Stone of Tears

The next room was much the same as the first, minus the pipe smoke. They led on through a sequence of rooms, each bare of decoration except for a few carpets scattered about. The men finally squatted beside a last covered passageway, planted the butts of their spears, and with a hand on them for support leaned toward him. They all shared the same cunning smiles.

“Careful now, lad. Don’t be too anxious. Keep your head about yourself, and you’ll have yourself a time with this savage.”

They chuckled again with the private joke as they pushed the hanging aside and went through. Inside, the small, square room had a bare dirt floor. The ceiling was at least three stories high. A window near the top of one wall cast the small room in dim light. The place smelled of the chamber pot off to the side.

Crouched to the far left was a naked woman. She tried to push herself farther into the corner when she saw the men. Arms around her knees, she pulled them tight to herself.

She was covered with dirty marks and smears, cuts and bruises. Her mass of long, tangled, black hair frizzed out, framing her filthy face. Her dark eyes narrowed with loathing as she watched the four men. By their leering smiles, she had cause to know them.

Around her neck was a thick iron collar connected by heavy chain to a massive pin in the wall.

The men spread out around the room, squatted, and leaned their backs against the walls. Their fists held their spears upright between their knees. Richard imitated them, squatting and leaning against the wall to the woman’s right.

“I wish to speak with the spirits,” Richard said. The four men blinked at him. “I must ask them how they wish it done.”

There is only one way to do it,” the man with the missing tooth said. “You must cut off her head. Now that the iron collar is around her neck, it’s the only way to get her out. Her head must be separated from her body.”

“Even so, it must be done in the manner the spirits wish. I must talk with them. I must know exactly how to do this… to please them.”

They all considered this. The man with the missing tooth pushed his cheek out with his tongue as he pondered. Finally he brightened. The Queen Mother and her women drink juka to speak with the spirits. I could bring you some juka, and then you, too, could speak with the spirits.”

Then bring me this juka, so I may speak with the spirits and do as they command. I would not want to make a mistake, and ruin your planting sacrifice.”

The men agreed that this was a wise request, considering that Richard was to make the sacrifice himself instead of simply blessing it. One of the men hurried off.

The other three waited in silence, again leering at the woman. She moved her feet closer together to cover herself as she squatted in the corner, and glowered back.

One man pulled a thin-stemmed pipe and a long splinter from a pocket. He lit the splinter in the flame of the lamp, and used it to light his pipe. He puffed as he watched the woman, eyeing her in an intimate way. Her chin held defiantly up, the woman glared back. The smoke drifted up into the dim air as his steady puffing quickened.

Richard crouched, leaning against the wall, with his arms folded across his lap so as to partially hide his right hand draped nonchalantly near the hilt of his sword. The fourth man finally came back, carrying a round clay pot in both hands. The pot had a small opening in the top and white symbols painted around the sides.

The Queen Mother and her women agreed, and sent this juka so you may call the spirits. When you drink this, the spirits will visit you.” He set the pot in front of Richard and then, pulling a knife from his belt, held the green malachite handle out to him. It was carved with figures in obscene poses. This is the sacred knife, to be used in the sacrifice.” When Richard took the knife and slid the stout blade behind his belt, the man joined his fellows squatting against the walls.

The man closest to the woman, on the other side, seemed pleased that the Queen Mother had sent the juka. He gave Richard a knowing wink. Then he lifted his spearpoint to the woman’s face.

The magic man has come to offer you to the spirits.” He smiled encouragement past her, to Richard. “But first, he would like to give you the spirits” gift of his seed.” She didn’t move. His smile transformed into a sneer as he thumped the butt of his spear to the dirt. “do not insult the spirits! You will take their offering!” His voice lowered to a growl. “Now.”

Her eyes never leaving him, she uncoiled herself and obediently lay down on the dirt, on her back. She opened her legs and cast Richard a defiant glance. She obviously knew the consequence of denying these men what they wished.

The man sprang forward and stabbed his spear into her thigh muscle. She screamed out and flinched back.

“You know better than that! You will not insult us! We are not stupid!” He feigned another jab. “do it properly!”