Blood Red Road

cain’t be seen. My robe’s way too long.
    Allow me, says Ike. He grabs hold an hitches it up through my belt.
    I pull my knife from my boot sheath. Tuck it outta sight in my belt. Ike does the same with his shooter. Then we run to catch up with Lugh’s escort.
    Ike turns to me and grins. His teeth flash white in the torchlight. His eyes spark with excitement. He looks dangerous.
    So far, so good. It’s all gone accordin to plan. Me an Ike managed to join the Tonton.
    But this is where the plan ends. From now on, we gotta wing it. Jest like Jack said.

    We march along the path, through the chaal fields towards the platform.
    We reach the edge of the open space. It’s jam packed an heavin with the hot sweaty bodies of the dancin slaves. The drums beat faster an faster. The slaves stamp their feet an chant. The noise is deafenin.
    The four Tonton torchbearers push their way into the middle of the crowd, shoutin an shovin the dancin slaves aside, clearin the way to bring Lugh through. Then we close ranks an ram our way through the crowd as one unit, with me an Ike bringin up the rear. Close up, the sour smell of unwashed bodies fills my nostrils. Makes me gag.
    We reach the stairs to the platform. We’re goin up the stairs. We’re on the platform. Ike an me shrink down inside our hoods. I throw a quick glance at Vicar Pinch. At the King. He sits on his golden chair in his golden robes, starin out at the heavin, chantin crowd. No expression on his sparklin gold face.
    The four Tonton carryin Lugh march over to the sandpit. As they set him down, his knees give an his head lolls back. They quickly catch him an stand him with his back aginst the pole. They tie him to it, hand an foot. Then they start to lay dry kindlin at his feet.
    Lugh faces out towards the crowd. His chest’s bare. He’s only wearin britches an boots. His eyes is still closed. His head hangs to one side, but I can see his lips movin. Without thinkin, I start towards him.
    Ike grabs me. Wait, he hisses. Watch.
    There’s movement all over the platform. The Tonton finish tyin Lugh to the pole. They jam their lit torches around the edge of the sandpit.
    Then they hurry to line up on both sides of the pit. Two groups of seven, one on each side.
    In the confusion, Ike an me manage to git ourselves on the end of the rows, closest to the pit. We’re the closest to Lugh. Ike on one side. Me on th’other.
    Make the most of any chance you git .
    Drums beat, feet stamp, voices chant. The earth shakes.
    Vicar Pinch, the Sun King, sits in his golden chair, raised up behind us on the small platform. He’s flanked by DeMalo an another Tonton guard.
    DeMalo an th’other Tonton help Pinch to his feet. Now! Pinch screams. Light the fire! He flings his arms open wide. Lifts his head to the night sky.
    The Tonton beside us stomp their feet. They chant an sway.
    Sweat runs down the back of my neck. We need Jack an Epona to make their diversion. Now.
    C’mon, Jack! Where are you?
    I look over at Ike, hidden by the hood of my robe.
    Light the fire! Pinch screams agin.
    Ike nods. Him an me step into the sandpit. We take a couple of the torches. The crowd’s still chantin an dancin an drummin. They don’t seem to be payin that much attention to what’s goin on on the platform.
    Can you cover me while I cut him free? I hand Ike my torch. Lucky fer me he’s so big. He shields me with his robes as I duck down.
    Make it fast, he says. If we don’t light this fire, they’ll start wonderin what’s wrong.
    My knife’s sharp. It quickly slices through the rope holdin Lugh’s ankles.
    Quick! Ike hisses.
    I gotta free his hands, I says.
    C’mon, Jack. The diversion! What’re you waitin fer?
    Light the fire! Pinch yells agin.
    At that moment, a siren wails across the valley. The same one that called the workers in from the fields earlier.
    A quick glance over my shoulder. The irrigation troughs all over the field start to bust open. Fast. One after another. Water sprays out in great gushes, silver in the moonlight. All over the chaal fields, the water troughs an channels blast open, overflowin, collapsin.
    Jack’s diversion.
    It’s a flood.
    The end of Pinch’s precious crop.
    I work at the ropes tyin Lugh’s wrists.
    Pinch screams in fury. Guards! Guards! Move, you fools! Move!
    Around us, all the Tonton start to run. Rushin down the stairs, leapin offa the platform, they disappear into the fields to try an stop it.
    I slice through the last rope tyin Lugh’s