Chapter 96
Giles was a little suprised when Buffy called himat the Magick shop She said she had a prisoner, needed somewhere to take him. Giles closed the shop early, sent his emplyees home. Buffy brought the tattoo'd man here. She explained the situation. This man attacked a classmate of Buffy, she'd knocked him unconsciouss. When he'd regained conscioussness he and Ampata spoke the same language. Ampata said he seemed insane, and she was too scared to stay and act as a translator. She said she was going to the hospitl as a precaution as Buffy knocked him unsonsciouss again and brought him to the store. Giles recognized his marks as Incan, but wasn't sure what they meant. He was able to look up one mark as meaning "Guardian" but it was unclear what he guarded. When the man, this "guardian" woke up he found himself tied to a chair. Giles knew a little Inca, but feared he would have a little difficulty with the translation. Then the guardian said something that suprised Buffy and Giles.
Guardian: I speak some English.
Giles: Good. Hopefully enough to answer our quetions.
Buffy: Why did you attack that girl?
Guardian: To prevent her from taking an innocent life.
Buffy: What do you mean?
Guardian: Over one thousand years ago, my people made a human sacrifice to appease the anger of the gods. Ampata was buried alive.
Buffy: Really? Because she looks very good for her age.
Guardian: Somehow she found a way to remain alive, in hibernation. I don't know what dark magickshe used, but such was her desire to live. Ampata remained asleep in her coffin, until recently. The coffin was brought to a museum in California.
Buffy: You let her be on display like, what a trophy.
Guardian: My village is very poor, they offered us aid.
Buffy: The more I hear, the less I like you.
Guardian: Think of me what you want. At any rate care was not taken, the seal was damaged in shipping. Ampata awoke, and escaped.
Buffy: Good for her.
Guardia: You don't understand. Ampata is disintegrating. The only way she can survive is to drain the life force from another. That is my purpose here, to stop her from taking an innocent life. I can tell you are strong, a protector of your people. If we do not stop Ampata, someone will die.