,*APT] #i 
,OB5ABI'S ,SECOND ,J\RNEY 

#aihhaihh 

,PEOPLE 3 

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

,TEXT 3 

,! LA/ C\NCIL FIRE 

  

,I >RIV$ AT ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE VILLAGE ) MY NEPHEW ,MIK9AK1 ,W$ASI'S SON4 ,! C\NCIL ,MIK9AK HAD WANT$ TO ATT5D WAS ALREADY UND] WAY4 ,AS SOON AS WE BANK$ \R CANOE1 ,MIK9AK TURN$ HIS BACK TO ME & HEAD$ T[>D ! P>T ( ! CIRCLE :]E ! ,R$E>? W>RIORS SAT4 ,I SAW ,%AB5I ON ! OPPOSITE SIDE ( ! CIRCLE & SAT D[N NE> HIM4 

,I LI/5$ TO ONE AFT] ANO!R ,R$E>? W>RIOR URGE ! LI/5]S TO PREP>E = W>4 ,I LI/5$ TO ! SPEAK]S ON MY SIDE--OLD ,FIREKEEP]S1 NOR!RN ,ROOTK91 ,LEAN+ ,TREE C>RI]S1 ,%AB5I AMONG !M--DECL9E ! 9VITATION TO W>1 RIDICULE ! ,R$E>? SPEAK]S1 W>N ( ! PROSPECTS ( SU* A W>4 ,MY HEAD AGRE$ ) ! C\NCILS SPOK5 FROM MY SIDE1 BUT MY HE>T W5T ACROSS ! FIRE TO ! ,R$E>? W>RIORS4 

,I />$ AT ! GR\ND2 ,I FELT NO PRIDE FROM SITT+ NE> ,%AB5I4 ,I FELT LIKE RIS+1 NOT TO SPEAK BUT TO DANCE1 & TO SCATT] %ELLS :ILE DANC+4 ,ONLY MY EYES ROSE2 !Y W&]$ ACROSS ! FIRE T[>D ! ,R$E>? W>RIORS2 !Y CAME TO RESL ON ! FACE ( A WOMAN4 ,! FACE1 FRAM$ BY LONG & /RAI<T BLACK HAIR1 WAS T]RIBLY FAMILI>4 ,FI]CE EYES1 LIT BY ! FIRE & ! FULL MOON1 APPE>$ TO BE LOOK+ DIRECTLY 9TO M9E4 ,I TRI$ TO RISE & CROSS TO ! O!R SIDE1 BUT ! GR\ND UND] ME />T$ %AK+1 ! PEOPLE ACROSS FROM ME />T$ SP9N+1 ! FIRE CRACKL$ & S5T BULLETS & >R[S FLY+ OV] MY HEAD4 ,! PA9 9 MY >M RETURN$ & MY /R5G? OOZ$ \T ( ME4 ,I LAY ON ! GR\ND LIMP1 P[]LESS1 MY FACE 9 A POOL1 DR[N+4 ,! LA/ ?+ ,I HE>D WAS A DRAWL+ VOICE ASK+ ,CANT YA SEE SUR T'ANT NO *EEF BUT A YALL] SKWA--NU?9 BUT A YALL] SKWA4 

,:5 ,I C\LD HE> AGA91 ,I WAS SURE ,I WAS 9 ! L& OL ! DEAD4 ,I HE>D SPEE* 9 EV]Y LANGUAGE FAMILI> TO ME1 & 9 SEV]AL ,I HAD NEV] BE=E HE>D4 ,HESITANTLY OP5+ MV EYES1 ,I SAW ?AT ,I WAS ON A BLANKET-COV]$ FLOOR ( 3M 5ORM\S LON<\SE4 ,! M5 & WOM5 :O MOV$ AMONC ! CORPSES W]E RECOGNIZABLE AS ,S\?BRAN* & ,EA/BRAN* K91 AS ,FIREKEEP]S & ,TURTLEFOLK4 ,! BLANKETS !MSELVES W]E COV]$ BY :AT SEEM$ LIKE CORPSES :I* W]E AWAK5+1 AS ,I WAS1 & ALL ( !M HAD ?+S TO SAY1 EI!R TO EA* O!R OR TO ?OSE MOV+ AMONG !M4 

,PEOPLE :O MU/ HAVE BE5 ,TURTLEFOLK ( ! EA/]N ,WOODL&S SPOKE TO ,TURTLEFOLK ( ! ,LAKES 9 ! LANGUAGE OL ! ,R$COATS2 ,FIREKEEP]S FROM ! ,/RAIT SPOKE TO ,R$E>? & ,PLA9S PEOPLE 9 ! LANGUAGE ( ,LEMOND4 ,EA/BRAN* K9 :O LIV$ 9 ,MORN+L& SPOKE TO ,S\?BRAN* K9 FROM ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY 9 ! COMPLETELY UN9TELLIGIBLE LANGUAGE ( ! ,BRE?R5 :O HAD ONCE LODG$ ON ! ,TUSC>AWAS4 ,I CAU<I FAMILI> WORDS1 BUT !IR MEAN+S PASS$ ME BY4 ,! *AOS ( LANGUAGES DIZZI$ ME4 ,I CLOS$ MY EYES & TRI$ TO %UT MY E>S4 

,I REMEMB]$ BECOM+ DIZZY FROM A SIMIL> *AOS :5 ,I WAS A BOY1 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A4 ,! D9 HAD BECOME RHY?M I@< LIKE ! FLAPP+ ( W+S1 & ! W+S HAD BECOME MY [N 5ABL+ ME TO RISE ABOVE ! D94 ,I BEGAN TO FEEL AS ,I HAD !N LIKE AN EAGLE1 BUT :5 ,I BEGAN TO FLAP MY W+S1 ,I CRI$ \I FROM PA94 ,MY RI<T >M FELT AS IF IT W]E ON FIRE4 

,I WAS AW>E ?AT SOMEONE WAS SITT+ ON ! BLANKET BESIDE ME2 ,I OP5$ MY EYES1 SURE ?AT ,I W\LD SEE ! NOR!RN M$IC9EWOMAN1 ,AGIBICOCONA4 ,/>+ AT ! /ICKS TI$ UP ) MY >M1 !N AT ! >RO:EAD DANGL+ 9 FRONT ( MY FACE1 ,I CRI$ \T AGA94 ,! >RO:EAD MOV$ AWAY1 & ,I SAW ! FACE ( ! P]SON :O WORE IT4 ,! FACE WASN'T ,AGIBICOCONA'S2 IT WAS MY UNCLE ,WAKAYA'S4 ,I ASK$ HIM IF HE1 TOO1 HAD DI$ ON ?AT T]RIBLE BATTLEFIELD BY ! ,MORN+L& ,RIV]'S =K4 ,HE LOOK$ SAD4 ,HE TOLD ME MANY ( \R K9 HAD DI$ ON ?AT BATTLEFIELD4 ,BUT HE SAID ?AT HE & ,I W]E ALIVE4 

,I GRADUALLY REALIZ$ ?AT ! PEOPLE MOV+ AMONG ! BLANKETS W]E HEAL]S1 & ?OSE ON ! BLANKETS W]E NOT AWAK5+ CORPSES BUT 9JUR$ & SICK WOM51 *ILDR5 & M54 ,I NOTIC$ ?AT ! HEAL]S AVOID$ MY BLANKET2 ONLY ,WAKAYA CAME TO ME4 ,HE TOLD ME MY >M W\LD RECOV]1 BUT ,I DIDN'T WANT TO HE> AB\T MY >M4 ,I WANT$ TO HE> AB\T MY BRIDE4 ,I BEGG$ ,WAKAYA TO TELL ME IF ,UDATONTE HAD RETURN$ TO ,K>ONTA5 AFT] MY SEP>ATION FROM H]4 

,WAKAYA TOLD ME ?AT ,UDATONTE C\LD NOT HAVE RETURN$ TO ,K>ONTA51 BECAUSE ! SAME >M$ M5 :O HAD CAPTUR$ ME HAD CAUS$ ! DISP]SAL ( ! VILLAGE4 ,WAKAYA HAD KN[N ! ,/RAIT'S >M$ M5 W\LD MOVE AGA9/ ,K>ONTA52 HE & HIS BRO!R ,WAPMIMI & W>RIORS FROM ,KI!PEKANU HAD 9T]CEPT$ A MESS5G] & CAPTUR$ TALK+ LEAVES :I* SPOKE ( ! ,BLUEJACKETS' 9T5TIONS4 

,AS SOON AS HE LE>N$ ?AT ! ,/RAIT'S >M$ M5 W]E MOV+ D[NRIV]1 ,WAKAYA RU%$ TO ,K>ONTA5 TO URGE ! VILLAG]S TO FLEE4 ,:ILE ,I WAS BE+ CAPTUR$1 ,K>ONTA5'S ,TURTLEFOLK W]E DISP]S+ 9 ?REE DIRECTIONS4 ,SOME ACCOMPANI$ ,WAKAYA & HIS FAMILY TO ! ,MORN+L& %ORE1 O!RS JO9$ ,WAPMIMI & ! ,WABA% W>RIORS1 & ! RE/ W5T ) ,ISADOR TO URGE ! ,BLUEJACKETS TO RESPECT ,ISADOR'S PEACE BELTS4 

,BY ! TIME ,WAKAYA REJO9$ ,WAPMIMI & ! O!R W>RIORS1 ,K>ONTAN WAS A BURIAL GR\ND4 ,! >M$ ,BLUEJACKETS HAD NOT /OPP$ TO C\NCIL ) ,ISADOR AB\T ! CONT5TS ( ! ANCI5T PEACE BELTS2 !Y HAD MASSACR$ ,ISADOR & HIS PEACE P>TY & LEFT ! BELTS 9 POOLS ( BLOOD4 ,SC\TS HAD C>RI$ NEWS ( ?IS MASSACRE TO ,WAPMIMI & ! ,WABA% W>RIORS1 :O PROMPTLY PREP>$ TO AMBU% ! APPROA*+ ,BLUEJACKETS4 

,IT OCCURR$ TO ME ?AT ,NA%K[ATAK'S HAV+ TO ACCOMPANY ME UPRIV] :ILE HIS COMPANIONS W]E AMBU%$ HAD PROBABLY SAV$ HIS LIFE4 ,I REMEMB]$ ! FUSS RAIS$ BY ,WIT-NAGS1 :OSE BRO!R WAS KILL$ 9 ?AT AMBU%4 ,FRI<T 5$ BY ! AMBU%1 OR ?9K+ !MSELVES \TNUMB]$1 ! ,BLUEJACKETS ON ! ,/RAIT DID NOT FIRE A %OT :5 ,WAKAYA1 ,WAPMIMI & !IR ALLIES OCCUPI$ ! ,/RAIT'S =T4 ,WAP- MIMI'S SON ,OJEJOK & ,WAKAYA'S ,POPOSI C\LD !N RAID ,WIT- NAGS' HORSES ) IMPUNITY4 ,:5 ,WIT-NAGS SET \T TO KILL ! HORSE-RAID]S1 ,WAKAYA & HIS ALLIES IMPRISON$ ,WIT-NAGS1 ,%AB5I >RIV$ FROM ! ,LAKEBOTTOM ) O!R PRISON]S1 AMONG !M ,%&O & ,K9-SIC4 

,! ,BLUEJACKETS HAD BE5 \/$ FROM ALL !IR /RONG HOLDS ON ! ,GREAT ,LAKES4 ,MANY ( ! ,WABA% W>RIORS RETURN$ TO !IR VILLAGES TO HUNT4 ,& :ILE ! VICTORI\S W>RIORS W]E DISP]S+1 ! ,BLUEJACKETS W]E GA!R+ A VA/ REV5GE-SEEK+ >MY 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,BY !N ,I WAS 9 ,S&USKY4 

,WAKAYA TOLD ME HE & HIS COMPANIONS C\LD HAVE HELD ON TO ! /RON<OLDS & ! L&PA?S IF !IR ALLIES1 ! ,R$COATS1 HAD HELD ON TO ! WAT]WAYS4 ,BUT ! ,R$COATS LO/ !IR %IPS & IMM$IATELY PREP>$ TO RETREAT FROM ! ,/RAIT4 ,WAKAYA RU%$ TO ! ,MORN+L& %ORE TO EVACUATE HIS K91 TO MOVE !M 9L&1 T[>D ! VILLAGE ( ,BRE?R5'S CONV]TS AT ! RIV]'S =K4 ,MANY ( ! ,/RAIT'S ,TURTLEFOLK & ,FIREKEEP]S HAD ALREADY F\ND REFUGE 9 ! ,BRE?R5'S VILLAGE4 

,WAKAYA DIDN'T KN[ IF ,UDATONTE WAS ) ! REFUGEES BECAUSE HE DIDN'T /AY ) !M4 ,HE REJO9$ ! W>RIORS :O W]E COV]+ ! ,R$COAT RETREAT4 ,! ,R$COATS RETREAT$ PA/ ! =K1 PA/ ! ,BRE?R5'S VILLAGE1 & W5T ON RETREAT+ TO ! EA/]NMO/ $GE ( ! ,MORN+L&4 

,WAKAYA1 ,WAPMIMI & ! REMNANT ,WABA% W>RIORS TOOK !IR /& AT ! RIV]'S =K1 AT ! ?RE%OLD TO ! ,BRE?R5'S VILLAGE4 ,& !RE MO/ ( !M DI$4 ,!Y W]E \TNUMB]$1 !IR AMMUNITION WAS SOON EXHAU/$4 ,WAKAYA FE>$ ! ,BLUEJACKETS W\LD NOT /OP AT ! =K2 HE HA/5$ TO ! ,BRE?R5'S VILLAGE TO EVACUATE ! REFUGEES FUR!R EA/1 BEH9D ! ,R$COATS4 

