*pickelhauber - German helmet with a spike on the top. Mostly used for dress, very few were issued in the trenches.
the square and along the main avenue Chacuti became trapped in a press of bodies, her hand was torn from her sisters, her feet were lifted from the floor and she was swept away by the crowd which acted like a herd of frightened alpacas, ranging this way and that as the fear drove it.
Panqui was more fortunate, she skirted round the edge of the crowd screaming. Lady Axa heard her and ran to her, forcing her way through men, women and children. "Where's Chacuti? Where is she?" her mother shrieked but Panqui was unable to tell her. AThere is little time child.@ She took a razor sharp slip of obsidian glass and sliced away at her daughter's hair, soon little remained of it but a tufted and bare scalp, from within her jacket Lady Axa drew a colourful poncho, she covered Panqui with it. "Stay where I can see you child but do not come close to me," she hissed into her daughter's ear.
From the steps of the temple a conch was blown, it's sound echoed around the square, when the last echo had all but died the bang of heavy drums announced the procession.
Temple helpers carrying great clubs upon their shoulders led the way, behind them followed the costumed Gods; Huitzilapochtli, Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl, they were dressed in the finest cloth and adorned with feathers from the rarest of birds. The Gods carried the sacred ball which would be used after the ceremony in the divine ball-game, behind the Gods followed the dancing girls, each girl held onto a ceremonial gown which the chosen victim would wear.
The Shaman followed.
A great space was left around him.
Louder and louder beat the drums, they beat incessantly until they reached a crescendo, horns then blared out contrasting harshly with the silence which followed as the Shaman began his grim task.
He passed from one group of people to the next. His body was caked in soot, dirt and dried blood. The whites of his eyes glared out from the darkness surrounding them.
Nobody dared to move or even to look in his direction. To catch his eye might be enough to attract attention. The people stood still as stone.
Panqui shivered in fear as he passed, his shadow fell upon her but her eyes remained fixed upon her mother who held herself proud and erect staring at the staggered blocks of the temple which rose like huge steps to the altar at its top.
Chacuti stood alone.
The people around her would not allow her to move amongst them, to conceal herself. She was pushed away. Like a wild beast scenting for its prey the Shaman sniffed the air, four sinewy snakes wrapped around his waist hissed and spat as they swayed to an invisible beat, feathers tied tightly behind the head of each snake revealed curving white fangs, the poison sacs swelled so large that they dripped pure pearls of death.
On he came.
Chacuti stood still, the fear surged amongst the people, they felt it, he was closing in, his voice hissed with the sacred words, he had his victim scented. It would not be long now.
The Shaman gave his helpers a secret sign; jaguar skins covered their bodies and heads, cruel eyes looked through empty sockets, teeth and claws studded their heavy clubs. They moved to take up positions as the Shaman began to circle in towards his victim.
Chacuti realised that she was within the slowly turning, ever tightening circles.
"Stay calm, stay calm," she whispered to herself as the Shaman began the dance of the feathered serpent.
The only sounds were that of his bare feet slapping the earth and that made by his golden rattle as the sacred bones within it shook to the movements of the dance.
The dance grew wilder and wilder, people parted like a wave as he neared them, suddenly he halted, like a snake his hand darted in towards a group of people, they jumped back in fear. Chacuti was found! The rattle was still, the dance was done, his blackened nostrils flared back as they drew in the victims scent. His crooked finger pointed at Chacuti.
The Shaman jerked his gold rattle upwards to signal to his helpers that his task was complete and that they should now perform their part in the grisly act.
ACan't we do anything to help!@ gasped Davey.
ACheck out her mother lad!@
Lady Axa was unable to see what had happened but her quiet words told of her anguish, AHe has my child.@ She composed herself then ordered Panqui, "Go to the palace." Without question Panqui did as she was told.
Helpers surrounded the six girls who began to lead the way back to the temple, between them they led Chacuti clothed in the ceremonial gown, as they walked the girls sang;
Is it true that we have come to live upon the earth?
Are we to live on earth forever?
Only a fleeting moment here!
Even the precious stones crumble,
Even gold cracks and breaks,
Even the shining feathers are torn
Are we to live on earth forever?
Only a fleeting moment here!"
Lady Axa moved slowly through the mass of people then waited until the procession passed near to her. Screaming at the top of her lungs she jumped onto the back of one of the helpers. Her hands went up behind his jaguar mask, her long nails dug deep into his soft flesh.
"Run child! RUN!" she screamed but a helper grasped Chacuti's thin wrist, another grabbed Lady Axa around the waist and threw her forcefully to the ground, a heavy club ended her fight. The woman screamed in the agony of despair as the procession continued with its prize towards the temple.
Powerless to do anything she returned to the palace. Panqui waited for her, the look in her mother's eyes gave her the answer to her questions. They sat down together as if staring into the far distance but their gaze was hemmed in by the walls which surrounded them. Panqui was crying so the woman cuddled her to her breast.
"Do not cry my child, Lord Axa will never let any harm come to her," she said hopefully.
Popacata entered the room, he brought words which seemed to confirm her slender hope. The elder whispered, "Lord Axa is near. Even as we speak he is entering the city. Look! See how the people run to him!" they crossed to the balcony, it was as he said, people ran from all corners to greet the returning hero.
"Mother, let us go to him," begged Panqui, "he will get Chacuti back for us, won't he?"
Popacata counselled that they remained where they were.
