"This is bad idea." Inez repeated for the fifth time.
She did so every time she looked to the sky and saw the sun inching closer towards the western horizon. The warm July heat was waning and soon the cool of nightfall would be upon them. Inez did not relish being out in the wilderness after sunset. The Territory was a dangerous place at the best of times but for two women on their own; Inez shuddered to think what could happen. Suddenly, she wished Buck and the others were here.
Good lord, she must have been afraid to wish for Buck.
"You said that already." Mary said wearily, shaking her head in resignation that she would have to put up with this until they turned back to Four Corners. Considering she had no intention of doing so, this was going to be a long trip to find the Medicine Man.
"I know I did," Inez repeated hotly. "But this time I really mean it. This is a bad idea. In fact, of all the ideas you have today, this one could be considered the very worst."
"Inez," Mary said taking the same tone of voice that she used with Billy when he was arguing with her over the necessity of eating his vegetables or washing up before supper. "I’ll just go and see if anyone is there, ask a few questions and we’ll get going. I swear."
Inez looked at her skeptically. "You said that when we went to see Doctor Wetherill."
Unfortunately, Mary could do little to convince her otherwise. As their journey progressed, leaving behind the lush plains of farming land to a dry, dusty terrain with crags of rock instead of loamy soil beneath Homer’s hooves, Mary started to think that perhaps this was not such a good idea after all. She began to realize that it was unlikely that they would make it back to Four Corners before dark and she did not want to think of what await her when she got there.
He is going to be so mad at her.
She could just imagine all the things he would say to her while wearing that superior look of indifference on his face, even though they both knew just how much he cared for her. Mary was not blind to his affection and she knew that someday her own feelings with Chris Larabee would have to be addressed. However, he had this idea she ought to listen to his every word like the rest of the seven and that was a situation Mary was never going to accept. Still, it felt nice to know she had the same power to drive him crazy that he often did to her.
In any case, despite her reservations about continuing their journey, Mary said nothing to Inez. The bartender had opted to fume silently beside her but as of yet had not demanded that they turned back. For all of Inez’s complaints, Mary was starting to suspect that there was a reluctant curiosity on her best friend’s part that wanted to know the secrets behind the amulet as much as she needed to solve its mystery.
*****
"His name is Wetherill." Chris replied as Vin, Buck and Ezra rode out of town towards Doctor Wetherill’s estate. It had required some hours in Mary’s files to find the information but Chris knew she must had it somewhere to know the man was an archaeologist. Considering the amount of disarray her office was in after her unexpected guests the night before, Chris did not think she would mind if he went through them in search of the elusive Doctor Wetherill.
"You think Mary went to see him?" Buck asked gingerly. He could tell that Chris was still furious Mary and Inez had taken off without the benefit of an escort or telling anyone for that matter. Chris was quiet at the best of times but he was in the filthy mood usually reserved for severe hangovers or when he was confronted with questions about Sarah and Adam.
"She mentioned him when we were talking to Kojay." Chris said quietly. The Wetherill farm was at least two hours ride away but it was not soon enough for Chris. There was no telling how much jeopardy Mary was capable of placing herself, whenever she suffered this reckless streak of hers.
"I still cannot believe Inez was convinced to accompany Mrs. Travis on such an ill-advised course of action." Ezra found himself saying. Normally, Inez was one of the most responsible people he had ever known. If it were not for the woman, Ezra was certain the saloon would have fallen to pieces long ago.
"They’re strong women." Vin remarked.
"Stubborn is more like it." Buck retorted. "The last time they got together, they burned down that old house on the hill. It’s the whole independence thing, you know. Lady bartenders and newswomen, they’re coming out of the woodwork. Next thing you know, women will be taking over everything and they’ll only need us for the breeding."
The others said nothing and merely stared at him for a moment.
"What?" Buck exclaimed.
Vin turned to Chris. "You had to bring him?”
*****
It was sobering to remember most of the west was occupied long before the arrival of the wagon trains. The remnants of the previous culture still remained, negated perhaps by untenable relationship of the old inhabitants and the new settlers. Much was destroyed because of the lack of understanding. Tribes were wiped out by greedy land barons and ancient structures demolished to prepare the land for homesteading. However, a new consciousness was rising in the west, one that had nothing to do with its violent past or its rugged existence. Preservation was becoming the topic of the day and across the Territory, ancient relics were being found and restored.
As Inez and Mary approached the wall of rock before them, they could hear the rushing of a river not far away. The presence of green was hard to detect in this terrain of mostly rock and craggy layers of sedimentary soil. However, the cliff had been home to a race once and while whoever they had been was lost to the ages but their city still remained, carved from stone. With the setting sun behind them, the ancient city seemed eerie. Mary tried to picture the people who lived in those carved rooms and peered out their windows into a landscape untouched by any other. She felt sad knowing they were all gone.
"It doesn’t look like anyone is around." Inez remarked.
Mary had to agree. The ruins seemed deserted and the only sounds to be heard where the nocturnal animals making their first tentative appearance for the evening. Mary pulled the wagon to a halt near a set of uneven stairs that led to a walkway that would take them to the heart of the abandoned city.
"I’m just going to take a quick look." Mary said to Inez as she proceeded up the degrading steps.
Inez was just as fascinated but she was not about to admit it. She had seen Aztec structures in Mexico but nothing quite like this. Despite herself, she felt a rising curiosity and wondered if she was starting to become influenced by Mary’s insanity. "I’ll come with you."
"Can you believe how much time it would have taken to carve this city?" Mary exclaimed as she observed the intricacy of the carving. She tried to imagine artisans and engineers hard at work, creating a city from an enormous slab of mountain.
"Well," Inez remarked. "Let’s get it over with and get going." She looked up and saw the blanket of twilight trailing the amber sunset closely. "It’s going to be dark soon."
"Inez, I sometimes think you lack a sense of adventure." Mary retorted as they reached the top of the steps and ambled along the path that appeared to be the main walkway through the city.
"I have all the adventure I need thanks to you." She smiled at Mary sarcastically. "I just hope we don’t burn this place down too."
Mary paused and gave Inez a weary look. "Are you ever going to let me forget about that?"
"No."
"I didn’t think so." Mary sighed remembering that incident well, not to mention the day after. "Think of this way, at least we’re not drunk this time."
"That’s right," Inez nodded and another thought came to her. "I don’t think I can handle Buck’s sure fire remedy for hangovers."
Mary paused and stared at her sharply. "You mean you had the vile concoction too?"
"Yes," Inez wrinkled her nose in disgust, memories of that awful experience stabbing at her even now. "I was throwing up all day."
"That bastard!" Mary exclaimed with sudden realization. "He gave me the stuff and he knew!"
Inez did not even bothered to ask. "So tell me," Inez replied. "At what point are you two going to stop dancing around each other?"
Mary knew precisely what she meant of course because this conversation was an old one. Fortunately, she had the perfect rebuttal for Inez. "Oh about the same time you admit that you don’t hate Buck as much you say you do."
Inez fell silent and considered the question. "Let’s change the subject."
It was Mary’s turned to smile. "What a nice idea."
Suddenly, Mary saw someone emerge from the darkness of one of the crumbling doorways. He stepped out of the opening just as another emerged from a window behind them. Their appearance signaled the emergence of others and she heard Homer neighing in protest from the ground below. Looking down, she saw that there had been men hiding behind the cover of rocks and shrubs, having waited until she and Inez had left the wagon far behind before springing their obvious trap.
Without even seeing the tattoos, Mary knew they were worshippers of the staring eyes. Trapped on the narrow walkway, unable to go backward or forward, Mary met Inez’s gaze with an expression of futility.
"Mrs. Travis." The man in front of her stated. He was an Indian in his late thirties, who wore his hair long with an angry red bandanna tried across his forehead. It was the long blade tucked in his belt that Mary noticed most. "We have been waiting for you."
"What do you want?" Mary asked trying to display the bravery she did not feel at those ominous words.
"Where is it?" He asked as the others moved quickly to surround them. One of them was leading Homer away and Mary felt her heart sink as she saw her trusted horse disappearing beyond her line of sight. Mary instinctively reached for her pocket, knowing it was a mistake even before she did it. Immediately, the man stepped forward and Mary backed away, refusing to allow him to touch her. However, the man was not about to be denied of his price. He grabbed a handful of Mary’s hair and yanked her forward viciously.
"Let her go!" Mary saw Inez stepped forward to help her only to be restrained by the men behind her, when one of them slipped an arm around her throat and held her in place.
"Give it to me!" He demanded viciously, leaving no doubt in Mary’s mind what their fate would be if she refused.
Swallowing hard, Mary ignored his grip on her and fumbled for the amulet, hidden in the pocket within the folds of her skirt. She removed it almost hesitantly and the moment it saw the light of day, the man snatched it out of her hands. He regarded it almost lovingly, which only served to fuel Mary’s fear as to what was going to be done with herself and Inez now that they had what they wanted.
"You have the amulet," she said nervously. "Please, let us go."
He looked up at her reluctantly drawing his gaze away from the artefact, as if her voice was an annoyance to be endured. Ignoring her question, he raised the amulet in the air for all to see. "It is time for Uktena!" He cried out. "It is time for a new beginning!" There was a gleam of maniacal fervor in his eyes that served only to terrify Mary and Inez.
They started chanting Uktena’s name loudly, as if the amulet empowered them to realize some religious fantasy.
"Let us go!" Mary cried out, demanding attention. The fear was starting to overcome her ability to think straight and now more than ever she wished she had not been so reckless in her decision to come here alone.
The man glared at her with bald hatred in his eyes. Something in his manner told her that his rage was not generalized but aimed at her personally. "We must endure your presence but not hers!" He said savagely and nodded to the man holding Inez.
Mary’s eyes widened in horror as she saw the Indian holding Inez removed a Bowie knife from his belt and raised it to her neck.
"Please don’t!" Mary implored the leader, trying to think of some way to help Inez before it was too late. Inez didn’t struggle but the terror in her eyes was apparent. Inez was too willful to allow their captors the satisfaction of hearing her beg for her life.
