AMAZONS (cont'd)


"To be an Amazon is not easy. It means pain and sacrifice. It means you do not leave your protection to others, but take it into your own hands. And it means responsibility--for those who cannot fight for themselves--the weak, the sick, the old, women and children."

Delilah, Captain of Amazons

"Whoever makes war on women and children, must deal with me!"

Delilah, Captain of Amazons

4.

The troops came on, relaxed, taking their time, savoring the moment. Delilah shook her head. Not good. Not good.

Cassandra agreed: not good.

Delilah strode to the wineskin the girl who'd been raped many times had carried. She pulled open the top and plunged her hands in. She withdrew two fistfuls and walked in front of the boys and girls. She raised her hands and shook the dangling meat.

***

The slavetrader squinted. What was she holding up? His eyes widened. His manhood shriveled. His mouth opened but his breath was dead in his throat. A hammering on his skull. He spurred his horse. He had but one goal: ride them down. He wanted to kill them and torture them for the longest time. No women would ever suffer as much as these would.

They had to be taught a lesson.

He would trample them in the dust and dirt until they were unrecognizable. Then they would cut apart the bodies and leave them as warning to other women.

"Kill them!" he screamed, finding his voice. All thought of sport and fun left him. He just wanted them dead. Ride them down. Trample them. Turn them into ground meat. And then, if they were still alive, kill them again. Slowly.

"Charge!" the cavalry officer yelled.

* * *

Delilah grinned and threw down the severed genitals. She moved back to Cassandra, dried her hands and drew The Night. "Now they want to fight." Legs apart, knees bent, weight on the balls of her feet, she bounced on them. "Now, we do it!"

She waited for them.

The force came on, a great cloud rising behind it. A determined mass of men, horses and weapons.

"You are the wrath and pride of Amazons," Delilah said. "Your ancestors watch. Your people watch. All women everywhere watch. We are Amazons! The Gods have chosen us for this moment!"

***

He pointed his sword at them. They'd wish they'd never left black Africa.

They rode like the wind. Irresistible. The wrath of men.

The Amazons and children drew nearer with every stride.

"Ride them down!" the officer ordered. "Destroy them!"

They hurtled closer. Wind beat at them. The waving of the men's genitals replayed in his mind. No fate would be too horrible for these women. His own testicles were still shriveled, still trying to climb up into his body.

"Charge! Charge!" he screamed. "Kill the bitches!"

***

They raised their hands, shaded their eyes and watched as the horses charged. Lances lowered. Banners streamed. An awesome sight. The eyes of the horses flashed. Yells went up. The whole mass of cavalry glittered with sunlight. And it all seemed to be converging on the two of them, and it was, coming as if riding down an unseen road.

The horses' nostrils flared. Their eyes glared.

***

"So pretty...," Cassandra whispered, losing herself in the beau ty of the moment, a piece of forever.

"I like messing things up!" Delilah said as she watched the cavalry approach.

Cassandra felt her Captain's pleasure. Battlefields were her home. And even though it might be her last, what better way to die than doing that for which you had been born?!

"They are dead men," Delilah said.

Cassandra nodded.

There was no choice now. As Delilah had told her: "If they pull sword, if they point weapon at you, kill them!" It was an inviolate rule. By leveling lances, these troops of cavalry had condemned themselves to death. But they had already done that: who makes war on women and children, makes war on Amazons!

Don't think about it. No mercy. No hesitation. If they pull sword or weapon, just put them away. If you must go to the Gods, go there with the blood of your enemies on you!

How many times that simple rule had saved their lives. Better to kill than be killed. And if a mistake was made, better it be dead men than dead Amazons.

So these men were dead. She nodded as she watched them ride toward her. She would kill them all.

Their mounts' chests heaved with their effort. They hurtled forward. Manes flying.

Soon.... Soon.... Cassandra knew.

"If they take us alive, they'll show us no mercy. Show them none."

