The Days of the Deer Read Online Free PDF

now crawling all over them, they heard a sound that quickly made them straighten up. A growing cloud of white butterflies had
appeared from nowhere and was fluttering between the sky and their heads. It was as if they had come into existence through a hole in the air. As though responding to an order to attack, the mass
of butterflies flew at them. Hundreds and hundreds of wings beating against their faces. So many that they completely covered the clearing where Kupuka was performing his ceremony.
    Piukemán and Wilkilén staggered back, waving their arms to try to get the swarm off them. They had little success, and before long they were two human shapes covered in
butterflies. Their hands were smothered in them as well, and so were of no use to try to brush the rest from their faces. Blinded by the beating wings, Piukemán groped for Wilkilén,
who in her efforts to fight off the attack had become separated from him. As soon as he reached her, he clutched her tightly against him. Then he ran as fast as he could . . . poor Piukemán
ran and ran, still pursued by a howling wind of white wings, until he was back across the other side of the Owl Gateway.
    Not a single butterfly crossed the threshold of the gate. They hung in the air on the other side, and then flew off again. As soon as Piukemán was certain they would not come back, he set
Wilkilén down slowly, and sank to the ground himself to get a moment’s rest. After two or three deep breaths they were able to continue on their way. A few steps further on towards the
Valley, Piukemán turned to look behind him. Between the two trees, the Owl Gateway was completely covered in an intricate spider’s web that must have taken several days to spin.
Although he could not understand what had happened, Piukemán felt relieved. Perhaps they had never been on the other side.
    The remainder of the walk was easy. Comforted by the fact that they were on their way back, they were not even afraid of Dulkancellin’s anger at their absence, which he must have
discovered by now.
    The same path took them down into the Valley. The celebration was still going on. They mingled with the crowd, heads down, ashamed to imagine that everyone already knew they had broken the rule.
Before long, they bumped into their grandmother and their father. Piukemán and Wilkilén slowly raised their eyes, fearful of Dulkancellin’s flashing, angry eyes, and
Kush’s sad look. But they were in for another surprise: both adults smiled at them.
    ‘We were looking for you. We all need to go together to greet your mother’s family,’ said Kush.
    ‘There’s Kuy-Kuyen,’ said Dulkancellin, pointing to her. ‘Go on ahead with her. I’ll look for Kume and Thungür.’
    Piukemán and Wilkilén simply nodded their heads and did as they were told.
    The celebration was coming to an end. All the families were packing up their things and saying goodbye. Under a heavy sky, the Husihuilkes set off into the icy wind rising from the sea and
whistling round the forest up to the mountain peaks.
    The Valley of the Ancestors was deserted until the next fine day. With only the souls of the dead to inhabit it.

4
A TRAVELLER

    A man was leaving Beleram at dawn. At that time of day, the city was already
busy. Some servants from the House of the Stars were raking the games court. Tardy
street-sellers were carrying their goods as quickly as they could down the narrow lanes to the market. Savoury odours from the food stalls filled the air. The man stopped at one of them to buy a
tortilla wrapped in leaves. It smelt particularly delicious, and only cost him a few cacao seeds. This early halt had not been part of the strict itinerary the Supreme Astronomers had set out for
him, and yet how often on his journey did the memory of that taste give him the strength to go on!
    He was known to many people in Beleram, and several of them greeted him as he passed by. His pack made it obvious he was setting off on a