ICE BURIAL: The Oldest Human Murder Mystery (The Mother People Series Book 3) (18 page)

The drums were stronger now, and suddenly the rise and fall of the flutes was filled with menace. Another sound joined them and Lief looked up briefly. A flock of dark birds
flew
in
,
warbl
ing
and screech
ing
to each other
as they settled
in the trees. The noise seemed strange, out of place, and yet it was welcome. Even in the midst of such horrors, birds still called.

“
Great Spirit, we know you are here among us,
”
the Leader intoned,
“
ready to receive our greatest gift.
”
He spoke more words that Lief barely heard so intense was his concentration on what would come next. The timing must be perfect…

Slowly, with great dignity, the Leader turned and walked toward the cloth-draped platform. Behind him
,
Korg rose almost invisibly to his feet. In his hand was a long knife.

A muffled gasp emerged from the clearing, audible despite the drums that were pounding loudly now, as if to distract the watchers from what must happen. When the gasp had subsided, no one moved, no one seemed even to breathe. Lief felt his muscles tighten with readiness. The moment had come.
He must act.

The Leader stood immobile above the platform for a long moment, looking down at the sleeping infant. His face was tender, full of love. Spreading his arms toward the sky, he invoked the Great Spirit one last time before the sacrifice.

“
Great Spirit,
”
he began, his voice rich with feeling,
“
we feel your presence,
and are
prepared to give...
”

Abruptly, he staggered backward, as if he had been struck. Recovering his balance, he took a step toward the platform; then he staggered back again. His hands went to his forehead, and he looked wildly around him. Again, he tried to go forward, but instead his head jerked suddenly to one side and he swayed. With a great effort, he straightened. His eyes were glazed now, unseeing. Another jolt went through him
and
he swayed again
. T
hen, like a huge
tree
toppling, he crashed to the ground.

All across the clearing, people
’s
mouths opened wide in consternation. Murmurs rose but stopped abruptly as Korg turned to face them. Anger made his features almost unrecognizable, and the villagers shrank back in fear.

“
Who has done this?
”
he snarled, his voice harsh, accusing.
“
Who has done this?
”

With a savage gesture, he threw down his knife and ran to the fallen Leader. As he looked down on the prostrate form, something seemed to hit him in the chest. He gasped and doubled over, his arms wrapped protectively around his
body
. Raising his head, he stared into the trees
and pointed that direction.
The
dark cloth that draped the platform hid his
gesture
, and the watchers did not see.
Nor did they see the second blow that hit him, this time on his forehead.

Korg screamed, suddenly, obscenely
. “Traitor!”
he bellowed. “Traitor!” He
turned to face the people again
, his eyes malevolent as they raked the shocked faces
.
“
I will find out, I will find the one!
”
Grunting with the effort, he tried to rise, then his body jerked back in a convulsive movement and he fell heavily across the Leader. He did not move again.

Now there was no stopping the murmurs. They rose into the air, mingling with the birds, the drums that beat still more strongly, oblivious to what had happened, the high wailing of flutes that continued their menacing refrains. The voices were filled with horror, with stupefaction and fear. As if it had absorbed their fear, the infant began to scream. The thin wail penetrated the other noises, made them seem discordant, almost nauseating.

Into the cacophony came a loud clap that sounded like thunder. Another clap came, then another, startling the people into instant silence. Even the infant ceased its wailing.

The people looked up at the sky, puzzled. The claps had come from all directions, bouncing back and forth across their heads, as if storms were brewing all around them. Yet there were no clouds; the sky was completely clear.

Abruptly, the birds took flight. They careened into the air
and
circle
d
the clearing, then settled slowly back into the trees. They, too, were silent, waiting to see what would happen next.

The silence stretched out. Then, with a suddenness that startled the birds into flight again,
a voice
spoke
.
“
Know now that the Great Goddess has returned. The Great Goddess has returned.
”

The words came from all directions, in multiple voices that reverberated across the clearing. It was as if the earth itself had spoken, and the trees, even the sky.

“
Know now that the Great Goddess has returned. The Goddess has returned to the people.
”

Again, the message came, this time not all at once, but in constantly repeating patterns that filled the air and left no room for any other thought. The effect was
hypnotic
. No one spoke, no one even moved. Then, slowly, people began to look around
,
seeking the source of the voices, but there was nothing to be seen.

One pair of eyes, then another, turned back to the platform where the infant lay, seeking an answer there. And once they had looked they could not tear their eyes away. The sun had just topped the mountains, and the platform was enveloped in filmy clouds of mist as the morning dew evaporated. Into the mist a figure was rising, a figure draped all in white. Even its face was white, save for eyes that glittered green within the dark lines that circled them. Long white feathers crowned its mass of flame-colored hair that blazed like fire in the sunlight. And when it raised its arms, the people saw that they were wings, as if the creature was both human and bird.

Higher and higher the figure rose until it was taller by far than any person could be. Then it was still, surveying them. The brilliant eyes seemed not hostile but loving.