"You said you must endure my presence!" Mary exclaimed, clutching at straws but unwilling to give up without a fight, no matter how desperate the situation. "That means you need me to co-operate! If you kill her, I will not help you, no matter what!"
"We do not require your consent for our ritual!" The leader sneered and nodded to his minion to continue. Mary saw Inez close her eyes tight, for she did not want to see the blade slicing her life away.
"You are performing a ritual!" Mary shouted, sounding as forceful as sure of herself as she was capable of acting. "Rituals require everything fall into place without deviation. You need me for your ritual and if I do not co-operate then it might harm your chances of bringing Uktena’s world into This World!"
The possibility of failure caused him to hesitate and he paused a moment. Mary saw uncertainty creep into his eyes and held her breath as the millisecond ticked by as he weighed her words carefully. Finally, after an eternity, he barked Indian dialect at Inez’s would be killer. The blade dropped from Inez’s throat and Mary was finally able to draw breath knowing that Inez’s life would be spared, for the moment at least.
"You will come with us." He let go Mary’s hair and took her arm instead. "You must be prepared for the ceremony."
"I will go with you willingly," Mary said bravely. "As long as my friend is safe."
"She will not be harmed," he said pulling her into one of the dark doorways, "for now."
Chris had one of those feelings.
He could not explain it but over the years, he had come to trust his instinct implicitly. He was not a man who put faith in things unseen. Logical, direct action saved his life on more occasions than he could possibly remember. However, on the rare moments when he had entrusted his life to nothing more than pure gut instinct, Chris Larabee was not disappointed.
With Vin, Buck and Ezra, Chris found himself facing Doctor Isaac Wetherill, who was more than cordial. The archaeologist had been happy to allow them access to his home and answered their questions more than amiably, but Chris could not shake the feeling the good doctor was hiding something from him.
"I spoke to Mrs. Travis," Wetherill answered without any trace of duplicity in his voice. "She inquired about the object and I told her what I knew. She and the other charming young lady thanked me and left."
"Did she say where she headed?" Vin asked. It was normal strategy for Vin to ask the questions while Chris observed closely.
"No," Wetherill replied, looking Vin straight in the eyes as he answered all questions. Chris noticed his gaze did not waver for one moment. "I assumed she was returning to Four Corners."
"Why would assume that?" Vin pressed further.
"It was starting to get late in the day gentlemen," Wetherill responded, well aware of the scrutiny that he was being placed under by these gunslingers. "Two women travelling alone, where else would they go but home?"
"We did not come across the ladies on our journey here." Ezra offered, feeling the same tightness in his chest that Chris did. Like Chris, he had his own methods of reading people and his instincts told him this man was a liar. Ezra had seen enough of them in his lifetime and was practiced enough in the art himself to detect it in others.
"I’m sorry gentlemen," Wetherill concluded. "I cannot help you beyond that."
Vin shifted his gaze towards Chris, to see if their leader had any more to add but Chris said nothing to indicate otherwise. Instead, he watched Wetherill with those intense blue eyes, no doubt cataloguing everything about the man for use later on.
"Well thank you, Doctor Wetherill," Buck replied, realizing they were being told politely to leave. "We appreciate all the help you’ve given us."
"I am sorry I could not assist you with the ladies whereabouts," Wetherill said extending his hand towards Buck in a friendly handshake. Buck took it without question but he could sense the tension in the air even if none of his companions had spoken it out loud.
The four men were shown out of the large house and no one spoke until they were on their horses and riding towards the main gate. Only when the homestead was a suitable distance behind them did the lawmen choose to comment on their meeting with Doctor Wetherill.
"He was lying," Vin said with utter conviction.
"I agree." Ezra nodded. "He had something to hide."
"The question is, what?" Buck asked because he had seen it too. Wetherill’s answers had been too perfect, almost rehearsed. There was more than a hint of performance behind the concerned persona he was attempting to promote.
"He knows where Mary and Inez are." Chris stated quietly, his eyes staring ahead. "Not only does he know where they are but he was mighty anxious to get us out of there." Despite the man’s polite concern, Chris had observed his subtle attempts to steer their attention toward Four Corners and then the repeated affirmations of sorrow at his uselessness to them. He had wanted them gone and quickly.
"He wanted us out of there so he could get going himself," Chris replied, meeting the other’s eyes. It was a look the others knew well and had learnt through experience not to argue with. "The question is where he off to is in such a hurry?"
The answer was obvious.
*****
The room was dark because the sun had set completely now.
Inez had no knowledge as to where Mary was taken only that they had some dark purposes intended for the widow in their ancient ritual. In her heart, she feared greatly for Mary, praying to her own gods that the ritual did not require the spilling of blood. Inez had not forgotten how Mary had stood up to the worshippers in her desperate bid to save Inez’s life. Inez intended to return the favor somehow.
The worshippers had little concern for her life, knowing she lived only because Mary would not co-operate if she were harmed. She was deposited in this dark room; illuminated by whatever light the moon was casting tonight. She could not see its walls and the wooden doors in place were more recent additions to the ancient structure. Inez remained confined and alone, listening in dark to the voices fading into the distance outside her door. She could hear the river nearby and wondered if there were settlements along the banks that might be able to help her if she actually managed to escape.
She waited for as long as she dared until she heard no further movement in the rough corridors beyond her cell. When Inez was confident it was safe to move around, she starting working on the ropes tied behind her back. It was difficult to see anything in the dim light but Inez could see shapes in the darkness.
Standing to her feet awkwardly, she stepped forward, hoping to find a tool or some sharp edge, which she could cut the ropes around her wrists. The room was filled with the overpowering aroma of musty air and each breath she took seemed to make its stagnancy more potent. She drew close to the shapes against the wall, suddenly wondering what they were. Ominous suspicions started to emerge in her mind as they began to take more tangible form and by the time she found herself staring at the face of the first mummified corpse, Inez was so horrified, she thought her heart might burst.
She staggered back in repulsed terror, straight into another body behind her. The decrepit carcasses fell forward against her back and caused her to let out a choked scream as she scrambled away. The corpse fell against the gravel floor, crumbling to pieces from the impact. The movement seemed to cause a chain reaction and the sudden stirring of one quickly led to the collapse of the others.
Inez bit down, forcing herself to remain silent as the macabre scene unfolded before her. She could not afford to scream and draw attention to herself. Quashing the sickness threatening to make her retch, Inez swallowed the rising bile in her throat and concentrated on freeing her bonds. Obviously, she was in a burial chamber of sorts and she recalled something of what Doctor Wetherill had said about such chambers. The dead were usually buried with personal items.
Gingerly, she waded through the broken bodies; trying not to breathe in too deeply for some of the dust was undoubtedly human remains. Studying the irregular shapes in the dark carefully, Inez located what she was searching for. She saw the silhouette of earthenware pots and saucers, objects of affection to the dead assembled. Inez walked to the collection and delivered a powerful kick that hurled the object against the nearby wall. It shattered completely into a dozen sharp pieces.
Bending over carefully, Inez picked up one of the pieces and manipulated its sharp edge against the ropes until she felt strands beginning to snap. There was pain when the swipes missed and she felt cuts against her skin. Like her previous fears, she forced this one away too, knowing that the pain had to be endured for the task to be done. Inez was conscious of everything, the pain in her bleeding wrists, the snapping freedom of each cut strand of Hessian and finally the silence that ensured there would be no unexpected arrivals before she was done.
When the last strand finally split, her arms came free suddenly and the shard flew out of her hands into the darkness. Inez rubbed her sore wrists and ignored the slick feel of blood against her skin. She stepped lightly on her toes and went to the door. It was locked but after a few forceful pushes, the lock broke free from the wall of dried mud. Time had degraded its texture and much of it crumbled upon touch. Inez estimated it would not take a lot of strength to collapse some of the walls. In either case, she had neither the inclination nor the time to try.
Somehow, Inez had to find Mary.
*****
Mary Travis was trapped in between the unreality of her situation and the fear that was threatening to chase all sense from her mind. After they had taken Inez away, despite her vehement protest, Mary was escorted to a strange room inside the catacombs of the dead city. Unlike the others, it had to be reached through a set of stairs built inside the structure as opposed to its outer perimeter like the one she and Inez had ascended to become trapped so completely. Her mind was still reeling by her capture. She could not understand how they had known she was coming here and Mary wondered if it was just an unlucky coincidence she should walk into straight into their hands.
Or had Wetherill sent her here?
Her mind wrapped itself around the possibility and the more she thought about it, the more sense it made. When the realization became the undoubted truth in her mind, Mary cursed herself at her own foolishness because it was not just her life she gambled with. She dragged Inez into this mess and if anything should happen to her, how would it affect her son? Suddenly, the thought of Billy alone with both parents gone gave Mary the strength to center her frantic thoughts. She had to survive for his sake.
There was no doubt in her mind that this new room was the site of the ceremony although how it would be performed was beyond her understanding. Its shape was circular, reminding Mary of some Apache rituals she had chanced to witness some years before. A ring of stones sat in the middle of the floor and those performing the ritual wore colorful masks with animal faces. They paid very little attention to her for the moment other than making certain she did not attempt to escape.
There was no door to the room, except a flap of animal leather hanging in a place of one at the entranceways. Mary watched in a mixture of fear and fascination as they began building a fire in the center of the room, within the circle of stones. She noticed they used wet wood that began to smoke almost immediately after being lit. Clouds of billowing, grey smoke started to fill the room.
One of the worshippers was assigned to tend the fire while the others sat down in a circle. She was positioned directly in front of the blazing fire and for a moment, Mary had terrible suspicions to her part in the ceremony. The smoke began to press against the walls until it felt as if there was a fog in the room. Her eyes began to burn as the smoke reached her lung. Mary tried not to cough and around her, the worshippers had begun chanting in a language she could not understand.
Her fear started to rise when suddenly, one of them appeared. His mask was black and their designs clearly birdlike, she thought it might have been a crow or perhaps a raven. Its features were marked in strong white lines. Without hearing him speak, Mary knew it was the man who had taken the amulet away from her. No sooner than the thought had crossed her mind, he produced the object and reached for her. Mary shrank away instinctively but he grabbed her hand forcefully and forced her palm open.
