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,OB5ABI'S ,GUIDES 

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,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,FR$Y ,P]LMAN 

,TEXT 3 

,OB5ABI'S DREAM 

  

,W$ASI WAS ON $GE DUR+ ! RE/ ( \R J\RNEY TO ,BISON ,I 'MI RIE4 ,HE WANT$ TO ?9K WELL ( \R UNCLES ON ! ,WABA%1 HE WANT$ REASONS TO JO9 !M4 ,IF ,I HAD SPOK5 HE W\LDN'T HAVE L9T1CRI$1 BUT ,I DIDN'T SPEAK4 ,I REA*$ BACK TO ,KATABWE'S SONGS MID /ORIES4 ,I T\*$ ! OBJECTS 9 MY BUNDLE1 ,I MUS$ ON MY ,II RUT4 DREAMS1 BUT ,I F\ND NO GUIDANCE2 ,I DIDN'T KN[ :O ,I WAS OR :]E TO GO4 ,I HAD NO?+ TO TELL ,W$ASI4 

,I /OPP$ POND]+ ,APTEGIZHEK'S WORDS AS SOON AS ,I SAW ! ,9 MILI> RIV]BANKS1 ! FRUIT TREES ,I HAD RUN AMONG ) ,NNNHK[ATAK & ,MIMIKWE1 AT LA/ ! LODGES ( ! ,FIRE- KEEP]S' VILLAGE4 ,BUT \R WELCOME WAS DISAPPO9T+4 ,W$ASI & ,I W]E NOT EXPECT$4 ,ONLY ! GIFTS FROM ! ,/RAIT W]E EXPECT$1 & ONLY ,BURR-NET & ,CAKIMA1 ,*EBANSI & ,NESOKI W]E ON ! L&+PLACE4 ,\R FA!R ?\<T WE HAD RETURN$ SO AS TO JO9 ,*EBANSI 9 ! /ORE4 ,WE W]E SURPRIS$ ?AT ,*EBANSI HAD RE9/ALL$ HIMSELF 9 ! /ORE4 

,*EBANSI WAS WELL1 & HE WAS UN*ANG$4 ,HE GREET$ US ) SELF-JU/IFICATIONS4 ,AFT] HE>+ ! /ORY ( \R B9D+ & \R ESCAPE1 HE TOLD US ! ,BISON ,PRAIRIE /ORE WAS NO?+ LIKE ! /ORES ON ! ,/RAIT4 ,BURR-NET DID NOT GREATLY DIFF] FROM ,JAY-MAY1 BUT ,BURR-NET DIDN'T RUN HIS /ORE2 ,CAKIMA RAN IT1 & HAD RUN IT S9CE ,BURR-NET'S >RIVAL4 ,*EBANSI HAD TOLD ALL ?IS TO ,W$ASI E>LI]4 ,N[ HE TOLD US ?AT \R ,BISON ,PRAIRIE K9 DEP5D$ ON ! GIFTS 9 ! /ORE1 ?AT ! ,BISON ,PRAIRIE /ORE HAD P[]FUL 5EMIES1 & ?AT ,*EBANSI HAD PL$G$ HIMSELF TO HELP \R MO!R FACE ?OSE 5EMIES4 ,HE SAID ! GREAT] 5EMY WAS A ,*EAT] & ,SLAV] CALL$ ,K9-SIC1 :O HAD 9/ALL$ HIMSELF AMONG ,KITTIHAWA'S K9 ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,! LESS] 5EMY WAS A ,R$COAT CALL$ ,PETTY-SONG :O HAD OP5$ A /ORE--,BURR-NET CALL$ IT A PIG/Y--ON ! \TSKIRTS ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ITSELF4 ,! AIM ( EA* WAS TO DRAW ! FL[ ( GIFTS & FURS AWAY FROM ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 & !Y W]E SUCCE$+4 ,TOP9BI'S LA/ FUR LOAD WAS SO MEAG] ?AT HE HESITAT$ TO C>IY IT TO ! ,/RAIT4 

,*EBANSI & ,CAKIMA KNEW ?AT ,K9-SIC WAS ! GRE$I] & MORE P[]FUL1 BUT ,BURR-NET'S LIFELONG HATR$ ( ,R$COATS BL9D$ HIM4 ,BURR-NET HAD MADE COMMON CAUSE ) ! ,LAKEBOTTOM ,SLAV] & HAD S5T ,%&O TO JO9 ,K9-SIC 9 P\R+ \T B>RELS ( RUM ?AT HAD >RIV$ = ,PETTY-SONG1 ON ! PRETEXT ?AT ! ,UNIT$ ,SCALP]S PROHIBIT$ ! RUM TRADE4 ,%&O HADN'T ACCOMPANI$ ,TOP9BI'S C>AVAN TO ! ,/RAIT BECAUSE HE'D FE>$ RETRIBUTION BY ! ,R$COAT'S ALLIES1 & ! FE> ( ,R$COATS WAS DRIV+ ,BURR-NET 9TO EV] CLOS] ASSOCIATION ) ,K9-SIC4 ,MEAN:ILE1 ,K9-SIC WAS DE/ROY+ \R ,LAKEBOTTOM K94 ,HE HAD ALREADY DRIV5 ,S&YPO9T AWAY2 HE WAS EMBROIL+ \R UNCLES 9 UGLY W>S4 

,W$ASI & ,I BR\<T \R BRO!R NO?+4 ,*EBANSI'S W> WAS NOT ! W> ,W$ASI DREAM$ ( FI<T+1 & ,I C\LDN'T EV5 FOLL[ ,*EBANSI'S ACC\NT4 ,WE S\<T \T ,B9DIZEOSEKWE 9 ! CORNFIELD2 H] DAU<T]S ,KOYO%KWE1 POCKM>K$1 & ,WAMO%KE%EKWE1 ! M>KS NOT VISIBLE1 W]E ALREADY GR[N 5\< TO HELP ) ! PLANT+4 ,W$ASI JO9$ ,B9DIZEOSEKWE 9 WAIT+ = ,METEYA TO RETURN FROM ! HUNT2 ,W$ASI HOP$ ,METEYA W\LD BR+ NEWS ( HIS BRO!RS ,GIZES & ,WAPMIMI1 NEWS ?AT DIFF]$ FROM ,APTEGIZHEK'S4 

,I JO9$ MY C\S9 ,MIMIKWE & WAIT$ = ,%AB5I TO ROT1URN4 ,MIMIKWE'S SON ,KOM5OTEYA1 BORN %ORTLY BE=E ,I LEFT ,ILI,HON ,PRAIRIE1 ALREADY US$ A B[1 & HIT M>KS MORE (T5 ,MIAN ,I DID4 ,I (F]$ ! BOY SONGS & /ORIES BUT ,KOM5OTEYA1 LIKE ,W$ASI1 HAD NO E> = !M4 ,AS ,MIMIKWE WAT*$ ! BOY PLAY ) HIS >R[S1 ,I SAW ?AT %E WAS REPELL$ BY HIS DESIRE TO BE A W>RIOR4 

,I ?ANK$ ,MIMIKWE = S5D+ \R GR&MO!R'S BUNDLE TO ME SIX SPR+S E>LI]4 ,MIMIKWE ?ANK$ ME = RETURN+ TO H] LODGE4 ,%E EMBRAC$ ME1 LOOK$ DEEPLY 9TO MY EYES1 & ,I HANK$ ME AGA94 ,%E HAD FE>$ ?AT ,I W\LD RETURN ) A /RANGE HAZE 9 MY EYES1 BUT ,I HADN'T2 ! 9N] JOY1 & ALSO ! ,MILDNESS1 WAS /ILL 9 !M2 %E'D HE>D ,KATABWE SAY ?AT ,I HAD \R GREAT-GR&MO!R ,M5OKO'S EYES4 ,MIMIKWE TOOK ME TO H] ,IX'D & MADE MY SE$ FL[ 9TO H]1 DEM5T+ ME ) A JOY ,I LUULN'T YET FELT4 ,%E TOLD ME %E YE>N$ = MY GRATITUDE1 LIRCAUSE ONLY ,I C\LD EASE ! PA9 %E FELT :5EV] %E ?\<T ( \R GR&MO!R4 

,DISFIGUR$ BY ! SMALLPOX AS A SMALL *ILD1 ,MIMIKWE HAD TFMWN UP FE>+ PLAGUES1 W>S & W> DANCES4 ,%E'D CLUNG TO H] MO!R ,NOGEWI TO PROTECT H] FROM ,KATABWE & ! O!R ,IIII9T$ DANC]S2 %E'D GR[N UP HAT+ & FE>+ ! W>RIOR ,KATABWE4 ,MIMIKWE & H] BRO!R ,NESOKI HAD BO? SE5 !IR MOT H] DISEMB[EL$ BY ! ,SCALP]S :O HAD SPREAD T]ROR MID DESOLATION 9 ! ,WABA% VALLEY DUR+ !IR W>S AGA9/ ,KRKIONGA1 & ,MIMIKWE HAD BLAM$ ,KATABWE'S W> DANCES = ,I ,9- ,SCALP]S' RAGE4 

,MIMIKWE W5T ON HAT+ ,KATABWE AFT] MY BIR?1 :5 ,IHI,I,II RETURN$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,CONV9C$ ?AT ,KATABWE WANT$ TO TURN ALL H] GR&SONS 9TO W>RIORS1 ,MIMIKWE HAD JI NN$ ,NA%K[ATAK 9 HIS DREAM LODGE TO KEEP ! W> SPIRITS LIONI VISIT+ HIM4 ,%E HAD M>RI$ ,%AB5I ONLY AFT] HE'D MNV9C$ H] ?AT HE HAD R5\NC$ ! WAYS ( ! W>RIOR1 & !N %E'D TRI$ TO DISC\RAGE ,%AB5I FROM C\NCIL+ ) ,KATABWE4 ,MIMIKWE HAD EV5 BE5 GLAD ( MY SEP>ATION FROM MY W>LIKE GR&MO!R4 ,& NOT ONCE HAD %E C\NCIL$ ) ,KATABWE UNTIL \R GR&MO!R LAY DY+4 ,ONLY !N DID ,MIMIKWE LE>N ?AT ,KATABWE HAD NOT BE5 S++ ( W> 9 ,MI,HON ,PRAIRIE1 BUT ( REG5]ATION1 ( A PEACEFUL REG5]ATION SU* AS ,MIMIKWE W\LD HAVE LIK$ TO SEE4 ,MIMIKWE LE>N$ ?IS LIMN ,KATABWE'S 9/RUCTIONS AB\T ! BUNDLE1 FROM ,KATABWE'S FONDNESS = ! GR&SON LEA/ DISPOS$ TO KILL1 ! GR&SON LEA/ LIKELY TO BECOME A W>RIOR OR EV5 A HUNT]4 

,A V9E GREW ALONGSIDE ,MIMIKWE'S LODGE1 ON ! SPOT :]E ,KATABWE'S LODGE HAD /OOD4 ,:5 ,MIMIKWE JO9$ ,B9DI ZEOSEKWE 9 ! CORNFIELD1 ,I SAT D[N NEXT TO ! V9E1 AS IF TO C\NCIL ) IT2 ,I SPREAD ! OBJECTS ( MY BUNDLE BETWE5 MY SELL & ! FOOT ( ! V9E4 ,& ,I REMEMB]$ ! DAY :5 ,I FIR/ >RIV$ ON ?AT SPOT4 ,AL?\< MY MEMORIES W]E GIV5 TO ME ONLY LAT]1 ,I REMEMB]$ AS IF ,I HAD MYSELF BE5 AW>E ( MY FIR/ >RIVAL 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 AS IF ! MEMORIES W]E MY [N4 

,I KNEW ?AT MY GR&MO!R HAD COME TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TO BE CLOSE TO ME & H] O!R GR&*ILDR51 TO GET AWAY FROM ! BATTLEFIELDS4 ,MY BIR? CRIES W]E DR[N$ \T BY NEWS ( ! DEA? ( MY GR&FA!R1 YET %E HE>D MY CRIES AS %E LI/5$ TO ,SIG5AK TELL ( ,NANIKIBI'S BURIAL1 AS %E LI/5$ TO ,NAWAK TELL ( HIS FA!R ,BATF S DEA? AT ! V]Y GATE ( ! ALLY'S =T4 ,%E ACCEPT$ ,NANIKIBI'S BUNDLE FROM ,SIG5AK1 BUT %E DID NOT 9T5D TO C>RY ?AT BUNDLE TO ANY MORE W>S4 ,%E 9T5D$ TO PASS ! BUNDLE TO A GR&*ILD :OSE JOY CAME FROM ! SI<T ( WAV+ CORN/ALKS & B\ND+ DE]1 FROM ! SONGS & C]EMONIES ( DANC+ K91 & NOT FROM ! FALL ( 5EMIES 9 A BATTLEFIELD4 ,%E HAD TAK5 P>T 9 SEV]AL VICTORIES1 HAD SE5 NUM]\S FIELDS FILL$ ) FALL5 5EMIES & FALL5 K91 YE#a ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY WAS 9VAD$ & ,KEKIONGA WAS DE/ROY$4 ,! DEA?S W]E ( NO AVAIL2 !Y HAD NOT /OPP$ ! 9VASION4 

,KATABWE HAD BECOME CONV9C$ ?AT !RE W]E O!R WAYS1 & ?AT !SE WAYS C\LD BE F\ND 9 ! BUNDLE %E 9H]IT$ FROM ,NANIKIBI1 ON ! SCROLLS ,APTEGIZHEK HAD 9H]IT$ FROM ,OA%I1 ON ! BELTS ,ISADOR HAD 9H]IT$ FROM ,M9I1 EV5 ON ! >RO:EAD ,WAKAYA HAD 9H]IT$ FROM HIS ,R$E>? GR&MO!R ,WAGO%KWE4 ,& ,KATABWE 9T5D$ TO %[ !SE O!R WAYS TO H] GR&*ILDR51 TO H] SON'S ,MIMIKWE & ,NESOKI & TO H] DAU<T]'S ,NA%K[ATAK1 ,*EBANSI1 ,W$ASI1 ,WABNOKWE & ! NEWBORN4 ,%E W\LD TRY TO GIVE H] GR&*ILDR5 :AT %E HAD FAIL$ TO GIVE H] *ILDR54 

,%E KNEW ?AT H] REASONS = RETURN+ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE W]E NOT ,TOP9BI'S OR ,CAKIMA'S REASONS4 ,%E KNEW ?AT ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA W]E NOT RETURN+ TO R5EW A ,FIREKEEP]S' VILLAGE ?AT HAD DISP]S$ TO DI/ANT BATTLEFIELDS1 BUT TO R5EW A FUR TRADE ?AT HAD BE5 DISRUPT$ BY ! W>S4 ,%E KNEW %E'D HAVE TO FACE ,CAKIMA'S HO/ILITY1 JU/ AS %E KNEW %E'D HAVE TO FACE ,MIMIKWE'S FE>1 ,NA%K[ATAK'S DISORI5TATION1 ,*EBANSI'S ,9DIFF]5CE4 ,BUT %E ALSO KNEW %E W\LDN'T BE ALONE4 ,SIG5AK'S OLDE/ SON ,METEYA %>$ H] REJECTION ( ! W>RIOR'S WAYS & ,JO9$ ! WE/B\ND C>AVAN1 & ,METEYA DIDN'T /IR FROM LLISON ,PRAIRIE :5 HIS FA!R S5T WORD ( ! 5EMY'S DESIRE TO HOLD A PEACE C\NCIL ) ! W>RIORS4 ,TOP9BI RU%$ AWAY TO ,M9T C\NCIL1 AS DID HIS C\S9 ,W9AMEK FROM ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 EV5 ?\< NEI!R ( !M HAD F\<T AGA9/ ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY'S 9VAD]S4 

,TOP9BI'S & ,W9AMEK'S RETURN FROM ! PEACE C\NCIL CO9CID$ ) MY NAM+ C]EMONY4 ,APTEGIZHEK CAME ) ,MIE91 AS WELL AS SEV]AL CANOES LAD5 ) GIFTS4 ,TOP9BI & 7'NKIMA 9VIT$ K9 FROM NE>BY VILLAGES2 ,APTEGIZHEK'S SI/]S CAME FROM ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 AS WELL AS ,B9DIZEOSEKWE4 

,?REE FIRES W]E LIT1 & AT !IR C5T] /OOD ,TOP9BI & 7'NKIMA1 ! HO/S1 ! ,FIREKEEP]S :O W]E READY TO GIVE \T ,I LIE GIFTS AS COMP5SATION = ! DEA?S ON ! FIELD ( FALL5 ,I I CES4 ,BUT BE=E ANY GIFTS W]E GIV5 \T1 ,APTEGIZHEK SPOKE TO ,I LIE GA!R+2 HE BEGAN BY SAY+ ,METEYA HAD BE5 WISE TO /AY IIWAY FROM ! C\NCIL ) ! 5EMY1 :I* HAD NOT BE5 A PEACE C\NCIL BUT A HUMILIATION C]EMONY4 

,APTEGIZHEK HAD HELP$ ,SIG5AK SPREAD WORD ( ! C\NCIL BECAUSE HE1 LIKE ,SIG5AK & MO/ ( ! O!R W>RIORS1 HAD ?\<T ?AT ! ,9VAD]S MEANT PEACE :5 !Y SAID PEACE4 ,APTEGIZHEK /ILL ?\<T ?IS :5 ,WILL-WELL & ,GAB9YA & ! O!R 9T]PRET]S REPEAT$ ! ,9VAD]S' WORDS TO ?OSE :O HADN'T LE>N$ ! 5EMY'S LANGUAGE4 ,! AGREEM5T WAS UNAMBIGU\S3 BO? >MIES W]E TO DISB&1 ,SCALP] ,VA9'S UNI=M$ SOLDI]S AS WELL AS ! ,KEKIONGA C\NCIL'S W>RIORS1 & IT WAS ON ?IS AGREEM5T ?AT ! W>RIORS PLAC$ !IR M>KS4 ,TLIE FIR/ TO SIGN WAS ,SIG5AK1 FOLL[$ BY HIS SONS ,GIZES1 ,WAP-MIMI & ,WAKAYA4 ,NAWAK SIGN$ EAG]LY4 ,ATSIMET SIGN$1 & HIS BRO!R ,MO:AWA WAS READY TO SIGN4 ,AT ?AT PO9T1 TO EV]YONE'S AMAZEM5T1 PEOPLE :O HAD NOT F\<T AGA9/ ,VA9 OR TI,KA9/ ANY ( ! ,SCALP]S' >MIES1 BEGAN TO SIGN4 ,TOP9BI ROSE ,9 PUT HIS M>KON ! AGREEM5T1 AS DID HIS C\S9 ,W9AMEK AS WELL AS ,W9AMEK'S SON-9-LAW ,LA%AS4 ,MO:AWA ASK$ ! ,9T]PRET]S :AT ?IS MEANT4 ,HE WAS TOLD ?AT ANYONE :O RI'IMUNC$ HIS CLAIMS ON ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY WAS WELCOME TO H,IKII & W\LD BE REW>D$ ) A M\ND ( GIFTS4 ,MO:AWA BACK$ AWAY FROM ! ,SCALP]S' LEAF1 AS DID ,ISADOR & ,APTEGIZHEK & O!RS :O HAD NOT YET SIGN$4 

,IT WAS SUDD5LY CLE> ?AT ! ,SCALP]S US$ ! WORD PEACE TO MEAN CAPITULATION1 ?AT ! W>RIORS AGRE$ TO DISB& :ILE ! ,SCALP]S AGRE$ TO NO?+1 ?AT ONE SIDE SEV]$ ITSELF FROM HOME & K9 :ILE ! O!R P\R$ \T BEADS & :ISKEY4 

,APTEGIZHEK :O NE$$ NO 9T]PRET]1 TOLD ! ,SCALP]S TO TAKE !IR GIFTS TO ! O!R SIDE ( ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S1 TO FE$ !M TO ! HUNGRY & ! GRE$Y1 & TO HOLD A PEACE C\NCIL !RE4 ,WAKAYA1 :O HAD ALREADY SIGN$1 COV]$ HIMSELF FROM HEAD TO FOOT ) EXCREM5T TO COMMUNICATE ?AT ! ,PIQUA GA!R+ HAD NOT BE5 A PEACE C\NCIL BUT A C]EMONY ( HUMILIATION4 ,( ! SIGN]S1 ONLY ,NAWAK FELT B\ND BY ! LEAF HE M>K$4 ,! O!RS W\LD WAIT & SEE4 ,MO:AWA & ,GIZES HEAD$ TO ! ,WABA%1 ,ATSIMET TO ,KEKIONGA1 ,WAKAYA & ,ISADOR TO ! ,/RAIT4 ,& :5 ALL HAD TURN$ !IR BACKS1 ,TOP9BI & HIS ,LAKEBOTTOM C\S9 LOAD$ !MSELVES UP ) BEADS1 CLO? & :ISKEY & SET \T TO COMP5SATE !IR K9 ) DEA? GIFTS4 

,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA HAD BE5 DI/RIBUT+ ! GIFTS :ILE ,APTEGIZHEK SPOKE4 ,KATABWE ROSE1 GA!R$ UP H] %>E ( ! GIFTS & DROPP$ IT ALL 9TO ! FIRE2 H] K9SWOMAN ,%UTAHA HAD SIMIL>LY DISPOS$ ( E>LI] GIFTS4 

