Part 15 (1/2)

Alexander's thoughts found no place to rest as he swayed uncomfortably on his mule facing the gyrating rear end of Marina's mount, which from time to time seemed to disappear over the edge of precipitous cliffs as they rode in the nearest possible position to vertical able to be managed by the animals. He opened his mind to the noises of the 'sphere but there were no messages for him. He felt the presence of Thea 'on duty' but neither had anything worth-while to say and he was not in the mood for idle chatter. He was on his own at this moment and would have to do what he could. He was comforted by the Named being there if he needed them.

As they descended he felt he was being swallowed by the immensity of the canyon. The last rays of the sun played breathtaking games with the rocks in the foreground and set mountains into movement. He descended uneasily in the brilliant ruddy-golden glow of every possible hue in the yellow-red and indigo ends of the spectrum, relying on the sure footedness and experience of the mules to keep him from certain death on the rocks below.

It was almost dark when they reached the gra.s.sy plateau supporting Manny's hogan. His every bone ached from the unaccustomed ride, the permanent sense of danger from the steep descent and ascent from the track to the top of the promontory added to his fatigue. The relief of its ending was edged with the realisation that, the nature of his task meant he had no idea of when, or if he would return.

The journey, Marina, Barboncito, the incredible reality of the canyon and his task, settled heavily on his mind as tried to sleep. He had refused the light refreshment offered and seeing his obvious fatigue, Barboncito led him immediately to a small room in the shack where he settled his weary bones on a narrow truckle-bed. Myriad thoughts ran through his brain like trains in the Underground for most of the night.

The following morning he woke early with the sun - refreshed, ready for anything. A few minutes pa.s.sed before he realised where he was. He was aided by the glimpse of a bright slash of new sunlight on a distant outcrop of rock which created the feeling of flying he had since his descent. He made use of the wash-basin in the corner of the room, and ventured into the outside air. The sun of the early dawn skimmed the lip of the canyon bending shafts of light which vanished like arrows into pockets of rising mist, shattering into pallettes of colour on the facets of the rocky outcrops all round the hogan. Alexander walked in the same wonder of disbelief at the incomprehensible vastness he felt the night before. This was a place of unspeakable mystery which he would never grasp if he lived there for ever. It had the same effect on him as the 'sphere - there, real - but unfathomable in its sheer size and the conceptual turmoil it evoked by its mere existence.

He found a place to sit at the rocky edge of the rim supporting the hogan and leaning back against a boulder, felt the warmth of the sun in the cold of the morning mist, when he heard the sound of a human voice in incantation. At first he thought it came from within himself, such was the effect of the sound in that place. Unable to locate the sound, he rose to peer over the edge of the precipice. Some hundred feet below on an outcrop he saw Barboncito naked, arms outstretched to the sun intoning what Alexander thought were ancient verses, he was also scattering pinches of yellow dust. The young Navajo was otherwise quite still, like the world around, blending his muscle and sinew with that of the rock. It was the most natural sight in the world to see the limbs of the man combine with the wind-carved contours of stone. The sounds from his throat merged with the breathy whispers of air wafting into the vastness of the canyon through the spa.r.s.e vegetation struggling for life in its cracks and crevices.

Alexander watched bewitched, drawn into the song of the man and in turn drawn further into the folds of the canyon. A slow movement behind the young man broke the reverie, and Alexander made out the dark, slim arm of a woman followed by the head of Marina, who, also naked, pressed her body against his bare back, clasping him to her. The man, continued his song, apparently oblivious. Alexander did not wait to see more.

The spell broken, he did not know where to put himself. It was obvious that the outcrop was part of a cave reached from a descending ladder within the hogan, and Marina had spent the night there with Barboncito. Alexander cursed himself for leaving her alone and allowing his fatigue to get the better of him the previous evening. He felt betrayed, small, lost and angry. Like a small boy he wanted to lash out at something and also felt the intrusion of a new reality which had been absent since the meeting with Lucina. He had so absorbed himself in the other-worldliness of the 'sphere, Thea, and the rest; that his own real feelings in the present had been put aside. Even Marina's body had been in some way other-worldly until she offered it to another which broke the magic and put him in touch with his immediate feelings. He had no right to be as jealous as he was. It wasn't as if he had not been given notice that she would do what was needed to do her job. While he had been indulging his flights of fancy, she had gone to work. He realised at once that she was as independent as Barboncito. The driving thrust of carnality would have been shared in that night of lovemaking with hard-headed interrogation. He calmed down as part of him recognised, with relief, that Marina offered her true gentleness to few people and he was one of them. He hoped that she would have given to Barboncito only her body. At least Alexander had a little of her care. He had to reluctantly admit her body was her own to satisfy, and as yet he could have no exclusive claim to it. He would however make sure that was all the Navajo would ever receive. Not that he knew how to do it. He didn't know whether he was angry or sad with jealousy. He was certainly very jealous.

