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Gwendith shook her head and rose to her feet.  I don t know. I d just& I d like to
go outside for a while, clear my head. She wasn t certain whether she wanted to face
Johann s eager concern, or Stands-in-Smoke s hard eyes, or even No Tongue s gentle
silence. They knew her too well by now. Knew both of them too well.
 Come, then. A na took her hand, leading her out into the night and down
towards the river. It was a different spot than where she had gone with Tihune, and for
that she was grateful. She took deep breaths of the water-scented air and felt a little of
the ache ease from her throat.
Sihun had followed them. Now she stepped to the water s edge, resting the butt
of her spear on the rocks. Doubtless she had snatched up the weapon at Gwendith s
alarm.  I m going to tell them, she said fiercely.  I know I promised& but Tamaugua said
it himself, tonight!
A na sat down, smoothing her skirts with a graceful hand.  He is the ghost eater,
Sihun.
 I don t care. Sihun gripped her spear, as if it were the neck of an enemy she
meant to throttle.  Tihune lied about what happened when Tamaugua died. And I swore
I d keep silent. But no more. Not after this.
The ghost eater s blur of words came back to Gwendith, and her heart suddenly
skipped a beat.  The ghost eater said that Tihune had taken everything. Even his life.
What did he mean by that?
Sihun bowed her head.  You both know how we three went out hunting the winter
before last, so that Tamaugua could prove himself to Siska-init s family. And you know
what was said that Tamaugua accidentally killed a man of the Rhododendron Clan.
 It was a lie. Tihune killed that man.
A na half-rose to her feet, brows drawn together in consternation.  Sihun& is this
true?
 Of course it s true! Kani curse it, why do you think I wear these marks on my
face? Tihune shot the man, thinking he was a deer. When the man s brother came
demanding a life for a life, it should have been Tihune who died. But Tamaugua spoke
up and said that he would die instead.
 That is the blood law, A na pointed out, probably for Gwendith s benefit.  Any
man can pay for crimes of any other in his clan, if he so offers.
 I know, but it wasn t right! Tamaugua tried to tell me that it would be better this
way that Tihune was too important to the town to lose. That Tihune s skill and
intelligence would serve our people far better than anything he could offer. And he
made me promise not to tell anyone, because otherwise everyone would think Tihune a
coward. I didn t want to do it, and I ve openly worn the signs of my shame ever since.
But I saw Tihune s face, when Tamaugua offered his own life in exchange. He was glad.
He was afraid to die, and he was willing to trade his own brother to live.
Gwendith closed her eyes. Tamaugua had died for love of his brother& and the
ghost eater had come back to find that his sacrifice had been repaid with betrayal.  I
didn t know.
Sihun slammed the butt of her spear into the rock for emphasis.  Tihune s a
coward and liar, Gwendith. And by tomorrow morning, everyone in this town will know it.
I won t bear this shame any longer, not when Tihune proves himself more and more
dishonorable at every turn.
 No! It isn t true! cried a young voice.
The twins stood on the edge of the path above them. One looked solemn, but the
other stared wild-eyed.
 Tihune s not a coward, he protested frantically.  He s a great warrior!
Sihun s mouth quirked wryly.  Come here, Une-ti. You too, Tskiya. The two boys
walked down to the edge of the river, their hands clasped firmly.  I know the truth is
hard worse since he s your cousin. But don t you think I felt the same way when it
happened? Don t you think I expected Tihune to overrule Tamaugua, to insist on taking
the punishment the Rhododendron Clan demanded? Just because someone s tall and
strong and smart, it doesn t mean that he s an admirable person. Learn that, and you ll
be one step closer to being men.
While Sihun lectured, A na slipped one arm around Gwendith s shoulders.  Are
you all right?
 No. I m furious.
 At Tihune?
 At myself. I didn t know& but knowing or not knowing, my actions hurt the ghost
eater. I know it isn t right by your standards, but he s my friend. Tihune cost the ghost
eater his life and his love, and put him in the position he s in now. What did he think,
seeing me making friends with the one who d betrayed him the worst?
A na shook her head.  I don t know. Don t blame yourself. You know now, and
you won t be fooled again. She dabbed lightly at Gwendith s face with the edge of her
skirt.  Would you like some space to yourself, to get composed? There s a still place in
the river behind those trees it will give you a little privacy, but we ll still be close at
hand if you need us.
 I think that would be a good idea.
 Then, after, we ll talk if you like. Woman to woman?
Gwendith smiled at the kindness.  That might be good. You probably weren t
even born the last time I did that. She rose shakily to her feet and made her way
behind the screen of trees. Crouching down on the bank, she splashed water on her
face. A headache was forming behind her eyes, from stress or lack of sleep she didn t
know. By the position of the moon above the peaks, the night was not far advanced, but
it seemed as though it had lasted forever.
She took a deep breath and sank back on her heels. She heard the faint murmur
of voices, but the sound of the river turned them into an indistinguishable blur. Bowing
her head over the still water near the bank, she saw herself only as a shadow against
the stars. The ghost eater had told her that the great river of stars across the sky was
really corn meal, spilled from the mouth of a thieving dog. The tale had made her laugh,
lying on her back by him in the cool night, listening to the crackle of the campfire.
The sound of anger in one of the half-heard voices caught at her attention.
Surprised, she raised her head and listened more carefully. The voice was that of a
man a man who spoke Rhylachan. Fear thrumming along her limbs, she carefully
swung into a crouch, making her way towards the trees that obscured her sight.
Five soldiers stood on the riverbank. All of them had guns leveled threateningly
at the small gathering before them. Sihun had moved to stand between them and the
rest, her spear raised in warning. Gwendith gasped and drew her pistols, but her friends
stood between her and the soldiers, blocking any shot.
 Look at that bitch! one of the soldiers exclaimed wonderingly.  Waving that stick
at us! He grinned at Sihun.  I ve got a better stick than that for you, girl.
Sihun couldn t understand the words, but she undoubtedly comprehended the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]