"Take it!" He ordered. "Or your friend dies."
The image of Inez with a knife to her throat suddenly forced Mary to remember the bargain she had made with these men. She had given her word to willingly help them with their arcane ritual in return for Inez’s safety. Until she thought of a way to extricate herself from this situation, Mary was unwilling to gamble with her friend’s life. For better or for worse, she would have to keep her promise to them.
Desisting in her struggle, Mary took a deep breath and nodded in submission as the raven mask placed the amulet in her hand, its eyes staring at her as it glowed with the reflection of flames dancing in its tiny orbs of blue.
It was time to shake the boundaries between the worlds.
Despite having to fight the overwhelming feeling that somewhere a clock was ticking against Mary Travis’ life; Chris Larabee forced himself to remain calm. The group remained well hidden behind the canopy of trees surrounding the Wetherill homestead, certain Doctor Isaac Wetherill had something to hide. Night hurtled by quickly and soon they were waiting in the darkness for Wetherill to make his appearance. However, the more time slipped by, their impatience began to set in. Particularly in Buck who had very little to spare at the best of times.
Buck shifted uncomfortably in his saddle, trying not to show the others his concern for Inez was deeper than he let on. When Don Paulo had come to Four Corners to claim her months before, Buck had appointed himself her protector, despite Inez’s protests. His friends believed his desire to fight the Don was borne out of some misplaced sense of honor while Chris had more or less accused him of feeding his vanity to restore his injured his pride. It was the closest the two friends had come to blows over any point in years.
The truth had always been closer to his heart than just a simple matter of pride.
What Buck told Inez about Don Paulo was no exaggeration. Over the years, Buck had come across men like Paulo. Men could only feel when they were allowed to vent the full brutality of their sadistic nature upon the women brazen enough to cross them. Inez was a force of nature. He had never known or encountered anything like her. She was everything wild and untamed. He looked into those fiery brown eyes and he saw rain clouds and thunderstorms. Her passions whirled like a tempest. In her presence he felt as trapped as any man caught in such a calamity. He feared what she represented but he was too awe struck to remove himself from her presence.
When he thought of the life Paulo had envisioned for Inez, it made Buck sick to his stomach. He could not imagine her living that nightmare, not when it was possible for him to deliver her from it. Buck did not know what came over him that day but he knew he would prefer death than let Paulo break that wild spirit he found so mesmerizing.
Even now, he was still as enchanted. There had been women before but the exception of Inez, he had yet to meet one he was not able to charm. It was not like he had not seen his share of beautiful women. He remembered them all clearly because they were all special in their own way. However, none of them held the place Inez did. Buck was starting to suspect, they never would.
He loved her. There was no doubt in his mind about that. However, admitting was another thing entirely. In that at least, Buck Wilmington and Chris Larabee had much in common.
"Mr. Wilmington," Ezra let out an impatient sigh. "Will you please stop fidgeting? I am becoming exhausted simply looking at you." While Ezra’s feelings for Inez was entirely different from Buck’s, they were no less potent. Since her arrival, the young woman had taken a place in his heart Ezra rarely gave anyone accommodation. She was a business partner but more importantly, she was his friend.
And Ezra did not have that many friends to squander.
"I wish this guy would quit stalling!" Buck hissed back in irritation. "This waiting is making me crazy. Anything could have happened to Inez and Mrs. Travis by now."
Only Vin noticed Chris’s fingers tightening slowly around the reins of his horse. While his expression remained dispassionate as always, Vin knew better. Beneath that impregnable armor he wore around his emotions, Chris Larabee was seething. He was just better at hiding than Buck. His eyes never moved off the myriad lights scattered around the Wetherill homestead because Mary’s life depended on his concentration. As long as Chris knew that staying in control would help Mary, Vin did not doubt he would stay just as alert even if it meant staying out here all night.
"Just calm down," Vin said it before Chris put it more curtly. "You’re spooking the horses."
"I can’t calm down." Buck retorted. "She could be in trouble or worse. The Territory is no place for women, not with all the varmints and outlaws out here! They’re both young and pretty, no man in his right mind is going turn down easy pickings like that…"
"Buck," Chris responded finally, his voice calm. He did not turn his eyes away from the watch but then Buck did not need to see his eyes to know just how serious he was. Chris had been listening to Buck even though he seemed indifferent, his own patience about to reach critical mass. "We need to stay frosty if we are going to find Inez and Mary. We let Wetherill slip past us, it’s over."
"Sorry Chris," Buck replied remembering that Chris had similar demons about Mary. "I just lost my head a little."
Before Chris could answer, he heard Ezra announce. "Heads up gentlemen, the bird is taking flight."
Chris looked up and saw a dark figure riding away from the homestead and knew immediately this was what they had spent most of the evening waiting. Vin, Buck and Ezra looked to him as always, waiting for him to take the lead. Chris said nothing as he watched Wetherill widen the gap between them. Chris allowed him enough distance to follow him discreetly. Despite the part of him that favored a little good old-fashioned torture to get his answers, Chris decided to take no chances. They would allow Wetherill to get where he was going.
If Mary and Inez were not at the end of that journey, then Doctor Wetherill was going to have a very bad evening.
"Let’s see where he goes," Chris said simply before digging his spurs into his horse and causing the creature to bolt forward. Without question, the others did the same and thundered after their leader praying silently that the women they cared for were still alive for them to find.
Otherwise, Doctor Wetherill was going to wish he were dead by the time Chris Larabee was done with him.
*****
After a while, the sound of drums beating was almost hypnotic.
As Inez moved through the dimly lit corridors carved from mud and dried clay, she heard the chanting from the bottom of the cliff where she and Mary unwittingly entered their trap. She peered through the occasional window and doorways, spying on what was transpiring outside. The voices, which had been distant before, were now loud and echoed through her consciousness like some primeval song designed to surface long forgotten memories of a primitive past.
The entire cult had emerged in anticipation of the ceremony Mary Travis was forced to participate. A bonfire was lit at the base of the cliff and the revelers, both men and women indulged in all manner of excesses. They chanted and danced to the rhythmic pounding of drums and called to the gods whom they hoped to resurrect on this warm night. The men’s bodies were painted in all sorts of bright colors while the women wore similar markings on their faces. Seeing the fervor in their eyes frightened Inez like nothing else she had witnessed so far. The insane belief the world would change tonight was not just some flight of fancy but a reality they would kill or die to ensure.
With all the worshippers engaged in their orgy below, Inez was grateful she was able to move around with some measure of freedom. She had no idea where Mary was nor did she have a weapon with which she could defend herself when her escape was discovered. She moved deeper into the maze of rooms and corridors carved into the cliff by the ancients of this land. It was almost comforting when she could no longer hear the celebration outside.
More than anything, she wished she could believe Buck and the others had miraculously learnt they were here and even now, were riding fast to reach them. In the end, however, such imaginings did little to improve her state of mind. She could not rely on him to save her again, as much as she would wish otherwise. This time, Inez was going to have to fend for herself.
The city was little more than a series of room to a dwelling interlocked by wide corridors throughout its expanse. The race that occupied this vast network of connecting homes was a close-knit community. Inez did not need to know anything about anthropology to understand the social structure of the ancient Mississippians were not unlike the tribal communities of the modern day Indians.
The corridors seemed endless and after a while, Inez hoped she was going around in circles while Mary was being treated to God only knew what during this mysterious ceremony. Her presence in the ceremony explained one thing for Inez. The two men who had broken into her house had not only desired to steal the amulet but they also intended to kidnap Mary as well. It explained why they had wasted time pursuing Mary instead of making good their own flight after being discovered.
Suddenly, Inez became aware of something else. While the noise from the festivities outside had faded into the background the deeper Inez penetrated the inner depths of the city; it was replaced with something far more reverent. She wondered if something had occurred outside to alter jovial atmosphere but after a moment of careful listening, Inez realized the fevered chanting she now hearing did not come from behind her was travelling through the catacombs from its inner depths.
It came to her with a flash of insight on what was transpiring. The cultists outside were celebrating the coming of the new dawn because their priests were at this instant performing the dark ceremony that would bring it about! Inez had little belief in the validity of the amulet’s power or its claim to transform the world into some nightmarish underworld. However, the worshippers believed it. Judging from the look of hatred they visited upon Mary Travis earlier, it was probably scalding effrontery the impetus that made the amulet work just happened to be a white woman. Inez had no doubt as to Mary’s fate once the ceremony was over and she was no longer required.
The chanting was becoming louder now and there was the faint odor of smoke in attendance. Inez thought the smoke might have originated from the torches hanging on the walls to light the caverns. However, she knew enough about fires and starting them to know there was something odd about its scent. It seemed thicker somehow. Nevertheless, her observation of the torches did give her an idea to a more immediate problem. Inez tore a strip of material from her skirt and wrapped it around her hand as she lifted one of them from the wall.
Reasonably armed, at least in her opinion, Inez moved stealthily up the passageway certain she would soon encounter a sentry guarding the ceremonial chamber. If the ritual was as important as she believed then there could be no interruptions. A guard had to be posted to ensure that was none. She rounded a corner and discovered a collection of dusty tools at the foot of an exposed chamber probably left behind from Wetherill’s excavation team years before. Upon closer inspection, Inez detected little that was very formidable. The closest thing to a weapon she could find was a spade but then decided this was hardly the time to be selective.
Inez continued her search, narrowing in on the chanting that was suddenly beginning to wane. It puzzled her its intensity should start to deteriorate even though she knew she was very close to it points of origin. Finally, Inez realized she only had to turn up one more corridor before she confronted with it. The smell of smoke intensified considerably and Inez forced the terrible combination of fire and Mary Travis out of her mind. This was not the time for such fears when she was already so nervous. She did not even dare risk peering over the edge less she was seen. As it was, she abandoned her torch further down because she did not want to give away her presence by the shadows cast by flickering flames.