,! VILLAGE WAS ALREADY UND] FIRE4 ,PEACE-SEEK]S FRI5DLY TO ! ,BLUEJACKETS1 AMONG !M ,PAMOKO'S MAN ,DUPRE1 HAD APPROA*$ ! ,BLUEJACKETS ) A :ITE FLAG1 & ALL HAD BE5 %OT4 ,ON LE>N+ ( ?IS1 MO/ ( ! REFUGEES HAD FL$ EA/W>D1 BUT SOME HAD GRABB$ WEAPONS & GONE TO FACE ! MURD]]S4 ,PAMOKO ATTA*$ H]SELF TO ,WAKAYA & BEGG$ HIM TO ACCOMPANY H] TO ! BATTLEFIELD2 H] Y\NG SON ,JON ,DUPRE WAS AMONG ?OSE :O HAD GONE TO FACE ! ,BLUEJACKETS4 

,WAKAYA & ,PAMOKO HID 9 ! =E/ & SAW ! ,BLUEJACKETS DE/ROY & BURN ! ,BRE?R5'S VILLAGE1 !N MANGLE ! DEAD BODIES ON ! BATTLEFIELD4 ,AT NI<T1 :ILE ! ,BLUEJACKETS CELEBRAT$ !IR VICTORY1 ! %AD[S ( SURVIVORS EM]G$ FROM ! =E/S4 ,WAKAYA1 HIS BRO!R ,WAPMIMI1 MY C\S9 ,%AB5I & ! ,R$E>? W>RIOR ,MACATAIME%EK- IAKAK BURI$ ! DEAD1 LE/ ! BODIES BE FUR!R MANGL$ BY DAY4 

,!Y BURI$ ,WAKAYA'S SON ,POPOSI1 ,WAPMIMI'S SON ,OJEJOK1 ,BIJIKI'S SON ,PEZHKI & ,PAMOKO'S MAN ,DUPRE4 ,!Y BURI$ ,WAKAYA'S BRO!R-9-LAW ,COD-WELL1 A ,R$COAT :O HAD /AY$ ) ! W>RIORS2 !Y BURI$ ,GAB9YA'S BRO!R ,MO:AWA2 & BE=E ! SUN ROSE !Y BURI$ ?OSE :OSE BODIES HAD BE5 MANGL$1 SCALP$1 SK9N$4 

,PAMOKO F\ND H] SON1 SLI<TLY 9JUR$ & PRET5D+ TO BE DEAD4 ,& ,WAKAYA F\ND ME1 ) A BULLET 9 MY >M BUT BREA?+4 ,WAKAYA C>RI$ ME TO ,MORN+L&'S EA/]N $GE1 TO A HEAL+ LODGE 9 A VILLAGE ( ,TURTLEFOLK ( ! EA/]N ,WOODL&S4 ,MY AUNT ,PAMOKO & O!R HEAL]S DRESS$ MY >M1 BUT RELUCTANTLY4 ,MY BLUEJACKET ID5TIFI$ ME AS ONE ( ! MURD]]S ( !IR K91 & ,I DES]V$ TO DIE4 

,WAKAYA REMOV$ ! >R[ P5DANT FROM HIS NECK & PLAC$ IT ON M9E4 ,HE TOLD ME ?AT AS A BOY HE'D ?\<T ! >R[ HAD ONCE BELONG$ TO A FI]CE ,R$E>? W>RIOR CALL$ ,LAM9A4 ,BUT ,APTEGIZHEK HAD LAT] TOLD HIM ?AT ! >R[ CAME FROM A MAN :O HAD NOT WANT$ TO %OOT A MOOSE ) A RIFLE4 ,WAKAYA /ILL REMEMB]$ ME FROM ! DAYS :5 ,W$ASI & ,I ACCOMPANI$ HIM ON A HUNT2 ,I HAD NOT WANT$ TO HOLD A RIFLE4 

,I REJECT$ ,WAKAYA'S GIFT4 ,I REM9D$ HIM ,I HAD COME TO ! ,MORN+L& ) ! ,BLUEJACKETS2 ,I WAS HIS SON'S MURD]]4 ,WAKAYA SMIL$2 HE TOLD ME HE HAD SE5 MY BUNDLE ( UNUS$ >R[S BESIDE ME ON ! BATTLEFIELD2 IT HAD BE5 FULL4 

,I WAS SEP>AT$ FROM ,WAKAYA :5 >M$ M5 H]D$ ME \T ( ! 9FIRM>Y & P5N$ ME UP ) M5 :O WORE BLUE UNI=MS4 ,WAKAYA HAD TOLD ME ?AT ,R$COATS & ,BLUEJACKETS HAD AGRE$ TO EX*ANGE PRISON]S1 & HE HAD W>N$ ?AT ,I W\LD NOT BE TREAT$ WELL1 BUT ,I W\LDN'T BE KILL$4 ,WE W]E TREAT$ LIKE CATTLE4 ,L9ES ( >M$ ,R$COATS %\T$1 PU%$1 KICK$1 LOCK$ US 9 BOXES1 !N RELEAS$ & PU%$ US FUR!R4 ,MY >M W\ND FILL$ ) PUS & ,I BECAME DELIRI\S4 

,:5 ,I WOKE UP1 ,I ?\<T ,I WAS DREAM+ AGA94 ,I WAS 9 ANO!R 9FIRM>Y1 & ! HEAL]S W]E FAMILI> TO ME3 !Y W]E MY SI/] ,WABNOKWE & H] FRI5DS ,BE?1 ,LIKET & O!RS ,I HADN'T SE5 S9CE WE W]E *ILDR5 9 ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S S*OOL4 ,MY SI/] WAS ALONGSIDE ME AS SOON AS ,I WOKE4 ,%E ASK$ IF ,I HAD REALLY F\<T ALONGSIDE ! ,BLUEJACKETS1 OR IF #a HAD F\ND MY UNI=M AFT] ! LA/ BATTLE4 ,%E'D HE>D ?AT ,WAKAYA HAD RETURN$ TO ,K>ONTA5 WE>+ A BLUE UNI=M1 SO AS TO GET PA/ ! BORD] GU>DS1 & K9 :O KNEW :I* SIDE HE'D F\<T ON W]E N[ CALL+ HIM ,BLUEJACKET4 

,WABNOKWE SEEM$ TO HAVE *ANG$2 ! CONTEMPT ,I HAD ONCE SE5 9 H] EYES WAS NO LONG] !RE4 ,%E TOLD ME ! ABS5CE ( ! ,TURTLEFOLK & ( ! O!R COMGR[]S HAD CAUS$ A FAM9E ON ! ,/RAIT1 ?AT ! 9FIRM>Y WAS FULL ( *ILDR5 SUFF]+ FROM HUNG]1 & ?AT ! R5EWAL ( ,K>ONTA5'S CORNFIELDS WAS ! M$IC9E ! *ILDR5 NE$$4 ,! *ILD ON ! MAT NEXT TO M9E1 A LITTLE GIRL CALL$ ,SUE1 WA4S ! GR&DAU<T] ( ,S(I1 DAU<T] ( SNOBBI% ,FELICE4 

,) MY RI<T >M 9 A SL+ & MY BUNDLE UND] MY BLUE JACKET1 ,I LEFT MY MAT TO A HUNGRY *ILD & ACCOMPANI$ MY SI/] TO ,JAY-MAY'S H\SE4 ,A FEA/ WAS PREP>$ TO CELEBRATE MY RETURN4 ,JAY-MAY WAS ACTUALLY W>M T[>D ME1 & PRAIS$ ME = HAV+ COME TO MY S5SES4 ,HE DIDN'T LOOK AT MY FACE1 BUT ONLY AT ! BLUE UNI=M1 & HE DIDN'T PROBE 9TO MY H]OIC DE$S4 ,HIS DAU<T]S ,ANNA-MAY & ,GRETA-MAY ALSO SAW ONLY ! UNI=M4 ,M>GIT AS WELL AS H] SON ,JIM-MAY1 ALREADY A Y\?1 SMIL$ CONSPIRATORIALLY2 !Y ASSUM$ MY BLUEJACKET WAS A M]E DISGUISE4 

,AS SOON AS MY >M WAS \T ( ITS SL+1 ,WABNOKWE & #a W5T TO SEEK \R BRO!R1 ,NA%K[ATAK4 ,WABNOKWE HAD TOLD ME ?AT ,NA%K[ATAK HAD RETURN$ SOON AFT] ! LA/ BATTLE1 & ?AT HE HAD AVOID$ H] & ,JAY-MAY & ALL HIS =M] COMPANIONS4 ,WABNOKWE HADN'T KN[N ( ,NA%K[ATAK'S RETURN UNTIL HE TURN$ UP AT ,JAY-MAY'S TO DEM& ?AT \R C\S9 ,%&O BE RELEAS$ FROM PRISON4 ,%&O HAD BE5 IMPRISON$ BY ! ,R$COATS1 & :5 ! ,R$COATS W]E \/$1 ,%&O WAS LEFT 9 PRISON4 ,JAY-MAY HAD TRI$ TO EXPLA9 ?AT ,%&O WAS DANG]\S1 ?AT HE HAD TRI$ TO %OOT HIS UNCLE1 BUT ,NA%K[ATAK HAD %\T$ ?AT ! ONLY REASON ,%&O WAS /ILL 9 PRISON WAS BECAUSE HE WAS A HALFBRE$1 LIKE ,NA%K[ATAK HIMSELF4 ,AGREE+ ) ,NA%K[ATAK1 ,WAL@> NOKWE HAD RECRUIT$ H] FRI5DS TO HELP H] PRESSURE ,JAY-MAY & ! JAIL]S 9TO RELEAS+ ,%&O4 

,WE F\ND ,NA%K[ATAK TOGE!R ) ,%&O 9 A DR9K+ LODGE4 ,NA%K[ATAK ALMO/ LEAP$ \T ( HIS SK9 :5 HE SAW MY BLUE CLO!S4 ,HE SLAPP$ ME ON ! BACK1 LAU<$ CYNICALLY1 & SAID HE WELCOM$ HIS PURE & G5TLE BRO!R TO ! SOCIETY ( K9 MURD]]S4 ,HE DIDN'T ASK :AT ,I HAD DONE4 ,HE ASK$ IF ,I TOO HAD BE5 BETRAY$ BY MY K91 IF ,I TOO HAD LONG$ TO AV5GE ! BETRAYAL1 IF ,I TOO HAD GOTT5 MY FILL ( REV5GE4 

,HE SET \T ON A TIRADE4 ,HE HAD MISS$ ! FIR/ BATTLE BECAUSE HIS LITTLE BRO!R HAD BE5 CAU<T T5D+ A BRIDAL FIRE ON ! BATTLEFIELD4 ,BUT HE HADN'T MISS$ ANY ( ! SUBSEQU5T BATTLES4 ,HE HAD JO9$ ! ,BLUEJACKETS 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 & HE HAD BE5 9 ! FRONT L9E ( EV]Y ATTACK4 ,HIS RES5TM5T ( A *ILDHOOD BETRAYAL HAD GR[N ) EV]Y ATTACK4 ,HE HAD %OT1 /ABB$ & SCALP$ ?OSE :O HAD BETRAY$ HIM1 TELL+ HIMSELF !Y W]E VICI\S1 NUM]\S & P[]FUL4 ,HE HAD REMA9$ HOT ) RAGE UNTIL AFT] ! LA/ BATTLE1 UNTIL HE RETURN$ TO ! ,/RAIT & F\ND ,%&O /ILL IMPRISON$4 

,SUDD5LY HE KNEW :Y HE HAD ALWAYS BE5 9 ! FRONT L9E4 ,SUDD5LY HE REMEMB]$ ?AT HE HADN'T ONCE CONFRONT$ AN >M$ W>RIOR OR A ,R$COAT1 ?AT ALL ! ATTACKS HAD BE5 AIM$ AT VILLAGES ) NO W>RIORS OR EV5 HUNT]S 9 !M4 

,S&USKY HAD BE5 ATTACK$ AFT] ! W>RIORS HAD BE5 LUR$ \T ) PROMISES4 ,ON ! \TSKIRTS ( ,KEKIONGA1 ,NA%K[ATAK HAD TAK5 P>T 9 ! SLAU<T] ( SEV]AL ( \R [N ,LAKEBOTTOM K9 :O HAD F\ND REFUGE !RE4 ,& ! SAME M5 W]E ALWAYS ) HIM 9 ! FRONT L9E2 !Y W]E ALL M5 :O W]E CALL$ HALFBRE$S BY ! ,BLUEJACKETS BEH9D !M2 !Y W]E ALL K9 ( ! PEOPLE !Y SLAU<T]$4 ,! W> HAD BE5 AIM$ AGA9/ \R K9 & AGA9/ \RSELVES4 

,NA%K[ATAK SAW ?AT ,I WAS NAUSEAT$ & TOLD ME TO SAVE MY VOMIT UNTIL AFT] ,I'D HE>D ALL !RE WAS TO HE>4 ,HE REM9D$ ME ( ,SLAV] ,K9-SIC'S DESCRIPTION ( ! SAVAGES :O ATE HUMAN HE>TS1 & !N ASK$ ,%&O TO TELL ME :Y HE & ,K9-SIC HAD BE5 IMPRISON$1 & :Y ,%&O HAD BE5 LEFT 9 PRISON4 

