People of the Mist(177)
For the briefest instant, Black Spike met Shell Comb’s horrified stare, and his love for her lit his eyes, along with pain and resignation. He smiled, as if reassuring her. Then he glanced at his son, started to reach out, as if to touch him.
High Fox gaped, mouth working silently, as he tried to comprehend the information. He shrank back from his father’s hand, swallowing hard as the horror began to sink in.
Black Spike pulled his hand back, straightened, and said, “I did it. It is my fault. I killed the girl. That was Shell Comb and me out there, locked together, rutting as we always had. I overheard that conversation. I said I was going to stop them. Shell Comb told me to wait, that she would talk Red Knot out of doing this forbidden thing.”
“Is that when you argued?” Panther asked.
“Yes. She pulled away from me.” Black Spike seemed to nerve himself, his eyes clearing as he bravely committed himself.
“No!” Shell Comb hissed, fists clenched. She started forward, but Hunting Hawk tapped her on the shoulder with her walking stick. Shell Comb stopped as if struck, watching Black Spike with a glassy-eyed, stunned stare. High Fox was making strangling sounds, as if choking.
“Shell Comb couldn’t find the girl,” Black Spike insisted. “She was frantic. So, I made up my mind. I went into the House of the Dead, knowing the god would have a weapon. With it, I sneaked out, ran to the ridgetop, and arrived just in time to stop Red Knot.” He closed his eyes and tears leaked down his cheeks. “I didn’t mean to kill her, but she wouldn’t listen. Wouldn’t believe me when I told her that High Fox was her brother. She just laughed. And … and something let loose inside me and I hit her. I—” “Father?” High Fox clutched at the empty air in front of him, as though reaching for something only he could see. “Red Knot? She’s … she’s …”
“Now it makes sense,” Panther said dismally. “Reason and desperation—acting together to motivate murder: Both High Fox and Red Knot sprang from Shell Comb’s womb, both planted by Black Spike’s seed.” Panther raised pained eyes. “Weroansqua, High Fox and Red Knot are both Greenstone Clam”
“Incest!” Hunting Hawk hissed. “Incest!”
“No!” High Fox howled, shrinking back, and huddling in on himself. “I didn’t do that! I didn’t!”
A rumbling of voices broke out from the other side of the divider and rolled the length of the Great House. Hunting Hawk sat as if riven by lightning. Shell Comb might have been frozen, her glazed eyes locked on the miserable Black Spike.
Nine Killer shook his head, his senses swimming with the import of what he’d just heard. Incest! The most horrible of crimes!
“What… what do I do with you?” Hunting Hawk asked when her shock finally began to ebb. “You, and your demon-spawned child?”
Black Spike filled his lungs, muscles tense as if in final preparation. He gave Shell Comb a pleading look, then stated calmly, “My son is innocent. He didn’t know. I killed your granddaughter, Weroansqua. To save my son, I offer myself in Red Knot’s place.” He turned, seeing his warriors as they crowded into the doorway. “You men! Back down! I order you! I do this freely! There must be no vengeance from Three Myrtle!”
“No!” Shell Comb said in a strangled voice. “What are you doing? Why are you doing this—”
“I killed her!” Black Spike interrupted. “I accept the responsibility, Shell Comb. I could not allow them to mate, to be married in incest. They had to be stopped!”
“Take him!” Hunting Hawk snapped. “Build up the fire in the plaza. Break his arms and legs … and burn him!”
High Fox dropped his face in his hands, and sobbed. “I didn’t know! He lied to me! His own son … he lied! It’s not my fault]”
“I’ll decide what to do with you later,” Hunting Hawk growled at High Fox.
Nine Killer nodded to Flying Weir, who stepped forward. Copper Thunder refused to relinquish his grip on Black Spike, and together, Copper Thunder and Flying Weir rushed the doomed Weroance through the doorway, shaking the frame and rattling the matting. A path opened before them as they made their way down the crowded Great House.
“Wait!” The Panther’s cry was drowned in the chaos.
“My warriors!” Black Spike screamed. “Do nothing! Keep the peace! I did this! I will pay!”
Blood and dung! Incest! The very thought of it left him reeling and sick to his stomach. Nine Killer nerved himself as he followed in their wake. He would bethe man who broke Black Spike’s arms and legs. That responsibility fell on the War Chief.