Kitabı oku: «The Flute of the Gods», sayfa 16
Don Diego was emphatic in his horror, but the padre explained that from the heathen point of view it was not so cruel as might be thought. When the savages went to war they prepared themselves for such fate if captured. More:–the death was not torture. The ceremonies were religious according to the pagan idea–chants and prayers and garlands of flowers and sacred pine were a part of the ritual. The blade of sacrifice must be sharp, and the heart removed from the victim quickly and held to the sun or the star behind which the angry god waited. When it was a sacrifice of much high import, it was made on the Mesa of the Hearts, and in remembrance a heart shaped stone was always left near the shrine by one of the secondary priests:–for that reason one could find many heart shaped stones, large and small on that mesa. When a medicine man found one, even in a far hunting ground, he brought it home for that purpose.
“And the body of the victim?” asked Don Ruy–“I have been on that mesa and seen no bones–what becomes of it?”
“If it is trouble of floods or storm or drouth, the victim is thrown to the god of the river below. On the mesa to the west is an ancient circle of stones with the entrance to the east. The ordinary sacrifice is made there for good crops, and the body is divided until each clan may have at least a portion which he consumes with many prayers.”
Don Diego confessed that such ritual sat ill upon even a healthy stomach, for his own part the open air seemed good and desirable, and he was of a mind to return whence they had come, rather than risk longer unauthorized visits among such smiling soft voiced savages. Since his eminence had learned thus much of their horrors, who was to know how many might be left untold?–or how soon the tribes might have a mind to circle the camp and offer every mother’s son of the Christians on some such devilish altar?
Even while he spoke a curious shock ran through the men, and they stared at each other in amaze and question. Plainly the floor had lifted under their feet as though some demon of the Underworld had heaved himself upward in turning over in his sleep.
Screams and loud cries were heard from the terraces, men came tumbling up the ladders from the kivas, and Master Chico let fall a slender treasured volume of Señor Ariosto’s romances and ran, white faced and breathless to Don Ruy, who caught and held him while the world swayed about them.
In truth he did not even release him so quickly as might be after the tremor had passed, but no man had time or humor to note the care with which he held the secretary, or that it was the lad himself who drew, flushing red, from the embrace of very strong arms.
“I–I feared you might not know–I came to tell you–” was the lame explanation to which Don Ruy listened, and smiled while he listened.
“I wonder what ‘Doña Bradamante’ would have done in all her bravery of white armor if such an earth wave had shaken her tilting court?” he asked, but the secretary did not know, and with face still flushed, and eyes on the ground, went to seek Yahn Tsyn-deh to hear if this was a usual thing that walls lifted in wavy lines–and that chimneys toppled from Te-hua dwellings.
The old people said it was long since the earth had shaken itself, and they watched closely the Mesa of the Hearts, and the mesa of the god-maid face, and a mountain over towards Te-gat-ha. If the anger of the earth was great against earth people, then smoke would come from certain earth breathing places,–and the sentinels kept watch–and the old men watched also.
And around the village went a murmur of dire import–for it was plain that the Great Mystery was sending many signs to the Te-hua people;–the altars had been too long empty!
A strange foreboding filled the air, and the Castilians gathered in little groups and talked. To send the Navahu captive to his death at the hands of the tribe was not to their fancy, but if a member of a Te-hua clan must be offered up, who could tell what vengeance that clan might not take on the strangers?
Padre Vicente looked over all, and listened to much, and then talked to the governor:–was it not the time to take strong brothers that they share both the evil and the good together?
“The gods are certainly not well pleased with us, we make offerings and we make prayers–and the only good they let come to us has been our brothers of the iron and thunder and the fire sticks,” said Phen-tzah. “Yes, I think it is the time to take brothers of a strong god.”
This was the word of the governor and it was the strongest word yet given for union. But the governor made it plain that he did not belong to the order holding secret of the sun symbol. The Po-Athun were the people who must decide these spirit things. He thought the hearts of the old men of that order were kind and soft for the strangers, but–the head of that order was Tahn-té, the Po-Athun-ho!
