Eagle People (20 page)
“Clean . . . us?”
“Used whiskey on all the needles and thread, even poured it on your wounds. Both of you are healing well, with no sign of infection. You should try to get some rest, so when all this snow melts, we'll be able to travel again.”
Over the next week, the two injured gradually spent more and more time awake. Their wounds healed nicely and were well scabbed over. The meat, most of it, finally dried and the little that didn't dry was stolen by small animals. Lydia had awakened one night to find a raccoon feasting on the semi-dried meat. The next morning, fresh raccoon meat was drying in the sun.
“Tomorrow we must move.” Eldon said from beside the fire. “Even if we must drink alcohol to move, we've wasted too much time here.”
“Are you well enough to move?” Lydia asked.
“How well we are isn't important.” Mongoose said. “I agree with Eldon, because we need to finish our trip and return. I have an uneasy feeling that has come over me the last few days.”
“About what?”
“I have no idea, but it's given me a sense of urgency, if you will.”
“We will leave at first light then.”
Morning dawned cold, no wind, and a few gray clouds floating low overhead. Before they mounted, but right after a breakfast of meat, the two injured downed a good swallow of whiskey. Mongoose had no real central location for her pain, because her whole body hurt.
Smiling at Eldon, she asked, “You ready to try this?”
“Sure, but remember in each of our saddlebags is a bottle of whiskey, so we'll stay mounted.”
“I won't be sitting straight in my saddle.” she laughed.
“The key here is to cover as much distance as we can. I believe in your feelings, and while I don't think three warriors can make a difference in a big ass fight, we don't want something to happen while we're gone. I suspect the village is in danger.”
“Amon is a Leader and capable of handling any battle, unless there are too many of them and then we'd not be of help to him. I finally realized last night; what will happen will happen and we will either be a part of it or not. It is in the hands of God.”
“Good,” said Lydia, “I want you two to heal quickly. It grows old doing all the cooking, cleaning and guard. I'm tired.”
Tapping his horse gently with his heels, Eldon said, “Hell, I imagine it does. I think by the end of the week we'll be able to help you out a great deal. Tonight we'll stand guard, so you can catch up on some of your sleep.”
Most of the day was uneventful, with not a soul seen. The normal beef herds were missing and not a single deer was seen, which all three thought was odd. It was two hours before dusk when they rode over a crest on a hill and in the valley before them, hundreds of bodies were seen. Dead horses, mules, and fire damaged wagons were scattered all over the grass.
Eldon said, “You two remain here and let me check this out. I've never seen so many dead in one spot.” He pulled his bow and made an arrow ready.
He moved forward slowly, looking for survivors, and at the same time, enemies. When he neared the first body, it was of a man who'd taken a spear to his chest. The body was not mutilated and if not for his open and unseeing eyes, he could have been asleep. Dismounting and holding the reins in his left hand, Eldon walked to the man.
He squatted and felt the side of the man's throat. While the flesh was cold, it had not grown stiff and the blood, while almost dry, was still tacky to the touch.
Looks like this happened near first light this morning,
he thought,
but why?
He returned to his horse, climbed into his saddle, and continued down the long line of death.
The arrows are all The Northern Plains People, but I have no idea who the dead are. I've never seen such markings on clothing as they wear.
He counted a hundred dead men and fifteen women. It was when he was checking a charred and ransacked wagon it struck him,
All the males are dead, even the children. The dead females, most of them anyway, are beyond child bearing years. Why were only females taken and men children killed? A good male slave is valuable, unless they were not looking for slaves. If they were struck with small pox as well, maybe they had a large number of women die. If so, they'll use the women as baby machines, to give birth to more and more males.
He found nothing of value in the wagons, so he mounted and returned to the women warriors.
Mongoose thought for a moment, after hearing his thoughts, and then said, “They have a smart leader. The wagons and people were all in one long line when they struck, and most were killed in just a few short minutes. It's obvious to me the attackers were in great number, but I think they were looking for breeding stock.”
“Wives?” Lydia asked.
“No,” Mongoose replied, “Just what I said. See, in some tribes female slaves are kept in lodges and both married or unmarried men can use them. The idea behind it is to increase the number of children for the clan. While our People would never allow such a thing, among most villages it is a normal practice.”
“That makes those women whores,” Lydia said, “because they're not married.”
“First, the women are slaves and have no say in the situation. Second, the women become cold and uncaring, with survival their only thought. They have no choice, not if they desire to live.”
“I would die before allowing an enemy to mount me like bitch dog in heat.”
Mongoose shrugged and said, “I'm sure it would be a difficult to accept, but if needed, they'd just call enough men to hold you down. It is rape, only they'll get what they want in the end, so why fight them? Stay strong so when the chance comes, you can kill and get away.”
“Uh,” Eldon said, “we need to be moving. I don't like the feeling I have sitting here, with all these dead bodies in front of us. This attack happened no later than ten hours ago, maybe closer to six, so let's ride.”
Out of the blue, an arrow flew by Mongoose's head, just missing her.
“Ride, North!” Eldon screamed and then kicked his bay in the ribs. The horse shot forward.