Cassandra smiled. Since when had the Captain of Amazons ever shown any?! She believed in only one thing: survival/victory. Win by any means necessary!

"Back! Fall back!" Delilah yelled.

The boys and girls, mesmerized by the sight of the charging cavalry, stayed for a moment, then broke like a hill of disturbed ants, running crazily back—many into the two Amazons. Delilah, expecting that, angrily knocked them aside. So did Cassandra, though she was more gentle about it.

"Run!" Delilah screamed. In unison, she and Cassandra raised The Night and Nyrobi. It was going to happen. Now!

The two assumed the first position and as if orchestrated moved to the second, then the third, their feet shifting accordingly. Their breathing relaxed, slowed, deepened. The hand with the sand appeared and the grains fell through the fingers. Fast at first, then more slowly.

Their eyes focused on the approaching cavalry, picking out the officers, the ones to kill first if they had the chance.

* * *

Certainly the officers and, for her own pleasure, Delilah wanted the fat slavetrader who had come personally to see about his property. She'd property him.

As she moved from position to position, she picked out the fierce eyes and flaring nostrils of the horses. Noted the rise and fall of the hooves. Admired the rippling of the muscles beneath the coats and knew that Cassandra was doing the same.

She saw the blood lust in the eyes of the charging warriors, especially the one in command. And the slavetrader. They all screamed and yelled, mouths wide, their faces alive with excite ment and the prospect of easy victory as they aimed their lances and swords at them.

* * *

Cassandra wanted to tell them: no easy victory here!

It was a beautiful sight, a tableau to be remembered: the straight ranks, the blue sky, the ochre ground, the upright hard black form of her Captain.

Men put on such a good show!

"Hear me, Gods, I will come before you covered in the blood of my enemies!" Delilah screamed.

There was a beauty to the world, the clear clean air on this last day of Cassandra's life. It reminded her of her dreams. Of Africa. Home. She remembered leaving. Remembered the land of the yellow men and traveling to so many places and now here in the land of the slavetraders.

Delilah had used all her skills and talents and special Amazon tactics to whittle down the numbers. But they had kept coming.

She savored these last moments before battle: the winds that cooled them. The vast vault of sky overhead. Sometimes she just looked up and lost herself in them: Surely the Gods resided up there. That's where she would go when she fell.

She sighed. She'd wondered many times if she would ever see home again. Would her brother and sisters remember her? To see those nieces and nephews she'd never seen at all. To have had children. She wiped her tears away as she prepared to meet her end.

She'd hoped someday they would find the end of the world or Delilah would admit defeat and return. Now ... it did not matter.

The movement of the sword was soothing, pulling her into the moment. Good. She did not want to think sad thoughts. She let the glory of the coming fight fill her.

There was no end to the world. They had traveled far, seen so many strange lands and people and still no end. Always more land, more water, more people. The colors of the skins changed. The languages. The customs. But, always, more people. The world was far more vast than they had ever imagined. It seemed to go on forever.

Eyes narrowed, stance wide, she was ready.

What would be, would be.

***

He was surprised they didn't break and run as the children had. He looked into their eyes, expecting to see they had been frozen by fear. Instead, he was startled to see a determination to kill him. For the first time he felt fear, his own.

What manner of women were these?

* * *

They watched them come, looking invincible, unstoppable.

"They're putting their cocks on the table!" Delilah said, grinning, lips retracting from her teeth. Her death grin. Legs planted, eyes narrowed, Delilah, Captain of Amazons, waited for death. She would go to the Gods covered in the blood of her enemies. What more could an Amazon ask?

Victory.

Some things were not meant to be.

She had raised her children, had seen the start of their training though she had tried to teach them as much as she could before she left. She would have liked to have been there to train them fully. Instead, she'd taught Cassandra everything she knew.

She forced the thought of her children out of her mind. She felt the dream state begin within her. It would increase until she would have no thought except for the cavalry riding toward her and Cassandra and the question: How many would she kill today?

* * *

Cassandra held her sword in two hands as she had learned in the land of the yellow men.