,%&O TOLD ( TWO ,R$COATS :O >RIV$ 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TO >RE/ HIM = HAV+ SPILL$ ! :ISKEY ( A TRAD] CALL$ ,PETTY-SONG4 ,ONE ( ! ,R$COATS WAS ! BRO!R ( ,%&O'S FA!R1 ! ,R$COAT :O HAD AB&ON$ ,MIK5OKWE AFT] ! BATTLE AT ! FALL5 TREES4 ,%&O1 5C\RAG$ BY ,BURR-NET1 %OT AT HIS UNCLE & DROVE ! ,R$COATS \T ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,SOON AFT] ?IS 9CID5T1 ,K9-SIC TURN$ UP 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE & ANN\NC$ ?AT ,R$COATS W]E 9VAD+ ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,MO/ ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S ACCOMPANI$ ,K9-SIC TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM & QUICKLY LE>N$ ?AT ! ,R$COAT 9VASION WAS A LIE4 ,! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S =T & ,K9-SIC'S /ORE W]E SURR\ND$ BY ANGRY ,FIREKEEP]S & ,R$E>? K92 ONLY ONE ,R$COAT WAS AMONG !M4 ,K9-SIC & HIS ,BLUEJACKET ALLIES W]E PREP>+ TO ATTACK ! ,LAKEBOTTOM ,FIREKEEP]S & !IR ALLIES1 & W]E WAIT+ = RE9=CEM5TS FROM ,KEKIONGA4 ,ONLY ,%&O & ,BURR-NET P]SI/$ 9 BELIEV+ ,K9-SIC1 & !Y W5T ON BELIEV+ HIM UNTIL ! ,KEKIONGA ,BLUEJACKETS L$ BY ,WILL-WELL W]E 9 SI<T4 

,BURR-NET WOKE UP TO :AT WAS HAPP5+ ONLY :5 ,K9-SIC DI/RIBUT$ ! AMMUNITION DE/9$ = FUR HUNT]S TO ! ,BLUEJACKETS 9 ! =T4 ,BURR-NET RAN \T ( ! =T T[>D ! ,KEKIONGANS1 TO W>N ,WILL-WELL ( ,K9-SIC'S PLOT4 ,K9-SIC & ! =T'S HEADMAN ORD]$ !IR >M$ M5 TO %OOT AT ! ,R$E>? K91 :O IMM$IATELY RESPOND$ 9 K9D4 ,! APPROA*+ ,KEKIONGANS ?\<T ! BULLETS W]E AIM$ AT !M1 & !Y %OT & KILL$ ,BURR-NET AS !Y SCATT]$ = COV]4 ,A ,R$E>? W>RIOR %\T$ TO ! ,BLUEJACKETS1 CALL+ = A TRUCE & A C\NCIL4 ,K9-SIC & ! HEADMAN ORD]$ !IR M5 TO LEAVE ! =T %OOT+1 HOP+ ?AT ,WILL-WELL'S ,KEKIONGANS W\LD BACK !M UP4 ,BUT ! ,KEKIONGANS AB&ON$ ,WILL-WELL & HE AS WELL AS ! =T'S ,BLUEJACKETS W]E KILL$ DUR+ !IR BL9D *>GE4 

,%&O HAD /AY$ 9SIDE ! =T ) ,K9-SIC & ! HEADMAN4 ,:5 ! BATTLE WAS OV]1 ! ?REE W]E SURR\ND$ BY HO/ILE W>RIORS4 ,?AT WAS :5 ,K9-SIC BEGAN TO SPEAK ( CANNIBALS2 HE WAS SURE ! W>RIORS 9T5D$ TO EAT HIS HE>T4 ,BUT ,K9-SIC WASN'T EV5 H>M$4 ,%AB5I1 ! ,R$E>? W>RIOR & ! ,R$COAT CALL$ ,COD-WELL ACCOMPANI$ ! =T'S HEADMAN & HIS FAMILY TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 & !Y ESCORT$ ,K9-SIC & ,%&O TO IMPRISONM5T ON ! ,/RAIT4 

,K9-SIC WAS RELEAS$ DUR+ AN EX*ANGE ( PRISON]S1 & !N ,K9-SIC SAW TO IT ?AT ,%&O BE KEPT 9 JAIL BECAUSE ,%&O KNEW TOO MU* AB\T ,BURR-NET'S DEA?4 ,DUR+ ! ,R$COAT OCCUPATION1 ,K9-SIC MADE MU* ( ,%&O'S ATTEMPT TO %OOT HIS R$FROCK$ UNCLE1 & AFT] ! OCCUPATION HE PRET5D$ ?AT ! HALFBRE$ ,%&O HAD BE5 ONE ( ! CANNIBALS4 

,I DIDN'T VOMIT :5 ,%&O F9I%$ HIS TALE4 ,I TOLD ,WABNOKWE ?AT ,I W\LD NOT RETURN TO ,JAY-MAY'S H\SE ) H]4 ,I KNEW ?AT ,NA%K[ATAK & ,%&O 9T5D$ TO GO TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,I DECID$ TO GO ) !M4 

,%&O W5T BY WAY ( ,S&USKY :]E HIS MO!R ,MIK5OKWE /ILL LIV$4 ,NA%K[ATAK & ,I W5T BY WAY ( ,KEKIONGA4 ,NA%K[ATAK HOP$ \R ,KEKIONGA K9 W\LD TORTURE & KILL HIM1 S9CE !Y ALL KNEW HE HAD BE5 AMONG ! ATTACK]S :O HAD MURD]$ !IR K94 ,MUNS AVOID$ US2 HIS AUNT ,*9DISKWE HAD BE5 ONE ( ! VICTIMS4 ,APTEGIZHEK'S SI/] HAD BE5 ANO!R4 ,%E HAD FL$ TO ,KEKIONGA AFT] H] Y\NG] SI/] ,WAGO%KWE HAD BE5 KILL$ BY ,K9-SIC'S ,BLUEJACKETS ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,YET ,APTEGIZHEK CAME TO ME1 WELCOM$ ME1 URG$ ME TO HOLD ON TO ! ,FIREKEEP]S' BUNDLE4 ,NAWAK HAD /OPP$ 9 ,KEKIONGA ON HIS WAY BACK TO ,S&USKY & HAD TOLD ,APTEGIZHEK ?AT ,I HAD DI$ 9 ! LA/ BATTLE2 ,NAWAK HAD BLAM$ HIMSELF = DRAGG+ ME TO ! ,MORN+L& BATTLEFIELD4 

,METEYA'S VILLAGE 

  

,NA%K[ATAK & ,I SET \T T[>D ,BISON ,PRAIRIE AS SOON AS ,%&O JO9$ US4 ,%&O HAD NOT BE5 WELL RECEIV$ 9 ,S&USKY1 EV5 BY HIS MO!R4 ,MY BEAUTIFUL AUNT ,SUZAN & H] DAU<T] ,OLALI HAD FL$ TO ,S&USKY AFT] ! MASSACRE ( !IR K9 9 !IR ,KEKIONGA REFUGE1 & ,SUZAN HAD TOLD H] HO/S ( ,%&O'S COLLABORATION ) ! ,SLAV]S ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 

,I FILL$ ) APPREH5SION AS WE APPROA*$ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE2 ! FAMILI> L&M>KS SADD5$ ME4 ,KATABWE1 ,MIMIKWE & MY BUNDLE HAD MADE ME ?9K ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE AS ! ,FIREKEEP]S' C5T]4 ,BUT ,I WANT$ TO BE HEAD+ T[>D ANO!R C5T]1 T[>D A BLUE LAKE SURR\ND$ BY GRASS & SP>SE TREES4 ,I WAS NOT EAG] TO SEE MY ,BISON ,PRAIRIE K91 & ,I WAS SURE !Y W]E NO MORE EAG] TO SEE ME OR ,NA%K[ATAK OR ,%&O4 

,AT FIR/ GLANCE1 ,I WAS WRONG AB\T ! COOLNESS ( \R K9 T[>D US4 ,TOP9BI & HIS SON ,NESOKI1 ,CAKIMA & ,*EBANSI WELCOM$ US AS IF WE W]E HUNT]S RETURN+ ) BOATS FULL ( FURS4 ,!Y W>M$ SWEAT LODGES1 FEA/$ US & LIT ?REE FIRES4 ,BUT ! JOY1 AS 9 ALL (,TOP9BI'S & ,CAKIMA'S PAG5TRY1 WAS ALL ON ! SURFACE4 ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA US$ ! OLD C]EMONIES ! WAY !Y US$ BEADS1 TO DECORATE & DISGUISE1 & TO ,TOP9BI ! C]EMONIES W]E NO?+ MORE ?AN OCCASIONS = OP5+ :ISKEY B>RELS4 

,TOP9BI HIMSELF REVEAL$ ! W\NDS BEL[ ! SURFACE AS SOON AS HE />T$ DR9K+4 ,HIS DAU<T] ,MIMIKWE WAS DEAD4 ,%E FROM :OM ,I HAD FL$1 TO :OM ,NA%K[ATAK HAD WANT$ TO PROVE HIMSELF1 HAD BE5 MURD]$ BY A B& ( ,BLUEJACKETS4 ,\R BRO!R ,W$ASI WAS CRIPPL$2 HE LODG$ ) PEACEFUL ,METEYA & SPOKE ( NO?+ BUT REV5GE4 ,CAKIMA & ,*EBANSI WANT$ ONLY PEACE1 SO AS TO RESUME ! FUR TRADE1 FIR/ ( ALL ) ! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S HUNT]S4 ,BUT A GR\P ( ,LAKEBOTTOM ,FIRE- KEEP]S1 AMONG !M ,TOPA%1 HAD MOV$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TO GET AWAY FROM ! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S W>RIORS & FUR HUNT]S1 & ,TOPA%'S CAMP WAS AS HO/ILE TO ,CAKIMA'S AIMS AS TO ,W$ASI'S4 ,TOP9BI AS MU* AS ADMITT$ ?AT HIS ?REE FIRES DID NOT UNITE F\R PEOPLES1 !Y DID NOT EV5 UNITE ! ,FIREKEEP]S !MSELVES1 :O W]E SPLIT 9TO ?REE MUTUALLY HO/ILE CAMPS4 

,CAKIMA EXPECT$ ,NA%K[ATAK & ME TO JO9 ,*EBANSI & ,NESOKI 9 ! /ORE1 TO REPLACE ,BURR-NET4 ,%E TOLD US %E WANT$ TO LURE ! ,LAKEBOTTOM FURS AWAY FROM ,K9-SIC1 :O HAD RETURN$ TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM & SWALL[$ ,S&YPO9T'S FUR PO/4 ,%E HAD ?\<T ,TOPA% W\LD HELP H]1 BUT ,TOPA% BROKE HIS L9KS ) ! HUNT]S :5 HE'D MOV$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,SOME ( ! ,LAKEBOTTOM FURS W]E C>RI$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE BY ,NAGANWATEK1 :OSE MO!R ,WAGO%KWE & FA!R ,LALIM HAD BO? BE5 MURD]$ BY ,K9-SIC4 ,BUT ,CAKIMA WANT$ MORE2 %E WANT$ ,NA%K[ATAK & ME TO SEEK BRIDES ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 

,NEI!R ,NA%K[ATAK NOR ,I 9T5D$ TO REPLACE \R DEAD FA!R2 WE DISAPPO9T$ ,CAKIMA & ,*EBANSI4 ,NA%K[ATAK WALK$ \T ON ,CAKIMA BE=E %E WAS DONE PLEAD+2 ,I WALK$ \T ) HIM4 ,NA%K[ATAK HEAD$ T[>D ! LODGES ( ! ,LAKEBOTTOM REFUGEES1 & W5T DIRECTLY TO ,TOPA%'S4 ,I DIDN'T %>E ALL ( ,NA%K[ATAK'S GUILT BUT ,I WAS AS ANXI\S AS HE TO EXPOSE ! W\NDS SO !Y W\LDN'T FE/]4 

,TOPA% LEFT HIS LODGE AS SOON AS WE 5T]$4 ,HE RECOGNIZ$ ,NA%K[ATAK AS ,%ECOGOSIKWE'S MURD]]1 AS ONE ( ! ,BLUEJACKETS :O HAD ATTACK$ ! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S ,FIREKEEP]S 9 !IR ,KEKIONGA REFUGE4 ,TOPA%'S DAU<T] ,M5A%I ALSO RECOGNIZ$ H] MO!R'S MURD]]1 BUT %E DIDN'T LEAVE4 ,%E CONFRONT$ US ) EYES AS FI]CE AS ,UDATONTE'S4 ,M5A%I WAS NO LONG] ! MIS*IEV\S LITTLE GIRL :O HAD CAU<T ME />+ AT H] MO!R'S GRE5/ONE P5DANT 9 ,KITTIHAWA'S LODGE4 ,! MIS*IEF WAS /ILL 9 ,M5A%I'S EYES1 BUT ! FACE & BODY W]E ?OSE ( A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN4 ,I C\LDN'T KEEP MY EYES FROM />+ AT ! GRE5/ONE P5DANT1 ANCI5T ,%UTAHA'S P5DANT1 SUSP5D$ ABOVE ,M5A%I'S BREA/S4 ,%E DIDN'T SEEM AW>E ( MY />+4 ,ALL H] ATT5TION WAS ON H] MO!R'S MURD]]4 ,%E WAT*$ HIS EV]Y MOVE1 ! WAY A FOX WAT*ES A DUCK JU/ BE=E P\NC+4 ,%E WAS /ALK+ PREY4 ,NA%K[ATAK HAD COME = A BEAT+1 & %E YE>N$ TO BEAT HIM4 ,%E WANT$ NOT ONLY REV5GE BUT ALSO COMP5SATION & ,NA%K[ATAK (F]$ H] BO?4 ,%E W\LD NOT ALL[ ,NA%K[ATAK TO LEAVE H] LODGE4 ,S5S+ ?AT ,I WAS BETWE5 A HUNTRESS & H] PREY1 ,I RU%$ \T ( ,M5A%I'S LODGE4 

