The Standing Dead - Stone Dance of the Chameleon 02

by Ricardo Pinto

  'You didn't sleep, my mother?' Carnelian asked her as everyone began moving down the hill.

  She looked up at him angrily. 'Did you?'

  Fern put his arm about her shoulders and she leaned into him.

  They were walking along the Blooding when the massacre came into sight: mountains of hide beneath swirling scavenger clouds.

  'So much meat,' Sil said, sadly.

  The Bloodwood Tree had been partially pushed over by a heavener that lay against it like a landslide. Its neck formed a dyke running for some distance on the other side of the earthbridge.

  'Can we go over?' one child begged, her voice shrilly echoed by others.

  'Over to the Killing Field.'

  Other children took up the cry. 'Killing Field, over to the Killing Field.'

  Gaping, people were clambering up the rampart to peer at the monsters. Ravan was there with Krow and many other youths. They began throwing stones and no one stopped them. Carnelian watched them bounce here and there off the carcasses, causing ravens to screech and hop into the air. He saw a stone roll down the back of a heavener, eventually being swallowed by a brown, blood pool.

  They must be dead,' cried Ravan, hurling another stone to prove it.

  At last, gingerly, he led others across the narrow earth bridge, holding their scythes in front of them. They tapped the hide wall of the neck then stepped back, anticipating it lifting into the sky, but it might as well have been the trunk of a fallen cedar. Ravan lunged forward, swinging his scythe, tearing a red gash in the wall so deep it exposed white vertebrae. Soon he was joined by others, hacking at the flesh while up to their ankles in blood.

  The Bluedancing were evicted from their camp in the Eastgarden. Huge fires were lit and trestles made and set above them. The rituals were to be maintained as best they could. There was not enough red ochre and so

  Ginkga commanded the Bluedancing to paint their faces with blood. Hunks of meat were carried on bending poles and dumped on any spare piece of ground, then the Bluedancing were made to fall on them: slicing, hacking, tearing the flesh into chunks which were then packed on to the trestles. It was Osidian who had suggested they smoke the meat, declaring that sun-curing would be too slow. Soon, to feed the fires, they were forced to fell some of the magnolias running alongside the Outditch. As well as the Bluedancing, the whole Tribe had joined the race to harvest as much as they could before the heaveners began to rot.

  Beneath palls of reeking smoke, taking a rest from the bloody work, Carnelian wandered with Poppy among the fires in a daze. Entrails were draped across the ferns like fishing nets. Expanses of hide were laid out; scarlet rugs dense with flies. In one corner of the ferngarden they were throwing everything they did not want. Much was being put onto that brown hill that usually they kept. With such an abundance of flesh, only the better cuts were being saved.

  Telling Poppy to wait for him, Carnelian picked his way across the earthbridge which was slick and treacherous with mud. When he reached the Killing Field, it seemed he was standing on a sunset-reddened strand. Carcasses lay like so many beached ships, half stripped of their hulls of flesh, exposing their white ribbing. The ground was covered by a flotsam of entrails and membranes. Nearby a head as large as a man gave him a macabre grin, its lips pulled back and hanging loose. Carnelian reflected that that head had once woven among the clouds like a bird. The neck that had stretched a link between earth and sky was nailed by its vertebrae to the ground. Ruddy children scurried, laughing and shouting amidst that architecture of death, playing hide-and-seek in the caverns of the ruined heaveners.

  'Enough is enough,' Carnelian said under his breath. He decided that that evening he would betray Osidian's scheme to Akaisha.

  Night had already fallen when the Tribe returned exhausted to their hearths. In the face of so many people, the Elders had suspended the requirement to wash underneath the Old Bloodwood Tree. Carnelian's hearthmates' skin was caked with blood; their hair matted with gore.

  Complaints rising from near the water jar drew everyone to go and see what was going on.

  'It hasn't been refilled,' Akaisha said, peering into it, and then began to cry. Everyone stared open-mouthed as she stumbled off towards her hollow. Carnelian felt queasy. He must follow her and betray Osidian.

  'Who was meant to fetch water today?' demanded Whin.

  Everyone looked at each other but no one seemed to have an answer. Carnelian was not the only one to notice the guilty expressions on the men's faces.