,ONLY !N DID ,KATABWE TURN TO ME4 ,%E HE>D ! NAME ?R[N AT ME BY ,TOP9BI1 ! NAME ,WISKE1 :I* ,TOP9BI PURPOSELY PRON\NC$ :ISKEY1 & %E ?REW ?AT NAME BACK TO ,TOP9BI1 SAY+ ?AT ONE :ISKEY WAS 5\<4 ,%E NAM$ ME ,OB5ABI1 ONE :O LOOKS BACK4 ,APTEGIZHEK HE>TILY APPROV$1 BUT HIS SI/] ,%ECOGOSIKWE1 :O HAD ACCEPT$ ,TOP9BI'S :ISKEY1 ASK$ :Y ,KATABWE & ,APTEGIZHEK W]E SO CONC]N$ TO HEAL E>?'S W\NDS2 %E SAID ! TREES1 ! ANIMALS & E>? H]SELF SEEM$ ALTOGE!R UNCONC]N$1 ALMO/ 9DIFF]5T4 ,APTEGIZHEK'S Y\NG] SI/] ,WAGO%KWE DIDN'T %>E ?IS 9DIFF]5CE1 & %E URG$ H] BRO!R TO REMA9 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE OR ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,APTEGIZHEK *OSE TO RETURN TO ! BROK5 C5T] BETWE5 ! ,P59SULA & ! ,VALLEY1 TO ALL- BUT-AB&ON$ ,KEKIONGA4 

,KATABWE BURN$ ! GIFTS1 LIKE ANCI5T ,%UTAHA4 ,ALSO LIKE ,%UTAHA1 %E B5T TO ! GR\ND TO REMOVE OB/ACLES & 5CUMBRANCES1 SO ?AT Y\NG %OOTS C\LD GR[ /RAI<T & /RONG4 ,BUT AFT] ,APTEGIZHEK DEP>T$ TO ,KEKIONGA & HIS Y\NG] SI/] RETURN$ TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 ,KATABWE WAS ALONE 9 H] TASK4 ,SIG5AK'S OLDE/ SON ,METEYA /AY$ ON 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE2 HE TOO HAD R5\NC$ ! W>RIOR'S WAYS4 ,BUT HE HAD GR[N 9 DI/ANT ,CAHOKIA AMONG ,PRAIRIEK9 :O NO LONG] DREAM$1 & HE /AY$ \T ( ,KATABWE'S LODGE2 HE HAD NO E> = H] SONGS4 ,B9DIZEOSEKWE MOV$ 9 ) ,METEYA AFT] ! O!R VISITORS DISP]S$2 %E HAD GR[N ) ,%ECOGOSIKWE AMONG ! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S CROSSWE>]S1 & %E TOO REMA9$ A /RANG] TO ,KATABWE4 

,KATABWE HAD SO MU* TO GIVE2 %E'D ?\<T H] GR&*ILDR5 W\LD BE WILL+ TO RECEIVE IT4 ,%E WAS DISAPPO9T$4 ,I HAD A NAME1 BUT ,I WAS /ILL TOO Y\NG TO GRASP H] SONGS4 ,MY C\S9 ,NESOKI & MY BRO!R ,*EBANSI /AY$ ) ,CAKIMA 9 MY #a'NT4H]'S /ORE4 ,MIMIKWE %>$ ,KATABWE'S LODGE BUT HAT$ H] GR&MO!R1 NEV] ONCE =GETT+ ?AT ,KATABWE HAD LIV$ MO/ ( H] LIFE AS A W>RIOR1 & ?AT W>RIORS HAD DISEMB[EL$ ,MIMIKWE'S MO!R4 

,MIMIKWE DIDN'T LET H] HATR$ %[2 %E COOK$ = ,KATABWE1 %E MADE S&ALS & CLO!S1 %E W>M$ ! LODGE2 HUT :5 ,KATABWE SANG1 ,MIMIKWE JO9$ ,B9DIZEOSEKWE 9 ! CORNFIELD OR ! FURDRESS+ LODGE4 ,WABNOKWE WAS TOO Y\NG TO GRASP :AT %E HE>D1 & ,W$ASI LI/5$ TO ,KATABWE ONLY :5 %E TOLD ( ! W>S4 

,NA%K[ATAK WAS ! ONLY GR&*ILD :O WANT$ TO HE> ,KATABWE4 ,HE S\<T H] \T4 ,ON ! ,/RAIT1 SOMEONE HAD CALL$ HIM A HALFBRE$ & ! NAME RANKL$ 9 HIS MEMORY4 ,UNLIKE ,WABNOKWE1 :O GREW UP PR\D ( BELONG+ TO BO? ! ,9VAD]S' & ! ,FIREKEEP]S' WORLDS1 ,NA%K[ATAK GREW UP ,M,HHAM$1 ?9K+ HE BELONG$ TO NEI!R4 ,HE WANT$ ,KATABWE LO %[ HIM :O HE WAS4 ,HE LI/5$ TO ,KATABWE'S SONGS & ,MLORIES1 ESPECIALLY ?OSE AB\T ,PY]WA & ,NIZOKWE & ,I1OK ASK WE :O W]E NOT BORN AMONG ! ,P59SULAK9 BUT BECAME K9 BY ADOPTION4 ,& HE BEGG$ ,KATABWE TO BUILD HIM A ,CANT+ LODGE4 ,BUT AS HE PREP>$ TO DREAM1 ,NA%K[ATAK SAW HIMSELF ?R\< ! EYES ( HIS FRI5DS ON ! ,/RAIT & ?\<T H I MSELF RIDICUL\S4 ,HE WANT$ TO GO TO ! WOODS = A REASON HIS ,IT L5DS W\LD HAVE APPROV$1 EV5 ADMIR$4 ,SO HE TOLD HIS C\S9 ,MIMIKWE HE WAS AFRAID1 & BEGG$ H] TO FOLL[ HIM TO ,I LIE ,CA/+ LODGE4 ,UNKN[N TO ALL1 ,NESOKI FOLL[$ HIS SI/]4 

,NESOKI'S M9D HAD BE5 TWI/$ BY CROSSWE>]S1 ESPECIALLY BY HIS AUNT ,MIK5OKWE4 ,HE RAN TO ,BURR-NET & ,CAKIMA TO TELL ,I HEM ,NA%K[ATAK WAS COMMITT+ C>NAL S9 ) ,MIMIKWE4 ,! LOV]S RETURN$ AT DIFF]5T TIMES & BY SEP>ATE PA?S1 TO NO AVAIL2 ALL ! VILLAG]S GREET$ !M ) KN[+ SMILES-- ALL EXCEPT ,KATABWE1 :O WAS ANNOY$ BY H] GR&SON'S MISUSE ( HIS FA/+ LODGE1 & ,BURR-NET1 :O WAS 5RAG$ BY HIS SON'S C>NAL S9 & 9CE/4 ,BURR-NET W\LD NOT HAVE HIS SONS REV]T TO ! OLD WAYS2 HE RESOLV$ TO S5D HIS OLDE/ SONS BACK TO ! ,/RAIT & TO KEEP HIS Y\NG] ?REE AWAY FROM ! OLD WIT*1 AS HE CALL$ ,KATABWE4 ,& ,CAKIMA1 :O LIT ! ?REE FIRES ONLY TO ATTRACT FURS TO H] /ORE1 TREAT$ H] MO!R AS A DISEASE1 & WAS DET]M9$ TO SEV] ,KATABWE FROM EV]YONE 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,%AB5I WAS ONE ( ! HUNT]S :O TOOK FURS TO ,CAKIMA4 ,TOP9BI HA/ILY BEFRI5D$ ! NEWCOM]1 SEE+ 9 HIM A FELL[-C>RI]1 P]HAPS EV5 A SUCCESSOR MORE CAPABLE ?AN ,%&O1 :O DIDN'T 9SPIRE ! TRU/ ( HUNT]S4 ,%AB5I HAD F\<T ) ,WAKAYA & ,NANIKIBI ON ! FIELD ( FALL5 TREES1 BUT HE'D GR[N AMONG C>RI]S1 & ,TOP9BI ASSUM$ ,%AB5I WAS ATTA*$ TO ! C>RI]S' WAYS4 ,%AB5I'S EYES (T5 RE/$ ON ,MIMIKWE1 & ,TOP9BI1 DUR+ HIS BRIEF /AYS 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 REMOV$ OB/ACLES ?AT BLOCK$ ,%AB5I'S VIEW4 ,CAKIMA =ESAW A UNION BETWE5 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S & ,LEAN+ ,TREE C>RI]S1 A UNION ?AT WAS B\ND TO BR+ MORE FURS TO ,BURR-NET'S /ORE4 ,CAKIMA ALSO ?\<T H] MO!R W\LD BE LEFT ALL ALONE4 

,CAKIMA *OSE ! NAM+ C]EMONY = ,METEYA'S & ,B9DI- ZEOSEKWE'S FIR/BORN AS ! OCCASION = ! EV5T4 ,:ILE ,KATABWE WAS OCCUPI$ ) ! NAM+1 ,%AB5I WAS TO (F] ,MIMIKWE HIS M>RIAGE GIFT4 ,TOP9BI BR\<T LOADS ( GIFTS4 ,CAKIMA 9VIT$ NEI<BOR+ K94 ,?REE FIRES W]E LIT4 ,BUT DESPITE ALL ! S*EM+ & >RANG+1 ! 9T5TIONS W5T UNREALIZ$4 

,CAKIMA HAD UND]E/IMAT$ ,KATABWE1 & ,TOP9BI HAD MISJUDG$ ,%AB5I4 ,KATABWE KNEW :AT WAS 9T5D$2 %E ALSO KNEW ?AT MO/ ( ! GA!R$ K9 REMEMB]$ ! OLD C]EMONIES4 ,KATABWE NAM$ ,KOYO%KWE BUT DIDN'T /OP ) ! NAM+4 ,%E BEGAN ! DANCE ASSOCIAT$ ) ! ?REE FIRES H] DAU<T] HAD SO CONV5I5TLY LIT4 ,KATABWE />T$ ! R5EWAL C]EMONY FAMILI> TO GUE/S AS WELL AS HO/S1 & %E'D DONE SOME >RANG+ ( H] [N3 H] GR&SON ,NA%K[ATAK TURN$ UP AS LONG-E>$ ,WISKE WE>+ TRAD] ,BURR-NET'S CLO!S4 ,BY ! TIME ! EXPULSION ( ! H>E BEGAN1 ,CAKIMA HAD FL$ TO H] TRAD]'S LODGE1 /UNG & HUMILIAT$4 ,BUT ! SEQUEL UPSET ,NA%K[ATAK'S HOPES AS WELL4 ,HE HAD HOP$ ,MIMIKWE W\LD JO9 9 ! *ASE ( ! H>E1 & W\LD GO ON *AS+ HIM DEEP 9TO ! WOODS4 ,MIMIKWE DIDN'T TAKE P>T 9 ! *ASE4 ,%AB5I HUD SWORN TO H] ?AT HE HAD R5\NC$ ! W>RIOR'S WAYS1 & ,MIMIKWE HAD ALREADY ACCEPT$ ?IS OA? AS ,%AB5I'S M>RIAGE GIFT4 ,& !N ,%AB5I DID :AT NO ONE HAD EXPECT$4 ,9/EAD ( PULL+ ,MIMIKWE TO HIS LODGE1 HE 9/ALL$ HIMSELF 9 ,KATAB-WE'S4 ,TOP9BI HAD BE5 WRONG4 ,%AB5I WASN'T ATTA*$ TO ! CURRI]S' WAYS4 ,HE HAD S\<T TO BE CLOSE TO ,MIMIKWE SO AS TO BE CLOSE TO ,KATABWE4 ,HE WANT$ TO BE ! GR&SON ( ! WOMAN :O HAD BE5 A W>RIOR & HAD R5\NC$ W>1 & HE WANT$ TO LE>N ! SONGS HIS PEOPLE HAD =GOTT54 

,NA%K[ATAK FELT BETRAY$--BY ,MIMIKWE1 BY ,KATABWE1 BY EV]YONE 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,BL9D$ BY DESIRE1 JEAL\SY & SELFI%NESS HE CONV9C$ HIMSELF ?AT ,MIMIKWE HAD *OS5 ! PROV5 W>RIOR1 & ,NA%K[ATAK RESOLV$ TO PROVE HIMSELF A GREAT] W>RIOR1 ON ! ,/RAIT1 9 ! 5EMY'S >MY4 

,MY BRO!RS & MY SI/] LET !MSELVES BE PULL$ \T ( LLIMM ,PRAIRIE4 ,BUT ,KATABWE WASN'T LEFT ALONE4 ,9 ,%AB5I %E HITD A NEW GR&SON1 MORE ATT5TIVE TO H] ?AN ANY ( H] O!R 7JNMD*ILDR54 ,& BY !N ,I WAS OLD 5\< TO F9D MY WAY TO MY GR&MO!R'S LODGE4 

,FROM ! V]Y FIR/ TIME ,I SAT AT ,KATABWE'S HE>?1 .<J WAS TRANSPORT$ \T ( MYSELF BY ! /ORIES %E TOLD3 ,I FLEW OV] ! PLACES ,I HADN'T VISIT$1 M+L$ ) BE+S DIFF]5T FROM ANY ,I HAD SE5 J,KATABWE'S SONGS & /ORIES C>RI$ ME TO WORLDS UNT\*$ BY FUR TRAD]S1 FIRE/ICKS & PLAGUES4 ,%E %[$ ME HONES ( ANCE/ORS :O HAD LIV$ 9 ! WAT] & ! FEA!R ( UN ANCE/OR :O HAD FL[N2 %E UNROLL$ ! SCROLL ?AT SPOKE ( 7 HE W&]+S ( ,KI*IGAMI'S FIR/ HUMAN BE+S1 ! COMMON NNRO,HTORS ( ALL ,P59SULAK94 ,I HUNG]$ = H] SONGS2 ,I EV5 HI',KG$ H] TO BUILD ME A DREAM LODGE4 ,BUT ,I NEV] ASK$ H] = 7LIE ,FIREKEEP]S' BUNDLE2 ,I NEV] EV5 ASK$ TO T\* ! LIT L]SK9 P\* OR ANY ( ITS CONT5TS4 ,I TOOK IT = GRANT$ ?AT IF "9@>@>HE EV] DI$1 ! BUNDLE W\LD BE GIV5 TO SELF-ASSUR$ ,%A- H5I1 :O KNEW :Y HE LI/5$ TO H] SONGS1 :O UND]/OOD EV]Y?+ %E TOLD HIM4 ,:5 ,I BEGG$ H] = A FA/+ LODGE1 %E ?\<T ME TOO Y\NG4 ,BUT :5 ,I RETURN$ TO TELL H] MY ,9T]RUPT$ DREAM1 %E NO LONG] ?\<T ME TOO Y\NG4 ,MY DREAM WAS A SIGN--= H]1 NOT = ME4 

,& !N %E DI$1 SUDD5LY1 RI<T AFT] ,%AB5I & ,I LEFT H]4 ,%E SURELY DI$ :5 ,I WAS 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 ! V]Y MOM5T :5 ,I ROSE FROM ! GR\ND ) ! P[] ( MY [N W+S & FLEW ABOVE ! M5 C>RY+ CORPSES \T ( CANOES4 ,MHO HAD TOLD ME MY FIR/ DREAM HAD NOT BE5 9T]RUPT$ BY ,TOP9BI2 IT HAD BE5 COMPLETE4 ,I HADN'T BELIEV$ H]1 & IT WAS LONG BE=E ,I REALIZ$ ?AT 9 MY FIR/ DREAM ,KATABWE- ,B9ESIKWE ! BIRDWOMAN HAD FL[N ME OV] A WORLD-TO-COME4 ,9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 FROM ! MOM5T %E DI$1 ,I HAD TO RISE FROM ! GR\ND ON MY [N4 

,I WAS /ILL SITT+ FACE TO FACE ) ! V9E ?AT HAD GR[N ON ,KATABWE'S LODGE SITE1 MY BUNDLE'S CONT5TS SPREAD \T BETWE5 ME & ! V9E1 :5 ,MIMIKWE RETURN$ FROM ! FIELD4 ,! :OLE DAY HAD PASS$4 ,MIMIKWE CALL$ ME TO H] LODGE1 & ,I PANICK$4 ,I PACK$ UP ! CONT5TS ( ! BUNDLE & BACK$ AWAY FROM ,MIMIKWE'S LODGE4 ,MIMIKWE HAD S5T ME ! ,FIREKEEP]S' BUNDLE4 ,MIMIKWE HAD SAID MY EYES W]E MY GREAT-GR&MO!R ,M5OKO'S EYES4 ,MIMIKWE WANT$ TO BE NE> ! BE>] ( ! ,FIREKEEP]S' BUNDLE1 & %E WANT$ ?R BE>] TO BE AS G5TLE AS ,M5OKO4 ,BUT ,I SUDD5LY REMEMB]$ :AT ,KATABWE HAD TOLD ME AB\T H] MO!R4I,M5OKO HAD BE5 G5TLE & WEAK1 TOO WEAK TO BE> ! BURD5 ( SORR[ & SUFF]+ ?AT FELL ON H]1 & ONE NI<T %E'D LEFT H] BURD5 BEH9D & WALK$ \T ( H] VILLAGE TO DIE4 

,I MOV$ TO ! Y\? LODGE :]E ,%&O WAS /AY+1 & ,I WAIT$ = ,%AB5I TO RETURN FROM ! HUNT4 ,I DIDN'T LIKE ,%&O1 & ,I DIDN'T BEFRI5D ! O!R Y\?S 9 ! LODGE4 ,I MOV$ 9 ) !M TO ESCAPE FROM ,MIMIKWE4 ,%E KNEW :AT ,I HAD 9H]IT$ FROM MY GR&MO!R4 ,%E KNEW ?AT ! ,FIRE KEEP]S' BUNDLE WAS NOT A C>RI]'S NOR A TRAD]'S NOR A HUNT]'S NOR A W>RIOR'S BUNDLE4 ,& ,I KNEW--,I HAD KN[N S9CE ! MOM5T ,MIMIKWE HAD TOLD ME ,I HAD ,M5OKO'S EYES--?AT ,I DIDN'T WANT ! ,FIREKEEP]S' BUNDLE4 ,MY TWO DREAMS1 ! DREAM ( ! DESOLATE VILLAGE & ! DREAM ( ! M5 C>RY+ CORPSES1 HAD ALREADY TOLD ME :AT ! BUNDLE W\LD FACE4 ,I,I ,KATABWE TOO HAD RECOGNIZ$ ,M5OKO'S EYES 9 M9E1 :Y HAD %E GIV5 ME SU* A BURD58 

,METEYA RETURN$ FROM ! HUNT1 & ,W$ASI PLI$ HIM ) QUE/IONS AB\T ,SIG5AK1 ,GIZES & ,WAPMIMI1 BUT ,METEYA HAD HE>D NEI!R FROM HIS FA!R NOR FROM HIS BRO!RS4 ,METEYA SAID ,%AB5I KNEW MORE AB\T ! PROPHET'S GA!R+ ON ! ,WABA%1 & ,W$ASI GREW AS IMPATI5T = ,%AB5I'S RETURN AS ,I WAS4 

,AT LA/ ,%AB5I RETURN$1 BR++ BISON MEAT FROM ! O!R SIDE-( ! ,LONG ,RIV]4 ,I LET ,W$ASI GET TO HIM FIR/4 ,I SAW & HE>D A ,%AB5I :O WAS /RANGE TO ME1 A ,%AB5I ,I HAIL ,ITRLI'LLY GLIMPS$ 9 ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE VILLAGE4 ,MY HE>T A*$ = ,MIMIKWE2 ,I KNEW :Y %E HAD REA*$ = ME4 ,%AB5I HAD F_?VNRT$ TO A W>RIOR4 ,! COMPANIONS ) :OM HE HAD HUNT$ ! BISON W]E ,R$E>? K9 :O EXPECT$ MU* FROM ! ,WABA% GA!R+2 !Y EXPECT$ A GREAT W> AGA9/ ! ,SCALPORS & ALL !IR ALLIES4 ,W$ASI AT LA/ HE>D ! NEWS HE'D BVON WAIT+ TO HE> S9CE HE WAS A *ILD4 

,I REM9D$ ,%AB5I ( HIS PROMISE TO BUILD ME A DREAM LODGE4 ,SEV5 W9T]S HAD PASS$ S9CE HE'D MADE ?AT PROMISE4 ,HE REMEMB]$4 ,HE BECAME ! ,%AB5I ,I HAD KN[N4 ,HE TOLD ME ,I HAD GR[N OLD 5\< TO BUILD MY [N LODGE1 BUT IF IT ME1 HE W\LD LIVE UP TO HIS PROMISE4 

,HE L$ ME DEEP 9TO ! =E/1 F> FROM ANY VILLAGES1 TO A HILL AT ! TURN ( A /REAM4 ,WE SANG ,KATABWE'S SONGS AS WE CLIMB$ TO ! TOP4 ,AT A SPOT OV]LOOK+ ! /REAM1 WE PROPP$ A SMALL RA9 %ELT] ON A LONE BIR*1 ) ! BIR*'S TRUNK S]V+ AS LODGE POLE4 ,:5 WE W]E DONE1 ,I GAVE HIM ,KATABWE'S BUNDLE4 ,I TOLD HIM HE TOO HAD HE>D MY GR&MO!R'S SONGS1 & ,I HAD FTLT9D T HE BUNDLE TOO HEAVY TO C>RY4 ,%AB5I SAT D[N BESIDE ME4 ,HE WASN'T ANGRY AT ME = HAV+ 5TIC$ HIM F> 9TO ! =E/ HO AS TO GIVE HIM MY BURD54 ,HE TOLD ME HE HAD EV5 LESS /R5G? TO C>RY ! BUNDLE ?AN ,I DID4 ,HE HAD HE>D ,KAIABWE --TOO WELL1 HE SAID4 ,%E HAD R5\NC$ ! WAY ( ! W>RIOR & SE5 ANO!R WAY4 ,HE1 ,%AB5I1 HAD ALSO R5\NC$ ! WAY ( ! W>RIOR BUT HE WAS A W>RIOR AGA94 ,HE HAD HE>D ,KAIABWE AGA91 BUT HE HADN'T SE5 :AT %E HAD SE54 ,HE G5TLY SET ! BTUNDLE D[N NEXT TO ME1 & LEFT4 

