"Grandmother," Megaan scolded.

"Don't worry about it," Mark rea.s.sured her. "Actually, I think you did me a favor. The Merkon is going to help me. He knows a shaman who has seen the light and he is taking me to speak to him."

"I know of no shaman in Trisad," Megaan said. "Perhaps you heard him wrong."

"No. I'm sure it was Trisad." Mark picked up one of the pods. "After I find out where the light is, maybe I will come back and visit before I go to the jungle."

"If you wish." Megaan shrugged.

Mark stepped to the door. "If you're feeling better, Megaan, I hope you'll come to my ceremony tonight."

"Perhaps."

"Please?"

She looked up at him now and a smile came to her lips. "Perhaps ..."

chapter 34.

Sarbo won the buffalo ride and the ax-throwing contest. Now it was evening and the torches were lit again. The tables had been arranged in a circle around a large fire. More food had been prepared and the villagers had come out in droves to witness the initiation ceremony.

Mark wore his new white buckskins and was seated at the head table between Dagon and the Merkon. When the crowd settled down, Dagon stood and asked Mark to follow him to the middle of the circle.

Dagon held up his hands. "Tsook, behold the young warrior who has proven himself on the field of battle. He has been true to the people by offering his life for them."

A thunderous cheer went up from the tables. Mark scanned the spectators. Megaan wasn't there.

Dagon went on. "The Tsook are the original people. We are entrusted with Transall. Kakon has shown that he also wishes to be a guardian. If he is accepted, the Tsook pledge to be loyal to him, forsaking all they own to honor him. If he accepts the Tsook, he promises his loyalty to them, forsaking all he owns on their behalf."

It became strangely quiet. Mark waited anxiously. He had not been told what would happen next.

From a scabbard on his belt Dagon pulled a small hunting knife. "Kakon, do you still wish to be known as a warrior of the real people, the Tsook?"

Mark nodded.

Dagon took Mark's left hand and sliced the skin in the fleshy part of the palm. Mark winced as the warm blood dripped down his fingers.

"Who among you greets Kakon as Tsook and fellow warrior of Transall?"

There was a rumbling around the circle. Sarbo stepped up. "Let me be the first." Dagon made a similar cut on Sarbo's palm and the large man grabbed Mark's b.l.o.o.d.y hand and shook it vigorously. "I vow to protect you as Tsook to the best of my ability, Kakon." Sarbo moved away and Mark was surprised to see a long line of men waiting to do the same.

A lump rose in Mark's throat. The last man to make the vow was Dagon. The leader cut his own hand. "I am convinced it is no accident that you are here, Kakon. Surely you are destined for many great things. I am as glad for you today as if you were my own son."

Sarbo started the dancing. He moved around the fire to the rhythm of the drums. The others joined him until there was hardly any room to stand. Mark glanced around at the nearly empty tables. He saw Leeta taking Barow home but Megaan was still nowhere in sight. Wella"so she didn't come, he thought. Well. He joined in with the dancers and tried to forget about her.

The dancing lasted for hours, until finally Dagon got everyone's attention and called for the last part of the ceremony.

"Kakon, if you will be seated, the people of the village will further show their acceptance and respect to you by presenting you with gifts." Dagon reached under his cape. "This crossbow is for you."

"But this is the one you just finished," Mark protested. "You've worked hard on it."

"And it is my gift to you. Kill many of our enemies with it. "

Tybor stepped forward. "This is my gift, Kakon. See, I have finished it." He held out the metal breastplate and helmet. "Do you like it?"

Mark put the helmet on. "It fits, Tybor. You are a genius."

The Merkon sat up and fingered the breastplate. "This is good workmanship, blacksmith. How did you come to know how to make this?"

Tybor looked at Mark. "Kakon gave me instructions. He is very wise."

"I see that he is."

"Get out of the way, Tybor. You are not the only one with a gift." Sarbo pushed him aside. "Here is mine." He handed Mark his new sword.

Mark took it carefully. "I don't know what to say. This is a very special gift, Sarbo."

Sarbo winked at him. "The way you fight, I thought it only right to give you every advantage."

The Merkon clapped his hands. "I have a gift for you also Kakon." One of his men led the Merkon's muscular silver-colored beast into the circle. "This animal was chosen from among the best stock in all Transall. It is yours."

Mark walked around the table and took the reins. "It is a wonderful gift. I thank you, Merkon." The animal snorted and danced sideways. Mark stroked its neck. "We will be good friends, you and I."

The rest of the villagers brought gifts and laid them at his feet. There was everything from food to blankets, and Mark thanked each individual.

Barow trotted up to him, out of breath. "I have a gift for you, Kakon. I did not make it but I think you will like it."

"Since it is from you, I am sure I will."

Barow handed him a folded rabbit skin tied with a vine. "Look inside, Kakon."

Mark had started to open it when Leeta walked up. "There you are, Barow. Your grandmother is very angry at you. Why did you sneak out of the house? You were supposed to be asleep hours ago."

