The Joining Tree

"I have a plan," said Hisp, "a forbidden thing . . . the breaking of the Laws. Nevertheless, I’ll take full responsibility."

"You mean taking their lifeforces just to rescue the boy?" asked Jocoros.

Hisp rested her head on a slat of the jaguar’s pen. "We don’t know what they will do with the boy, but we can be certain you will lose your skin. If we had more time, you and Sinispia could eat them. That would justify the Laws. But we don’t have time. I will bite both Outsiders. The Laws will be broken, but we might free Abado. Perhaps I expect worse things to come, but . . . " Hisp didn’t finish her thought.

"But what?" quizzed Owwooa, impatiently.

"The entire journey’s in danger," said Hisp. "If I take their lifeforces now, we won’t have to try later, when it might be even more dangerous."

The Abiders kept silent a time, wondering if Hisp’s reasoning justified harming the Outsiders. Finally, Bubos said, "We all know Hisp is right. These Outsiders will destroy us, one by one, or at least prevent Abado receiving his special power. So I’ll be the first to say she’s justified in breaking the Laws."

"But who are you to judge, Bubos? There must be another way," argued Sinispia.

"Then tell me what it is," Hisp demanded.

The anaconda could think of nothing. Jocoros and Owwooa remained silent, sensing Hisp would do this with or without their permission.

Owwooa looked the Fer-de-Lance in the eyes. "Sure you want to do this, Hisp?"

Hisp uncoiled her body. "No! I don’t want to do it, but I feel I must! Someone must! As I’ve said, I take full responsibility. Just wait here and watch." The small snake crawled away.

Bubos called after her, "Careful, Hisp." They watched the snake slide toward the cabin porch. Then Bubos, curious, worried, and afraid, flew to the roof and landed right above the men, as Hisp snaked her way across.

Carefully, she approached the sleeping man to the right of the door. For a moment, the vibrations of his loud snores entranced her. From what she’d been told, fangs could not penetrate the tough animal skin the Outsider wore on his feet and part way up his legs. So she raised her head just below the bend in the Outsider’s leg.

"I am sorry I must do this," she said, then opened her mouth wide. Her curved fangs went through the man’s clothes and penetrated his flesh. Quickly, she released and moved back, wondering if the Twolegs would wake.

In his sleep, the man brushed his hand against his leg, dreaming a mosquito had bitten him. Yet the snake’s deadly poison began its work, and he would never leave this dream.

Hisp knew that venom remained in her poison glands – at least enough to keep the other Outsider asleep a while. She crawled beneath his outstretched legs. "I am sorry I must do this!" she repeated, then plunged her fangs through the fabric of his trousers and into the back of his thigh. Swiftly, she crawled behind the log.

This man did wake. As he rubbed his thigh, the burning sensation intensified. Thinking a scorpion had crawled up his pants, he stood up and shook himself, trying to free it. But the pain became poker-hot. He undid his pants and let them drop. Spotting the two small pinpricks, he let out a frightened gasp and moved toward his companion. But forgetting his pants around his ankles, he stumbled past his friend, mumbled, "Oh!" – then fell off the porch.

Meanwhile, out in the darkness, Sinispia had decided if the Laws were going to be broken anyway, she would help if she could. She crawled over and waited in the shadows.

When the Outsider almost fell on top of her, Sinispia got her chance. She lunged at him and locked her jaws on his throat. Then wrapping around him as she would any other animal, she tightened her powerful coils. The Outsider offered little resistance. Sinispia felt the air escape from his lungs. When he went limp, she held on until she was sure his lifeforce was gone.

Just then, the other cabin door opened. An Outsider tiptoed across the porch, scratching his belly as he looked around.

"Has he heard anything?" whispered Jocoros.

"Don’t know," said the dog, "but I’ll make sure he doesn’t interfere."

The Outsider could see one person on the other porch but not the dead one on the ground. He scratched his head, stretched, then turned to go inside. The dog jumped up, half scaring him. "Hi, boy." He patted the dog’s head and, assuming everything all right, returned inside.

After the door closed, the dog galloped back to the pen. "Follow me," he told the howler, and they ran to the other cabin. Cautiously, Owwooa jumped onto the porch and approached the first Outsider. He yanked his hair. There was no response. He climbed onto the still body and began searching. Oh, how he wished he could examine everything he found. But only the emerald mattered. Finally, reaching into the Outsider’s shirt pocket, he called, "Have it!" and held it up for the others.

"Now, we only have to get Abado and have him free Jocoros," said Bubos.

The dog sniffed his master’s lifeless body. "Well, I guess he won’t beat me again."

Owwooa nodded, then pointed at the door. "Come here, so I can stand on your back." By pushing with all his might, with help from the dog, he opened the wooden door and scampered inside. In the dim light from the kerosene lamp, Owwooa tried to untie Abado. But the knots were too big for his hands. After a brief puzzled look, the howler began gnawing with his teeth.

Abado was happy to see him. "I knew you Abiders would find a way to help." As Owwooa chewed, Abado strained his muscles until the frayed ropes snapped. "Now, we must find the emerald."

"We . . . I already have it!" chattered Owwooa.

"Then, let’s get out of here."

"We can’t leave . . . until you free Jocoros."

"Show me where he is!"

When Abado reached the door, his eyes fixed on the dog. "What is this creature, Owwooa?"

"Oh, he’s all right," said the monkey. "He lives with the Outsiders, but with a little persuasion, he remembered he’s an animal first. He’s helping us escape."