The Mantooth Page 8

  But soon, as he knew he would, Akar began to tire. His lunges at thelegs and ribs of his opponent had done little damage, while the constantpounding on his own neck and chest had begun to take its toll. Risingtogether yet again he remained there, suspended, and aimed for thethroat. He could not get past the others flashing jaws, then was brokenback.

  They clashed again, Akar off balance, and it was only through a supremeeffort that he held up against the weight and strength. He slippedaway, and this time Shar-hai lunged at his exposed shoulder. The wolfturned sharply back into him, trying to seize his front leg; but he wasaway. Akar ran a short way, then turned. They rose together, thelarger reaching greater height, forcing him down. He slipped away.Again. One of the guard suddenly lunged at him, biting deep into hishind leg before the one-eyed male drove him away. They bickered andfought. Shar-hai was on him again, tearing at his ear. They rose.Again.

  Slowly they kept fighting and Akar was losing strength and it seemed tohim that the world became a blur of yellow teeth and he was caught in acircle of foes whose names he had forgotten, and it was like a dizzyingwhirlpool or being caught in a ring of fire with the heat and smokechoking him and all he could do was fight back against the one who keptattacking him.

  And as the horror of it grew and desperation drove reason andconsciousness from him, he became cruel and savage like a dying animal.And for a time this desperation gave him strength. But soon he knewthat this growling bitter hatred that was the fire beneath livingcreatures and which he was feeling only now, was second Nature toShar-hai, and what he would be feeling very soon now that he was cut andin the midst of insurrection. And it was true. Perhaps only sevenminutes had passed before Akar had nothing left and his foe was stillstrong. So hideously strong.

  The knowledge of Death came to strangely to Akar, as his spirit weakenedand he knew the end was near. And it was familiar, so familiar. Itfilled him with a dull horror that was the essence of all the nightmareshe had tried to forget. He knew he would die, and if there had beentime it would have filled him with a great sorrow. But there was notime. And he was ready to quit when he remembered Kamela, and knew thathe must fight a while longer.

  Then sensing his weakness, Shar-hai reached a foreleg across him as theyrose, and with all his weight and strength crushed him to the groundagainst a jutting stone. Akar gave a short yelp of pain as he landedand something in his shoulder gave way. And he knew he could rise nomore.

  *

  Kalus had heard the sounding of the challenge, but it meant nothing tohim. He kept looking back toward the lower lands and wondering. Butwhen he heard the sounds of battle, and saw the female running past withthe cub but looking back many times, he understood.

  'Akar!' he thought dismally, pounding his head in anger andself-loathing. 'Why didn't I know it before?'

  It all came to him in an instant: the outcast wolf, the murderoususurper, Akar's underlying despair. And he knew and felt a quietdread creep over him. Because he could not wait.

  He ran now, all hiding behind him, up the hill toward the place where heknew Akar was fighting for his life, and for the life of the female heloved. He thought of Sylviana and nearly stopped---he lookedback---then continued up the hill with the sword in his hand. Hispledge, and the threat of a dangerous enemy left unchallenged, drove himon.

  After a time he tried to pace himself, knowing he would have nothingleft. But still he pushed as hard as he dared. He reached the clearing,now unguarded, and looked up at the promontory. He could not rush inblind, with the battle so close, but must have some advantage at least.So he moved to a place where the rock was scarred and began to climb,that he would not be wholly without protection.

  But his limbs trembled as he went, and when he reached the top he wentto the edge overlooking the arena and cried out his rage and fear in avoice that was more like a roar than something human.

  *

  Shar-hai turned from where he hovered over the fallen wolf, and lookedup.

  His heart froze. For there above him, framed and distorted by the sun,stood the apparition of all vengeance: the Angel of Death from hisdream. He stepped back and away, and for the space of three breaths,had neither strength nor control of his limbs.

  But Shar-hai had not lived so long against the apparent will of Natureby being timid or a fool. He moved out from the path of the sun, andsaw not a fiery angel, but a man---young and fierce and desperate, butstill only a man---who bled the same blood, and could also be killed.

