ICE GENESIS by Kevin Tinto

Author:Kevin Tinto [Tinto, Kevin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Three Dog Publishing LTD.
Published: 2018-03-25T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 31

Garrett Moon paced outside the sweat lodge. Leah had been inside for more than four hours, well beyond their agreed time with Appanoose. After being restrained by the Ancient warriors, he been shown a place to sit near the sweat lodge, but not allowed to move for the first two hours. When he finally complained, one of the warriors nodded and allowed him to stand, then walk about, unrestrained.

When the skin flap opened, Appanoose slid his legs out first, then his upper body. He was covered in sweat and his eyes shined with an intensity Garrett hadn’t seen before. But it was what lay limp in his arms that caused Garrett to panic.

Appanoose held Leah, her arms and legs dangling and her head lolling back on her shoulders, mouth open and eyes strangely lifeless. The warriors, seeming to have anticipated what would have happened, had brought blankets and spread them next to the fire.

Appanoose looked around, orienting himself to his current surroundings, then laid Leah gently down on the blankets.

Garrett tried to rush over but was instantly restrained. Appanoose laid his cheek next to her mouth. It was obvious that she was no longer breathing. He leaned over, and blew air over her face, gently. On the third breath, Leah arched her back, and drew a deep breath on her own.

The warriors who held Garrett released their iron grip. He pushed them away and ran to her side. Leah’s face was white, and her skin cold and clammy. He put his cheek up against her mouth and held his breath, praying that by holding his, he might feel Leah breathe once again.

It took more than fifteen seconds before he felt the lightest of breaths against his cheek. Overcome with relief, he watched K’aalógii and Dahteste bring lit torches and hand them to the warriors, who braced the torches upright with river stones. More wood was added to the fire and the sandy ground near the pit danced with shadows made by the breeze-driven flames.

Appanoose nodded, and Dahteste and K’aalógii knelt beside Leah and began washing her face and hair with water, dribbling some on her lips as they worked.

Garrett told Appanoose he wanted a private audience. Appanoose gave one sharp nod and led Garrett over to the Basilica. Even before the shaman sat across from him, Garrett began speaking his mind in Navajo.

“We trusted you with her life. You’ve broken your bond with us.” He paused. It would have been easy to lose his temper, to shout and make a major scene. It took all of his strength and the training he’d received at the feet of elders on the Navajo reservation to remain calm. He pointed back to where Leah lay unconscious, perhaps dying. “She and she alone saved you from a lifeless death under the ice in Antarctica.”

“Nikʼijįʼ asihígíí éí ayóóʼíʼóoʼniʼ bee baa nídidííʼááł,” Appanoose replied, inclining his head in Leah’s direction.

Garrett hardly expected Appanoose to drop to his knees and give thanks for their rescue, but

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