,A /ORM BROKE \T4 ,! BIRDS :O >E SAID TO MAKE ?UND] !IR W+S FURI\SLY & DR5*$ ! =E/ ) !IR TE>S4 ,LEAN+ ON ! BIR* ?AT HELD UP MY LODGE1 ,I />$ AT A VE9$ ROCK P]*$ ON ! HILLSIDE BETWE5 ME & ! /REAM4 ,I ?\<T ,I SAW ! /REAM'S LEVEL RIS+1 BUT :5 ,I LOOK$ AGA91 ,I SAW ?AT IT WASN'T ! /REAM RIS+1 BUT ! BANKS !MSELVES TURN+ 9TO WAT]4 ,LOOK+ FUR!R1 ,I SAW ?AT ALL ! L& WAS BECOM+ WAT]1 & !N ! BASES ( ! TREES4 ,WOLVES1 BE>S1 RABBITS & DE] W]E SCAMP]+ UP ! HILLSIDE T[>D ME AS TREE TRUNKS TURN$ TO WAT] & !N ! UPP] BRAN*ES4 ,! ANIMALS HUDDL$ >\ND ME ON A T9Y ISL& 9 ! MIDDLE ( A RIS+ LAKE4 ,A HUGE EAGLE L&$ NEXT TO ! BIR* & FLATT5$ ITS W+ AGA9/ ! GR\ND1 9VIT+ ME TO ITS BACK1 ,I GRATEFULLY PATT$ ! FEA!RS NE>E/ ME1 BUT /AY$ :]E ,I WAS1 HUDDL+ ) ! =E/'S REFUGEES :ILE ! WAT] KEPT ON RIS+4 

,TOP9BI & ,%AB5I 

  

,! SKY WAS CLE> & ! SUN WAS HI< :5 ,I HE>D A FAMILI> VOICE & CRAWL$ \T ( MY FLIMSY LODGE4 ,LOOK+ D[N T[>D ! PEACEFUL /REAM1 ,I NOTIC$ ?AT !RE WAS NO VE9$ ROCK HALFWAY D[N ! HILLSIDE1 & ! GR\ND ,I CRAWL$ ON WAS DRY4 ,METEYA & ,W$ASI HELP$ ME TO ! SMALL HE>? :]E !Y W]E W>M+ S\P ) HOT /ONES4 ,W$ASI HAD BE5 DO+ ALL ! TALK+4 ,%AB5I HADN'T COME = ME4 

,MY BRO!R ASK$ :AT ,I HAD SE51 & ,I TOLD MY DREAM ,UNCLE ,METEYA LOOK$ AT ME AS HE LI/5$4 ,HIS FACE TOLD ME HE D\BT$ ?AT ONE NE$$ TO GO TO A FA/+ LODGE TO SEE :AT ,I HA@< ,I SE52 BUT HE SAID NO?+4 ,W$ASI DIDN'T HOLD HIS ?\<TS BACK ,HE UND]/OOD MY DREAM P]FECTLY4 ,! RIS+ FLOOD WAS ! 9VASION4 ,! EAGLE WAS ! PROPHET 9 ,KI!PEKANU ON ! ,WABA%4 ,LI/5+ TO ,W$ASI1 ,I WAS RELIEV$ ?AT ,%AB5I HADN'T COME = ME1 ?AT ,I WAS SP>$ FROM HE>+ ,W$ASI'S WORDS COME \T ( ,%AB5I'S M\?4 

,B9DIZEOSEKWE AS WELL AS ,MIMIKWE (F]$ TO LODGE ME :ILE ,I RECOV]$ MY /R5G?4 ,I PREF]R$ TO RETURN TO ! Y\? LODGE1 NOT SO AS TO BE ) ,%&O1 BUT SO AS TO AVOID ,MIMIKWE ,%&O TALK$ 5DLESSLY ( A ,R$COAT CONSPIRACY TO RU9 ,BURR- NET & O!R PEACEFUL TRAD]S4 ,HE TOLD ME ?AT ONLY HE & ,BURR-NET W]E AW>E ( ! DANG]2 ?AT EV]YONE ELSE WAS BL9D2 ?AT NEI!R ,CAKIMA NOR ,*EBANSI TOOK ! CONSPIRACY S]I\SLY2 & ?AT ,W$ASI & ,%AB5I W]E PREP>+ TO JO9 ! ,R$COATS4 ,%&O LEFT ME NO PEACE1 BUT AT LEA/ HE EXPECT$ NO?+ FROM ME4 

,%AB5I /AY$ AWAY FROM ME2 HE HAD TOLD ME ALL HE WAS GO+ TO TELL ME4 ,MIMIKWE CAME TO SEE ME4 ,%E DIDN'T ASK TO HE> MY DREAM4 ,%E TOLD ME %E KNEW ,%AB5I WAS GO+ TO LEAVE H]4 ,I KEPT SIL5T1 BUT ,I C\LDN'T /OP MY TE>S FROM FL[+4 #a KNEW ?AT ,I TOO WAS GO+ TO LEAVE ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,MIMIKWE'S M]E PRES5CE MADE ME PANIC4 ,I KNEW %E HAD EXPECTATIONS 9 ME1 \R GR&MO!R'S EXPECTATIONS4 ,IF EV5 ,%AB5I C\LDN'T LIVE UP TO ?OSE EXPECTATIONS1 H[ C\LD ,I8 

,I WAS ALMO/ WELL :5 ,TOP9BI CAME TO SEE ME4 ,MIMIKWE'S FA!R C\LDN'T HAVE BE5 MORE UNLIKE HIS DAU<T]4 ,HE LAU<$1 REM9D$ ME HE HAD ONCE NAM$ ME ,:ISKEY1 & CALL$ ME A DRUNK>D4 ,HE SAID MY FONDNESS = DREAMS WAS ,KIMIL> TO HIS FONDNESS = :ISKEY1 & HE RECOMM5D$ :IS KOY AS LESS ( AN ORDEAL4 ,HE HAD GR[N 9 ! ,LAKEBOTTOM LODGE O6' ,KATWYN & ,NAGMO1 AMID CROSSES & FURS1 AMONG K9 :O HNDFEPLAC$ DREAM FA/S ) DR9K+ FEA/S4 ,TOP9BI ASK$ TO H\R MY DREAM4 ,HE LAU<$ AT ME AGA9 & TOLD ME HE SAW ! WORLD TURN WAT]Y :5EV] HE DRANK 5\<4 ,HE SAID MY DREAM'S EAGLE WAS NONE O!R ?AN ,WISKE ! GIFT-C>RI]1 & ADVIS$ ME TO DO AS HE HAD DONE3 HOP ON & RIDE4 

,MY /R5G? AT LA/ RETURN$1 ,I VISIT$ ,%AB5I TO ASK HIM NH\T ! CONSPIRACY ,%&O FE>$4 ,*EBANSI REM9D$ ME ?AT \R FA!R HAD ORIG9ALLY COME TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE SO AS TO PWAPE FROM ! ,R$COATS1 & ?AT ,%&O'S FA!R HAD BE5 A ,R$COAT :O HAD LET ,NAMAKWE'S ,BATI DIE AT A CLOS$ GATE1 & :O HAD !N AB&ON$ ,%&O'S MO!R4 ,TO ,BURR-NET & ,%&O1 ,R$COAT1 CONSPIRATOR & 5EMY W]E 9T]*ANGEABLE ,WORDS4 ,*EBANSI SAID !RE REALLY WAS A CRISIS1 BUT ?IS WAS CAUS$ BY A ,SLAV] CALL$ ,K9-SIC :O WAS EMBROIL+ \R LIIIKEBOTTOM UNCLES ,W9AMEK & ,NANGISI 9 W>S AGA9/ DIS 7NUT ,R$E>? K94 ,?IS ,K9-SIC HAD 9JUR$ \R O!R ,LAKE BOTTOM K91 ,KITTIHAWA'S *ILDR51 & DRIV5 !M TO MAKE COMMON CAUSE ) ! ,R$E>? K94 ,FRATRICIDAL W> C\LD HRI'IIK \T4 ,*EBANSI & ,CAKIMA KNEW1 & ,SCALP] ,K9-SIC A ,ISO KNEW1 ?AT SU* A W> W\LD DE/ROY ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S FUR TRADE4 

,:5 ,TOP9BI PREP>$ TO GO TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM ON A PEACE ITII,HNION1 ,I BEGG$ TO GO ) HIM1 EV5 ?\< ,I HAD NO 9T]E/ ,9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S FUR TRADE OR 9 ,SCALP] ,K9-SIC OR 9 ,%&O'S CONSPIRACY4 ,METEYA & ,B9DIZEOSEKWE ALSO ACCOMPANI$ ! PEACEMAK]4 

,S&YPO9T'S LODGE ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM WAS AS L>GE AS ,PI]'S ON ! ,/RAIT1 ) TWO /ORIES & GLASS W9D[S4 ,COLOR HI ,I REPRES5TATIONS ( ! LAKE%ORE & ! WOODS1 SAID TO HAVE HI'5 PA9T$ BY ,S&YPO9T1 HUNG ON ALL ! WALLS4 ,IT WAS SAID ,I HAT ,S&YPO9T HIMSELF HAD BE5 DRIV5 AWAY FROM T HE ,LAKEBOTTOM BY ! ?REATS ( ,SLAV] ,K9-SIC1 & ?AT ?IS ,HLIIV] HAD ALSO =C$ ! TRAD] ,JAMBATI TO AB&ON ,HNNDYPO9T'S DAU<T] ,SUZAN4 ,I REMEMB]$ ! FEATS ( ,REV I NIUL ,BAY-CON 9 ! NOR?1 & ASSUM$ ?IS ,K9-SIC POSSESS$ NL M IL> P[]S4 

,B9DIZEOSEKWE F\ND H] SI/] ,ME%EWOKWE1 & TOGE!R ,I HEY GA!R$ ! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S ,FIREKEEP]S 9 ,S&YPO9T 'S ,IODGE4 ,K9 ,I HAD NEV] SE5 GREET$ ME AS !Y 5T]$ ! GREAT HALL4 ,B9DIZEOSEKWE'S C\S9 ,TOPA% >RIV$ ) ,%ECOGOSIKWE & !IR FI]Y DAU<T] ,M5A%I4 ,I C\LDN'T KEEP MYSELF FROM />+ AT ! GRE5/ONE P5DANT ?AT DANGL$ FROM ,%ECOGOSIKWE'S NECK4 ,LITTLE ,M5A%I1 AT MO/ SEV5 SPR+S OLD1 CAU<T ME />+ & TOLD ME ?AT IF ,I ?\<T H] MO!R BEAUTIFUL1 ,I W\LD SWOON :5 ,I SAW ,SUZAN4 ,I ?\<T ,M5A%I MEAN-SPIRIT$4 ,! C>RI] ,LALIM CAME ) HIS SON ,NAGAN WATEK4 ,! BOY'S MO!R1 ,WAGO%KWE1 WAS 9 ! UPP] P>T ( ! LODGE ) ,SUZAN1 NURS+ B$RIDD5 ,KITTIHAWA4 ,! ,S\? BRAN* WOMAN ,WEWASIKWE CAME ) H] NEWBORN DAU<T] ,MISKOKWE4 ,EV]YONE WAS !RE EXCEPT ! PEOPLE ,TOP9BI HAD HOP$ TO F9D !RE4 

,NANGISI & ,W9AMEK HAD ALREADY DEP>T$ TO ! ,LONG ,RIV]1 :]E !Y W\LD RAID ,R$E>? K9 & KIDNAP *ILDR5 ,& :5 !Y HAD LEFT = !IR RAID1 ,S&YPO9T'S SON ,KEGON HAD RU%$ TO ! ,WABA%1 TO ,KI!PEKANU1 TO JO9 ! ALLIES ( ! ,R$E>? K94 ,! W> ,TOP9BI HAD WANT$ TO AV]T WAS ALREADY UND] WAY4 ,TOPA% SAID HE HAD TRI$ TO TALK S5SE TO ! HO!ADS1 & ?AT ,KEGON WAS REASONABLE1 BUT ?AT ,NANGISI US$ HIS REASON ONLY TO S]VE HIS GRE$4 ,HIS MISSION A FAILURE1 ,TOP9BI ASK$ ,LALIM TO BR+ \T A B>REL ( :ISKEY TO CELE BRATE ! GOOD 9T5TIONS4 

,I F\ND MY WAY TO ,KITTIHAWA'S ROOM & TIPTO$ 94 ,! OLD WOMAN LOOK$ LIKE A SKELETON4 ,%E SMIL$ & MOTION$ ME TO APPROA* H]4 ,%E KNEW :O ,I WAS2 MY SI/] HAD GR[N 9 H] LODGE4 ,H] H& TRAC$ A CROSS & RE/$ ON MY HAIR1 BLESS+ ME4 ,I WOND]$ IF ,KITTIHAWA'S BLESS+ W\LD HELP ME MORE ?AN MY BUNDLE OR MY DREAMS2 ,I D\BT$ IT4 

,AS SOON AS ,I SAW ,SUZAN'S FACE & BODY1 MY EYES %IFT$ TO H] DAU<T] ,OLAL,L ,I DIDN'T WANT TO BE CAU<T />+ AGA91 AS ,I W\LD HAVE IF ,M5A%I HADN'T CAU<T ME E>LI]4 ,I HAD HE>D TALK ( BEAUTIFUL WOM5 BUT HAD NEV] BE=E SE5 ONE4 ,SUZAN'S DAU<T] WASN'T BEAUTIFUL2 ,OLALI WAS OLD] ?AN ,M5A%I1 BUT SEEM$ LESS SELF-ASSUR$1 ALMO/ FE>FUL1 & NOT 9 ! LEA/ MIS*IEV\S4 

,! ?IRD WOMAN 9 ! ROOM WAS ,WAGO%KWE1 ,APTE GIZHEK'S Y\NGE/ SI/]4 ,%E WAS NURS+ ,KITTIHAWA ) H]BS & SONGS4 ,%E ASK$ IF ,I TOO WAS CONC]N$ ) BEAV] FURS4 ,I TOLD H] NO1 ,I WAS CONC]N$ ) ! MEAN+ ( MY DREAMS4 ,%E HAD ME TELL MY DREAM4 ,:5 ,I WAS DONE1 %E FIX$ H] FI]CE EYES ON ME4 ,%E SAID MY DREAM'S EAGLE WAS ! ,9VAD] :O HAD MURD]$ H] FA!R ,OA%I BE=E %E WAS BORN & H] MO!R ,LOKASKWE DUR+ ! ,TUSC>AWAS MASSACRE4 F?O ,HAID ,I HAD DONE WELL TO /AY ON ! HILLSIDE ) MY K94 ,%E TOLD ME ,R$E>? W>RIORS W]E WAK+ FROM A LONG SLEEP1 BUT 

:5 !Y ROSE1 !Y W\LD \/ ! MURD]]S FROM ! ,LAKES4 ,I LAT] LE>N$ IT WAS ,WAGO%KWE :O S5T ,SUZAN'S BRO!R ,HEGON TO ! ,WABA% = >M$ ALLIES4 ,%E HAD NO USE = ! PEACE ,TOP9BI CAME SEEK+4 ,%E WANT$ TO LIVE UP TO H] ,UMIUMAKE1 ,KITTIHAWA'S MO!R1 MY GREAT-GR&MO!R1 ! ,R$E>? WOMAN ,WAGO%KWE1 AS DIFF]5T FROM MY O!R GREAT-GR&MO!R1 ,M5OKO1 AS FIRE FROM WAT]4 

',I'HE ,LAKEBOTTOM WASN'T ! PLACE :]E ,I WANT$ TO BE1 & PLLU'E NO PEACE C\NCIL C\LD BE HELD1 WE SOON RETURN$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,?AT W9T] ,I ACCOMPANI$ ! SIL5T ,METEYA :5EV] ,W$ASI DIDN'T4 ,METEYA'S HUNTS W]E MORE LIKE WALKS 9 ! WOODS4 ,HE %OT ONLY :5 HE KNEW ! MEAT WAS EXPECT$4 ,MO/ ( ! TIME HE TRACK$ ANIMALS TO !IR LODGES & OBS]V$ !IR WAYS4 ,I C\LD HAVE /AY$ ) ,METEYA LONG]1 BUT ! MELT+ SN[S BR\<T A FLOOD ( /RANGE GUE/S TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,METEYA & ,I HE>D ! W> CRIES LONG BE=E WE C\LD SEE C\NCILGR\ND WAS ALIVE ) ! MOTION ( DANC+ W>RIORS4 ,WLIIRI9EK & O!R ,LAKEBOTTOM C>RI]S W]E TI$ TO A PO/ NE> ! C5TRAL FIRE4 ,AMONG ! W>RIORS CIRCL+ ! CAPTIVES1 ,MEETEYA RECOGNIZ$ HIS BRO!R ,WAPMIMI2 ,I GUESS$ ?AT ! Y\? MY AGE WAS ,%AWANOKWE'S & ,WAPMIMI'S SON ,OJEJOK1 ,MUN'S FRI5D4 ,I MOOV$ >\ND ! \T] CIRCLE1 TRY+ TO LE>N :AT HAD HAPP5$4 ,BURR-NET & ,%&O W]E 9 ! /ORE1 BEH9D B>R$ DOORS1 CONV9C$ ?AT ! ,R$COAT CONSPIRACY HAD DLILVT'D4 ,MIMIKWE HAD RUN TO ,B9DIZEOSEKWE'S LODGE ! ,HIOMONT ! W>RIORS HAD >RIV$ & WAS DET]M9$ TO /AY !RE UNTIL !Y LEFT4 

,I LE>N$1 MA9LY FROM ,TOP9BI1 ?AT ! RAID+ P>TY L$ BY HIS C\S9S ,NANGISI & ,W9AMEK HAD BE5 SURPRIS$ AT ! ,LONG ,RIV]4 ,9/EAD ( F9D+ VILLAGES ) ABS5T HUNT]S1 LL9V HAD F\ND AN >MY4 ,! ,R$E>? W>RIORS HAD BE5 T9N$1 PROBABLY BY A MESS5G] S5T BY ,WAGO%KWE4 ,NANGISI ,NLUL ,HOV]AL COMPANIONS HAD BE5 KILL$4 ,W9AMEK & HIS ,W>RIORS HAD RETREAT$ ALL ! WAY BACK TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 

,TO AV5GE HIS BRO!R'S DEA?1 ,W9AMEK & HIS W>RIORS HAD BEGUN TO PREP>E ANO!R W> P>TY1 >M$ ) WEAPONS GIV5 TO HIM BY ,SLAV] ,K9-SIC & ! ,SCALP]S 9 ! ,LAKE-BOTTOM =T4 ,BUT ,W9AMEK HAD B>ELY BEGUN TO RECRUIT W>RIORS :5 HE'D BE5 SURR\ND$ & DIS>M$4 

,KITTIHAWA'S SON ,KEGON HAD RETURN$ TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM ACCOMPANI$ BY ,PRAIRIE & ,R$E>? W>RIORS FROM ! ,WABA%1 9CLUD+ MY UNCLE ,WAPMIMI & MY C\S9 ,OJEJOK ,! ,WABA% W>RIORS HAD WANT$ TO PUT A QUICK 5D TO ,W9AMEK'S =CE1 BUT ,TOPA% & O!R ,LAKEBOTTOM ,FIRE KEEP]S HAD 9T]V5$ & /OPP$ ! \TBREAK ( A FRATRICIDAL W>4 ,! ,SCALP]S 9 ! =T W\LD HAVE EMBROIL$ !MSELVES 9 SU* A W>1 & ! ,LAKEBOTTOM VILLAGE W\LD HAVE BE5 DE/ROY$4 

,WAGO%KWE WANT$ SU* A W> BECAUSE %E WAS SURE ! ,R$E>? W>RIORS W\LD DEFEAT ! ,SCALP]S & !IR ALLIES4 ,SLAV] ,K9-SIC WANT$ SU* A W> BECAUSE HE WAS SURE HIS SIDE W\LD W94 ,BUT ,WAPMIMI & HIS COMPANIONS HAD FOLL[$ ! ADVICE ( ,TOPA% & ! ,FIREKEEP]S2 !Y HAD BR\<T ! CAPTIVES TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 :]E !RE WAS NO 5CAMPM5T ( >M$ ,SCALP]S1 & :]E ,W9AMEK HAD NO >M$ ALLIES4 

,! ,WABA% W>RIORS HAD ALREADY RESOLV$ TO KILL ,W9AMEK4 ,BUT AS SOON AS ! DANC+ 5D$ & ! C\NCIL+ BEGAN1 ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA MADE !IR VOICES HE>D4 ,BO? PLEAD$ = ! LIFE ( !IR ,LAKEBOTTOM C\S94 ,BO? 9SI/$ ?AT ,W9AMEK WAS A K9SMAN1 ?AT ! REAL 5EMIES W]E ! ,SCALP]S & ,SLAV]S :O >M$ ,W9AMEK & EMBROIL$ HIM 9 !IR W>S4 ,MO/ ( ! ,WABA% W>RIORS W]E HO/ILE TO !SE WORDS2 !RE WAS EV5 TALK ( 9CLUD+ ,TOP9BI AMONG ! CAPTIVES4 

,METEYA ROSE & PLAC$ HIMSELF ALONGSIDE ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA4 ,METEYA WAS IMM$IATELY JO9$ BY ,B9DIZEOSEKWE1 BY H] ,LAKEBOTTOM C\S9 ,TOPA%1 BY ,*EBANSI1 BY ALMO/ ALL ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S1 BUT NOT BY ,%AB5I OR ,W$ASI4 ,AT ?IS PO9T A =MIDABLE-LOOK+ ,R$E>? W>RIOR CALL$ ,MACATAIME%EKIAKAK ROSE4 ,HE SAID HE KNEW P]FECTLY WELL :O ! REAL 5EMY WAS4 ,HE 5UM]AT$ ! K9 HE HAD LO/ TO ?AT 5EMY4 ,HE SAID HE WAS PREP>+ TO CONFRONT ! REAL 5EMY4 ,BUT ! H&FUL ( ,SCALP]S ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM W]E NO MORE ?AN ! 5EMY'S NOSE1 & HE W\LDN'T P9* ! NOSE UNTIL HE WAS READY TO DEF5D HIMSELF FROM ! :OLE BODY4 ,9 ORD] TO GET READY1 HE HAD TO REMOVE POISON\S SNAKES FROM HIS PA?4 ,BUT HE HAD NO 9T5TION ( DEPRIV+ ANY VILLAG]S ( A K9SMAN AS DE> TO !M AS ,W9AMEK APPE>$ TO BE4 

