Sky Knife (11 page)

Blood House's quarters were empty. Not even a blanket remained to remind anyone of his presence here. Sky Knife tried not to think about Blood House's body on the bench as he threw his blankets down on it.

Bone Splinter deposited the bowl and jar in a corner.

“All right,” said Sky Knife. “Let's go.”

Bone Splinter nodded. He led Sky Knife out of the acropolis, eastward toward the House of the Warriors. Just to the south of that building sat a small, rectangular outbuilding.

Bone Splinter stepped aside and let Sky Knife enter first. The room inside was a few feet deep, but stretched out to his left for eight or ten yards. Between him and the end of the room stood Kan Flower, his burly arms crossed over his chest. A smile raced across his face as he saw Sky Knife. The smile faltered as he caught sight of the serpent, but he said nothing.

“Ah, Sky Knife,” he said. “We've a few men here for you to speak with.”

“You're fish waste,” called a high, stringy voice from behind Kan Flower. “You can't keep us here. We've done nothing!”

Kan Flower's expression looked pained. “There are seven merchants here. But
that
one is vocal enough for all,” he said.

Kan Flower stood aside and Sky Knife stepped past him. Six men sat on the floor and stared at Sky Knife dully. The seventh stood rigidly, arms folded across a chest bare of tattoos. He was bald and a jade hoop hung from his nose. He was almost Sky Knife's height, but his pudginess made him look shorter.

“I am Nine Dog,” said the merchant. “Of the great city of Monte Alban. Who are you, monkey dung?”

Sky Knife leaned against the wall. “I am the king's representative,” he said. “In this matter, at least.”

Nine Dog waved plump arms at Sky Knife. “What matter? The bad luck? About time, I say. This backwater village could use some shaking up.”

“You've been to Uaxactun recently?”

The merchant nodded. “Last week,” he said. “They're a good market for shells from the western sea. And salt, of course.”

“What about wood?” asked Sky Knife. Wood from the
ceiba
tree could be used for many magical purposes. Charms and spells could perhaps be stored in it, to be released at a later time. “Or bones?”

The merchant ran a hand over his bare scalp. Sweat dripped down his face. “It's too hot in this country,” he said. “And no, I don't deal in wood or bones. I can't imagine why I should choose to market such common stuff.”

“What about the rest of you? I'm sure Kan Flower has already determined what it is you sell, and where you are from, so there's no reason to lie to me now.”

The others shook their heads. “I'm leaving,” said one. He had a strong highlands accent. “Next time I leave Copan, I'll think twice about coming here.”

“And you?” Sky Knife asked the merchant from Copan. “What do you sell?”

“
Yax-um
feathers,” said the man. “And
metates.
Three of these men are my assistants.”

Nine Dog laughed. “I bet they get to carry the
metates,
” he said.

“You won't be leaving,” said Sky Knife. “No bad luck has happened to Tikal since you were brought here. Do you understand what that means?”

Nine Dog stepped forward and spat at Sky Knife. “It means you think one of us is bringing the bad luck on purpose.”

“You would, too, wouldn't you?” said the merchant from Copan in a weary voice.

“But not while I was still
here,
” protested Nine Dog. “I don't want bad luck around me—what if it follows me onto the trail home?”

“If you were going back to Uaxactun,” said Sky Knife, “and the bad luck followed you, you could ask a priest to drive it away.”

Nine Dog's eyes narrowed. “Perhaps,” he said. “But maybe I wouldn't want to see a Mayan priest at all. You don't worship the gods the way we do. Only a Zapotec priest could help me.”

Nine Dog turned his back on Sky Knife. The men on the floor returned to looking at their feet. Sky Knife went back to the entrance.

“Kan Flower,” he said. The warrior stepped close to Sky Knife.

“Yes?”

“Will it be a problem to keep them here a while longer?”

The warrior shook his head. “No. I can keep them here a day or two at least. But then the king will want something done with them.”

“Something?” asked Sky Knife.

Kan Flower grinned. “We can always just go ahead and kill them. If the bad luck stays away, the rest of the merchants won't mind.”

“No,” said Sky Knife. “Not yet, anyway. Let's just keep them here and see what happens.”