Inez quietly picked up some large pieces of gravel. Clutching her spade in one hand, she took a deep breath and threw stones hard against the wall. They made enough of a skittering sound for Inez to hear footsteps advancing down the corridor seconds later to investigate. Steadying her racing pulse as the shadow of a man loomed on the wall opposite her; Inez swung the spade hard as he moved past her. The curve of metal caught him in the squarely in the stomach, causing him to double over in pain. Robbing of any chance to recover, Inez swung again and brought steel across his neck. There was a sickly snapping sound like elastic breaking before he fell forward with a thud.
It was a few seconds before Inez was able to breathe again. She waited with her pulse racing to see if he would rise again. When he did not, Inez wrestled with the possibility that he may have been trying to trick her into dropping her guard, by this false display. Finally, she braved prodding him with the handle of the spade. The fear pounding in her chest abated slightly when he did not move and she was grateful that he had been alone. Retrieving her torch, she rounded the corner and found herself staring at a chamber with a flap of animal hide hanging from its entranceway.
She was lucky so far but luck was not eternal and sooner or later, it would run out. She hoped it would happen after she freed Mary.
*****
Mary Travis could not understand what was going on.
When the ceremony began, she had expected to see all kinds of heathen practices being carried out before her. Terrible images of human sacrifices, cannibalism and the worst kind nonsense inspired by terrified pilgrims regarding the nature of North American Indian religion sprung to mind. Mary had always refused to believe such tales were true but as she sat in fearful anticipation about the dark ritual about to begin, she could not deny their presence in her mind.
However as the smoke billowed in such thick, grey swirls that it obscured the faces around her, Mary realized this ceremony was nothing at all like what she had envisioned. As it was, she was finding it extremely difficult to focus as the thickening smoke fed on the scant fresh air that still lingered in the chamber. She tried not to inhale too deeply but with each involuntary breath of smoke, Mary began to feel more disoriented than ever. The room was spinning around and she felt a sickening wave of nausea in her stomach.
She tried to see the others around her and realized that they too were suffering the same ill effects from the lack of oxygen. Mary’s face was wet with tears because the noxious smoke was stinging her eyes badly. However, she was still aware of the raven mask close by. She could feel his hand pressing hers into a clenched fist until the amulet contained within her palm tore into her skin and a slick warmth that could only be blood, oozed from her broken flesh.
"What do you want me to do?" She demanded before descending into a violent fit of coughing. What faces she could see through the fog appeared to be doing the same and the purpose of this mass poisoning eluded her. With a sudden burst of panic, she wondered if the completion of the ritual required all of them dying. "I don’t understand!"
"Breathe!" The Raven mask ordered viciously.
"I can’t!" Mary cried out, barely able to force the words out her mouth before started coughing again. It was becoming harder to breathe and even more so, keeping conscious.
"Breathe it in!" He repeated oblivious to her physical state.
"No!" She exclaimed, trying to stand.
"Your friend will die!" He reminded her coldly and yanked her back to the ground. Mary felt down hard and felt the despair of knowing he was right. She could not renege on her word to them, not while they held Inez’s life over her head. Mary took some comfort in knowing that she would be of little use to them in her current state, let alone be in any shape to complete their damn ritual. The disorientation she felt was beyond control now because the room was little more than a blur of smoke and faces. She could no longer distinguish where the floor began and where the ceiling ended. Even the pain in her hand had become a faraway ache that dulled further with each lungful of smoke she inhaled.
Mary finally succumbed to the dark fog poisoning her brain as she began to suffocate.
*****
Mary Travis was dreaming.
The prevailing blackness enveloped her world appeared with such abruptness her initial realization of self, sent her spiraling into panic. Scrambling against the walls enclosed her like a tomb, she felt the stark fear of not being able to see ahead and having little room to turn around and see behind her. The biting cold tore through her bare skin and it was with a surge of terror she realized she was naked. The iciness in the air was unlike anything she had ever known and could only be described with the cold that came with dread.
Jagged rocks cut her hands as she began to crawl. An instinct previously absent now compelled her forward despite the ache in her tired and bruised limbs. Suddenly the struggle to be going became paramount in her consciousness. She no longer strained to see ahead but because the black promised her nothing, except the miseries of what she had left behind. She could hear the black calling to her, their voices caressing her skin like the soft, gentle whispers of a forgotten lover. It sang a siren song with the promises of delights upon her return. She knew not how or why but she knew their promises were lies and they were deceivers all of them.
After a while, she could not remember when this journey had begun. Her mind drew blank as she searched its walled recesses to unlock that knowledge. Time cease to have any meaning if it even existed in this place. The only thing she did understand in this place of shadows the absolute need to complete the journey before her. What lay in between was unimportant for the middle is always a neglected child. The need to touch the end, to ignore all distractions no matter how enchanting, was more powerful an instinct than she had ever known. Even death had no meaning unless the journey was done.
The journey was everything.
A familiar pinprick of white appeared before her eyes. At first, she was unable to recognize what it was for light did not exist where she had been. Yet in seeing it for the first time, filled her weary soul with warmth capable of dispelling the frightful shadows around her. Seeing it made her crawl faster, even though her knees were screaming in protest and her hands were torn and bleeding. All that mattered now was reaching the light.
REST.
A voice seared through her consciousness, slicing cleanly through the thoughts that compelled her forward. She paused a moment, knowing this was not the same voices that had tried to sway her from her course as they tried to coax her with their empty promises. She had not listened to them and she would not listen to this one either.
However, it did not take very long for her to realize that this voice was different. She felt its power seducing her with each dulcet tone of utterance. It affected her as fiercely as the passion to continue ahead. For the first time, she wondered if rest was indeed permissible. She was so very tired and the idea of closing her eyes to slumber in the cool was terribly inviting. Her mind was becoming cloudy and she quickly forced away the notion, focusing instead on the path once again. Despite the insatiable need to continue, the promise of sleep made her sluggish and had broken the back of determination that brought her this far.
IT WILL STILL BE THERE EVEN IF YOU REST.
Who was speaking to her? She asked herself as she forced herself to move despite its seductive words. A tiny kernel of fear was working its way to full-blown terror once more. On the periphery, she sensed it was waiting for her, she was no longer alone in the darkness. It should have pleased her knowing she had company for this had been a most lonely journey but it did not. Instead, she was filled with terrible images of things slithering in the black, things with rippling scales and glistening sharp teeth. She wondered if it was her imagination when she thought she felt its breath against her back.
Go away, she says unable to see the stranger but knowing with certainty now that it was here with her.
REST AND SLEEP. THE JOURNEY CAN WAIT WHILE YOU SLUMBER. THERE IS NO HURRY.
But there was. She could feel the urgency in her bones, could taste the necessity of speed in her mouth. Its salt was heavy and relentless and with the arrival of the stranger, had become frantic. There was danger in its soft caressing voice and its promises of sleep. With a flash of insight, she realized that she was being delayed.
You are trying to stop me, she cried out defiantly.
YOU WILL NOT COMPLETE THE JOURNEY. I WILL NOT ALLOW IT.
The smooth comforting voice had all but disappeared now. It slithered away into the dark like its unseen face. Its voice had become sinister, with the edge of concealed malevolence all but overcoming her. She crawled faster and faster, until the pinprick of light became a distant strobe urging her own like a mother urging her child to make its first steps. The pain in her hands was making her cry. Hot tears stung her cheeks as she pushed forward. She had to finish the journey, she had to reach the light!
FOOLISH. FOOLISH. FOOLISH.
The pain struck without warning. It slammed into her with such force that all thoughts of the journey was forced away from her mind. Slivers of white heat burnt through her hand until all she was aware of was the excruciating agony tearing her asunder. She did not know she had been screaming until her throat became hoarse and her vocal cords felt like knots of leather.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW?
His voice was mocking her. She could hear his laughter in her agony. The pain was all-encompassing now as she rolled onto her side, clutching the hand that was the source of so much exquisite pain. She wept in the darkness, unable to fight it and knowing in her inability to do so she was failing a greater quest.
DID YOU THINK THAT I WOULD ALLOW YOU TO SIMPLY LEAVE? THERE IS NOTHING FOR YOU EXCEPT WHAT I DEEMED TO LET YOU HAVE AND I WILL NEVER LET YOU GO.
His triumphant words infuriated her because defeat seemed inevitable. The light still waited for her and she understood that all she needed to do in order to reach it was to look inside herself and use the strength that had driven her thus far. The pain would have to be disconnected. A memory flared somewhere in her mind of someone else who was able to do that. She searched through the secret places inside her soul, to the impregnable fortress keeping her memories from her. She had to remember! She had to tear down that wall! She aimed all her energy at that blockade and willed it gone with every ounce of strength left inside her ravaged body. She needed to remember!
And suddenly, it crumbled and the knowledge filled her as if she were immersed in warm water and the name surfaced just as effortlessly.
Chris.
With that name came other memories. Thoughts of him engendered a contradiction of feelings. She felt passion and desire intermingled with the security of his protection and a gamut of emotions telling her that to find him she would have to make the journey. The knowledge of him forced her onto her knees, ignoring the pain that came from the action. She allowed herself to cry out because there was no shame in doing so if it allowed her to endure. Slowly, she took a tentative step forward, preparing herself for the icicles of agony that pierced through her with each distance of progression.
STOP!
Its voice had taken on another emotion and it was one she knew well which allowed her to revel in the satisfaction of knowing. Fear. She could sense its fear. Her knowledge of its fear made it easier to continue, despite the pain, despite the overwhelming need to hide in the dark, where its words could not reach her.
I WILL HURT YOU, MARY!
Mary Travis. Her name was Mary Travis. A tidal wave followed those two words swept the last vestiges of doubt away with ruthless abandon. It brought home to Mary how important it was to continue. Other images filled her mind, images beyond the dark around her or the light ahead. A kaleidoscope of faces began to spin around her, awakening feelings and memories with each new image. Chris was there but there was also another face which made the attempts to stop her, all the more futile. She saw her son. Her beautiful, golden-haired boy, whom she carried in her body, whose first smile, still brought tears to her eyes.