  Kalus leapt down into the circle. The guard would have gone after him,but they could not. The aged male and the one-eye stood before them,threatening, with the others not far behind. They felt no love orallegiance for any man, but this one protected their fallen leader. Andthey knew not whether they did something brave or foolish, but only thatthe moment was too much and they must do it.

  Shar-hai began to circle, and to try to understand the strange weapon,while Kalus felt his heart pounding and the sweat from his palms makinghis grip clammy and the sword hard to hold. Finally the waiting andfear became too much and he rushed at him, slicing the air with theblade. But Shar-hai slipped away easily and circled behind him beforehe could turn.

  Kalus whirled to face him. Wielding his weapon with courage but littlereal skill, he repeated the attack again and again. Fruitless. Theweight of the sword was too much and his grip seemed feeble, and hislegs still trembled from the weakness of the climb; and his foe wouldnot remain stationary, or venture within the cutting sweep of his sword.

  But he was strong and determined, and confronted by death and he knewit. He kept the half-breed in front of him, breathed slowly and deeplyand shook with bitter rage as he clenched his teeth and moved forwardagain. He swept the blade in a flat, circular motion. But again hemissed, and the guard drew closer, snarling and lunging. He felt sweatcome over him, and the cold chill of knowing he had stepped too far.And for all his years of learning he could not contain the frightenedrage that sent him chasing and cutting in wild circles and angles whilethe half-breed leapt aside, rushing in short bursts and avoiding theblade, with the hatred of his eyes burning ever deeper.

  Then Kalus felt the presence of Death like a grim truth, or a sinistershadow eclipsing his soul, till all he could feel was a raw, animalterror. And finally in his desperation he missed badly and slipped downon one knee, and Shar-hai rushed in and tore at the back of his calfbefore he could whirl the sword's hilt, with his elbows hooked, andstrike him feebly and too far in the arc of the swing across the jaw.And still Shar-hai was nearly upon him before he could thrust the weaponbetween them, holding the top of the blade with his other hand which nowbled with a sharp pain. And as the wolf stepped back and began to turn,the tortured muscles at the back of his leg made it hard to stand.

  But he knew he must stand, and he still had a little courage left. Sohe rose and faced his foe, who was through with running, and tried toaim a blow at his head; but his hands would not stop shaking. So hemade one last swoop and ran in the direction it carried him, and for allhis shame at leaving Akar his one thought was to break free of thecircle and run, so hard and so far.....

  But Shar-hai rushed up behind him, and his teeth found their mark in thesoft flesh and tendon at the back of his knee. Kalus reeled and fellforward, the sword flying from his grasp. And he knew it was the end.He covered his head with his hands and cried out, and waited for therush of tearing, yellow teeth.

  *

  Shar-hai stood for a moment catching his breath, stood glowering overthe man-child whose weapon he had truly feared. Not for nothing had thehyena bitch warned him of men. This death he would not savor. It mustbe swift and final.

  He thought he heard a rustle behind him, and one of his guard spoke inalarm. He turned his head as the point of a spear, wielded withoutpassion but with skill and fell purpose, split his shoulders preciselyand buried itself in his heart.

  *

  Trembling with fear, Kalus opened his eyes slowly. Why
had Shar-hai notfinished him? Why was he still alive?

  The first thing he saw was the body of his foe, large even in death,lying on its side, the shaft deeply embedded. But the next thing he sawpuzzled him still more, was yet stranger. He saw the hunched andgrizzled form of Barabbas standing not five yards away, looking at himwith tears as large as droplets running down his cheeks. In all hisyears, Kalus had never seen him cry. But that was not quite true.

  Something in the nerve-heightened sense of the moment, and in the strongman's broken expression, brought home with sudden clarity the memoryof a day that lay buried among the horrors of a past he had tried toforget. The day of his father's death.