,WAPMIMI & O!RS PROMPTLY RELEAS$ ,W9AMEK4 ,TOP9BI ASSUR$ ! W>RIORS ?AT HE W\LD URGE HIS C\S9 TO GO GIFT- GA!R+1 SOME?+ ,W9AMEK DID WELL4 ,W9AMEK HIMSELF CONS5T$4 

,CAKIMA ?ANK$ H] C\S9 ,WAPMIMI = HAV+ HELP$ TO PREV5T W> ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,HIS TASK ACCOMPLI%$1 ,WAPMIMI C\LD N[ RETURN TO ! ,WABA% OR :]EV] ELSE HIS PROPHET S5T HIM4 ,CAKIMA'S VOICE GREW H>%4 ,%E SAID ,W9AMEK HAD BE5 CONDEMN$ TO DIE BECAUSE HE HAD KIDNAPP$ *ILDR5 ( ,R$E>? K94 ,CAKIMA WAS ! GR&*ILD ( A ,R$E>? WOMAN4 ,SO W]E MO/ ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S4 ,& ,WAPMIMI WAS KIDNAPP+ H] K91 EV5 H] [N SON4 ,DID ! ,WABA% PROPHET CONDONE ,WAPMIMI'S DO+ ! V]Y ?+ = :I* ,W9AMEK HAD BE5 SO RI<TE\SLY CONDEMN$8 

,I KNEW ?AT ,WAPMIMI HAD WANT$ TO RECRUIT ,METEYA4 ,! BRO!RS HADN'T BE5 TOGE!R S9CE BE=E MY BIR?1 & ,WAPMIMI C\LDN'T HAVE KN[N H[ F> ,METEYA HAD MOV$ FROM ! W>RIOR'S PA?4 ,BUT ,CAKIMA'S WORDS W]E ! LA/ WORDS SPOK5 AT ! C\NCIL4 ,! W>RIORS PREP>$ TO LEAVE ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ACCOMPANI$ BY ,W$ASI & ,%AB5I4 ,:5 ,I P>T$ ) ,W$ASI1 ,I C\LD FEEL HIS JOY2 HE HAD AT LA/ F\ND HIS LIFE'S DREAM4 ,%AB5I WASN'T JOYFUL2 HE PRET5D$ NOT TO NOTICE ME4 ,HIS SON ,KOM5OTEYA BEGG$ TO ACCOMPANY HIM1 & ,%AB5I PRET5D$ TO BE ALL TAK5 UP CONV9C+ HIS SON TO /AY 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE SO AS TO DEF5D HIS MO!R & H] K94 ,:5 HE C\LD PUT ME (F NO LONG]1 ,%AB5I TOLD ME HE HAD R5\NC$ W> :5 HE HAD T H\<T ?AT ! WORLD DESCRIB$ 9 ,KATABWE'S SONGS HAD BROK5 UP 9TO LITTLE PIECES4 ,HE'D ?\<T !RE WAS NO?+ TO DEF5D4 ,BUT N[1 HE SAID1 ! PIECES SEEM$ TO BE RECON/ITUT+4 

,WAPMIMI 9SI/$ ?AT ,TOP9BI & ,W9AMEK SET \T ON !IR GIFT-GIV+ MISSION AT ! SAME MOM5T AS ! W>RIORS LEFT ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,I ASK$ ,TOP9BI TO TAKE ME ALONG4 

,*EBANSI CAME RUNN+ AS SOON AS HE LE>N$ ( MY DECISION4 ,HE GAVE ME TALK+ LEAVES FROM ,BURR-NET TO ,JAY-MAY4 ,HE BEGG$ ME TO DO :ATEV] ,JAY-MAY ASK$ ( ME4 ,! HO/ILITIES HAD ALL BUT RU9$ ,BURR-NET'S FUR SUPPLY4 ,BURR-NET WAS S5D+ ME 9/EAD ( FURS4 

,I WAS RELIEV$ TO LEAVE ,BISON ,PRAIRIE BE=E AB&ON$ ,MIMIKWE EM]G$ FROM ,B9DIZEOSEKWE'S LODGE1 BE=E %E WALK$ T[>D ME & LOOK$ 9TO MY EYES2 ! /RAP ?AT SUPPORT$ ! BUNDLE %E'D S5T ME W\LD HAVE CUT ?R\< MY BODY4 

,I FELT LIKE A MIGRATORY BIRD1 RETURN+ & LEAV+ AGA91 PASS+ ! SAME FAMILI> PLACES ON ! WAY4 ,TOP9BI'S & ,W9AMEK'S DE/9ATION WAS NOT ! ,/RAIT1 BUT ,KEKIONGA2 ,TOP9BI W\LD GO TO ! ,/RAIT LAT]1 & ONLY TO DELIV] ME4 ,W9AMEK HAD SO READILY CONS5T$ TO LEAVE ) ,TOP9BI BECAUSE HE'D KN[N ?AT ! ,SCALP]S W\LD BE (F]+ GIFTS 9 ,KEKIONGA4 ,?IS W\LD BE ! FIR/ HUMILIATION C]EMONY S9CE ! ONE HELD AT ,PIQUA ! SPR+ ,I WAS NAM$4 ,! C\NTLESS UNI=M$ ,SCALP]S TURN$ ! ,KEKIONGA C\NCILGR\ND 9TO A =E/ ( DW>F$ BLUE-BRAN*$ TREES4 ,WAGONS LOAD$ ) GIFTS /OOD 9 EV]Y CLE>+4 ,EA/BRAN* & ,S\?BRAN* K91 MANY ( !M DRUNK1 SAT BE=E ! 5TRANCES ( !IR LODGES1 WAIT+ = ! C]EMONY TO BEG94 

,APTEGIZHEK1 ,MUNS & ,PEZHKI DIDN'T COME TO ! L&- +PLACE2 ,I HAD TO SEEK !M \T4 ,!Y HAD NOT EXPECT$ ME TO >RIVE 9 ,KEKIONGA 9 SU* COMPANY1 NOR = SU* AN OCCASION4 ,PEZHKI %[$ HIS HO/ILITY BY TURN+ HIS BACK & WALK+ AWAY FROM ME4 ,MUNS LOOK$ AT ME EXPECTANTLY1 LIKE ,MIMIKWE1 AS IF EXPECT+ TO HE> ME DESCRIBE ! WOND]S ,I 9T5D$ TO ACCOMPLI%4 

,APTEGIZHEK SPOKE TO ME1 BUT ONLY TO DESCRIBE TO ME ! PURPOSE ( ! ,KEKIONGA GA!R+1 & TO W>N ME ( ITS CONSEQU5CES4 ,HE SAID ALL ! RUMSACKS :O HAD EV] M>K$ ! ,9VAD]S' LEAVES W]E 9 ,KEKIONGA2 ! ,SCALP]S CALL$ EA* ( !M A *IEF4 ,! HEADMAN ( ! ,SCALP]S' WE/]N >MIES1 A L&GRABB] CALL$ ,WILL-H5-G>RISON1 WAS ALSO PRES5T4 ,\R K9SM5 ,BIJIKI & ,ONIMU% AS WELL AS ,SIG5AK'S FALSE SON ,WILL-WELL W]E ! L&GRABB]'S 9T]PRET]S4 ,?IS ,WILL- H5-G>RISON WANT$ ! RUMSACKS TO GIVE !IR CONS5T TO ! 9VASION ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 ! ,WABA% ,VALLEY BEL[ ,KI!PEKANU1 & ! ,/RAIT'S %ORE4 ,SU* CLAIMS W]E AN OP5 DECL>ATION ( W>1 S9CE NONE ( ! PEOPLE LIV+ 9 ?OSE PLACES HAD EV] CONS5T$ TO LET ,SCALP]S 9VADE !IR L&S1 & !Y W\LDN'T CONS5T AFT] ,TOP9BI & HIS LIKES W]E GIV5 WAGONLOADS ( :ISKEY & BEADS4 ,WILL-WELL FUEL$ ! FIRE BY 9SI/+ ?AT ANYONE :O RESI/$ ! ,SCALP]S' CLAIMS WAS AN 5EMY AG5T1 AN ALLY ( ! ,R$COATS4 

,I C\LD HAVE TOLD ,APTEGIZHEK ?AT NO?+ ,I SAID C\LD /OP ,TOP9BI FROM SIGN+ ! LEAF1 & NO?+ ,I DID C\LD AV]T ! CONSEQU5CES ( ! SIGN+4 ,BUT ALL ,I WANT$ TO TELL HIM WAS ?AT ,I DIDN'T WANT ,KATABWE'S BUNDLE1 ?AT HE WAS ITS RI<TFUL HEIR4 ,BUT ,I KEPT SIL5T4 ,I KNEW HE W\LDN'T ACCEPT ! BUNDLE BECAUSE HE DIDN'T CONSID] HIMSELF A ,FIREKEEP]4 ,& ,I KNEW HE %>$ ,KATABWE'S EXPECTATIONS 9 ME4 

,! ONLY P]SON :O WAS FRI5DLY TO ME WAS ,PEZHKI'S BRO!R ,KEZHEK1 ,BIJIKI'S Y\NG] SON4 ,HE HAD BE5 TOO Y\NG TO BEFRI5D ME E>LI]1 HAD NO EXPECTATIONS1 & SO DIDN'T FEEL BETRAY$ BY ME4 ,HE TOLD ME ! ,FRI5DS :O HAD COME TO TEA* ,KEKIONGA'S M5 TO PLANT HAD AB&ON$ !IR TASK2 ,I C\LD SEE ?AT !IR NEAT SQU>E LODGES NO LONG] B\ND$ ! FIELDS4 ,BUT ! L& HAD NOT BE5 RECLAIM$ BY ! WOM54 ,WILL-WELL HAD CALL$ ON ! >M$ ,SCALP]S 9 ! =T TO OCCUPY ! FIELDS1 =C+ ,*9DISKWE1 ,MEK+ES & O!R ,EA/BRAN* WOM5 TO WEEK A DI/ANT CLE>+ = !IR BEANS & CORN4 ,& !N ,WILL-WELL1 AS WELL AS ,KEZHEK'S FA!R ,BIJIKI & ,MUNS'S FA!R ,ONIMU%1 HAD ACCEPT$ L>GE GIFTS FROM NEWLY >RIV$ ,9VAD]S & HAD 9VIT$ ! NEWCOM]S TO SETTLE ON ! ,KEKIONGA FIELDS4 ,I BEGAN TO UND]/& ! COLDNESS ( ,MUNS & ,PEZHKI T[>D ME2 !Y MU/ HAVE ?\<T ?AT ,I1 ,W9AMEK'S TRAVEL+ COMPANION1 HAD SET \T ON ! PA? !IR FA!RS W]E FOLL[+4 ,I DIDN'T KN[ H[ TO TELL ,MUNS MY REAL REASONS = BE+ !RE3 ?AT ,I WAS FLEE+ FROM MYSELF1 ?AT ,I HAD F\ND NO PA? TO FOLL[4 

,I DIDN'T ASK ,TOP9BI AB\T ! GIFTS HE'D ACCEPT$ = B[+ TO ! ,SCALP]S' CLAIMS TO O!R PEOPLE'S L&S4 ,I TRI$ NOT TO HE> ! JOKES HE MADE AB\T ! K9 CLOSE/ TO ME1 :OM HE CONSID]$ %ORTSI<T$ & BACKW>D-LOOK+2 ,I WAS RELIEV$ ?AT AT LEA/ HE DIDN'T SPEAK ( !M AS 5EMY AG5TS4 

,ON ! ,/RAIT1 ,TOP9BI L$ ME DIRECTLY TO ,PI]'S H\SE1 :I* HAD BECOME ,JAY-MAY'S H\SE S9CE ,PI]'S DEA?4 ,I DELIV]$ ,MURR-NET'S MESSAGES4 ,TOP9BI C\NCIL$ ) ,JAY-MAY1 ,WIT- NAGS & O!R ,*EAT]S4 ,! C\NCIL MU/ HAVE BE5 /ORMY2 EV]YONE SEEM$ ON $GE AFT] IT 5D$4 ,TOP9BI GA!R$ A FEW TR9KETS & RU%$ AWAY1 EAG] TO REJO9 HIS C\S9 & HIS GIFT-LOAD 9 ,KEKIONGA4 ,JAY-MAY H>ANGU$ ME AB\T ,BURR-NET'S UNPAID DEBTS1 BUT ! 9COMPREH5SION & 9DIFF]5CE HE SAW ON MY FACE EV5TUALLY SIL5C$ HIM4 ,HE L$ ME TO A SMALL ROOM NEXT DOOR TO MY SI/]'S1 ?REW A TRAD]'S CO/UME ON ! B$ & TOLD ME TO DRESS LIKE A PROP] HUMAN BE+ & TRIM MY HAIR4 ,HE CALL$ ME ,JEIK1 ,JEIK ,BURR-NET2 HE REF]R$ TO MY SI/] AS ,REBE- KAH & MY OLDE/ BRO!R AS ,JEIMS4 ,HE W\LD F9D ME A PLACE ON ! ,/RAIT1 HE SAID1 BUT IT W\LD NOT BE 9 HIS /ORE OR ANY:]E NE> IT4 

,*EBANSI HAD BEGG$ ME TO DO :AT ! ,*EAT] WANT$1 & ,I PUT ON ! CLO!S ( A PROP] HUMAN BE+1 A ,JEIK ,BURR- NET4 ,BUT ,I KEPT MY HAIR4 

,WABNOKWE CAME TO MY ROOM AT SUNSET4 ,%E KISS$ ME & CALL$ ME LITTLE BRO!R4 ,%E LOOK$ 9TO MY EYES4 ,UNLIKE ,MIMIKWE1 MY SI/] WASN'T ATTRACT$ BY :AT %E SAW4 ,%E SEEM$ REPELL$4 ,NOTIC+ ! BULGE CAUS$ BY ! BUNDLE UND] MY %IRT1 %E ASK$ ME1 ) UNDISGUIS$ CONTEMPT1 :Y ,I DIDN'T PUT ?AT ?+ AWAY4 ,%E DIDN'T ASK AB\T \R ,BISON ,PRAIRIE K94 ,%E GREW 5?USIA/IC :5 %E TOLD ME ( ! S*OOL 9 :I* %E & ,BE? SP5T !IR DAYS4 ,MY 9COMPREH5SION SIL5C$ H]4 ,I UND]/OOD ?AT %E & ,BE? W]E DO+ TO Y\NG] *ILDR5 :AT ,MISUS ,BAY-CON HAD TRI$ TO DO TO US4 ,I C\LDN'T UND]/& ,WABNOKWE'S 5?USIASM4 ,AT D9N] ,I SAW ,M>GIT'S ?REE *ILDR54 ,! BOY1 ,JIM-MAY1 BORN DUR+ ! FIRE1 WAS F\R4 ,HIS OLD] SI/]S DIDN'T WELCOME ME4 ,! OLDE/1 ,ANNA- MAY1 />$ PA/ ME AS IF ,I WASN'T !RE4 ,GRETA-MAY WAS OP5LY HO/ILE1 AS IF ,I HAD 9JUR$ H]4 

,M>GIT WAS RECOV]+ FROM A /ILLBIR? & A PA9FUL ILLNESS4 ,%E HAD ONLY SE5 ME TWO OR ?REE TIMES1 YET %E GREET$ ME AS IF ,I W]E A LONG-ABS5T SON4 ,%E1 TOO1 SAW SOME?+ 9 MY EYES2 %E SAID IT WAS MUSIC4 ,%E TOLD ME ,I %\LD HAVE /AY$ ON ! ,/RAIT & LE>N$ TO PLAY AN 9/RUM5T4 ,I TOLD H] ,I WI%$ ,I HAD4 

,M>GIT TOLD ME ( ! *ANGES ,I HAD NOTIC$ S9CE MY >RIVAL4 ,D[N/REAM FROM ,JAY-MAY'S H\SE WAS ! H\SE BUILT BY ,WIT-NAGS1 & FUR!R D[N WAS AN 5CLOSURE 9 :I* ,WIT- NAGS KEPT HORSES4 ,! HORSE-5CLOSURE OCCUPI$ ! SPACE ,I REMEMB]$ AS ! C\NCILGR\ND1 B\ND$ BY ! BURIAL HILL1 ! BUBBL+ SPR+S & ! =E/4 ,!RE WAS NOT A TRACE ( ! ,FIREKEEP]S' VILLAGE6 ,! K9 AMONG :OM ,W$ASI & ,I HAD LODG$ W]E GONE4 ,NAWAK1 ,PAMOKO & ,MIK5OKWE HAD BE5 PU%$ S\?W>D1 T[>D ! SWAMP4 

,:5 ,I LEFT ,M>GIT1 ,I WALK$ T[>D ! ,/RAIT'S %ORE4 ,MY ANCE/ORS--,%UTAHA1 ,MIOGWEWE1 ,KATABWE--HAD FELT EMP[]$ TO CONFRONT SU* *ANGES4 ,I FELT HELPLESS4 ,I HAD AN URGE TO HURL MY BUNDLE 9TO ! WAT] & WAT* IT S9K4 

,JAY-MAY DELAY$ F9D+ A PLACE = ME1 & ,I WASN'T ANXI\S TO OCCUPY ! PLACE HE F\ND4 ,I W&]$ ALONG ! ,/RAIT'S %ORE1 AWAY FROM ! REBUILT VILLAGE1 T[>D ! K9 :O N[ LODG$ D[N/REAM4 ,BUT ,I DIDN'T GO F> FROM ! H\SE4 ,M>GIT WAS RI<T4 ,I WAS ATTRACT$ TO MUSIC ! WAY A MO? IS DRAWN TO A FLAME4 ,& !RE WAS ALWAYS MUSIC AT ! H\SE4 

,AS ,M>GIT GREW /RONG]1 %E W5T TO H] MUSIC BOX1 H] PIANO1 & FILL$ ! H\SE ) MELODIES & RHY?MS ?AT MADE ME FEEL ,I WAS FLOAT+ ON CL\DS4 ,:5 ,M>GIT WASN'T PLAY+1 H] DAU<T] ,ANNA-MAY WAS CREAT+ AN ALTOGE!R DIFF]5T WORLD ( S\ND ) ! LITTLE 9/RUM5T ACROSS :I* %E PULL$ A B[4 ,& 9 ! EV5+S1 :5 ,WABNOKWE PLAY$ H] B[$ 9/RUM5T1 L>G] ?AN ,ANNA-MAY'S & DEEP] 9 TONE1 ,I WANT$ TO BE NO:]E EXCEPT :]E ,I WAS1 5TRANC$ BY ! S\ND4 

,I LE>N$ FROM ,WABNOKWE ?AT ,BELLE-MAY & ,GAB9YA LIV$ ON ! ,/RAIT ) !IR DAU<T] ,ANABEL1 TOGE!R ) ,GAB9YA'S FIR/ WIFE ,NEBE%KWE & H] DAU<T] ,SUKWE--& ?AT ,JAY-MAY WAS ON GOOD T]MS ) HIS DAU<T]'S HUSB&4 ,GAB9YA PRET5D$ HIS FIR/ WIFE WAS A S]VANT1 EV5 A SLAVE1 & ! PRET5SE WAS ACCEPT$ BY ALL ! TRAD]S TO :OM ,GAB9YA C>RI$ ,KEKIONGA'S FURS4 

,I HE>D TALK ( M>RIAGES & TALK ( BETRAYALS4 ,M>GIT'S Y\NG] SI/] ,MONIK HAD BETRAY$ MY BRO!R ,NA%K[ATAK & W\LD SOON M>RY ONE ( ! ,/RAIT'S L>GE/ L&HOLD]S4 ,S(FS DAU<T] ,FELICE HAD BETRAY$ H] NOR!RN K9 & W\LD SOON M>RY A CROSSWE>] CALL$ ,DASISI1 :OM ,I REMEMB]$ FROM ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S S*OOL4 ,FELICE'S UNCLE ,JAMBATL1 ! MAN :O HAD AB&ON$ ,S&YPO9T'S DAU<T] ,SUZAN & H] DAU<T] ,OLALI ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 W\LD SOON M>RY A CROSS- WE>+ DAU<T] ( ,LEMOND4 ,MY S*OOL FRI5DS ,%>LOKWE1 ,R9A & !IR TWO BRO!RS W]E NO LONG] ON ! ,/RAIT2 !IR FA!R ,LESOT] HAD BE5 PU%$ \T AT ! TIME ! ,FIREKEEP]S' VILLAGE HAD BE5 PU%$ \T4 ,M>IKWE1 ,LESOT] & !IR *ILDR5 HAD MOV$ TO ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 TO ,AGIBICOCONA & ! NOR!RN ,ROOTK94 ,S(I & ,FELICE HAD GONE NOR? ) !M1 BUT ,FELICE HAD RETURN$ TO ! ,/RAIT ) H] UNCLE ,JAMBATL4 

,I REMEMB]$ ,FELICE AS ! SNOB :O HAD AVOID$ H] C\S9S & BE5 A%AM$ ( H] MO!R4 ,ON AN IMPULSE1 ,I 5T]$ ! CAMP ( SQU>E LODGES TO SEEK H] \T4 ,I ?\<T1 OR RA!R HOP$1 ?AT %E HAD RETURN$ TO ! ,/RAIT = REASONS SIMIL> TO M9E4 ,%E WELCOM$ ME ) A SMILE1 A PRETTY SMILE2 MAYBE IT WAS MY MEMORY ( H] SMILE ?AT L$ ME TO SEEK H] \T4 ,FELICE ?\<T ,I HAD RETURN$ = REASONS SIMIL> TO H]S4 ,I GREW DIZZY LI/5+ TO H] REASONS4 

