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Show 136 I met you. Let me talk with the elders." He walked across the square to the priests. Chua waited, digging his toe into the dirt and twisting his fingers back and forth. How could Mongwi have known Ahote would be trouble? When Mongwi came back, he said, "Weil help you. The priests will delay the ceremony in order to save your mother and baby. Weil perform the ceremony tomorrow night. The baby can't be killed." The dark outline of Ahote could be seen far across the mesa ahead of the One Horn Priests. Ahote began to slow down. "See how he stumbles," Chua said to Toho as they ran together. "He's going to have a vision." Ahote had reached the steep cliff drop-off just before the painted canyon where Chua and Apa lived. Ahote stumbled, stopped and turned to face the men behind him. "I'm your leader," he said, raising his hands in the air. "Your chief." His body weaved, and he almost fell. He caught himself and stood erect. "You are my Snake Clan. I knew I would be your leader some day." The One Horns were close to Ahote. They lunged to grab him. "You will die because you crossed the sacred cornmeal," said one priest. Ahote stepped backwards into the nothing. "Ahhhhhhhh," cried Ahote. "Help me. Masau 'u has come for me." Maybe the spirit of death has come for him, thought Chua fk A f\ KMK Yl His body hit the first ledge with a thud and bounced down to the second |