  'Do any of you know?'

  'We were ordered not to go, my mother.'

  'By whom?'

  'Father Galewing.'

  Whin looked weary, confused. Carnelian grew uneasy, suspecting Osidian was behind this. He realized he had not seen him for a long time. He looked back to the rootstair. Carnelian had imagined Fern was lagging behind him when he had returned with the others. A dark foreboding clutched him. His eyes met Sil's. He was sure they were sharing the same feeling.

  'Did he tell you why?' asked Whin.

  The men exchanged sidelong looks. It was obvious they were reluctant to speak.

  Whin stepped towards them. 'Come on, out with it.'

  'We were told to keep it to ourselves,' said one of them.

  'So as not to worry anyone,' added another. Whin looked exasperated. 'What're you talking about?' The first man to have spoken looked to the others for permission. 'It's because of the Woading.'

  Sil looked startled. 'Our neighbours, the Woading?' They've been threatening us for days.' Threatening you?' said Whin.

  'Each day, the men they send to fetch water have grown in numbers.'

  'And become more heavily armed,' added one of the others.

  'Why have they suddenly chosen to interfere with us?'

  The man shrugged. 'Our new earthwork's near where they traditionally come for water.'

  'Didn't any of you think of telling the Master that that was likely to provoke them?'

  Carnelian thought it unlikely Osidian had needed to be told.

  The man shrugged. 'He had us dig it where the lagoon is narrowest and easy to cross.'

  'What has this to do with our water supply?' demanded Whin.

  The man looked at her anxiously. The Master feared the Woading might attack the hunts we send out to fetch water.'

  'So we're to die of thirst instead?' 'It was to be only one day, my mother; so that we could all help making djada.' 'And tomorrow ... ?'

  'We'll go in force so that if they try anything, we'll be ready for them.'

  'So you're all in on this?' said Whin looking round at the men.

  'What do you mean, my mother?'

  Whin dug the heel of her hand into her forehead. 'What I mean is, does this conspiracy spread to the other hearths?'

  'Just the men.'

  Whin smiled coldly at him. 'Just the men. Well, that's fine then. As long as it's just the men.'

  Many of them lowered their heads. 'We assumed the Elders had approved this.'

  Whin dismissed the comment with her hand and glanced at Carnelian. 'It's not you I'm angry with.'

  Everyone stood in silence watching her brood. She glanced over to the sleeping hollows.

  'I'm tired. We're all too tired. It'll keep until morning.'

  Carnelian began moving towards the hollows.

  'Where are you going?'

  Carnelian faced Whin. To speak to Mother Akaisha, my mother.'

  Whin shook her head. 'No you're not.' 'But there's something I want to tell her.' 'It'll keep until tomorrow.'

  Carnelian saw how determined Whin was. He considered telling her, but was not sure she would believe him.

  Whin looked round at her hearth, all of whom were staring at her. 'Well, are you all just going to stand there stinking of blood?'

  'But the water,' said Sil.

  'We'll take out what we need for drink and then we'll just have to manage with the little that is left.'

  They did as she said and Carnelian joined them. Th
ere was only enough to soak into the strips they tore from a worn blanket. They used these to wipe off as much of the blood as they could, but it was impossible to get it out of their hair.

  Woken by a commotion, Carnelian sat up. Shapes were moving among the hollows, where voices were loud with anger. Poppy appeared beside him. 'All the men have gone.'

  He threw on his robe and went to find Akaisha. She was standing near the hearth with Whin, who had her hands on her hips.

  'You don't know anything about this, do you?'

  Carnelian's and Sil's eyes met.

  'What do you two know?' demanded Whin.

  'Yesterday, Fern was hiding something from me,' said Sil.

  Carnelian began to feel afraid. Osidian was behind this.

  'Look,' said Sil, pointing.

  Through the canopy they could see a mass of smoke rising against the predawn sky. Carnelian judged it must be the curing fires in the Eastgarden.

  Akaisha groaned. 'What're the Bluedancing up to? Who's overseeing them? They know they're supposed to wait for us. Sil, go down and see what's happening.'

  'Can I go too?' asked Poppy.