"Axa will return to you shortly, I have spoken to many warriors who say they are faithful to him, he may decide the time to act is now. It is best that you stay away from any danger."
"But Uncle we need to tell him what has happened," insisted Lady Axa.
"He will have been told by many people, many times already. Stay," urged the elder, "I will try to get to him."
As he hurried from the room they gazed out at a throng of people following behind Axa and his warriors, Panqui's young eyes were the first to pick out their prisoner.
"The man is of white skin, Mother is he one of the Gods?" she asked.
They watched as the captive was led up to the temple.
AIt's the old man Uncle Paddy!@
ASee what >appens lad.@
"We must confront the Shaman now," Lord Axa told his men, "once my child is slain nobody will dare stand with us, summon any warriors who are prepared to join us, tell them the time is come, we must fight or perish."
Warriors began darting off to round up their comrades, men who would stand and die with them.
At the temple a large band of guards waited. Aquila stood at their head.
"What do you bring as tribute?" asked Aquila of Lord Axa.
"I bring this man," said Axa. The old man was thrown forward.
Aquila shouted so that all could hear.
"This is no man, this is more than a man, the Shaman has spoken. Untie him immediately and hand him over to us."
Some of the guards began to move forwards to take the prisoner by force.
"Stay where you are," ordered Axa, the tone in his voice and look in h
is eye commanded them to obey, "this man is no more a god than you or I, look at him."
The old man was forced to his knees by a warrior.
"Stand with us, you men, we have seen the handiwork of these so-called gods, they kill the unborn child, the suckling babe, the weak and old. They bring only death to the Inca. Stand with us and help us to defeat these murderers," said Lord Axa.
Aquila answered, "You have spoken treason, you have dishonoured the gods. Give yourself over to us, we must hand you to the Shaman of the Incas."
The elders began to assemble, they stood between the guards and the men at Lord Axa's side. Their presence was needed, at any moment a bloodbath could begin. Men began to pick the spot at which they would unleash their strength and power.
"You have Lord Axa's child," shouted one brave warrior, "return her to us."
Another shouted, "We mean you no harm, do what is right and fetch the girl."
The aggression increased, soon one of the younger, hot-headed men would burst into a frenzy and begin the combat. The guards were greatly outnumbered but their fighting qualities were such that the contest would be a bloody one.
One of the elders climbed up onto the first block of stone at the temple's base and shouted out, "Listen to your elders, for we have seen the Gods. The Shaman has shown us they are returned, believe in the prophecies of old for they have come true, a golden age is upon us."
The warriors paused and listened, more elders sensed their opportunity, they climbed onto the temple's base and added their voices, "We have seen the Gods. They are returned, go home, the Law cannot be broken."
The warriors had begun to accept that they should not fight but Aquila insisted, "Lord Axa must hand himself over to us." The idea of their leader having to give himself up infuriated those loyal to him. Popacata reached Lord Axa's side, he spoke quickly, "They have Chacuti my Lord. Hotchas was killed by foul means, this dog Aquila is a liar and needs to be destroyed, many of the warriors are with you. Ignore these silly old men, they are but mouths through which the Shaman speaks. Attack now before it is too late."
Axa could see that it was now or never, at his first movement the situation would explode.
With a burst of light the Shaman appeared in their midst, he called out in strange tongues, "Hulacamniou, oirwerackan serlvousakafy dertaraerd blaadrasnaxan....." His appearance startled the warriors, only Lord Axa remained steady, however his order to attack never came.
"Arcaondt ouirdist canconwsoe viedrifsoss soudlafea!" the old man cried out.
The sound their voices made was not language but it froze the bravest hearts, the sound was unearthly. Their tongues rolled round in their mouths as if out of control, their lips did not form the shapes of the words which came from them.
A curve of reddish light began to grow from the Shaman, it extended upwards glowing slightly as it grew. The warriors stood back in fear, all thoughts of fighting were forgotten as another beam of light raised itself from the old man. Elders, guards and warriors watched in fear as they witnessed the two beams of light arch towards each other, meet and link together like a red-rainbow.
"He bears the mark, bring him!" said the Shaman
The conflict was ended. Warriors relaxed, unused adrenalin caused their legs to shake. The guards released the old man from his bonds and led him into the temple. The warriors began walking slowly away, they did not want any part of the unearthly act they had witnessed, men could be killed, devils could not.
Lord Axa and his loyal warriors were left with the elders, Aquila realised the positions were reversed, his men now had superiority on their side.
"I would ask you once again Lord Axa (he said the name sarcastically) to hand yourself over to the Law."
Popacata whispered, "Go Axa, we shall cover your escape."
"They have Chacuti, I would only be placing Lady Axa and Panqui into their hands, I must do as they bid."
He walked bravely forwards telling his men not to take any action. The guards seized him fiercely, whipping the same cords that had been used to bind the old man around his wrists, a short spear was forced through the hook of each elbow and behind his back. A warrior took hold of each end of the spear as they led him into captivity.
Through a maze of corridors and passageways they forced the noble lord, he was roughly manhandled, at one point the guards slammed him into a wall knocking the breath from his body, "You have challenged our authority," snarled a guard as he ripped Axa's splendid war costume from his back, spinning him to the floor. "Get up dog!" the men kicked him to his feet.
When he rose Axa twisted violently to one side, smashing the butt end of the spear which pinned his arms into a guard's jaw, the man fell pole-axed, he started to run but another guard's club caught him a glancing blow and sent him into unconsciousness.