,/ILL WE>+ ! BLUE JACKET1 ,I MADE MY WAY TO ,METEYA'S KN[+ ?AT A B& ( ,BLUEJACKETS HAD MURD]$ ,B9DI- ZEOSEKWE & CRIPPL$ ,W$ASI4 ,I F\ND ,METEYA'S BRO!R ,GIZES C\NCIL+ ) ,W$ASI4 ,GIZES WAS ON HIS WAY T[>D ,MI%I- GAMI'S O!R %ORE :]E HE HOP$ TO REJO9 ,%AB5I & ! ,R$E>? W>RIORS4 ,GIZES & HIS DAU<T] ,DAMU%KEKWE HAD /AY$ 9 ! ,MORN+L&1 NE> ! ,R$COATS1 UNTIL ! ,R$COATS BEGAN TO />VE !M4 ,DAMU%KEKWE1 :OSE MO!R HAD BE5 MURD]$ ON ! ,WABA%1 HAD ACCOMPANI$ ,GIZES TO ALL ! BATTLEFIELDS1 BUT WANT$ TO TRAVEL NO FUR!R4 

,METEYA WAS AWAY HUNT+ OR /ALK+4 ,HIS OLD] DAU<T]1 POCKM>K$ ,KOYO%KWE1 GREET$ ME ) SIL5CE4 ,! Y\NG]1 ,WAMO%KE%EKWE1 TOLD ME %E ADMIR$ ,CAKIMA & LET ME KN[ %E WAS WILL+ & READY TO BE MY BRIDE4 ,W$ASI WAS HO/ILE4 ,HOBBL+ ON ONE LEG1 SUPPORT+ HIS WEI<T ) A /ICK1 HE QUICKLY LET ME KN[ ?AT HE CONSID]$ ME A C[>D1 ,%&O & ,NA%K[ATAK TRAITORS1 & ?AT ! W> AGA9/ TRAITORS WASN'T OV]4 

,W$ASI'S URGE TO TELL ! REASONS = HIS RAGE WAS GREAT] ?AN ! RAGE ITSELF1 & ,I SOON KNEW MORE ?AN ,I WANT$ TO KN[4 

,I HAD LA/ SE5 ,W$ASI :5 HE HAD PA9T$ HIMSELF & LEFT ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ) ,WAPMIMI & ! O!R ,WABA% W>RIORS4 ,HE ACCOMPANI$ ! W>RIORS TO ,KI!PEKANU1 :]E HE LODG$ ) ,%AWANOKWE1 ,WAPMIMI1 !IR SON ,OJEJOK1 !IR DAU<T] ,OMEMEKWE1 & GR&FA!R ,SIG5AK1 ! OLD W>RIOR1 ,NANIKIBI'S BRO!R4 ,W$ASI DEVOT$ HIS DAYS TO W> DANCES & PREP>ATIONS ) ,OJEJOK'S GR&FA!R & UNCLES2 HE DEVOT$ HIS NI<TS TO ,OJEJOK'S SI/] ,OMEMEKWE1 :O SOON GREW L>GE ) ,W$ASI'S *ILD4 ,EV]YONE 9 ,KI!PEKANU EXPECT$ W>1 BUT NO ONE WAS READY :5 SC\TS BR\<T WORD ( A L>GE >MY ( ,BLUEJACKETS L$ BY HEADMAN ,WILL-H5-G>RISON MOV+ UP ! ,WABA%4 

,W$ASI JO9$ ! W>RIORS :O RU%$ TO CONFRONT ! APPROA*+ ,BLUEJACKETS2 ! W>RIORS LUNG$ AGA9/ ! UNI=M$ >M$ M5 ) NO HE$ TO !IR [N LIVES1 BUT ! ,BLUEJACKETS KEPT ON MOV+4 ,! 5EMY HAD CALL$ NO C\NCIL1 ANN\NC$ NO CONDITIONS1 /AT$ NO T]MS = NEGOTIATION2 !Y SIMPLY 9VAD$ ! L&S ( ! ,PRAIRIEK9 & MOV$ TO EXT]M9ATE EV]YONE 9 & NE> ,KI!PEKANU2 !Y BURN$ EV]Y LODGE1 SET FIRE TO ALL ! WEAPONS & ALL ! FOOD J,?IS WAS ! ONLY BATTLE 9 :I* ,W$ASI F\<T4 ,:5 IT 5D$1 PREGNANT ,OMEMEKWE & ,W$ASI'S UNBORN *ILD W]E DEAD2 ,OMEMEKWE'S MO!R ,%AWANOKWE & GR&FA!R ,SIG5AK W]E DEAD4 

,! SURVIVORS REBUILT ,KI!PEKANU ON ! A%ES1 AS A W> CAMP4 ,W$ASI1 ,WAPMIMI & ,OJEJOK LODG$ BRIEFLY ) ,GIZES & HIS Y\NG DAU<T] ,DAMU%KEKWE4 ,:5 ,WAPMIMI & ,GIZES SET \T T[>D ! ,/RAIT1 ,W$ASI JO9$ ,%AB5I & ! O!R W>RIORS :O HEAD$ T[>D ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,!Y HAD BE5 TOLD ( ! ,LAKEBOTTOM ,SCALP]S' RAVAGES BY ,S&YPO9T'S SON ,KEGON1 :O DID NOT SURVIVE TO RETURN TO HIS K94 ,W$ASI & HIS COMPANIONS REA*$ ! ,LAKEBOTTOM AFT] ! BATTLE WAS OV]1 ! GR\ND ALREADY /A9$4 

,?OSE RESPONSIBLE = ! BLOOD%$--! =T'S HEADMAN1 ! ,SLAV] ,K9-SIC & ,%&O--W]E /ILL ALIVE1 & ,W$ASI JO9$ HIS VOICE TO ! VOICES ( ! ANGRY ,R$E>? K9 :O WANT$ ! 5EMIES KILL$4 ,%AB5I & ! ,R$E>? W>RIOR ,MACATAIME%EKIAKAK RE/RA9$ ,W$ASI1 SAID 5\< BLOOD HAD BE5 %$1 & 9SI/$ ON TRANSPORT+ ! 5EMIES TO ! ,/RAIT4 ,! HEADMAN WAS ILL FROM FRI<T2 HE WAS LEFT 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE & ,MIMIKWE NURS$ HIM BACK TO HEAL?4 ,W$ASI WAS ALSO LEFT 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE2 ,%AB5I 9SI/$ ?AT ,W$ASI /AY BEH9D TO PROTECT ,MIMIKWE1 H] SON ,KOM5OTEYA & ! REMA9+ VILLAG]S4 

,:5 ,W$ASI'S *ANCE CAME1 HE FAIL$4 ,A B& ( ,BLUEJACKETS SURR\ND$ ,MIMIKWE & ,B9DIZEOSEKWE 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S CORNFIELD1 MALTREAT$ ! TWO WOM5 & !N MURD]$ !M4 ,W$ASI RAN = HIS RIFLE2 HE & ,KOM5OTEYA PURSU$ ! KILL]S UNTIL ,W$ASI'S LEG WAS %OT (F4 ,W$ASI WAS C>RI$ TO ,METEYA'S LODGE2 HE WAS NURS$ BY ,KOYO%KWE1 :O %>$ H] MAT ) MY CRIPPL$ BRO!R1 F$ HIM1 & HELP$ HIM LE>N TO WALK ) A /ICK4 ,W$ASI'S WOR/ HUMILIATION CAME :5 ,%AB5I RETURN$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE AFT] BURY+ ! K9 :O DI$ 9 ! LA/ BATTLE4 ,= SEV]AL DAYS ,%AB5I WEPT = ,MIMIKWE4 ,!N1 )\T ONCE GREET+ OR LOOK+ 9 ON ,W$ASI1 ,%AB5I & HIS SON ,KOM5OTEYA LEFT ,BISON ,PRAIRIE & HEAD$ WE/4 

,I FELT AS \T ( PLACE 9 ,METEYA'S LODGE AS ,I HAD 9 ,CAKIMA'S & ,M5A%I'S4 ,GIZES1 HIS DAU<T] ,DAMU%KEKWE & ,W$ASI FILL$ ! LODGE ) TALK ( BATTLES1 DEA?S & REV5GE4 ,KOYO%KWE T5D$ ! COOK+ FIRES1 GA!R$ B]RIES & H]BS1 PREP>$ SWEAT BA?S1 & NEV] SAID A WORD4 ,WAMO%KE%EKWE 9SI/5TLY (F]$ H]SELF TO ME1 SEE+ ME AS ! TRAD]'S SON1 EXPECT+ ME TO BE H] GATE TO ! TRAD]'S LODGE1 HOP+ ,I W\LD TURN H] 9TO ! TRAD]'S WIFE4 ,I HAD BE5 AFRAID ( ,MIMIKWE'S EXPECTATIONS2 ,I WAS REPELL$ BY ,WAMO%- KE%EKWE'S4 

,GIZES /AY$ 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE UNTIL ,METEYA RETURN$ FROM ! HUNT4 ,GIZES C\NCIL$ ) ,METEYA TO LE>N HIS BRO!R'S ATTITUDES & TO GIVE NEWS ( !IR BRO!RS ,WAPMIMI & ,WAKAYA2 & HE PREP>$ TO LEAVE4 ,I LEFT ) ,GIZES4 ,I WANT$ TO SEE ,%AB5I1 & ,I WANT$ TO GET AWAY FROM ,WAMO%KE%EKWE'S EXPECTATIONS4 

,WE CIRCUMV5T$ ! ,LAKEBOTTOM VILLAGE & FOLL[$ A PA? ONCE US$ BY ,R$E>? K9 ON !IR TREKS BETWE5 ! ,LONG ,RIV] & ! ,/RAIT4 ,I HAD NEV] BE=E VISIT$ ! O!R %ORT'1 ! L& ( LAKES & =E/S ?AT HAD %ELT]$ & F$ MY GREAT-GR&MO!R'S PEOPLE4 ,%AB5I'S VILLAGE WAS AT ! $GE ( A LAKE :I*1 ,GIZES TOLD ME1 LAY HALFWAY BETWE5 ,MI%IGAMI & ! ,LONG ,LAKE4 

,%AB5I & ! ,R$E>? W>RIORS GREET$ ,GIZES AS A BRO!R & ME AS A CURIOSITY4 ,!Y HAD SE5 ME AMONG ! CORPSES ON ! ,MORN+L& BATTLEFIELD & W]E SURPRIS$ ,I WAS ALIVE4 ,MIMIKWE'S SON DIDN'T GREET ME2 ,KOM5OTEYA SAW ONLY ! BLUE JACKET1 ! UNI=M ( HIS MO!R'S MURD]]S4 

,%AB5I WAS MORE ANXI\S TO C\NCIL ) ,GIZES AB\T ! :]EAB\TS ( !IR COMPANIONS ?AN ) ME AB\T MY GR&MO!R ,KATABWE4 ,HE GRANT$ ME A BRIEF C\NCIL1 BUT ONLY TO TELL ME ?AT :5 HE'D RETURN$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE AFT] BURY+ HIS COMPANIONS & LE>N$ ?AT ,MIMIKWE WAS DEAD1 HE H2XL REPUDIAT$ ME & MY BUNDLE & MY GR&MO!R & ALL ! DREAM SPIRITS4 ,) TE>S 9 MY EYES ,I ASK$ HIM TO EXPLA9 :Y ,%AB5I ANSW]$4 ,HE TOLD ME ?AT SOME?+ MORE P[] FUL ?AN \R BUNDLES1 SPIRITS & OLD SONGS HAD RIS5 \T ( ! A%ES ON ! ,WABA%4 ,AFT] ,KI!PEKANU WAS BURN$1 AFT] ,SIG5AK & ,%AWANOKWE & ,KEGON & ! O!R DEAD W5- BURI$1 ! SURVIVORS REGR\P$ & REBUILT A NEW VILLAGE1 A NEW C5T] ?AT WAS NOT A GA!R+ ( ,FIREKEEP]S1 ,PRAIRIEK91 ,R$E>? K9 & O!R PEOPLE1 BUT A C5T] ( A S+LE PEOPLE ) A S+LE GOAL & A S+LE >MY4 ,! >MY ( ?IS PEOPLE BORN ON ! A%ES ( ,KI!PEKANU1 CAPTUR$ ! 5EMY'S %IPS1 CUT SUPPLY L9ES1 CAPTUR$ ! IMPREGNABLE =TRESSES ON ,MI% I LIMAK9A & ON ! ,/RAIT1 EMPTI$ ALL ! LESS] =TS1 & CLE>$ ! ,9VAD]S \T ( ALL =E/S1 LAKES & VILLAGES BETWE5 ,CAHOKIA & ! ,P59SULA'S ,NOR!RN ,/RAIT4 ,BUT AT ?AT PO9T1 9/EAD ( /R5G!N+ !IR UNITY1 ! S+LE PEOPLE DECOMPOS$4 ,! S+LE >MY REV]T$ TO AN ALLIANCE ( W>RIOR B&S1 & ! B&S DECOMPOS$ 9TO HO!ADS LIKE ,W$ASI & BUNDLE-C>RI]S LIKE ME1 9TO HUNT]S & DREAM]S :O QUICKLY DISP]S$1 ONE TO SETTLE A PETTY REV5GE1 ANO!R TO SEEK SPIRITS1 A ?IRD TO DANCE4 ,AS A S+LE PEOPLE !Y HAD RE COV]$ ! WORLD FROM ! ,9VAD]S1 AS HO!ADS & BUNDLE-C>RI]S !Y C\LDN'T EV5 PROTECT ,MIMIKWE FROM A B& ( BLUEJACKET$ PLUND]]S4 

