Book of Days_ A Novel - James L. Rubart [2]
Hassun twisted his attacker's leg and the man sprawled on the ground, his head inches from striking a rock.
Not close enough.
The man leaped to his feet, stepped back five paces, and snatched a bow and a pine shaft with a brilliant black arrowhead off the ground. By the time Hassun staggered to his feet and shook his head, the man had nocked the arrow.
"Nukpana? Why?"
"You are surprised?"
"You were my friend."
"I am still your friend and ever will be." Nukpana drew back slightly on the bowstring, the arrow pointed at Hassun's chest, and laughed. "Do not worry, I am not going to kill you. I could have done that easily with a larger rock a moment ago." He released the pressure on the bowstring and stroked the arrow's white feathers. "You never could hide your tracks. I only need to know where the Stories are and I will leave you."
Hassun should have seen it. The rage two summers past when he was chosen guardian instead of Nukpana, then the false praise for having been given the honor. Being badgered almost daily ever since in a half-joking, half-serious manner about the location.
"And if I do not tell you where they are?"
"I will see how much pain you can endure before you die. But know before you join our ancestors, you will tell me."
"The Stories are not for your eyes."
"But they are for yours?"
"I am not the one who made that choice."
"And who is?" Nukpana pierced the tip of his forefinger with the point of the arrowhead and a drop of blood seeped out.
"You know."
"But those who chose you are gone, and the understanding now only remains with you."
Hassun nodded, his long black braids hanging over his muscled shoulders.
"What if something happens to you? Another must retain the knowledge."
"That is not for any man alone to decide. You know this also."
"Think, Hassun. We could use its power for so much good. Together. You and I. Blood brothers since our youth. We could wield the insights and foretelling it offers to—"
"No. That is not its purpose."
"If you will not tell, then give me the stone." Nukpana spread his feet wider, one in front of the other, renocked the arrow and drew it back.
"I cannot. Even if you do not yet know how to decipher the markings, it would be the same as telling you." Hassun massaged the small stone that hung from his neck on a thin leather cord under his buckskin shirt. "You know this."
"Enough. Give me the stone." Nukpana drew the bowstring back further, his first two fingers turning a deep red where the string bit into them.
Hassun stared into Nukpana's eyes as he lifted the stone from around his neck and let it hang from his upturned palm.
"Yes, throw it to me and there will be peace between us."
"No." Hassun wrapped the cord around the stone and closed his fist around it.
"One more chance. Tell me where the Stories are or give me the stone. Either one and you will live. Now."
Hassun closed his eyes. "For You, I choose." He opened his eyes and gauged the distance between Nukpana and the edge of the cliff. Three paces, maybe four. The distance might be short enough. Nukpana would not shoot to kill, only to maim. "As I have told you already, it is not possible."
"Is it worth your life?"
Hassun drew in a deep breath and whispered, "Yes."
"So be it."
Nukpana drew back fully on the bow at the moment Hassun lunged forward and sprinted toward his friend, little puffs of dust rising from where his feet dug into the ledge above the cliff.
Nukpana's fingers loosed the arrow and time slowed.
As Hassun hurtled toward the arrowhead streaking toward him, he hurled the stone over the edge of the cliff.
Nukpana's head snapped to the left to follow the arc of the stone against the blue sky, shock splashed across his sun-browned skin. "No!"
The arrow entered Hassun's chest just above his heart, making him stagger, the darkness of unconsciousness rushing into his mind. No, he wouldn't give in.
Two paces to go. Yes. He would make it.
Nukpana turned back the moment Hassun slammed into the bigger man, driving him back, then over the edge of the cliff.
Sound vanished as Hassun