Inca 2 : Scourge of the Sun 13

[ismenin]

Yes, well, here it is, then. i hope you enjoy it. I must say ladysunrope did well to beta this, as she does not like creepy crawlies. So, when she marries Dom, he'll have to keep his insects in the shed - and the shed better be in Ulan Batur!




Thanks, LSR, for shuddering beta!


Part 13 - Meetings and Partings


Dom was a good sailor; he had no trouble straddling a rolling deck, looking out at the billowing waves - but this was different.

Sitting in a cramped boat for hours on end on buttocks that had so recently been thrashed until they were black and blue was becoming painful. However, he said nothing, but requested of one of the boatmen a blanket to sit on before the man packed them away.

The boatman looked at him as if he were mad, but complied with his request. Dom settled down feeling far more comfortable and when Lizhe stepped into the boat that morning, Dom was able to smile at him with far more truth in his face than there had been on the previous day.

They stopped in the heat of the noon sun to eat and rest, and Lizhe slept under a tree, whilst Dom protected him from the ever present insects that abounded on the river by waving a large leaf over his body.

Will came to sit by him as he did this, and asked, in a murmur, where they were bound.

Dom did not know, only that Lizhe had woken that morning and shaken his head, as if to clear it, and had been very quiet as they had broken their fast before getting on the river. "I'm not sure, Will. I hesitate to ask him, it disturbs him to talk of our journey since...since we left the island."

Will had examined Dom's face carefully. "Why is he disturbed, Dom? Do you know?"

Dom shook his head; he did not wish to answer. He did not want his friend to know what Amaru had told him of Lizhe's dream. He will not see Qoylurani...

At that moment Lizhe stirred, so Will began talking about something unexceptional, and made Dom laugh, which also brought a smile to Lizhe's face.

One of the men brought Lizhe a cup from Amaru, which he drank thirstily. Will laughed again. "Yon golden cups must weigh heavy in his pack, Lizhe. Why did he not bring horn - or wooden ones? He'll hae ane shoulder lower than t'other by the time we're finished."

Lizhe joined in the laughter. "My cousin has a very high sense of what is due his royal blood, and my kingship, Will. I allow it to him because he is faithful, and counts it no burden to honour my state whether I sit upon the golden throne at Cuzco, or in the dirt of the ground under a tree in the forests of my domain."

They all stared at Amaru, carefully packing his belongings. He allowed no other man to do so, and Dom thought the servants must be glad not to have the task, so meticulous was he about the disposition of his things.


It was on the fifth day that they encountered them. It was night and they were settled for sleep, the hide still over their heads, as there was no wind. Suddenly one of the men shouted an alarm, and Dom jumped from his blankets as he saw Lizhe do the same. Together they went out into the moonlit night to be faced with a group of twelve or fourteen warriors, naked and painted, several with blow-pipes pressed to their lips and pointing at the startled group.

"I do not know of these men," Lizhe had whispered. "There has been no mention..."

"Silence!" cried one of the men in a tone of authority. Fortunately, Dom understood the Quechua, although the stranger spoke in a highly inflected dialect.

"What are you doing so far from the cities in your fine raiment?" he asked of Amaru, who, being the most imposing figure there, the man presumed was their leader.
Dom was very glad that they were not wearing the priestly garb, as it was deemed not to be necessary, so far from human contact. Or so they had thought. But there were men here, and they seemed far from friendly.

Amaru had cleared his throat before answering and had shot Lizhe a fleeting look that clearly said remain silent!

"We are searching for the lost city of Qoylurani-Ica, by the command of God," Amaru stated, baldly. The man seemed puzzled, but did not appear to be angry with them.

"Why do you search here? There is no city hidden within these forests. I have lived here thirty years, and my father and his fathers time out of mind before him, and never have we known of a hidden city."

Amaru pursed his lips. "We come down the river as it is the swiftest way. We will leave it when God gives us a sign."

The man gestured and the warriors lowered their pipes. "How will God tell you where to go?"

Amaru pointed at Lizhe. "We have a priest amongst us who is also a shaman. He will be told the way. The holy Viracocha speaks through him."

The man tucked his blow-pipe into the only thing he wore, a narrow beaded belt about his waist. He walked towards Lizhe and Dom saw the tribal markings etched into his face and body. Unconsciously Dom put his arm around Lizhe's waist, as the man stopped before him and bowed.