Barow hung his head. "I just wanted to give Kakon a present like everyone else."

"Can't he stay just another minute?" Mark asked.

Leeta shook her head. "He and I will be in much trouble if I don't get him home right away."

Mark leaned down. "Tell you what. I'll wait until tomorrow, when you can watch me open it, okay?"

"All right," Barow said, pouting. He let Leeta lead him up the road. He yelled over his shoulder, "Do not forget, Kakon."

"I won't." Mark waved to him.

Sarbo staggered over. "The dancing has started again. Come, Kakon. Let us see if you can at least dance."

"I think you have had too much wild berry juice, Sarbo. You'd better leave the dancing to the younger men."

"Younger men," Sarbo growled. "I will have you know..." He fell backward into one of the tables and sat down on a bench. "I will have you know ... that for once, perhaps you are right."

chapter 35.

Mark was awake early, packing his things for the trip. He made a bedroll out of the blankets he had received and put some of the bread and dried food in a leather pouch.

His gifts were laid out on the table. He filled the water skin and admired the rest. One man had given him a basket of seed for planting his new field. It would be so easy to stay and let things go on the way they were.

He tried on the helmet and breastplate, put the sword into his belt and picked up the crossbow. He felt like a king. Everything he would ever need he now owned.

He carried his supplies outside and tied them on his new animal. The village was wide awake. Thin wisps of smoke rose from some of the houses and he could smell food cooking.

Sarbo's stocky brown beast trotted up. "I just got the news, Kakon. Dagon tells me you are already going on a quest."

"You could call it that. The Merkon is taking me to Trisad. There is an old shaman there I need to talk to."

Sarbo rubbed his chin. "Trisad? I did not know that broken-down place still existed. I have not been in that direction for many years. Perhaps I will ride along with you."

Mark looked at him suspiciously. "Why would you do that? Did Dagon order you to go?"

Sarbo pounded his chest with his large fist. "I am Tsook. I go where I please. Besides, an infant like yourself would not last long in the desert without a real warrior to protect him."

Mark sighed. "To tell you the truth, Sarbo, I'd be glad of the company. But not because I need protecting, only because the Merkon and his men seem so strange."

"Then it is settled. I will be back when I have collected my supplies." Sarbo whipped his beast and trotted down the road, pa.s.sing the Merkon and six of his men.

Mark waited for them to ride up. "I'm almost ready, Merkon. Where are the rest of your men?"

The Merkon gave his reins to one of the riders and stepped down. "Since we are leaving by a different route, I have sent them on ahead to scout the area for enemies. We will meet up with them later."

He walked around Mark, inspecting his armor. "You could pa.s.s for one of my escorts. Perhaps, if you do not find what you are looking for in Trisad, you will consider joining me permanently?"

Mark avoided the question. "A friend is coming with us. I hope that is all right."

The Merkon stiffened. "It is unnecessary. My men will see to your every need. They will accompany you anywhere you wish to go. No harm will befall you."

"I appreciate that. But if it's not too much trouble, my friend wants to ride along with us. He has not been to Trisad in a long time."

"Mark." Leeta waved to him. "Barow is coming to watch you open his gift."

Mark had almost forgotten about the small rabbit skin. It was inside on the table.

Barow trotted up to him. "Megaan has a gift for you too."

Mark glanced up. Megaan was walking toward them, carrying something under her arm. When she got there she held it out. "I had some extra time so I made these."

Mark held up a pair of knee-length moccasins. "Thank you, Megaan. I haven't had shoes for a long time." He tried one on. "It fits. How did you know what size to make them?"

"She measured your footprint in the dirt," Barow answered.

Mark pulled the second moccasin on. It felt soft but odd. It had been almost three years since he had lost his hiking boot in the jungle. His feet had grown hard and callused.

He walked a few steps in them. "Now I really do have everything." He turned to Megaan. "Thank you. I missed you last night."

"I had to work on these moccasins."

"They are a wonderful gift. Thank you again." There was a moment when their eyes seemed almost to touch, a long moment. Then it was gone.

"Now open my present, Kakon." Barow pulled him to the cabin.

"Yes," Mark said. "Everyone come in and see the great gift my little friend Barow has given me."

Leeta and Megaan followed them inside. The Merkon stood in the doorway.

Mark sat down at the table and picked up the rabbit skin. "See all these things, Barow?"

The little boy nodded.

"I want you to take care of them while I'm away. And I need you to do me another big favor. Will you take the gray beast? It needs a good owner and now I don't have any use for it. Can you do that for me?"

Barow's eyes widened. "Do you mean it? I can have the gray for my own?"

"I mean it. But only if you take good care of it."

"I will, Kakon. You can count on me."

"Good. Now let's see what this can be." Mark cut the vine on the package and unfolded the skin.

Inside was a bluish piece of gla.s.s.

Mark was astonished. He'd had no idea these people knew how to make gla.s.s. He turned it over in his hand. There were letters printed on the bottom: PRODUCT OF THE COCA-COLA COMPANY.

part 3.