,FELICE TOLD ME H] GR&FA!R ,SOLI-MAN ORIG9AT$ AMONG PEOPLE :O HAD BE5 DESPIS$ & P]SECUT$ S9CE ! WORLD BEGAN1 PEOPLE :O HAD NEV] BE5 CROSSWE>]S4 ,SOLI-MAN HAD CROSS$ ! ,OCEAN TO BE AMONG PEOPLE :O DID NOT DESPISE HIM4 ,HE HAD F\ND ACCEPTANCE AMONG ! CROSSWE>]S1 ,R$COATS & ,SCALP]S ( ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 NOT BECAUSE !SE ,9VAD]S HAD CEAS$ TO DESPISE ,SOLI-MAN'S PEOPLE1 BUT ONLY BECAUSE !Y DESPIS$ O!R PEOPLE MORE4 

,AGIBICOCONA'S PEOPLE1 ! R$SK9N$ PEOPLE ( ! =E/S1 W]E ! DESPIS$ PEOPLE H]E1 !Y W]E ! P]SECUT$ PEOPLE4 ,SOLI-MAN'S SON1 ,WILL ,SOLI-MAN1 HAD PRET5D$ NOT TO KN[ ?IS1 & HAD M>RI$ ,AGIBICOCONA4 ,SOLI-MAN'S DAU<T] ,S(I HAD KN[N ?IS1 BUT HAD P]SI/$ 9 BEFRI5D+ ,AGIBICOCONA4 ,:5 ,FELICE WAS 9 ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S S*OOL1 ,REV-R5D ,BAY-CON WAS 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 EXPLA9+ TO ,FELICE'S UNCLES ,WILL ,SOLI- MAN & ,JAMBATI ?AT BLACKSK9N$ & R$SK9N$ PEOPLE W]E DESPICABLE1 UNFIT = M>RIAGES2 HE SEV]$ ,WILL ,SOLI-MAN FROM ,AGIBICOCONA & ,JAMBATI FROM ,SUZAN4 

,BUT ,S(I HAD NOT =GOTT5 :Y H] FA!R HAD CROSS$ ! ,OCEAN2 %E P]SI/$ 9 BEFRI5D+ ! DESPIS$4 ,%E CAME TO ! ,/RAIT ) ,AGIBICOCONA'S C\S9 ,LESOT] & TOGE!R !Y H\ND$ ,REV-R5D & ,MISUS ,BAY-CON \T ( ,KI*IGAMI4 ,:5 ! ,SCALP]S AT LA/ SUCCE$$ 9 RIDD+ !MSELVES ( ,LESOT]1 ,S(I PULL$ ,FELICE BACK TO ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 NOT TO ,WILL ,SOLI-MAN'S PROP] NEW FAMILY1 BUT TO ,AGIBICOCONA'S R$SK9S4 ,BUT ,FELICE HAD BE5 TOLD TOO MU* AB\T GR&FA!R ,SOLI-MAN'S P]SECUT$ PEOPLE1 & %E HAD NO DESIRE TO BE ONE ( !M4 ,FELICE AB&ON$ H] MO!R & H] AUNT4 ,%E RETURN$ TO ! ,/RAIT ) H] UNCLE4 ,%E RESOLV$ TO M>RY ! CROSSWE>] ,DASISL2 %E WANT$ TO LIVE AMONG PEOPLE :O W]E NOT DESPIS$4 

,I W\LD GO ON REMEMB]+ ,FELICE'S SMILE1 BUT NOT AS SOME?+ PRETTY4 ,I RAN FROM H] H\SE4 ,I /AY$ AWAY FROM H] M>RIAGE CELEBRATION1 & ,I ALSO /AY$ AWAY FROM ! O!R CELEBRATIONS4 ,I LI/5$ TO MUSIC1 USUALLY ALONGSIDE LITTLE ,JIM- MAY1 ,M>GIT'S Y\NGE/4 ,& ,I WAIT$4 ,I HE>D ,WABNOKWE & ,M>GIT TALK ( MY BRO!R ,NA%K[ATAK'S DESP]ATION AFT] ,MONIK'S M>RIAGE1 ( MY UNCLE ,ISADOR'S ATTEMPTS TO UNDO ! EFFECTS ( ! TREATY SIGN$ BY ,TOP9BI 9 ,KEKIONGA4 ,I HE>D ?AT ,WAKAYA'S SON ,POPOSI1 TOGE!R ) O!R ,TURTLEY\?S1 RAID$ ! 5CLOSURE 9 :I* ,WIT-NAGS P5N$ HORSES4 ,AT LA/ ,I HE>D ,JAY-MAY TELL ME HE HAD F\ND A PLACE = ME4 ,I WAS TO CROP MY HAIR & JO9 ,NA%K[ATAK 9 ! UNI=M$ MILITIA4 

,I REMOV$ ! PROP] CLO!S1 FOLD$ !M & LEFT !M ON ! B$4 ,) MY HAIR UNTRIMM$1 & WE>+ MY [N CLO!S1 ,I TIPTO$ TO A CORN] ( ! MUSIC ROOM4 ,JIM-MAY WAS LI/5+4 ,ANNA-MAY & ,M>GIT'S TW9 ,JOSET W]E B[+ SMALL] 9/RUM5TS1 ,WABNOKWE A L>G] ONE4 ,M>GIT LOOK$ UP FROM H] PIANO & SAW ME2 %E SURELY KNEW ,I C\LDN'T JO9 ! UNI=M$ >M$ M52 ,I DIDN'T HAVE ,FELICE'S SMILE4 ,:5 ! MUSIC 5D$ ,I LEFT ! H\SE & RU%$ 9TO ! NI<T4 

,SONG ( ,UDATONTE 

  

,I HEAD$ D[N/REAM T[>D ! ,FIREKEEP]S AMONG :OM ,W$ASI & ,I HAD LODG$1 ! K9 AMONG :OM ,I WAS BORN4 ,HUR/S ( ?UND] REPLAC$ ! MUSIC ,I HAD BE5 HE>+4 ,I ?\<T ( ! K9 ,I 9T5D$ TO JO94 ,I REMEMB]$ ?AT ,I'AMOKO1 ,MIK5OKWE & ,NAWAK HAD TRU/$ ! ,SCALP] :O HAD PROMIS$ TO PROTECT ! VILLAGE & ITS BURIAL GR\NDS1 ! =E/ & ITS TREES2 !IR TRU/ 9 ! ,SCALP]'S PROMISE HAD ANG]$ !IR C\S9S & SPLIT ! VILLAGE & DRIV5 ! ,TURTLEFOLK D[N/REAM4 ,! ,SCALP]'S PL$GE HAD BE5 AS SOLID AS ICE 9 SPR+1 & ! ,FIREKEEP]S !MSELVES HAD BE5 DRIV5 D[N/REAM1 ?\< NOT AS F> D[N AS ! ,TURTLEFOLK4 ,! 9HABITANTS ( ,TIOSA ,RONDION1 ! PEOPLE ( ?REE FIRES1 W]E F> FROM HOME1 9 TWO SEP>ATE VILLAGES1 HO/ILE TO ONE ANO!R1 & ?REAT5$ :]E !Y W]E4 ,I ?\<T ( MY DREAM4 ,A FLOOD HAD DRIV5 ! =E/'S 9HABITANTS TO SEEK REFUGE ON TOP ( A HILL4 ,A BIRD HAD L&$ ON ! HILLTOP & (F]$ 444 ,:AT HAD ! BIRD (F]$8 ,HAD IT (F]$ TO RAISE ALL ( US \T ( ! FLOOD8 ,HAD IT (F]$ TO %[ ME A WAY \T8 ,OR HAD ! BIRD (F]$ TO TAKE ME AWAY FROM MY K91 AWAY FROM ! P]SECUT$ & ! DESPIS$8 

,IT BEGAN TO P\R1 ! PA? BECAME MUDDY1 & ,I C\LDN'T GO ON4 ,LEAN+ AGA9/ ! TRUNK ( A L>GE TREE1 ,I LI/5$ TO ! /ORM1 BUT ,FELICE'S WORDS W]E REPEAT$ BY ! ?UND] & ! RA9 & :5 ,I LOOK$ 9TO ! D>K1 ,I SAW ,FELICE'S SMILE4 ,! =E/ WAS DR[N+ & ,I WAS TRY+ TO REA* ! K9 ON TOP ( MY DREAM'S HILL4 

,! /ORM PASS$ ) ! NI<T1 & ,I W5T ON4 ,! PA? H>D5$ UND] ! W>M+ SUN4 ,I HE>D GALLOP+ BEH9D ME & ,I HID4 ,?REE HORSEM5 RODE PA/ ME2 ,I RECOGNIZ$ ONE ( !M AS ,NAWAK'S FALSETONGU$ K9SMAN1 ,WIT-NAGS2 ! O!R TWO W]E >M$ MILITIAM54 ,I WALK$ ON FOLL[+ !IR TRACKS4 ,I DIDN'T GO F> BE=E ,I HE>D VOICES4 ,I /OPP$4 ,SL[LY & NOISELESSLY ,I MADE MY WAY TO A LOOK\T4 ,BE=E ME1 9 A SMALL CLE>+1 W]E F\R M51 ,WIT-NAGS & HIS >M$ COMPANIONS & A MAN ,I HADN'T SE5 BE=E1 A HUNT] ) A B[4 ,WIT-NAGS WAS HOLD+ ! RE9S ( TWO HORSES & %\T+2 ! M\NT$ MILITIAM5 W]E PO9T+ !IR RIFLES AT ! HUNT]4 ,HE>+ A SLI<T MOVEM5T1 ,I TURN$ & SAW A Y\NG WOMAN AT ! $GE ( ! CLE>+1 ONLY P>TIALLY HIDD5 FROM ME BY ! 9T]V5+ BU%ES & TREES2 %E HELD A DEAD RABBIT 9 ONE H&1 A RIFLE 9 ! O!R4 ,%E HADN'T SE5 ME2 H] ATT5TION WAS FIX$ ON ! M5 9 ! CLE>+4 ,! MILITIAM5 />T$ TO TIE UP ! HUNT]2 ,WIT-NAGS WAS AB\T TO M\NT HIS HORSE1 READY TO PULL ! O!R HORSE 9 T[4 ,! WOMAN RAIS$ H] RIFLE & PO9T$ IT AT ,WIT-NAGS4 ,IF %E %OT ,WIT-NAGS1 ! MILITIAM5 W\LD F9D & KILL H] & PROBABLY ME AS WELL4 ,I WALK$ 9TO ! CLE>+4 

,WIT-NAGS RECOGNIZ$ ME2 HE ID5TIFI$ ME TO ! >M$ M5 AS ,JEIK ,BURR-NET & HE TOLD !M ,I W\LD SOON BE ONE ( !M4 #a SAID ,I WAS HEAD+ T[>D MY UNCLE'S VILLAGE & HE URG$ ME TO HURRY ON SO AS NOT TO DELAY HIS RECOV]Y ( HIS /OL5 HORSE4 ,I /AY$ PUT4 ,I HAD HE>D H[ HE HAD ACQUIR$ ! HORSES 9 HIS P53 HE & HIS >M$ M5 /OPP$ LONE HUNT]S & DEM&$ DE$S OR TITLES :I* NO HUNT]S POSSESS$4 ,WIT-NAGS WAS LY+ TO ME3 HE WASN'T RECOV]+ A /OL5 HORSE2 HE WAS /EAL+ ! HUNT]'S HORSE4 ,I LI$ TOO2 ,I TOLD HIM ,I KNEW ! HUNT]1 & ,I ALSO KNEW ! HORSE TO BE ?IS HUNT]'S HORSE4 ,WIT-NAGS' FACE TURN$ R$4 ,HE TOLD ! MILITIAM5 TO >RE/ ME4 ,ONE ( ! >M$ M5 GRABB$ ME4 ,SUDD5LY ALL EYES TURN$ T[>D A RU/LE AT ! $GE ( ! CLE>+2 ALL SAW ! B>REL ( A RIFLE PROTUD+ FROM A BU%4 ,WIT-NAGS & ! MILITIAM5 FROZE1 /IFF5$ BY FE>4 ,!Y W]E NO LONG] ?REE AGA9/ ONE2 !Y ?\<T !Y W]E SURR\ND$4 ,!Y HA/ILY LET GO ( ME1 ( ! HUNT] & ( HIS HORSE4 ,WIT-NAGS M\NT$1 & ! ?REE GALLOP$ AWAY1 9 ! DIRECTION FROM :I* !Y HAD COME4 ,I UNTI$ ! HUNT]4 ,HE PUT HIS H&S ON MY %\LD]S 9 GRATITUDE4 ,!N HE M\NT$ & GALLOP$ AWAY 9 ! OPPOSITE DIRECTION1 )\T ONCE GLANC+ T[>D ! HIDD5 RIFLE OR ! P]SON BEH9D IT4 

,I HAD NEV] BE5 SO CLOSE TO DEA?4 ,I /UMBL$ T[>D ! NE>E/ TREE & FELL AT ITS FOOT1 %AK+ ) FE>4 ,I DIDN'T HE> ! WOMAN /IR UNTIL %E /OOD 9 FRONT ( ME4 ,H] FACE DIDN'T %[ A TRACE ( FE>4 ,%E SAT D[N ALONGSIDE ME4 ,I SAW ?AT %E WAS ONLY A GIRL1 A SPR+ OR TWO Y\NG] ?AN ,I4 ,H] LONG BLACK HAIR HUNG BEH9D H] 9 A S+LE BRAID4 ,H] D>K EYES W]E FI]CE & MIS*IEV\S1 REM9D+ ME ( MY ,LAKEBOTTOM C\S9 ,M5A%I4 ,%E SAT SIL5TLY & EXAM9$ ME4 ,AT LA/ %E SAID ,UDATONTE1 PO9T+ TO H]SELF4 ,H[ ,I WI%$ ,I HAD LE>N$ ! LANGUAGE ( ! ,TURTLEFOLK6 ,I PO9T$ TO MYSELF & SPOKE MY NAME4 ,%E !N PO9T$ 9 ! DIRECTION 9 :I* ,WIT-NAGS HAD FL$1 & LOOK$ AT ME QUE/ION+LY4 ,) WORDS & MOTIONS1 ,I ASSUR$ H] ,I WAS NOT ONE ( !M4 ,SEEM+ SATISFI$1 %E PLAC$ H] H& ON M9E4 

,AT ?AT MOM5T1 ! :OLE =E/ BECAME SIL5T1 ! ,/RAIT'S WAT] /OPP$ FL[+1 ! BIRDS /OOD MOTIONLESS 9 ! SKY4 ,A T?IV] PASS$ ?R\< MY :OLE BODY1 A %IV] ,I HAD FELT BE=E1 9 FA/+ LODGES & :5 LI/5+ TO ,M>GIT'S MUSIC4 ,I KNEW ?AT MY DREAM SPIRIT HAD AT LA/ COME TO ME1 & H] NAME WAS ,UDATONTE4 

,%E BROKE MY TRANCE BY RU%+ (F TO H] HID+PLACE TO GA!R UP H] ANIMAL & H] RIFLE4 ,I BEGG$ H] TO /AY ) ME4 ,%E SPOKE & %E MOTION$1 BUT ALL ,I UND]/OOD WAS ! WORD ,HHE SAID 9 MY LANGUAGE1 ! WORD NI<T4 ,%E RAN ACROSS ! CLE>+ 9TO ! WOODS1 T[>D ! ,/RAIT'S %ORE4 ,I HE>D ! SWI% ( A CANOE SLID+ 9TO ! WAT]4 ,%E WAS GONE4 

,I REMA9$ SEAT$1 />+ AT ! EMPTY SPOT NEXT TO ME1 IMAG9+ %E WAS /ILL !RE4 ,TE>S ( JOY RAN D[N MY *EEKS1 !N TE>S ( SADNESS4 ,I LONG$ = ,UDATONTE'S RETURN MORE ?AN ,I HAD LONG$ = A DREAM SPIRIT 9 MY FA/+ LODGES4 

,AT DUSK ,I CROSS$ ! CLE>+ & LOOK$ = ! PA? %E'D FOLL[$ T[>D H] CANOE4 ,I /UMBL$ T[>D A TREE AT ! WAT]'S $GE AS FOG SETTL$ OV] ! ,/RAIT4 ,I LEAN$ AGA9/ A L>GE ROCK BEL[ ! TREE'S BRAN* & WAIT$4 ,I KNEW %E W\LD COME = ME1 BUT ,I DIDN'T KN[ IF %E'D COME :5 ! NI<T BEGAN OR 5D$1 IF %E'D COME ON ?IS NI<T OR ANO!R NI<T4 ,AFT] :AT SEEM$ LIKE ET]NITY1 ,I HE>D A S\ND 9 ! FOG4 ,I TOLD MYSELF IT WAS ! ,/RAIT'S WAT] LICK+ ! %ORE1 BUT :5 ,I HE>D IT AGA9 ,I KNEW IT WAS ! SWI% ( A PADDLE4 ,! RHY?M ( MY HE>T QUICK5$ AS ,I MADE \T ! \TL9E ( A CANOE GLID+ TO %ORE4 ,A H& GROP$ T[>D M9E & PULL$ ME 9TO ! VESSEL4 ,I KNELT BEH9D ! SIL5T FIGURE & NOTIC$ ! RIFLE & A SECOND PADDLE4 ,I TOOK UP ! PADDLE4 

,WE HEAD$ D[N/REAM1 BUT ! FOG KEPT ME FROM SEE+ EI!R ! ,/RAIT'S ISL&S OR ! \TL9ES ( ! VILLAGES ON %ORE4 ,:5 ,I ?\<T WE HAD REA*$ ! ,/RAIT'S M\?1 :]E ,KI*IGAMI'S WAT]S FL[ 9TO ! ,LAKE ( ! VANI%$ ,EHRYES1 %E HEAD$ ! CANOE WE/W>D1 9TO ! ,P59SULA4 ,BY ! DIM LI<T ( A FOGG$ SUNRISE1 ,I SAW ?AT WE W]E PADDL+ UP A N>R[ /REAM1 MIDWAY BETWE5 ITS TREE-L9$ BANKS4 ,! FOG ROSE1 EXPOS+ A CL\DLESS BLUE SKY4 ,UDATONTE'S BLACK BRAID FELL ALONG H] BACK TO ! BOTTOM ( ! CANOE1 REM9D+ ME ( ! BLACK W+ EXT5D$ T[>D ME 9 MY DREAM4 

,! RHY?M ( ! PADDLES /ROK+ ! /REAM'S WAT]S MADE ME ?9K ( ! L>GE BIRD'S FLAPP+ W+S4 ,I KNEW ,I HAD ACCEPT$ MY DREAM SPIRIT'S (F]$ REFUGE2 ,I ALSO KNEW ,I WAS NOT1 LIKE ,FELICE1 FLEE+ FROM MY K94 ,I WAS FLEE+ FROM ,FELICE & H] JU/IFICATIONS1 FROM ,WABNOKWE & H] ACCOMMODATIONS1 FROM ,*EBANSI & HIS /ORE1 FROM ,NA%K[ATAK & HIS MILITIA1 FROM ,W$ASI & HIS W>RIORS4 ,I SAW ?AT !Y W]E ALL FOLL[+ ONE PA?1 & ,I WAS ON ANO!R4 ,I WAS C>RY+ ANCI5T ,W$ASI'S BUNDLE T[>D ! C5T] ( ! ,P59SULA1 & MY GUIDE WAS ANCI5T ,YAHATASE'S K9SWOMAN4 ,I WAS FILL$ ) GRATITUDE = ! CLE> DAY1 = ! BEAUTIFUL GIRL :O L$ ME1 = ! BUNDLE MY GR&MO!R HAD S5T TO ME4 

,WE PADDL$ BY DAY & WE PADDL$ BY MOONLIT NI<T4 ,F> 9L&1 :]E ! /REAM WAS N>R[ & ITS WAT] %ALL[1 ,UDATONTE BANK$ ! CANOE & COV]$ IT ) BRU%4 ,%E L$ ME TO A SMALL CLE>+1 GA!R+ TWIGS ALONG ! WAY4 ,FROM H] GE/URES ,I UND]/OOD ?AT ?IS CLE>+ WAS NOT \R F9AL DE/9ATION4 

,AFT] />T+ A SMALL FIRE1 %E PULL$ TOBACCO \T ( ! P\* & PLAC$ IT ON ! FLAMES1 S++ AS ! SMOKE ROSE TO ! SKY4 ,:ILE WE %>$ DRY MEAT & W9T] CRACK]S FROM H] P\*1 %E TRANSLAT$ SOME WORDS ( H] SONGS 9TO ! LANGUAGE ( ,ROOTK94 ,I UND]/OOD ONLY P>TS ( /ORIES ,I HAD HE>D BE=E3 ! WORLD RE/$ ON A TURTLE'S BACK1 :]E FURRY SWIMM]S HAD DEPOSIT$ ! E>? !Y HAD SCOOP$ UP FROM BEL[ ! WAT]4 ,I ALSO UND]/OOD ?AT ! ,TURTLEL& HAD BE5 LOCAT$ 9 ! ,MORN+L& ACROSS ! ,/RAIT1 SO ?AT ,UDATONTE'S PEOPLE W]E DI/ANTLY RELAT$ TO ANCI5T ,YAHATASE4 ,I KNEW ?AT ! ,MORN+L&'S ,TURTLEFOLK HAD DISP]S$ 9 SEV]AL DIRECTIONS1 SOME FLEE+ ) ,YAHATASE TO ,GRE5BAY1 O!RS TO ! ,P59SULA'S UPP] & L[] /RAITS1 YET O!RS TO ! L&S ( ! ,EHRYES4 ,I UND]/OOD ?AT ,UDATONTE'S PEOPLE HAD FL$ TO ,S&USKY ,BAY ON ! S\!RN %ORE ( ! ,LAKE ( ! ,EHRYES4 