Its voice felt silent but she heard other things now. There were fierce things that growled and breathed heavily against her skin, she felt the sickly warmth of fluid rolling down her back. Mary ignored them and continued, even though the sounds grew louder and closer until the threat of them made her heart pound so loudly, she feared it would explode in her chest.
Suddenly, there was a flash of bright orange and the dark tunnel was illuminated by the glow of a fire, barring her way. Was this its last trick? Mary did not know but she was determined not to let it win and would now allow its ruse to stop her. Agony, fear, humiliation and now death. It seemed the natural progression in its desperate bid to keep her from completing her journey.
KEEP GOING AND YOU WILL DIE!
Perhaps she would someday soon, she decided.
But not today.
"Mary, wake up!" A new voice cried out frantically.
She looked up and felt that same dizziness in her head, wondering when it was she had felt this way…
"Wake up Mary!" Inez shouted as she found the unconscious widow lying in the thick fog of smoke.
Through the stinging in her eyes, Inez was able to see other shapes in the grey. Some of them were slumped across the ground unconscious, their faces covered in garish masks. The few who were sitting up were swaying unsteadily as they tried to retain some coherence while inhaling the noxious smoke. Inez did not understand what this was about but she did not intend to remain long enough to let the smoke affect her.
It took her some time to find Mary but eventually, she saw a glimmer of gold hair through the billowing clouds of grey. Mary was unconscious, clutching the amulet tightly in her bleeding palm. Inez immediately felt for a pulse and thanked God to see the widow still alive. She tried to lift Mary to her feet but the woman was a dead weight and Inez could not hope to make any kind of escape with Mary in this condition.
Inez shook Mary hard when suddenly she noticed the swirl of smoke behind her. She turned around and saw a shape wearing a raven’s face mask lunging towards her. His movements were sluggish and unsteady and Inez guessed he was suffering from severe smoke inhalation. Inez was able to dodge him easily and she shoved him hard as he stumbled past, sending him crashing into the fire. He screamed loudly as tongues of orange flame were quick to offer embrace. By the time he rolled out of the fire, she saw his hair and clothes were on fire.
Inez ignored his attempts to extinguish the flames around him, knowing she had little time. The others were struggling to rise and while they were not dangerous because their smoke-induced stupor, Inez feared that they may alert other worshippers who were not as disadvantaged. Wasting no further time, she grabbed Mary’s arm and dragged the woman from the ground towards the door. The smoke was starting to affect Inez and she started coughing as they slipped through the leather flap.
Outside the air was fresher but not by very much. The smoke was gaining similar potency beyond the ceremonial chamber and soon the air in the passage would be just as toxic. However, Inez estimated the fire itself would soon burn itself out now that there was no one left to feed it. Carrying Mary as far down the corridor and away from the smoke as she could, Inez finally laid Mary on the ground, knowing that there was little time to spare in reviving her.
"Come on Mary!" Inez shook her hard. "Snap out of it!"
Mary’s head lopped from side to side as Inez tried desperately to rouse her. After a few minutes, Inez was rewarded with a weak cough as Mary Travis’ shallow breathing gained momentum and she started to regain consciousness. The line of concern running through Inez did not dissipate however until Mary’s coughing become stronger and she was gasping for air. The widow’s face was covered in smoke and soot, making it difficult to gauge her pallor. Inez hoped she had not inhaled enough smoke to cause her considerable harm.
"Where am I?" Mary asked, her voice little more than a hoarse whisper.
"Same place," Inez replied unable to hide her relief at Mary’s coherence. "Worse trouble. Can you walk? We’ve got to get moving."
Mary nodded weakly and tried to stand up. Her head still swam and she felt pain in her right hand. Glancing down at her palm, she saw that she still holding the amulet firmly in her palm even though it had caused her to bleed. She tried to recall what had happened after she had fallen unconscious but the images were vague and uncertain. However, now was not the time to decipher her cryptic dreams. Through some miracle, Inez had freed herself and had found her. The chance could not be allow squandering.
"I can walk." She said shakily. It hurt her throat to speak. The smoke had burned her lungs and she still felt dizzy from its poisoning effects on her system. Mary rose to her feet with Inez’s help when suddenly saw something behind Inez.
"Look out!" She screamed.
Inez spun around to see the man in the raven mask rushing at her. His body clothes were smoking from where he had fallen in the fire and Inez’s stomach hollowed when she realized some of it had been seared onto his skin. Without thinking, she swung the spade at him, connecting with his face. He was practically swept off his feet from the powerful blow and hit the wall hard. Unfortunately, despite the fact she had delivered a formidable blow, he was merely dazed and still capable of giving pursuit. Inez knew the next time he attacked; she may not able to come away unscathed. She decided not to give him the opportunity.
"Come on!" Inez grabbed Mary’s hand and pulled her down the corridor. Seeing Inez deal with their attacker snapped Mary back to almost full coherence. Even though she was still suffering the effects of the smoke and her ankle had not completely recovered, Mary had regained enough control of her faculties to keep in stride with Inez as they tore down the passageway. With adrenalin coursing through her veins, she noticed neither injury nor the damaging effects of smoke inhalation. She suspected tomorrow was another matter entirely but if she had a tomorrow to suffer, Mary would little reason to complain, since at the moment that seemed unlikely.
With Inez leading the way and appearing to know where she was going, Mary followed her lead without question. She was glad that one of them had some sense of direction because winding passageways of rock and mud were indistinguishable from one length of the corridor to another. While she had no idea of their progress, she could no longer smell the awful stench of smoke from the ceremonial chamber. However, as they drew further away, the stench of smoke was replaced by another sound that was hauntingly familiar, even if its tone was different.
For a moment, she was unable to place it until they drew closer to the source and the noise began to permeate the passageway.
Voices were chanting. Judging by their number, Mary guessed that they were many of them.
"Inez!" Mary managed to ask. "How are we getting out of here?" It was now clear to Mary from where the chanting was emanating. As they passed by the main entrance of the city, the voices were clearly coming from below the cliff face. She did not need to see the scene for herself to know that they were in serious trouble indeed.
"Not that way," Inez replied quietly, as she crept past the edge of the doorway and indicated Mary to do the same quietly. As Mary darted across the doorway quickly, the widow stole enough of a glance to discover what Inez had learnt earlier, that to reach the ground they would have to expose themselves to the cult worshippers. Despite their celebration for the dawning of a new age that would never come, Mary saw they were well armed, carrying guns and knives that were more than a match for two frightened women.
"That looks really bad," Mary said trying not to sound afraid but not quite able to manage a brave front. Despite Inez’s quick thinking, her best friend was similarly terrified except Inez reacted to it better than Mary.
"You!" Mary looked over her shoulder to see the raven mask sidle up behind them without a sound until he was in reach of them both.
Mary ducked in time to avoid being caught but Inez was not so lucky. She reacted a fraction slower and it was all the time the raven mask needed. He grabbed a handful of her dark hair and yanked her to him. Inez let out a short scream that jarred Mary into action. Picking up the spade that had fallen from Inez’s hand, she struck his charred shoulder. He cried out in pain as flat metal slapped hard against raw skin. Taking advantage of his distraction, Inez tore herself away from him and both women turned on their heels without looking back.
This time, their attacker did not give chase. As they ran further down the other direction, Mary heard him cry out for assistance to his celebrating companions. The chanting died abruptly and was soon followed by shouts of outrage when at the discovery that the ceremony had not been completed and she had run off with their precious artefact. She did not need to see the scramble of worshippers up the uneven steps herself to know that she and Inez were going to have company.
"Do you know where we are going?" Mary shouted at Inez. Neither woman as willing to stop running. The angry voices behind them were providing a formidable incentive to keep moving at all costs.
"Not particularly," Inez exclaimed breathlessly. "I’m making it up as I go."
"Making it up as you go!" Mary said horrified. "This is hardly the time for blind faith!"
Inez paused long enough to give Mary the filthiest look. "Don’t get me started."
Behind them, they could hear the enraged voices giving chase through the tunnels. By now, Mary realized begrudgingly, the raven mask now had plenty of help to search for them. Somehow, being armed with little more than a spade was not going to be effective an army of religious fanatics.
"We’ve got to find another way out of here." Mary declared.
"Trust me," Inez retorted as they turned down another corridor. "Nothing could be further from my mind." They were fast running out of breath and light. There were no torches lighting this section of the city and the air had started to become dank once more. What little illumination there was emanated from torches in the previous corridors?
"We’re going to have to hide Inez," Mary said firmly, thinking of no other recourse. They could not keep running because, for all they knew, they might be travelling in circles. It was unlikely they could find their way out in this maze of dark tunnels and there were too many people searching for them to remain in the open.
Inez stopped running and met Mary’s gaze. "You’re right." She agreed. "We’ve got to keep out of sight for as long as we can." However, even Inez could not be sure how much time would be enough with so many hunting for them. The unseen pursuers giving chase were closing in on them and Inez started to feel the situation was hopeless, that the trap sprung upon them was fatal with no escape. She tried to think of a plan but her mind was drawing a blank.
They kept running because it was the only thing they could think to do, knowing that they could continue this indefinitely. There were enough men behind them both to run them into the ground for sheer exhaustion and both Inez and Mary were starting to falter. Mary first because her lungs were still suffering the effects of smoke inhalation. Mary took note there were many chambers but very few that possessed doors. Wetherill had conducted large-scale excavations of this site many years ago and it appeared he sealed some rooms to protect the artefacts they might have contained. By now, the more valuable of these were removed but the chambers remained as well as the doors. As the footsteps behind them grew increasingly louder, Mary grabbed Inez’s hand and pulled her into one the chamber.
