Bone Walker: Book III of the Anasazi Mysteries (16 page)

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Authors: Kathleen O'Neal Gear,W. Michael Gear

BOOK: Bone Walker: Book III of the Anasazi Mysteries

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CATKIN CLUTCHED HER war club as she hurried across the third story toward Browser’s chamber. Cold sheathed the crumbling walls and chilled the faces of the guards she had posted. Snow drifted down from the dark sky to whiten the world. She lifted a hand to Straighthorn, who stood at the northeast corner of Dusk House. He lifted a hand in return and cocked his head when a baby began to whimper somewhere in the distance. The sound wavered on the icy gusts of wind, rising and falling like flute music.

“Browser?” Catkin crouched beside the T-shaped doorway that led into his sleeping quarters. Wind Baby tugged at the gray blanket over her shoulders, leaching away her warmth.

“Catkin? Come. Have we overslept?”

“No. It’s barely midnight.”

She stepped into the chamber and hooked the leather door hanging over its peg. A reddish glow from the warming bowl painted the room, but most of the chamber remained pitch black.

“Where are you?” she asked. “I can’t see you.”

“Over here,” his voice called from the right. “What’s wrong?”

Catkin knelt just inside the doorway and waited for her eyes to adjust. When she could see him propped on one elbow in the rear of the chamber, she said, “Why didn’t you tell me that Shadow was Obsidian’s twin sister?”

Browser sat up and used one hand to comb tangled black hair from his eyes. “How do you know that?”

“I just had a visit from her.”

In one fluid movement, Browser grabbed his war club, threw his blankets aside, and was on his feet. “When? How long ago?”

“Less than a finger of time. I’ve already checked with our guards. No one saw her.”

Browser ducked out into the night, warily looking around. They both surveyed the empty plaza below. Several people must still be awake because soft crimson glows haloed a number of roof entries and doorways.

Browser turned to her. “Where did she go after she left your chamber?”

“I don’t know. I immediately walked out after her, and she was gone.”

Breathing hard, his eyes wide, Browser asked, “Why did she come to you?”

“She told me she knows we’re not going to Streambed Town. She asked to go with us, and wanted to know when we were leaving. I wouldn’t tell her, so she said she was going to ask you.”

Browser fingered his club. “No one has come to my chamber except you. You’re sure it was Shadow?”

Catkin nodded and propped her war club over her shoulder. “I thought she was Obsidian, which is who she pretended to be, so I went to Obsidian’s chamber and woke her from a sound sleep. Obsidian told me.”

Wind Baby played in the snow at the edge of the plaza, spinning around, kicking up white whirlwinds.

Browser walked to the edge of roof to look down. The Great North Road had filled with snow and created a blazing white line between them and Sunrise House, where the Mogollon stayed. Sounds of coughing and low conversation carried.

Catkin ground her teeth for a moment, then walked to his side. “You haven’t answered my question.”

Browser studied her through half-lidded eyes. “As to why I didn’t tell you, I have my reasons.”

“Your reasons!
Your reasons have endangered my life … and that of other Katsinas’ People.”

“Just the opposite.” He sounded so sure of himself. “Had she thought you had known her true identity, she would have killed you tonight, Catkin. I had hoped that by keeping the secret that she would be less wary. Those who are less wary make mistakes.”

Catkin narrowed her eyes, remembering the sudden sense of danger she’d felt when Obsidian—Shadow—had reacted to her war club. Catkin rubbed the back of her neck to contain her discomfort, and said, “Perhaps you were right. But you should know that Obsidian—the real one—wants to come with us. She says she can lead us to Two Hearts.”

“Why would she do that?”

“I am not certain, but she says if we don’t take her, she’ll be killed.”

“By whom?”

Catkin lowered her war club to her side. “Apparently, Two Hearts is dying. He wants her heart.”

Browser stared blindly at the ladder that led down to the ground. “Then I did wound him badly.”

“I saw him slumped against the rock, holding his chest. You certainly broke his ribs. Perhaps one of the bone splinters punctured his heart, as well as his lung. Frothy blood pooled on his lips every time he coughed. I figured him for dead.”

Browser folded his arms and shivered. “Blessed gods, Catkin. I have heard the old stories, that a witch
uses a spindle to extract his relative’s heart, then puts it into his own chest, but I—I don’t think I ever really believed it.”

“Obsidian believes it. She’s terrified.”

“Terrified enough that she would truly lead us to Two Hearts?”

