curious that the beast had not attacked Rockwell who should have been the first to disturb it, passing within only a few feet of its now visible bone strewn lair.
That was when Chief John pointed out Rockwell’s medicine pouch that he still wore given him by the squaw he had won. She had said it would protect him and now it seemed that it assuredly had come to pass. I now wondered after his previous encounters with the great serpents, the Nimerigar, the flash flood and now the mad catamount.
Rockwell laughed it off, but neither would he remove the enchanted piece of leather and bead work either. He urged us on to the cliff palace, though to be wary of more traps.
We were perhaps half way up the summit and in an area where there were no more large boulders for anything to hide behind, nor for us to receive any cover should the still absent enemies above shoot at us. As I came to this realization is when their missiles did fly toward us.
Both stones and arrows came now from some height above us within the cliff palace, though I rarely caught a glimpse of our assailants for I was dodging the threat.
A rock the size of a man’s head took the head of a brave beside me and his body went tumbling after.
This was exceedingly difficult for both the terrain which was almost sheer, the lack of rifles and the perilous assault from above.
I could not hope to cast one of my atlatls at this range and had to trust to the others to keep such a retaliation strong. I saw Rockwell hit several of the men at the top of the parapet and city, for I saw them fall from its front and land upon some flat surface at the base of the cliff palace’s walls.
From somewhere yet farther on within the cliff palace, we all heard a strange dirging horn blast thrice and almost all of the Paiutes now shook with terror for the sound was indeed answered by cries from some infernal beasts farther upon the slopes. The Paiutes cried aloud saying that it was the Eaters from the Sky and even Chief John was unnerved at this terrible revelation.
Rockwell however had closed a good distance to the cliff palace and was well ahead of any other man. He still fired his guns in rapid succession and every few shots I saw another one of the defenders fall or cry out. If it were not for his reckless stalwart behavior I do not believe any of us would have left that mountain alive. This at least renewed the Paiutes courage enough that they did heed Chief John and rush up the slanting face despite their fears, which were not unwarranted.
The strange cries echoed from the canyon walls and I heard such an awful report as I hope to never hear again. It bounced from the cliff face behind, above and below. It was disorienting and I could not tell from which direction the monstrous call began.
Then they were upon us.
Hideous monster birds of a greater size than I would have ever thought possible. Like denizens of some lost world these reptile looking avian’s swooped and clawed and grasped at us and only now was I grateful for the atlatl sear for it saved me twice from their clutches. Others were not so lucky. I saw a brave grasped about the shoulders by those sharp talons and carried high above only to be dashed against the rocks. The foul monster birds then dove and took chunks of his flesh squawking at one another only to take flight again and try the same upon another poor soul.
We now faced two fronts, the tumbling rocks and arrows from the cliff palace above and the monster birds that swooped at our exposed backsides.
I managed to look up at the cliff palace in time to see Rockwell ascending the first level and shooting men who came at him with clubs and spears. At least the barrage from above would ease a moment.
The enemy blew upon the horn again and I heard his cry as Rockwell sent him spilling over the side of the palace walls to crush his skull amongst the jagged stone.
Chief John shot one of the monster birds and this seemed to allay the fears of the Paiutes who fought back with renewed vigor and more of the monster birds wheeled from the skies with mortal wounds until there were no more.
We dashed up the face to reach the pinnacle city all the while ready to clash with our assailants. Oh how my blood pumped through my veins at this wild cataclysmic battle. Never in all my dreams had such a confrontation occurred as when we met the savage painted men that awaited us at the top.
I relate herein that some of this was a bloody daze to me as I was struck once with a glancing blow on the head from a war-club but I did feel my spear pierce the foe and I know I drove the weapons point home in his breast until he expired. Men died all around me whether my comrades or the dark painted enemy I could not fully tell for the din was so very loud and the blood, oh the blood that washed over this fell tower! Sounds of Rockwell’s guns blazed somewhere above and I made my way toward the sharp serenade of black powder.
Then Chief John was at my side and bid me follow him as he had a rifle and we went up ladders from one level to another. Cyclopean stone towers met us at every turn and in some few were dark things waiting, relics of a bygone eras when wicked men held sway over this land and always the trail of blood from Rockwell’s fearsome talent was left apparent at his recent passage.
I began to fully understand and appreciate Brother Brigham’s words that Rockwell was indeed his ‘Right Hand Man’ in such matters as these, though I would not believe it if I were not living them myself.
In our journey through the cliff palace we did find a chamber of slaves that had been stashed away by their foul masters. These poor souls were gaunt, sick and feeble; they were afraid that we meant them harm, but Chief John assured them we were there to help and he did enquire of them the whereabouts of Toohoo-emmi and his most powerful acolytes.
