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Show 132 could imagine his hands pulling Ahote to the ground and hitting him over and over again. His hands were so angry that Chua could see them breaking each bony rib that stuck out on Ahote's thin body. They reached out to Ahote, and then recoiled, clenched at Chua's side. The hands could not. Chua could feel his father with him. His father had been a healer and a protector. Chua's hands were like his father's hands. They could not harm no matter how angry they were. "Now, get your mother," Ahote demanded. "I will not," Chua said, with his shoulders squared. Ahote blinked his eyes, as if to see Chua clearly. He lowered his head and ran at Chua again. Chua jumped out of the way, and this time Ahote hit his head against the rock wall. He slumped backwards and fell to the ground. He lay unmoving. Chua quickly picked up the skeleton of sagebrush. He found his mother's tracks and covered them. He ran around to the secret room to make sure his mother was there. "I'll run for help," Chua said to Apa. "I can't move you to the Bear Clan Village by myself, but rty get Mongwi." "But he can't come," Apa said. "It's the night of the washing of the hair, the most important night of Wuwuchim." "I know," Chua said. "But we need some help." His mother settled against the soft reed baskets. Chua retraced his steps to the village square, covering his tracks as he went. Ahote was gone. Chua's body |