This gave pause for thought, every man who chose to go contrary to the will of Tahn-té, found himself well nigh helpless in the Indian land, his infernal gods were so strong that the Castilians were none too eager to flout them, only Yahn Tsyn-deh seeing the crisis of things, crept to Juan Gonzalvo and whispered,
“You hate the Po-Athun-ho–and you say love words to me. You think you want me?”
Juan Gonzalvo was a blunt soldier who had never before been kept at the distance of Tantalus by an Indian girl who took his gifts. On her brown neck a silver necklace of his shone richly, and in her braided hair corals of the sea gleamed red. While others had fled to the altars for prayers,–and sprinkled sacred pollen to the Go-hé-yahs–the mediators between earth and spirit world–Yahn had bathed in the river and made herself beautiful with Castilian gifts and barbaric trinketry.
To the man who measured her with eager eyes, she looked beautiful as the Te-hua goddess of whom she had told him–Ta-ah-quea who brings the Spring.
He told her so while he devoured her with his glances.
“Good!” she said. “You give me love, and you hate the Po-Athun-ho. You can have us both if your heart is brave this night.”
His arms would have clasped her for that promise, but she eluded him and laughed.
“Your Don Ruy tells you the Po-Athun-ho must have no harm,” she whispered, “but is there not among your men, one, maybe even three soldiers who are master of the bow,–and can destroy in silence?”
Gonzalvo was himself a master bowman–and had some pride in knowing it, also he could if need be, pick men of his company who had skill, and could be trusted.
“Could you send these men as if to hunt or to fish,–could you have them find the way past the Te-hua sentinels to the place where they camped in the pines?” and she made a gesture towards Pu-yé. “Could you secretly find your way there in the dark before the Mother Moon looks full on the face of the earth?”
“I can do this–and I can do more than this.”
“Can you win for your people the good heart of the council that they show you the sun symbol?” she asked. “Only Tahn-té closes the door to you, and they fear Tahn-té. Tell me why your hate of him is strong.”
“His father was the Devil. Through the devil soul he learns magic things.”
“Good! You hear the wise men tell of a maid of evil who brought the tornado and the battle–and now brings this shake of the world?”
“The witch maid,” and Gonzalvo crossed himself–“Yes–the men speak of her in whispers–and the Indians say a sacrifice must be made.”
“It must be made,” said Yahn Tsyn-deh, and her white teeth shut tight in decision. “Maybe it happens that you can make it, and win the council–how then?”
“I–make the sacrifice–I?”
“Not where the altar is,” soothed Yahn as he recoiled from the thought. “But listen you!–maybe I dream–but listen!–maybe the witch maid is a human thing with the heart of magic like Tahn-té,–maybe I can find them together for you in the sacred place of the stars in Pu-yé. Maybe the spirit of Tahn-té has been traded into her keeping, and with the double strength of evil she will destroy the earth in this place. The stars say so;–a great evil is coming! The medicine men see it in the sacred vessels of water and in the clear stone of the ancient prophets–they say so! You are a brave heart–you can save these people and win the gold secret from the council. If you want Yahn Tsyn-deh for love you will do this thing!”
Gonzalvo stared at her incredulous, she was crediting him with a power that would place him high in the Castilian camp–if he could win! And more–she was to give him her own intense, glowing, restless self!
“I also hate Tahn-té,–that is why!” she said frankly, “and I love only men who are brave above all other men. Your fire sticks of thunder must not be heard on the heights of Pu-yé, but when Tahn-té and the witch meet there in the night, your arrows must send them together to the Afterworld–not one alone–but together! When the men of Te-hua find the dead witch (for the men of Te-gat-ha and the Navahu can witness that it is the one!) and when they find the lion robe of Tahn-té on her body,–and other gifts of Tahn-té–and find them dead the one beside the other, then the man who has made this happen will be a great man! Even the men of Te-gat-ha will come with gifts, and the men of Te-hua will give you honor, and will open the trail for you to the sun symbol. There will be no Tahn-té to put evil magic on them for doing so! When he is found dead with the witch maid they will see clearly that his magic was evil magic, and they will have breath that is deep and free again. Also I–Yahn Tsyn-deh–will walk beside you where you choose.”
