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Show 84 "You've been out playing with that useless bird," yelled Ahote, throwing Chua against the wall. The squash smashed with a thud against Chua's back. "Fresh squash," Ahote said picking up a handful and throwing it across the room. "Where have you been?"- Chua said nothing. Ahote slapped Chua's mouth. "Where have you been? Is there another clan close around here?" , / "Y^u^e-notToTTry-a-ltar, but you steal, too," yelled Ahote. "Or are they your friends?" His beady eyes stared right through Chua. Apa looked frightened. "Well," Ahote said, "let your friends come and find you." He took a leather strap from his sandal and tied Chua's hands behind his back *JS£$$ .7 "The salt," Apa said. "What about the salt?" \ \JL ^° ^ C^^i "I'm going," Ahote said. "I'm going to the salt cave in the north, even with a Qlp, swollen foot. This is the sacrifice I make for this no-good family. But I will not leave you free to untie this worthless boy to spend his time playing." Ahote took a strap from his other sandal and tied Apa. ^t^" O "Don't tie my mother. She's done nothing to you. Leave her alone." v Ahote slapped his mouth again. "You are worthless," he said. "Worthless." v The braided leather strap cut into Chua's wrists. "Let your friends save you now," he said laughing. "It will take me six days to get the salt and return, maybe more. You should both be very weakxby then." |