AHold on, this stuff about water can't be right, I've seen the Shaman in the water!@ said Davey.
AYer right lad. Yer'd better let the old fella know yer've seen >im and water won't hurt >im.@
Davey concentrated briefly. In the mirror they watched the old man apparently listening to what he was being told.
AHe says that I should be very careful Uncle Paddy, he doesn't know how the Shaman got to us but that if it was him he must be scared of water - remember how the snake wouldn't touch it?@
Paddy was annoyed, ATell him that yer the one that's seen >im, what's he think yer doin', making this up?@
ABut he must be right Uncle Paddy. The way the snake kept back from the water proved it didn't like the stuff.@
Paddy nodded, chewing his lip as he thought of various possibilities, AI get a terrible feelin' sometimes about all this,@ he said as much to himself as to Davey, Aone thing's for sure though the girl can't be safe in that big old house if he's prowling around. We've got to get her out of there to somewhere safe.@
AThe old man want's to know if we can tell him what the Shaman's doing.@
AGo for it lad!@
The air around the Shaman seemed to quiver, pulses of energy beat through the air. The skulls glowed and faded as the chant increased in intensity.
AWhat's that behind his head?@
Davey moved their view behind the Shaman, AIt's bright inside his head!@ he exclaimed.
A source of light moved along the line of injury from within the head of the Shaman until it projected into the chamber, the light it gave out was bright enough for it to cast shadows of the skulls against the walls.
AHe's feelin' light-headed!@ joked Paddy.
The light source grew in size, it was a horrible light, a light which had a brightness but also a sickening quality. It extended further into the room and continued to grow, thickening out as it emanated from the body of the Shaman.
A skull barked, AYour energy discards the body, leave the useless corpse.@
Another skull urged, AYour body's life is ended, leave the useless corpse.@
The light, where it connected to the head of the Shaman, began to thin, soon it thinned to such an extent that only the thinnest sliver still fastened it to him.
A third skull rasped, ALeave the useless corpse.@
The thread which tied the light to the corpse was severed. The Shaman's body swayed for the last time then crumpled to the floor. Within the chamber of the skulls the light source hovered. The skulls cried out;
AThe more evil the man the less he will fight you.@
AThe nearer to death the less he will fight you.@
AGo now, take your man, find the girl!@
AWe've got to warn the old man Uncle Paddy,@ said Davey.
AWarn him about what lad? What the flip's goin' on?@
AThe Shaman's going to get out, I think he's going to get inside somebody else!@
AAh come on lad, yer letting this lot get to yer again!@
Davey swept from the temple to the canal bridge which had all but burnt away, already the intensity of the flames had died down, the charred remains would soon crumble.
ALord Axa, we must leave, I fear the Shaman,@ said the old man.
AHave we not burnt the bridge as you wished?@ replied Lord Axa.
AI fear the Shaman has power that I have only begun to suspect he possesses. This water may delay him, it may not. For the sake of your child we must flee.@
Axa waved his battleaxe towards his men, AWithout me these men would not stand and fight, I cannot leave them though my life and that of my family depended upon it, it is the warriors way to stand and fight, we shall make these invaders pay dearly for entering the land of the Inca.@
AThen I must take the child and flee,@ said the old man. AIt is not safe for her here. Remember Lord Axa it is not simply the life of the child that is at stake, her very soul is at risk from the Shaman.@
Axa considered the matter, ATo where would you run old man, if the Shaman has the power of which you speak he will seek you out and find you no matter where you hide.@
AYou are right my Lord, but water shall be our protection, it cleans the filth from the darkest places, it sweeps on filling all in its path, it is change and changeless, the Shaman fears its power. I shall journey with the child across the great ocean, to my home country, there she will be safe.@
Axa listened to the old man's words, when he realised what he was saying he stood still, thinking, not listening to any of the shouts and cries around them as the warriors prepared their position to repel the invaders. ATake her old man, protect her from the foul evil that has stalked our land, may you one day return and bring my child back to me.@ He reached down, clasped his arms round his daughter and lifted her up to his chest, AYou must go with him Chacuti, you will be safe with him, I can protect you from men - not devils.@
ANo Father!@ cried Chacuti. APlease let me stay with you. I cannot leave. What of Panqui and mother!@
AThey are safe within the hidden city, unless the Shaman has betrayed it to the invaders they shall never find it.@
AThe Shaman is concerned with matters not of this earth,@ said the old man, AHe no longer cares whether the people live or die, he seeks only to retrieve what the child has taken and this helmet that I wear. Your wife and child will be safe within the sanctuary.@
AI have already pleaded with you once to take my child old man, without you she would have walked the walk of death; remember this child!@ he urged Chacuti, Athe Shaman is evil - nothing less, the way of the Inca is corrupt and wicked. The old man will take care of you as I cannot, you must go with him, he will protect you from harm.@
Chacuti did not argue again. Her father had spoken, Lord Axa placed her back down then motioned for one of his men to come towards him, he spoke quickly to the man and took a small knapsack from him, quickly he showed the old man the contents of the knapsack. Three lumps of gold as large as a child's fist lay heavy within the leathern pouch. He took the knapsack and gave it to the old man. The two men stared hard at each other and clasped their hands together. With a final farewell the old man offered the child his hand. Axa nodded towards Chacuti who took it, tears were in her eyes as the old man led her away.
AFlippin' heck lad, that can't have been easy for him. It's not as if it was me mother sayin' good-bye to me!@ he laughed.
ACan't you ever be serious Uncle Paddy! Hold on the old man wants to know...@
Davey swept back to the temple. The light source had gone.
AWhere is he lad, quick, find him! He could be anywhere!@
Davey remained stuck within the chamber.