Catkin expelled a breath. “I don’t know. I don’t think we should trust her, but if there is a chance that she could lead us to him—”

“Yes. We should take her with us, especially if …”

They both went silent when they saw a hunched little man with white hair emerge from the walls of Sunrise House and start across the Great North Road, headed toward them. His tattered turkey-feather cape flapped around his bony shoulders.

Catkin whispered, “What was your uncle doing in the Mogollon quarter at this time of night?”

“I don’t know,” Browser answered softly.

Marriott Hotel, Albuquerque

Dusty toyed with the lasagna on his plate. It had seemed like a good idea when he’d seen it on the room service menu. Sometime between his order and the arrival of the food, his appetite had vanished.

Maureen wasn’t doing any better. She had nibbled a couple of forks full of salad and picked at a cheeseburger now for nearly an hour. She had showered and dressed in blue jeans and a black turtleneck. Her hair hung down her back in a long braid.

Dusty put his fork down and stared around the confined room. “I don’t know what I’m doing here.”

“You’re staying safe, that’s what.”

“I know, but I should be out there, trying to figure out what happened. I can hear Dale in the back of my head, saying, ‘William,’ in that gruff voice, ‘what are you doing? There are things to be done!’”

Maureen smiled. “The first time I met Dale he scared
me. I mean, my God, here I was, an insecure graduate student and the great Dr. Robertson handed me a box of bones to go through and catalog. I opened the box and there was most of a skeleton in it, the dirt still sticking to the bones. I looked up and said, ‘How do you want me to do this, Dr. Robertson?’ Dale answered, ‘Why, perfectly, Maureen. How else would you do it?’”

Dusty smiled. “I’ve seen him do that to a lot of students. He wanted to know immediately if a student would fold, or have the guts to stand up to him.”

They were silent for a while, each lost in grief. Maureen asked, “Do you really think it was the Tsegi Canyon witch?”

Dusty rubbed his tired face. The high-pitched scream of a drill was vibrating through his imagination. What had it felt like as that keen bit cut into living bone? How did a man feel when someone placed a tube against his quivering brain and began to suck his soul out? “I don’t know, Maureen. How in the hell will we ever find out if we’re stuck here with …” He straightened.

“What?”

“Dale’s files.” He met Maureen’s dark eyes. “Everything’s in there. Dale’s entire life. If he actually knew his murderer, I wager the guy’s in those files somewhere.”

“Tomorrow,” Maureen promised. “After they let us out of here, we’ll start at the beginning and work our way through every page.”

AS HE WALKED, Browser sniffed the west wind blowing down from the high country. The scents of wood smoke and frozen earth seemed to hang in the
still air. It had just started to snow again, and tiny flakes tapped his cheeks.

Muffled figures lined out behind him. Catkin followed with a spring in her long legs. Stone Ghost walked beside Obsidian, and Jackrabbit and Straighthorn brought up the rear. Their moccasined feet whispered on the fresh snow as they entered the gap in the wall and headed diagonally toward the Great North Road. Browser followed it south, across the terraces and down to the river. As they neared the water, Browser slowed. The bank would be slick and treacherous, especially for Stone Ghost.

“Nephew?” Stone Ghost called from behind. “May we wait here a moment.”

Browser turned, peering back into the predawn darkness. “Of course, Uncle. Let me help you.” He started back.

“No, I’m fine, Nephew. I’m not certain, but I hope that we–”

“Hello!” an accented voice called from the darkness, and nine shadowy figures rose from the riverbank.

Browser cried, “Get down!” and swung his war club over his head, ready to charge.

Stone Ghost grabbed his arm. “Wait, Nephew! These are not enemies. They come as friends.”

Breathing hard, prepared for battle, Browser looked at him dumbly. “Friends? Who are they?”

To his left, he saw Catkin silently move away, ready to flank the small party that approached.

“Uncle?” Browser repeated.

“It’s the Mogollon,” Stone Ghost said. “Forgive me for not telling you sooner, Nephew, but their elder, White Cone, asked me not to. He feared that if anyone else knew, they would be murdered in their sleep, as their prophet was.”

Browser still did not relax. “Why are they here?”

“They have elected to accompany us to the south.
They have no more reason to stay here—and plenty to join us.”

As the Mogollon appeared out of the darkness, Stone Ghost stepped forward and clasped the white-haired elder’s hand. “You are welcome among us, White Cone. But time is short. Come, let us be off.”

“The sooner the better,” White Cone agreed. “I doubt Matron Blue Corn will be pleased by the hole we cut in her south wall. Wrath seems to be her constant companion.”

“Nephew,” Stone Ghost turned to Browser, “let us proceed.”

Browser gripped his uncle by the arm, as though helping him down the steep bank, and leaned close enough to whisper, “I thought this journey was a secret. How many others have you invited to join us?”

