The drumming grew faster and faster. She heard excited moans from the beautiful, black-clad men; they could barely stand still. Had Tan-ghil’s willpower not held them back they would have hurled themselves upon her at that very moment, Tiili could sense that now. There was a horrible stench in that little glade, like the strong, oppressive stench of goats on heat, and from the look in Tan-ghil’s eyes it was clear that he too was affected by her. He was also breathing more heavily, she sensed.
She understood that it was the shamans’ song that was influencing everything that happened. Exactly what it contained she didn’t want to know but she sensed that it was what she had heard about as a child. About rituals from the old country in the east, about virgins sacrificed in the presence of the oldest members of the tribe – how their juices were rekindled at the sight of the virgin dancing the dance of death. And she cried from despair. But there was nothing she could do.
The beautiful pale men were much worse than any village elder. They were potent erotic creatures themselves, that much she understood. And now they were excited to the point of bursting and couldn’t move from where they were standing. They did nasty things right before her eyes, so she was forced to look in all other directions. But they were practically standing in a circle around her and the dance was whirling her round and round, so she had to close her eyes to escape the sight.
Tan-ghil’s eyes glowed with triumph as they observed her fixedly. But there was more than just triumph in them. Tiili was disgusted by their expression, which seemed worse to her than the most atrocious form of loathing. She shut her eyes tightly but it was hard because the ground was uneven and she kept falling over small mounds. She had to keep her eyes open to see where she was stepping.
Naturally, she began to get tired. After the hard climb up the mountain it felt inhumane to have to dance ceaselessly in this way – merciless.
Let me go, she thought quietly to herself. But she didn’t dare say it out loud.
The tempo grew increasingly wild, and the shamans’ song grew to a shout. The pale men were practically howling with excitement, but Tan-ghil merely commanded her, “Faster, faster!”
She knew she was going to die. This was the sacrificial dance. She didn’t know why or what gods would be involved, but this was her fateful hour, there was no doubt about that.
Kill me! she thought. Have pity on me! Kill me!
But when had Tan-ghil ever taken pity on anyone?
Semi-conscious, she sensed her clothes being torn off her.
“No!” she whispered pleadingly.
No one heard her prayer of despair.
Suddenly a great boom could be heard. Tiili opened her eyes and saw an opening appearing in the cliff wall.
I’m the one causing that, she realized with surprise. The drums, the singing, the dancing ... It is a magical ritual that is taking place right now.
So perhaps ... I won’t die after all? If this is the result, what do they need my death for?
A small hope had awakened within her. But she was too tired to hope much more.
To die would be acceptable, she thought. It would be better than ending up in the hands of these horrible men. The pale men and worst of all, Tan-ghil. I don’t know what they intend to do, but they won’t be allowed to touch me, they won’t! I’d much rather die!
Her lungs couldn’t take much more. Her steps had long ago grown unsure and wavering. Her heart was pounding much too heavily.
They tore off the rest of her clothes.
They screamed and writhed to be released and get to her. But Tan-ghil held them back.
She was his prey.
Her dizziness got the better of her. She couldn’t breathe anymore. Couldn’t move. Her legs gave way under her just as the opening of the door into the mountain was accomplished.
Tiili collapsed with a whimper. Her very last, deeply unhappy thought was of her mother.
Chapter 2
She woke up surrounded by a strange red glow.
She was naked. She tried to cover herself with her hands, but they felt almost as if they were glued to ... a rock wall? There was a warm wind coming from below. That was where the red glow emanated from. She was in a cave tunnel.
Much to her despair, Tan-ghil was also present, along with the terrible, beautiful men.
They seemed frightened; they were, in fact, horrified by the red wind!
She must be dreaming, this couldn’t be real. Soon she would wake up under her blankets and skins in her mother’s house.
But the pain she felt in her hands and feet indicated that she was awake.
Tan-ghil spoke sternly to the black-clad men. His gesticulations suggested that he was warning them not to touch her. But when he turned his back on her in order to perform a magic ritual that she couldn’t make out, one of the lustful men edged closer to her as though he wanted to grab her naked body. He probably wanted to do a lot more to her – she could tell by the look of him. Tiili tried to scream in despair but there was no need for her to fear him. As he reached the current of air and extended his arm to touch her he howled and tried to pull back, but it was too late. The flesh of his arm burned up in a matter of seconds, she saw something silvery white beneath it and then he was sucked down through a crevice as all his skin was singed off his whole body – and he was gone.
The other black-clad men fled with horror from the tunnel. Tan-ghil had turned around and had a chance to see what had happened. He smiled an abominable, cruel smile.
Tiili felt sick with disgust and shock, but she knew the pale men would no longer bother her.
She was alone with Tan-ghil and she was hanging with her feet and hands fastened to the wall.
Sobbing with fright she looked at him pleadingly.
But he felt absolutely no compassion for her.
“You were chosen for this from the day you were born,” he said curtly and brutally. “My treasure now lies hidden in the mountain behind you. No one can get past you. No one but me. Because I know how to open you.”
Was that grimace supposed to be a smile? Tiili watched with horrified eyes as he demonstrated to her how she was to be opened.
“That ... is your lock,” he said, pointing at her crotch. “And this is the key!”
From his dirty grey cape he pulled out a thing that filled Tiili with disgust. A long and shrivelled member that immediately became erect. When she turned her head away in disgust he laughed maliciously.
“Not yet, my girl, not yet! You’ll have to be patient just a little while longer. First I need your brother. I’ll take him with me down to a man, a rat catcher, who can help me. It is not yet quite time for me to take possession of the world throne. The world is not good enough for me to take over. But in half a century I will return, and you’ll receive the hour of dalliance you so long for! Afterwards ...”
He made a gesture as though he was waving away a speck of dust.
His words made her head swim with despair. Targenor ... of all he had said that was what had made the biggest impression upon her. He intended to force her noble twin brother to serve him!
He wasn’t going to be permitted to do that! Not Targenor!
Poor Mother!
What he had said regarding fifty years hadn’t quite registered with her because so much was happening around her. She was completely beside herself with sorrow and fear and loneliness, and no longer able to think clearly.
Then Tan-ghil left.
At