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had no windows； just a hole in the peak。 Cooking fires were burning in front of many of the huts； tended by women who； Tom noticed； were cooking with the French cooking pots； copper braising pans； and Meissen stainless steel cutlery that Maxwell Broadbent had brought them。 As he followed the group of warriors into the center of the plaza； thatched doors popped open and various people came out to stand and gape at them。 The small children were pletely naked； the older ones wore dirty shorts or breechclouts。 The women wore a piece of cloth tied around their waists and were naked above； with their breasts and chests smeared with red。 Many had disks in their lips and ears。 Only the men wore feathers。
There was no formal greeting ceremony。 The warriors who had brought them in wandered off； going about their business with plete indifference； while the women and children of the village gaped。
〃What do we do now？〃 Tom asked； standing in the middle of the dirt plaza and looking around。
〃Wait；〃 said Borabay。
A toothless old woman soon emerged from one of the huts； bent double from age； leaning on a stick； her short white hair made her look like a witch。 She made her way toward them with excruciating slowness； her beady eyes never leaving their faces； sucking on her lips and muttering to herself。 She finally arrived in front of Tom and peered up at him。
Borabay said quietly； 〃Do nothing。〃
She raised a withered hand and gave Tom a blow across the knees； then whacked him across the thighs； once； twice； three times…surprisingly painful blows for an old lady…all the while muttering to herself。 She then raised her stick and struck him across the shins and again on the buttocks。 She dropped the stick and reached up and groped him obscenely between his legs。 Tom swallowed and tried not to flinch as she made a thorough check of his masculinity。 Then she reached up toward Tom's head； making a motion with her fingers。 Tom bent slightly； and she grabbed his hair and gave such a yank that tears sprang to his eyes。
She stepped back； the inspection apparently plete。 She gave him a toothless smile and spoke at length。
Borabay translated。 〃She say contrary to appearance you are definitely a man。 She invite you and your brothers stay in village as guest of the Tara people。 She accept your help for fight against bad men in White City。 She say now you in charge。〃
〃Who is she？〃 Tom glanced at her。 She was peering up and down； examining him from head to toe。
〃She is wife of Cah。 Look out； Tom； she like you。 Maybe she e to your hut tonight。〃
It broke the tension； and they all laughed； Philip most of all。
〃What am I in charge of？〃 Tom asked。
Borabay looked at him。 〃You now war chief。〃
Tom was stunned。 〃How can that be？ I've been here ten minutes。〃
〃She say Tara warriors fail in attack against white man and many killed。 You white man； too； maybe you understand enemy better。 Tomorrow； you lead fight against bad men。〃
〃Tomorrow？〃 Tom said。 〃Thanks； really； but I decline the responsibility。〃
〃You not have choice；〃 said Borabay。 〃She say if you do not； Tara warriors kill us all。〃
That night the villagers lit a bonfire； and a party of sorts got under way； starting with a multicourse feast； which arrived on leaves； culminating in a tapir roasted in a pit。 The men danced and then gave a hauntingly strange orchestral performance on flutes； led by Borabay。 Everyone went to bed late。 Borabay roused them a few hours later。 It was still dark。
〃We go now。 You speak to people。〃
Tom stared at him。 〃I have to give a speech？〃
〃I help you。〃
〃This I've got to see；〃 said Philip。
The bonfire had been heaped with fresh logs； and Tom could see that the whole village was standing； silently and respectfully； waiting for his speech。
Borabay whispered； 〃Tom； you tell me to get ten best warriors for fight。〃
〃Fight？ What fight？〃
〃We fight Hauser。〃
〃We can't…〃
〃Be quiet and do what I say；〃 Borabay hissed。
Tom gave the order； and Borabay then went through the crowd； clapping his hands； slapping the shoulders of various men； and in five minutes had ten warriors lined up with them； decked out in feathers； paint； and necklaces； each with a bow and quiver。
〃Now you give speech。〃
〃What should I say？〃
〃Talk big。 How you going to rescue Father； kill bad mans。 Don't worry； whatever you say； I fix up good。〃
〃Don't forget to promise a chicken in every pot；〃 said Philip。
Tom stepped forward and looked around at all the faces。 The hubbub of talk died quickly。 Now they were looking at him with hope。 A shiver of fear ran through him。 He had no idea what he was doing。
〃Er； ladies and gentlemen？〃
Borabay flashed him a disapproving look and then； in a martial voice； cried out something that sounded a lot more effective than the feeble opening he had managed。 There was a rustling as everyone came to attention。 Tom had a sudden feeling of déjà vu…he remembered Don Alfonso's speech to his people when they left Pito Solo。 He had to give a speech like that； even if it was all lies and empty promises。
He took a deep breath。 〃My friends！ We have e to the Tara lands from a distant place called America！〃
At the word America； even before Borabay could translate； there was a rustle of excitement。
〃We have e many thousands of miles； by plane； by dugout； and on foot。 For forty days and nights we have traveled。〃
Borabay declaimed this。 Tom could see he now had their undivided attention。
〃A great evil has befallen the Tara people。 A barbarian named Hauser has e from the other side of the world with mercenary soldiers to kill the Tara people and rob their tombs。 They have kidnapped your head priest and killed your warriors。 As I speak； they are in the White City； defiling it with their presence。〃
Borabay translated； and there was a loud murmur of agreement。
〃We are here； the four sons of Maxwell Broadbent； to rid the Tara people of this man。 We have e to save our own father； Maxwell Broadbent； from the darkness of his tomb。〃
He paused for Borabay's translation。 Five hundred faces； lit by the firelight； gazed at him with rapt attention。
〃My brother here； Borabay； will lead us up to the mountains； where we will observe the bad men and make plans for an attack。 Tomorrow； we will fight。〃
At this there was an eruption of an odd sound like rapid grunting or laughing…the Tara equivalent； it seemed； of cheering and clapping。 Tom could feel his monkey； Hairy Bugger； scrunching himself down into the bottom of his pocket； trying to hide。
Borabay then spoke to Tom； sotto voce。 〃Ask them to pray and make offering。〃
Tom cleared his throat。 〃The Tara people； all of you； have a very important role to play in the ing struggle。 I ask you to pray for us。 I ask you to make offerings for us。 I ask you to do this every day until we return victorious。〃
Borabay's voice rang out with these declarations； and it had an electric effect。 People surged forward； murmuring in excitement。 Tom felt a kind of hopeless absurdity wash over him； these people believed in him far more than he believed in himself。
A cracked voice rang out； and the people instantly fell back； leaving the old woman； Cah's wife； stand