"These men you bring with you are not of our people, priest. They have hair on their faces and bodies, and are pale as you are pale. But I see you are of our people, and I sense that what the big man says is true. Is it so?"

Lizhe answered in a firm voice, "These men are good men who help us in our search for Qoylurani. You need not fear them. As to your question, it is true - I am both priest and shaman. Why do you ask?"

The man looked at the floor. "My woman is sick with trying to birth our child. Our shaman is a weak old man and his pupil not old enough yet, to be of help. The old man says there are other women of our tribe who will bear me sons - but I do not wish for other women. I have made the choice of my heart. Can you help her?"

Lizhe breathed in deeply. "I can try - but if it is God's will that she join him, you must be ready to accept it. Viracocha God is not always awake to the pleas of men, for he has his own purposes, and only he knows the end from the beginning. Lead on."

Dom made to follow Lizhe out of the clearing, but the man stopped him with a firm hand laid on his chest. "The shaman comes alone."

Lizhe stopped and shook his head. "He comes with me, or I do not go. The choice is yours."

The man scowled but removed his hand. He pointed to several of the men. "Remain here until I return. Guard them but do not hurt them. It may be the shaman can help Pachama, for no-one else can."

He led the way through the dense undergrowth, and Dom marvelled that he knew the way as no path was apparent in the deep dark of the night.

The clearing in the woods contained about ten or twelve huts fashioned from branches and woven with leaves. The largest of these seemed to be lit within by branches dipped in animal fat for they gave off an unpleasant smell as the three men entered the hut.

Lying on a bed of skins on the floor was a young woman, her long hair soaked with sweat, and beside her, two older women whose faces even in that dim light were etched with grief.

The sick woman's eyes were closed, and the lids blue with fatigue. Lizhe knelt beside her and took her hand in his.

"I have brought a shaman to you, woman. It may be he can help you," her man said kneeling beside her.

The woman's eyes opened, and stared at Lizhe. "I am far away," she said in a whisper.

Dom knew that Lizhe was well aware of the problems of women in childbed, and this one it seemed to him, had given up the fight.

Lizhe felt her belly. "She is too tight here. The muscles have gone into spasm and will not allow the baby passage," he said in rapid Spanish. "Do you remember Quisbe birthing your son? We must do as we did then, as Villac instructed us. Can you remember?"

Dom nodded. He had massaged as Villac had chanted, and Lizhe had spoke soothingly to her until the muscles relaxed and the baby was born.

Lizhe glanced at the man. "I need you to talk quietly to her whilst I chant the prayers and Dom massages her, Can you do this? You need to keep her mind from travelling - for if it goes too far from her body she will be lost to you."

Dom had already asked the women for oil or fat, and been given a bowl of something thick and greasy, which he rubbed into her belly and started to knead. The man whispered into his woman's ear as Lizhe began the prayer. After a very few minutes Dom noticed the air in the room change as it had in Yupanque's case, and as Lizhe voice rose and fell, Dom stopped what he was doing and grasped, as he had then, Lizhe's hands, and joined with him in the chant.

One of the women took Dom's place and continued kneading and, after several minutes, she whispered, "it is working; look, the belly is not so tense..."

Dom glanced down; the muscles unlocked from their spasm, and a true contraction rippled along the woman's skin and allowed nature to resume her task.

Within a few minutes the woman was holding her son, and Dom and Lizhe leaned back against the hide-covered walls and breathed deeply.

As soon as they had rested, and both the man and the three women had effusively thanked them, they left the hut and breathed in the fresh night air.

The man followed them out, and knelt on one knee at their feet. "I thank you for the lives of my woman and child, for I know I would have neither if you had not come. I shall send messages to the other tribes in the forest that you are to be let through the lands without hindrance. I owe to you an debt that can never be repaid."

He thrust something into Lizhe's hand. "Take this as a remembrance of the lives you have saved. May it afford you protection as you journey through the land.
I will send you back to your friends with my brother as guide. Farewell."

Dom looked at the thing Lizhe was holding. It was a small silver figure, three inches high; a figure of a man wearing the sun on his head.

They watched the man return to his hut, as his brother stood a respectful distance away until they should be ready to leave.

Lizhe smiled; Dom saw his lips lift by the light of the torch their guide was holding. "It is me, Dom," he whispered. "Look - on its chest - the royal emblem of the Sapa Inca."

They followed the guide back to the clearing where they were left in peace with the others. It was still deep night, so they went to their tent promising to tell their story in the morning, and Lizhe tucked the little idol in his pack, still smiling.

