The Hag of Calix

by Rod Fisher

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  At the Maijad village Hundar was greeted with a joyous incredulity. It was obvious to Bargonast that he had brought a well-loved chief back to his people. Hundar's wives and children clung to him and wept, delirious at his return from the dead.

  During the crossing to the village the chief had explained that his affliction, an incurable endemic fever, turned its victims into raving, pain-crazed "mukkos" or "black-faces" in its final stages. Their facial skin pigment changed to a mottled gray with spreading dark areas around the eyes and lips.

  The Maijad religion dictated that female victims of the black sickness, on reaching the mukko state, be put to death-sacrificed to the smoke god Garan'l.

  A male mukko was taken to the volcanic island to die. But for Hundar, after being isolated on the island, something had turned the disease around. He was the first ever to recover from it. The Maijads prepared for a tribal celebration to Garan'l for the miracle bestowed by the smoke god.

  "Always we give human life to Garan'l," Hundar told Bargonast. "This is first time in tribal memory he gives life back. My people feast tonight. We make offerings from temple of Garan'l to show our thanks."

  "Your temple is a noble building. Show me the inside."

  "It is forbidden. The body of a great king lies inside. His soldiers build temple, make his body and spirit a gift to Garan'l. Now Garan'l is spirit brother of great king. While great king sleeps, Garan'l protects us, helps us." Hundar straightened proudly and thumped his chest. "My own life is proof. But if we enter temple...much evil...evil for all Maijads."

  Bargonast was free to roam about the village. The men were preparing a fire trench on the slope facing the temple. After the fire settled down, they skewered the carcasses of three deer across it. Pretending an interest in the activities, Bargonast moved around the area, studying the temple. The huge door was cut from a single heavy stone, obviously never meant to be moved by one man. There were no other openings in the massive walls. The structure was triangular with the door set in the wall facing the beach. The other two walls came together on the uphill side. Rock steps led to the top from each side allowing access to the altar and sacrificial dais on the roof.

  Hundar approached Bargonast, his broad smile emphasizing the gaps in his teeth. "Tonight we have singing, dancing, good food. Tonight we have sacrifice to smoke god."

  "You mean a mukko will be killed?"

  "No...we not kill mukko again. Now and tomorrow they go to Garan'1's island. Smoke god decide."

  Bargonast showed signs of inner agitation; his hand hovered near his sword.

  "Ho, ho, you think you be sacrifice," Hundar gripped the scarred giant's arm. "Not you. We have girl...captured by hunters. She make pleasure for bravest warriors, then..." He made a circular motion with his fist against his chest and a squishing sound with his voice as though cutting out a heart.

  After sunset a horn summoned the villagers to the feast. The gamy smell of roasting venison floated in the air around the spit. Iron grills, placed over the coals, held birds, fish and root vegetables. Platters of raw mussels and tender green sprouts were lined up and garnished with flowers.

  Two warriors caparisoned with scale armor of iridescent shells began a soft deep cadence on chest-high drums flanking the temple. The islanders swarmed about the food, laughing and chattering as they ate. The drumbeat grew faster and louder in rapport with the tempo of the party. A young girl passed through the crowd smiling shyly and chanting a singsong repetitious melody. She carried a tray piled with fine brown powder. Each Maijad helped himself to a pinch of the substance, sniffed it and took up the girl's singsong chant. As it rose in volume, a single spirit knit the mass into one swaying, shouting entity. Dry branches were added to the coals in the trench until the flames roared high in the air.

  As Bargonast helped himself to the food, a naked figure, garishly painted and masked, sprang into the firelight on the temple roof. He whirled and spun with eel-like agility focusing the intensity of the crowd's chant. He spun off into the darkness behind the altar, and his dance was taken up by a similar figure. Several dancers in succession entertained the crowd, each trying to outdo the previous performer in grotesque poses and acrobatics. The end of the dancing signaled a new frenetic drumbeat. The crowd became silent and expectant.

  Bargonast, standing on the sidelines with Hundar, was more interested in gnawing on a sinewy hunk of the charred meat than in watching the ritual. Hundar giggled with glee and directed his attention to the girl being escorted into the firelight. Bargonast glanced at the slim figure, then took a second look. It was Chessa.

  "She is the sacrifice?" he asked Hundar.

  "Yes."

  He threw aside the meat and concentrated on the scene before him. Chessa was forced to a kneeling position and a tray of food was offered to her. She hung her head and refused to eat. She was jerked to her feet and paraded around the fire. Every few steps she was held in place while a young warrior jumped out of the crowd and gyrated through obscene antics in front of her, offering a crowd-pleasing pantomime of what he intended to do to her when his turn came later. Her clothes were ripped away piece by piece until she was nude. The creamy whiteness of her body was blushed to a rosy gold by the firelight.

  She appeared to Bargonast to be in shock and her terror-filled eyes searched the crowd for mercy as she was dragged back to the hut. The drums changed tempo and the crowd resumed the singsong chant.

  Hundar took Bargonast's arm and gestured toward the hut. "You are guest. We owe much. You be first. Go!"

  Bargonast swallowed his question, unuttered, and went to the hut. The door guards grinned knowingly as he pushed aside the skin curtain and went in. The interior was dim-illuminated by a single candle. Chessa was huddled on a bed of furs. She had not seen Bargonast in the crowd so his appearance in the doorway was a shock.

  "Why are you here?" she asked, voice trembling.

  "The chief said I could be first to try the pleasures of your body."

  Chessa cringed and tried to hide her nakedness.

  Bargonast grinned with delight as he watched her squirm. "Do you know they will kill you?" he asked. She nodded. He walked to the back of the hut where a doorway opened into a log lean-to. He pushed carefully on one of the logs. It came loose at the bottom. Working quietly he freed it from the rest and set it aside. Two more followed creating a space large enough to squeeze through.

  He went back into the candle-lit room and pulled Chessa to her feet. "Wrap this fur around you so you won't be so obvious," he ordered.

  She took the fur with a grateful shiver and followed him through the opening. They crouched and ran, keeping to the shadows. They were close to the edge of the village when they rounded a hut and almost bowled over a Maijad warrior. Reading the situation instantly, the warrior recovered his balance and unsheathed his sword in one smooth movement.

  Bargonast sent Chessa sprawling as he jumped back and whipped out his own weapon. There was a quick feint by the Maijad, then the sharp ring of steel on bronze as their blades clanged together.

  With the suppleness of a panther the smaller man circled Bargonast, darting in for a thrust and bounding back out of reach with feline speed. Bargonast cursed him but couldn't find a solid target for his mighty swings. His blade whistled harmlessly through empty space while the Maijad inflicted minor cuts as he thrust and dodged in his artful style.

  Bargonast wanted to finish him quickly but the duel was prolonged as the warrior danced and dallied with him. The noise of the fight penetrated the sounds of revelry by the fire. Soon Bargonast was ringed with weapons and forced to throw his own down in disgust. He looked around for Chessa. She was gone.

  The village soon swarmed with torch-bearing warriors. They searched far into the night but found no trace of her.

  On the southern rim of the valley Felic watched the spreading search below. He could not attempt to rescue Chessa while the village was aroused. As he watched, the
torches moved ever closer. Finally there was nothing to be done except retreat the way he had come.