"I think we should see how Lady Axa is Uncle Paddy," said Davey.
Paddy was in no mood to leave the free-for-all, "Let's just see how these Inkers get on lad, I'm betting a pound to a penny they'll beat them Spaniards. That'll teach them wouldn't it."
"Just a quick look Uncle Paddy."
"Arr eh lad!"
Davey moved back, pulling their view high into the air, they looked down upon the arena, rapidly moving figures were dotted around the small defensive square. Over the main square they soared then zoomed in upon the palace.
Lady Axa was listening to the roars from the arena, they sounded frightening.
"What can be happening Uncle?" she asked, "is it Lord Axa, has the testing started?"
"I shall go and see my dear.@
"Please be careful Aquila's men are rounding up anyone they suspect.@
"She seems alright, I'll follow him back to the arena should I."
"May as well just go straight there lad.@ said Paddy eager to return to the fray.
ANo, she said it's dangerous, I want to make sure he's alright.@
Uncle Popacata made his way along deserted roadways, all the men were at the ball game, the women and children must remain indoors during the festivity. He came to a road which he knew he must cross but at one end roamed one of the large dogs of the gods, the animals were very fierce. The elder was not a very brave man nevertheless he prepared himself to dash across the street. "May the sun shine on me," he blessed himself hoping that the animal would not notice him, luck was with him. The dog spotted several small dogs hung outside a house ready for eating. It bounded across and leapt up at them, with a loud snap its teeth ripped one from where it hung.
Shaking the elder dashed across.
The area of the stake was overlooked by the arena. Lord Axa was already fastened to the stake by a thick cord which bit into his wrist, he was unable to see the games but could see the crowd and they could see him. From the corner of he eye he saw movement and wheeled round, "Popacata! Well done, what brings you here?" he laughed at the elder who was puffing and panting. Popacata was immediately heartened, how could Axa ever be defeated, his spirit was unconquerable. But seeing the cord which held him and how thin and weak he had become during his captivity, he realised that even Lord Axa would not be able to fight his way out of this one.
"Greetings my Lord Axa, what a fine day it is," joked the elder.
"It is a good day to die," said Axa with such seriousness that the elder lost no time in what he had to tell him.
First he looked anxiously around, "Where are the guards?"
Axa nodded with his head to where the guards stood on a parapet looking down at the battle below.
"They may return at any moment, I have much to say and to ask," said Popacata.
"Then speak away Uncle for I am in need of some pleasant conversation.@
"Where is Chacuti?"
"Tell Lady Axa that she is safe, the old man, the man who bears the mark, has rescued her from the Shaman. I know she will be safe with him. I knew I could depend upon that man, the gods themselves are with him."
"She was to have walked the walk of death, Bonampak's brother learnt that the mountain-top the Shaman had chosen for her sacrifice was Acconcagua.@
Lord Axa looked grim-faced.
Popacata continued, AThese strangers are nought but vicious killers, travellers have told of the settlement which your quipu warned of."
"Then maybe the warriors will make a stand, you must warn them to be ready Uncle, I shall not be with them to help them but I have seen the holy man of these murderers, he has betrayed these false gods to the Shaman."
"Their own holy man has betrayed them?" repeated the elder, "then he is as wicked as the Shaman."
In the background Paddy and Davey could see the combat in the amphitheatre. Paddy urged Davey to take just a quick look.
The square of pikemen had cut off a section of the arena, within it three Inca warriors were trapped, while the other sides of the square fought off any help for them the square closed on the trapped warriors and butchered them.
"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" cheered the Spaniards as each man met his death.
The loss of the men provoked the warriors who were watching to scream at their men in the arena, "Fight! Fight and Kill! You are warriors!"
The Incas felt the lust of battle grow in them, Tizoc and another brave young warrior ran quickly towards the square, they darted to one side of the pikes at the last moment before the razor sharp axes sheared into them then seized hold of the shaft of one of the great weapons. Before the men in the square had time to move forwards to spear them they had dragged the pike and the man holding grimly onto it into the open. The man was swiftly set upon.
The square quickly closed up to fill the gap. The death of the Spaniard seemed to inspire the warriors, they now knew that they could kill, the blood-lust stopped them caring whether the god returned in another body or not. They simply wanted blood.