Always be alert for an attack.

Quick to battle, slow to relax.

The lessons of the years echoed through her mind: Always be sure of your kills. A man is the most dangerous of wounded animals. Secure the weapons if nothing else. But he can still tie you up and leave you unable to meet an attack. Best kill him.

Once she'd looked at a man she'd killed. He'd been heavily bearded, not to her liking at all. He'd looked as if he were sleeping ... with eyes open ... but no longer seeing. A gust of wind tugged at his clothes but he didn't respond. The wind seemed to moan and wail at his death. She'd wondered if it would wail for her.

When she'd mentioned her thoughts about death while in battle, the Captain of Amazons had been furious. "There are enough people thinking of your death—don't you!"

The sun seemed to momentarily dim. Was that the shadow of death passing over them?

"Never think of Death in battle!" Delilah roared. "Lest it come for you! All your thoughts should be on killing—not being killed!"

A bird soared past overhead on white wings outstretched. So perfect. Cassandra sighed. So peaceful.... Why could she not be like that?

She remembered other times of wonder and quiet and solitude before and in the midst of battle. She sighed. She couldn't help it, it was the way she was.

***

Grudgingly she had come to accept Cassandra as she was: a young girl who with every breath was stepping closer and closer to an incomparable womanhood and beauty, who liked to daydream when left alone, but who fought with an incredible ability when forced to. She had backed Delilah's play many times with deadly effect.

She no longer had any concerns about her at her back. And she was still growing, still developing, still learning. It took a lot to get Cassandra's attention, but if you were an enemy, once you had it, you didn't want it!

She stole a glance at her. The peaceful look on her face gave no hint of the passionless killing entity that was her battle persona. She had one day realized, to her surprise, there was no better warrior in the world to guard her back. And in all her years she had fought with many.

So many....

She was getting old.....

* * *

Cassandra noted her Captain's face, the look of anticipation on it. It was as if she'd been born for no other purpose than to fight, that all her life had been but a preparation for this moment.

She, on the other hand, would not have chosen to be a warrior if given a choice. It had been decided for her by her circumstance of birth.

The cavalry in the employ of the slavetraders came on, their mounts picking up speed. Their equipment, harnesses and weapons flashed and gleamed in the sun. They hurtled forward, straight at them, swords raised, lances leveled, small oval shields in position.

"Bows?" Cassandra asked. The shafts stood upright about them for easy reach.

Delilah shook her head. "We want them bunched up."

"Right," Cassandra said. Her head fell a moment in chagrin and then she raised it. She still had so much to learn. With the bows they could take out a few, but the others might spread out or even flank them.

"We will fall back on this spot. Then, if we need them, they will be here."

Cassandra nodded, understanding. Delilah always thought ahead. These men would never forget this day.

"No, you have done well, girl. You are a true Amazon war rior."

She pointed The Night at Cassandra and looked up at the sky and the world about them.

"Hear me, Gods! From this day forward she is a full Amazon warrior. She will come before you covered in the blood of her enemies. She will sit with me at your right hand!"

Cassandra blinked back the tears ... or tried to. She wiped them from her eyes and tried to stop crying. She would need all her vision against the cavalry come to do the work of the slavecatchers. It would be foolish to die because she was crying. And Delilah would need her. More than ever before.

"I am proud to have been your teacher," Delilah said.

Cassandra nodded, snuffed once. "I could not have had a better one."

Despite herself, knowing Delilah would not approve, she walked to her and hugged her.

Delilah allowed it, patted her.

"To your station. Today, perhaps, we will meet the Gods." Delilah shrugged, as if to perhaps say, Not if I can help it!

Cassandra nodded. What would be would be. A warrior was always prepared to die ... lest she show cowardice. Delilah had taught her that.

The kids, so small, with large sad eyes, clung to their mothers. She knew the women were watching and the babies, expecting to see them ridden down.

"Not this day!" Delilah said between clenched teeth.