The next morning they rose to find the servants still had not risen, for the clearing was empty and the fires unlit.

Will wandered down the bank to wake them, and came rushing back to inform the astonished group that the men had gone. "There is nothing left of our baggage - nothing!" Will gasped. "They have left us no food or water, and have taken everything, even the boats have gone!"

Dom looked down river and saw that Will was right. Only the packs they were using as pillows were left to them, and they contained only their spare clothing and a few medicaments in case of sickness.

Amaru's face was like thunder. "Deserting God in his hour of need! I will strip the flesh from their bones if I ever meet up with them again - the ingrates."

Dom put a restraining arm on the man's shoulder. "Can we be sure the natives did not take them?" he asked, looking around at the baffled men.

Lizhe shook his head. "I think not - they were grateful to us, were they not? However, I think we should try to find that small village, and see if there is food they can spare us. We have no choice, now, but to travel inland."

They discovered, regrettably, that they had to leave their tents behind them, and set out with only the packs they had carried when they left the Holy City. Amaru, however, could not be persuaded to shed a single item from his stuffed pack, stoutly maintaining that he was a strong man and capable of carrying twice that weight. He even tried to take Lizhe's pack, stubbornly stating that it was not fit for God to go trudging through forests carrying bundles.

Lizhe shook his head at his cousin, but smiled. "I am well used to it, now, for I have had practised long and hard these past weeks with Will and Dom. If I feel overburdened, I will gladly give it up to you, I swear!" And with that, Amaru had to be content.

They found the village after about an hour. It was not easily discovered, but there were a few signs, here and there, of their passage the night before. Dom pointed to a broken twig. "We are not so careful of our path as are these men - we left tracks where they did not."

A man jumped out of a tree, landing in front of them, and several stood behind him, their blowpipes in their hands. However, when they saw who the intruders were, they lowered the pipes, and the leader asked if they were the group which held the shaman who had healed Loka's woman in the night.

Lizhe stepped forward. "I am he - and this man aided me. Loka gave me this token..." he fumbled in his pack until he found it. "...will you bring us to him?"

The man nodded and gestured the other warriors away. Soon they entered the clearing where they had laboured for the two lives during the night.

At the man's call, Loka came out into the morning sun. He was smiling, but puzzled. When Lizhe told him that their men had run off with their supplies and boats he immediately ordered some of the women to bring food, and they sat under a tree and broke their fast.

It was plain he was the head of the little group, and though it was certain there was not much food in the encampment, he pressed on them what little they could spare, and told them a few miles to the north there were cuy aplenty to be caught. It was the one thing the little camp seemed to have in abundance, so the men allowed the villagers to give them eight animals, two each, to cook for their meal that evening.

He pressed them to stay, but it was obvious that the group's meagre stores would be sadly depleted if they lingered for even a single day, so after admiring the baby in the daylight, and congratulating the couple on the new addition to the family, they decided to press on and see how far they could go - perhaps even out of the forest - before nightfall.

As they were preparing to leave, one of the old women who had been in attendance the night before pressed a small leaf-wrapped parcel into Lizhe's hand. Dom could smell the sweetness coming from it, and smiled. Honey. Lizhe would enjoy that.

The journey through the forest was hard. Loka had sent two warriors to lead them to the borders of their land, but when they came to a stream, they resolutely refused to cross it.

They did point out, however, that the tribe whose territory it was had not yet arrived from the high land, and that the travellers should be safe from their attentions. Dom fervently hoped this would be so.

They had found a few tomatoes and other wild fruits at the edge of the trees, and Amaru said, petulantly, gathering some in his cap, that he had been misinformed as to the depth of the forest.

Will nodded. "I canna think it would be the same thickness everywhere, man. It must be narrower in some places than others."

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I think it would be safer if Dom and I put on our priestly clothes. Now we are out of the trees we might meet with the Spanish, and. although we'll be gae hot in it, it's a sicht better than being deid."

They had stopped for a few minutes to eat the fruit and the little round balls of some kind of meal which the tribe had given them.

It tasted sour, and Lizhe was just remarking that it would have been better if sweetened when he remembered the honey. He tried to hand the small piece of honeycomb around the group, but all refused it, saying that they did not care for honey.

Dom said nothing, as he could not lie - he liked honey - but would only accept the smallest bite before handing it back to Lizhe who consumed it with relish, licking his fingers with delight, like a small child.