'I have to return to Markham straight away.'

Marina dropped her bombsh.e.l.l after a simple breakfast of fry-bread and some kind of honeyed syrup, taken out of doors later, on a patch of green outside. They were alone for a while as Manny and Barboncito went to see to the mounts.

'You are to stay here with Barboncito. He wishes to take you deeper into the canyon where there are things he says you must see. While you slept, I have been working. He is the hacker we came here to identify. I know because he told me. Manny knows too, he didn't want the boy to tell us for fear we would take reprisals. I told him this was not my problem and that you had come here to deal with the hacker and my job was your protection until he had been discovered. Manny is relieved the truth is out and that Barboncito means no harm to you personally and is quite prepared to be honest about the hacking business. I'm glad it has been this simple so far. I envisaged more danger in the finding of this hacker, more opposition, more subterfuge needing my skills. So now my job in this place is done. Yours, whatever it is, begins. I got that from JNO on email this morning. By the way - I was with Barboncito last night - I said I would need to get close to him; and I did. Keep your feelings about that to yourself my lad, I am only doing my job.' Alexander gestured as if to interrupt.

'Just listen, there's not much time they'll be back soon, Barboncito it seems is something of a computer buff of some ability, and Manny was a cryptologist for the US Army in the last war, so they know their onions. In case you don't know, Fourthworld is one of JNO's key switchboards for information pa.s.sing between first and third-worlds and co-ordinator of Latin America's counter-activity. But that's only by-the-by; what's important for both of us to know is that Manny told me privately that he thinks Barboncito has links with another Firm. This is the first JNO has heard of any rival in this business and he is very worried both about its existence and of another Firm getting onto the linkage. Penny and Ric have taken great pains to be concealed as you know. It seems that Barboncito has been using his computer knowledge to try and get information from JNO not usually available to his operation and which is not part of Manny's brief. Manny is worried about the lad and thinks he is getting a bit above himself, and says he seems to think he's invincible. He said Barboncito believes by setting this new Firm against JNO he will gain great advantage for his people. Manny is less sure and doesn't want to upset anyone at JNO. So both Manny and JNO want you to stick with Barboncito to see where this leads and report back as soon as possible. I have to get back to make sure there are no other links with this new Firm from any of the others on the third-world network. I'll be in Fourthworld for about twelve hours working on their security systems and then back to Markham. Barboncito was arrogant enough to be quite open with me about these other links, and while he susses them out he is happy we should know he is trying to play us against them - he thinks it'll up the stakes for him. I told him what he is up to is terribly risky, and at the same time I pretended to be bowled over by his cleverness and the power this is giving him. He is susceptible to flattery, at least from me, but make no mistake he is clever and dangerous; but he may, and I repeat, may, be quite genuine for all that. He has enough faith in this other group to believe their powers are at least equal to ours and he is playing both ends against the middle quite candidly. I told him I admired his bravery and his hopes, but said I was worried about the effects, which he chose to consider as my, rather JNO's problem,' she paused.... 'So there you are my laddo. You're on your tod. I'm told senior people from JNO will contact as and when. I'm also told you're not to worry about your physical safety, stick to your guns and you'll be okay.'

There was no time for more discussion, Barboncito and Manny were ready and almost in earshot. They indicated the prepared mounts and Manny and Marina set off back the way they had come the previous day towards Supai village and the long trek upwards.

Barboncito, dressed in blue jeans, chaps and a large white stetson, set off wordlessly down-hill gesturing for Alexander to follow. The trail was not wide enough for them to ride abreast and forced to ride in the rear Alexander's mind was full of Marina, and his mission. As they progressed, the back of Barboncito remained as irritatingly enigmatic to Alexander as the rest of him. Unable to talk, only to follow, Alexander's thoughts were soon overwhelmed by the sheer spellbinding qualities of the canyon itself.

Havasu Canyon towered behind them, the jagged rock chiselling chips of early sunlight from ledges and outcrops. Majestic cottonwoods lined the creek and led by degrees past several water-falls each more beautiful and magnificent than the last. Maidenhair ferns and mosses, lined plunging rills and spouts of turquoise green, filling pools of travertine rock. The trail followed the river along limestone b.u.t.tes, columns, and boulders. At points the trail climbed up parched ledges studded with cactus and scrubby vegetation high above the creek bottom. Compressed rocks squeezed the wind into tunnels and together with the noise of the falls all conversation was impossible.

