第40节

The time prophesied by Mr Snow when Talisman, the

Thrice-Gifted One, would assume the leadership of the Plainfolk.

Mr Snow appeared. A pale, grey, wizened figure, moving with faltering

step and the aid of a long, knotted staff, among the trees. He moved

among the exhausted warriors, greeting them with words of comfort, his

face stricken with anguish at the sight of their raw wounds and scalded

limbs, swollen as if balloons had been inserted under the skin. He sat

down facing Motor-Head. 'The Bears did well this day."

'.Not well enough,' muttered Motor-Head. 'We ran from the

sand-burrowers. We have lost standing." Tears trickled down his

cheeks. 'The Bears are nothing."

'The Bears have braved the breath of the snake, and the sharp iron of

its masters,' countered Mr Snow. 'Only the greatest of the Plainfolk

could have done that. From this day you must learn a new kind of

courage - the courage to face failure, yes, even defeat."

Motor-Head's eyes flared angrily. 'She-ehh! Where is the standing in

that?"

'Listen to me,' said Mr Snow firmly. 'Mark my words well. It takes

great courage to fight bravely unto death. The Bears possess this

courage. Our clan-mothers give birth to heroes. The M'Calls have

strong hearts. Their fire songs have sung of their greatness since The

War of a Thousand Suns. But it takes even greater courage to taste

fear, defeat and shame and still remain strong! To face the power of

the sand-burrowers with your warrior's pride unbroken, ready to fight

again more bravely than before!" Motor-Head eyed him stubbornly. 'You

told us we must have the courage of Bears but fight like coyotes. Must

we also learn to run like fast-foot? Must we turn tail, as they do, at

the first scent of danger?"

'Times are changing,' replied Mr Snow. 'The iron snake, the

sand-burrowers..." He sighed. 'How can I make you understand? This

is a whole new hall-game."

Motor-Head frowned. 'You talk in riddles, Old One. The earth renews

itself, yellows at the Gathering and becomes old before the White

Death. The clan-elders age, die, and are reborn in different bodies.

But some things do not change. The love of Mo-Town, the Great Mother,

for her people. The courage of the M'Calls whose fire songs you guard

within the head that we were born to defend. A warrior who shows fear,

who runs from battle is without standing. He must bite the arrow

before he is worthy to bear sharp iron again."

'I accept that,' said Mr Snow quietly. 'But you must also accept

something. The old ways are finished. The Plainfolk must learn new

ways to guard the earth until Talisman comes."

Clearwater was at the edge of the forest with a group of her sister

warriors when the four arrowheads were seen in the western sky. Mr

Snow had ordered her to guard the clan-elders and the den-mothers who

had been persuaded to go deep into the forest with their newborn

infants and all children under five years old. The She-Wolves - the

young, female warriors - were dispersed at various points around the

western edge of the forest ready to defend the hidden settlement if it

came under attack. Clearwater was worried by the sight of the distant

arrowheads. She had seen the burnt warriors brought back by the elders

and had learned of the deadly fire-eggs carried by the cloud

warriors.

If they should fall upon the forest...

Obliged by his renewed oath to stay out of the battle-lines, Cadillac

had helped to organise defence of the crop-fields.

This task had been given to the Bear Cubs - the M'Call children aged

from six to fourteen grouped under pack-leaders and reinforced by a

sizeable posse of She-Wolves.

Since the chin's treasured stock of crossbows had been taken by the

Bears to attack the wagon train, the remaining M'Calls were poorly

armed. Cadillac possessed the only crossbow - the proud trophy he had

won in his combat with Shakatak D'Vine; the rest were equipped with

knife-sticks, sling-shots and stones, all virtually useless against an