She looked at the cavalry as if her look could kill them.

And then she took a deep breath and yelled, "Delilah, Captain of Amazons here! You cowards. Punks!"

The vast sky behind it, the cavalry came straight for them.

Cassandra didn't know what was worse—having the horses walk or charge. She wiped her hand and regripped Nyrobi more securely. She could not help admiring the sight. Impressive, she thought as death rushed at them. They came on steadily, the horses settling in to a ground eating pace, their experienced riders not letting any get out ahead or fall behind. As one, the force rode for them.

Don't let me let Delilah down, she prayed.

She wiped her hand on her kilt, watched them come.

Closer....

Closer....

There was nothing else they could do except wait....

Do not let me shame my ancestors ... or Amazons.

The horses seemed to fly over the ground, yet they approached with a majestic deliberateness.

Their hooves pounded the earth.

Her breathing increased, became more rapid, deeper.

As the horses grew bigger, they moved slower.

The roar of the Gods came upon her. Some sounds faded and others became louder.

The cavalry grew huge and became her whole world. There was no denying them. No stopping them. They were monstrous in their numbers and force. Irresistible.

Lances level. The pace picked up. The size of the horses grew with every stride. A wave of men and horses. A beautiful spectacle. Coming for two Amazons.

And the slaves they had set free.

The uniforms of the riders flapped in the breeze. Dust swirled behind, rising. The cavalry force flew into the wide land open before them.

The cloud of dust rose behind them—like a curtain. A curtain of death.

* * *

The wind of their passage cooled his skin but not the anger in his heart. Women had to be taught they had their places. If they lived, they'd torture and rape them for months, cut off their breasts and limbs, their noses and ears, do all the things that were done to women who dared act like men or set slaves free.

He pounded his horse, urging it to go faster.

Ride them down!

Trample the bitches into the earth!

Manes flying. Tails streaming. The mighty steeds galloped forward. Dirt flew in their wake.

He screamed his anger as he and the cavalry force thundered in to destroy the two Amazons. He would watch as the men took them. Make the other women watch. And remember. So the tale of what they did to these two Amazons would spread far and wide, teach all women what happened to those who thought they might be warriors.

He touched his manhood, assuring it that those of those men who'd lost theirs would be avenged.

Hair streamed behind them, the beat of the horses' hooves loud in their ears.

"Chaaaaaaaarge!"

Men yelled with the pure joy of the attack.

They swept in.

A beautiful sight the charging cavalry about him made.

His mouth was open wide in exultation.

A force of two mere Amazons could not even begin to handle this power.

They adjusted their lances, made sure they were level. Let women see the power, might, order and discipline of men so they would never again think of going against them!

He saw them going down, knocked aside and back, getting hammered to meat by the crashing horses' hooves. Mince meat. Pulpy. Red. Bloody meat. Black and red meat. Their black skins turned red with their blood.

And if they lived.... But they would not.

Gleaming swords in the hands of the officers and his own, the cavalry rushed forward.

The two Amazons stood with legs braced as if they could withstand the charge, the hurtling irresistible mass of animals headed straight at them.

He narrowed his eyes to slits against the force of wind in his face. It flattened his hair against his head.

They stood as still as statues ... limbs clean and dark. Eyes and teeth white. The muscles etched. The thighs powerful. The shoulders taut with determination. A fittingly blue sky for the red of their blood to come.

The black skin would be smooth to the touch. He could imagine them flayed and hung up. It was a shame, a waste of good women, but they could never be trusted. Always dangerous.

He grinned as he thought of how the two Amazons would suffer.

Their animal sexuality would be his for the taking and enjoyment of. The nipples, the thighs, the inner warmth.... They would be good only for begging when they were through with them.

Suddenly they exploded into motion—running to meet them! His eyes opened in astonishment—he couldn't believe how stupid they were!

* * *

A sudden fierce gust came as if to warn her they were coming.