It was hot in the valley, and Dom wished they were in the mountains again where the breeze was cool even though the sun shone hot upon them. As they crossed another small stream they stopped to fill their water bottles. Dom thought he could hear, in the distance, a faint humming, but could see nothing.

They had just moved away from the water when they came swarming out of the sun. Bees! The men had no time to think, before the bees landed on their exposed skin and started drinking their sweat like creatures who had not seen moisture for days.

"Sweat bees!" cried Amaru, trying to brush off the swarm with his hands. "They do not sting, but they bite. Our only hope of ridding ourselves of them is to walk away..."

He went silent, and stared at Lizhe with a look off horror on his face. Every inch of Lizhe's skin was covered in huge, ecstatic bees, drawn there, Dom realised, by his salt and honey-drenched sweat.

Lizhe stood perfectly still, unable to do anything else, as the creatures, maddened by the honey, bit him all over, and burrowed into the roots of his hair, biting it off in clumps.

Dom rushed to him and began scooping them off with his hat. Will joined him, and Amaru raced back to the stream, bringing water in a piece of hide he had in his pack.

This continued until the bees tired of drinking and flew off in search of other victims, and Lizhe was left lying on the ground, trembling, his body covered with small bites.

Dom picked him up and carried him to the shelter of a tree. He held him in his lap and drew the remaining bees from Lizhe's hair, throwing them into the air with a curse.

They had all disappeared, now. Dom examined Lizhe's face which was swelling with hundreds of little bites, and his body, also, reddened by the onslaught of the insects.

Amaru brought more water, and helped Dom to wash Lizhe, by passing him the cool fresh cloths as needed.

Will found a cup and filled it with clear water from the stream, holding it to Lizhe's lips, which were swollen and red.

After a few minutes rest, Lizhe rose unsteadily to his feet. "We must move on," he said, his voice indistinct from the bees assault on his mouth. "We cannot stay here. We must get to higher ground before they return."

Amaru nodded as Dom looked anxiously at his love - wanting him to rest longer, but fearful that if they found no other prey, the bees would return.

"You are very right, Lord." Amaru said, decisively. "Which way shall we head?"

Lizhe stood for a few moments in thought, and his words, when he spoke, struck Dom's very soul with deepest dread,

"I do not know," he said, wearily, "you choose."



Addendum.

I used a little licence there - sweat bees do sting. Here is a picture. LSR, DON'T LOOK!!!

Comments

[lireeli.livejournal.com]

OMG!! I hate these bees...and know, Lij is in trouble... Thousands of bites must be danderous, mustn't they?
Great chapter as usual!!!
*hugs*

[mole-caz.livejournal.com]

What a lovely chapter although not the part with the bees perhaps! Actually I don't mind bees at all and that sweat bee is a very handsome little fella! Hubbie doesn't like them as bee stings make him react very badly and every sting he has, makes the reaction worse - not good!

[laeliacatt.livejournal.com]

omg, bees! I hope he doesn't go into shock. Oh, I'm so worried!

I got into a swarm (?) of ants day before yesterday on the floor of the aviary. They were moving their colony, apparently, since many were carrying eggs. They bit my feet and ankles as I tried to get rid of them (can't have them around the parrots) and thank goodness the birds weren't in the aviary at the time. I had so many bites that my ankle started to swell and I had to take a benadryl. Poor, Lizhe! I almost know how he feels. :(

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

What a great chapter. The way they were able to help the poor woman in childbirth was wonderful, but it was a shock that their servants disappeared and left them without food or boats. Makes me wonder what happened to them. would they really have deserted Lizhe? And the bees! Oh, sweat bees can drive you wild, I know. Poor Lizhe.

[frolijah-fan-54.livejournal.com]

Was so happy to see this today - a whole day early!! And extra thanks to LSR for betaing thru the bees. I loved when Lizhe and Dom were able to help the woman give birth - but was shocked when their servants deserted them. And then the bee attack - poor Lizhe with all those bites he must feel horrible. And now he can't even tell them which way to go!! Another great chapter and I am just so drawn into this story - it just gets better and better!! Thanks so much. *hugs*

[verangel.livejournal.com]

