Show CHAPTER VII continued 12 for nan this was the beginning ol of revelation she was swept into a primal drama that rent her heart in the alic gloom of the turf house kept her rendezvous with the ate Rt ernal save for a crippled ancient Chi gums ainther Tatti cr the two women were alone the daylight began to fall the old aleut lighted the stone lamps but he knew no way to help and he did not understand nans frantic pleas to summon mother II fl orton apparently the two women must fight it through unaided when nan tried to break free and seek old aid the cold hand locked fast fart on her own presently the door flew open apen someone crouched to ent erand a tall fall figure took the lamplight A dry choking cry broke from her tense throat perhaps this thac was just thankfulness that heip had come but sh she was swept by some borne stranger deeper emotion B n kind of exultation a sure sense of full fitment when she bhe saw erics face in the gleam sane coolheaded cool headed marle would tie lie useful here wise alse mother brother a tower of strength but eric was best of all victory was certain now chirum would come up from the valley eric and nan would he be doctor and nurse whitt what tenni teammates mates they were comrades in armel eric took in the situation with one sweep of his resolute eyes wheeling to the old native he gave an order in sign and a few worda of aleut the old man hobbled bobbled out erie eric bent over the he squaw ashes nil all right I 1 think he said it she can just last out a few aln utes more lie he spoke to her in kindly encouraging tones there was not the least horror borror for him or for non nan nor the slightest shame it was mother earth who gave according to her ancient wisdom teaching a lesson almost too poignant for mortal heart while erie bric was tossing the little brown newcomer in the air mother burst barst in with mat dim eyes glittering nut but the fight woo was won the mother root lier lay gasping well out of the shadow and with fair luck nod and n few hours bours ret rest re t could return to the drying racks and the first sound to meet mother ITo rions eager old pars ears was n thin wall in tho the silence when three of the older squaws squads trooped over to help with the nursing bric noticed a n strange thing when they even looked at the infant Chi gums eyes grew wide with dread nad when they bent to take the baby from her arms she snatched it close wl alth I 1 h a moan I 1 I 1 frightened her sorl so nan demanded She slips sIlke ilka a wilt wild animal 1 I dont know but I 1 ran can guess B arlo ic ansi answered vered lie listened briefly to what seemed n pitiful plea pica bubbling up from Cht gums trembling tips then sent for bl his interpreter when camp came he soon mads the situation clear Chi chirum gum she afraid squaws squads will take baby out on beach give mm him to wind he explained casually too many people on island too ton many mouths months not enough meat squaws squads do this long time lien hen too many babies born 1 1 nan went with indignation tell chose hose women that it if they touch one calr of that In babas lyls hand vw kil them her P yes eves fairly y bl biased it if lie I 1 willi explain to him erie eric she ehe begged you wont let them carry out that horrible custom I 1 F no but you blame them too much its the only way they know knew to keep down the island population not uncommon in the north after the first day the baby would be perfectly safe starve themselves to keep it fat at make any sacrifice for it short of defying some of their heathen gods and taboos you know how bow kind they are to children you say no let baby die alel checha quo asked tell them that the baby roust must live there will be plenty of meat for all it if anyone harms the baby hell be harmed the same Chech translated the command amid a poignant silence the squaws squads nodded glad to be spared the grim of office lee but the old aleut rose from his corner hobbled into the lamplight and spoke in tremulous excited tones he say if baby live whole tribe have bad luck Chech interpreted when one too many born one have to die old gods say so long time ago if people no obey old gods get ml mighty gaty m mad ad raise h 1 birds no fly fish no run tell him that the old gods are dead eric nn answered gravely 1 I will take all the bad luck on ray my head tell him straight that the baby Is not to be harmed it Is the new law and not to be afraid the god of akon and the candlestick rules the island now and forbids the killing hilling of children when the patriarch heard he nodded and returned to his corner nan thought she saw a dull glow steal into his deep set eyes after their belated supper by the beach fire eric and nan turned again toward Cht gums turf hut 1 I dont entirely 1 I am not asleep I 1 am not dead I 1 am alive trust those squaws squads and maybe not the old roan man either nan said anyway I 1 want to see if ashes comfortable for table they walked leisurely at first but before they reached the door they were almost running but the scene by the flickering oil lamp soon rell relieved eved their fears lay with her baby at her breast her brond broad face radiant her long eyes darkly lustrous her coarse lips curled in a wistful half smile erie eric bent over her a full minute before he be chanced to see that the old aleut was no longer in his corner where la Is anulta cormorant chirum shook her head with a fateful air iler her eyes moved furtively in their almond slits silts suddenly eric and nan found themselves erect each reading the truth in the others blanching face you dont think nan began 1 I know it life must pay for life those were his last words who can understand these people I 1 ill get Chech we might save him yet eric sprinted from the room and nan heard mm lim shout as ashe he ran up the village row Chech jerked out of his fur bed was at first evasive and only when 14 kelc ric clutched hta his shoulder with iron fingers did he stutter out the truth the old gods must be propitiated it was the ancient haw of the island laid down by banaga the first man who abo came from heaven that life must pay for life white chief did not permit chirum a baby to be given to the winds so anulfo took its place otherwise birds would not fly nor sali salmon tion run Chech not know lie ile gone lie ile leave hut but while you eat mea meat tsay say goodby to old men go away to big cliff across island