|
Shirtless tribesmen dragged Rexus' blueish grey cadaver by the legs, a mile or so to their encampment. They chanted in their dialect; 'Aduke gave, to Aduke returned.' Over and over again, the mantra echoing through the barren expanse, interminging with distant howls. The sun blazed down on the fields of wolf fur. Trees loomed over, hanging ripe puppy fruits. They were approaching a vast dog head. These monstrosities frequently emerged in open spaces. Giant skulls could be discovered throughout the wilderness of the dogscape. A massive wolf head barked ferociously, deafening. As it came into sight the tribesmen bought the body up to their shoulders. They'd looted him for his meagre goods. Old currency, drug paraphernalia. Walking forward, quiet now. The wolf head eyeing them excitedly. Bodies of nobles, believers and fellow tribesmen were buried into the dogscape, to become one with it. Vagrants and the undesirables were thrown into to frothing mouths of dogs heads. 'He served the tribe of Maam. Good thing he dead.' The two, holding his legs and upper body swung him back, forwards then released him, into the gaping mouth of the ferociously hungry wolf. It was usually offered puppyfruits. Human flesh was a welcome change. They turned away, without any further thoughts on this routine procedure. The one, tall and bearded suggested they stop to eat. He opened his sack, a mound of raw dogflesh. A delicacy afforded to them for their contributions to the religious thought of their tribe. Many joined the tribes and ceased their efforts to flee the dogscape for such material rewards. As they sat down to eat, they both silently prayed to their dog deity before eating. The one, round and red faced, with leathery skin ate slowly, as though in thought between bites. This manner of eating was encouraged as a tribal custom. The other stroked his beard as he heated his dogflesh to well done. He'd never get to taste it. From the distance an arrow came soaring towards them, plunging into his chest, his friend screaming. Several more arrows, delivered with the expert precision of Maam's warrior tribesmen. Each one hitting their target. Bleeding out in that dismal, hopeless world that they had learnt to love all the same. Nameless, it was not custom to name those destined to be involved in religious ceremonies, although they often came up with names for one another in private. These two, particularly devout, did not. Beheading was the preferred method of execution of the Maam tribe, thankfully for the men of Aduke, today was target practice. The Aduke men's vision came in and out of focus, dogflesh twitching beneath them. The howls carrying them into eternity. They knew in their last breaths, those bastard men of Maam would pay with their lives. |