,I S\<T NO FUR!R C\NCILS ) ,%AB5I4 ,I ACCOMPANI$ A B& ( EA/W>D-B\ND HUNT]S \T ( HIS VILLAGE4 ,%AB5I'S ANSW] ANG]$ ME4 ,I HAD NEV] BE=E HAD A /&PO9T FROM :I* ,I C\LD ?9K ( SOMEONE AS A TRAITOR4 ,%AB5I HAD BUILT MY DREAM LODGES2 HE HAD BE5 MY C\S91 GUIDE & COMPANION ,BUT ,I KNEW ?AT HIS S+LE PEOPLE ) A S+LE >MY HAD NOT BE5 BORN ON ! A%ES ( ,KI!PEKANU1 BUT HAD BE5 C>RI$ ACROSS ! ,OCEAN ON ! %IPS ?AT BR\<T FIREWAT]1 RIFLES & PLAGUES4 

,! HUNT]S ) :OM ,I RETURN$ TO ,MI%IGAMI'S %ORE1 M5 NAM$ ,LA%AS1 ,LAFRAMBOAZ1 ,LEME & ,LEPETI1 W]E MY DI/ANT C\S9S1 SONS-9-LAW ( ,NANGISL & ,W9AMEK4 ,\R K9%IP WAS A ?9 BOND4 ,I TRI$ TO SPEAK ) !M ( COMMON ANCE/ORS & MET ONLY 9DIFF]5CE & RIDICULE2 ! ONLY ANCE/OR !Y REMEMB]$ WAS ,WABSK5I1 ! MANHUNT]1 & HE WAS !IR ,WISKE1 ! F\ND] ( !IR VILLAGE4 

,BISON ,PRAIRIE WAS HALF EMPTY :5 ,I >RIV$ ) ,NAGAN- WATEK & ! FURS ( ! ,LAKEBOTTOM HUNT]S4 ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA HAD L$ A C>AVAN TO A C\NCIL 9 ,KEKIONGA2 ,NA%K[ATAK1 ,M5A%I & ,WAMO%KE%EKWE W]E AMONG ?OSE :O HAD LEFT ) ! C>AVAN4 ,I LE>N$ ?AT ,M5A%I HAD GIV5 BIR? TO A *ILD JU/ BE=E ! C>AVAN'S DEP>TURE1 A BOY ) TRAD] ,BURR-NET'S YELL[ HAIR & BLUE EYES2 ,CAKIMA HAD NAM$ H] FIR/ GR&SON ,WIMEGO1 ! NAME ?AT WAS GIV5 TO ,BURR-NET :5 HE WAS ADOPT$ BY ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S4 

,W$ASI WAS /ILL AT ,METEYA'S BUT HE NO LONG] %>$ HIS MAT ) ,KOYO%KWE1 :O HAD NURS$ HIM & TAU<T HIM TO WALK ) A /ICK4 ,W$ASI SP5T HIS DAYS & NI<TS ) ,DAMU%KEKWE1 ! W>LIKE DAU<T] ( ,GIZES2 ! TWO FILL$ ! AIR ) TALK ( PA/ & FUTURE BATTLES1 & ( ! DAY :5 ,KI!PEKANU HAD RIS5 ON TOP ( A%ES4 ,!Y HAD BRIEFLY %>$ A LODGE 9 ! RE-RIS5 VILLAGE2 ,W$ASI HAD BE5 A HO!AD$ W>RIOR1 %E AN ADMIR+ LITTLE GIRL4 ,MY HE>T W5T \T TO AB&ON$ ,KOYO%KWE1 :O TREAT$ ,DAMU%KEKWE AS A SI/]1 ,W$ASI AS A BRO!R1 & LET NO TRACE ( SADNESS OR ANG] %[ ON H] FACE OR 9 H] MOVEM5TS4 

,BISON ,PRAIRIE CAME ALIVE ) FEA/S1 CELEBRATIONS1 MISUS$ C]EMONIES & DR9K+ ORGIES :5 ,TOP9BI1 ,CAKIMA & !IR TRA9 RETURN$ ) CANOE-LOADS ( GIFTS4 ,WAMO%KE%EKWE RETURN$ AS ,%&O'S BRIDE4 ,M5A%I & ,NA%K[ATAK SEEM$ E/RANG$4 ,NA%K[ATAK S\<T ME \T4 ,HE C>RI$ A :ISKEY P\* TO A PLACE AWAY FROM ! O!R CELEBRANTS1 & H>ANGU$ ME AS HE DRANK4 ,HE ASK$ AB\T ! CONT5TS ( ! ,FIREKEEP]S' BUNDLE & HE TOLD ME TO DO :ATEV] ,I WAS GO+ TO DO ) MY BUNDLE1 & TO DO IT QUICKLY4 ,HE BITT]LY TOLD ME ?AT HE HAD NEV] KN[N :O HE WAS1 BUT HE WANT$ HIS NEWLY-NAM$ SON TO GR[ AMONG PEOPLE :O KNEW :O !Y W]E4 

,! ,KEKIONGA GA!R+ HAD %[N HIM ?AT \R K9 NO LONG] KNEW :O !Y W]E4 ,HE CALL$ \R MO!R & \R UNCLE ,TOP9BI PRO/ITUTES1 & SAID !Y HAD GONE TO ,KEKIONGA TO GIVE AWAY !IR [N PEOPLE & !IR L&S = A FEW C>TLOADS ( BEADS & :ISKEY4 ,!Y HAD SOLD !MSELVES TO ,NA%- K[ATAK'S ONE-TIME MILITIA *IEF ,LOOS-GAS1 :O WAS N[ ! HEADMAN ( ALL ( ,KI*IGAMI'S ,9VAD]S4 ,\R UNCLES ,ONIMU%1 ,BIJIKI & ,GAB9YA HAD S]V$ ,LOOS-GAS AS 9T]PRET]S2 ,NA%K[ATAK CALL$ !M PIMPS4 

,)\T CONSULT+ ,APTEGIZHEK OR ,MUNS OR ,MEK+ES OR ! O!R ,EA/BRAN* ,ROOTK9 :O LODG$ 9 ,KEKIONGA1 ! PIMPS & ! PRO/ITUTES GAVE ,LOOS-GAS ALL ! L& ( ,KEKIONGA & ( ! ,WABA% VALLEY--ALL BUT T9Y P>CELS4 ,! P>CELS W]E RES]V$ = ! *ILDR5 ( TRAD]S1 :OM ,LOOS-GAS CALL$ *ILDR5 ( ! ?REE FIRES BY BIR? OR M>RIAGE4 ,CAKIMA RECEIV$ TITLES TO SU* P>CELS1 ONE = EA* ( H] SONS & DAU<T] ,APTEGIZHEK TRI$ TO /OP HIS K92 HE C>RI$ A FI/FUL ( E>? TO ,LOOS-GAS & BEGG$ TO BE GIV5 A TITLE = IT4 ,APTEGIZHEK WAS DISREG>D$4 ,ALL EYES1 9CLUD+ ,M5A%I'S W]E ON ,CAKIMA1 ! P]SON :O HAD ACQUIR$ ! BIGGE/ LOAD ( GIFTS1 5\< TO REVIVE ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S TRADE & TO LURE FURS AWAY FROM ! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S TRAD] ,K9-SIC4 ,M5A%I HAD C>RI$ LITTLE ,WIMEGO TO ,CAKIMA'S C\NCILS ) ,LOOS-GAS TO ACQUA9T H]SELF & H] SON ) ! BEHAVIOR ( PEOPLE :O NO LONG] KNEW :O !Y W]E4 

,NA%K[ATAK DRANK UNTIL HE WAS NUMB4 ,KOYO%KWE /EPP$ \T ( ! %AD[S2 %E TOO HAD HE>D HIS H>ANGUE4 ,KOYO%KWE HELP$ ME C>RY HIM TO ,M5A%I'S LODGE4 ,TAK+ MY H&1 %E L$ ME TO ,METEYA'S1 TO H] MAT4 ,%E SPOKE ONLY ) H] EYES4 ,%E DIDN'T KN[ :AT ,I C\LD DO1 & %E HAD NO EXPECTATIONS2 %E WANT$ ME TO KN[ ?AT %E W\LD HELP ME4 

,KOYO%KWE LET ME KN[ %E HAD %>$ H] MAT ) SEV]AL M51 ALL ( !M HAD AB&ON$ H]1 & %E EXPECT$ NO MORE2 %E SAID %E KNEW %E C\LD BE> NO *ILDR51 & %E KNEW %E WAS POCKM>K$4 ,MY LOVE GREW ) MY ADMIRATION = H]2 !RE WAS NO?+ %E C\LD NOT DO1 & %E NEV] TIR$ ,MY LOVE DID NOT HELP ME =GET ,UDATONTE1 BUT IT DID MAKE ?AT SPR+1 ! ?IRD S9CE MY RETURN TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 MY HAPPIE/ SPR+ !RE4 

,I WAS ESPECIALLY HAPPY :51 %ORTLY AFT] ,DAMU%KEKWE GAVE BIR?1 ,W$ASI ASK$ ME TO >RANGE HIS NEWBORN *ILD'S NAM+ C]EMONY4 ,MY BRO!R WANT$ ! OLD C]EMONY1 \R GR&MO!R'S4 ,I WAS OV]JOY$ TO BE ASK$1 BUT ,I DIDN'T KN[ H[ TO BEG94 ,IF ,KOYO%KWE HADN'T GA!R$ MASKS & WOOD & FOOD1 IF %E HADN'T S5T H] FA!R & C\S9S RUNN+ ) 9VITATIONS1 ,I W\LD HAVE BE5 LO/4 ,I DIDN'T ASK ,KOYO%KWE :]E %E HAD LE>N$ ALL ! ?+S ,I DIDN'T KN[2 ,I ASSUM$ ?AT H] MO!R ,B9DIZEOSEKWE & MY C\S9 ,MIMIKWE HAD C>RI$ ON ! OLD C]EMONIES AFT] ,KATABWE'S DEA?1 & ?AT ,KOYO%KWE HAD SIL5TLY WAT*$ & LI/5$4 ,%E LEFT ME NO?+ TO DO BUT REHE>SE ! SONGS & DANCES & PREP>E ! O!R P>TICIPANTS4 ,I NAM$ ,DAMU%KEKWE'S R\ND & HEAL?Y SON ,MIKFNAK1 TURTLE1 9 MEMORY ( ! G5]\S ANIMAL :O SUPPORT$ \R ,YAHATASE'S & MY ,UDATONTE'S WORLD4 

,WORD ( ! ANCI5T NAM+ C]EMONY WAS C>RI$ TO O!R QU>T]S1 & SOON ,KOYO%KWE'S AUNT ,ME%EWOKWE 9VIT$ ME TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM TO NAME H] NEWBORN SON4 ,MO/ ( MY ,BISON ,PRAIRIE K9 SET \T = ! ,LAKEBOTTOM :5 ,KOYO%KWE & ,I DID1 NOT TO TAKE P>T 9 ! NAM+ C]EMONY1 BUT 9 ANO!R4 ,CAKIMA HAD AT LA/ SUCCE$$ 9 PU%+ ONE ( H] SONS 9TO A M>RIAGE ) ONE ( ! DAU<T]S ( ! ,LAKEBOTTOM HUNT]S4 ,*EBANSI HAD AGRE$ TO M>RY ,NANGISI'S GR&DAU<T] ,NOTANOKWE4 ,! NAM+ PREC$$ ! M>RIAGE4 ,! BABY1 MY C\S9 ,NAGANWATEK'S SON1 WAS ! GR&SON ( ,WAGO%KWE1 GREAT-GR&SON ( ! B[LMAK] ,LOKASKWE4 ,I NAM$ ! BOY ,%AWANETEK = ! ,S\?BRAN* K9 ) :OM ,LOKASKWE %>$ JOYS & SORR[S4 

,*EBANSI'S M>RIAGE WAS A COLD AFFAIR :I* REVOLV$ >\ND ?REE HE>?S ?AT HAD NO MEAN+1 & PR9CIPALLY >\ND ,TOP9BI'S M\NDS ( GIFTS & B>RELS ( :ISKEY4 ,CAKIMA HAD :AT %E WANT$3 A DIRECT L9K TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S ,LA%AS1 ,LAFRAMBOAZ1 ,LEME1 ,LEPETI1 & %E EXPECT$ ,K9-SIC'S FUR PO/ TO DECOMPOSE SOON AFT] ,NAGANWATEK BEGAN C>RY+ ALL ( ! ,LAKEBOTTOM FURS TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,*EBANSI'S BRIDE ACCOMPANI$ US TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE & JO9$ ,CAKIMA 9 ! /ORE1 BUT NOT HAPPILY4 ,NOTANOKWE1 A CROSSWE>]1 SEEM$ TO DISLIKE EV]YONE 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ESPECIALLY ,*EBANSI4 