The square tried the same tactic of cutting off a section of the arena. The Incas were wary of the trap, they charged the square in a feint attack, three warriors ran forward but just before they were impaled upon the axe heads they veered off, the pikemen could not help their instincts but naturally followed the attackers by moving the pikes to one side. This gave other warriors the opportunity to rush in past the axe heads. Pikes had to be dropped in favour of short swords, a number of individual battles began to take place. Urged on by the shouts of the sergeant, "REFORM or DIE!"All but five of the pikemen managed to beat off the attack and reform a square. The men outside its security were no match for the Incas whose razor sharp clubs quickly defeated the short swords.
"You alright watching this lad? Not too rough for yer is it?"
Uncle Paddy was becoming as incensed as the crowd. Davey looked towards Francesco. He was issuing orders.
"Tell the musketeers to line up ready on that low wall, at my signal unload a volley into the crowd, we'll take care of their friends down there," he withdrew his long fighting sword from its scabbard.
"You know what they say lad, if yer can't stand the heat don't go in the kitchen. These fellers are gettin' a taste of their own medicine."
The men in the square fought ferociously, what they had imagined would be an easy victory when they first paraded around the arena had become a life or death struggle. They stopped responding to the false attacks and stood firm ready to sell their lives dearly.
"On my order," shouted the sergeant-at-arms, "Pick your man. Ready. ATTACK!" the pikemen exploded from the square charging after the Incas who scattered but not before several of them were left for dead or put out the fight from wounds inflicted by the axe-heads.
The Incas were unable to shake the defences of the square again. The men in it knew that to falter was to die. "Draw swords. Ready. ATTACK!" screamed the sergeant.
The variation again surprised the Incas, more bodies were hewn to the ground. The pikemen ran back to the safety of their pikes before their opponents had time to recover.
Davey spotted Father Salamanga returning.
"Eh up, here comes trouble," said Paddy.
"What is this!" shouted the priest at the commander, "This is like some sick parody of the Roman games, the early Christian martyrs gave their lives to end such diabolic contests. I demand that you call a halt to these proceedings at once."
The commander waited until an individual battle between a Spaniard and an Inca ended with the life of the Inca. "Give the order Francesco," he said reluctantly.
The spectacle was brought to a finish by a loud trumpet blast. The square reformed into two files and marched smartly out of the arena over comrades and foes alike.
"You should be ashamed of yourself Commander," said the priest, "I shall report this matter."
"With respect Holy Father I feel your report, if it reaches the authorities, will be of little interest to them. We are in a war situation here. I wanted my men to appreciate and feel the measure
of the Incas. We have done that I think, have we not Francesco?"
Desperate to win the commanders confidence, Francesco agreed, "Of course Sir, this has been an excellent introduction to the men."
The priest decided to play the matter down. "It is of no significance, I understand your motives, I am not a military man such as yourselves but now you have acquainted me with the circumstances I accept your explanations."
"Thank you for your indulgence Father I shall attend Holy Mass this evening and confess myself," said the commander.
"Forgiveness will be granted you my son," said the priest, "It was an affair of men not an affair of state which caused my disapproval. Take the man over yonder," the priest pointed down to where Lord Axa stood, "The Incas wish to punish this man who has acted against their state. I feel that until we have converted them from their savage ways to that of the true gospel then we should show charity to them. Was not Christ (he crossed himself) put on trial by his own people? Who are we to deny these people their own simple justice until they come to God."
"You have sound judgment Father," said the commander but his thoughts were instantly suspicious of the priest's motives, "Let the Incas carry out their punishment."
Popacata stood at the warriors side urging him, "Lie down at the first knock Axa, do not give them the satisfaction of beating you to a pulp, save your strength." However he knew that his words were wasted on the fighting man who laughed at the suggestion.
"Hurry off Uncle, tell my wife Chacuti is free and will soon be returned to her. Tell the warriors faithful to me that I shall live to fight again, I can feel the strength in my spirit, I swear I shall live to spill the blood of these false gods, I can taste it on my lips." He ran his tongue across them "Listen Popacata," he said intently, "my wife and children must hide, they are my only weakness, when they are safe from the Shaman I am my own man and know no fear. Take them, hide them in the hidden city, tell my men they must be ready to defend themselves to the last, there will be no escape from these false gods. The Incas will surely perish. Only in the hidden city can we survive to live out our lives."
"I shall do as you bid, may Inti shine upon you," called Popacata as he left Axa to his fate.
"'idden city? Maybe we should 'ave a scout round lad, see if we can find it."
"Let's see what happens here first Uncle Paddy."