Stone Ghost patted Browser’s hand. “No more than necessary.”

Browser stopped at the edge of the water and motioned to Catkin. “Take Straighthorn and scout the opposite bank. Let me know if it is safe.”

She nodded and trotted toward Straighthorn. Once they entered the water, they became almost invisible.

Browser surveyed the Mogollon. They stood five paces behind him, speaking softly to each other. Their elder, White Cone, watched Catkin and Straighthorn like a hawk with fat mice in sight.

Curious. Yesterday, he’d looked like a slave. Today, though sadness strained his features, he had an air of command. He stood tall and straight, and wary.

The familiar cry of the flicker,
kee-ar kee-ar,
came from the opposite bank, and Browser lifted his hand to get everyone’s attention. “My warriors say the other side is safe, but let’s go over a few people at a time, just in case they’re wrong. Elder White Cone, perhaps you would like to select five people and lead the way.”

“Yes, War Chief,” he answered, and pointed to the five people closest to him.

They crossed without a sound.

Browser said, “Obsidian and Jackrabbit, I would be grateful if you would take my uncle and go next.”

Jackrabbit trotted up to Stone Ghost. “Elder, please, let me help you.” He took Stone Ghost’s right arm and started across, followed by Obsidian. This time of the sun cycle, just before winter deepened, the river rose to about knee deep, but the current could be swift and unpredictable.

As the Cloud People shifted, Browser saw them bobbing against the faintly silvered surface of the water; then they stepped out onto the opposite bank and Jackrabbit waved.

Browser turned and scanned the remaining three Mogollon warriors. He removed his moccasins and gestured for them to follow him.

They had topped the silty gray uplands south of Flowing Waters Town by the time the sun began to brighten the clouds. In the faint light, Browser glanced back to the blocky buildings of Dusk and Sunrise houses. Above them, higher on the terraces, North Town and the smaller villages squatted like black blocks. The first morning fires glittered.

“May the katsinas be with us,” Browser whispered.

Catkin, he noticed, walked at Obsidian’s side. She kept glancing at Obsidian, as if she knew the woman had betrayed them. Obsidian refused to meet her eyes. She walked with her head down, and the jewels in her hair glittered as though aflame.

Browser led them over the crest of the hill and into the uplands that divided the Flowing Waters drainage from the Squash Blossom River. As his party stopped to catch their breath, he went over to Obsidian. She wore a long black cloak with the hood pulled up, and the spicy scent of blazing star petals surrounded her like a strange mist.

“Walk with me,” he said.

“Of course.”

When he was certain they could not be overheard, he said, “You’re sure this is the way?”

“Yes, south along the Great North Road.”

She looked back wistfully. She, too, had lost everything. Her entire past—all that she had ever been—lay behind her. The future, what little of it might remain, awaited her at the end of this same road. As though she felt his hard gaze on her, she tucked a stray tendril of long hair behind her ear and let her cloak fall open to reveal her red dress and half-bared breasts. Necklaces of turquoise and coral beads flashed around her throat.

“It is time to tell me where we are going, Obsidian.”

“Just follow the road south.”

“South to where?”

Her delicate brows slanted down, accenting the dark beauty of her face. “Browser, if I tell you, you will no longer have a reason to keep me alive.”

“But I will, Obsidian, if I can. No matter what is behind us, I give you my word.”

She seemed to be thinking this over as her eyes examined his face. “Forgive me, I can trust no one, Browser. I must keep my knowledge until I am no longer at risk.”

“You will be at risk until Two Hearts is dead. I cannot kill him until I know where he is. When will you tell me?”

“When I decide to, and not a moment before.”

He stared at the frozen grass a moment, then nodded. “As you wish.”

Jackrabbit stood at the edge of the group with Straighthorn.

“Jackrabbit,” Browser called, “I want you to remain here for one half-hand of time. Make sure we’re not being followed; then catch up.”

“Yes, War Chief.”

Browser waved to the group and headed down the incline at a slow trot. He didn’t wish to exhaust Stone
Ghost and White Cone, but they had to keep moving.

Stone Ghost caught up with Browser and trotted at his side.

“Uncle, it won’t take Shadow long to figure this out. We are gone. The Mogollon are gone. Obsidian is missing. She will know what we’re about.”

Stone Ghost panted, “But perhaps we have gained just enough time that we can catch her off guard.”

“What of the Mogollon, Uncle?” He lowered his voice. “Why are they here?”

“For the most disagreeable of reasons.” Stone Ghost lowered his eyes to watch his feet.

“Which is?”

“They are bait, Nephew.”