Low and rapid was her speech there in the shadow of the adobe wall–and so fair was the dream she made clear for him, that he felt himself grow dazed with the glory of it–yet he was a strong man!
If it was true that Tahn-té and the witch nested together in the ruins of Pu-yé, he knew well that the day of the young Ruler was ended in Povi-whah, or in any Te-hua council where it was known. But the strange mental or spiritual power of Tahn-té made it a thing of danger to let him live after accusal had been made. The way of Yahn seemed the best of all ways. If he was found dead beside the maid accursed, the evidence would be clear against him–and the True Faith would have the credit for such extermination!
He knew this was not a thing to speak of to Don Ruy–and though the padre was enemy to every thought of Tahn-té–he feared even the padre–that strange man who knew so much that was hidden in Indian life, would so clearly see that Yahn Tsyn-deh was as much the motive as gain of the gold, or glory for Mother Church.
No,–it was a thing to think out alone.
Yahn pressed his hand furtively and smiled on him as he left her, and then entered her own dwelling and sprinkled prayer meal to the spirits who carry messages to the gods.
Then she sent a child for Ka-yemo and gave the child some dried peaches that he be content to stay with his fellows in the sunshine and eat them.
Ka-yemo entered her dwelling for the first time in many moons and clasped her close, and then seated himself in the farthest corner from the Apache god pictures while Yahn Tsyn-deh talked.
Her voice was low, and often she went to the opening to see that no one listened, and Ka-yemo was wonder-struck at the greatness of the thing she whispered.
“You have won scalps in this battle–you have led the men in the scalp dance, and the people know you are strong. If Tahn-té went out of the world now, at this time, you would be strongest. This is the time he must go!”
“But if the vengeance of the Castilians came heavy?”
“It will not come heavy. Don Ruy has forbidden Gonzalvo even to speak words against Tahn-té to the padre. So it is that he would be angry if Gonzalvo sent arrows into the Po-Ahtun-ho. You must not do it, for his magic power might come heavy on your head. If you fear to destroy the Castilian capitan you are foolish in your thought–for it need never be known. Look!–here are arrows of the Navahu, from the place of battle I gathered many, these are the arrows for the work. Let Gonzalvo risk the magic of Tahn-té, and the magic of the witch maid, and destroy them, then you must alone, trail the Castilian, that he comes not back alive to tell how it was done! The Navahu arrows will take the blame from your head–it will be plain that some Navahu men stayed to take pay for their dead! So it will be, and you, Ka-yemo, will stand high, and your clan will be proud that no man stands more high. And I–Yahn–will be with you each step of the life trail–and each step we dare look down on all others and be proud. The songs you sing can be proud songs!”
The blood of Ka-yemo jumped in his veins at that picture of victory as drawn by Yahn Tsyn-deh. Now, since she had asked him to destroy Juan Gonzalvo was he at last content in the thought that her love had not wandered from him, Ka-yemo! Even in the days of silence and anger had he held her spirit;–and to do that with a woman is proof that a man is strong! It made him feel there in the dwelling of Yahn the Apache, that he could do battle in the open for her with the Castilian capitan if need be and have no fear;–how much more then would he dare do the work to be done in secret on the heights!
Thus did Yahn Tsyn-deh spin her web that Tahn-té and the maid of the forest be caught in its meshes, and it seemed good to her that the men of iron be killed when chance offered;–especially must the Castilian capitan not be let live to tell the clan of Tahn-té aught of how the plan was made;–and above all had she spoken truth to the Woman of the Twilight by the path to the well:–her life was as the life of Ka-yemo;–if the Castilian escaped and dared claim the price she offered–!
At that thought Yahn felt for the knife in her girdle, and had joy that the edge of it was keen as the steel of the Castilians, and her smile was a threat as she almost felt her hand thrust and twist it in the flesh of the man of iron who had dared think himself the equal of Ka-yemo!
Some savage creatures of the wilderness there are who choose their mates, and stand, to live or to die, against all foes who would break the bond. The tigress will watch her mate do battle for her and then follow his conqueror,–but Yahn Tsyn-deh had not even so much as that meekness of the tiger in her;–her own share of the battle would she fight that the mate she chose should remain unconquered. Proud she was of his beauty and of his grace in the scalp dance,–but more proud would she be when no serene young Po-Athun-ho looked at her lover as if from a high place of thought. It was, strangely enough, the unspoken in Tahn-té against which she rebelled in bitterness. No word that was not gentle had he ever spoken to her–and to Ka-yemo no word that lacked dignity. It was as if the man in his thoughts was enthroned on the clouds:–and at last she had found the way for that cloud to be dragged low in the dust!
CHAPTER XX
THE CHOICE OF YAHN TSYN-DEH
And while Yahn Tsyn-deh laid the trap, and the medicine drums sounded, and the women gathered the children close because of the trembling earth, one girl robed in the skin of a mountain lion waited alone at the portal of the star, and knelt in the shadow, and looked with eyes of fear at the great pieces of severed cliff, or ancient wall sent crashing downwards by the force of the earth shock.
Past her portal they had crashed until it seemed the roof must fall also, and she gathered the robe of Tahn-té about her, and came as far as might be into the open–and watched with longing eyes the trail across the mesa to the great river!–for that trail was as the path of the sun to her,–or the rainbow in the sky!
The feet of Tahn-té had touched that trail, and when the night came, and the moon rose in the great circle over the eastern hills–over that trail would he come, and though the mountains themselves crashed downwards to the mesa, he would hold her close, and the very spirits of darkness could send no more fear!
She kept very still there waiting at the portal, for strange noises were heard on the mesa, a dislodged stone rumbling down the long slope–or a bit of loose clay falling from the ancient walls. At times the smaller sounds suggested passing feet–and above all things must she remain hidden from people until he came for her–he–the god-like one who had brought her to this dwelling so akin to the dwellings of the Divine Ones of the Navahu land in the place called Tsé-ye. The difference was that the Tsé-ye dwellings were deep in the heart of the world–while these dwellings were lifted high above the world.
But she knew without words that he indeed belonged to the Divine Ones ere he brought her to the ancient dwellings. That her name had been in his heart, and on his lips before she herself had told him, was but a part of the strange sweet magic of the new life into which he had led her.
Through the storms–and the dark nights–and the long days of loneliness had she lived since he had hidden her first from the scouts of Te-gat-ha–but they had passed over her as dreams of sweetness pass.–That the groves of pine, or the mesa of the river, hid him from her sight, did not mean to her that he had quite gone away, the wonderful magic wrought by him made it possible for her to feel his arms about her even when she lay alone in the darkness of the dwelling of the star. To be hidden like that, and to watch for his coming, was to be granted much joy by the gods. That the gods exact payment for all joys more than mortal, was one secret Tahn-té did not whisper to her, though the thought had clouded his own eyes more than once as he clasped her close to him.
What the gods would exact he did not know, but daily and nightly he made prayers to the mediators of the spirit land, and hoped in his heart that the god of his people prove not akin to the jealous god of the men of iron;–for a jealous god would, without doubt, take her from him! Against men he could protect her–but if the gods awoke–and were jealous–
And he remembered the fastings, and the penance, and the prayers by which he had, unknown to all others, dedicated his life to the gods alone!
But of this he said no word–only held her more close in his thoughts–but ever a gray shadow moved beside him–the shadow of an unknown fear–and it was the same shadow by which he had been led to count over the seeds of the sacred growth–that he be sure it was in his power to make the death sleep beautiful to her, if the death sleep should shorten their trail together in the Earth Life.
She knew nothing of his fear, and watched each lengthening shadow with delight–since the growing shadows were heralds of his coming! Even the trembling of the earth was forgotten in that joy–and she scarcely noted that the air had grown strangely sultry–almost a thing of weight it seemed;–a brooding, waiting spirit, silencing even the whisper of the pines–and the whisper of the pine was sacred music to the Te-hua people;–through all the ages it had whispered, until in a good hour it had given voice to their earth-born god!