Kan Flower nodded, but rolled his eyes. “If you don't tell me to let them go soon, I will be sorely tempted to kill the bald one, at least.”

Sky Knife grasped Kan Flower's arm and smiled, partially appalled at his actions. A few days ago, he'd never dared get close to a warrior, let alone touch one. How long ago that time seemed. “I'm sure he is in good hands.”

Kan Flower nodded and walked back to his post. Sky Knife stepped outside. “Nine Dog certainly hates Tikal enough to bring us bad luck,” he said as he joined Bone Splinter. “Why would he come here at all, anyway?”

“Men will follow the path of wealth wherever it leads,” said Bone Splinter. “Even to death.”

Sky Knife walked back toward the plaza. “He didn't see the
chic-chac.
But he wasn't very tall.”

“Taller than Turtle Nest. And I don't think any of them saw the snake. I doubt you'll find many merchants who will be able to.”

Disappointment hovered over Sky Knife, but he refused to give in. The person or persons causing Tikal's bad luck would be found. Between himself, the warriors, and Turtle Nest, they had to be found.

The sun topped the trees behind him and warmed Sky Knife's back. His shadow preceded him into the plaza.

The plaza was busy today; the merchants who stayed away yesterday afternoon after the incident with the jaguar had returned. The hubbub of a thousand voices washed over Sky Knife. He strode through the plaza, looking for Red Spider.

No one stared at Sky Knife as he passed; apparently, Death Smoke was right when he said most people would not be able to see the
chic-chac.
The vendor of love gifts winked at him and pointed in her basket at the brown rabbit, but Sky Knife shook his head. The vendor didn't react as if she'd seen something unusual.

“There,” said Bone Splinter. He pointed to his right. Sky Knife looked, but, from his height, couldn't see what Bone Splinter was pointing at.

“What?” he asked.

“Red Spider,” said Bone Splinter. “He is talking with a customer.”

“Show me.”

Bone Splinter walked through the crowd confidently. The people in the plaza made way for him. Sky Knife followed in the taller man's wake.

Sky Knife didn't see Red Spider until Bone Splinter stepped aside. The Teotihuacano merchant talked to a pregnant woman, his hands gesturing about him in almost comical fashion.

The woman leaned over to study the jewelry more closely. Her orange dress was embroidered with shell beads and her hair had been carefully coiled about her head. She was almost as tall as Sky Knife.

Red Spider glanced toward Sky Knife, then glanced away. He did a swift double take and stared at Sky Knife, eyes on the
chic-chac.

“Excuse me,” he said to his customer. “One of my assistants can help you, I'm sure.”

Red Spider strode past the woman, who watched him depart, then turned and left the area, ignoring the fawning attendant completely.

Bone Splinter stood close to Sky Knife and slightly out in front, so that his bulk was effectively between Sky Knife and Red Spider. Sky Knife was grateful for the support, for Red Spider's gaze never left Sky Knife's throat.

“Where did you get that?” asked Red Spider. “It is exquisite. What would you take for it?”

Bone Splinter held out an arm in front of Red Spider. “Come no closer to him,” he said.

Red Spider ignored the warrior. “What is it made of?” he asked, his voice soft as a whisper. “I have never seen a carving so realistic. I can almost see it breathe.”

“It is breathing,” said Sky Knife, somewhat perturbed. Red Spider could see the
chic-chac,
but he didn't realize it was a true serpent, and not a piece of jewelry. What did that say about Red Spider's heart?

“It can't be.” Red Spider frowned and leaned over Bone Splinter's arm. Sky Knife felt the snake move slightly. Red Spider's eyes grew wide and his mouth dropped open. “Feathered Serpent, it is! I saw its tongue. Only for a moment, but still! It is alive! May I touch it?”

Bone Splinter frowned, but Sky Knife nodded. “I think that is up to the
chic-chac,
” he said. “You can try.”

Red Spider reached a long finger toward the snake. Slowly, he touched it once briefly. Then he touched it again, and this time, he stroked it slightly. “It's warm,” he said. “I can't believe it.” Red Spider dropped his hand.

Sky Knife stepped back slightly. “If you don't mind,” he said. “I'd like to ask you a few more questions.”