  Sil glanced at Carnelian, who nodded. He watched the two of them move off.

  'Carnie, you're sure you don't know what's going on?' said Akaisha.

  'I'm as baffled as you are, my mother,' he replied. Her sad, nervous look added to his worries.

  Others of their hearthmates returned in ones and twos, shaking their heads, saying the same thing. All the men were gone and no one knew where.

  Akaisha asked Whin to go up to the summit of the Crag and light the beacon. She went with some helpers. Akaisha and Carnelian's attention was drawn to the root-stair by a shouting coming up it. Sil appeared staring wildly. They both rushed to meet her. Akaisha had to take hold of her to calm her enough so they could understand what she was saying.

  'Battle,' she gulped. She swung round and pointed. 'A battle down in the Eastgarden.'

  'Our men?' demanded Akaisha, gripping her hard enough to make Sil yelp. The young woman nodded. Akaisha released her and looked up into the canopy of her mother tree, appalled. Cries of panic were breaking out all around them. Sil stared at Akaisha, waiting for her to say something.

  'We must hold the Homeditch gates.'

  Sil nodded again. Akaisha strode around, bellowing: 'Grab mattocks, sticks, whatever you can find. We must hold the Homeditch gates to make sure none of these attackers break into the Grove.'

  Carnelian ran for his spear. On his way back, Poppy flew at him.

  'Fighting, Carnie, fighting!'

  He caught her. 'I know.'

  Gripping the spear with one hand, he took her by the other and they began descending the rootstair. Sil, who was faster on the steps, overtook them. 'Come on,' she cried.

  Carnelian remembered Akaisha and, looking back, found she was coming down after them. They waited for her. He reached out to take Akaisha's arm, to be her support, but she pulled herself free, glaring at him, and continued to take the steps as quickly as she could on her own. Carnelian and Poppy followed her, ready to catch her should she fall, every so often nervously trying to catch a view of the battle through the branches.

  Even before they reached the bottom of the stair they saw the gate at its foot was swinging open. 'Earth and Sky!' Akaisha cursed. 'Didn't they hear what I said?'

  When they reached the earthbridge they saw the women of the Tribe streaming down the Blooding towards the Eastgarden above which the air was slashed with smoke. Stare as hard as he might, Carnelian could see nothing of the battle. Akaisha bent forward, bracing herself on her knees.

  'You know of course what this will be?' The Woading attacking.'

  She closed her eyes and nodded slowly, gasping for air. 'War,' she gulped. The Master's brought war right into our home.'

  'He'll beat them,' Carnelian said, desperate to believe it.

  She caught him with one bright eye. 'More men killed; theirs and ours. For what? His vanity?'

  Carnelian felt sick; the moment had come. 'Power. He's after power.'

  She frowned.

  Carnelian crouched and looked deep into her eyes. 'He dreams of returning to the Mountain.'

  Akaisha's wrinkles bunched up as her eyes narrowed with incomprehension. . 'For that he needs an army,' he continued.

  Akaisha chuckled without humour. 'Our men against the dragons?'

  'He'll conquer many tribes.'

  'Conquer?'

  'Even now his schemes are maturing. There's not much time.'

  Akaisha clasped her head. 'But what can we do to stop him? If he wins this battle ... ? If he doesn't. .. ?'

  'We can do nothing here,' he said, rising. 'We must stop the women getting caught up in the fighting.'

  As they crossed the earthbridge into the Eastgarden, Carnelian and Akaisha could see among the trampled ferns the dead forming a line running to the Newditch. The women were singing as they ran to meet their warrior men. The proud victors were pulled from their saddle-chairs into embraces. Several were acting out the fight while their women and the children gawped wide-eyed. Breath was sucked in and hands slapped over mouths in horror as one man ducked and then leaning his head showed where an enemy spear had grazed his neck. Another man was producing gales of laughter as he pantomimed the flight of the Woading and the desperate way they had had to leap their aquar over the Newditch to get away.

  Carnelian and Akaisha had reached the edge of the crowd when cries broke out: The Master, the Master.' Carnelian pushed through, making a path for Akaisha. He could see Osidian towering above the crowd, whose tide was breaking round him in adulation. Joy blazed from every face.

