Spirit Walker Read Free

come back later." He went off to feed the fires, leaving Dari in the shallows, crooning to his auroch. For a while Torak forgot everything as he strove to catch a fish without either dropping the spear or falling in. Soon he was soaked in spray. And the river was angry.
Every so often it hurled a huge wave against his rock.
Suddenly he heard a shout from the walkway. He jerked up his head--then breathed out in relief.
Oslak had speared another salmon. With one blow he killed it, then knelt to pull it off the spear.
He's all right, Torak told himself.
As he watched, Oslak scratched his hand. Then he reached behind his ear and clawed at the scab.
The salmon slithered off the walkway. Oslak bared his teeth, wrenched off the scab--and ate it.
Torak recoiled and nearly fell in.
The sun went behind a cloud. The water turned black. The discarded salmon slid past, glaring at him with a dull dead eye.
He shot a glance at the shallows.
Dari was gone.
Another cry from upriver.
He turned.
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Dari was on the walkway, tottering toward his uncle--who wasn't warning him back, but
beckoning.
"Come to me, Dari!" he shouted, his face distorted by a horrible eagerness. "Come to me! I won't let them take our souls!"
Chapter THREE
On the banks, none of the Ravens had seen what was happening. Torak had to do something.
As he stood on the stepping-stone gripping his spear, he saw two people emerge from different parts of the Forest.
From the east came Renn, her beloved bow in one hand, a brace of wood pigeons in the other.
From downriver came Fin-Kedinn, limping slightly and leaning on his staff, with a bundle of dogwood sticks over one shoulder.
In a heartbeat both grasped what was happening, and quietly set down their loads.
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To stop Oslak noticing them, Torak called out to him. "Oslak, what's wrong? Tell me. Maybe I can help."
"Nobody can
help!
shouted Oslak. "My souls are leaking out! Being
eaten!"
Now people turned to stare. Dari's mother leaped forward with a cry. Thull held her back. Oslak's mate Vedna jammed her knuckles in her mouth. On the Rock, Saeunn stood motionless.
    Renn had reached the walkway--but despite his limp, Fin-Kedinn was there before her. Silently he handed her his staff.
"Who's eating your souls?" Torak called to Oslak.
"The
fish!"
Yellow froth flew from Oslak's lips.
'''Teeth!
Sharp teeth!" He pointed to where the thrashing salmon endlessly broke and remade his name-soul.
Torak felt a twinge of fear. That happened to everyone's name-soul if you leaned over the river, and it didn't do any harm-
unless
you were sick, when it could make you so dizzy that you fell in.
"Soon it will be gone," moaned Oslak, "and I will be nothing but a ghost! Come, Dari! The river wants us!"
The child hesitated--then moved toward him, clutching the pine-cone auroch to his chest.
Torak risked a glance at Fin-Kedinn.
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The Raven Leader's face was still as carved sandstone. Putting a forefinger to his lips, he caught Torak's eye.
You're between them and the rapids. Catch them.
Torak nodded, bracing himself on the rock. His feet were numb with cold. His arms were beginning to shake.
At last Dari reached Oslak, who tossed away his spear and snatched him up. The wicker sagged dangerously.
"Oslak," called Fin-Kedinn. His voice was low, but somehow he made himself heard above the rapids. "Come back to the bank."
"Get
away!"
screamed Oslak.
Torak saw to his horror that Oslak had tied a woven-bark rope to the poles supporting the end of the walkway: one hard pull, and the whole structure would go crashing down, taking him and Dari with it.
     
Torak couldn't bear it. "Oslak, this is me, Torak! Don't--"
     
Oslak turned on him. "Who are you to tell me what to do? You're not one of us! You're a cuckoo! Eating our food, taking our shelter! I've heard you sneaking into the Forest to howl for your wolf! We've all heard you! Why don't you give up? He's never coming back!"
    Renn flinched in sympathy, but Torak didn't move. He'd seen what Oslak had not: