People of the Lightning(18)

Pondwader’s glance slid to the Pond. “I’m ready. I guess. Tell me how to speak with them, Grandfather.”

Dogtooth grinned and handed Pondwader the stake. “Take this. I have Sung over it to bless it so the ghosts won’t kill you. Go to the middle of the Pond, to the deepest part, which is only half your body length, and drive the stake into the bottom. Then hold onto it and keep your whole body under water for as long as you can—”

Kelp blurted, “With the alligators over there? That’s suicide! Pondwader will be eaten alive!”

Dogtooth regarded her with the curiosity of a panther kitten. “Will he?”

“Well … he might!”

“Have you ever known the alligators who live in the Sacred Pond to disturb the dead? Have you ever heard of such a thing happening in the past?”

Kelp considered the alligators. They continued to lie serenely in the mud with their mouths open. “No,” she answered, “but that does not mean—”

“My dear girl, the ghosts have already spoken with the alligators, and told them they wish to speak with Pondwader.”

Dogtooth waded a short distance into the Pond, careful not to step in the burial frames, and motioned to Pondwader. “Don’t be afraid. Come.”

Pondwader’s hand shook when he reached out to touch Kelp’s arm. “I’ll be all right,” he said, then waded into the water with the stake clutched in his right hand.

“Go out into the middle.” Dogtooth waggled his arm to indicate the place. “It’s very shallow. The water will not even reach your hips, you’ll see.”

Pondwader gripped the stake like a knife as he neared the alligators, but the animals’ silver eyes merely watched him. Water lilies crowded around Pondwader’s robe.

“Drive the stake in,” Dogtooth cupped a hand to his mouth to yell. “Then hold tight! Your whole body must be under water, just like the dead. Go on. Do it.”

Suddenly frightened, Kelp ran to the edge of the water. “Pondwader? Wait.”

He smiled. It was that incredibly charming smile that could make Wind Mother stop breathing. In a teasing voice, he said, “I’ll be fine, Kelp. Really. Don’t worry.”

The wind gusted across the water, swirling the mist, and lifting Pondwader’s white hair from his shoulders. His smile waned, and Kelp thought fear glinted in his eyes. Several deep breaths later, he dove under the water and colliding green rings bobbed out around him, heading for shore. Two tiny topminnows jumped. When they splashed down, one of the alligators closed its jaws.

Kelp unhooked her warclub and gripped it in both hands, just in case.

Dogtooth turned to Kelp, and a look of such utter silliness creased his ancient face, that Kelp snapped, “What are you looking at?”

Dogtooth’s antlers glittered in the wavering sunlight as he shoved them toward the back of his head. “Now that I think about it, I’m glad you came today.”

Suspicious, she asked, “Why?”

“Well, some member of his family should be present at his rebirth.”

“Rebirth? What does that mean?”

Dogtooth leaned toward her and his white brows arched. “The Pond is a special Power place. It will take Pondwader’s human souls and wash them right out of his body. Something new, wondrous, will be reborn in his chest. You see, everything that happens here is a consecration, an anointing. You will be amazed at the change he will undergo after his death. He—”

“Death!” Kelp shouted. “I thought you said he wasn’t going to die! You said you’d prayed over that stake just so the ghosts—”

“Well, yes, but I was just speaking metaphorically. Naturally one must die to be reborn.”

Kelp screamed and lunged into the Pond, shouting, “Pondwader! Pondwader! Where are you? Where are you?”

Her brother erupted from the surface, wet white hair sleeking down over his cheeks. “What! Kelp, what’s wrong?”

Kelp stopped, pulse so loud in her ears that she felt sick. Her knees shook. Pondwader looked just the same. Very alive, with uprooted lilies dangling limply over his shoulders.

She whirled to Dogtooth. “You old madman!” she shouted. “Why did you tell me that?”

“Well,” Dogtooth said, smiling, “you will need time to prepare yourself for your brother’s transformation. And now, forgive me.” He turned and thrashed past a palmetto. “I really have other things to do.” Over his shoulder, he yelled, “I wish you well on your marriage, Pondwader!”

Kelp squinted after him until he disappeared into the gold and gray weave of the forest. “Marriage?” she said. “What’s he talking about?”