Tykota's Woman(47)

Sinica was shorter by a head than Tykota. He was stockily built, while Tykota was muscled and lean. Still, Sinica was strong, and his hate for Tykota gave him strength. "I have been expecting you, brother."

Tykota's eyes were hard, and a savage expression curved his lips. "I know you have. This day was predestined. This is the day you will die, Sinica."

"Not by your hand," Sinica sneered, laughing and looking at his many warriors. "This is the day you walk in the Spirit World with our father."

"I do not think so." Tykota's voice sounded calm, but there was something dangerous about him. "You arranged your own death, Sinica, when you took this woman."

"You have the look and sound of our father. It was because of you that my mother was shamed before the Old Ones. Because of you that my father never saw me as his son. He saw only you. Even my true brother, Coloradous, preferred you to me." Hatred spilled forth from Sinica's lips. "I will take your woman and make you watch. After you are dead, perhaps I will keep her as my woman. Will your spirit rest easy, knowing she belongs to me?"

"That is not the way it will be," Tykota said calmly. "You, my brother, will never leave here alive."

"What can one man do among twenty?" Sinica scoffed. "Even you are not that good a warrior, Tykota."

Tykota smiled, but there was a threat in his smile. "A man who tortures a helpless woman is not a true warrior. And a man who is afraid to accept a challenge of combat from another Indian is not a man."

Sinica snorted. "I see no Indian. I see someone dressed as a white man claiming to be an Indian. If I give the word, my warriors will tear you to pieces!"

"This fight is between us, Sinica. It always has been."

"I will not fight you. Why should I, when I can simply order your death? Those who follow me will do whatever I ask of them. Of you, I ask only one thing before you die: the location of the Perdenelas gold."

"Never. That secret will die with me."

"Are you willing to watch the woman die first, then-after I have given her to the others to enjoy?"

Tykota's lip curled in disgust and rage. "Even then I would not tell you. But this is not about the woman, and it is not about the treasure. It is about you and me, Sinica."

"Why should I fight you when I can order your death?" he repeated.

"Do you tell your warriors, or will I, that you are too afraid of the chief of the Perdenelas to meet me in combat? I have no warriors with me. I came to you alone. You are a coward who surrounds himself with many warriors so you will not have to fight. But when they learn your true nature, the Apache will spit on you and call you dishonorable around the Chiricahua campfires."

Makinna wanted to call out to Tykota, to urge him to save himself, but she didn't have the strength. He would not have heeded her anyway. She saw the rage in his eyes, and she could tell by the tone of his voice that he was goading the other Indian to fight.

She wondered if there had ever been such a man. She knew of no one who would be brave enough to face his enemies in such large number. Truly he had the heart of a lion. She watched the man he called Sinica throw his rifle down and tear his knife from its leather sheath. They were going to fight, and she could not bear to watch. Even if Tykota won, would not the other Apaches kill him?

Like charging bulls, the two warriors came together in a clash of fury.

They both hit the ground from the impact, then both struggled for dominance. The other Indians had gathered in a circle around them, loudly encouraging Sinica.

The two men rolled on the ground until Tykota leaped to his feet, his knife drawn, prepared to kill.

Sinica came to his feet and lunged at Tykota, who artfully sidestepped the thrust, causing Sinica to stumble and fall into a thorn bush. He flinched in pain and hacked angrily at the bush with his knife.

"I have to admire you," Tykota taunted. "Perhaps the Chiricahua Apache will sing around their campfire about your bravery in fighting thorns."

In his rage Sinica jumped to his feet and charged Tykota, slashing and thrusting with his knife. However, Tykota managed to stay just out of reach of the blade. And the more Tykota evaded him, the more enraged Sinica became, and the more ineffectual his thrusts.

Makinna didn't want to watch, and yet she could not look away, for fear Tykota would be killed. She could see that his opponent was charging in a blind rage, slashing the air.

At last, Sinica lunged forward, shouting in triumph. But Tykota's knife drove into his body. There was a surprised expression on Sinica's face as he slid to the ground, his life's blood soaking into the sand.

Tykota looked at the blood on his hands and dropped to his knees, gathering his half brother in his arms. "Why did you make me do it, Sinica? I did not want to kill you."