  It had been less than seven years. In the midst of a scourge ofspiders, hunger and scarcity of game had forced the tribe far to thewest, beyond any boundaries or even point of recognition. After a longand fruitless day's search, the men at last spotted three large deer,feeding in a clearing on a long hillside surrounded by trees. They hadbroken into groups, to circle and surprise them. His father and hisbrother, still a boy, had gone alone to the far left-hand side where theclearing ran through a sunken gap, to cut off that way of escape.

  But as they drew nearer the prey, from their respective paths the othershad heard the sounds of sudden, deep growling and forgotten the deer,who scattered as they left cover and came running to the place where hisfather was being mauled and dragged by a bear, also far from its home,with his brother stabbing futilely with his tiny spear and crying andscreaming as his father made no sound. And the men had killed it in afierce battle, but his father lay bloodied and unmoving.

  Barabbas had stood for a long time---alone, shaken but not fromfear---then had taken the two of them aside. His heavy hands saidsimply, 'I am your father now.' He had turned to walk away, thenturned again and said. 'I am sorry.' A sob made him breatheheavily and drop his head: a single tear. And that was the only emotionhe had allowed himself to feel.

  Now, as Kalus watched him, it was as if a veil had been lifted and hesaw him for the first time, not as the hard and untouchable leader, butas a man---real, and therefore vulnerable. And he remembered otherthings as well. All the times Barabbas had gone hungry so that otherscould eat, the way he always stood foremost in times of danger, riskinghis own life to defend them. He felt his pain. And he found himselffighting back tears as he rose.

  'Why are you crying?' he said feebly. Then remembering, hesignaled with his hands. 'Why?'

  And Barabbas misunderstood, as the wolves and tribesmen stood in silenttruce around them, the guard deserted, and he thought Kalus asked.'Why did you not let him kill me?' This was too much for him. Heclenched his hands around nothing and bowed his head, and felt as if hestood at the center of a vast desert where nothing and no one couldtouch him and all he could do was fight and not win.

  'How could I?' he signaled clumsily, ashamed. His large eyes andmatted hair faced downward, then looked up again, almost pleading.'I killed him because you are my flesh. You are my son; I will neverhave a son. Because I cannot breathe or sleep when I think you arealone and in danger, and I know it is my fault.

  'I was afraid Carnivore; I am often afraid. I also knew of thiskiller.' He moved a hand toward the ground, toward the still figureof the marauder who had ended Shama's life. 'When I saw the wolfamong us in the cave, I forgot all reasons..... But I should not wantto kill Akar. I should not reward your courage with banishment. I amsorry, Carnivore. I am sorry. I grow old, and afraid of dying.' Andhe covered his face with his hands.

  And Kalus wept, because he felt the same emptiness. He wept forweakness and fighting and death, and feeling so much. And he went toBarabbas and took down his hands, and awkwardly embraced him. AndBarabbas did not know what to do, but only that he loved his son who wascrying, and that he was not alone anymore. His own tears still fell,but now for love, and he felt the great emptiness filling slowly, andall the while Kalus said strange words.

  'Forgive me.'

  Then Kalus backed away, drained of all emotion, and went to see if Akarwas all right. Then he turned back to his father, still feeling thoughhe had nothing left.

  'We are allies,' he signaled. 'I will always fight for you. Ilove you, my father, you are stronger than I. Do not be ashamed.'And Barabbas no longer felt old and foolish, and as he turned to facethe others, felt no shame. They stood silent, as the wolves stoodsilent, and Kalus knelt beside him friend, forgetting his own injuries.

  Akar tried to raise himself off the damaged shoulder but could not. Heslid down in anguish. And Kalus lifted him and laid him on hisundamaged side, then felt the shoulder gingerly for broken bones.

  Finding none he turned to Komai, and one other, and asked them to helphim make a stretcher. His brother was the first to come and kneelbeside him, laying down his spear and taking off a heavy fur he worewrapped about his shoulders. Another offered his spear, and theywrapped the fur carefully around the two shafts. Barabbas watched themquietly and smiled, though not on the outside, as Kalus signaled to hisbrother.

