The Crystal Knife

Crawford knew it was day well before he woke. His last dream told him he'd lasted the night, and that now he was fully a man, but alone. He rose on his elbows and looked to the door. The light streamed from the hall in an arrow shaft, then spread in these strange shapes through his room. Crawford wanted to find the crystal knife. What else might bring him luck or help defend him? With any thought in some terrible way it might be used in the night against his heart. Aztec priests had cut the beating hearts from men with just such points to feed their gods.