It was almost the last chamber in the corridor and Mary suspected that they were still at large because the worshippers were searching such annexes as they kept in pursuit. A wise course of action Mary decided since they could not afford for her to hide the amulet from them, when it was so vital to their ceremony. Understanding her intent, Inez slammed the wooden doors as quietly as possible and immediately looked around for something to barricade it. After her escape from her cell earlier, she knew that it would not take much to break down these doors
Mary, on the other hand, studied their new enclosure briefly. It was dark except for a small window placed high on the wall. Through the ragged clay edges, she could see the welcoming sight of the night sky and hear the sound of running water. Upon hearing it, Mary remembered the river they’d seen when they had come in search of this place. There had been little reason to investigate it then because larger issues captured their attention.
"This lock is not going to hold," Inez informed dutifully.
"Is there anything to hold it with?" Mary asked hastily searching the room. The darkness made it difficult to see and she took a few steps forward when suddenly her foot struck something hard and she fell over. Whatever she had walked into slumped forward and Mary picked herself up only to find herself staring at the bony face of a very mummified corpse. The scream that escaped her lips gave away their position immediately as she scrambled away in fright, Mary heard Inez swear loudly behind her. However, the damage was done. The response to her cry of fear was immediate and suddenly, their situation took on an entirely new urgency.
"Damn it!" Inez exclaimed. "They heard us!"
"I’m sorry!" Mary apologized futilely almost to the point of tears but knew the mistake was fatal. "It caught me by surprise."
"It’s a burial chamber!" Inez retorted angrily as she pressed her body against the door and braced herself for the invasion that was coming. Mary hurried forward and took up position next to Inez in what was fast looking to become their last stand.
"I’m so sorry Inez!" Mary stammered trying not to cry at a time like this but there was so much regret inside her she could barely contain it. "I should have never got you involved in this! What was I thinking?"
"It’s a gringo thing," the Latin woman declared sarcastically. "All your people have it. Always so curious, without any ability to see the train until it runs over you!" She hated to be so cynical at a time like this but at the moment was difficult to feel anything positive when death was approaching with such speed. "We’re not going to be able to keep them out for long," Inez continued as if any commentary was needed. "The walls are very weak, they’ll be able to break the door down without damaging the lock. The doorways just crumble."
"They do?" Mary looked at her as a spark of inspiration ignited within her. As the idea took shape inside her head, Mary scoured the floor looking for their trusty space. It had helped them so far, she hoped it would do so again. It was not far from where she had tripped over the corpse and Mary ran forward, picking it up off the ground. Running to the far wall, she controlled her revulsion, trying not to squeal or cringe when she pushed aside the corpses stacked against it.
"What are you doing?" Inez demanded frantically. "I need help holding this door! I cannot do it myself!"
"I’m getting us out of here," Mary said confidently and then added with less certainty. "I hope."
"Whatever you’re going to do, make it fast." Inez cried out because the voices coming down the corridor were too close for comfort. Inez estimated they had less than a minute before the worshippers reached them. After desecrating their ceremonial chamber and stealing their precious religious icon, Inez did not want to be on the receiving end of their wrath. Inez did not believe that they would limit the bloodshed to just her. She had a feeling that Mary Travis no longer had the same value she once did.
Mary took a deep breath and prayed this worked. Swinging the spade forward, she sank it deep into the wall and forced it through the crumbling bricks of mud. Using the tool as a fulcrum, she used all her strength to dislodge the bricks holding the wall together. Mary pushed so hard her arms started to ache but after a final sharp thrust forward, one of the bricks loosened. When it fell on the ground and a small hole appeared in its place. Without wasting time, she started working on the others.
While she could see very much else on the other side of the opening, the sound of rushing water was even louder and that gave her the incentive to continue. However, the spade was taking too much time and they had little of it to spare so Mary began kicking at the opening with her boot. It had the effect of dislodging several bricks at a time until the whole wall seemed on the verge of collapse.
"Help me!" She shouted at Inez.
Inez glanced over her shoulder and saw what Mary accomplished. She did not want to leave the door but decided to take a gamble on Mary’s plan. While she did not wear boots, her shoes gave her flexibility to deliver more powerful kicks and with their combined effort, the mud holding the wall together crumbled completely, taking most of the wall with in its final demise. Some of the bricks had fallen through the orifice but most of it piled on the dirt ground.
The wind outside whipped at her skin as Mary peered through the opening first. As suspected, she found they were standing at the edge of an almost thirty-foot drop. Directly below them, Mary observed the wide expanse of white water below. Judging by the flow of rushing foamy water, Mary guessed the river was deep.
"Oh god." Inez caught Mary’s gaze and guessed what was coming. The sounds were in earshot now; requiring neither echoes nor tunnels to carry their voices to the prey.
"It’s the only way," Mary looked at her with as much confidence as she could display at this moment, which was to say not very much. "We’re going to have to jump."
"What is it with you and jumping from great heights?" Inez snapped terrified. Inez was never good with heights and it was the one thing capable of making her a complete gibbering wreck. Like she was at this moment.
Mary saw the terror in her eyes and came to a decision. There was not going to be an easy way to do this. "Inez," Mary said taking a deep breath. "I am so sorry."
"You said it already." Inez’s expression softened. "This is not your fault, you were doing what you thought was right. I could not let you do this alone anyway," she said trying not to become emotional. She was never very good at it. "You are my friend and I am honored to know you. Besides, I could never say no to adventure." That was an untruth but they were about to die so she perfectly all right with telling a white lie.
God would understand and if not, she’d set him right when she got to heaven.
"No," Mary shook her head, although Inez’s speech was sweet and made it all the more difficult to do what she about to. "I was not apologizing for that. I was apologizing for this."
Without another word, she shoved Inez over the edge.
Mary saw Inez plunge downwards, filling every second of her downward journey with a terrified scream. As the door burst open behind her, Mary did not look behind as she closed her eyes and stepped off the edge with one thought in mind.
If we die, Inez is going to be so mad at me…
Mary did not scream because when she hit the water, the impact forced all the air out of her lungs. She fell against the foamy surface of the river with a tremendous splash before the temporary displacement of water, swirled back upon her. She almost reached its depths before the buoyancy of the choppy water drove her to the surface.
Mary saw nothing in her ascent because the night had made everything black and impenetrable. The only thing she was able to make out clearly before breaking the surface was the flurry of bubbles rising with her. She emerged in the night air and took in greedy gulps of air, exhilarating in its fresh and untainted flavor. For a moment, she reveled in the prospect of simply being alive, oblivious to all the things that would impress themselves upon her memory soon enough.
The river was running fast and furious with powerful currents sweeping away anything caught in its clutches along its predestined path. Despite it being summer, Mary felt the icy water bite into her skin as she struggled against the awesome might of the waterway. Inez was almost an afterthought until the memory slammed into her with as much intensity as the choppy waters around her.
While Mary was a strong swimmer, she realized she had never discussed the subject with Inez to say with confidence if her friend had similar expertise. As the terrifying possibility wrapped itself around her horrified mind, Mary realized that she probably should have asked if Inez could swim before pushing her off the ledge.
"Inez!" Mary cried out in panic. She tried not to become hysterical over the possibility Inez could be at this moment drowning at the bottom of the river. The rushing waters of this river were more than a match for someone who could swim, Mary did not want to imagine how easy it would overcome someone who could not. Struggling to keep her head above water, Mary scoured the length of the river as far as she could, searching for some sign of Inez. The see-sawing motion of the waves sweeping her along made it difficult to see anything through the dim glow of moonlight.
"Inez!" Mary shouted again. She was starting to let the fear overcome her as she frantically searched for some trace of the woman.
Despite all efforts to the contrary, Mary was fighting a losing battle with her terrified emotions. Guilt and remorse were stabbing at her with as much fury as the turbulent waters around her. What had she been thinking? Since the amulet’s presence in her life, Mary Travis had been embarking on a series of foolish escapades. She should just leave the thing to languish in that antique store where no one would suspect the dangers hidden within its ornate facade. She had not only placed her life at risk but she had unwittingly endangered Inez by dragging her best friend into this situation! Mary was mortified by her reckless behavior.
Please let her be all right.
Mary prayed to herself silently before coming to the conclusion it was too soon to give up hope of Inez’ survival. If there was anyone who was better equipped at landing on her feet no matter what the situation, Inez had proven time and time again that it was she. Although Mary could not see her, it proved nothing. Mary stubbornly refused to believe that Inez was dead and would continue to do so unless she saw proof otherwise.
Suddenly, she saw a flash of red against the frothy white surface of the river. Mary remembered that Inez had been wearing a red skirt! Filled with renewed hope and vigor, Mary cried out again, hoping to draw Inez’s attention. "Inez!"
"Mary!" Inez’s terrified response sent a wave of relief flooding Mary’s guilt-ridden spirit.
Hearing Inez’s voice gave Mary a hidden reservoir of strength she didn’t know she possessed. Swimming ahead, Mary allowed the powerful currents to carry her forward, propelling her through the rushing water with greater speed. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Mary caught sight of Inez, clinging to a piece of broken log for dear life. It did not take Mary long to reach her and soon they were both hanging onto the driftwood as it swept them along on its turbulent journey.
"Thank God you’re okay!" Mary said unable to stop smiling despite their current situation. She was so glad to see Inez alive all thoughts of their current predicament seemed far away. Nothing felt as important to Mary now she knew Inez was all not at the bottom of the river. The joy at seeing her friend almost brought tears to her eyes.
"I can’t believe it!" Inez exclaimed with just as much jubilance. Inez had been gripped with similar feelings of loss until she had heard Mary’s voice calling out to her.
"That we made it?" Mary gushed unable to believe they were still alive after everything that had transpired this evening. By all rights, jumping off the cliff had been a big gamble. She wondered absurdly what odds Ezra Standish would give her for surviving such a feat.
"No! That you pushed me!"
"I had to do it!" Mary protested vehemently. "You weren’t going to jump otherwise!"
"Of course I was!" Inez insisted but once knew inwardly it was a lie. Suddenly, they both noticed that the pitch and tempo of the rushing water around them had increased sharply. Inez looked at Mary with a sober expression and inquired over the sound of pounding waves. "Do you know where this river goes?" She asked. Before encountering Mary, Inez had tried reaching the shore but the currents dragging them along refuse to give her up. Each attempt to reach dry land was met with the river gently ushering her back to its dead center.
