The Mantooth by Christopher Leadem
William was stunned, the knife sent flying from his hand. For all thehardships of his life, he had never before faced the merciless onslaughtof an animal defending its own. Blows rained upon like a landslide, andhe knew that his death was at hand. He backed away in desperation,crawling on his elbows, pushing with his legs.
But Kalus was already on his feet, the sword seething from its scabbard.He lofted it high above his head, both hands hard on the hilt, as hiseyes chose the place that he would strike, a thundering blow to cut hisenemy in two.
But then time stood still.
*
Time stood still.
Kalus looked into the face of the man he was prepared to kill. Ahideous change had come over it. His heart wrenched inside him, and theblow never fell. Sylviana gasped as well, and struggled for the breathto plead mercy. But there was no need, as both finally understood thewords of the Spirit.
There before him, where a human form had been, lay the contorted figureof a demon, a face twisted and insane. A man possessed. But not bysome Bible-black devil, or mythological spirit of Evil. By the morereal, the more horrible.
The demon, the reality, of Fear.
Slowly Kalus lowered his sword, sick with pity and remorse, as Sylvianahid her face against the stone.
More slowly still, some semblance of its original shape returned to thered terror of William's face. And as terrible to him as his owncountenance had been to Kalus, were the words that his enemy now spoke,who should have killed him.
'Forgive me,' said the man-child sorrowfully. 'I didn'tunderstand.'
As if struck by a hammer, William fell back. Something inside him triedto laugh, but was drowned instead by anguished tears, and a groan ofpain that twisted his soul like a rag. The terrible voice continued asthe cub, knowing nothing yet of hatred and violence, but only aninstinctive compassion, came closer and licked his face.
'I knew only that you had lost your woman. I did not know how deeplyyou loved her, or what it had done to you..... We will leave you now,because you need to be alone.'
Then Kalus drew a breath, remembering hard reality.
'It is only possible for a natural man to forgive, when his enemy canno longer hurt those entrusted to his care. I cannot let you close tomy loved ones, and if you ever again try to hurt them, I will kill youwithout pity or remorse. But I see now your pain and sickness, and Iwill ask the others to help you if they can.'
And the fallen man hid his face in shame.
Sylviana, who had risen, moved now toward her beloved mate. She stoodbeside him, looking down, silently begging forgiveness. But his touch,the way his arms enfolder her, told her there was no need, saideverything that must be said. Three words only remained, and she spokethem with all her heart.
'I love you.'
Chapter 48
Together the weary lovers walked across the wounded landscape to thesea. Reaching its margins, Kalus drew out the remaining peyote buttons.The two exchanged glances, and both understood.
'You have been both a teacher and a killer,' he said. 'But Ihave no further need of you, nor would I ask another to follow down yourdark and treacherous path.' And he threw them into the sea. Thentogether they knelt in the cool and cleansing waters, and washed thesins from their hands.
Then returning to the narrow stretch of sand, the woman-child lay back.She lay very still, and listened to the stories told by the waves,touching them all, and hiding from none. Until all that remained wasthe sun behind, the sea before, and the man she loved beside her. Shestood up and embraced him, and her soul was restored to her.
And together they returned slowly to the colony, as Alaska strode besidethem, thinking of Akar, and of the wild woods of youth. As Avatar ranfree, and the unborn life inside Kataya continued to grow.
*
And so one chapter ended, even as another began, as it always has been,and always will be. The only question left before a man, as before Manhimself:
Will he be a part of that tale?
The End
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