  Akaisha, shouting something, could not be heard above the tumult. Carnelian saw a man standing with a bull-roarer and tore it from his grasp. He whirled the thing above his head until it began to keen. The crowd fell silent.

  'You must not worship him,' Akaisha cried. 'He uses us for his own ends.'

  Voices answered her by listing the children the Master had saved, the abundance of meat and now, victory.

  'Victory, victory, victory.'

  Carnelian whirled the bull-roarer again to bring quiet.

  'Why do you think he does these things for us?' Akaisha cried. 'What is it you think he wants?'

  The rest of her speech was drowned out by whistling and stamping.

  Galewing rose above the crowd in a saddle-chair and began speaking. The noise abated as people struggled to hear what he said. Hands reached up to stroke his aquar, whose eye-plumes were stiff with agitation.

  The Woading crept here last night so they might treacherously attack us when we were gathered making djada. They've received only what they deserve.'

  Carnelian was sure the Elder noticed Akaisha attempting to get his attention but he chose to focus on the crowd's roar of approval.

  Galewing pressed his hands against their noise. 'Should we let them off so lightly?' 'No!' the crowd bellowed.

  'Shall we seek compensation and a promise they'll never attack us again?' 'Yes!'

  Galewing swung around in his saddle-chair. 'Who'll ride with me to the koppie of the Woading?'

  For answer men vaulted back into their saddle-chairs and soon they were all aloft, seeming to float on the fevered applause of their women.

  Carnelian saw Fern was there, taking his leave of Sil. He cried out his name until he was hoarse.

  'We'll return tonight,' cried Galewing. 'Prepare a feast of thanksgiving.'

  Fern saw Carnelian and his mother and, colouring with shame, he turned away. Osidian was mounted in their midst, Ravan and Krow beside him; then, with Galewing, they led the Ochre in a thundering mass across the ferngarden. Akaisha was gazing up towards the brow of the Crag, from which smoke was rising. She turned to look at him and he could see the fear in her eyes. As the women saw their men disappearing into the plain, Akaisha moved among them, sending the Bluedancing back to tending the curing fires while she, with some others, set about gathering t
he bodies of the Woading dead.

  Carnelian was hiding from his feelings by labouring among the Bluedancing when Akaisha found him. She indicated he should follow her. They walked off together.

  'I've just received news that riders have been seen heading here,' she said.

  'Ours?'

  'Most likely.'

  'All of them?'

  She shook her head. 'Only a handful.' They looked at each other. 'You think it might be the Master.'

  She frowned, shrugging. 'An Assembly has been called.'

  She looked up into his face. 'Carnie, you must tell them what you told me.'

  He bowed his head nodding. There was no other way to stop Osidian.

  Akaisha breathed her relief. 'Let's go then. We must hurry if we're going to make it before he gets here.'

  Akaisha left Carnelian standing on the porch of the Ancestor House and went in. Shortly afterwards, Carnelian was told to enter.

  It took a while for his eyes to adjust enough to see the Elders squatting round him. He looked for Akaisha and found her in her place. Their eyes met.

  'Why're you here, Carnie?'

  To warn you of the Master's intentions.'

  'Why would you betray your own kind?' asked Harth.

  To save the Tribe.'

  Harth laughed coldly. 'You expect us to believe this?'

  'Mother Harth, would you believe me if I told you there are people here I've grown to love?' He allowed himself a glance at Akaisha, then returned his gaze to Harth's face.

  'A pretty speech,' she said through a sneer.

  T believe it to be a true one,' said Akaisha. Tell us what you told me, Carnie.'

  Carnelian steeled himself. The Master manipulates you. He plots to change your world, to put himself at its centre.'

  'Why would he do this?' demanded Kyte. The lust for power is in the blood of all the Standing Dead.'

  Though you, of course, are different,' said Harth. Carnelian grimaced. 'I was brought up by one of your own.'

  Harth raised her eyes up to the ceiling as if to say, "that again", but she made no sound.

  'You don't answer,' grumbled Crowrane.

  The Master intends to conquer himself an empire in the Earthsky.'

  The Standing Dead would not permit it,' said Kyte.