"You don’t want to know," Mary whispered looking past her. Inez saw the color draining from Mary’s face as her eyes stared forward with wide eyes. Inez followed her gaze with a terrible premonition of disaster, wondering what could cause Mary Travis to finally be at a loss for words. Slowly, Inez looked over her shoulder and decided God was punishing them both for something.
Did this ever end?
There was less than a second to descend into a complete panic before the two women went over the waterfall. The drop was nothing like jumping from the cliff but they nevertheless uttered short screams in unison as they spilled over the edge and landed in the plunge pool below with a thunderous splash. Fortunately, the currents in this section of the river were mild and they were finally able to swim in the direction they wanted, without fear of being swept along on another wild ride.
It took a few minutes before they were able to swim clear of the cascade and reach calmer waters. When Mary caught sight of the uneven break of water against the pebbled shore, it felt like the most beautiful things she had ever seen. Inez was not far behind her and they both swam towards the edge before weakly crawling onto the pebbled ground.
"Thank God," Mary exclaimed, enjoying the feel of land beneath her. Her wet clothes felt like lead weights and Mary wished she could remain here for a while and sleep. "I may never go near a river again."
"I’m never going into an antique shop with you again." Inez declared, panting in similar weariness.
As she rested on the shore next to Mary, Inez brushed the tendrils of jet colored hair from her face and wrung out her waterlogged skirt. Mary, who was sitting beside her, was more removing the boot on her right foot since the location of the other one was anyone’s guess. Mary wrinkled her nose in distaste as she examined the ruined footwear before tossing it aside. The cold had made her injured ankle numb and Mary was grateful for small consolations.
"You are never going to let me forget this are you?"
"Not if we both lived to be a thousand." Inez grinned, her spirits lifting a little. At the moment, she was still on a high at being alive.
"Thanks," Mary returned with a wry smile. "You’re a true friend."
Suddenly, they heard a rustle of leaves coming from brush behind them. Mary and Inez looked over their shoulder to see Doctor Wetherill standing behind them with a group of worshippers.
"Oh fuck," Inez swore.
"Inez!" Mary stared at her reproachfully.
For a moment, neither of them was surprised by this turn of events. Considering how the rest of the day had gone, this was almost expected. Letting out a collective sigh of resignation, they regarded each other with almost weary expressions before rising to their feet slowly to face this new trial. After what they had been through already, death seemed almost anti-climactic. Mary was starting to think that it was better to get this whole thing over and done with. She certainly did not have the patience to endure another like this.
"Well ladies," the doctor exclaimed even though he was puzzled that neither woman seemed very afraid of him. "You have led us on a merry chase. Once we saw your dramatic exit into the river, it did not take a foot of genius to know where you would emerge. I must say your daring surprises even me."
Mary had suspected his involvement in this sordid affair prior to his appearance and now it was more or less confirmed. It was Wetherill who had sent them here knowing his minions would be on hand to capture them as soon as she and Inez had walked into his trap. Upon further consideration, later on, Mary realized he was the leader of the cult of the staring eyes. It made perfect sense he would have revived the ancient sect when he knew most of about it. Men like Wetherill were drawn to power, no matter how outlandish it might seem.
"We’re glad to oblige." Inez retorted defiantly. If it was her destiny to die tonight that Inez was going to do so with dignity. She was tired of running, hiding, jumping, and especially jumping, from this madman and his band of crazed fanatics.
"Now madam," Wetherill said taking a step towards Mary, "I will take the amulet."
"Why?" Mary instinctively took a step back. "The ritual did not work."
"I expected it would not," Wetherill answered without any fear of disclosure. Soon these two troublesome women would be dead and the amulet would be his. The thought of that drove caution from his mind. There was no reason for them not to know what he intended to accomplish in the wake of their untimely demise. "I hoped you might be weak enough to serve Uktena’s purposes but I am hardly unsurprised by the failure of the ritual."
"I don’t understand." Mary was stalling for time. She had no idea what she was stalling for but she knew she could not let him have the amulet. For once, it no longer became a matter of obsession but of keeping the only bargaining point she possessed for saving both their lives. If she handed over the amulet, Wetherill would kill them both at this very spot.
"Of course not," he smiled as if pleased at his knowledge and her lack of comprehension. "You do not know the beginning of the tale."
"What beginning?" Inez demanded, tired of all this. She wished the man would just get on with it instead of waffling on, obviously in love with hearing himself speak. "You told us everything about the creation of the Three Worlds."
"You were listening Senorita," Wetherill said with a measure of surprise. "Then allow me to fill the gaps in your knowledge."
Despite herself, Mary was interested to know. Something happened to her in that ceremonial chamber. While her memories of it were vague, enough was retained in her memory for there to be questions that required answering.
"The Sun God did not create This World." Wetherill announced. "The legends say we created it when the first of us crawled through the nexus existing between the realms. Originally, humankind were of the Under World and subjects of Uktena. They were not happy to lose us when the first human chose to breach the boundaries of worlds into what we know as This World. When the First emerged into the Sun, the others were inspired to follow and soon all of humanity left Uktena’s realm. Once in This World, the Sun God who resided in the Upper World decree there should always be three realms of existence despite Uktena’s desire for his minions to return."
Mary remembered the whispering voices in her dream. Was it truly that? "But the smoke?"
"The Indians call it a vision quest," Wetherill explained helpfully as if enjoying this moment at center stage. So very few people had a chance to know of his genius since the Indians around him saw it the ritual as a way to shirk of the bondage of the white man and not appreciating that they were changing the universe. "The smoke allows your body to escape the boundaries of your mind, to reach places in yourself that would otherwise remain buried and hidden. It sometimes acts as a conduit for spiritual projection, if you can reach it before the smoke suffocates you."
Now Mary understood clearly. "To shift the balance between the worlds, you have to stop that first person from crossing the boundary." Mary whispered in comprehension ‘You are unravelling a creation myth."
"It is hardly a myth," Wetherill replied, his eyes now taking on the same religious fervor as his followers. "However, your insight serves you well Madam," Wetherill complimented. "You bonded with the amulet when you found it and thus you were required to complete the ritual."
"But nothing has not changed." Inez pointed out.
"As I said," he looked at Mary. "You are a strong woman Mrs. Travis, too strong to be swayed by the destiny of what could be. The amulet gave you the chance to change things and you refused." He looked at Mary with a sinister gleam in his eyes that made both of them shudder. "When I kill you and sever the bond you have made with the amulet, I will perform the ritual and I will change the universe."
"MARY, INEZ, GET DOWN!" A familiar voice cried out in the night
Mary did not even need to see him to obey that order. When Wetherill turned to the voice, Mary and Inez used his distraction and started running towards a tree trunk resting against the embankment. Diving behind it, the two women took cover as the explosion of gunfire erupted, shattering the serenity of the dark. While the shootout took place, Mary reached into her wet pockets and produced the amulet, trying not to think of the gunfire and the men fighting to save them.
"That was Chris wasn’t it?" Inez asked as they both crouched low behind the protection of wood. Bullets whizzed over their heads while some met their mark when Mary saw a worshipper fall dead near them. A spot of crimson expanded across his chest as he died. Mary closed her eyes and forced the image away. She knew Inez was keeping her eyes rooted to the damp ground instead of the carnage occurring around them.
"Yes, it was," Mary replied, never believing she could be so grateful to see the gunslinger. "I’ve got to get rid of this thing." She said holding the amulet in her hand. "Wetherill can’t get his hands on it."
Whether or not Wetherill’s belief in this trinket was valid, Inez could not disagree with Mary’s assessment. The amulet was dangerous and while it was in her possession, Mary would never have any piece of mind. Not to mention there was a little matter of it being able to end life as they knew it to consider as well. There were not a lot of places to dispose of the trinket so Mary had to think quickly, difficult enough task to do when there were bullets flying overhead and people dying around her.
It came to her just as the gunfire died. The shooting and her search to find an appropriate hiding place seemed to culminate at the same time. Her choice was simple but not obvious for minds that placed more myth on the object that they ought. The amulet remained in obscurity for so long because no one had suspected it would have been displayed out in the open for everyone to see, escaping attention simply because it presented itself so obviously. While had something a little more elaborate in mind that an open display, her hiding place was just as simple with an even less of a chance at being inadvertently stumbled upon.
For better or worse, the worlds would remain in accordance with the Sun God’s decree.
*****
It was over almost as suddenly as it began.
Mary rose to her feet when the shooting was done, in the wake of the uneasy silence that normally followed such events. The clearing where she and Inez had faced Doctor Isaac Wetherill only a short time ago was now marred with bodies strewn across the shale and pebble ground. It was to her intense relief no one she recognized was among the dead.
Her heart pounded as her eyes moved over the deceased worshippers and saw Doctor Wetherill counted among the fallen. She wondered as she stared at his lifeless eyes, trying to ignore the widening pool of blood forming under his head, whether he had truly believed the amulet was capable of ending existence or was he as misguided as his followers. It was a question, she supposed would never really be answered.
In any case, the amulet was beyond the reach of anyone although, with Wetherill’s death, Mary suspected the cult of the staring eyes would fall into obscurity once more.
"Ladies," Ezra Standish emerged from the trees where he and the group had taken cover during their gun battle. "I trust you are unharmed." He said looking at them carefully. While he could see no signs of injury on either woman, he could be forgiven for assuming the worst. Both Mary and Inez were in their bare feet and completely soaked, their clothes were torn and covered with dirt. They appeared in quite a state even though they seemed in somewhat perfect health.
"We are fine, Mr. Standish." Mary tried to say with as much dignity as she could muster. "How did you find us?" Her eyes furtively searched for Chris because she knew he was here, somewhere. As pleased, as she was to have him rescue her yet again, she was not happy at placing so many of friends in jeopardy because of her obsession with an ancient Indian artefact.
"We followed Doctor Wetherill here," Ezra replied.
"Well, well," Buck announced himself as he appeared, wearing a thoroughly amused grin plastered across his face. "It looks like you two ladies had yourself quite a day out." He swaggered forward full of bluster and obviously very pleased with himself. Mary saw Ezra roll his eyes in resignation at some secret knowledge he was keeping to himself.
