charging just into Cody’s line of sight. Their skin appeared to be painted entirely gray and red with designs spiraling around their limbs like an untrimmed vine.
One of the strange men thrust his face in front of Cody. In the place of teeth, sharpened stones had been fastened and rock shards jutted from his nostrils and eyebrows. Cody swallowed the lump in his throat—the Garga .
The barbarian released a blood-curdling, guttural cry that was echoed by the others. He grabbed Cody by the cheeks.
“Let the sacrifice begin.”
28
The Garga
CODY WINCED AS THE ECCENTRIC WARRIOR smeared dirt across his face. “What do you want with us?” The man paid no heed as he continued chanting and spreading the mud over all exposed skin. All it would take is one simple word , Cody thought, readying to strike.
“The Book…” Xerx whispered, sharing his thoughts, “wait for the opportune moment ….” Cody grimaced as the mud sunk into his bare cuts from the mountain tumble. The tribesman raised his hand, wielding a coarse, pointed stone. With a shout he slashed the crude dagger toward Cody. “ Ahh! ”
Cody threw his hands above his head; the severed rope bindings dangled loosely from his wrists. Several more slices and he was finally free from bondage. Cody quickly scanned the surroundings. Xerx was correct; he had been bound to a stone column by his head, arms, chest, and legs.
There were ten barbarians in total; several stood just outside of vision, their spears aimed at Xerx. Good thing we didn’t try to break out! Cody conducted a quick inventory but the Book was nowhere to be seen.
A sharp spear point pricked his back, guiding him to the stone-covered altar. The savage with rocks jutting from his nose, evidently the chief, waited with his hands outstretched and eyes gazing to the cave’s ceiling. Reaching him, the chief’s strong hands forced Cody to his knees.
The chief ceased chanting and peered down at Cody. When he spoke his voice was like a boxed tornado. “Lowly infidel, will you repent of your unholy blasphemy?”
Cody tried standing but firm hands pressed him down. “Who are you? What do you want from us? You’re making a big mistake!” The chief flung his head back and released a piercing shriek, once again echoed by the others.
“The Great Garganton wills as He wills. We are the Garga , meek worshipers of His grandeur!”
As the leader spoke, Cody’s eyes continued to hunt for the Book. “The Great Garganton? Never heard of him. Let me speak with him.” Cody uttered, trying to buy time.
The crazed chief slapped him across his cheek. “Blasphemy! How dare you defile the Great One’s name with such arrogant sacrilege! It’s only by the Great One’s mercy you have even been allowed to live!” As the wild man shouted, he motioned upward. Cody saw only the faint roof of the gem-dotted cave and the immense, dangling stalactites.
“The…cave?” Cody inquired.
The response drew another solid slap. “Continue with caution…your clear ignorance is all that prevents the Great One’s wrath. The pagan Orb-worshipers have already brainwashed you. Your inclusive cult claims glory for itself, blind to the Great One’s generosity. The gift to dwell within his very mouth.”
Cody involuntarily laughed as things finally made sense. “You think this …” he motioned all around, “is the inside of some enormous stone-god’s mouth?” His laughter increased as he pointed to the stalactites. “Those teeth are just a common rock formation in every cave ; which is exactly where we are, a cave. How could you believe such nonsense ?”
He braced for another wallop, but the chief merely grinned. “I pity your proud ignorance. How could you mock our god which is visible, while believing in a power which is not? A mystic orb and an enchanted leather book….”
Cody perked up. “What have you done with the Book!? Return it or I’ll be forced to… umph! ” Cody choked as a smooth, egg-shaped
One of the strange men thrust his face in front of Cody. In the place of teeth, sharpened stones had been fastened and rock shards jutted from his nostrils and eyebrows. Cody swallowed the lump in his throat—the Garga .
The barbarian released a blood-curdling, guttural cry that was echoed by the others. He grabbed Cody by the cheeks.
“Let the sacrifice begin.”
28
The Garga
CODY WINCED AS THE ECCENTRIC WARRIOR smeared dirt across his face. “What do you want with us?” The man paid no heed as he continued chanting and spreading the mud over all exposed skin. All it would take is one simple word , Cody thought, readying to strike.
“The Book…” Xerx whispered, sharing his thoughts, “wait for the opportune moment ….” Cody grimaced as the mud sunk into his bare cuts from the mountain tumble. The tribesman raised his hand, wielding a coarse, pointed stone. With a shout he slashed the crude dagger toward Cody. “ Ahh! ”
Cody threw his hands above his head; the severed rope bindings dangled loosely from his wrists. Several more slices and he was finally free from bondage. Cody quickly scanned the surroundings. Xerx was correct; he had been bound to a stone column by his head, arms, chest, and legs.
There were ten barbarians in total; several stood just outside of vision, their spears aimed at Xerx. Good thing we didn’t try to break out! Cody conducted a quick inventory but the Book was nowhere to be seen.
A sharp spear point pricked his back, guiding him to the stone-covered altar. The savage with rocks jutting from his nose, evidently the chief, waited with his hands outstretched and eyes gazing to the cave’s ceiling. Reaching him, the chief’s strong hands forced Cody to his knees.
The chief ceased chanting and peered down at Cody. When he spoke his voice was like a boxed tornado. “Lowly infidel, will you repent of your unholy blasphemy?”
Cody tried standing but firm hands pressed him down. “Who are you? What do you want from us? You’re making a big mistake!” The chief flung his head back and released a piercing shriek, once again echoed by the others.
“The Great Garganton wills as He wills. We are the Garga , meek worshipers of His grandeur!”
As the leader spoke, Cody’s eyes continued to hunt for the Book. “The Great Garganton? Never heard of him. Let me speak with him.” Cody uttered, trying to buy time.
The crazed chief slapped him across his cheek. “Blasphemy! How dare you defile the Great One’s name with such arrogant sacrilege! It’s only by the Great One’s mercy you have even been allowed to live!” As the wild man shouted, he motioned upward. Cody saw only the faint roof of the gem-dotted cave and the immense, dangling stalactites.
“The…cave?” Cody inquired.
The response drew another solid slap. “Continue with caution…your clear ignorance is all that prevents the Great One’s wrath. The pagan Orb-worshipers have already brainwashed you. Your inclusive cult claims glory for itself, blind to the Great One’s generosity. The gift to dwell within his very mouth.”
Cody involuntarily laughed as things finally made sense. “You think this …” he motioned all around, “is the inside of some enormous stone-god’s mouth?” His laughter increased as he pointed to the stalactites. “Those teeth are just a common rock formation in every cave ; which is exactly where we are, a cave. How could you believe such nonsense ?”
He braced for another wallop, but the chief merely grinned. “I pity your proud ignorance. How could you mock our god which is visible, while believing in a power which is not? A mystic orb and an enchanted leather book….”
Cody perked up. “What have you done with the Book!? Return it or I’ll be forced to… umph! ” Cody choked as a smooth, egg-shaped
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