,TOP9BI & ,%&O SET \T T[>D ! ,/RAIT ) ! L>GE/ FUR C>AVAN ?AT HAD LEFT ,BISON ,PRAIRIE S9CE BE=E ! ,BLUEJACKETS' W>4 ,!Y RETURN$ ) ,%&O'S MO!R ,MIKE- NOKWE & ) FRI<T5+ NEWS4 ,CROSSWE>+ ,MIK5OKWE TOLD US %E HAD BE5 H\ND$ \T ( ,S&USKY BY EVANGELI/S :O HAD BEWIT*$ ! VILLAG]S1 9CLUD+ MY AUNT ,SUZAN1 ) !IR MESSAGES & VISIONS4 ,%E HAD JO9$ H] SI/] ,PAMOKO 9 ,K>ONTA51 BUT ONLY LONG 5\< TO SEE ,K>ON- TA5'S K9 DRIV5 FROM ! ,/RAIT BY L&GRABB]S :O 9VOK$ TITLES GIV5 TO !M BY ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA 9 ,KEKIONGA4 

,WAMO%KE%EKWE GAVE BIR? TO A SON4 ,I KNEW ?AT %E AS WELL AS ,%&O WANT$ TO ASK ME TO >RANGE ! NAM+ C]EMONY4 ,BUT ,MIK5OKWE W\LD NOT ALL[ H] NEWBORN GR&SON TO BE EXPOS$ TO A PAGAN C]EMONY4 ,MIK5OKWE RECRUIT$ ,*EBANSI'S BRIDE ,NOTANOKWE AS WELL AS MY C\S9 ,NESOKI TO HELP H] >RANGE AN AFFAIR ) CROSSES & 9C5SE & MURMUR$ PRAY]S1 ! FIR/ CROSSWE>]S' C]EMONY 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE S9CE MY GREAT-GR&MO!R'S DAYS4 ,! *ILD WAS NAM$ ,POGON4 

,TOP9BI BR\<T ! FRI<T5+ NEWS ?AT ! ,9VAD]S' HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS 9T5D$ TO HOLD A GIFT-GIV+ C\NCIL ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA ?\<T ONLY ( ! GIFTS1 BUT MO/ O!RS KNEW :AT SU* A C\NCIL W\LD BR+4 ,?AT FALL & W9T]1 ,W$ASI & ,DAMU%KEKWE RESUM$ !IR TALK ( W> & REV5GE AGA9/ TRAITORS1 & ,W$ASI S5T RUNN]S TO NE>BY VILLAGES4 ,Y\? >RIV$ FROM MANY QU>T]S & PA9T$ !MSELVES2 ! PREP>+ W>RIORS PL$G$ !MSELVES TO KILL ANYONE :O C$$ ! ,P59SULA'S L& TO ! ,9VAD]S4 ,KOYO%KWE WAS AL>M$1 AS WAS H] FA!R ,METEYA1 :O CONC]N$ HIMSELF ) ! AFFAIRS ( ! VILLAGE ONLY :5 FRATRICIDAL W> ?REAT5$ TO BREAK \T4 ,TOO MANY ( \R K9 HAD DI$ 9 FRATRICIDAL W>S4 ,KOYO%KWE & ,METEYA S5T \T MESSAGES URG+ ,FIREKEEP]S TO CONV]GE ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM SO AS TO DISSUADE !IR K9 FROM SIGN+ ! ,9VAD]S' LEAVES & TO DIS>M ! HO!ADS 9 !IR MID/4 ,KOYO%KWE BEGG$ ME TO C>RY SU* A MESSAGE TO \R ,KEKIONGA K94 

,I ACCOMPANI$ ,TOP9BI'S & ,%&O'S SPR+ C>AVAN \T ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,9 VIEW ( ! MESSAGE ,I WAS C>RY+1 ,I TRAVEL$ 9 /RANGE COMPANY4 ,TOP9BI1 ( C\RSE1 KNEW :Y ,I WAS GO+ TO ,KEKIONGA1 & MY MISSION DIDN'T BO!R HIM 9 ! LEA/2 HE TOLD ME HE SYMPA?IZ$ ) ! RESI/]S1 HE DID NOT WANT ! ,P59SULA'S L&S TO GO TO ! ,9VAD]S4 ,! REASON HE SIGN$ ! TREATIES1 HE TOLD ME1 WAS BECAUSE HE WAS CONV9C$ ?AT ! L&GRABB]S W\LD COME ON ! DAY !Y W]E READY TO COME :E!R OR NOT ,TOP9BI SIGN$ !IR TREATIES1 & L&GRABB]S :O >RIV$ ) SIGN$ TREATIES W]E LESS VIOL5T ?AN ?OSE :O >RIV$ ) NO?+ BUT !IR RIFLES4 

,TOP9BI & ,%&O W5T ON TO ! ,/RAIT4 ,I /AY$ 9 ,KEKIONGA4 ,MY 9SIDES A*$ :5 ,I SAW ! VILLAGE4 ,! ONLY REM9D]S ( ! VILLAGE ,I HAD KN[N W]E ! TRAD]S' LODGES4 ,9VAD]S W]E EV]Y:]E4 ,! ONLY K9SMAN ,I F\ND WAS ,APTEGIZHEK4 ,HE TOLD ME ! LA/ ,EA/BRAN* K9 HAD BE5 PU%$ \T4 ,ALREADY BE=E ! TREATY C\NCIL1 ,9VAD]S HAD BE5 D[N+ TREES1 KILL+ ANIMALS1 F5C+ FIELDS1 SO ?AT EV]Y W9T] ! VILLAG]S HAD />V$4 

,TOO WEAK TO \/ ! ,9VAD]S FROM ! HUNT+ GR\NDS & FIELDS1 ! VILLAG]S HAD AT LA/ AB&ON$ !IR HOME & FL$ WE/W>D T[>D ,EA/BRAN* K9 :O HAD FL$ E>LI]4 ,MY FRI5D ,MUNS & HIS MO!R ,MEK+ES W]E AMONG ! />VEL+S :O SET \T 9 SE>* ( FIELDS & =E/S UNTRAMPL$ BY ,9VAD]S4 ,IT WAS A SAD SI<T4 ,APTEGIZHEK M\RN$1 & !N GAVE AWAY ! SCROLLS :I* TOLD ( ! E>LI] W&]+S ( ! ,EA/BRAN* ,ROOTK94 ,HE GAVE ! SCROLLS TO ONE :O PROMIS$ TO BURY !M 9 ! EA/1 BY ! ,OCEAN%ORE1 AT ! PLACE :]E ! E>LI] W&]+S ( ! ,EA/BRAN* K9 HAD 5D$4 

,APTEGIZHEK HAD NOT ACCOMPANI$ EI!R HIS K9 OR HIS SCROLLS2 HE HAD /AY$ 9 ,KEKIONGA ) ! FEW ,EA/BRAN* K9 :O PREF]R$ />VATION OV] MIGRATION4 ,HE TOLD ME ! ,9VAD]S NAM$ ! PLACE ,=T ,VA91 AFT] ! HEADMAN :O HAD KILL$ MY GR&FA!R AT ! FALL5 TREES1 BUT ! PLACE REMA9$ ,KEKIONGA SO LONG AS ANY ,ROOTK9 LIV$ 9 IT4 ,HE TOLD ME HIS C\S9 ,ONIMU% HAD M>RI$ A DAU<T] ( AN ,9VAD] AS SOON AS ,MEK+ES & ,MUNS W]E GONE4 ,HIS C\S9 ,BIJIKI HAD M>RI$ AN ,9VAD]'S DAU<T] ALREADY E>LI]4 ,BIJIKI'S SON ,KEZHEK HAD FL$ TO ,PIQUA 9 SE>* ( ,WAPMIMI & ! FEW ,S\?BRAN* K9 :O /ILL LIV$ 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 

,APTEGIZHEK WAS *E]$ BY MY MISSION4 ,HE SAID HE HOP$ ! ,FIREKEEP]S W]E /RONG] ?AN ! ,EA/BRAN* K94 ,HE AGRE$ TO GO TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM ) ME4 ,WE LEFT ,KEKIONGA & FOLL[$ ! C>AVAN ?AT C>RI$ HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS & HIS SIGN]S1 9T]PRET]S1 GIFTS & :ISKEY T[>D ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,MY UNCLE ,TOP9BI WAS ! C>AVAN'S GUIDE4 ,APTEGIZHEK'S C\S9S ,ONIMU% & ,BIJIKI TRAVEL$ ) MY UNCLES ,GAB9YA & ,ATSIMET NE> ! HEAD ( ! C>AVAN4 

,! ,LAKEBOTTOM TEEM$ ) MORE PEOPLE ?AN ,I HAD EV] SE5 GA!R$ 9 ONE PLACE4 ,! ,9VAD]S' HEADMAN & HIS AG5TS W]E WELCOM$ BY TRAD] ,K9-SIC1 :O 9/ALL$ !M 9 LODGES & /ORES ?AT HAD ONCE BE5 ,S&YPO9T'S4 ,! ,9VAD]S & !IR W>ES W]E LIKE A T9Y ISL& 9 A TURBUL5T SEA2 ! ,LAKEBOTTOM PLA9 WAS CR[D$ ) HE>?S & T5TS EXT5D+ AS F> AS AN EYE C\LD SEE4 ,FIREKEEP]S FROM EV]Y CORN] ( ! ,GREAT ,LAKES HAD RESPOND$ TO ! CALL2 ,I WAS TOLD ?AT K9 FROM SEV5TY-F\R VILLAGES W]E GA!R$ ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 

,I ACCOMPANI$ ,APTEGIZHEK FROM ONE HE>? TO ! NEXT4 ,HIS SADNESS LEFT HIM :5 HE SAW ,M5A%I'S SON ,WIMEGO1 ! GR&SON ( ,%ECOGOSIKWE1 & :5 HE SAW ,NAGANWATEK'S SON ,%AWANETEK1 ! GR&SON ( ,WAGO%KWE4 ,! GR&*ILDR5 W\LD NOT GR[ UP 9 A DECOMPOS+ WORLD4 ,AT EV]Y HE>? WE FELT ! DET]M9ATION ( K9 :O KNEW ?AT ! L& C\LD NOT BE C$$1 ?AT E>? C\LD NOT BE B>GA9$ AWAY4 ,!RE WAS NO NE$ = ,W$ASI'S ?REATS OR W> DANCES4 ,! M]E PRES5CE ( SO MANY K9 KEPT ,TOP9BI & O!R GIFT-SEEK]S FROM (F]+ !IR SIGNATURES TO ! L&GRABB]S4 

,A FLOOD OR E>?QUAKE C\LD NOT HAVE CAUS$ GREAT] %OCK ?AN ! NEWS ?AT SUDD5LY SPREAD FROM HE>? TO HE>?4 ,UNABLE TO COAX ANY ,FIREKEEP]S 9TO SIGN+ HIS TREATY1 HEAD MAN ,LOOS-GAS HAD FILL$ HIS LEAF ) ! NAMES ( HIS [N AG5TS & 9T]PRET]S4 ,GAB9YA & ,ATSIMET1 ,BIJIKI & ,ONIMU%1 ,WIT-NAGS & ,K9-SIC & O!RS ) ! FA9TE/ ( L9KS TO ! ,P59SULA'S ,ROOTK9 HAD SIGN$ ! LEAF AS *ILDR5 ( ,FIREKEEP]S BY BIR? OR M>RIAGE4 ,! SIGN]S HAD BE5 REW>D$ ) GIFTS & ) TITLES TO SECTIONS ( ! ,P59SULA4 ,:5 ,APTEGIZHEK LE>N$ ( ?IS1 HE COV]$ HIMSELF ) E>?1 REMOV$ ! B&ANNA FROM HIS HEAD1 & W5T TO ! TRAD]S' CAMP1 TO HIS C\S9S ,ONIMU%1 ,BIJIKI & ! O!RS1 DISPLAY+ HIS SCALP$ HEAD1 HIS BODY R$UC$ TO DIRT4 

,! ,FIREKEEP]S BEGAN TO DISP]SE1 KN[+ ?AT ! GIFT- SEEK]S AMONG !M W]E NOT ! SNAKES 9 ! GRASS1 ?AT !IR %[ ( DET]M9ATION TO HOLD ON TO ! L& HAD NOT /OPP$ OR EV5 DELAY$ ! ,9VAD]S1 ?AT ! TREATY C\NCILS W]E NEI!R TREATIES NOR C\NCILS4 ,& AS SOON AS ! GA!R$ ,FIREKEEP]S DISP]S$1 ,CAKIMA & ,TOP9BI RU%$ TO ! HEADMAN'S CAMP = !IR %>E ( ! GIFTS & SECTIONS4 

,NA%K[ATAK LAT] TOLD ME ?AT ,M5A%I ACCOMPANI$ ,CAKIMA & PRET5D$ TO DISPLAY YELLO:AIR$ ,WIMEGO TO HIS K9SM52 H] REAL 9T5TION WAS TO DISPLAY H]SELF4 ,9VIT$ TO RETURN ALONE = PRIVATE C\NCILS ) ,BIJIKI1 ,GAB9YA1 ,WIT-NAGS & HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS HIMSELF1 ,M5A%I LEFT ,WIMEGO ) ,WAMO%KE%EKWE & RETURN$ TO ! ,9VAD]S4 ,%E EM]G$ FROM H] C\NCILS ) MORE GIFTS & SECTIONS ?AN ALL ! O!RS PUT TOGE!R2 ,M5A%I BECAME ! FIR/ AMONG ! PRO/ITUTES4 

,%&O LAT] TOLD ME ?AT HIS MO!R ,MIK5OKWE HAD ALSO C\NCIL$ ) HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS1 NOT TO ACQUIRE GIFTS & L& SECTIONS1 BUT TO REQUE/ ?AT A ,BLACKROBE BE S5T TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,MIK5OKWE & O!R CROSSWE>]S WANT$ TO PUT AN 5D TO ! ANCI5T R5EWAL C]EMONIES ?AT W]E /ILL REMEMB]$ BY ! ,FIREKEEP]S4 

