The Pythagoras Curse Part XXIII

The Curse Broken

The sounds of these poor people as they lay dying pierced my heart. Though long ago, the same sounds of men crying out as they held dearly onto life reminded me of the terrors of brutality and war.

For over six hundred years I have witnessed mankind’s cruelty upon their fellow man. I have witnessed death and dying, listened to the faint cries as many a man slipped into darkness.

And I was hearing it again.

I stepped amongst the grassland littered with bodies of men, women, and children, kneeling beside each to check for signs of life.

Most were dead.

With those, I pressed my hand against them and willed a soul into their body, then rose and immediately walked to another. A small boy, a mother and her infant, an old man, another small boy, and mother.

Each time I left their side they sat up bewildered and confused as to what had happened, each of them finally standing, staring in shock and disbelief at the carnage around them.

The buzzing of conversation in their midst grew louder and I knew they were staring at me in wonderment as I continued.

Each time I transferred a soul I hesitated, checking myself for the feeling the old man had said would come.

And each time it did not come.

In my haste, I must have transferred at least thirty or forty souls. I know not the actual count. With Gerung it was much more difficult as he was forced to find those who were dying but who still fought to keep their spirit.

There were so few who lived through the initial slaughter that day and yet Gerung sought them out, comforted them until just before their death then he took their soul and sought out a less fortunate victim and performed the transfer.

In this manner, we continued until the raiding party of Native Police returned to finish what they’d started.

This time, they were spied by tribal members, seen riding toward us from about two miles away. I turned away from my duties and shouted at Gerung.

“Tell them all to lay down upon the grass and remain still. It is their only chance. Wait until they are walking their horses amongst us, then spring up and drag them from their saddles.”

Gerung spoke, a rapid spit of guttural language and I watched them one by one begin to lay upon the ground and grow still. Long Feather and I did the same as did Gerung.

To our credit, both of our tunics were smeared with the blood of the tribe members. It would appear as if death had reached us as well.

Not one of us moved, and I suppose most of us were holding our breaths as the band of Native Police crossed the river then slowed their horses to walk among us. Through slits of my eyelids, I saw one of the riders urge his horse near me and stop.

I supposed he was eyeing my tunic, thinking how out of place I appeared to be. I gave him little opportunity to view the spectacle for long.

Springing up I grasped the bridle of his horse, yanked it down then aimed my pistol at the rider’s chest and fired twice, flipping the man backward out of his saddle.

All around me tribe members were jumping up and attacking the riders, yanking the men from their horses before they could get a shot off. As I mounted the rider’s horse I saw members of the tribe, men and women alike, tearing at these riders with their bare hands, some disarming the men and turning their own weapons against them.

One of the remaining Native Police spurred his horse in the direction of the river and I heeled my newly acquired steed to cut off his escape route.

Gerung had the same idea springing up in front of the man, waving his hands above his head in an attempt to spook the rider’s horse. Before I could reach him, the rider aimed a rifle at Gerung and fired.

I saw the chest area of Gerung’s tunic grow dark scarlet and he fell to his knees. Still, I continued to ride to cut the rider off and as I approached both rider and horse I balanced on one stirrup then launched myself at the man.

We both tumbled into the river and I lost my pistol in the attack.

I grasped the man’s neck with both hands and began to squeeze with all my might. The man fought back, attempting to raise his pistol and fire it in my direction. But as I continued to squeeze the life from him he dropped the weapon and grasped my wrists with his hands trying to free himself.

That is when I plunged his head beneath the water and held him there, fighting to maintain my grip as he trashed wildly, flailing his arms and legs to free himself.

Then he went still.

And yet I still continued to hold him beneath the water.

Only after several minutes did I release him. The man’s body floated up and slowly rolled over until he was face down. I watched his body as it drifted downstream and then I hurried to Gerung.

“My brother, you are dying.”

Gerung reached up and grabbed one of my arms. He stared at me, a pair of cerulean eyes pleading with me. He coughed and a small trail of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

“God speed your efforts, my brother. There are more to heal this day. I will somehow stay alive long enough to save you.”

“But I can save you Gerung. I can bring you back.”

Gerung shook his head, “no brother. After all these years I do not wish to be brought back. I only seek to die and be free of this. Now go. Save as many as the curse will let you then come to me.”

I did as Gerung wished. Walking among the dead, reviving body after body.

Had I thought better of it I would have stayed close to Gerung as I did so, never knowing until the last moment I was transferring my final soul. I was yards away from him when I placed my hand on a young woman’s chest and closed my eyes to transfer a soul into her body.

The next instant I felt a buzzing in my skull, which turned into searing heat blazing its way down my neck and billowing through my body. It was as if I was being roasted from the inside out. Millions of stings as strong as hornets prickled every inch of my skin.

I fell to my knees and screamed, holding my hands against my head as unbelievable pain racked my body. I tried to stand, stumbled a few steps in Gerung’s direction and fell to my knees again.

I had never before experienced pain like this.

It was maddening, quickly driving me insane.

I closed my eyes and began to scream.

It was time. My death was upon me.

READ ON — THE PYTHAGORAS CURSE CONCLUSION

Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Part XII, Part XIII, Part XIV, Part XV, Part XVI, Part XVII, Part XVIII, Part XIX, Part XX, Part XXI, Part XXII Part XXIII, Conclusion

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