,WE DIDN'T RE/ 9 ! CLE>+4 ,UDATONTE EXT+UI%$ ! FIRE1 DISP]S$ ! A%ES & REMOV$ EV]Y TRACE ( \R PRES5CE4 ,9 H] EYES & ON H] MOI/ LIPS ,I SAW ! SAME JOY1 ! SAME ANTICIPATION ?AT FILL$ MY :OLE BODY ) 5]GY4 ,%E TOOK MY H& & G5TLY PULL$ ME AWAY FROM ! /REAM & CLE>+ 9TO A ?ICK =E/4 ,%E FOLL[$ A TRAIL #a C\LDN'T DI/+UI%1 A TRAIL MADE BY WOLVES OR BE>S OR WOLV]9ES2 %E SEEM$ FAMILI> ) EV]Y B5T TWIG4 ,WE CAME TO A MORE RECOGNIZABLE TRAIL1 A DE] TRAIL1 & H] H& CLASP$ M9E EV] MORE TI<TLY4 

,! TRAIL 5D$ AT ! %ORE ( A LAKE SURR\ND$ BY GRASS4 ,DE] PLAY$ AMONG SP>SE TREES ON GRE5 GR\ND ?AT SURR\ND$ WAT] AS /ILL & BLUE AS ! SKY4 ,UDATONTE L$ ME T[>D A L>GE TREE2 TOGE!R WE WAT*$ ! SUN DESC5D 9TO ! LAKE4 ,%E REMOV$ H] CLO!S & SET !M ALONGSIDE H] RIFLE & H] P\* AT ! FOOT ( ! TREE4 ,I REMOV$ MY CLO!S & FOLL[$ H] TO ! WAT]'S $GE4 ,UDATONTE GLID$ 9TO ! D>K5+ WAT] LIKE A CANOE PU%+ (F %ORE4 ,I /OOD AT ! WAT]'S $GE1 ALONE ) ! FULL MOON4 ,I DIPP$ MY HEAD TO SIP ! CLE> WAT]2 & ,UDATONTE'S FACE ROSE UP2 H] LIPS MET M9E4 ,MY H& REA*$ = H]S1 BUT %E VANI%$ 9 A SPLA%4 ,I SL[LY CRAWL$ 9TO ! WAT] AFT] H]4 

,UDATONTE & ,I EM]G$ FROM ! WAT] H& 9 H& & FLOAT$ TO A GRASS B$ BY ! ROOT ( \R TREE4 ,\R H&S RAN OV] \* O!R'S BODIES LIKE SQUIRRELS ALONG A TREE'S BRAN*ES1 FROM O>S TO NECK TO ?I<S & LEGS & BACK AGA94 ,WE EMBRAC$ & ROLL$ OV] EA* O!R LIKE PLAYFUL CUBS1 \R >MS & LEGS ,9T]TW9$ LIKE V9ES4 ,AT LA/ WE LO/ \RSELVES 9 EA* O!R1 BECOM+ A S+LE BODY PULSAT+ 9 RHY?M ) \R BEAT+ HE>TS4 ,WE W]E ONE ) EA* O!R1 ) ! GRASS & ! =E/ & ! LAKE & ! MOON4 ,I DISSOLV$ AS ,I HAD DISSOLV$ ONCE BE=E1 9 ,MIMIKWE'S LODGE 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,I DIDN'T REMEMB] ,MIMIKWE !N2 ,I DIDN'T REMEMB] ANY?+4 ,I FELT MYSELF TURN+ TO WAT]1 WAT] ?AT HELD A DREAM 9 ITS DEP? ! WUY ! LAKE HELD ! MOON'S REFLECTION4 ,I WAS FREE ( MY BODY1 FREE ( ALL LIMITS2 ,I WAS ALL & NO?+1 FULL & EMPTY2 ,I WAS A ,MKY ?AT HAD TURN$ ITSELF TO RA94 ,9 ?AT MOM5T ( ET]NITY ,I ,JDATONTE & ,I1 ,TURTLEFOLK & ,ROOTK91 E>? & SKY M>RI$4 

,WE RELAX$1 EMBRAC$ AGA9 & RELAX$ AGA9 UNTIL SLEEP OV]:ELM$ DESIRE4 ,9 A DREAM ,I RETURN$ TO ! LAKE'S %ORE & DIPP$ D[N TO SIP ! WAT]4 ,A FACE ROSE \T ( ! WAT]2 ITS ,I IPS KISS$ M9E2 AS IT SLIPP$ AWAY ,I SAW ?AT ! FACE BELONG$ TO A %ELL-LESS TURTLE ) A BEAV]'S HEAD & GLI/5+ ,MILV]Y-GRAY SCALES4 ,I WOKE UP T]RIFI$ & SWEAT+4 ,I F\ND MYSELF 9 ,UDATONTE'S EMBRACE ON ! GRASS NE> ! TREE'S ROOT1 \R BODIES COV]$ BY MOON-/REAKS ?AT P5ETRAT$ ?R\< ! BRAN*ES4 ,I SLID BACK 9TO A LONG DREAMLESS SLEEP4 

,WE DIDN'T SEP>ATE & RISE FROM \R GRASS B$ UNTIL ! SUN WAS HI<4 ,UDATONTE KNEW ,I HAD DREAM$1 & %E MADE ME UND]/& ?AT UNTOLD DREAMS FE/] LIKE UNHEAL+ W\NDS4 ,9 ! V]Y ACT ( DESCRIB+ ! SCALY MON/] TO ,UDATONTE1 ,I REALIZ$ ?AT ,I WAS DESCRIB+ ,MISUS ,BAY-CON & H] S*OOL1 ,JAY-MAY & HIS JAIL1 ,BURR-NET & HIS /ORE4 ,I WAS DESCRIB+ SOME?+ ) P5T-UP DESIRE1 SOME?+ ,I MYSELF C\LD BECOME1 SOME?+ ?AT LA%$ \T AGA9/ LOVE & FRE$OM1 SOME?+ ?AT SWALL[$ E>?'S PEOPLE & ANIMALS :ILE IMPRISON+ E>? H]SELF 9 PICKET$ 5CLOSURES4 

,WE BUILT A FIRE1 :I* ,I 5L>G$ ) TWIGS & FALL5 WOOD :ILE ,UDATONTE D>T$ 9TO ! =E/ LIKE A DE]4 ,%E RETURN$ ) A SKIRTFULL ( ROOTS & B]RIES4 ,AFT] PLAC+ /ONES ON ! FIRE1 %E DUG A HOLE 9 ! GR\ND1 L9$ & SEAL$ IT ) LEAVES1 & FILL$ IT ) LAKEWAT]4 ,BR++ ! B]RIES & CRU%$ ROOTS TO A BOIL ) ! HEAT$ /ONES1 ,UDATONTE PREP>$ \R W$D+ FEA/4 ,& ALL ! :ILE %E SANG 9 H] MELODI\S LANGUAGE ( A WOMAN :O FELL ?R\< A HOLE 9 ! SKY1 ( ! TW9S %E BORE ON ! TURTLE'S BACK4 

,C\NCIL+ ) EA* O!R >\ND \R COOK+ FIRE ON ! GRASS BETWE5 \R TREE & ! BLUE LAKE1 WE %>$ SONGS & /ORIES4 ,I SANG ! SONGS ,KATABWE TAU<T ME AS ,I %[$ ,UDATONTE ! CONT5TS ( MY BUNDLE4 ,I SANG ( ANCE/ORS :O LIV$ 9 ! WAT] & ( ANCE/ORS :O FLEW LIKE SPIRITS ( BIRDS4 ,I SANG ( ,KI*IGAMI BE=E ! COM+ ( ! PLAGUES1 & ( ! P[]S ( ! %ELL TO BR+ ! DEAD BACK TO LIFE4 ,= ! FIRS6 TIME 9 MY LIFE1 ,I UND]/OOD ! MEAN+ ( ! FI%BONES1 ! FEA!R1 ! %ELL & ! SCROLLS ?AT LODG$ 9 MY BUNDLE4 

,UDATONTE TOOK A %>P /ONE1 CUT A LOCK FROM H] BLACK BRAID1 & (F]$ ME ! LOCK4 ,BETWE5 SONGS1 %E TOLD ME AB\L H]SELF & H] PEOPLE4 ,UNTIL H] N9? SPR+1 %E ?\<T ! WORLD'S C5T] WAS A LON<\SE 9 ,S&USKY1 A LODGE :OSE OCCUPANTS KEPT ! WAYS ( ANCI5T ,TURTLEFOLK & %UNN$ ! CROSSES1 ! :ISKEY1 ! BEADS & ! FIRE/ICKS ?AT CLUTT]$ ! LODGES ( !IR NEI<BORS4 ,FROM ! LON<\SE GR&MO!R & FROM H] MO!R1 %E LE>N$ PLANT+ C]EMONIES1 HEAL+ SONGS1 & ! SECRETS ( H]BS & ROOTS2 FROM H] MO!R'S BRO!R1 %E LE>N$ TO TRACK ANIMALS4 

,DUR+ H] N9? SPR+1 H] WORLD WAS %ATT]$4 ,!RE W]E GUE/S 9 ! ,S&USKY LON<\SES1 NUM]\S GIRLS ( ,UDATONTE'S AGE L$ BY TWO BLACKROB$ WOM5 & ONE MAN1 A K9SMAN ( ! ,TURTLEFOLK4 ,! GUE/S W]E FE>FUL2 !Y ?\<T >M$ M5 HAD FOLL[$ !M TO ,S&USKY1 & !Y EMB>K$ & FL$ DUR+ ! D>K ( NI<T4 

,! PADDLES ( ! FLEE+ GUE/S W]E B>ELY BEYOND HE>+ :5 A B& ( PIONE]S /ORM$ 9TO ! ,S&USKY VILLAGE1 !IR EYES BLAZ+ & !IR M\?S TWI/$ ) P5T-UP DESIRE ,NOT F9D+ ! GIRLS !Y W]E SEEK+1 ! PIONE]S LUNG$ 9TO ! LON<\SES1 EMPTY+ ! BULLETS 9 !IR RIFLES & ! LIQUIDS 9 !IR GRO9S 9TO ! BODIES ( ! VILLAG]S4 ,BY ! TIME ! ,TURTLEW>RIORS RALLI$ & REMOV$ ! ,9VAD]S1 ,UDATONTE'S LON<\SE1 ! FIR/ ONE ATTACK$1 WAS A TOMB2 ONLY ! OLD WOMAN1 TWO AUNTS & ,UDATONTE W]E /ILL ALIVE4 ,UDATONTE FLU%$ ! MURD]]'S JUICES \T ( H] BODY1 & %E BROKE FROM ! ANCI5T WAYS4 ,:5 HUNT]S SET \T FROM A NEI<BOR+ LON<\SE1 %E ACCOMPANI$ !M1 LE>N$ TO USE A RIFLE & ACQUIR$ ONE ( H] [N4 ,%E BECAME ! MEAT BR+] ( H] BROK5 LON<\SE & %E R>ELY P>T$ ) H] RIFLE4 

,NO 9TRUD]S M>R$ \R JOY AT ! ,GRASSLAKE4 ,\R ONLY GUE/S W]E ! DE] :O PLAY$ AMONG ! SP>SE TREES SURR\ND+ ! BLUE WAT]1 & ! SQUIRRELS :O RAN ON ! BRAN*ES ( ! TREE BY \R M>RIAGE B$4 

,AFT] HELP+ SCATT] ! A%ES ( \R FIRES1 ,I GRATEFULLY GAVE AN (F]+ ( TOBACCO TO ! SPIRIT ( ! LAKE4 ,) ,UDATONTE'S HAIRLOCK 9 MY BUNDLE1 ,I WAS OV]:ELM$ ) SADNESS AS ,I LOOK$ = ! LA/ TIME AT \R GRASS B$1 \R TREE & ! BLUE WAT]4 ,RETURN+ ALONG ! SAME PA?1 ,I RECOGNIZ$ SOME ( ! PLANTS1 TREES & BRAN*ES ?AT GUID$ US TO ! HID+PLACE ( ,I ,JDATONTE'S CANOE4 ,! D[N/REAM PADDL+ TOOK NO EF=T1 & BE=E LONG WE LEFT ! /REAM'S M\?1 APPROA*$ ! ,ISLE ( ,:ITE ,TREES & BANK$ \R CANOE ACROSS FROM ! ISLE1 ON ! ,HHORE ( ! ,/RAIT'S ,TURTLEFOLK1 9 ,K>ONTA54 ,WE W]E 9 ! VILLAGE (,ISADOR & ,WAKAYA1 ! VILLAGE ( ! ,TURTLEFOLK :O HAD LEFT ,TIOSA ,RONDION T5 SPR+S E>LI]4 

,\R >RIVAL WASN'T NOTIC$4 ,ALL ! LON<\SES SEEM$ EMPTY2 !IR 9HABITANTS W]E GA!R$ 9 ! C\NCILGR\ND1 MR\ND A S+LE FIRE4 ,I SAW ,ISADOR & ,WAKAYA ON OPPOSITE SIDES ( ! FIRE4 ,UDATONTE LEFT ME ON ! C\NCILGR\ND & RAN TO H] LODGE4 ,I CIRCL$ ! GA!R+ UNTIL ,I RECOGNIZ$ ONE ( ! PA9T$ W>RIORS AS ,WAKAYA'S SON ,POPOSI2 ,I HADN'T SE5 HIM S9CE HE'D BE5 A LITTLE BOY4 ,POPOSI MU/ HAVE KN[N ,I UND]/OOD LITTLE ( :AT ,I HE>D1 & AT 9T]VALS HE :ISP]$ TO ME 9 ! LANGUAGE ( ,ROOTK94 ,I LE>N$ ?AT ,POPOSI'S & MY UNCLES1 ,WAPMIMI & ,MO:AWA1 HAD COME TO ,K>ONTA5 ) WAD NEWS3 ! VILLAGE ( ,KI!PEKANU ON ! ,WABA% HAD BE5 DE/ROY$ BY AN >MY ( ,SCALP]S4 ,SIG5AK HAD BE5 KILL$4 ,WAPMIMI'S DAU<T] ,OMEMEKWE & WIFE ,%AWANOKWE HAD BE5 KILL$4 

,I ASK$ ,POPOSI AB\T MY BRO!R ,W$ASI1 AB\T ,%AB5I1 BUT HE KNEW NO MORE4 ,HE TOLD ME ,WAPMIMI HAD URG$ ,WAKAYA LO PREP>E TO AV5GE !IR FA!R'S DEA?1 & ,WAKAYA HAD BE5 READY4 ,MO/ ( ,K>ONTA5'S Y\? HAD BE5 READY4 ,ONLY ,ISADOR & ! LON<\SE GR&MO!RS HADN'T BE5 READY4 ,EV5 N[1 ,POPOSI TOLD ME ANGRILY1 :5 ! ,PRAIRIE W>RIORS HAD =G$ ! GREATE/ ALLIANCE S9CE ! DAYS ( ! ,KEKIONGA C\NCIL1 ,ISADOR WAS /ILL 9SI/+ ?AT ,K>ONTA5'S W>RIORS REMOVE !IR PA9T & LAY D[N !IR WEAPONS1 9SI/+ ON NEUTRALITY1 AS IF !RE W]E ROOM = A NEUTRAL BETWE5 A HUNT] & HIS PREY4 

,POPOSI'S ANGRY WORDS SICK5$ ME4 ,I /UMBL$ \T ( ! CIRCLE T[>D ! $GE ( ! WOODS4 ,! NEWS ( ! DEA?S ON ! ,WABA% & ( ! SPLIT AMONG ,K>ONTA5'S ,TURTLEFOLK MADE MY HEAD SP94 ,UDATONTE F\ND ME & L$ ME TO A LONG H\SE :I* /OOD AP>T FROM ALL ! O!RS4 ,! LODGE WAS FULL ( PEOPLE2 NONE ( ITS OCCUPANTS W]E ATT5D+ ! C\NCIL4 ,I SOON LE>N$ ?AT ,I WAS AMONG ,TURTLEFOLK :O HAD COME TO ,K>ONTA5 FROM ,EHRYE'S S\!RN %ORE1 REFUGEES :O HAD WANT$ TO GET AWAY FROM C\NCILS ( W>4 

,! LON<\SE GR&MO!R1 A WR9KL$ ,TURTLEWOMAN FLU 5T 9 ! LANGUAGE ( ,ROOTK91 TOOK ME TO A CORN] ( ! LODGE :]E O!R Y\?S HAD !IR MATS4 ,%E TOLD ME ,I WAS TO PRET5D NOT TO KN[ ,UDATONTE UNTIL ! DAY ( MY ADOPTION C]EMONY2 ONLY !N C\LD WE RE5ACT \R MEET+ & M>RIAGE4 ,! OLD WOMAN TOLD ME ,UDATONTE HAD EXPECT$ ME TO LODGE 9 ANO!R CORN] ( ! VILLAGE UNTIL MY ADOPTION1 BUT HADN'T EXPECT$ TO F9D ! ,TURTLEVILLAGE TORN BY HATR$S & W> PREP>ATIONS4 

,FROM ,UDATONTE'S GR&MO!R ,I LE>N$ ?AT ! ,EHRYE REFUGEES %>$ ,WAKAYA'S HATR$ ( ! MURD]\S PIONE]S BUT HAD NO DESIRE TO TAKE P>T 9 W> C\NCILS1 BECAUSE SU* C\NCILS HAD TORN AP>T !IR VILLAGE 9 ,S&USKY ,BAY4 ,! OLD WOMAN'S PEOPLE HAD BE5 ATTACK$ & SLAU<T]$ BY PIONE]S2 ,UDATONTE HAD ALREADY GIV5 ME SOME UND]/&+ ( ?IS ATTACK4 

,! ,S&USKY ,TURTLEFOLK HAD >M$ !MSELVES AFT] ! ATTACK1 !Y HAD C\NCIL$1 & !Y HAD S5T \T MESS5G]S 9 SE>* ( ALLIES4 ,! MESS5G]S HAD RETURN$ ) ALLIANCES ?AT QU>T]$ ! ,S&USKY VILLAGE4 ,SOME HAD F\ND ALLIES AMONG ,R$COATS :O WANT$ TO PU% ! PIONE]S BACK T[>D ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S4 ,O!RS F\ND ALLIES AMONG ,WABA% ,PRAIRIEK9 :O %>$ ! GOAL ( ! ,R$COATS4 ,YET O!RS1 GR&SONS ( M5 ALLI$ ) BLUEJACKET$ PIONE]S 9 ! AGE ( MY GREAT-GR&FA!R ,MOTA1 F\ND ALLIES AMONG ! ,BLUEJACKETS4 ,9/EAD ( /R5G!N+ ! ,S&USKY VILLAGE1 ! C\NCILS & ALLIANCES TORE ! VILLAGE AP>T4 ,K9 HAD TURN$ AGA9/ K98 

,! OLD WOMAN HAD GA!R$ >\ND H] ALL ?OSE :O NBHORR$ ! FRATRICIDAL PASSIONS & HAD FL$ ) !M TO ,K>ONTA51 TO BE ) K9 :O HAD SEEM$ IMP]VI\S TO SU* PASSIONS4 ,! OLD WOMAN SAID ?AT ! W> C\NCILS & ULLIANCES L$ ONLY TO ! FUR!R DECIMATION ( ,TURTLEFOLK2 %E WAS CONV9C$ ?AT ! ,R$COATS & ,BLUEJACKETS & !IR LIKES W]E SO VIOL5T ?AT1 IF LEFT ALONE1 !Y W\LD SOON WIPE EA* O!R \T & LEAVE ! WORLD TO ITS ORIG9AL 9HABITANTS4 

,! ,K>ONTA5 C\NCILS W5T ON1 BUT ,I DIDN'T W&] F> FROM ! LON<\SE ( ! ,S&USKY REFUGEES4 ,ON ! DAY ( ! C]EMONY1 ,ISADOR & SEV]AL O!RS JO9$ ! CELEBRANTS2 ,WAKAYA & HIS K9 /AY$ AWAY4 ,DANC]S ) GRIMAC+ WOOD5 MASKS1 O!RS ) ANIMAL HEADS & HORNS1 FRI<T5$ ME ) H[LS & RATTLES1 CUT MY FLE%1 PASS$ ME OV] A FIRE1 & AT LA/ %[]$ ME ) A M\ND ( GIFTS4 ,I UND]/OOD ?AT #a WAS TO TAKE ! GIFTS TO ,UDATONTE1 :O /OOD AT ! LODGE 5TRANCE WAIT+4 

,UDATONTE & ,I RELAX$ 9 A PREP>$ SWEATLODGE1 BA!D 9 ! COLD WAT] ( ! ,/RAIT1 /UFF$ \RSELVES ) MEAT1 B]RIES & COM UNTIL WE ?\<T WE'D BUR/1 & 5T]$ ! LON<\SE TOGE!R4 ,I LAY D[N ON ! S(T MAT2 ,UDATONTE SAT ALONGSIDE ME & SANG1 ALMO/ 9 A :ISP]1 ( ! TW9S BORN TO ! WOMAN :O FELL FROM ! SKY4 ,:5 %E LAY D[N BESIDE ME & \R >MS & LEGS 9T]TW9$1 ALL ! DEA?S & W> C\NCILS BECAME A BAD DREAM ,I C\LD NO LONG] REMEMB]4 

,SEP>ATION 

  

,I AVOID$ ! C\NCILGR\ND & ! W> PREP>ATIONS2 ,I LIV$ 9 A WORLD AP>T1 A WORLD ?AT CONSI/$ ( ,UDATONTE & H] ,S&USKY K94 ,BUT ,I DIDN'T LIVE !RE LONG4 ,UDATONTE'S GR&MO!R DI$1 & BE=E H] BURIAL C]EMONY 5D$1 H] [N LON<\SE FILL$ ) ! FRATRICIDAL PASSIONS FROM :I* ! OLD WOMAN HAD FL$4 ,! Y\? ( ,UDATONTE'S LON<\SE JO9$ ! Y\? ( O!R LON<\SES1 PA9T$ !MSELVES & SANG ( W>4 ,HEAT$ TO BOIL+ PO9T BY !IR [N %RIEKS & LEAPS1 ! Y\NG W>RIORS !N CONFRONT$ ME4 