Glancing behind them, Lydia saw a good dozen riders. Moving to Eldon she said, “We have about a bakers dozen on our asses.”
Mongoose laughed and replied, “Hell, that's only four apiece, why are we running?”
“Funny, real funny.” Eldon said and then added, “Well run for a bit and then find a place to fight. I never run far.”
ASA AND HIS MEN
were gathered in the trees just outside of the Eagle village. It was slightly before dawn and the village was just waking up. They'd seen few men, but many women, which excited the men. Byron was eager to have a go at a woman, one he would keep for a week, and then kill. He saw many in the village that aroused him.
“Are the men ready?” Asa whispered to Byron.
“Yes; you will start the attack and they will pour from the trees when you do.”
“Let it start then.” he replied and stood. With a loud scream he ran from the trees, with his spear held aloft in his right hand. Warriors of the Wolf Clan flowed from the trees, running for the village, with loud piercing war cries.
When they were about two thirds of the way to the first structure, a long line of male and female archers stepped from behind many of the buildings and released their arrows. Some archers were so efficient, they had four arrows in the air before the first hit the ground. Attacking warriors began to drop and one of the first to fall was Asa, with two arrows buried deep in his chest. The chief screamed and twisted as pain filled his whole body.
Then the Eagle People opened up with their new secret weapon, and crossbows fired. Warriors of the Wolf were cut down like wheat.
After the crossbows were fired, Amon, sword in hand, screamed, “Attack!” He then ran for his enemies.
The two groups came together with a loud crash and hand to hand combat started immediately, and so did the dying. A big warrior ran at Amon, stabbed with his spear, and then screamed as the Eagle ducked below the point of the spear and pushed his sword deep into the soft belly of the warrior. Now walking, Amon decapitated the man as he passed him. Twice more the sword of Amon tasted blood and two men died. The last one was on the ground screaming in pain when the Eagle warrior raised his blade and brought the tip down hard—into the center of the man's chest.
As the man screamed and wiggled on the blade, Amon heard a man yell, “They're leaving! We have beaten them!”
Amon stood and called out, “Let them leave, but walk among their injured and make sure all are dead. Those who yet live, kill.”
“No prisoners!” The yell echoed up and down the line.
Men walked among those moaning and groaning, and within seconds screams began to fill the air. Blood flowed like a river and not a single blade was clean of a cerise smear.
Amon walked to Asa, knowing the man was the leader, because the Dog Soldiers, who'd watched all movement of the Wolves, had described the ugly man well. Two Eagle warriors were standing over the man when he said, “Don't kill me, please.”
Amon said, “I promise not to kill you, if you talk.”
“I'll tell you anything!”
“It must be the truth or you will die a slow death.”
“Please, it will be the truth.”
“Take him to our shaman and have him looked over. Then, place three guards near him. I want one outside the door and two inside, at all times. Once he has been treated, tie his hands behind his back and his legs together. I and the council will speak to him tonight.”
“It shall be done. On your feet, Wolf.” the biggest of the Eagle warriors said.
It was an hour after dark and Asa was on the stretcher in the center of the council. Many had called for his instant death, but Amon needed information from the man.
“I have promised this man if he tells the truth, he will live. If he lies, he will die. He knows things we need to learn.”
Those members that were older nodded in understanding, while the younger members cried for blood.
“I gaven him my word and he is my prisoner, so it is my choice. I have done all of this according to the laws of our people.”
There was some grumbling heard near the rear of the room, so Amon said, “If you have something to say to me, stand and speak to me like a warrior.”
Rachel stood and said, “I do not think this man should live. He is responsible for the total destruction of one of our villages and tried to do the same here.”
“Okay.”
“Okay, what?”
“Okay, now I know your feelings. I have given my word which means something to me, even when given to my enemies. I cannot break my word or then I am no better than he. According to our laws, since he is my prisoner, I may do with him as I wish.”
Rachel sat back down, but shook her head is disbelief.
“Now, Wolf, I need some answers. Will you answer me truthfully?”
“If I am allowed to live, yes.”
There was another disruption in the council until John, the senior man, said, “The next person that speaks without first asking permission with be thrown from this meeting.”
“I gave you my word before. If you answer me honestly, you will live.”
“What do you want to know?” Asa asked, and then groaned from the effort. He had to stay strong; it was his only chance to live.
“How many men do the Wolf People have?”
“We
had
200, but after this morning, I cannot say.”
“Is your village on the crooked river? It is the muddy river between the Cave People and Big River People.”
“Yes.”
“Is it your only village or do you have more?”
“Our only village. We lost many men to small pox, so my idea was to kill all males, capture women, and start spawning children so we could replace the dead men.”
“Women are not warriors in your clan?”
“No, women are for making babies and caring for a man's needs.”
“Oh, then explain to me why so many of your men died from arrows shot by our women warriors?”
Lowering his eyes, Asa replied, “I cannot say. It is not our custom to allow women to even touch a weapon.”
“Will you lead us to your village?”
“No, I cannot turn against my own people.”