Page 195 - Brokenclaw - John Gardner

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through this vile and obscene test and won.

‘Those who would seek to be leaders were first taken to the Sacred Lodge
and there smooth, strong pegs were driven through their flesh, one on each side
of the back, below the shoulder blades and another two deeply through each
James Bond OO7 - printing disabledse skewers, rawhide ropes were attached. At the end of the ropes James Bond OO7 - printing disabled
calf. To the
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leading from the calves, buffalo skulls were tied as weights, then they were
suspended from the ropes tied to the skewers in their backs.
‘There are intricate, special chants which are sung during this phase,’
Brokenclaw continued. ‘The pain is intense, but you must remain conscious. If

a man loses consciousness, then he is cut down and must drag himself to the
Medicine Man, who will chop off one or two of his fingers.’ He played his
own hands, one palm forward, the other twisted so only the back showed. ‘As
you see, I have all my fingers intact. There are six men in this village who are
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without fingers.’ The smile was of intense pleasure melded with evil.
Those who sought leadership, he said, were required to hang through the
length of the chant. ‘In modern time that is about twenty minutes. Then we are
lowered to the Lodge floor and the pegs are removed from our backs, but not

from our legs, for the next phase is a race. The course is prescribed, around the
village, and the buffalo skulls remain in place. This means that participants are
hampered by the weight and sometimes have to be assisted around the course.
Inevitably, the buffalo skulls drag the pegs from the calves which causes more

pain but allows you to run faster. That, James Bond, is the torture rite of o-kee-
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pa. It is also my offer of a single test, one on one, though there must be a final
decision in the unlikely event of us both completing the ceremony. So far, do
you accept my terms?’

He had expected some form of hand-to-hand combat with a choice of
primitive weapons, or at least a match against Brokenclaw with no weapons.
The last thing Bond had expected was this savage test of torture. But he had no
option. He had placed himself in this situation, so he had to abide by it, even if

it meant mutilation.
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‘What is the final test?’ he asked.
‘The course we will construct,’ Brokenclaw spoke very softly now, ‘will
bring us to two separate finishing points. We would each have to run the same

distance, but we will end up some fifty yards apart. At the finishing mark there
will be one bow and one arrow. If we both complete the course, then we must
finish the matter. One shaft against one shaft. The first to reach his mark may

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