The smirk he was wearing only made Mary feel even more foolish. However, she decided against making any comment considering he and the others had just saved their lives
"One we would rather forget," Mary said uncomfortably, as she brushed down her dress and tried to fix her hair to some measure of decency. It was bad enough that her nocturnal adventure would be a source of great amusement to the township of Four Corners for months to come without her riding home looking like something that got dragged through the river.
Inez however, was not so restrained.
"Get that smile off your face." She ordered as she strode towards them. Her steps were made gingerly as the jagged, pebbled ground dug into the soles of her feet. At this point of time, she was in no mood for Buck’s attempts to embarrass her. Inez could just imagine what the next few days were going to be like.
She was never going to hear the end of this.
"Aw come on honey," Buck protested, giving her that little boy look of his. "Ain’t you gonna thank us? Looks to me like we arrived just in time. I think that at least deserves a thank you kiss." He held out his cheek for her.
Inez glared at him with narrowed eyes and said quite firmly. "In your dreams."
"It’s never just a kiss in my dreams, Inez." He grinned wickedly; knowing it would infuriate her even more.
"I’ll have you know Senor Buck," she said defiantly, "we were just about to formulate a new plan when you arrived." Despite how happy she was to see Buck again, it was unnecessary for him to know that. She hated it when he had the upper hand on her because Buck did not have the grace to be a good winner. He was going to get a great deal of mileage out this latest escapade of hers and Mrs. Travis.
Mary met her gaze with a raised brow. "We were?"
"Infierno!" Inez exclaimed in exasperation.
As Inez and Buck continued their verbal foreplay, Mary turned to Ezra who was making sure there were no survivors among the fallen Indians. "There are more of them, Mr. Standish." She pointed out. "I think we should be leaving. Wetherill was their leader, I’m sure of it. If they find him dead…"
"I know." Ezra nodded. "Mr. Tanner is at the moment keeping watch on that eventuality. You are right however; we should be on our way as soon as possible. Are you in good enough health to travel?"
Mary nodded in response. Sometimes Ezra Standish was almost as much an enigma to her as Chris Larabee. Outwardly, he showed every sign of being just as shallow and conceited as any other conman of his type but then on occasion, he would show them all that there was more to him than pressed shirts and fanciful card tricks. Despite his remarks otherwise, she knew he cared for the six men he rode with and Four Corners had become more to him than just another town. Like Chris, Ezra had put down roots in Four Corners, a gesture she would never have believed of the conman.
"I want to go home." Mary said breathlessly, "I’ve had enough adventure for one night."
"I’m glad."
Mary looked up and knew it was Chris Larabee who had spoken. He was staring at her, arms folded, with that sardonic expression on his face that made her feel two inches high. Mary flinched under his intense gaze, knowing instantly he was not impressed with her. Considering what had happened today because of her reckless behavior, she supposed he was somewhat justified in being a little annoyed.
Okay, perhaps a little more than annoyed.
"I’ll get the horses," Ezra replied making a discreet exit.
As he walked past, Mary caught the barest hint of a smile slipping past his lips as he retreated from the line of fire. Coward, she thought ruefully, before looking at Chris, trying to appear as nonplussed as possible. "Well Mr. Larabee," she said politely. "I guess I owe you a debt of thanks."
"I guess you do."
She wished he would just say what was on his mind instead of dragging this out. Obviously, he was angry. Mary would be extremely disappointed if he was not. They regarded each other for a moment, now that Inez and Buck had moved off the stage and they had the clearing to themselves. She knew he was angry because his arms were folded and she had only seen him do that when he was feeling particularly ornery. Strangely enough, he always seemed to be that way around her.
"Okay," Mary sighed deciding to throw caution to the winds and stop delaying the inevitable. "Let me have it." She threw up her arms in a gesture of defeat. "I deserve it, I know behaved foolishly. I should not have left town alone and walked into an obvious threat. You don’t have to tell me that I put my life and Inez’s in jeopardy."
"Don’t forget our lives as well."
Until that point, Mary had been willing to admit that she was wrong. After all, she had behaved irresponsibly in the matter of the amulet and the events that followed since she acquired it. However, that stupid, smug, expression on his face was doing more to infuriate her and provoke her rebellious streak than a thousand crazy fanatics bent on spilling her blood. Why was it necessary for him to make it so difficult for her to thank him? Suddenly, a thought came to her and a faint smile stole across her lips.
Mary sauntered over to him, crossing the distance between them in a graceful flow of movement. The anger in her lovely features had dissipated and instead of that irritated expression she was wearing a moment ago, Chris saw something else in her face that he could not quite define. Mary paused barely an inch away from him and looked up into his eyes with a slight pout to her very luscious lips.
"You are right of course Chris." She sighed breathlessly, her chest rose and fell inches from his skin. For a moment, Chris had no idea what she was doing, aware only that her creamy skin was within reach of his lips and that proximity was way too close for comfort. He cleared his throat and took a step backward, suddenly aware the rules on this little engagement of theirs had changed dramatically.
"Maybe I was a little reckless," she smiled seductively, her blue-grey eyes dancing with suggestion. Mary brushed a finger against his chest and heard his breath catch at the gesture. "I was just curious. Haven’t you ever been curious about anything?" She placed another hand on his chest as her tongue moistened her dry lips. Chris could only stare.
"Sometimes." He said cautiously, wondering what game Mary was playing. Although she was not quite pressed up against him, he could not ignore how close she was.
It was the first time Mary had seen what she had always suspected. Chris Larabee wanted her and he wanted her very much indeed. The hunger in his eyes was almost predatory and despite the fact this display was to toy with him a little and get her own back, Mary could not deny his intense gaze was just as intoxicating to her.
"Maybe we can just forget about this little indiscretion for now?"
"I don’t see why not." He cleared his throat, deciding he needed to get her away from him NOW.
Just a little more and she could call this charade effectively over. Mary inched closer to him until her lips were almost touching his. She could feel his reaction as her breath grazed his skin in soft flutters. Despite her own pounding heart, Mary whispered softly in his ear. "Thank you, Chris." She looked at him coyly. "I’m so glad we had this little talk."
With that, she stepped away from him while he was still reeling from the effects of their encounter and stated in a more familiar voice. "Now that we have settled all that, shall we go Mr. Larabee?"
Chris stared at her and realized just what she had done to him. His face almost turned red with anger but she had humiliated him enough for one day without him losing his head as well. However, what she had done was not easy to let go. Chris had not fallen for that trick since he was a teenager and it incensed him beyond belief she could have been so damn underhanded and sneaky and so unbelievably seductive and desirable. This was not helping, he told himself forcefully and met her gaze when an idea came to him.
Two can play at that game, Mrs. Travis.
"Certainly Mary," he said recovering almost completely now. "There’s just one thing." He stepped towards her.
Before Mary could react, Chris Larabee caught her by the waist and pulled her to him. Without saying another word, he pressed his lips against hers, delivering to Mary Travis a rough, bruising kiss. There was so much passion and sheer want behind that one kiss Mary actually felt dizzy from its effects as she felt his sensuous lips taste her like she was the sweetest thing ever.
And then just like that, he pulled back, smirking at her dazed expression with smug satisfaction.
"Now we can go."
Whoever he was, did not matter.
Those who buried him were only aware that he was dead and required a Christian burial, even if he was not of the faith. To them, he was just another Indian. No more, no less. His final resting-place was a dry patch of dirt at a nondescript corner of Boot Hill, his neighbors were forgotten like he soon would be. The place of his burial mattered as little as his name and matters even less to us.
"That’s deep enough." An aging man with bad teeth told his young apprentice, before spitting a mouthful of tobacco at the ground.
The boy stopped digging and climbed out of the hole, taking care to take his shovel with him. The sun was setting in the distance and he was glad that this backbreaking work was over. Although the money for this work was good, he was eager to leave it behind today.
"How come he don’t got no coffin?" The boy inquired looking at the body of the dead Indian.
"Cause ain’t no one paying for." The older man retorted. "Now quit your yammering and let’s get him in there." The man was almost in his sixties but would not retire until he dropped dead from the work. He had not family to support but a drinking habit that required employment. Groaning from the effects of his aging body, he grabbed the shoulders of the corpse, while the boy lifted the legs. It was not the most dignified burials but then there was no one to care. Certainly not the dead man, that was for sure.
"What’s that around his neck?" The boy asked as he saw an odd shape pendant hanging from the dead man’s neck. It was held in place by a thin piece of cord and did not seem very impressive, even if it did look somewhat unusual.
The old man regarded it with a quick look and saw nothing that interested him. "Just a piece of Injun junk." He growled in response. "Probably worthless."
*****
The seven returned to the city of the cliff dwellers a day later and found no sign of the worshippers. Any evidence of a religious movement promptly disappeared with the death of their leader, Doctor Isaac Wetherill. Chris found Mary’s horse Homer and her wagon abandoned in the canyon before returning the animal home to her.
For a while, he was concerned that Mary might be in danger from the remaining worshippers who might wish her ill in retribution of their leader’s demise. However, Vin informed Kojay and Chanu to keep an eye out for worshippers bearing the tattoo of the staring eyes. Eventually, the word spread to numerous tribes in the area and a large number of the fanatics were identified. While not all of them could be held accountable for threatening Mary and Inez’s life, their faces were known and that kept them away from the widow.
There was one question that remained unanswered. Although she was asked, Mary Travis would smile evasively and reply the amulet was not in possession. Despite the best efforts of the seven excepting Chris, who stayed well away from Mary for days after, none of them were able to find out what happened to the mysterious object which had been the cause of this whole affair. Neither Mary nor Inez, who was present at the time, felt inclined to reveal the location of the artefact although both seemed perfectly confident that the object would not surface any time soon.
Eventually, the amulet passed into memory becoming a component in one of the more colorful experiences in Mary Travis life but largely forgotten by those who were perfectly content with the existence of the Three Worlds.
For it would be unthinkable if there were only one….