She knew not anything of the gods of her own people, and the ominous silence of the pines meant not to her what they would mean to a girl of the river villages. But the magic of the place did make itself felt to her when her robe, as she touched it, sent out little snappings as of fireflies’ wings, and far across the land tiny flashes flamed from earth to sky as the dusk grew. When she shook loose her hair that she might arrange it more pleasing for his sight, she was startled by the tiny crackling, like finest of twigs in a blaze–and to smooth it into braids silenced none of the strange magic;–each time her hand touched it, the little sparks flashed–under the heavy brooding atmosphere, electric forces were at work in strange ways–and on the heights of Pu-yé they have for ages been proof of the magic in those mountains.
Therefore is it a place for prayer.
Startled by the strange earth breathings, the girl crept within the portal for her waiting–and the dusk was too deep for sight across the rolling land of ancient field, and piñon wood far below.
Had she kept the watch she might have seen more than one figure approach the heights from different ways–only a glimpse could be had, but through the dusk of piñon groves certainly two figures moved together, a man and a woman, and even before them one man stole alone from the south, and halted often as if to plan the better way of approach.
The man and woman skirted the foot of the mesa, and crept upward on the side to the north.
“It is the hard way to climb you have come,” said the man, and the strange heavy air caused them to stop for breath, and as she reached to cling to the hand of the man, he drew back with a gasp of terror. As their hands touched, a little electric shock ran through each,–it was plain they had reached the domain where the witch of evil powers held sway.
“It is not I whom you need fear,” said Yahn Tsyn-deh,–“it is the witch maid of Tahn-té, and we have come to see the killing.”
“And if–if Gonzalvo grows weak on the trail–or if his men take fear from this evil magic of the mesa of Pu-yé?”
“No other men come with him–we talked–we two! Alone he will do it:–for me!” she said proudly. “He knows the strong bow, with it he will send the arrow first to the man,–that will be when they stand clear in the moonlight. Then to the witch:–that all people may see they were near to each other. The arrows are good and the bow is good. I saw that it was so;–also I saw that no man of our people can use it better than can Gonzalvo. By the river I watched him. He needs no fire sticks to find the heart of an enemy–alone he can do it with an arrow.”
Ka-yemo looked at her sullenly,–she was giving much of praise to the man she would have him destroy!
“How are you sure that he does not bring the thunder and lightning stick also?” he demanded,–“and how are you sure that it is not used for me?”
“Oh–fool you!–who make fears out of shadows–yet are so big to fight!” she breathed softly. “Why is it that the Navahu or the other wild people do not make you fear–yet the Castilians–”
“They are truly men of iron. As a boy I saw the things they could do,” he answered.–“Not as men do I fear them, but it is their strong god who tames their beasts.”
“Your arrows are good,” said Yahn Tsyn-deh with conviction,–“when you see him dead as other men die, you will know that our own gods are also strong.”
The dark had fallen heavily, and only the Ancient Star gleamed threatening as it waited for the moon. The smaller stars were not seen and the shadows were very dense.
Because of this a strange thing came to them as they reached the summit. Strong as was the heart of Yahn the Apache, she was struck by terror, and Ka-yemo knew that the great god of the men of iron had sent a threat for his eyes to see.
For, still and erect against a dark wall of the Lost Others, stood a man outlined in fire. In Castilian war dress he stood, and little flickering lines of fire ran along helmet and breastplate and lance. No face could they see of the horror, which added to, rather than lessened the terror of Ka-yemo. A living face he could meet and fight–but this burning ghost of a man not yet dead–!
He turned and stumbled downward blindly, and Yahn Tsyn-deh clung to him and gripped his hand cruelly for silence, and when they sank at last beside a great boulder, her arms were around him, as though that clasp kept the solid world from crumbling beneath her feet.
“No–no–no!” muttered Ka-yemo as though she had actually uttered words of persuasion,–“it is what their padre said long ago. Their strong god has an army of saints, and of angels,–they stand guard;–all who go against them are swept into the flames of their Underworld! It is what the Padre Luis said–and now it has been seen by my eyes! Their altars are the stronger altars,–we will go there–we will both go;–the fire of their hell will not reach us at their altar–the medicine prayers of their padre are strong prayers–we will go to him–”
The old fear of his boyhood had enveloped him as the unchained electric force had enveloped the heights. Yahn Tsyn-deh put up her hand to her throat;–she felt herself strangle for breath as she listened.