The skulls sensed him, AAn intruder watches us!@ rasped a voice out of the darkness. AIt is the boy!@
AWe must work together against him,@ rasped another skull.
AUncle Paddy I can't find him!@ cried Davey.
AConcentrate lad, focus on him and you'll get there, come on now yer've done it before.@
Almost instantly their view shot out of the temple and into the great hall of the palace.
AWhat's he doin? I thought he was dead?@ said Paddy.
Father Salamanga stood, shouting to the men around him. His hands held open his cassock where the spear had ripped it apart, he was walking towards the men who shrank back from him as he approached, ADo not be afraid,@ he urged, Areach forth thy hand and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless but believing.@
ADon't look like nobody wants to take >im up on that,@ said Paddy. ASounds like he thinks he's Jesus or sommat.@
Aor sommat,@ repeated Davey ominously.
AWhat...yer mean...yer don't think...@
Davey nodded.
AYer'd better get the old feller and the kid shifting quick lad.@ Paddy moved aside a curtain, ANo hold on a minute, look, it's flippin' dark outside, if yer'd been in work yer'd be knockin' off by now. Yer'd better get yerself home, nip out the back way just in case someone sees yer.@
AWhat about the old man and girl?@
ANo
worries lad, till we've seen them do sommat they haven't done it, what did we say - if we ain't seen it happen then it ain't happened.@
AGot you Uncle Paddy,@ said Davey, AI'll be back over later on.@
It was quite dark outside, a light rain was blowing, out on the river the liners were roaring to each other. Davey lifted his collar up and ran round to his front door.
AHow'd it go then son?@ asked Hugh. Liz stood behind him, the proud mother.
ANot bad, I'm learning me way round first before they start me training,@ said Davey.
AGood for you son,@ said Hugh, Awhat did I tell yer girl, he's took to it like a duck to water.@
AI've put a bit of dinner on for you Davey. You must have worked up an appetite,@ Liz said.
AFamished Mum, I could eat a big fat pig!@ he jumped up and squeezed the fat upon Liz's hips.
AWell he's not so tired that he can't still raise the roof!@ joked Hugh as Liz shrieked.
As he tucked into his meal Davey's thoughts raced along, he took no pleasure in lying to his parents but he had no choice, it was either that or try to explain a magic helmet; Shamen, mirrors and bodies rising from the dead. How could they hope to understand. How could he keep on hiding the fact that he did not have a job from them? No, he'd keep it secret and see the thing through one way or the other, the girl in Carnatic had done nothing to deserve her fate, someone had it to try to help her.
AYou're lookin' worried lad,@ said Hugh, Adon't worry you'll settle in, those fellers on the factory floor always make it hard for new workers, it's like a test, they'll stop soon as they see what yer made of.@
Davey forced a smile, he wanted to tell Hugh everything, if only he knew what was happening, but as he started to speak he choked on the words. Paddy and Mrs M might be comfortable with weird goings-on but his parents would never hope to understand. He realised how right he was when Liz came into the room.
AGoing over to Uncle Paddy's again later?@ she asked.
AAye, I thought I'd stay over,@ said Davey trying to sound disinterested.
AJust one thing son, you know what Mrs M's like, with the cups, you know, don't be getting yourself involved in anything like that will you.@
Davey pretended ignorance, AWhat >cups' Mum?@
AShe's talkin' tea-leaves lad,@ offered Hugh.
ADon't worry about me, that stuff's for old ladies,@ joked Davey.
They sat together listening to the wireless. The news told of Mr Churchill receiving a presentation copy of Seven Pillars of Wisdom from Colonel Lawrence, AThat's Lawrence of Arabia that Davey, flipping hero he were, fought against the Turks with the Arabs.@
Davey was keen to hear more, AHe got captured didn't he Dad?@
AI'll do the washing up,@ said Liz, making her excuse to escape to the kitchen.
It was not long before the strain of talking told upon Hugh and he gave a short cough, Liz indicated to Davey that he shouldn't ask any more questions. They all sat round the fire and stared into its flames, the wireless wasn't playing anything worth listening to so they turned it off and Davey passed down the novels they were reading from the shelf.
AAny good lad?@ asked Hugh of Davey's book.
ASmashing Dad, the Martians have got a death-ray and they're incinerating everywhere with it, they've just burnt up a village called Knaphill, tell you what Dad if you'd had one of them in the war...@
ADavey,@ his mother cut in, Acome on now, don't be going on about the war all the time.@
AAh he's all right Liz,@ said Hugh, Aprobably that Paddy's been feeding him battles and the rest, eh lad?@ he laughed, AHey lad you'd better be getting over, Paddy'll be missing the next instalment of telling you how he won the war single-handed!@
They all laughed together, Davey took the opportunity of sorting out his clothes.
AWill you be needing a carry-out for tomorrow Davey?@ asked Liz.
ANaw Mum, it's alright, Mrs M will make me sarnies.@
AWhat about overalls lad? Did you leave your boiler suit in work?@
Davey stuttered, AYe-es, I've got a locker to leave all me kit in.@ Feeling that if he lingered any longer he might say something to give himself away he hurriedly said his goodbye's, pecked his mother on the cheek and shot back over the road to the Murtagh's.
Liz had a worried look upon her face, Hugh encouraged her, ACome on then girl, out with it, what's bothering yer?@
ADid Davey seem at all, you know, strange to you Hughie?@
AYes, now you come to mention it, he did girl. Reckon it must be nerves, starting a new job's always hard the first few days. I'll have a word with Paddy tomorrer, he's keeping his eye on the lad, he might know something that we don't.@