How far they rode Alexander was quite unable to say. The state of his knees and the bony parts of his rear told him they had been going for at least three hours if his experience of the previous day was anything to go by. It was nearly lunch-time judging by his stomach. The trail led precipitously to the creek floor. It arrived at a kind of dry, sandy beach which undercut the towering wall of the canyon and it seemed as if the great weight of rock above might sink the opening to the floor under its own ma.s.s, were it not for the giant natural pillars of sandstone at each side. The roof actually bowed with the strain and dipped dangerously inch by inch as they rode into its cooling shade.

Barboncito dismounted and pulled lunch from his saddle-bags. Alexander a.s.sumed this would be some exotic local food and was surprised to be offered beef and pickle sandwiches wrapped in polythene. A flask of coffee followed. Only the slip-slip of the water bubbling round the rocks broke the absolute stillness exemplified by the black comma's of three ravens wheeling acutely slowly, suspended high against the slash of clear-blue sky between the towering walls. They sat and ate in the stillness for what seemed too long a time. Barboncito broke the silence which had built up like the walls of the canyon itself.

'We're in a side canyon, the Havasupai call it Matkatamiba,' said Barboncito. We'll eat and then go on to the Sipapu. That's what you came here for - isn't it?' He did not give Alexander time to answer before going on. 'She told you, the black woman, she told you I hacked into your system. It was you she said found me out. You must be good, as good as me to do that. How did you do it?'

Alexander found it hard to speak to Barboncito. The sound of his voice echoed as unreal and too loud, amplified by the cave walls and contrasting with the enormous stillness that was around and between them. He also realised with a shock which rendered him almost speechless, that all his doings of the 'sphere had so far been with people or beings who were sympathetic. The net he wore indicated this man knew more of those things than he admitted. He mostly felt that by responding he would start something he would not know how to finish. The clear planes of his companion's face offered nothing and he was unable to read anything in the tone of voice. Added to which he had been a lover of his love and he was a probable traitor to JNO, so there was no communication that could be other than confrontational.

'How did you know it was me? Barboncito repeated, a new hard edge to his tone.

'I read the numbers on the entry nodes, it led to Fourthworld - I didn't know it was you until Marina told me this morning.'

'How? How can you do that!' It was more of a shout than a statement. As he spoke, Barboncito turned to face him fully for the first time since they met - it was a direct challenge. Alexander felt for the first time that the Navajo was rattled. Could it be that this young man was as disturbed by his own poor mystery, as he was himself disturbed by his? His instinct was to say he had no idea how he did it, that it was done by - what? - magic? Maybe as a Navajo Brave, Barboncito believed in magic, he certainly seemed to believe in ritual if the morning intonation and sprinklings of yellow dust was anything to go by. Though to a computer expert of some ability, he thought the idea of magic would be unconvincing. Anyway, the net told him things were not as they seemed. If Barboncito thought he had computer abilities too he could play on this without hopefully giving anything away and await developments. He was also now very curious about where they were and how Barboncito knew he had knowledge of the Sipapu as being significant for JNO.

'You wouldn't expect me to tell an expert hacker how JNO combats them would you? What I really want to know is why you would compromise Manny's contract with the Firm and seek information to which you are not ent.i.tled? I thought you wanted to advance your nation, not put it at jeopardy by making enemies of people like Richard Trefoil.'

He was about to go on about the Sipapu since this was more important than the hacking. The hacking was history, Marina was handling the consequences - the Sipapu was the critical thing now. How did Barboncito know of his mission?

'Trefoil isn't the only ally we have in your world. There are others, in our world, just as, possibly even more powerful.' He paused. 'That's the problem with you people, you hold us in such poverty of esteem you think we are bound to believe in your superiority.'

Alexander picked up the edge of hatred mixed with a deep contempt. He began to get some insight into the intensity of feeling that was part of the gulf between them. It was true he had no real knowledge of what it meant to be a Native American in his traditional surroundings. The need for the well controlled emotions he sensed in his companion came from deeply held beliefs. Alexander remained puzzled and alert. He knew the next few minutes were important. That he had mystery of his own for his adversary was a revelation, and he knew maintaining it was the only thing that made him relevant to Barboncito. Were it to be lost, Barboncito was perfectly capable of abandoning him alone in the depths of the canyon to fend for himself.

'So you think yourself clever enough to play one firm off against the other. But we got to you pretty quickly.'

Barboncito laughed. 'I calculated on that. I didn't think I'd get away with it for long. I admit you're better than I predicted, faster than they thought too. Maybe they are less clever than JNO after all.'

This other firm?'

'Yes, well you'll soon find out who is the cleverest. They're closer than you think.'