  'Help me take him to the Mantis' cave.'

  The two of them lifted the stretcher, and began to walk toward the stonechannel to descend. Akar was still in great torment of mind and body,and it was all he could do to raise his head to the pack, which he mustnow rule, and tell them:

  'You must go to the South alone. I will follow when I can. Becautious, hunt together, and hold fast to hope.' And Kalus, limpingbut proud to walk, with his brother behind him carried the stretcherdown the hill.

  The others followed.

  PART II

  The Cold World

  The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao The name that can benamed is not the eternal name The nameless is the beginning of heavenand earth The named is the mother of ten-thousand things.

  Ever desireless one can see the mystery Ever desiring one can see themanifestations. These two spring from the same source but appear asopposites And this seems to us darkness

  Darkness within darkness The gateway to all mystery

  ---Lao Tsu

  Chapter 14

  The first snows of December fell gently, blanketing the valley in a thinveil of white and quiet stillness. With most of the larger beasts gone,and others soon to follow, it was a time for the lesser creatures of thevales to once again show themselves and become a part of the livingworld. For at last the change had come, and the dangers grown less.The weather was mild and predictable. The cold was not yet piercing.

  It was a time when young foxes, weary of caution and hiding, were freeto forage among the brakes and hedges unafraid, leaving behind them tinycraters in the snow. Northern rabbits, now splotching white throughtheir seasonal brown, could also be seen moving easily through thetree-ringed meadows, stuffing themselves to soft roundness inpreparation for the cold and hungry days ahead. Only the sounds oflate-migrating geese disturbed the stillness, passing over but nottouching the thousand microcosms below, alone unto themselves.

  It was but a brief respite. And through all their simple and wordlessjoys of freedom, the creatures that remained knew it must be used as atime of preparation---that the Cold World would soon be upon them.Kalus spent the gradually shortening days in tentative hope andlingering doubt, and wondered at the growing emotions inside him,brought alive and set in inevitable conflict, he imagined, by the girl.He had never felt life so close around him, and the feelings it broughtwere not without their measure of apprehension and uncertainty. So hecut and gathered wood, made and refined tools, smoked meat and packed itwith wild salt in the depths of niches and fissures he had discovered inthe mountainside above them. Then covered the hiding places withstones.

  Every pelt, no matter how small, was saved and turned into winterclothing by the girl, who seemed to be more adept at such things thanhe. Sometimes Kamela would hunt with him, to help provide for thewolves, but always with a dull and hopeless look in her eyes that Kalusfelt very deep in his heart. The long scar on her underside, which heha
d seen only once, while she slept, could tell him only a part of thetale. And of the rest she was closed even with Akar.

  But most of all he thought of Skither, and wondered when he wouldreturn.

  ***

  Sylviana lay propped on her elbows, her favorite fur half in and halfout of the entrance of the smaller cave, looking down on the snow-dustedgrasses with misting and faraway eyes. Her mood triggered by the scene,she was thinking of the fragile water domes she had toyed with as achild, all alone in the unused bedroom of her grandmother'shouse. Christmas. Her mind conjured the room before her: the massivefour-posted bed, the mahogany dresser crowned with photographs of auntsand uncles, the lace-curtained and frosting windows. And she rememberedone in particular, a Nativity scene, her favorite. She remembered theway the tiny flakes would sift softly through the water and onto theroof of the manger, only to be swept away again as she lifted the glassdome and shook it. The water would swirl like a sudden wind, then theflakes settle slowly.....

  She was aware of movement on the plains below. Her eyes focused, andshe saw Kalus walking back towards the mountain through the snow-coveredgrasses, turning his head from side to side, watching. Though he wouldnever admit it, she knew he was worried over Skither's extendedabsence, and about its bearing on their safety and their future. Hestood at the edge of the gorge, looked up at her, then descended thesteep half-path of stone and was swallowed up in shadow. Her mindreturned fully to the present.