I cried reason at them, to hold them back. But the tribe neither heard nor comprehended. With glazing eyes they were lost in the terrifying ecstacy of tradition. Satisfy brother glacier, and the village would be safe.
At the grove Baiel suddenly joined the priest. They whispered together for a moment. Then Baiel raised his arms and spoke.
"Wait! We bring the tribe the new gods of the sun. Our gods are stronger than brother glacier. Let them speak to the ice, and no life need be given."
"Let the new gods satisfy the old!" the tribal priest echoed.
His statement gave Baiel's innovation the stamp of approval. The tribe began to chant a sing-song thanksgiving. Baiel, like the priest, raised his arms and shouted gibberish which they took as prayer. When he lowered his hand, he pointed at the pile of rock in the grove. Red flame flashed. The stones dissolved. The surrounding ice wasted into a pool of water, slowly seeping into the blackened earth.
It was a simple enough trick. Baiel had concealed a Hayden in his sleeve. But it impressed the tribe. They sang their exaltation, clapping hands on the broad shoulders of the young hunter who had been spared.
Baiel joined me as we walked back to the village.
"I knew something had to be done, Captain Theusaman," he explained. "Fortunately, my idea worked."
"It's wrong, Baiel; all wrong."