,! ,TURTLEY\? :O FAC$ ME W]E L$ BY ,WAKAYA'S SON ,POPOSI & BY ANO!R :OM ,I RECOGNIZ$ AS ,WAPMIMI'S SON ,OJEJOK4 ,I HADN'T KN[N ?AT ,WAPMIMI & HIS SON W]E 9 ,K>ONTA5 AGA94 ,I LONG$ TO ASK ,OJEJOK H[ MY BRO!R ,W$ASI WAS F>+1 H[ MY C\S9 ,%AB5I1 :]E !Y W]E4 ,BUT ! Y\?S W\LD HE> NO QUE/IONS FROM ME4 ,!Y ONLY WANT$ ANSW]S4 ,WAS ,I A W>RIOR LIKE MY UNCLES ,WAKAYA1 ,WAPMIMI1 ,GIZES1 ,MO:AWA8 ,OR WAS ,I A C[>DLY NEUTRAL LIKE ,ISADOR8 ,!RE WAS NO C\NCIL1 NO DELIB]ATION1 NO C]EMONY4 ,I WAS TO SPIT \T MY ANSW] AS IF ,I W]E A RIFLE SPITT+ \T A BULLET AS SOON AS ! TRIGG] WAS PRESS$4 ,! LONG] ,I PUT (F ANSW]+1 ! TI<T] !IR CIRCLE >\ND ME4 ,SUDD5LY ! CIRCLE BROKE UP2 ! Y\?S DISP]S$ AS SOON AS !Y SAW ,WAKAYA APPROA*2 !Y KNEW ?IS WAS NOT H[ HE WANT$ HIS W>RIORS RECRUIT$4 ,ON#cY ,OJEJOK /AY$ BEH9D1 & ONLY LONG 5\< TO SPIT ON ME4 ,I REALIZ$ ?AT ! IMPATI5CE ( ! Y\?S HAD BE5 R\S$ BY ,OJEJOK :O HAD LO/ HIS SI/]1 MO!R & GR&FA!R 9 ,KI!PEKANU4 

,UDATONTE WAS AT MY SIDE AS SOON AS ! Y\?S DISP]S$4 ,%E HAD SE5 ! CONFRONTATION1 BUT DIDN'T ?9K ME A C[>D = REFUS+ TO B[ TO ! Y\NG W>RIORS4 ,UDATONTE HAD PREP>$ A FOOD PACK1 BASKETS & BLANKETS2 %E WAS EAG] TO LEAVE W>-TORN ,K>ONTA54 ,) H] RIFLE & MY B[1 ) \R P\*ES & BUNDLES1 WE WALK$ 9TO ! WOODS 9 SE>* ( A CAMP4 

,ALONE AMONG LEAVES & BIRDS1 WE SANG TO EA* O!R ( ! FIR/ BE+S4 ,UDATONTE P>TICUL>LY LIK$ TO HE> ( ! ANCI5T ,TURTLEWOMAN ,YAHATASE :O HAD TURN$ H] BACK ON ! /ONE LODGES ( CROSSWE>]S1 & ( ! ANCI5T ,FIREKEEP] ,W$ASI :O REFUS$ TO KILL ANIMALS ) A RIFLE4 ,:5 WE HUNT$ TOGE!R1 ,UDATONTE 9SI/$ ?AT ,I CONF9E MYSELF TO ! C]E MONIES ( GRATITUDE & ! SONGS ADDRESS$ TO ! RABBITS1 DE] & MOOSE WE /ALK$4 ,I %[$ ,UDATONTE ! H]BS & ROOTS MY AUNT ,PAMOKO HAD TAU<T ME TO ID5TIFY4 ,WE KNEW WE W]E REV]S+ ! WAYS ( \R K9 VILLAGES4 ,UDATONTE & ,I TOLD EA* O!R WE W]E FIR/ BE+S1 WE W]E A NEW BEG9N+4 ,NEI!R ( US C\LD IMAG9E H[ NE> ! 5D WAS4 

,:ILE PREP>+ \R CAMP1 ,UDATONTE & ,I R>ELY SEP>AT$4 ,WE /ALK$ ANIMALS TOGE!R1 DRI$ MEATS & DRESS$ FURS TOGE!R4 ,ONLY R>ELY DID %E LEAVE TO HUNT BY H]SELF4 ,BUT ONE MORN+ :5 ,I WAS OCCUPI$ LI<T+ ! FIRE1 ,UDATONTE NOTIC$ FRE% MOOSE TRACKS AT ! $GE ( \R CAMP1 & %E B\ND$ (F ) H] RIFLE4 

,I WAS /ILL FE$+ MY FIRE :5 ,I WAS SURR\ND$ BY >M$ M5 :OSE UNI=MS ,I RECOGNIZ$ AS ?OSE ( ! ,/RAIT'S MILITIA4 ,I LEAV+ ! FIRE BURN+1 ! >M$ M5 PULL$ ME AWAY FROM MY CAMP1 AWAY FROM ,UDATONTE4 ,!Y HALF PU%$ & HALF C>RI$ ME T[>D ! ,/RAIT'S %ORE1 9TO A HUGE 5CAMPM5T ( UNI=M$ M54 ,!Y ?REW ME 9TO A WOOD5 CAGE4 ,!Y H&L$ ME ) A HATR$ ,I C\LDN'T EXPLA9 TO MYSELF2 :AT HAD ,I EV] DONE TO !M8 ,!IR TREATM5T ( ME L$ ME TO FE> ,I W\LD BO BEAT5 OR TORTUR$ OR SCALP$1 OR ALL ?REE4 ,& ,I FE>$ ?AT ,UDATONTE W\LD FOLL[ ! TRACKS ( MY CAPTORS & F9D H]SELF ,MURR\ND$ BY HUNDR$S ( >M$ ,SCALP]S4 

,AFT] AN ET]NITY ( FE>S1 ,I WAS RELEAS$ FROM ! CAGE & PU%$ T[>D ! CAMP'S HEADMAN1 :O WAS ADDRESS$ AS LIOOS-GAS4 ,?IS HEADMAN ASK$ H[ MANY WE W]E & :AT WEAPONS WE C>RI$1 & AN 9T]PRET] REPEAT$ ! QUE/ION4 ,I ANSW]$ ! HEADMAN 9 HIS [N LANGUAGE4 ,LOOS-GAS SLAPP$ MY FACE1 CALL$ ME A LY+ HALFBRE$1 & REPEAT$ ! QUE/ION4 ,COMMOTION KEPT ME FROM REPEAT+ ! SAME ANSW]4 ,IT WAS ANN\NC$ ?AT ONE ( ! MILITIAM5 RECOGNIZ$ ! LY+ HALFBRE$ AS HIS BRO!R4 ,SOON ,NA%K[ATAK WAS AT MY SIDE1 ACKN[L$G+ \R K9%IP4 ,LOOS-GAS REPEAT$ HIS QUE/ION YET A,KA94 ,BUT :5 ,I AGA9 ANSW]$ ?AT !RE W]E ONLY TWO ( UH1 MY BRIDE & ,I1 & ?AT %E HAD BE5 AWAY ) ! RIFLE1 LIOOS-GAS LAU<$2 SOON ALL ! M5 9 ! CAMP W]E LAU<+1 & ,NA%K[ATAK WAS FILL$ ) %AME4 

,NA%K[ATAK WAS TOLD TO LEAD HIS HALFBRE$ BRO!R TO A PRISON UP/REAM :ILE ! RE/ ( ! >MY FOLL[$ ,LOOS-GAS D[N/REAM4 ,NA%K[ATAK WAS GIV5 A BUNDLE ( MESSAGES = ! ,/RAIT'S BIG M54 

,MY FIR/ EMOTION T[>D MY BRO!R WAS B\NDLESS GRATITUDE1 BUT AS SOON AS WE W]E ALONE ,I C\LD ?9K ONLY ( ,I ,IDATONTE1 & ,I BEGG$ HIM TO LET ME REJO9 OR AT LEA/ F9D H]4 ,NA%K[ATAK WAS 5RAG$4 ,HE TOLD ME HE HAD SAV$ MY LIFE TWICE1 FIR/ BY ADMITT+ HIS RELATION%IP TO ME1 !N BY SAY+ NO?+ ( MY DES]TION FROM ! MILITIA4 ,!SE W]E TIMES :5 DES]T]S W]E BE+ KILL$ )\T AS MU* AS A HE>+4 ,AS = MY BRIDE1 HE TOLD ME ,I W\LD HAVE HELP$ H] MORE IF ,I HAD ,JO9$ ! MILITIA & DEF5D$ H] VILLAGE FROM ! 5EMIES :O W]E OV]RUNN+ IT4 ,:AT ANG]$ ,NA%K[ATAK MO/ ( ALL WAS HAV+ TO ACCOMPANY ME1 BE+ SEP>AT$ FROM HIS >M$ COMPANIONS4 ,HE HAD ANTICIPAT$ CONFRONT+ >M$ 5EMIES = ! FIR/ TIME 9 HIS LIFE1 & ,I KEPT HIM FROM HIS FIR/ *ANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF A W>RIOR4 ,I WOND]$ IF HE WAS /ILL PROV+ HIMSELF TO HIS *ILDHOOD LOVE1 HIS C\S9 ,MIMIKWE1 & IF HE KNEW1 IF HE HAD EV] KN[N1 ?AT HIS AMBITION W\LD ONLY HAVE REPELL$ ,MIMIKWE4 

,NA%K[ATAK DELIV]$ ME AS WELL AS SOME ( HIS MESSAGE'S TO ! H\SE ,I HAD FL$ FROM1 ,JAY-MAY'S1 & NOT TO ! =T4 #a KNEW )\T HIS TELL+ ME ?AT MY BRO!R WAS SAV+ MY LIFE = ! ?IRD TIME4 ,) MY [N CLO!S1 ) MY BUNDLE1 ) MY HAIR UNCROPP$1 ,I W\LD NOT HAVE BE5 LEFT ALIVE 9 ! =T4 

,! :OLE ,/RAIT1 P>TICUL>LY ! >M$ M51 SEEM$ TO BE AFFECT$ BY SOME SORT ( HY/]IA4 ,FELICE HAD TOLD ME ( SIMIL> \TBREAKS ( HY/]IA ON ! O!R SIDE ( ! ,OCEAN2 ! M]E SI<T ( ONE ( ! DESPIS$ PROVOK$ DESIRES TO TORTURE1 TO MAIM1 TO KILL4 ,EV5 ,WABNOKWE1 MY [N SI/]1 GREET$ ME ) MURD]\S GLANCES4 ,JAY-MAY WASN'T K9D1 BUT AT LEA/ HE WASN'L HY/]ICAL2 P]HAPS ! K9DLY ,M>GIT SWAY$ HIM FROM HIS PREF]R$ C\RSE4 ,JAY-MAY TOLD ME :AT ,NA%K[ATAK HAD TOLD ME1 ?AT DES]T]S W]E %OT4 ,BUT HE DIDN'T H& ME OV] TO ! =T4 ,HE HAD B>S 9/ALL$ ON ! W9D[S ( MY =M] ROOM & KEPT ME BEH9D A LOCK$ DOOR4 ,I REALIZ$ ?AT 9 ,JAY-MAY'S EYES ,I WAS AN 5EMY1 A ,R$COAT1 S9CE ONLY AN 5EMY W\LD HAVE RUN AWAY FROM HIS MILITIA4 

,I TE/$ MY /R5G? AGA9/ ! /R5G? ( ! W9D[ B>S4 ,I LOOK$ = CRACKS 9 ! WALL4 ,I ?\<T ONLY ( REJO9+ ,UDATONTE4 

,M>GIT BR\<T ME FOOD2 %E WAS AGA9 BIG ) *ILD4 ,%E ALWAYS LEFT ! DOOR AJ>4 ,:5 %E WAS ALONE 9 ! H\SE ) Y\NG ,JIM-MAY1 %E 9VIT$ ME TO ! MUSIC ROOM TO LI/5 ,JIM-MAY PLAY$ ! SMALL B[$ 9/RUM5T4 ,M>GIT SAID HE PLAY$ IT ALMO/ AS WELL AS MY AUNT ,PAMOKO1 :OSE PLAY+ ,I HAD NEV] HE>D4 ,I TOOK ! HAIRLOCK \T ( MY BUNDLE4 ,! MUSIC ( ! 9/RUM5TS FUZ$ ) ,UDATONTE'S MELODIES & ,I WAS TRANSPORT$ TO ! ,GRASSLAKE2 ,I C\LD ALMO/ FEEL ,UDATONTE'S T\*4 ,I WAS FREE TO RUN \T ON ! ONLY TWO PEOPLE :O C>$ = ME1 BUT ,I C\LD NOT HAVE C>RI$ MY BUNDLE1 NOR C\LD ,I HAVE FAC$ ,UDATONTE ) SU* A BETRAYAL BEH9D ME4 

,ONE DAY ,I HE>D ANGRY %\TS 9 ! C\NCILROOM & RECOG NIZ$ ! VOICE ( HORSE-SNAT*] ,WIT-NAGS4 ,M>GIT LAT] TOLD ME ?AT ,WIT-NAGS' BRO!R HAD BE5 KILL$ 9 A BATTLE NE> ,K>ON TA51 & ,WIT-NAGS1 LIKE ,GRETA-MAY1 WANT$ ME H&$ OV] TO ! >M$ M5 9 ! =T1 AS IF ,I HAD BE5 ONE ( HIS BRO!R'S KILL]S4 ,I WOND]$ :O ELSE WAS KILL$ 9 ! BATTLE NE> ,K>ON- TN51 & BY :OM4 

,M>GIT WAS CONF9$ TO H] B$4 ,MY SI/] BR\<T ME FOOD BUT TOLD ME NO?+ ( :AT WAS HAPP5+4 ,ONE DAY ,JIM-MAY1 :O HAD NO KEY1 :ISP]$ TO ME ?R\< ! DOOR4 ,HE TOLD ME ! 5EMY1 ! ,R$COATS1 HAD 9VAD$ ! ,/RAIT & OCCUPI$ ! =T1 & NOT A %OT HAD BE5 FIR$ AGA9/ !M4 ,JIM-MAY WAS ONLY REPEAT+ :AT HE'D HE>D2 ! IMPLICATIONS ( ! UV5T W]E AS IMP5ETRABLE TO HIM AS !Y W]E TO ME4 

,I LE>N$ NO?+ MORE UNTIL ,M>GIT RESUM$ H] VISITS TO MY ROOM4 ,%E %[$ ME H] NEW BABY GIRL1 ,C>RIE-MAY1 BORN ON ! DAY ( ! ,R$COAT OCCUPATION4 ,%E TOLD ME MY C\S9 ,I'OPOSI & HIS COMPANIONS HAD ONCE AGA9 RAID$ ,WIT-NAGS' HORSE-P52 ?IS TIME ! Y\?S HAD SUCCE$$ 9 RELEAS+ ALL ! HORSES4 

,SUDD5LY ,I WAS RELEAS$4 ,JAY-MAY UNLOCK$ ! DOOR & TOLD ME ,I WAS FREE TO GO :]EV] ,I PLEAS$4 ,! ,R$COATS HAD RELEAS$ SOME ( !IR PRISON]S2 ,I WAS ONE ( ! PRISON]S RELEAS$ BY ! O!R SIDE1 9 EX*ANGE4 ,JAY-MAY ASK$ ME TO DO ONLY ONE ?+ BE=E ,I LEFT1 TO ATT5D ?AT EV5+'S C\NCIL & LI/5 C>EFULLY TO ,JAY-MAY'S GUE/4 ,HE SAID :AT ,I HE>D W\LD HELP ME *OOSE MY PA? 9TELLIG5TLY4 

,I /AY$ = ! C\NCIL4 ,EV]YONE WAS 9 ! ROOM1 ,M>GIT'S FAMILY AS WELL AS ,JOZET'S2 ,NA%K[ATAK WAS !RE4 ,HE TOLD ME \R FA!R1 ,BURR-NET1 HAD BE5 KILL$ ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 & ?AT ,BURR-NET'S FELL[-TRAD] ,K9-SIC WAS AB\T TO TELL US H[ \R FA!R DI$4 ,K9-SIC & \R C\S9 ,%&O HAD BE5 CAPTUR$ BY ! ,R$COATS & TAK5 TO ! ,/RAIT'S =T4 ,JAY-MAY HAD EX*ANG$ ,K9-SIC'S RELEASE = M9E4 

,I HAD NEV] SE5 ! ,SLAV] FROM ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 ! MAN MY BRO!R ,*EBANSI & \R MO!R ,CAKIMA HAD FE>$4 ,A COLD *ILL RAN ?R\< MY BODY AS SOON AS ,K9-SIC BEGAN TO SPEAK4 ,HE TOLD ( HIMSELF1 TOGE!R ) ,BURR-NET & O!R PEACELOV+ TRAD]S1 BE+ SURR\ND$ BY A %\T+ HORDE ( SAVAGES4 ,! ,HAVAGES W]E ,R$COAT AG5TS2 HE ALSO CALL$ !M CANNIBALS4 ,HE ,HAID ,BURR-NET'S [N SON WAS AMONG ! SAVAGES1 PA9T$ BLACK US NI<T & %\T+ HELLI% OBSC5ITIES4 ,BURR-NET TRI$ TO CALM 7HE DEMONS BUT ONLY PROVOK$ !M TO GREAT] FURY4 ,ONE ( ! SAVAGES :O HAD AN ACC\NT TO SETTLE ) ,BURR-NET SETTL$ IT !N & !RE1 BY SPLITT+ ! TRAD]'S SKULL ) A TOMAHAWK4 ,?IS ACT GAVE ! SIGNAL = A G5]AL MASSACRE ( ! PEACELOV+ M5 9 ! =T & FUR PO/4 ,LITTLE *ILDR5 W]E SMACK$ AGA9/ PO/S1 WOM5 W]E RAP$ :ILE !Y W]E SCALP$1 M5 W]E %OT & SK9N$4 ,K9-SIC'S ALLIES AT LA/ >RIV$ FROM ,KEKIONGA1 BUT !Y >RIV$ TOO LATE2 !Y W]E !MSELVES MASSACR$2 !IR HEADMAN WAS SCALP$ & QU>T]$2 ! CANNIBALS REMOV$ HIS HE>T & ATE IT 4 4 4 

,K9-SIC GR9N$ AS HE TOLD ( ! DEA?S & TORTURES4 ,I BACK$ \T ( ! ROOM1 /UMBL$ TO ! ,/RAIT'S %ORE1 & VOMIT$4 ,:AT SICK5$ ME WAS ,K9-SIC'S GR91 ! CONTEMPT M HIS VOICE4 ,I KNEW ?AT ,K9-SIC D]IV$ PLEASURE FROM TELL+ HIS TALE1 & ?AT ,JAY-MAY 5JOY$ HE>+ IT4 ,HIS EV]Y WORD WAS A ,SCALP]'S KNIFE4 ,I C\LD FEEL ,K9-SIC TWI/+ A KNIFE 9 MY *ESL & GR9N+ :ILE HE TWI/$4 ,I KNEW ?AT SOME?+ HORRIBLE HAD HAPP5$ ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 & ,I WOND]$ :I* ( MV K9 HAD REALLY DI$1 & H[4 

,M>GIT RAN \T TO LOOK = ME4 ,%E GAVE ME A FOOD BUNDLE ,%E KNEW ,I W\LD NOT RETURN TO H] H\SE4 ,%E ALSO KNEW ?AI ,K9-SIC'S TALE WAS ! MASSACRE1 HIS WORDS W]E ! TORTURES4 

,I HADN'T WALK$ = SO LONG ?AT MY /R5G? GAVE \T :5 ,I REA*$ ! F5CE ( ,WIT-NAGS' EMPTY HORSE-P54 ,I LEAN$ AGA9/ A TREE BY ! ,/RAIT'S %ORE & FELL ASLEEP4 ,I DREAM$ ?AT ,I WAS LEAN+ AGA9/ A HUGE ROCK UND] ! TREE'S OV]HANG+ BRAN*4 ,FOG HAD SETTL$ OV] ! ,/RAIT4 ,I HE>D A S\ND 9 ! FOG1 LIKE A SWI% ( A PADDLE ?R\< ! WAT]4 ,?R\< ! =4 ,I SAW AN >M MOVE T[>D ME1 A H& REA*+ = M9E4 ,I WOKE ) A />T & />$ 9TO ! D>K1 LOOK+ = ! H&1 ! BODY1 ! LONG BLACK BRAID4 ,I HE>D ! S\ND AGA93 ! ,/RAIT'S WAT]S W]E LAPP+ ! %ORE4 ,GROP+ = ! HAIRLOCK 9 MY BUNDLE1 ,I CLUT*$ IT 9 MY H& & FELL ASLEEP AGA94 ,I HE>D ,UDATONTE'S VOICE1 S++ FA9TLY1 FROM F> AWAY1 & !N ,I HE>D NO?+ BUT ! MOCK+ VOICE ( ! ,SLAV] BECOM+ EV] L\D]1 COM+ AT ME FROM EV]Y DIRECTION1 REPEAT+3 ! CANNIBALS REMOV$ HIS HE>T & ATE IT4 

,! NEXT DAY ,I REA*$ ! SPOT TO :I* ! ,FIREKEEP]S HAD MOV$ !IR VILLAGE ACROSS FROM ,TURKEY ,ISLE4 ,I RECOGNIZ$ ONLY ! %APES ( ! AB&ON$ LODGES4 ,I HAD NEV] VISIT$ ,PAMOKO1 ,MIK5OKWE OR ,NAWAK 9 ?AT VILLAGE4 ,I LOOK$ = SIGN31 ?AT MI<T TELL ME :AT HAD HAPP5$1 :]E !Y HAD GONE ,MY SE>* WAS CUT %ORT4 ,>M$ M5 LEAP$ FROM BEH9D ! LODGES & SURR\ND$ ME4 ,I ?\<T ,I WAS RELIV+ ! MOM5T ( MY SEP>ATION FROM ,UDATONTE4 ,BUT ,I QUICKLY SAW ?AT ! M5 SURR\ND+ ME ?IS TIME W]E ,S\?BRAN* HUNT]S4 ,!IR T5SION LEFT !M AS SOON AS ,I TOLD !M ,I WAS ALONE1 UN>M$ & SEEK+ MY BRIDE4 ,!Y TOLD ME ! ,/RAIT'S ,FIREKEEP]S & ,TURTLEFOLK HAD FL$ 9 SEV]AL DIRECTIONS2 !Y HAD !MSELVES CROSS$ PA?S ) PEOPLE FLEE+ S\?W>D1 T[>D ,S&USKY ,BAY4 ,I ?\<T IT LIKELY ?AT ,UDATONTE W\LD HAVE REJO9$ H] ,S&USKY K94 