,I LOOK$ = ,APTEGIZHEK DUR+ ! G5]AL DISP]SAL4 ,I F\ND HIM SITT+ BY ! LAKE'S %ORE1 AWAY FROM ! COMMOTION1 HIS BODY COV]$ ) DIRT1 HIS HEAD UNB\ND4 ,HE WAS AS ?9 AS A /ICK4 ,HE LOOK$ AT ME BUT DIDN'T SEE ME4 ,HIS EYES W]E BLOOD R$ & SPOKE ( 9T5SE PA91 AS IF HE HAD BE5 SCALP$1 NOT ON ! ,TUSC>AWAS =TY SUMM]S E>LI]1 BUT ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM ! PREVI\S DAY4 ,I SAT D[N BY HIM & LOOK$ ACROSS ! LAKE T[>D ! ,P59SULA4 ,HIS NEPHEW ,NAGANWATEK LAT] GUID$ HIM BACK TO ,KEKIONGA4 

,9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ALL EYES1 9CLUD+ M9E1 TURN$ T[>D ,M5A%I4 ,%E SEEM$ TO BE DRIV5 BY ! SPIRIT ( ! GRE5/ONE P5DANT ?AT HAD ONCE BE5 ,%UTAHA'S1 ! P5DANT ?AT ALWAYS DANGL$ PROM95TLY BETWE5 ,M5A%I'S BREA/S LIKE AN ANGRY1 DEFIANT & MISPLAC$ EYE4 ,%UTAHA HAD US$ H] P[]S TO TRANS=M SICK /RANG]S 9TO HEAL?Y ,TURTLEFOLK4 ,M5A%I SEEM$ B5T ON TRANS=M+ EV]YONE >\ND H] 9TO MO?S ?AT REVOLV$ >\ND H] FIRE4 

,RETURN+ FROM ! ,LAKEBOTTOM ) SEV]AL CANOE-LOADS ( BLANKETS1 CLO!S & :ISKEY1 ,M5A%I ECLIPS$ ,CAKIMA & ,TOP9BI AS ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S GIFT-BR+]4 ,%E DID NOT RETURN TO ,TOPA%'S LODGE ) ,NA%K[ATAK & ,WIMEGO1 BUT 9/ALL$ H]SELF ALONGSIDE ,CAKIMA 9 ! /ORE1 & SOON HUNT]S1 RUM- C>RI]S1 EV5 ,BLUEJACKETS VE]$ AWAY FROM !IR PA?S & 5T]$ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE SEEK+ ! WOMAN ) ! GRE5 P5DANT4 ,! VISITORS BECAME DEM5T$ ! MOM5T !Y SET !IR EYES ON ! GRE5/ONE4 ,!Y >RIV$ ) BLANKETS1 CO9S1 P[D]1 RIFLES1 FOOD2 !Y LEFT ,CAKIMA'S LODGE ) NO?+ BUT !IR %IRTS4 ,*EBANSI'S C5SURI\S ,NOTANOKWE TRI$ TO \/ ,M5A%I FROM ,CAKIMA'S LODGE & RECRUIT$ ,MIK5OKWE TO HELP H]1 BUT ,*EBANSI AS WELL AS ,CAKIMA HELD ON TO ,M5A%I4 ,! /ORE PROSP]$2 ITS GIFTS W]E LUR+ ALL ( ! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S FURS AWAY FROM ,K9-SIC4 ,*EBANSI & ,TOP9BI W]E TURN$ 9TO >RANG]S & SU/A9]S ( ,M5A%I'S 5C\NT]S4 

,KOYO%KWE & ,I KEPT \R DI/ANCE FROM ! TRAD+ LODGE1 BUT \R PA?S KEPT CROSS+ ,M5A%I'S4 ,NA%K[ATAK1 AB&ON$ BY ,M5A%I1 BR\<T LITTLE ,WIMEGO TO ,METEYA'S TO PLAY ) ,W$ASI'S SON ,MIK9AK4 ,NA%K[ATAK & ,I TOOK ! BOYS TO ! FIELDS OR H]B-GA!R+ ) ,KOYO%KWE1 ON WALKS 9TO ! WOODS ) ,METEYA4 ,KOYO%KWE & ,I 5ACT$ ANCI5T PLANT+ C]EMONIES BE=E ! BOYS1 S++ ! OLD SONGS & LOS+ \RSELVES 9 FRAGM5TS ( OLD DANCES4 ,BUT ,M5A%I LET US KN[1 ) GLANCES & SOMETIMES ) WORDS1 ?AT ,WIMEGO WAS H] SON1 & ?AT HE WAS ) US ONLY BECAUSE %E WASN'T YET READY TO TAKE HIM FROM US4 

,M5A%I'S EFFECT ON ,DAMU%KEKWE CREAT$ DAILY W> 9 ,METEYA'S LODGE4 ,DISAPPO9T$ ?AT H] & ,W$ASI'S W> C\NCILS HAD NOT L$ TO BLOOD%$ ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 ,DAMU%KEKWE CA/ 5VI\S EYES T[>D ,M5A%I1 CONSID]+ ,M5A%I'S FLEEC+ ( GUE/S A GREAT] FEAT ?AN ANY W>RIOR'S4 ,DAMU%KEKWE GREW EV] MORE CONTEMPTU\S ( W>RIOR ,W$ASI1 RIDICUL+ HIS DISABILITY1 CALL+ HIM A DO-NO?+ :O W>R$ ONLY ) HIS M\?1 EV5 ?REAT5+ TO MOVE TO ,CAKIMA'S & TO TAKE ,MIK9AK ) H]4 

,GREAT COMMOTION WAS CAUS$ BY ! COM+ ( ! ,BLACK ROBE REQUE/$ BY ,MIK5OKWE4 ,A MAN CALL$ ,MA-CAYN9 >RIV$ ) HIS FAMILY1 SEV]AL ASSI/ANTS1 & ) C>TLOADS ( FURNITURE2 IT WAS OBVI\S ?AT HE 9T5D$ TO /AY4 ,MIK5OKWE & ,*EBANSI'S FRU/RAT$ ,NOTANOKWE PREP>$ AN ELABORATE WEL COME4 ,MA-CAYN9 LET IT BE KN[N ?AT HE DID NOT TOL]ATE PRO/ITUTION ANY MORE ?AN HE TOL]AT$ :ISKEY4 ,KOYO%KWE & #a ?\<T ! CROSSWE>]S HAD BE5 GIV5 A P[]FUL ALLY & ?AT ,M5A%I W\LD BECOME 5TANGL$ 9 A TUG ( W> ) ! CROSSWE>]S & W\LD LEAVE ! RE/ ( US 9 PEACE4 ,BUT IT WAS ,MIK5OKWE :O LA%$ \T AGA9/ ! NEWCOM]4 ,%E COM PLA9$ ?AT HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS HAD S5T ! WRONG TYPE ( CROSSWE>]1 ?AT ,MA-CAYN9 WAS AN EVANGELI/ LIKE ?OSE :O HAD H\ND$ ,MIK5OKWE \T ( ,S&USKY1 ?AT HE WASN'T A PROP] ,BLACKROBE4 ,& AS SOON AS ,MIK5OKWE TURN$ AGA9/ ! NEWCOM]1 ,M5A%I DREW HIM 9TO H] NET2 %E PLAC$ H]SELF BETWE5 ,MA-CAYN9 & ! ?+S HE NE$$ FROM ,CAKIMA'S /ORE1 & %E PROMIS$ TO FILL ,MA-CAYN9'S MISSION- LODGE ) CONV]TS & HIS S*OOLH\SE ) *ILDR5 ( ,FIREKEEP]S4 

,ADOPTION ( ,WIMEGO 

  

,KOYO%KWE WAS A WOND]4 ,%E L$ ! *ILDR5 TO FIELDS & CLE>+S1 %[+ !M H]BS1 S++ !M ANCI5T SONGS4 ,W$ASI'S SON1 EAG] TO LE>N HIS FA!R'S W>RIOR SKILLS1 DID NOT OP5 HIMSELF TO ,KOYO%KWE'S GIFTS BUT WIDE-EY$ ,WIMEGO DREW 9 ALL %E GAVE HIM & ASK$ = MORE4 ,& ,KOYO%KWE'S GIFTS AMAZ$ ME4 ,%E TOOK UP A SONG OR /ORY ONLY AFT] ,I />T$ IT1 BUT ONCE %E BEGAN1 %E W5T TO REALMS :]E ,I HAD NEV] BE54 

,%E SANG1 ) A CONVICTION ,I LACK$1 ( \R K9%IP ) SWIMM]S1 FLI]S & CRAWL]S1 ( ! MIGRATIONS ( \R ANCE/ORS OV] ! L& ( ICE TO ! WOODL&S ( ,KI*IGAMI1 ( ! W>S AMONG ,KI*IGAMI'S F\R PEOPLES & !IR PEACE AT ! C\NCIL ( ?REE FIRES4 ,%E HAD NEV] SE5 ! CONT5TS ( MY BUNDLE BUT WAS FAMILI> ) ! MEAN+ ( EV]Y?+ 9 IT EXCEPT ! HAIRLOCK4 ,KOYO%KWE WAS ! TRUE HEIRESS ( ,%UTAHA'S P5DANT1 NOT ,M5A%I4 ,KOYO%KWE CREAT$ ! HEAL?Y GR\ND \T ( :I* %OOTS C\LD GR[ UNHAMP]$4 ,%E EXPRESS$ H] GRATITUDE TO ME1 BUT IT WAS %E1 NOT ,I1 :O REK9DL$ A FIRE ?AT HAD BE5 FALT]+4 ,NA%K[ATAK1 ,TOPA% & EV5 ,TOP9BI VISIT$ \R LODGE SEEK+ ! W>M? ( ! REK9DL$ FIRE4 

,BUT MY C\S9 ,M5A%I HAD SET \T TO EXT+UI% EV]Y FIRE BUT ONE4 ,%E TURN$ UP AT ,METEYA'S LODGE4 ,EV]YONE ?\<T %E'D COME TO FET* ,WIMEGO AWAY FROM ME & ,KOYO%KWE4 ,I PLAC$ MYSELF BETWE5 ! BOY & HIS MO!R1 READY TO PROTECT ,WIMEGO FROM ,MA-CAYN9'S MISSION & S*OOL4 ,M5A%I WALK$ PA/ EV]YONE1 /RAI<T T[>D ME1 H] D>K EYES BURN+ 9TO M9E4 ,BEL[ ! FI]CE EYES DANGL$ ! GRE5/ONE P5DANT4 ,MY EYES W]E DRAWN TO IT1 MY HE>T BEAT LIKE A DUCK'S W+S1 MY PREP>$ WORDS BUN*$ UP 9 MY ?ROAT4 ,A H& CAME T[>D ME1 & ,I SAW ! H& AS ,UDATONTE'S REA*+ = M9E ?R\< FOG4 

,I PLAC$ MY H& 9TO H]S1 & :5 %E PULL$1 ,I FOLL[$1 READY TO BE DRAWN 9TO ,UDATONTE'S CANOE4 ,%E PULL$ ME PA/ ,KOYO%KWE1 ,METEYA1 ,TOPA% & ,NA%K[ATAK1 PA/ ! C\NCILGR\ND & ! FUR!/ LODGES1 ALONG ! RIV]BANK1 9TO ! =E/4 ,DRESS$ 9 A GLI/5+ DRESS MADE ( ,9VAD]S' CLO?1 %E /RET*$ \T ON A GRASS B$1 H] EYES 9VIT+ ME TO LIE BESIDE H]4 ,I KNEW ,I WAS NOT ) ,UDATONTE4 ,I WAS NOT FILL$ ) LOVE4 ,I WAS FILL$ ) DESIRE4 ,I WAS 5TRANC$4 ,I HAD SE5 A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN1 MY AUNT ,SUZAN1 ONLY ONCE & ONLY = AN 9/ANT4 ,M5A%I'S D>K EYES1 H] P>T$ LIPS1 H] BLACK HAIR1 H] FIRM BODY PU%$ ALL O!R ?\<TS \T ( MY HEAD4 ,I LET H] GUIDE MY H& TO H] BREA/1 H] /OMA*1 H] ?I<S1 MY HEAD T[>D ! P5DANT1 MY M\? TO H] BOSOM4 ,I BURN$ ) DESIRE & /ILL %E PLAY$1 5TANGL+ H] >MS & LEGS 9 M9E & DIS5TANGL+ AS WE ROLL$ OV] EA* O!R ON ! GRASS UNTIL1 BO? ( US PANT+1 NAK$ & COV]$ ) SWEAT1 WE LUNG$ AT EA* O!R & JO9$4 

,I'D HAD A S5SATION ( FULLNESS ) ,UDATONTE4 ,I FELT COMPLETELY EMPTY1 DRY1 :5 ,M5A%I L$ ME BACK ?R\< ! VILLAGE TO ,CAKIMA'S LODGE4 ,I FOLL[$ LIKE A LOYAL DOG4 ,%E PUT ME 9 A ROOM ) A WIDE B$1 & ,I /AY$ 9 ! ROOM AS IF ! W9D[S W]E B>R$ & ! DOOR LOCK$2 ,I WRI!D ) LONG + = ,M5A%I'S RETURN4 ,MY M9D HAD NO ROOM = ?\<TS ( BETRAY$ ,KOYO%KWE1 ( BETRAY$ ,NA%K[ATAK1 ( AB&ON$ ,WIMEGO1 ( ! ,FIREKEEP]S' BUNDLE :I* ,I HAD LEFT ON ! GRASS 9 ! =E/4 