Their people believed that at the moment before your death, a shadow passed over your soul. Cassandra felt no such shadow. Only a song, a glorious song. If one must die, what a feeling to have in one's last moments. No, she did not think she would die.

Let them come!

And they did....

Closer and closer.

The world filled with the sound of their approach.

"Grant me a strong arm today and fast reflexes and the courage not to flinch and I will pile them before your thrones!" Delilah told the Gods.

"Let them tremble—" Delilah said, "—there are two full Amazon warriors here."

Earlier, they had cleared the area in front of them of rocks and stones. Never leave anything to chance, Delilah had always taught her. They could not afford to stumble or trip on anything.

She knew they saw the stark whites of her eyes glaring at them, ready for them, an Amazon warrior poised to send them to meet their Gods. And again she was out-of-body, seeing herself as they saw her—a sixteen year old.

A broad flat nose and full lips.

A girl of Africa.

A warrior.

An Amazon.

She had known the girl since birth. Others had smirked when she was assigned to accompany her. Ugly and awkward. But Delilah had known she was of good warriors and Amazons.

She had seen many warriors, had faced many, had killed many. Never had she seen anyone in Cassandra's class.

She looked at the girl in these last seconds. Her body tense and yet relaxed. Paradoxical. But so much of Cassandra was that way. Superb reflexes, skills, a willingness to learn, lacking only the bloodlust, the fanaticism of battle.

A virgin, yet she wanted nothing to do with men until they were back home.

"I want to raise my children among our people, not in these strange lands among people who hate us. I want my children to be of our people, otherwise...."

And Delilah nodded on the truth of that. The world was not as one would like it. You had to take it as it was. For once she and Cassandra agreed. Only it did not seem they would ever get home.

***

Cassandra picked out the officers and the slaveowner. She knew—Delilah has drilled it into her many times—priority to officers, leaders. Many lost heart when they lost their commanders. As for herself, the Captain of Amazons's order was simple: "If I fall—kill them all!"

That out of body feeling came again to her. It often did before battle. She saw two lone Amazons standing against a cavalry force. And she raised her head higher and breathed deeper. Not just two Amazons, but Delilah, Captain, and Cassandra, Amazon warrior.

They were two fierce-looking women. Broad flat noses, flaring nostrils, eyes to slits against the sun. Dark faces.

And men were afraid of the dark.

She grinned, knew hers matched Delilah's. And they screamed in unison:

"Delilah, Captain of Amazons, here!"

"Cassandra, Amazon Warrior, here!"

And they looked at the horses and riders and knew they would kill them. No question. If there was something she and Delilah were good at, it was killing.

They spurred their horses on and the ground shook with the fury and anger of their passage. The pounding upon the earth as their hooves smacked the ground. Dirt flew. Dust rose.

A thing of beauty. Sleek hides. Rippling muscles. Streaming banners.

Her chest heaved. She strained to breathe, ready to begin the killing.

Delilah looked at Cassandra and, voice heavy, filled with emotion, said, "After this, you'll truly be an Amazon warrior. Or...."

"Or?"

"You'll be dead."

It was like the Captain of Amazons—no pulling punches.

Cassandra nodded.

"We'll show them how Amazons fight!"

They stood and watched them come. There was nothing else to do. It was all done. Now, just wait.

She put the other braid out of the way, braced her feet, ready to fight. Full Amazon warrior.... It made her feel good.

On Delilah's call, they changed position and moved from one to the other, slowly but rhythmically, clearing their minds, summoning the Gods, controlling their breathing, finding peace, harmony with the world, with themselves and their weapons.

They moved in perfect unison and then focused on the cavalry, watched it come.

Cassandra smiled.

Delilah grinned.

The cavalry came closer.

And closer.

Mighty.

Unstoppable.

Except....

Delilah gave the old battle call. "Send the word!"

"Amazons fighting," Cassandra said calmly.

Delilah filled her lungs, opened her mouth wide, screamed: "Amazons—attack!"

She and Cassandra charged.


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PART 3

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