Chapter 6: The gods Will It
Spinner took the time to look around while the "Priest" waited to be interrogated.
He saw some women and children being untied from bondage. Some of the slaves were kicking the corpses of their masters.
Most of the women wouldn't meet his people's eyes; their own eyes downcast. He saw bruises and scars.
The young man who had volunteered to translate had a black eye, and purple marks on his back; unmistakably from one of the rods. And yes, there were welts on his neck, wrists, and ankles.
He saw Spinner looking, and, unlike the women and younger children, met his eyes with a hard smile.
"What's your name?"
"I was Grasshopper. None here have names until we earn the rod."
Earn. Spinner didn't need it spelled out. Eventually, the young men were expected to cooperate, in order to escape their torture.
"We'll think of a good name for you."
Grasshopper only nodded. He seemed very old for his years. Very certain. He wanted this young man for the Tribe.
Spinner finally faced the Priest, but spoke to Grasshopper:
"Translate literally. Don't change any of the words. It's important that we know exactly what he says."
Another nod (with a resentful glare).
"Do you lead these people?"
Grasshopper gabbled, and the Priest gabbled back:
"The Chief is bringing more people home to the chosen people. I merely speak for the gods."
"Who are the gods?"
"The Sun is the Father. The Moon is the Mother. Together, they made this place, and people, and watch over us."
"They chose you? For what?"
"Once, all people knew and obeyed the gods, but over time, many forgot. Through my father, they spoke to the Chief, and to these people, to remind them."
"Remind them of what?"
"That we are their children, and must obey them. We must bring the rest home."
"Or kill them? Rape them?", Log Pusher demanded. Sees More gave him a look, and a quick head-shake, but Grasshopper translated his words to the priest.
"Some are too old to learn, and sometimes their children become overly excited. The Father and Mother made them as they are, and all that happens is by their will. We can't fathom their wisdom, but they do nothing without purpose."
Spinner turned away to hide his face from the priest, looking at Log Pusher himself. I agree.
The rest of the leaders wore neutral expressions (Spinner was impressed. He knew they were all shared his outrage).
"Stop translating.", he said to Grasshopper. Then, to Sees More Goes Alone:
"Explain this to me."
The brothers glanced at eachother, then Sees More cleared his throat:
"His father made this up as a way to gain power, and maybe love. He couldn't say he was a god, so he said he spoke for the gods."
"He's not insane.", Goes Alone added. "He's just sticking to the lie. He doesn't know we know about their warriors...probably thinks they'll come back and kill us, if he can stay alive long enough."
Spinner looked back at Grasshopper. "Does this...whatever it is...work on anybody?"
The boy shrugged. "The younger children. We told them different, but now this asshole has them reporting who said what to them. The ones you saw being untied? There are more who were tortured and killed for heresy. Some pretend to go along. I tried, for awhile, but couldn't help myself..."
"Another of those words! Don't tell me: 'Heresy' is disagreeing with him."
One corner of Grasshopper's mouth turned up: "Close enough."
Spinner returned to his interrogation of the priest, and the other leaders asked questions, as well.
After he felt they had learned all they could from this man, Spinner looked at Log Pusher, who stood behind the priest, and barely nodded.
Log Pusher, smiling, reached one hand to the point of the priest's chin, put the other on the back of his head, and snapped his neck.
The leaders looked around as he fell in a boneless heap.
Most of the former slaves were glad, but some appeared conflicted, or shocked, or even angry.
"This isn't over yet.", Goes Alone said.
Spinner gave him a look, and Goes Alone sighed.
"As you know already, this is a disease. Most of the children are infected. They worshipped this priest, and no doubt believed the trash he taught them."
Spinner snapped his head down in an angry nod. "Some of their parents were belivers too. I can't just kill them, let alone these children."
Goes Alone said nothing. Unlike his older brother, he was reluctant to offer comments unless it was important-nor was he as close to the Chief as Sees More was.
Spinner glared at Goes Alone, implicitly demanding more.
Goes Alone sighed heavily, shaking his head slightly. "I'm not Sees More, but I can see what you see:
"'Infection' is the right word. Now there are 'gods', and those who speak for them. There are always those like this priest, and his apprentice Squirral, who will do what this priest did, and Chiefs who will them to justify their authority, and whatever they do as the will of gods."
Spinner brooded, while Goes Alone waited (uncomfortably).
"I'm sorry, my friend", he said at length, touching the younger man's shoulder, and smiling. "We'll focus on killing the rest of them for now, and deal with this 'infection' after we're safe.
"Send a scout to the Wolf Camp to update them, and tell them to stay where they are."---
Spinner continued giving orders to Goes Alone and several other lieutenants until he was satisfied, and could finally sleep.