Four fiercesomely dressed warriors presented themselves before the man tied to the stake. The eagle feathers tied to their headdresses showed the number of captives they had taken in battle and told of their skill.
Axa knew the men. One of them was loyal to him but the others would fight to defeat him, with one hand tied to the stake it could only be a matter of time until he was beaten.
"It is a fine day my Lord," the loyal warrior greeted Axa, "say the word and I shall cave in the skulls of these dogs."
"This matter must be settled my friend," said Axa, "after your first blow show me the side of your head that I may knock you cold, you or your family would be punished by that dog Aquila if you do not seem to fight."
In the background stood the leader of the guards, he was as cold and uncaring as ever, he just stood still, icily taking in everything around him.
"It shall be as you wish my Lord," said the warrior.
Both Axa and the first warrior he was to be tested against were given clubs which had had their razor sharp blades removed. The warrior had a small shield in his other hand with which he could defend himself, he also had the freedom to move at will around the man tied to the stake.
"Come on, do not be so afraid," chided Axa to the man.
"I shall come when I am ready, then you shall feel the power of my arm," replied the warrior.
Suddenly the warrior darted in and hit Axa in the side, he made no attempt to stop the blow but tensed his muscles until they were as hard as rock, the blow hurt him but by taking it he had drawn the warrior into a position where he could strike. He hit him so hard across the base of the neck that the warrior was dead before he hit the floor.
"YAAGH!" he shouted his victory cry so loud that it echoed around the arena. The cry silenced the jeers and calls from the Spaniards.
"It seems like this chap is not so keen to accept his punishment," said Francesco to the commander but loud enough so the priest would hear him.
The fallen man was dragged away by two helpers who apprehensively eyed Lord Axa's club waving slowly backwards and forwards.
The second warrior was more wary, what he had witnessed made him especially cautious. He circled round the tied man who waited, relaxed, with an almost curious expression on his face as he slowly followed him round in a circle.
"This is not a game of touch-chase Quito," said Axa, "let us come to blows as real men, see, even the gods grow impatient," he waved his club towards where a low booing and hissing was starting to come from the crowd.
Quito was not to be hurried. Axa stopped following him in circles and stood stone still, even when his opponent walked behind him he did not turn but stood facing the crowd.
The Spaniards were impressed, "He's either very brave or very stupid," remarked Carlos.
Quito had lost his nerve, he ran in weakly swinging his club. Axa dispatched him with a blow to the forehead, again his victory cry rang out.
This time the helpers would not go near to the fallen man until Axa had moved to the other side of the circle. They quickly dragged him away.
The Spaniards began to chant, "PANCHO! PANCHO!" over and over.
The commander decided that it would be a good idea, "Sergeant, choose your best swordsman, this fellow needs to feel the hand of the gods!"
A trumpet blew so that proceedings at the stake were brought to a temporary halt. Aquila and Lord Axa looked at each other with total enmity glaring from their eyes. "I await the time you may feel the strength of my arm you cowardly dog," said Axa, "may you soon join your friends in hell."
Aquila did not respond but just stared back with a slight smirk on his face.
The Spaniard appeared, he was covered from head-to-foot in armour. So much armour had been lent to him from his comrades that he was like a knight of old. Shoulders, shins, head and hands all were weighed down in metal plate. Axa had seen the strength of this metal before, he knew he would have to hit the man in the unguarded areas. The man did not hesitate, he was a big, powerful soldier who had been the winner of many a brawl, Axa struck towards his face but the Spaniard raised his arm and the blow glanced off the metal plate which covered it. He struck low and hard, hitting Axa on the side of his knee, the blow numbed his leg. Recovering Axa used his club to ward off a second blow which would have decapitated him and then used the butt end of his club to jab into the man's mouth.
"First blood to the Inca, I would say," said the commander.
"Yes but it will not stop Pancho," said Francesco, "I've seen him in action before."
The contest was unequal, freed from his restriction Axa may have been able to make a fight of it but as the contest wore on it was obvious that he was beginning to take punishment. A nasty gash to an eyebrow poured blood into his eyes reducing his vision.
Through obscured eyes Axa saw Aquila's smirk break into a mocking grin. Axa's temper exploded and he struck towards his opponent hitting him on the hand. The man dropped his club but at the same time punched towards Axa's head with an armoured fist, Axa saw it coming but in his weakened state was unable to ward off the blow, it hit him hard on the temple.