How could I not love this...it was Dom and Lizhe in their subtle but loving glory. They are moving ahead...then these naked warriors. I loved the part about childbirth and the shaman with his friend helping her.
But whats with the guys leaving and stealing their stuff?
Were they the men with Amaru? Why would they do this. How could they be so disrespectful. Lizhe needs to realise then that there is a problem in their own rank.
I love every reference to LIzhe. He is such an amazingly beautiful soul and so pure as you have written him. He is so strong and so is Dom...although Dom still knows his human heart and feelings...even if he isn't totally. He feels the emotions that drive those feelings.
The ending...the bees...I am picturing the horror of it and see Lizhe not being able to function. I can also understand the bees going to his body..imagining the taste of his skin then, sweat, sweet and honey..oh yeah..
But the swarming is horrible and he is going to suffer from this. Poor Lizhe...is there ever any peace for all the good he gives? Its too sad.
xoxoxo love you, wonderful story..take care you sweet thing. v

[chickenlegs-11.livejournal.com]

Ooohh, poor Lizhe, but I would willingly kiss every one of his bee-bites! ;D

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

Eeee! Poor dear Lizhe. Hasn't he been through enough? I can see the journey will be very hard for them now.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

bless him - they sound awful things! i like the good plain bumble-bee who gives honey and buzzes pleasantly and wouldn't dream of drinking your sweat! thanks, love! ;D xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

i like bees - just not these little tykes! poor lizhe! thank you dear. xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

we have ants in the garden - like bees, you need to talk to them, and tell them not to come into the house. they rarely do, anyway - but biting ants sound as bad as biting, sucking bees!!!poor lizhe indeed!! ;D xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

well, even i have no idea what happened to the servants, yet. we'll both find out later, perhaps! who knows? pets lizhe. ;D xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

thank you my dear. i'm glad you like it. it did make me smile - dom and lizhe, the midwives! well, lizhe, at least has had plenty of experience with his thirty-odd children. ;D xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

thank you! lots of questions, there - some of which might be answered later. grins. i'm just glad you like it enough to keep reading, my love. and peace he will have, i assure you - in the ensd. evol cackle. ;D xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

oh, ar! me, too, kiddo! ;D xxx

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

when lizhe finds out he can be a man as well as he can be god, he will have rest. huggles you. xxx

[laeliacatt.livejournal.com]

Yes, poor Lizhe. :( And I read that your arm was bothering you again. Poor you! I hope it feels better today. *pets*

I don't mind ants in the garden but there's no way I could talk them out of coming into the aviary. Parrots are messy eaters and no matter how often I sweep and mop, they will drop bits of fruit all over. I can't get it all before the ant scouts find it and invite all their sisters in to dine. ;) Ants will often get into the birds' food dishes as well so I had to declare war. I hate to do that but my birdies come first.

[angharad001.livejournal.com]

I like bees - I used to fish them out of puddles and ponds with a leaf when I was very little. Of course, I don't approve of bees biting Lizhe but mostly bees are good people.

I have finally started reading and can't stop for comments . . . except for bees.

Thank you, dearest Issi, for beautiful stories. And I will read more and leave more (inane) comments sfter this.

*Loving You*

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

i love bees, too! Except these nasty things...and Amazonian killer-bees! Oh, no! Glad you seem to be liking it anyway! Hugses. xxx

[angharad001.livejournal.com]

No killer bees allowed! . . . er, I lied about not having time for comments (sometimes I just can't) and have been completely distracted by bees ;(

I love every word of it!

And you know that's true - you are a wonderful teller of tales and I need the good strong stories to see me through.

(((((ismenin)))))

*Hugs and Kisses*

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Squooges ya back! xxxxxxxx

[janejanejane.livejournal.com]

Chapter 13, unlucky for poor Lizhe... after he had helped the unfortunate woman in childbirth, too. That was lovely, I had tears in my eyes then.

I'd not heard of sweat bees, but hope never to encounter any, they sound very nasty! What will happen to our beloved Lizhe, now?

Thanks, you always leave us wanting to read on!

XXXX

[lisabellex.livejournal.com]

Well, I've certainly learned something new! I hadn't come across sweat bees before, nor would I want to. Poor Lizhe, all bitten and swollen, and ailing once more. Gripping chapter, particularly the birthing scene. Off to find more!

:D

[http://users.livejournal.com/saura_/]

OMG! I KNEW the honey had something to do with the story! My poor Lizhe is blind!!!! *is very scared*

The bee is scary, btw!

I loved the scene with the villagers; it was brilliant!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Poor LSR has a phobia of insects. How she managed to beta that I don't know. Scary bee indeed! ;D xxx