But he couldn't sleep.
He saw some women and children being untied from bondage. Some of the slaves were kicking the corpses of their masters.
Most of the women wouldn't meet his people's eyes; their own eyes downcast. He saw bruises and scars.
The young man who had volunteered to translate had a black eye, and purple marks on his back; unmistakably from one of the rods. And yes, there were welts on his neck, wrists, and ankles.
He saw Spinner looking, and, unlike the women and younger children, met his eyes with a hard smile.
"What's your name?"
"I was Grasshopper. None here have names until we earn the rod."
Earn. Spinner didn't need it spelled out. Eventually, the young men were expected to cooperate, in order to escape their torture.
"We'll think of a good name for you."
Grasshopper only nodded. He seemed very old for his years. Very certain. He wanted this young man for the Tribe.
Spinner finally faced the Priest, but spoke to Grasshopper:
"Translate literally. Don't change any of the words. It's important that we know exactly what he says."
Another nod (with a resentful glare).
"Do you lead these people?"
Grasshopper gabbled, and the Priest gabbled back:
"The Chief is bringing more people home to the chosen people. I merely speak for the gods."
"Who are the gods?"
"The Sun is the Father. The Moon is the Mother. Together, they made this place, and people, and watch over us."
"They chose you? For what?"
"Once, all people knew and obeyed the gods, but over time, many forgot. Through my father, they spoke to the Chief, and to these people, to remind them."
"Remind them of what?"
"That we are their children, and must obey them. We must bring the rest home."
"Or kill them? Rape them?", Log Pusher demanded. Sees More gave him a look, and a quick head-shake, but Grasshopper translated his words to the priest.
"Some are too old to learn, and sometimes their children become overly excited. The Father and Mother made them as they are, and all that happens is by their will. We can't fathom their wisdom, but they do nothing without purpose."
Spinner turned away to hide his face from the priest, looking at Log Pusher himself. I agree.
The rest of the leaders wore neutral expressions (Spinner was impressed. He knew they were all shared his outrage).
"Stop translating.", he said to Grasshopper. Then, to Sees More Goes Alone:
"Explain this to me."
The brothers glanced at eachother, then Sees More cleared his throat:
"His father made this up as a way to gain power, and maybe love. He couldn't say he was a god, so he said he spoke for the gods."
"He's not insane.", Goes Alone added. "He's just sticking to the lie. He doesn't know we know about their warriors...probably thinks they'll come back and kill us, if he can stay alive long enough."
Spinner looked back at Grasshopper. "Does this...whatever it is...work on anybody?"
The boy shrugged. "The younger children. We told them different, but now this asshole has them reporting who said what to them. The ones you saw being untied? There are more who were tortured and killed for heresy. Some pretend to go along. I tried, for awhile, but couldn't help myself..."
"Another of those words! Don't tell me: 'Heresy' is disagreeing with him."
One corner of Grasshopper's mouth turned up: "Close enough."
Spinner returned to his interrogation of the priest, and the other leaders asked questions, as well.
After he felt they had learned all they could from this man, Spinner looked at Log Pusher, who stood behind the priest, and barely nodded.
Log Pusher, smiling, reached one hand to the point of the priest's chin, put the other on the back of his head, and snapped his neck.
The leaders looked around as he fell in a boneless heap.
Most of the former slaves were glad, but some appeared conflicted, or shocked, or even angry.
"This isn't over yet.", Goes Alone said.
Spinner gave him a look, and Goes Alone sighed.
"As you know already, this is a disease. Most of the children are infected. They worshipped this priest, and no doubt believed the trash he taught them."
Spinner snapped his head down in an angry nod. "Some of their parents were belivers too. I can't just kill them, let alone these children."
Goes Alone said nothing. Unlike his older brother, he was reluctant to offer comments unless it was important-nor was he as close to the Chief as Sees More was.
Spinner glared at Goes Alone, implicitly demanding more.
Goes Alone sighed heavily, shaking his head slightly. "I'm not Sees More, but I can see what you see:
"'Infection' is the right word. Now there are 'gods', and those who speak for them. There are always those like this priest, and his apprentice Squirral, who will do what this priest did, and Chiefs who will them to justify their authority, and whatever they do as the will of gods."
Spinner brooded, while Goes Alone waited (uncomfortably).
"I'm sorry, my friend", he said at length, touching the younger man's shoulder, and smiling. "We'll focus on killing the rest of them for now, and deal with this 'infection' after we're safe.
"Send a scout to the Wolf Camp to update them, and tell them to stay where they are."---
Spinner continued giving orders to Goes Alone and several other lieutenants until he was satisfied, and could finally sleep.
But he couldn't sleep.
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