Read Online The Days of the Deer by Liliana Bodoc - Free Book Online
Authors: Liliana Bodoc
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to be taken,’ replied Cucub. ‘It’s no easy matter to decide when there is so much uncertainty and so little time. The strangers will soon set sail.
Who knows? They may already be doing so. That is why we inhabitants of the Fertile Lands have to decide without delay what to do, and how to be prepared for their arrival. The Supreme Astronomers
say we must form a Great Alliance. They say we must unite in our aims and in our movements, because nothing that has happened in the past bears any resemblance to what is about to happen
now.’
‘Well then?’ Dulkancellin repeated.
Cucub slapped himself on the knees and shook his head in disbelief.
‘I suppose that Husihuilke warriors are as sparing of their arrows in battle as they are of their words in conversation.’
‘That’s enough joking; just answer what you have been asked,’ said Kupuka, trying to ward off Dulkancellin’s anger.
‘At once!’ Cucub said again. ‘The reply is easy to imagine. I think that you, Dulkancellin, have some idea what it is.’
‘Possibly,’ said the warrior, not taking his eyes from the Zitzahay’s face. ‘But unless I am mistaken, you came all this way to spread light on what little we
know.’
‘You are right. And I have not forgotten my duties,’ said Cucub. ‘I was simply giving an introduction before I came to the heart of the matter.’
‘The heart of the matter is the only important thing,’ said Dulkancellin. His voice sounded more bewildered than discourteous.
Yielding at least for the moment to the demands of his audience, Cucub tried to get to the point.
‘What they are talking of is a Great Council. A council to be held in the city of Beleram, in the House of the Stars. Representatives from every village in the Fertile Lands have been
invited. Together with the Supreme Astronomers they will seek to interpret who the strangers are, and what are their real reasons for coming. Even if they fail in this, the Council will have to
decide what is to be done. In the House of the Stars a few men will decide on behalf of everyone how the Fertile Lands should prepare to receive the Ancient Lands.’ Cucub sighed. He knew the
hardest part was still to come. ‘They have chosen you, Dulkancellin, to speak for your people in the House of the Stars. You are to go to the Council on behalf of the Husihuilkes. And I have
to take you there.’
‘There are so many brave warriors at the Ends of the Earth. And so many wise elders. And yet I was the one chosen,’ said Dulkancellin. ‘Truly, I do not understand
why.’
Kupuka cut in before Cucub had a chance to speak.
‘Brother, you talk of the tasks before you as if they were some kind of unjustly awarded privilege. You think that many others deserve this more than you, as if they would be happy to be
chosen. But listen carefully to this old man, and believe what I say. This is not a reward we have given you. No, it is a heavy burden we are placing on your shoulders: so heavy few people could
bear it. From now on you will think and act on behalf of your people. If you are right, all the Husihuilkes will be right too. If you get things wrong... oh, if you do that! Do you really think
this is a privilege?’
Dulkancellin realized it was an order he must obey, and began to accept his fate.
‘I will do as you ask, since it has been so decided.’ The warrior thought this was the right moment to make a demand of his own: ‘I will go to the Remote Realm, but without any
companion. I will not need the Zitzahay on my journey.’
‘“I will not need the Zitzahay on my journey,”’ Cucub mocked him. ‘What do you think of that, Kupuka? The warrior does not need me!’
‘You will need him,’ said the Earth Wizard. ‘The journey to Beleram is long and complicated. Without his help you would find it hard to reach the House of the Stars in time.
Above all, we must make sure you take part in the Great Council. If you went alone you would be exposed to too many
Who knows? They may already be doing so. That is why we inhabitants of the Fertile Lands have to decide without delay what to do, and how to be prepared for their arrival. The Supreme Astronomers
say we must form a Great Alliance. They say we must unite in our aims and in our movements, because nothing that has happened in the past bears any resemblance to what is about to happen
now.’
‘Well then?’ Dulkancellin repeated.
Cucub slapped himself on the knees and shook his head in disbelief.
‘I suppose that Husihuilke warriors are as sparing of their arrows in battle as they are of their words in conversation.’
‘That’s enough joking; just answer what you have been asked,’ said Kupuka, trying to ward off Dulkancellin’s anger.
‘At once!’ Cucub said again. ‘The reply is easy to imagine. I think that you, Dulkancellin, have some idea what it is.’
‘Possibly,’ said the warrior, not taking his eyes from the Zitzahay’s face. ‘But unless I am mistaken, you came all this way to spread light on what little we
know.’
‘You are right. And I have not forgotten my duties,’ said Cucub. ‘I was simply giving an introduction before I came to the heart of the matter.’
‘The heart of the matter is the only important thing,’ said Dulkancellin. His voice sounded more bewildered than discourteous.
Yielding at least for the moment to the demands of his audience, Cucub tried to get to the point.
‘What they are talking of is a Great Council. A council to be held in the city of Beleram, in the House of the Stars. Representatives from every village in the Fertile Lands have been
invited. Together with the Supreme Astronomers they will seek to interpret who the strangers are, and what are their real reasons for coming. Even if they fail in this, the Council will have to
decide what is to be done. In the House of the Stars a few men will decide on behalf of everyone how the Fertile Lands should prepare to receive the Ancient Lands.’ Cucub sighed. He knew the
hardest part was still to come. ‘They have chosen you, Dulkancellin, to speak for your people in the House of the Stars. You are to go to the Council on behalf of the Husihuilkes. And I have
to take you there.’
‘There are so many brave warriors at the Ends of the Earth. And so many wise elders. And yet I was the one chosen,’ said Dulkancellin. ‘Truly, I do not understand
why.’
Kupuka cut in before Cucub had a chance to speak.
‘Brother, you talk of the tasks before you as if they were some kind of unjustly awarded privilege. You think that many others deserve this more than you, as if they would be happy to be
chosen. But listen carefully to this old man, and believe what I say. This is not a reward we have given you. No, it is a heavy burden we are placing on your shoulders: so heavy few people could
bear it. From now on you will think and act on behalf of your people. If you are right, all the Husihuilkes will be right too. If you get things wrong... oh, if you do that! Do you really think
this is a privilege?’
Dulkancellin realized it was an order he must obey, and began to accept his fate.
‘I will do as you ask, since it has been so decided.’ The warrior thought this was the right moment to make a demand of his own: ‘I will go to the Remote Realm, but without any
companion. I will not need the Zitzahay on my journey.’
‘“I will not need the Zitzahay on my journey,”’ Cucub mocked him. ‘What do you think of that, Kupuka? The warrior does not need me!’
‘You will need him,’ said the Earth Wizard. ‘The journey to Beleram is long and complicated. Without his help you would find it hard to reach the House of the Stars in time.
Above all, we must make sure you take part in the Great Council. If you went alone you would be exposed to too many
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