Blood Brothers of Gor

Chapter 20 KINYANPI

"Behold," laughed Hci, sitting with cronies, cross-legged, outside the lodge of the Sleen Soldiers, "it is the pretty sister of Canka, and Canka's slave, Tatankasa."

"Listen to me, Hci," said Cuwignaka, "please!"

"Kneel," said Hci to us.

We knelt.

"She tried to enter the lodge of the dance," laughed Hci, pointing at Cuwignaka. "She is not permitted to do so!"

There was laughter from the young men sitting in the circle.

"I must speak to you," said Cuwignaka.

"I am busy," said Hci. There was laughter.

"I must speak to you!" said Cuwignaka.

"Do not come to plead lenience for your foolish brother, who tried to kill my father, Mahpiyasapa, this morning!" inquired Hci.

"The camp is in danger," said Cuwignaka.

"What?" asked Hci.

"The Yellow Knives with Watonka are not civil chiefs," said Cuwignaka. "They have been recognized by a blond slave, once the property of Yellow Knives. They are war chiefs."

"That is absurd," said Hci.

"The pickets and guards have been drawn in from the west," said Cuwignaka. "Watonka has not gone to the council, nor have the Yellow Knives. The Pte were early! Watonka looked to the sky, to the southwest!"

"To the sky?" asked one of the men with Hci.

"It is as in the old stories," said one of the men.

"These are lies," said Hci. "This is a trick. You are trying to make me look foolish."

"The guards have been drawn in from the west," said one man. "I know that."

"The Pte were early," said another. "We all know that."

"Who says Watonka is not in the council lodge?" asked Hci.

"Shortly before noon," I said, "I saw him still in the camp of the Isanna, with the Yellow Knives. I do not think it is his intention to go to the council lodge. I saw him watching the sky, to the southeast."

"Others were in the council lodge?" asked Hci.

"Most others, yes," I said. "I think so."

"The greates men of our people, most of them, are in that lodge, Hci," said Cuwignaka, "gathered in that one place. Surely you understand what that could mean?"

"This is all a trick on your part," said Hci.

"No," said Cuwignaka.

"If what you say is correct," said Hci, "Watonka would be a traitor. He would be betraying the Kaiila."

"I am convinced that that is the case," said Cuwignaka.

"It cannot be," said Hci.

"To achieve his personal ends," said Cuwignaka, grimly, "even a good man can sometimes do great wrong. Can you believe that, Hci?"

Hci looked down, angrily.

"Can you believe it, Hci?" asked Cuwignaka.

"Hci looked up, angrily. "Yes," he said.

"Act," said Cuwignaka. "The Sleen Soldiers have police powers in the camp. Act!"

"It is a trick," said Hci, angrily.

"It is past noon," said Cuwignaka. "There is little time."

"It is a trick," said Hci.

"I swear that it is not," said Cuwignaka. "Had I a shield I would swear by it."

Hci looked at him, startled.

"That is a most holy and sacred oath," said one of the Sleen Soldiers, frightened.

"Would yuo truly swear by a shield?" asked Hci.

"Yes," said Cuwignaka. "And when one so swears, then one is to believed, is one not?"

"Yes," said Hci. "One is then to believed."

"No one would betray the shield oath," said a man.

Hci trembled.

"Are you so fond of Yellow Knives?" asked Cuwignaka. "Have you not forgoten them?"

Hci looked at Cuwignaka. His hand, inadvertently, went to the whitish, jagged serration at his face, the residue of the canhpi's slash years ago.

"You probably know Yellow Knives as well as any man in the camp," said Cuwignaka. "Do you truly believe they desire peace?"

"No," said Hci.

"Act," said Cuwignaka.

"Would you truly swear by your shield?" asked Hci.

"Yes," said Cuwignaka.

Hci rose to his feet. "Agleskala," he said, "go to the council lodge. If Watonka is not within, use the powers of the Sleen Soliders. Empty the lodge."

"What are you going to do?" asked Cuwignaka.

"I am going to blow the whistle of war," he said. "I am going to fetch the battle staff."

There was a scream from somewhere among the lodges to our left.

The sun seemed suddenly dark in the cloudless sky. The sky itself seemed blotted out with swift torrents of terrible forms. It was as though a storm had suddenly materialized and come alive. Over our head there was the snapping and crackling of a thousand thunders.

"It is too late!" I cried.

"It is the Kinyanpi!" I heard. "It is the Flighted Ones! The Kinyanpi!"