A great cheer went up from the crowd, Axa started to stagger, the wave of unconsciousness could not be stopped, a further blow was unneeded and unfelt as he fell full length to the floor.
"PANCHO! PANCHO! PANCHO!" yelled the Spaniards.
Battered, bruised and senseless Lord Axa was dragged from the circle. Down the stone steps the helpers descended pulling him by his feet, then along passageways until they reached his cell.
"'This is gettin' beyond a joke lad. Move it all forwards, I want to see if he surviv
es."
"First we've got to see how the girl is Uncle Paddy."
They heard a great shout which echoed throughout the temple.
"What the heck was that?"
"IT IS I WHO SEEKS YOU! IT IS I WHO SHALL FIND YOU," roared the Shaman. The shout had a horrible hissing quality to it. As they looked closer they could see why. Only his head and forearms had yet to be absorbed into the body of the snake, his split tongue flickered in and out.
His head poised itself before the hole in the wall of the cell, the tongue scented the air wafting along the shafts. A look of comprehension passed through the remains of his face before it became totally reptilian and without expression.
The snake entered the tunnelways, its huge mass filled every space as its muscles propelled it forwards. The scaly scratch its skin made as its scales gripped the sides of the tunnel echoed horribly.
"Jesus Christ Davey!"
"Chacuti!"
Powerless to do anything they sat and watched.
On a slightly angled stretch of the narrow shafts lay Chacuti. The stones she lay upon were cold and damp, there was a sweet and sickly smell to them, she told herself not to even begin to think what could cause such a smell. It was of no matter, whatever her condition she was free, the old man would return for her and save her, but then she heard a sound. Onto a grazed elbow she raised her tired body, slowly turning her head from side to side as her keen ears sought to pick out the sound from the total silence.
No, it had not been her imagination, there was a sound, her tiredness was forgotten as her mind sprang into total alertness. Something about the sound terrified her as her instincts took control over her. Quickly she began to move back down to the chamber of the snake hoping that it was the old man returning but when no encouraging cry came and knowing that to go back down into the maze of passageways would mean certain capture, she had no choice but to crawl higher.
She felt her way forwards in the pitch darkness with a hand outstretched until she reached a position where the shaft forked to left and right, there she stopped and listened intently. It seemed the sound was greater in the shaft to the right. She struggled into the tunnel to the left and hurried on, already her knees and elbows were rubbed raw by the unyielding stone, the tunnels continued to rise but were slippery, at one point she slid back and only by pressing herself into the sides of the shaft was she able to make any headway.
The increase in volume of the sound which seemed to fill the dank air all around her told her that whatever it was, moving in the tunnels, was getting closer. She knew no man could hope to follow through these thin shafts. "What can it be?" she cried to herself. As she slipped yet again a low sob escaped her lips, she knew it was a mistake. The faint cry echoed and bounced along the tunnel walls, weakening as it went until it became inaudible to any human ears but the snake paused as it linked the sound to the vibrations of movement it felt through its skin.
Chacuti's sixth sense told her that she must lie still and quiet if she was to survive. She stopped moving and lay perfectly motionless barely daring to breathe. Her mind was screaming in fear but nothing betrayed this fact except that her eyes had widened to their fullest. The total silence thumped in her ears, her heart pounded as loudly as the sound. She had no doubts now, she was being hunted.
The snake stopped moving, it had glided onwards almost unconsciously, stopping only to locate the position of its prey as its refined senses picked out the faintest vibrations. But now nothing was received, no sound was picked up, nothing was felt. The snake stopped and lay still, flicking its forked tongue in all directions, tasting the air, seeking the faintest vibrations.
Chacuti grasped at the hope that she could escape and rushed onwards but the rasping, panting sound filtered into the silence around her, faintly at first but then clearly, she became panicky but remembering something her father had once told her "when a man panics all is lost" she halted and fought to control her fear. As she listened intently the sound following her stopped.
"It listens to me!" she realised, "As I listen for it, so it listens for me."
"Flippin' heck lad. Get to the old man an' see if yer can get 'im to come an' help!"
Instantly they were back in the cell with the old man. Davey stared intently at him, he rose and walked from the cell guided towards the chamber of the snake.
"Well done son, now he's on his way, get back an' see what's goin' on."
"Will he be in time Uncle Paddy?"
The child was lying still and quiet, when she heard the snake move she scrambled forwards, outstretched hands sought turn-offs in the shafts which she quickly entered not caring where she went only seeking to lose whatever followed her in the maze.
