People of the River(183)

"But why not?"

Locust gingerly knelt down and unwrapped each of the bundles to expose the babies.

A roar of shock and fear rose from the crowd. Badgertail blinked, thinking his blurry vision responsible for the terrors he saw before him, but when his eyes cleared, his horror worsened.

One of the children had no arms; only fingers protruded from the stumps at his shoulders. And the other ... he seemed to be looking directly at Badgertail through wide, pink eyes. And something about those eyes was so Powerful. They assailed anyone who had the courage to look into them—as though this boy had the soul of a creature foreign to his people and their world. Thick white hair clung to the child's skull, framing a face with a mouth that protruded so far that it appeared to be a snout.

Petaga stammered, "If—if none of the clans will have them, Locust, there's nothing I can do."

Locust rose to her feet resignedly. "Very well, Sun Chief. I will find someone to take them out and leave them for the wolves. I was hoping we could—"

"I want them." Nightshade's deep, melodic voice penetrated the silence. People whirled to stare; then whispers hissed like shifting sand as they pointed.

Nightshade approached with a liquid grace, her head high, her eyes on Petaga. Badgertail craned his neck to watch. Orenda walked at Nightshade's side. The httle girl grinned happily, as if oblivious to the stares of loathing. People shuffled backward so quickly that they stumbled over one another, many of them making warding signs with their fingers.

Nightshade had rejected the red color of the Starbom for a blue dress, woven from the finest dogbane thread. Badgertail stared unabashedly. He had never seen her wear anything but red since the day he'd delivered her to Old Marmot twenty cycles ago. Her long hair hung down the middle of her back in a glistening braid; a beautifully carved shell gorget lay suspended over her heart.

Nightshade knelt by Petaga's feet to refold the blankets over the babies and pick up the basket. The mews stopped immediately. Orenda continued to smile, her eyes focused on someplace far away, as if she lived a dream.

Badgertail swallowed hard. Poor Orenda. On her head lay the guilt of incest. People muttered behind their hands, pointing at the child, scowling. Cahokia would never rest until her screaming body was thrown on a burning pyre alongside Tharon's.

"But Nightshade," Petaga said, his eyes averted from the tainted Orenda, "what will you do with two babies?"

"They're going home with me . . . where they belong."

"Home?" As the word sank in, Petaga lunged to his feet and stared imploringly into her dark eyes. "Nightshade, you don't mean—"

"Yes, I do, Petaga. My work here is done. Power has its own needs. Orenda and I are leaving tomorrow."

Badgertail felt as though his aching body had received the first death thrust from a lance. Fool. She has always wanted to go back. You knew she wouldn't stay. And it didn't matter anyway. He would be dead soon, beyond missing her.

"Bum the child!" an old woman screamed from the crowd. "She's polluted! Her father's semen runs in her womb!"

Petaga stood speechless, his mouth open, suddenly looking like a frightened little boy. "Leave? With Orenda? You can't! I mean, Orenda must die . . . must be purified."

"Bum her!" "Cleanse the pollution!" "She's an abomination!" Cries rose from all sides.

Petaga backed up a step, his uneasy eyes darting from Orenda to the crowd. The smile died on Orenda's lips. Her chin quivered as she looked up at Nightshade.

Nightshade's eyes seemed to grow, dark pools that sucked at the soul. Silence settled like ancient dust. People went still, as though afraid to move. "Orenda goes with me."

Petaga shook his head, rubbing his hands on his golden robe as if they had gone sweaty. "You know the laws against incest. Nightshade. The people are right, the girl must be burned. From the Beginning Time, First Woman instmcted—"

Nightshade stepped closer and stared into Petaga's eyes. "You will have to kill me first, Sun Chief. Your club lies behind you. Raise it. Strike."

Into the crackling tension, Badgertail shouted, "Let Orenda go! I've been there. Being condemned to the Forbidden Lands of the Palace Builders is the same as death— maybe worse!"

Petaga wet his lips. "Worse than death? Yes! Take her! But she must never return!" He faced the crowd, lifting his arms. "I banish my cousin Orenda to the Forbidden Lands of the Palace Builders! Her feet will not pollute the lands of our ancestors ever again!"

Nods of assent went around as cries rose. "Get rid of her now!" "Leave! Go!"

Badgertail sighed numbly. One less victim for Thar on.