you no catch him ile he make medicine to gods jump in sen sea by now lie ile cou Int have reached there already put on your mukluks and come with mt me we may catch him yet but jaw set and lie he stood like a stone 1 I no go white whit 0 chief beat mckill me I 1 no go gol heap had bad luck there was no time to waste so E me eric sped back to Chi gums hut but im going to try to catch him he told nan its it long ion dark trek and better stay here im going too I 1 wont slow you up and pm im afraid to stay alone A moment later they were striding across the moors nan seemed fired by the mot flint of his will nothing mattered in the world but to arrive in time iler her little feet flew pitfall and stony mantrap mantral in the grass streaked I 1 i in potently behind with eric she felt a kinship a kind of unity of soul that was at once solemn and exultant at last they saw the iti in grim silhouette the moonlit sea on its crest was a minute black forio it might bo be no more than an odd shaped stone As they hurried nigh it grew incredibly la in st ita ture atura it was anulta rising from his knees to lift both arms in supplication to the sods gods of tho the winds between the gusts they heard him chanting in a thin waver ing voice there was no hope of selling him unawares ire ile stood on the very summit an immense granite granate eras crag whose hoary brow the sea it seemed best to advance silently until they could speak to him in quiet tones then somehow distract ills his atta atlon from his sacrificial rite until they could steal nearer and take his hand 1 I am not naceep I 1 am not dead I 1 am alive they heard him chant then there followed an earnest invocation eric could not translate no doubt nn an entreaty to the old gods of the wind and sea the spirits that made the birds fly and the salmon mamon run to take this humble falling failing life of his in the stead of the new given life denied them today the two intruders had now crept to the base of the rock on which the patriarch stood anulio An Anul ulga go eric called quietly ills chanting stopped in the middle of a note lie ile grunted nn an inquiry eric thanked tits his stars for his few aleut words and idioms stay where you von are we would make parley the reply was an excited outburst a at t the top of the thin voice there was a kind of tragic dignity tn in hla his sweeping gestures and erect white head the moonlight showed hla his eye sockets like black fissures in his drawn face go on up tip slowly eric muttered to nan its our only hope now maybe I 1 can keep him talking till we get our hands on him but Anul gas gals spirit was waa already running to meet his gods stronger hands handa than erics seemed to clasp his own As the two Vale palefaces faces peered over the tha rim he backed toward the void nans heart was suffocating so she clang to the ledge edge but eric sprang for the crest she saw him risk his own neck as he wrenched over the rim hla his hand snatching for Anul gaa gas parka lie ile was too late kou audam agon gou I 1 the old man walled invoking hla his heathen gods Achl dan then with a triumphant shout that echoed and trembled among the crags he be sprang into the sea dark water leaped high and drifted down in a nebulous cloud erle eric stood peering over the brink everything went black before nans eyes as she eho expected him to attempt a rescue but it would only be suicide and the old island gods had their due already poor old chap he murmured then he turned back bach and reaching a hand bond to nar nan drew her up beside him long moments passed before they remembered words they listened to the sullen roar of the surf the long sp lashings of the waves against the rock they watched the shimmering path of the moon across the sea they were infinitely alone it was as though they were the only living things on a far planet planed tho the first of mankind to draw breath in some forlorn lost universe god forgotten through the cons im almost glad we win eric whispered at last the hushed sound did not break the tha solitude but harmonized with the swish of the surf and the winds breath 1 I thought come to that before long nan answered you saw it from the first you your sensibilities are far finer than mine I 1 could see only my own side Anul gas time was almost up anyway next winter would probably finish him slow decad at last a rattle in h his I 1 s t throat h roat and his old ld hones thrust in the sea cave As it Is he be went with hand on his shoulder and the flush of glory on his face better than that lie ile died for hla his tribe a heros beros death it was an illusion of course hut but a fools faith Is better than no faith at nil fill I 1 dl d nt use to understand that hut but I 1 do now eric bric gazed far oft off and a fools love loveis Is better than no love at all it something in tits hla tone made her throat catch in the weird moon beams his eyes shone like glass lie ile reached for her hand ills touch seemed to complete nn an electric circuit ills head bond bent and she saw tits ills hair blowing in the wind as he slowly gently kissed her fingers it was a token of surrender his second tonight A feiy minutes before he had bowed down to the stern des dei tiny that exacted an old mans life in payment for a moments exultation of his soul now he bent his head again to hla his own hard bargaining fate as it moved through nan ile he would no longer haggle over the price lie e would risk nil all rive give all for one deep arenth of mountain ner one rocket rush to the stars once he had sold that he was afraid to sall sail the strait but that fear had passed if his ship struck the rocks and went down at least he would see the distant gleam of the harbor L ive tried to deny it until now he said gravely 1 I was afraid I 1 could never win you so I 1 dare love you I 1 knew how it would be with me you did too if it once took hold bold of me it would never let me go it would follow me always nan smiled dimly this was so steadfastness loyalty unfaltering idealism were the watch cries of this strong mans life itte racially and individually they were his bick backbone bone ills mother was wnm the old spa sea his fattier father the new north to one woman only could he surrender and to her he must give everything I 1 now ive got to love you whether I 1 win you or nov he went ov on youve made roe me with your beauty and your houi bravery and just you TO not DB |