The snake found it difficult to gain ground on its prey which only moved when it moved but the evil mind of the Shaman knew the labyrinth. By cutting off twists and turns taken by the child the huge mass of the animal was able to steadily reduce the distance between itself and its prey.
Suddenly the snake surged forwards, the child heard its sound growing louder and louder until in the pitch darkness she was unable to control her panic and screamed. The scream shattered the silence, it penetrated the darkest depths of the temple so that in the passageways and corridors guards paused and listened.
The old man also heard the sound, he knew it must be the child, he knew that only the Shaman could have discovered her hiding place. He started to run.
"This is terrible lad. I can't stand it," said Paddy, "yer goin' to have to carry on without me for a bit." He lay back upon his bed. Sweat stood out on his brow.
The old man was nearing the chamber of the snake but he realised that the child was now so far away within the depths of the stone mass of the temple that there was little chance of her returning to that particular point.
AThe old man's stopping Uncle Paddy, I reckon we should get him to go to the chamber of the skulls. That's where the Shaman will head for.@
Paddy made no attempt to reply.
The sound following Chacuti had stopped. In her terror she had lost all her strength but the sound was no longer behind her. Her scream had covered the movements of the reptile which had darted off into a side-shaft only to return, stealthily and silently, dropping down towards her scale by scale. With its ability to perceive the victim's heat the snake was able to pierce the darkness until it sensed the child only a lunge away. Its tongue tasted her scent.
Scale by scale it extended its length towards her.
The tiniest of scratches was heard by the child immediately above her, she looked slowly up and saw the snakes eyes, two faint points of light. The terror which freezes the victim and shields it from its fate, aided by the hypnotic stare of those eyes, froze the child into a deep state of torpor.
The lower jaw of the snake dislocated itself, the snake moved towards her.
"What's 'appenin' now lad?"
Davey was unable to answer, the sight before him had shocked him into silence.
Paddy struggled towards him and lifted the helmet from his head. The images faded but Davey was unable to snap out of his shock.
"Get a grip there little feller," said Paddy, "Come on now pull yerself together."
Davey managed to turn away from the mirror. "It was terrible Uncle Paddy. It got her."
Paddy nodded sadly, "I could see sommat like that comin' up. I've seen too much in my time lad, there's only so many fights in a fighter an' I reckon I must have had me lot. You'll get over it, that's just one knocked off yer scoresheet. Question is, now what are we goin' to do?" He sat drumming away on his chess-board with the tips of his fingers. "If yer could get in there lad an' slit that things belly open yer might be able to save 'er. Get hold of this." Paddy forced his razor into Davey's hand, "Now have another go. Even if you can't get in, if yer can pass that to the old man he can do the job for us."
"It's no use trying Uncle Paddy. We can see what's goin on but we can't ever get in there. How could we, I mean it's in the past and
this is now."
"Give it just one more go for me lad," urged Paddy.
Again Davey pressed against he mirror it resisted his efforts, he tried pushing the razor through the glass but it was no use. The images were reforming and revealing themselves as he sat back down and removed the helmet..
"Never mind, yer tried," said Paddy.
"Hang on Uncle Paddy, she can't die! Not yet anyhow!" exclaimed Davey.
AWhat yer sayin' lad?@
AWell I've seen her in Carnatic, and she's older, if she was dead now she couldn't have grown older could she!@
AYer right there lad. Must be like Jonah in the belly of the whale!@
AAnd there's another thing, when I was talking to her in Carnatic, she told me that she'd seen me before, that she recognised me. How could she have if she dies now? She hasn't seen me has she?@
ANo, she hasn't lad, yer right. One thing's puzzlin' me about what yer saying though,@ he paused and chewed on his lip as he tried to put his thoughts into words. AShe told you that she'd seen you before, we know that she can't have seen you up till now so when she sees you must be in the future, we haven't got there yet so how can it have happened?@
Davey didn't even try to answer the question, Paddy answered it himself, AThis lot's doin' me head in!@
Davey returned to their present predicament, "I reckon we need to get the old man into the chamber of the skulls Uncle Paddy. It's there that the Shaman will head for."
"An' as soon as the Shyman shows is ugly head. Wham! yer man lops it off!"
"Just one problem with that Uncle Paddy."
"What?"
"The old man doesn't know the snake's got her. In fact he doesn't even know about the snake."
"Then he's in for a bit of shock isn't he!"
Davey replaced his helmet.