,! HUNT]S W]E ON !IR RETURN VOYAGE TO ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,!Y TOLD ME !RE W]E FEW ANIMALS TO HUNT 9 ! VIC9ITY ( !IR [N VILLAGE2 PIONE]S MORE NUM]\S ?AN MOSQUITOES 9 SUMM] HAD KILL$ (F ! ANIMALS 9 SOME PLACES1 DE/ROY$ ! =E/ 9 O!R PLACES4 ,! ,S\?BRAN* M5 SAID ! ,S&USKY VILLAGE WAS NOT F> FROM !IR HOMEW>D PA?4 ,!Y SEEM$ AS GRATEFUL = MY SONGS & /ORIES AS ,I WAS = !IR GUIDANCE & PROTECTION4 ,I WAS UND] ! IMPRESSION ?AT ! HUNT]S NEV] SLEPT4 ,:E!R WE WALK$ OR RE/$1 !Y W]E CONT9UALLY ON ! LOOK\T = TRAPS & AMBU%ES1 = PIONE]S OR UNI=M$ M5 >M$ ) LONG KNIVES1 SCALP+ KNIVES OR RIFLES4 

,MY HE>T A*$ :5 ,I 5T]$ ! ,S&USKY VILLAGE4 ,! ,TURTLEFOLK W]E UNFAMILI> TO ME1 & !Y W]E ALL CROSSWE>]S4 ,! ONLY K9 FROM ! ,/RAIT W]E ! ,FIREKEEP]S1 AMONG !M ,MIK5OKWE & H] BRO!R ,NAWAK1 AS WELL AS ,LIKET'S BRO!R ,JOSE & HIS WIFE ,ROSE4 ,I REALIZ$ ?AT ,UDATONTE W\LD NOT HAVE /AY$ 9 ! ,S&USKY VILLAGE EV5 IF %E HAD RETURN$ !RE4 ,LIKET'S BRO!R WORE A BLACK ROBE & CONDUCT$ CONT9UAL C]EMONIES 9 ! L>GE/ ( ! LON<\SES1 ! CROSSWE>]S' LODGE4 

,I REMEMB]$ ?AT MY UNCLE ,NAWAK HAD NOT BE5 A LOV] ( CROSSES :5 ,W$ASI & ,I HAD KN[N HIM1 & ,I ASK$ HIM IF HE HAD BE5 CONV]T$4 ,I ALSO ASK$ HIM IF HE MI<T KN[ :]E ! ,/RAIT'S ,TURTLEFOLK HAD GONE4 

,NAWAK WELCOM$ ME W>MLY4 ,HE WAS GLAD TO HAVE A BUNDLE-C>RY+ ,FIREKEEP] AS A COMPANION4 ,HE TOLD ME HE HAD NOT BE5 L$ TO ,S&USKY BY HIS LOVE ( CROSSES1 & EV5 HIS SI/] ,MIK5OKWE HAD NOT COME ONLY TO BE CLOSE TO CROSSWE>]S4 ,! ,/RAIT'S MILITIA HAD PASS$ ?R\< ,NAWAK'S VILLAGE & HAD =CEFULLY RECRUIT$ SEV]AL ,FIREKEEP]S1 9CLUD+ ,DUPRE4 ,UND] COV] ( NI<T1 ,DUPRE FL$ FROM HIS CAPTORS1 RETURN$ TO ,PAMOKO & HIS SON ,JON ,DUPRE1 & ! ?REE CROSS$ ! ,/RAIT TO ! ,MORN+L&1 BEGG+ ,NAWAK & ,MIK5OKWE TO ACCOMPANY !M4 ,NAWAK WAS SUSPICI\S ( ,DUPRE'S DE/9ATION1 & HIS SUSPICIONS W]E CONFIRM$ :5 HE LE>N$ ?AT ,K>ON-TA5'S ,TURTLEFOLK W]E CROSS+ TO ! ,MORN+L& TO SEEK ! PROTECTION ( ! ,R$COATS4 

,NAWAK & ,MIK5OKWE HAD NO DESIRE TO BE PROTECT$ BY ,R$COATS2 !Y BITT]LY REMEMB]$ ! TYPE ( PROTECTION !IR FA!R ,BATI HAD RECEIV$ ON ! FIELD ( FALL5 TREES4 ,BUT !Y C\LDN'T /AY 9 !IR VILLAGE :I* WAS LOCAT$ HALFWAY BETWE5 ! ,BLUEJACKETS 9 ! ,/RAIT'S =T & ! W>RIORS FROM ! ,WABA% :O W]E GA!R+ 9 ,K>ONTA54 ,NAWAK LE>N$ FROM ,S\?BRAN* HUNT]S1 ! V]Y ONES :O LAT] ACCOMPANI$ ME1 ?AT ! ,/RAIT'S ,FIREKEEP]S W\LD BE WEL CORN$ 9 ,S&USKY4 ,! ,S&USKY ,TURTLEFOLK HAD DISP]S$ 9 SEV]AL DIRECTIONS4 ,?OSE :O REJECT$ ! CROSSWE>]S' WAYS HAD NOT RETURN$ FROM ! ,/RAIT2 !Y HAD CROSS$ TO ! ,MORN +L&4 ,?OSE :O SYMPA?IZ$ ) ! ,WABA% PROPHET HAD LEFT ,S&USKY TO JO9 ! PROPHET'S W>RIORS4 ,! ONLY ,TURTLEFOLK LEFT 9 ,S&USKY W]E PEOPLE :OSE ANCE/ORS HAD BE5 CROSSWE>]S S9CE ! FIR/ ,BLACKROBES >RIV$ 9 ! ,MORN+L&1 PEOPLE :O HAD F\<T ALONGSIDE NOR!RN C>RI]S BUT NEV] ALONGSIDE ,R$COATS OR ,BLUEJACKETS4 ,! ,/RAIT'S ,FIREKEEP]S MOV$ TO ,S&USKY TO JO9 K9DR$ SPIRITS4 

,I SURMIS$ ?AT ,UDATONTE HAD EI!R FL$ BY H]SELF FUR!R 9TO ! ,P59SULA1 P]HAPS EV5 TO ! ,GRASSLAKE1 OR ELSE HAD ACCOMPANI$ ! ,TURTLEFOLK :O HAD CROSS$ TO ! ,MORN+L&4 ,I HOP$ TO JO9 ANO!R GR\P ( HUNT]S HEAD+ T[>D ! ,/RAIT4 ,NAWAK ASSUR$ ME ?AT ,I W\LD WAIT LONG2 HE TOLD ME ! WAY TO ! ,/RAIT WAS BLOCK$ UP BY >M$ M5 :O CLUTT]$ EV]Y L&+PLACE1 TRAV]S$ EV]Y PA? & CLA%$ AT4 EV]Y 9T]SECTION4 

,I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE ,NAWAK4 ,I KEPT ON WAIT+ = A B& ( HUNT]S HEAD+ NOR?W>D4 ,I PREP>$ TO SET \T ALONE1 BUT ,NAWAK CONV9C$ ME ?AT EV5 IF ,I W]E ABLE TO F9D MY WAY1 #a WAS NOT A SC\T & W\LD NOT BE ABLE TO AVOID ! TRAPS & AMBU%ES4 ,! BATTLES RAG$ EV] CLOS] TO ,S&USKY1 SOMETIMES SO CLOSE ?AT WE C\LD HE> ! GUN%OTS & SMELL ! SMOKE4 

,NO HUNT]S MOV$1 EI!R NOR?W>D OR S\?W>D4 ,A ,TURTLEWOMAN GAVE ME A B[ & >R[S BUT ,I HAD NO USE = !M4 ,! VILLAGE M5 /OPP$ V5TUR+ \T1 EV5 9 SE>* ( SQUIRRELS OR RABBITS4 ,! WOM5 DIDN'T GO 9 SE>* ( H]BS4 ,SOON ! WOM5 BECAME AFRAID ( GO+ TO !IR CORNFIELDS4 ,!RE WAS LITTLE FOOD TO EAT1 !RE W]E NO FURS TO DRESS4 ,! ONLY ACTIVITY WAS ! SONG & PRAY] 9 ! CROSSWE>]S' LODGE4 ,! ,S&USKY VILLAGE WAS SURR\ND$ BY >M$ M52 IT BECAME A PRISON4 

,BLUE-UNI=M$ >M$ M5 5T]$ ! VILLAGE4 ,EV]YONE EXCEPT ME GA!R$ 9 ! CROSSWE>]S' LODGE TO C\NCIL ) ! 9TRUD]S1 TO ASK :5 ?IS W> W\LD 5D4 ,! C\NCIL ) ! ,BLUEJACKETS WAS NO MORE APPEAL+ TO ME ?AN ! PRAY]S ( ! CROSSWE>]S4 ,I LEAN$ AGA9/ ! WALL ( ,NAWAK'S LODGE4 ,CLUT*+ ! HAIRLOCK1 ,I TRI$ TO IMAG9E MYSELF BY ! $GE ( ! ,GRASSLAKE LI/5+ TO ,UDATONTE'S SONG4 ,BUT ALL ,I C\LD HE> WAS ! MOCK+ VOICE ( ,K9-SIC DRAWL+1 ! CANNIBALS REMOV$ H] HE>T & ATE IT4 

,NAWAK TOLD ME ! HEADMAN ( ! ,BLUEJACKETS1 ,WILL- H5-G>RISON HIMSELF1 HAD BE5 ONE ( ! GUE/S4 ,! HEADMAN HAD PROMIS$ TO PROTECT ! ,S&USKY VILLAG]S1 BUT HAD IMPOS$ A HEAVY CONDITION4 ,! ,BLUEJACKETS W]E READY TO ADVANCE T[>D ! ,/RAIT1 & !Y DIDN'T WANT ANY W>RIORS TO REMA9 BEH9D !M4 ,!Y WANT$ ALL W>RIORS--:I* MEANT ALL M5 & BOYS EXCEPT ! ,BLACKROBE--TO ACCOMPANY ! RE>GU>D ( ,WILL-H5-G>RISON'S >MY4 ,IF ANY ( ! W>RIORS REMA9$ 9 ! VILLAGE1 !Y W\LD BE BURN$ \T4 

,I WAS EAG] TO RETURN TO ! ,/RAIT1 BUT NOT 9 ! RE>GU>D ( AN >MY ( ,SCALP]S1 NOT WE>+ A BLUEJACKET & TR\S]S4 ,I C\LD HAVE ESCAP$4 ,! ,SCALP]S DIDN'T WAT* US CLOSELY1 AL?\< !Y DID KEEP C\NT & O!RS W\LD HAVE HAD TO ANSW] = MY ABS5CE4 ,I MOV$ ) ! RE>GU>D1 /AY+ CLOSE TO ,NAWAK4 ,I DID WANT TO REA* ! ,/RAIT4 ,I TOLD MYSELF ,I W\LD ESCAPE AS SOON AS ,I REA*$ A PLACE :]E ,I WAS LIKELY TO 79D MY BRIDE4 ,I DID NOT 9T5D TO C>RY ! ,FIREKEEP]S' BUNDLE 9TO ANO!R BATTLEFIELD4 

,) ,NAWAK'S HELP1 ,I KEPT MY BE>+S SO LONG AS WE TRAV]S$ PLACES FAMILI> TO ME4 ,I KNEW WE HAD MOV$ ALONG ! ,KHRYE'S WE/]N %ORE T[>D ! M\? ( ,KEKIONGA'S RIV]4 ,WE WAIT$ TO CROSS ON RAFTS4 ,WE CROSS$ AT NI<T4 ,! CROSS+ TOOK LONG1 F> TOO LONG1 & :5 WE L&$ ,I NO LONG] KNEW :]E ,I WAS4 ,FROM ! TREES1 ,NAWAK GUESS$ ?AT WE W]E ON ! ,ISLE ( ,BIR*ES1 ! ISLE ?AT HAD GIV5 REFUGE TO \R ,TIOSA LIONDION ANCE/ORS DUR+ AN E>LI] DISP]SAL4 ,I TRI$ TO WALK TO ! %ORE TO LI/5 = ! SWI% ( A PADDLE4 ,I WAS /OPP$4 ,I WAS WAS TO /AY :]E ,I WAS PUT4 ,N[ \R EV]Y MOVE WAS BE+ WAT*$4 

,I WAS R\S$ FROM SLEEP BY M5 :O PU%$ & PULL$ ME UH !Y %\T$ 9COMPREH5SIBLE 9/RUCTIONS1 ! S5SE ( ! :\TS BE+ DR[N$ BY ! G5]AL D94 ,SOME?+ HORRIBLE WAS AB\T TO HAPP51 & ALL KNEW IT2 EV]Y FACE WAS M>K$ BY FE>4 

,I MANAG$ TO /AY BY ,NAWAK DUR+ ANO!R RAFT CROSS+1 DUR+ ! WALK ?R\< WOODS TO A RIV]'S $GE1 & !N ALON@5 ! RIV]'S BANK4 ,ON ONE SIDE ( US AS ON ! O!R W]E >M$ M5 :O NEV] LET UP WAT*+ US1 READY TO KILL ANY :O MI<T TRY TO RUN T[>D ! WOODS OR ! RIV]4 ,I SICK5$ & FELL BUT WAS IMM$IATELY LIFT$ UP & =C$ TO GO ON4 ,! SUN ROSE AHEAD ( US1 & ,I KNEW WE HAD BE5 FOLL[+ ! ,MORN +L&'S RIV] 9L&4 

,WE REA*$ ! RIV]'S =K4 ,>R[S FLEW T[>D US4 ,A BUL LET GRAZ$ ,NAWAK'S %IRT4 ,WE W]E NOT 9 ! RE>GU>D AT ALL6 ,! BLUEJACKET$ ,FIREKEEP]S & ,TURTLEFOLK & ,EA/BRAN* W> RIORS W]E ! FRONT L9E2 NO ONE & NO?+ /OOD BETWE5 US & ! BU%ES FROM :I* ! BULLETS & >R[S CAME4 ,NAWAK =C$ ME D[N TO ! GR\ND1 BEH9D A CLUMP ( GRASS4 ,I FELT MY B[ DROP FROM MY RI<T >M & SUDD5LY FELT A %>P PA94 

,! MA9 =CE ( ,WILL-H5-G>RISON'S >MY WAS BEH9D US1 %OOT+ R\ND AFT] R\ND ( BULLETS OV] \R HEADS T[>D ! BU%ES4 ,I SAW OBJECTS FLOAT+ 9 ! RIV] & TURN$ AWAY :5 ,I RECOGNIZ$ !M AS BODIES2 NONE ( ! FLOAT+ BODIES W]E CLO!D 9 R$ COATS4 ,NAWAK P>T$ ! GRASS 9 FRONT ( US1 & ,I SAW ! B>REL ( A RIFLE PROTRUD+ ?R\< ! BU%ES4 ,I IMAG9$ A LONG BLACK BRAID FALL+ ON ! RIFLE'S H&LE4 ,I TRI$ TO RISE1 TO RUN T[>D ! BU%ES1 BUT ,NAWAK KEPT ME D[N4 

,!RE WAS A %ORT LULL1 & SUDD5LY ! >M$ M5 BEH9D US BEGAN RUNN+ PA/ US1 %OOT+ 9TO ! BU%ES AS !Y RAN ,! BU%ES NO LONG] RESPOND$4 ,! PEOPLE ( ! LAKES & VALLEYS W]E SIL5T4 ,9/RUCTIONS & NAMES W]E %\T$ ALL >\ND ME1 NAMES ( ! VICTORS1 NAMES LIKE ,JON-S91 ,LOOS-GAS4 ,MAY-J]K ,:IP-O1 ,5D-S9 ,TIP-T9 & ,WILL-H5-G>RISON4 ,OM BOA/$ HIS BELT WAS FULL ( HAIR4 ,I C\LD NO LONG] RISE4 ,MY >M FELT AS IF IT W]E ON FIRE4 ,I VOMIT$ & C\LDN'T RAISE MY FACE \T ( MY [N POOL4 

,I KNEW ?AT ,NAWAK WAS NO LONG] BESIDE ME1 ?AT ! :OLE >MY HAD RUN PA/ ME1 ?AT ,I WAS AMONG ! DEAD1 ALONE1 9 ! RE>GU>D4 ,I FELT MYSELF DY+4 ,YET ,I /ILL HE>D ! VOICES4 ,ONE ) A DRAWL AS ?ICK AS ,K9-SIC'S %\T$3 ,I'LL SK9 ?IS YALLEI *EEF FUR ME YUNGUNS4 ,ANO!R %\T$1 CANT YA SEE SUR T'ANT NO *EEF BUT A YALL] SKWA--NU?9 BUT A YALL] SKWA8 ,I HE>D A SLA%1 LIKE A KNIFE CUTT+ ?R\< FLE% & BONES1 & AT T9 5D ,I HE>D ! S\ND ( GU%+ LIQUID1 ! S\ND ( FONT /REAMS GU%+ FROM A S\RCE1 9CREAS+ & DIM9I%+3 ) ! RHY?M ( A HE>T'S BEAT4 

,9T]LUDE 

  

,OB5ABI TOLD ALL !SE ?+S TO ME1 ,ROB]T ,DUPRE1 HIS NEPHEW1 9 ,AUGU/ ( #a#h#e#a4 ,! LA/ EV5T HE DESCRIB$1 ! W> ( ! ,BLUEJACKETS AGA9/ ! PEOPLE ( ! =E/S1 LAKES & VALLEYS1 HAD TAK5 PLACE ALMO/ =TY YE>S E>LI]4 ,HE HAD BE5 SITT+1 LEAN+ AGA9/ ! JAILROOM WALL1 TALK+ CONT9U\SLY1 B>ELY PAUS+ TO EAT OR SLEEP4 ,HIS :OLE BODY WAS DR5*$ ) SWEAT1 AS WAS M9E4 ,! HEAT WAS KILL+ HIM4 ,! ,DETROIT JAILH\SE WAS BUILT 9 SU* A WAY ?AT IT 9T5SIFI$ ! ,AUGU/ HEAT & ALL[$ NO RELIEF AT NI<T4 

,:ILE HE HAD SPOK51 HE HAD SEEM$ TO DISREG>D ! HEAT1 BUT :5 HIS /ORY WAS DONE1 HE TURN$ FROM ME1 VOMIT$ & COLLAPS$ ON ! JAILROOM FLOOR4 ,TWO JAIL]S ROLL$ HIM ONTO A PLANK & C>RI$ HIM \T4 ,SOME DAYS LAT] ! JAIL]S CAME = ME4 ,!Y SAID MY UNCLE WAS DY+ ON !M1 DRY+ UP1 & ! DOCTORS DIDN'T KN[ :AT TO DO = HIM4 ,!Y TOOK ME TO ! HOSPITAL ROOM1 :I* WAS ID5TICAL TO ! JAILROOM & JU/ AS HOT4 ,!Y TOLD ME TO USE WIT* M$IC9E TO KEEP HIM ALIVE2 !Y DIDN'T WANT HIM TO DIE BE=E ! TRIAL4 ,I TOLD !M ! ONLY M$IC9E HE NE$$ WAS ! %ADE ( A TREE BY ! $GE ( ! LAKE4 ,?AT SUGGE/ION MADE ! JAIL]S & DOCTORS LAU<4 ,!Y PU%$ ME T[>D HIM4 ,! ROOM /ANK ( VOMIT & UR9E4 

,I B>ELY RECOGNIZ$ MY UNCLE4 ,HE WAS SK9NY1 %RUNK52 ) HIS EYES CLOS$ HE LOOK$ LIKE A CORPSE4 ,HIS >MS PRESS$ HIS BUNDLE TO HIS *E/2 ! JAIL]S OR DOCTORS MU/ HAVE TRI$ TO TAKE IT FROM HIM4 ,HE HE>D ME APPROA* & OP5$ HIS EYES1 ?OSE /RANGE SAD EYES ?AT ALWAYS SEEM$ TO BE LOOK+ ELSE:]E1 SEE+ ?+S ?AT W]5'T !RE4 ,HE SAT UP ) /R5G? ?AT SEEM$ TO COME FROM SOME:]E \TSIDE HIS FRAIL BODY4 ,HIS H& GROP$ = ! /RAP ?AT SUPPORT$ HIS BUNDLE4 ,HE RAIS$ ! /RAP OV] HIS HEAD & PASS$ IT OV] M9E1 AFT] FIR/ OP5+ ! BUNDLE & REMOV+ FROM IT A LOCK ( BLACK HAIR4 ,HIS FACE TURN$ T[>D M9E1 BUT HIS EYES1 AL?\< AIM$ T[>D M9E1 W]E LOOK+ AT ?+S ?AT W]E F> AWAY4 ,HE SPOKE QUICKLY1 AS IF HE FE>$ BE+ CUT (F BE=E HIS TALE WAS DONE4 

,HE />T$ BY TELL+ ME A DREAM1 AS HE HAD ! FIR/ TIME1 & ,I AGA9 C\LDN'T TELL :5 ! DREAM 5D$ & ! EV5TS BEGAN4 ,TO HIM IT WAS ALL DREAM1 ! ?+S HE HAD ACTUALLY DONE AS WELL AS ?OSE HE HAD DREAM$4 ,HE TOLD ME HE HAD DREAM$ ?IS DREAM 9 ! VILLAGE ( ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE4 ,I KNEW HE HAD BE5 9 ?AT VILLAGE TWICE1 ! FIR/ TIME AS A BOY1 9 #a#h1 ! SECOND TIME 9 #a#h#c#a1 ! YE> ,I WAS BORN4 ,HE CLUT*$ ! HAIRLOCK AS HE SPOKE4 

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