“All right,” said Red Spider. “I…”

A drop of rain struck Red Spider's face, and he flinched. Sky Knife looked into the sky. A strange black cloud swirled about angrily overhead. Another drop came down from the cloud and landed on Sky Knife's arm. He looked at it.

The water was black.

11

Sky Knife brushed the drop off his arm. The water stung his hand as much as the butterfly bites had. More drops fell. The hubbub of voices in the plaza became louder, more shrill. Merchants looked into the sky, then scrambled to get their wares put away and on the backs of their assistants.

Sky Knife turned and ran for the acropolis. Suddenly, lightning cracked and a deep rumble of thunder rang throughout the plaza. The rumbling echoed between the tall stone buildings until Sky Knife felt it more in his gut than heard it with his ears.

A few more drops fell. They were large and dark. The cloud had grown to cover the entire sky. Water poured out of the sky. It stung wherever it touched Sky Knife's skin. He continued toward the acropolis, followed by Bone Splinter. Screams rang through the plaza as people tried to brush off the stinging raindrops.

As soon as he reached the patio, Sky Knife no longer had to contend with the crowd. He dashed across the patio and ducked behind the thick drape, Bone Splinter on his heels.

Sky Knife went to Blood House's—
his
—quarters and brought back two cotton blankets. He handed one to Bone Splinter and they dried themselves off. The stinging subsided as his skin dried.

Sky Knife went back to the drapery and pulled it aside slightly. The plaza was nearly empty now, only a few stragglers remaining, and they were running away as fast as they could.

“More bad luck,” said Sky Knife. “Who ever heard of this kind of rain? I guess this means the merchants Kan Flower has are not responsible—if he saw them working magic strong enough to bring this rain, he'd surely stop them.” Sky Knife swallowed his disappointment. He hadn't realized how badly he wanted Nine Dog to be the one—at least then, he would have succeeded in his task quickly. And the man responsible was someone easy to dislike.

“Perhaps,” said Bone Splinter. “But they could have accomplices. I'm not sure that Nine Dog has told us all he knows. They might still be responsible, at least in part.”

Sky Knife turned back to the small fire in the center of the room and added some wood from a pile in the corner. The fire blazed up, greedily consuming the wood.

A snuffling sound came from the corridor beyond. Sky Knife glanced up, but saw nothing. Bone Splinter walked carefully to the corridor and stepped into the darkness.

“All right, come out of there,” said Bone Splinter. He sounded amused.

Bone Splinter came out of the hallway, followed by Jade Flute and her maid. Sky Knife's heart jumped. Jade Flute's white dress was stained by the black rain, and her hair looked wet and bedraggled. Her dress clung to her body and legs, outlining her slender figure in a very immodest way.

“What are you staring at?” Jade Flute asked. She walked straight to the fire and began waving her skirt near it to dry it. The motion also revealed her legs up to her knees. Sky Knife's own knees felt weak.

Sky Knife glanced away. When he looked back, Jade Flute had turned her back to the fire and was waving the back of her skirt close to the flames. A tongue of flame caught the edge of her skirt. Sky Knife stared a brief moment, horrified at the sight of the flame searing Jade Flute's skirt.

Sky Knife leaped over the fire and grabbed Jade Flute's skirt in his hands. He batted at the small flames until only a scorched hole in the skirt remained as witness to their presence.

“What are you doing?” demanded Jade Flute. She whirled around, ripped her skirt out of Sky Knife's hands, and slapped him across the cheek. Sky Knife's face stung with the force of her blow.

Sky Knife stood to face Jade Flute. “Your skirt had caught fire,” he said. “Perhaps I should have let the fire burn it away.”

“That's disgusting,” said Jade Flute. “You wouldn't dare. I am the king's wife's niece!”

“You're a spoiled brat.”

“That, too,” said Jade Flute. “You might be, too, if your father kept trying to marry you off to every foul-smelling rank-conscious noble within a hundred miles.”

Sky Knife was silent for a moment. “Maybe,” he said at last. “But that's no excuse to be rude to me.”

“I don't need an excuse. You're a nobody, even if you wear all that paint and have a
chic-chac
around your neck.”

Sky Knife was stunned. He had assumed Jade Flute could not see the serpent, but see it she did—and she was not impressed. How could she not be?