The eyes closed, the arms that were wings stretched out to encompass the people, and a single vibrant voice emerged.

“
The Goddess, the Great Mother, has returned. There is no other than the Goddess, Mother of all life.
”

The people
’
s faces, amazed at first, became uneasy, and prickles of suspense ran up their spines.

“
I am She who speaks for the Goddess,
”
the clear strong voice went on.
“
For too long has She been absent from your lives, but the love She holds for you has never dimmed. Though you have pushed Her from your hearts, still She welcomes you into Her own; though you have erased Her from your minds, still She knows you are a part of Hers. Even to those who long ago ceased to live by Her ways, the ways of love and compassion, the Goddess extends Her mercy; even to those who have denied it, Her wisdom, the wisdom of the circles, is still there for all to use. Never will the Great Goddess, the Mother, forsake Her people, as you have forsaken Her.

“
To forsake the Goddess is to forsake life itself. This, you must never forget.
”

The voice stopped again, and the people waited anxiously. Conflict marked many of the faces now, and dismay.

“
Raise your faces to the sky,
”
the voice continued,
“
the sky that brings rain to nourish all that grows; feel the brilliant sun that warms and gives its strength to all that moves beneath it. Let your eyes roam the land, the trees and fields and animals that provide your food, let your fingers dig into the earth that sustains you and all other living things. Remember that they are of the Goddess, that the Goddess is in them, that She, the Great Mother, created everything that lives upon Her earth. This you know, have always known in your hearts and minds, and yet you have buried the knowledge. And so you have buried all that is best in yourselves.

“
There is no other than the Goddess.
”

Silence came, a silence that slowly gave way to sighs, first one, then another, then sighing breaths that came from all over the clearing, as the people considered what the Goddess had said, thought of what they had done, what they had lost. Many of the heads that had been raised were bent low now in shame.
Zena
felt tears start into her eyes at the sight of the hunched shoulders, the bowed heads, but even more at the strength of the words that had come to her when she had not known what to say. They truly were the words of the Goddess, she realized; all she had done was to allow Her to speak, to help Her break through the walls of resistance and fear, so that the hearts and minds of the people were free again.

The faces turned toward her once more, and she looked into their eyes. From them, now, the strength came; she felt their need, and into it poured all the words that had ever been spoken by those who had come before her, all the wisdom they had gathered over so many years. All of it was hers now, for they were part of her as she was part of them, and all of them were a part of the Goddess. Especially, she felt her sister within her, as if their spirits had finally merged so that the beloved twin was no longer outside, watching her, advising her, but inside her. And so the words poured out, her sister
’s
words, the words of the wise ones, the words of the Goddess.

Within the bushes, Mara and Hular listened and were amazed.

Lief
, too, was amazed but even more he was watchful. Korg and the Leader were only stunned and he did not want them to awaken just yet. When Korg
’s
head came up another stone was dispatched, when the Leader began to stir,
Lief
was ready. He aim was true, his force accurate. He had no desire to kill or maim, only to induce sleep.

The words continued, words that spoke of love and compassion and wisdom, of all that had happened to the Mother People, of their enduring faith. And still the people listened, quiet, unmoving, their faces taut with emotions long forgotten. Not until her voice was hoarse did
Zena
stop to rest.

“
The Goddess awaits you,
”
she finished softly.
“
As She has returned to you, so you can return to Her. Always, the Goddess is there for those who seek Her.
”

She was quiet then, trying to regain her strength. It was draining out of her; she could feel it disappearing, and for a moment she thought she would fall. She closed her eyes, then opened them again, aware that her mission was not yet complete. One last message must be given.

Anger came into her as she thought of it, and with the anger came renewed strength. When she spoke again, her voice was hard, compelling. The people
’s
heads came up sharply at the unexpected sound.

“
The Goddess has no wish for death,
”
she told them sternly, staring at them with anguished eyes.
“
The Great Mother is giver of life, not seeker of death. All that dies She takes gladly back to Her heart, but death comes as it will. It is neither Her wish nor Her command that any creature should die for Her.
”

She thrust out the next words with fierce emphasis.
“
That you would sacrifice an innocent child in Her name is a travesty, a travesty that cannot be borne. She, the Goddess, weeps at such a thought, the earth itself weeps - and so should you weep.

“
To kill in the name of the Goddess is forbidden! Never must this happen again! Never again may you listen to those who would tell you to do such...
”

Zena
tried to continue, but no more words would come through a throat choked with emotion. The anger had suddenly gone out of her, and now she felt only grief. Tears began to side down her cheeks, making dark tracks in its whiteness. She saw that many others, too, were weeping, and she was glad.

Below her the infant stirred restlessly, aroused by her shouts.
Zena
reached out and took him into her wing-clad arms.
“
This infant is the Mother
’s
creation, as are all of you,
”
she told the people in a softer tone, holding him out for them to see.
“
He is not spirit but child, who feels pain and fear and hunger like any other child.
”

As if to confirm her words, the infant began to wail. He turned his face to her chest, seeking food.
Zena
rocked him gently until he quieted.