“It was some trick!” she insisted–though she also had trembled with awe–“Listen to me!–they have many tricks–these white men! Because of a trick will you go to their altars, and be shamed in your clan? Their priest is the head of all things–will you follow the steps of another when you can wear the feathers of a leader? Will you be laughed at by the tribe? Hear–oh hear!–and let your heart listen! Never again will the gods send you this chance to be great–this is your day and your night!”
“Their devils keep guard–the flames of their hell no man can fight!”
“Ka-yemo!–I am holding you close–I give myself to you!–one arrow only must you send when the witch maid is killed, and Tahn-té is killed,–one arrow, and forever you are the highest, and I am your slave to give you love! Ka-yemo!”
The light of the moon was sending a glow above Na-im-be mountains. The moon itself was not yet seen, but enough light was on the mesa for the pleading girl to see the face of the man she adored.
The face was averted and turned from her. In terror he bent the arrow shafts across his knee, and flung the bow far down into the shadows.
“Ka-yemo!”–she moaned as the last vestige of her idol was destroyed by his own hand;–“do you give me then to the Castilian? Must I pay the debt?”
“Against the gods of their hell I will not send arrows,” he muttered–“He may not claim you–the sign sent to me here is a strong sign–a god of fire is a strong god–and I am only a man! It may be that if we go to their padre–and if we confess–”
She could see that he was blindly groping in his mind for some chance–some little chance, to be forgiven–to be forgiven by the Castilians whose feet would be on his neck–and on hers!
It was his day and his night, and he had thrown it away! Never again could the day dawn in joy for those two.
She drew him to her as the light grew, and looked in the face she had loved from babyhood. It was a long look, and a strange one. She was thinking of the archer above them who waited to send death to a man and a maid!
“What is it?” he asked as her fingers slipped from his shoulder along his arm and clasped his hand with the closeness, the firmness of settled resolve.
“It is that you have chosen,” she said quietly. “It is the right of the man to choose;–and it will be well. It is the right of the woman to follow: and before the moon comes again from the blanket of the east we will know–and the gods will know, that the choice is a good choice!”
She held his hand and led him upwards;–steadily, yet without haste. The edge of the moon showed red, and the moon was to be clear of the mountains when Tahn-té came to the portal of the star–thus had his mother told the girl while Yahn listened like a coiled snake close to the well.
To Ka-yemo, Yahn seemed again the adoring creature of love. She held him close, and whispered endearing things. Never had Yahn, the Apache tigress, let him see how completely her love could make her gentle and make him master. The sweetness of it, and the absolute relief when the arrows were destroyed–gave him a sense of security;–It would be easy to confess to the padre;–the Castilians would be glad of converts–and Juan Gonzalvo–someway they could make words to Juan Gonzalvo–and padre would help–and–
Holding closely his hand she led him up the ancient stairway, and the little doorways of the cliff dwellings showed black, for the moon had slipped above the far hills and shone, a dulled ball of fire through the sultry haze. Enough light it threw on the white cliffs to show any moving creature, and Ka-yemo glanced fearfully towards the portal of the star, for surely a movement was there!
But Yahn Tsyn-deh at the head of the stairway looked straight ahead where a man with a strong bow held himself close in the shadow of a great rock. When the twang of the bow string sounded, she loosened not her hand from that of Ka-yemo as he fell, but with her other hand she pulled aside the robe from her breast–also the necklace of the white metal, that not anything turn aside the point of the arrow which was to follow.
And when it came she fell to her knees, and then over the huddled body of the man she had loved and led to death.
She loosened not her hand, and only once she spoke.
“It is a good choice,” she whispered, but he had led the way into the Twilight Land–and she followed as she had said was the right of a woman.
And the clan of Ka-yemo could chant songs of bravery all their days and not know that Yahn the Apache had saved the pride of her father’s people, and had hidden the weakness of Ka-yemo on the heights of Pu-yé!
