Shaman's Warning (Plains Walker, #1) by Callum Cordeaux

Author:Callum Cordeaux
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Callum Cordeaux
Published: 2015-04-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

“I am Ribocco,” the bird man said in a low rumble in the language of the ancient Paiute. “The boy comes back already, he is a good hunter.”

“Did he see you?” I ask.

“Yes, he nodded to me and then left.”

I was amazed. How had Seth known that there was no harm in this giant creature before me?

“I am Hector Green,” I said as I rose from my sleeping pad and stepped toward Ribocco. He turned to face me and I saw that he was feathered from head to toe with only the giant craggy head with those piercing yellow eagles eyes clear of the downy brown feathers. I suspected that the sticky heat must have worried him with all that insulation but if he could fly he’d no doubt need it above the cloud.

Ribocco held out a hand and I stepped forward and slapped his massive palm with mine. I was tall but he was huge. At that point I believed it was impossible for him to fly. He was just too big.

“Where do you travel to, Hector?” Ribocco asked.

“We go north; there is a mine at Mt Bachelor.”

“I’d stay far from there if I was you. It is a dangerous place.”

“I know there will be danger,” I said. “But we have to find some way of reaching the rings.”

“Why would you want to reach the rings?” he asked. I was struck by how matter of factly he put the question. There was no amazement that I had made the statement, just the curiosity.

“Don’t you feel the danger from the sky people?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied. “It grows stronger, but still a long way from the end.”

“What end,” I asked.

“When all is wiped clean,” he said in his deep rumble as Seth made his way into the cave with a bloodied armful of hoppers. Paco was stirring in his corner of the cave. Niamh slept on, not registering that I had left her side, her breathing a soft buzz at times that told of a deep dreaming.

“Good morning, Seth,” I said. “This is Ribocco.” I introduced the bird man and Seth walked over and touched the giant’s hand with bloodied fingers.

“Do you eat hopper, Ribocco?” he asked as he laid the skinned carcasses on the bare rock and started to build the fire.

“Yes, but I see you cook your meals. I eat mine raw.”

“Please feel free to eat then,” Seth said waving at the pile. “The bugs don’t affect you then?”

“No. Since I was born I have been able to digest almost anything apart from the fiercest poisons. My mother told me that my genetics are largely avian with the bird’s powerful acid digestion. I will not deplete your precious food. I can see that these ones are clean, and they are a rarity. I will hunt for myself soon.”

Paco was soon introduced to Ribocco and began to help Seth in skewering the hoppers on green sticks and arranging them so they hung above the growing flames. Niamh slept on.

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