They told us that the above mesa had a terrible kiva and that entrance was forbidden to only but the most trusted men of Toohoo-emmi. Were the slaves to dare approach, they were pitched off the cliff. The slave then said that if we had attacked the cliff palace then surely Toohoo-emmi and his men had retreated above to their sorcerous refuge.
Out upon the level stage overlooking the whole of the canyon, I could just make out a veritable ladder of a path with handholds cut into the living rock and as I scanned all the way to the top I saw Rockwell disappear over the edge. I told Chief John and we did prepare ourselves to follow.
Chief John called to the Paiute braves and three of them joined us on the ascension. I was last in line as I held less skill in the climb and was the slowest amongst us. Halfway up the dizzying height and I realized I bore no weapons either but I would not stop now.
Clinging to the holds I made my way over the edge to look upon the horror of the kiva’s entrance. I was aware of the existence of these underground chambers and their sacred use to Indian rituals and practice, but I had never yet beheld one for myself and this was not what I had expected. A dark rectangular entrance loomed ahead and I could not help but notice the resemblance to a skull’s mouth, as the mound loomed up and two dark, what would could only be described as eyeholes, were spaced evenly farther up. The aura coming from it gave me chills and though it was full daylight, all seemed dark and foreboding here.
I wondered that I should be so alarmed, as this was the longest space yet where I had not heard Rockwell’s guns and I wondered if he yet lived.
Chief John leveled his rifle and bid the three braves accompany him forward into the entrance. I was close behind and as I took a step inside, cold wind met my face and a terrible smell of stale blood and offal met my senses threatening to catapult my morning’s nourishment free. Chief John and the braves went down the ladder and I followed.
Pillars of light from the skull’s eyeholes above pierced the dark but the rest was lost in shadow.
We are not alone, whispered Chief John.
Nothing was in sight and I moved forward a step but was quickly pulled back by Chief John as something struck right where I had been. I felt the air and heard the thump.
We surely disappointed the ambush by not dying.
I saw the quick movement of black on black only because of the sheen of sweat glinting faintly upon the muscular giant who charged me.
Then the flash of guns lit the gloom and a cry of shock and pain revealed we had lost a man. Framed against the gunshots I saw big shadows of men charge and soon I was struck across the mouth by a broad hand and taken to the dirt floor. Chief John’s rifle blasted a man and I felt a body fall against me on the ground. I struck back against who I know not. And then just as suddenly it was over.
Breathing heavily I was picked up and brushed off. Chief John’s voice said we had slain the men who meant to ambush us and that we should go outside to the cliff behind the kiva where he believed Toohoo-emmi and Rockwell had gone as everything inside the kiva had been but a trap or distraction.
I was dazed and bleeding from a scalp wound but I followed and realized we had lost two of the braves who had come with us but Chief John was resolved to hurry and deal with this wicked threat.
Outside and behind the skull like mound of the kiva stood Rockwell, facing a tall man covered in black paint who held a woman to his chest with an obsidian dagger to her throat. He called
out in broken English for us to surrender to him and he would spare the woman.
Rockwell answered, Like Hell. He had his pistol trained on the man but did not pull the trigger as he did not wish for the man to pitch her over the side if he was hit. Let her go! Rockwell ordered.
Toohoo-emmi knew he was in a desperate situation, his men were all dead and we had conquered his sacred city. He had nothing left but a hostage and a glass knife. His terrible eyes swept back and forth at us and he muttered some wicked verse low under his breath.
What foul powers of darkness can be contained in but mere words I know not, but I was a witness that they do take hold and demand to be reckoned with. The Paiute brave who had followed us all the way up the slopes and fought beside us suddenly went mad and tackled Rockwell sending them both off the precipice.
Toohoo-emmi threw the woman at Chief John and lunged with his knife. I was in shock but grasped the woman and pulled her from between them. She was either in shock or drugged as she went limp in my arms and went to the ground.
Chief John grappled with Toohoo-emmi and I went to assist him when I heard Rockwell’s cry for help.
He was not dead?
Clinging to the edge of the cliff with both hands, the long haired gunfighter had the possessed brave holding at his left foot and growling like a mad dog.
I’m trying to shake him loose but I can’t do that and climb up, shouted Rockwell.
I looked behind me and Toohoo-emmi and Chief John were in a terrible tussle. I looked to Rockwell and he shouted, Hurry up and do something!
I picked up a stone the size a fist and looked from Toohoo-emmi to Rockwell and his assailant.
Rockwell saw what was on my mind and said, don’t miss!
The mad brave was trying to bite Rockwell’s slipping boot and I carefully released the stone and hit the poor deranged man square in the face. He swatted at the missile and came loose of Rockwell and plummeted the hundreds of feet to the ground below, all the while clawing at the air as if he might suddenly take flight.
Whispers Out Of The Dust: A Haunted Journey Through The Lost American West (Dark Trails Saga) Page 7
