People of the Mist(94)
“I see,” Nine Killer whispered as he leaned forward. “That’s because she was lying on her front.”
“And the blood on her back?” Panther queried.
Nine Killer narrowed an eye. “She fell that way first.” He walked around the dress as Panther held it for him. “Yes, the first blood that leaked from the wound would have drained into her hair, then smeared the back of the dress like that. Then, when she was pulled over and buried in the leaves, the blood drained out of the wound to cake the front of the dress.”
“Very good, War Chief. That mind of yours is keen indeed.” Nine Killer bit his lip, glanced uneasily at Green Serpent, and said, “Why didn’t I see that before?”
Panther chuckled grimly. “Because in the passion of the moment you weren’t looking, War Chief. Now, let’s see what else Red Knot has to tell us about her death.”
Panther crouched down, studying the girl’s skin. “No sign of bruises or cuts.” He lifted her curled hands, peering at the fingernails. “No evidence that she scratched or fought.”
“How can you know that?” Green Serpent asked as he bent forward. Panther rocked back on his heels. “If she’d struggled with him, we should see evidence of it. Torn nails, maybe skin or blood under them. But her skin is unblemished. She wasn’t struck, or cut, or punctured. Not even a bruise.”
He rolled her head to the side and carefully probed the depression on the side of her skull “She was struck on the left temple.” He glanced at Nine Killer. “What would that indicate to you, War Chief?”
“That whoever hit her was facing her. That’s where I try to hit an opponent. Even a glancing blow will disorient, allow for a fast followup.”
Panther’s fingers traced through her hair, around the edge of ragged bone that had broken the skin. The wound was … “What’s this?” He pulled the hair back and frowned. “Kwiokos, do you have a pot of water? And perhaps a strip of cloth? There’s so much blood and hair here that I can’t see.”
Green Serpent made a gesture, and Lightning Cat hurried away, only to return an instant later with a large pot of water and a piece of fabric.
Panther crouched, wet the fabric—it was a piece made from hemp—and dabbed at the blood-matted hair. It took time to sponge the area clean, but at last he was able to see the wound, a nasty depression just above the ear.
“Here, look here”—Panther pointed—“a second, smaller dent a bit further in front.”
“She was hit twice?” Nine Killer looked closely. “Wait, something’s not right about that.”
“Indeed.” Panther considered the wound for a moment. “It would be unlikely that she was struck twice, wouldn’t it?”
Nine Killer exhaled thoughtfully. “The wounds I have seen would make me think so. If the first hit was the forward one, she would have staggered, probably lost her footing. Generally the warrior steps up and smashes the blow downward, right through the top of the skull.”
“That isn’t what we’re seeing here.”
“What does it mean?”
“Oh, we’ll find out. Everything will come clear, War Chief. Red Knot has told us a great deal already.” Panther cleaned the bloodstains from the girl’s chest and inspected her breasts. Then he spread her legs and stared thoughtfully at her vulva. The pubic hair had been plucked, as was customary for a woman’s first menstruation. “No sign of a man’s seed was seen?”
“No. Flat Willow said that she hadn’t been used like that.”
With equal care, Panther inspected her legs, buttocks, and back. Then he used a stick to pry her mouth open and looked inside. Blood had trickled down her cheek and across her lips, and caked the outside of the teeth. “There’s no blood on her tongue, no evidence that she bit anyone. None of the teeth are snapped off from a blow.” Sun Conch made a deep-throated sound and turned away, her eyes moist.
Panther washed his hands in the pot of water and glanced at Green Serpent. “Very well, Kwiokos, you may begin your duties.”
“With you here?” Green Serpent shifted uncertainly. “You’re not of her clan.”
“No, but I must see her as you skin the body.” Panther glanced at Sun Conch. “Out of respect, however, I will ask Sun Conch to leave us and guard the front entrance.”
Sun Conch nodded gratefully, and ran for the entrance.
Panther shrugged. “I believe we were about to lose her anyway. I’m not sure that she’s used to seeing the aftereffects of violent death. Especially with a girl she knew.”