People of the Mist(156)

A terrible pain lurked behind her dark eyes. “If I could change anything, I would have been born as you, Elder.”

“Me?”

“Yes, I’d be you. How much better to have lived your life than my own.” And with that, she turned on her heel, walking rapidly toward the palisade gate.

He watched her go, the sunlight dancing on her swaying hips and filtering strains of blue out of her shining black hair.

“Ah, beautiful Shell Comb, I begin to understand. You and I, what a pair. Okeus rides on our shoulders—and laughs, and laughs.”





Twenty-seven




Nine Killer crossed his arms and cocked his head. He stood beside Panther at the canoe landing. A chilly breeze was blowing in off the water, and Nine Killer pulled his feather cloak tightly about his shoulders. The old man was like a dog sniffing after a rabbit, and the way he was nosing about now, you’d think he was nipping at the rabbit’s very tail.

“You understand what you’re to do?” The Panther called after Sun Conch. She pushed her canoe farther into the inlet and stepped into the wobbling craft. The vessel cut a narrow V across the undulating surface. The water had darkened in the winter cold. In summer, it grew murky and green for reasons Nine Killer had never understood.

Sun Conch used her paddle to back water. She called, “I’m to find Stone Cob at Three Myrtle Village, and give him the piece of copper the War Chief gave me.” Sun Conch lifted the shining piece of metal, and shot them a smile before she dipped her paddle into the water, turning her canoe toward open water. “He’s to bring Black Spike and High Fox here, to Flat Pearl Village.” “

“And if Black Spike doesn’t want to come?” Nine Killer called.

“I tell him that The Panther will come to him—this time, at the head of Flat Pearl’s warriors.” “Tell him that we will lay this accusation against High Fox to rest!” Panther shouted, hands cupped around his mouth. Then he waved as Sun Conch drove her slim dugout away from shore.

“Lay the accusation against High Fox to rest?” Nine Killer asked softly, glancing sidelong at Panther.

“Oh, that’s not a lie, War Chief.” Panther smiled crookedly. “One way or another, we will have the truth of it. Even if the boy ends up thrown onto the bonfire with his arms and legs broken, there will be no doubt about his guilt or innocence.”

Nine Killer propped his hands on his waist. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“All in good time, War Chief.” Panther huddled in his feather cloak. “I will have brought this to its conclusion before the solstice celebration. The pieces have finally begun to fit. Like a big pot dropped on the ground, it takes a while to place each shard in relation to its neighbor. Then, all of a sudden, there it is, the shape of the vessel before it was dropped.”

“But it will never hold water again,” Nine Killer reminded.

“Of course not,” Panther said sadly. “But, then, once the pot was dropped, we knew that, didn’t we, War Chief? The world was sundered when that blow splintered Red Knot’s skull. Nothing will ever be the same for the people involved. Especially for the murderer.”

“You’re talking in riddles, Elder.” Nine Killer watched Sun Conch round the bend, her canoe obscured by the tree-covered point that stuck out into the inlet.

“Riddles? Not at all.” Panther turned. “Come, let us go to your sister’s. She was cooking squash when I asked you to join me here.”

They turned, picking their way among the overturned canoes. The day had warmed enough that snow was melting, leaving the landing muddy and slick. Nine Killer’s moccasins were soaked through, his feet cold. “I still don’t see why you need Black Spike and High Fox.” Nine Killer swallowed hard, his keen mind drawing the only conclusion. “Bat dung and gull droppings! You don’t mean … ?”

Panther made a face, his rubbery skin reddened from the cold. “The youth lied to me, Nine Killer. I promised I’d have his hide if he did; but for that, I could have gone there, to Three Myrtle. I need him here. He’s the final piece of the pot, you see. The proof, if you will.”

Nine Killer grimaced. “I still have trouble believing he killed Red Knot. With everything we’ve learned, it’s got to be someone else. I’d even believe the Weroansqua did it before I’d believe it was High Fox.”

“She might want you to. If what I suspect is true, the Weroansqua is going to be a very unhappy woman.”

Nine Killer’s gut churned. “Stop hinting around and tell me what you suspect, Elder.”