Free The Days of the Deer by Liliana Bodoc

already taken.
    ‘You know Kupuka will not be coming back here. You and I both heard that he will meet us on our path,’ the warrior sighed. He knew what he had to do, and also knew that putting it
off would only make it more cruel for Cucub. ‘I was ordered to take this mission, and I will. They want me to think and act in the name of the Husihuilke people. That means I must think and
act as they would. Since my own judgement has to take the place of the council of elders and warriors, I will not declare anything they would not have said. I sentence you in the same way we have
always sentenced traitors since the sun saw us awaken at the Ends of the Earth. Death is justice for you, Zitzahay. And it will take no more time than it takes us to walk into the
forest.’
    In Dulkancellin’s voice, the death sentence sounded dispassionate. There was no trace of hatred, but nor was there any weakness. It was clear that nothing Cucub could do or say would
change anything. Staring helplessly at Kush’s warm presence, the Zitzahay slid slowly down, until he was slumped on the floor like another of the jumble of objects he had scattered
around.
    Dulkancellin walked away from him without another word. As Cucub saw the warrior leave the room, he suddenly began to think of how he could escape. His hands and feet were not tied ... perhaps
he could slip away and run towards the trees. Then he remembered the heavy bar across the door. That, and the fact that Thungür and Kume would be bound to try to stop him, made him change his
mind. He would wait for Dulkancellin to return. He could do nothing by force, but he could by stealth. If he could load the blowpipe before the warrior reappeared .. . A well-aimed dart would
paralyse him. The rest would be easy. Cucub remained very still. Nothing about him revealed how his mind was spinning as his thoughts collided with each other. The final decision, though, was
surprisingly simple: he had nothing to lose. The Zitzahay bent over so that Kush and the children could not see what he was up to. He felt for the poisoned darts, and took one from the stiff plant
sheath they were kept in. His hand moved imperceptibly towards the blowpipe. Yet before he could touch it, a long time before, before he had decided there was nothing to lose, even before he had
left Beleram to travel to the Ends of the Earth, his time was up. Dulkancellin was standing beside him, gripping his arm.
    Cucub felt despair take hold of him. It weighed so heavily on his chest, pressing all the air out of him, that the little man had to take in great gulps so as not to pass out.
    ‘Stand up and walk by yourself,’ Dulkancellin ordered him. Allowing Cucub to reach his place of execution without being bound was a mark of respect the Zitzahay could not
appreciate.
    ‘Take everything you brought with you,’ added the warrior, ‘it will keep you company.’
    Trembling, Cucub stuffed all his things back in the bag and slowly stood up.
    ‘Allow me to get the rest,’ he said, pointing to the cape and staff Kush and Kuy-Kuyen had earlier put aside.
    Cucub’s state of mind must have changed as he walked over to pick up his other belongings, because when he turned back to the Husihuilke family he was no longer trembling. He held his head
high, and his face had become almost noble-looking. They all understood that he had accepted he was going to die.
    ‘We can go now,’ was all he said as he stood next to Dulkancellin.
    His spirit did not even seem to waver when he noticed the axe that the warrior was carrying beneath his cape.
    ‘You will not suffer,’ said Dulkancellin, whose eyes had followed Cucub’s gaze. ‘And then time will not be able to harm you. I will look for a tree with branches that can
support your body, and I will cover it with my cape so that no scavengers can get at it.’
    The two men made to leave. But just then, Kume stepped forward.
    ‘Father, stop!’ he said.
    At this, Old Mother Kush