At this Barboncito turned from him and carefully stowed the remains of the lunch in his saddlebag and walked down to the creek to wash the coffee cups. When Barboncito turned from the creek to face him, Alexander thought to take an initiative of his own.

'Why did you admit hacking to Marina?' he asked. But Barboncito was ahead of him, he knew why they were together in this place, which was more than Alexander did. He thought Barboncito had sensed his lack of bearings and thereby kept the advantage.

'What have I got to lose? You already knew a hacker was loose in Fourthworld, we're not so big nor so well endowed with technical experts that it would take you long to finger me. In any case this other firm wanted to get someone from JNO out to meet them, especially the one who found me out. It was just a matter of flus.h.i.+ng you out, I have nothing to lose - like I said you're all exploiters, setting you against each other can only benefit us, you'll have to up the ante to keep us in the game.'

'What game?' Alexander realised as soon as he spoke that his false innocence was easily detected. Barboncito sadly raised an eyebrow at him.

'You're actually none of you any of my business, except that when you've all stopped fighting each other, I'll still be here and I'm going to take advantage of the aftermath. Once your race tried to wipe us out, now you need us to learn how to survive and heal your rift with the Earth. Our price for co-operation is high and we won't be sold so cheaply a second time. Your rivals want old defeats revenged and a new and different order that will not challenge the Earth. Well; you'll have to work it out between you and we'll be waiting on the sidelines and this time you'll all pay dearly for the prize. I'm not so stupid as to take you on and think I can win, put I can make either or both of you - pay!'

Barboncito stowed the utensils in the bags and sat on an outcrop of rock, smoothed into a seat by the ancient action of water, and stared at Alexander.

'We don't want anything but this and the country beyond.' He swept the canyon with his hand. 'Neither do we want to own it. We will share it with anyone else who will cherish it as we do. Otherwise you will lose it - it's beginning to withdraw from you already and in the end, as we have always known it will literally kill you, your attempt to own it. We already have our covenant with the Earth. Our work with JNO now includes many indigenous nations who still have good enough relations with the Earth to ensure its survival. This is not as one-sided as Trefoil might think. The more we control the less you can exploit. Don't tell me - Trefoil and his ilk at JNO know this - but if they think they can maintain their hold of it and simply allow us our share - that's not what it's about. If you can't work that out then you're doomed to fight over it, and you can only lose. We on the other hand can only win, the land is on our side, and it recognises our worth and rejects you. We are growing fast and Fourthworld will soon be as powerful in our sphere as JNO is in theirs. The child is nearly a strong as the parent. You should watch out. We'll soon make our own alliances on our own terms.'

'What if you are wrong about us? What if we are with you - fully. What then?'

'Perhaps. But I don't believe it, why should I? I say prove it. I have seen the powers of the other firm and they rival yours. I will work in both camps, but the Earth will be ours in the end and you will pay for its use.'

'You've done a deal with them?'

'No need, our deal with the Earth was done centuries ago, that covenant has not changed. She waits for us to return to our proper place, the one taken by you. You, both of you: JNO and this other firm are rivals for a power over that which cannot be owned: for us that is the ultimate irony. All attempts at owners.h.i.+p will destroy you both. So far the other firm says that's okay, we can regain the land since they do not want it themselves they merely wish to prevent your domination. I don't believe either of you, so I bring you together to work out between you what you can. The unintended consequences of a war between you will hurt us more, so we are patient and prefer diplomacy.' He turned to his mount and placed a foot in the stirrup.

'Enough talk - mount and follow, we go to the Sipapu.'

'Wait, I'm going nowhere yet. I want to finish this conversation. For a start, I want to know how you know I want to find the Sipapu? Marina couldn't have told you. Who did?'

'Marina is good at getting people to talk,' grinned Barboncito. Alexander ignored the intended taunt 'Answer my question! Whatever Marina got out of you, she knows nothing about the Sipapu, at least no more than the general knowledge that it is a holy place kept in the hearts of your ancient people as the point from which your ancestors believed they emerged from the nether-world into the light...'

'But we, Alexander Conway, know it is a real place do we not? And you want to know how I know you know this.' Disarmed, all Alexander could do was nod lamely.

'You have information about the ancient Havasupai people. I a.s.sume you have read something of it.'

Alexander nodded.

'You know then they are the cousins of the Hopi through the ancient Anasazi line. Over time the ancient powers of these peoples mixed and merged with the Navajo belief systems in which the black underworld of spirit people first emerged from a fissure in the earth into the light of the world...'

Alexander felt the strength of Barboncito's belief give stature to the young Navajo leader which gave him his splendour. His own belief in the Pantheon brought him closer to this youth as he listened. This they had in common. The dissonance between them gave way to a potential comrades.h.i.+p of understanding. He listened without interruption to Barboncito.