,M5A%I'S ROOM WAS NO ,GRASSLAKE1 & ,I SOON CAME TO HATE"9 ITS B>E WALLS1 BUT /ILL ,I REMA9$ 9 IT1 LONG+ = NO?+ BUT H] RETURN4 ,I KNEW ?AT %E B$D$ ) O!R M5 9 O!R ROOMS1 BUT ,I FE>$ ONLY ?AT %E W\LDN'T RETURN TO ME4 ,I WAS ,M5A%I'S PRISON]1 A FI% CAU<T 9 H] NET4 

,I GRADUALLY BECAME AW>E ?AT !RE W]E O!R FI% 9 H] NET1 ?AT %E HAD SET \T TO 5ME% ALL P]SONS SUSCEPTIBLE TO H] P[]S & TO ISOLATE ?OSE :O W]E IMP]VI\S4 ,%E LUR$ ,DAMU%KEKWE AWAY FROM ,W$ASI1 9/ALL$ ,DAMU%KEKWE 9 2I ROOM ) A WIDE B$1 & L$ ,W$ASI'S SON TO ,MA-CAYN9'S S*OOL4 ,%E LUR$ ,WAMO%KE%EKWE AWAY FROM ,%&O1 & 9/ALL$ H] 9 ANO!R ROOM1 & TRI$ UNSUCCESSFULLY TO PUL ,I ! BOY ,POGON AWAY FROM HIS CROSSWE>+ GR&MO!R ,MIK5OKWE4 ,%E PULL$ H] [N ,WIMEGO AWAY FROM ,KOYO%KWE & 9/ALL$ HIM 9 ! S*OOL4 

,! /ORE FILL$ ) TRADE-GIFTS1 ! MISSION FILL$ ) S*OOL*ILDR51 & ,BISON ,PRAIRIE PROSP]$4 ,! :OLE VILLAGE GL[$ ) A LI<T ?AT EMANAT$ FROM ,M5A%I4 ,CAKIMA & ,*EBANSI W]E H] ABLE/ ACCOMPLICES4 ,CAKIMA HAD ALWAYS WANT$ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S *ILDR5 TO BE TRANS=M$ 9TO TRAD]S BY ! ,9VAD]S' S*OOLS & %E C\LD NOT BUT ADMIRE ,M5A%I'S SUCCESS4 ,*EBANSI1 OBSESS$ BY ! DESIRE TO GA!R ALL ( ,MI%IGAMI'S FURS1 DIDN'T C>E H[ ! GIFTS OR ! FURS W]E LUR$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S /ORE4 

,I REMA9$ OBSESS$1 DEM5T$ BY MY DESIRE = ,M5A%I1 AL?\< AFT] TWO SEASONS 9 H] ROOM1 %AME ALONE W\LD HAVE KEPT ME FROM LEAV+ ! ROOM & FAC+ MY K94 ,! PASSAGE ( SEASONS 9CREAS$ ,M5A%I'S BEAUTY1 BUT NOT H] P[]4 ,M5A%I WAS A GRE$Y HUNTRESS1 BUT %E WAS NOT ,WISKE2 H] P[]S W]E GREAT1 BUT LIMIT$4 ,AFT] A SUMM]1 FALL & W9T]1 ! FUR PO/'S PROSP]ITY COLLAPS$4 ,M5A%I TOLD ME LITTLE1 BUT ,I LE>N$ MU* FROM ,WIMEGO :O SP5T HIS TIME AWAY FROM S*OOL ALONGSIDE ME1 WAIT+ = HIS MO!R4 

,WIMEGO TOLD ME ,TOP9BI & ,%&O W]E BACK FROM ! ,/RAIT ) NO?+ 9 !IR CANOES BUT ! PADDLES4 ,!Y HAD SET \T ) MORE FURS ?AN HAD EV] BE5 S5T \T ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE 9 A S+LE C>AVAN1 HAD BE5 AMBU%$ BY >M$ ,9VAD]S1 & HAD BE5 =TUNATE TO ESCAPE ) !IR LIVES & !IR CANOES4 ,*EBANSI WAS DESP]ATE2 HE HAD NO GIFTS TO (F] ! HUNT]S = !IR FURS2 ! ONLY GIFTS LEFT 9 ! /ORE W]E ?OSE (F]$ BY ,M5A%I1 ,DAMU%KEKWE & ,WAMO%KE%EKWE3 !IR WIDE B$S4 

,FROM ,WIMEGO ,I LE>N$ ( MY UNCLE ,GIZES'S >RIVAL 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ) A B& ( HUNT]S FROM ! WE/]N ,PLA9S4 ,W$ASI & ,TOP9BI C\NCIL$ ) ! WE/]N]S4 ,W$ASI'S SON ,MIK9AK RAN FROM ,MA-CAYN9'S S*OOL TO HE> ! C\NCILS4 ,GIZES TOLD ( PA?S UNTRODD5 BY ,9VAD]S1 ( BUFFALO H]DS SO POPUL\S !Y BLACK5$ ! HORIZONS1 ( =E/S :]E NO TREES HAD BE5 KILL$4 ,GIZES NO LONG] LIV$ ) ,%AB5I2 HE LIV$ ) ,%AB5I'S SON ,KOM5OTEYA & ) ! W>RIOR ,MACATAI- ME%EKIAKAK 9 A VILLAGE ( ,R$E>? & ,PLA9S K9 ON ! WE/]N %ORE ( ! ,LONG ,RIV]4 

,MY BRO!R ,W$ASI WAS SO IMPRESS$ BY ,GIZES'S DESCRIPTIONS ( ! L&S BEYOND ! ,LONG ,RIV] ?AT HE URG$ HIS SON ,MIK9AK TO LEAVE ! MISSION S*OOL & TAKE UP ! B[ & ! RIFLE4 ,W$ASI WAS READY TO BECOME ! TRA9] ( A NEW G5]ATION ( W>RIORS2 HE APP>5TLY EXPECT$ HIS LEG TO GR[ BACK :ILE HE CROSS$ ! ,LONG ,RIV]4 ,WIMEGO TOLD ME MY UNCLE ,TOP9BI WAS ALSO IMPRESS$ BY ,GIZES'S WORDS4 ,! AG+ ,TOP9BI PROBABLY SAW HIMSELF AS ANCI5T ,NANGISI1 ! FIR/ C>RI] ( ,9VAD]S' GIFTS TO K9 :O HAD NOT YET SE5 !M4 

,GIZES CAME & W5T4 ,MORE SEASONS PASS$4 ,I ACCOMPANI$ ,*EBANSI TO ! L&+PLACE & HELP$ UNLOAD CANOES1 BUT ,I /RAY$ NO FUR!R FROM ,CAKIMA'S LODGE1 FROM ,M5A%I'S ROOM4 ,M5A%I RETURN$ TO H] ROOM EV] LESS FREQU5TLY2 H] SON VISIT$ EV] MORE FREQU5TLY1 OCCASIONALLY ) HIS C\S9 ,MIK9AK4 

,WIMEGO REMEMB]$ ! SONGS ,KOYO%KWE & ,I HAD SUNG TO HIM2 HE WANT$ TO KN[ AB\T ! DREAM-SPIRITS2 HE EV5 BEGG$ ME TO BUILD HIM A FA/+ LODGE4 ,I REMEMB]$ MYSELF AT ! SAME AGE BEGG+ ! SAME FAVOR ( ,%AB5I4 ,BUT ,I F\ND EXCUSES NOT TO /IR4 ,I TOLD MYSELF ! BOY WAS TIMID2 HE FE>$ ,M5A%I2 HE W\LD BE FRI<T5$ TO DEA? BY A DREAM-SPIRIT4 ,MIK9AK WAS /RONG 5\< TO FA/1 BUT ,MIK9AK'S HEAD WAS FULL ( ,W$ASI'S WORDS2 HE WANT$ TO KILL1 NOT TO S+ OR DREAM4 ,I F\ND EXCUSES & ,I /AY$ :]E ,I WAS4 ,I TOLD MYSELF ,I WAS NO LONG] ! ,FIREKEEP]S' BUNDLE C>RI]4 ,I WAS FREE4 ,BUT ,I FELT EMPTY4 ,I LIV$ = ! MOM5TS ,M5A%I SP>$ ME1 & :5 %E LEFT ,I FELT YET EMPTI]4 

,I ALMO/ LEFT MY PRISON ON ! DAY :5 ,WIMEGO RAN 9TO ! ROOM HY/]ICALLY SEEK+ ,M5A%I1 HIS EYES R$ ) FE>1 HIS BODY TREMBL+4 ,I TRI$ 9 VA9 TO CALM HIM UNTIL ,M5ASLN CAME2 ,WIMEGO FELT SAFE ONLY :5 HE BURI$ HIS FACE 9 ,M5A%I'S BOSOM4 ,AT LA/ ,WIMEGO SAID BETWE5 SOBS ?AT ,MIK9AK HAD BE5 C>RI$ 9TO ! MISSION ) HIS >M BLE$ + BLOOD & ?AT ,W$ASI HAD BE5 HUNG BY ,9VAD]S4 ,I W2IS READY TO RUN \T BUT ,M5A%I HELD ME2 %E ALREADY KNEW :AT HAD HAPP5$4 

,MIK9AK & ,W$ASI HAD GONE ) ,KOYO%KWE TO A PLACE 9 ! =E/ :]E %E GA!R$ H]BS4 ,W$ASI WAS %[+ ,MIK9AK H[ TO AMBU% AN >MY ( ,BLUEJACKETS :5 ?REE >M$ M5 SURR\ND$ HIM & HIS SON4 ,?REE O!RS SUR R\ND$ ,KOYO%KWE1 BEAT H]1 P\NC$ ON H]1 EMPTI$ !N JUICES 9TO H]1 :ILE ,W$ASI1 P9N$ TO A TREE BY TWO ( ! >M$ M51 ,MIK9AK BY ! ?IRD1 HELPLESSLY WAT*$4 ,?9K + !Y HAD KILL$ ,KOYO%KWE1 ! M5 RELEAS$ ,W$ASI & ,MIK9AK & RU%$ AWAY4 ,W$ASI REA*$ = HIS B[ & %OT AN >R[ ?R\< ONE ( ! M5'S %IRT SLEEVES4 ,ALL SIX TURN$ & %OT !IR RIFLES1 MISS+ ,W$ASI1 GRAZ+ ,MIKLNAK'S >M ) A BULLET4 ,MIK9AK RAN 9TO ! VILLAGE SCREAM+ = HELP2 ,MA-CAYN9 & TWO ( HIS MISSION ASSI/ANTS RETURN$ TO ! SPOT ) ! BOY4 ,! M5 HAD CAPTUR$ LAME ,W$ASI & W]E READY TO HANG HIM FROM A TREE4 ,MA-CAYN9 SPOKE TO ! M5 ( ,HELL & ,DAMNATION UNTIL !Y LET ,W$ASI GO4 ,MIK9AK & ,W$ASI FA9T$ & HAD TO BE C>RI$ TO ! MISSION4 ,KOYO%KWE WAS C>RI$ TO H] LODGE4 ,NO ONE HAD DI$4 

,I HE>D ! H>DNESS 9 ,M5A%I'S VOICE4 ,I WANT$ TO RUN TO ,KOYO%KWE4 ,BUT /ILL ,M5A%I HELD ME4 ,%E TOLD ME ! CROSS WE>]S ,MIK5OKWE1 ,NOTANOKWE & !IR CONV]T ,NESOKI W]E /&+ GU>D 9 FRONT ( ,KOYO%KWE'S LODGE2 !Y DIDN'T LET EV5 ,WAMO%KE%EKWE GO TO H] SI/]'S SIDE1 H[L+ ?AT ,KOYO%KWE'S RAPE WAS ! ,LORD'S PUNI%M5T = ! DAILY S9S ( ,WAMO%KE%EKWE1 ,DAMU%KEKWE & ,M5A%I4 ,I /AY$ :]E ,I WAS4 ,I C\LD HAVE FAC$ ! CROSSWE>]S' H[LS NO BETT] ?AN ,WAMO%KE%EKWE DID1 & :5 ! %OCK LEFT ME ,I TOLD MYSELF ,I C\LD NOT HAVE FAC$ ,KOYO%KWE EI!R4 

,M5A%I'S H>DNESS 9ITIALLY SURPRIS$ ME2 9 TIME IT />T$ TO REPEL ME4 ,M5A%I WAS FRU/RAT$ & %E WAS ANGRY1 BUT H] ANG] WAS NOT DIRECT$ AT ! SIX PIONE]S :O HAD ASSAULT$ ,KOYO%KWE4 ,%E WAS ANGRY BECAUSE %E ?\<T ! SIX >M$ M5 W\LD HAVE S\<T ,M5A%I'S GIFTS 9 ! TRAD+ LODGE IF !Y HAD NOT F\ND ,KOYO%KWE 9 ! FIELD4 ,%E WAS ANGRY AT ,W$ASI = HIS FAILURE TO BLOCK ACCESS TO ,KOYO%KWE4 ,%E WAS ANGRY BECAUSE ,KOYO%KWE'S AVAILABILITY DEBAS$ ! VALUE ( ,M5A%I'S GIFTS4 ,M5A%I HAD BEGUN TO REASON AB\T H] GIFTS ! SAME WAY ,*EBANSI & ,CAKIMA REASON$ AB\T !IRS4 

,! NEXT TIME ,WIMEGO BUR/ 9 ON ME PANT+ ) FE>1 ,I DIDN'T WAIT = ,M5A%I TO RETURN & CALM HIM4 ,I BOLT$ \T ( MY ROOM & HURRI$ T[>D ! GA!R+ CR[D4 ,%&O1 /AGG]+1 WAS LEAD+ TWO HORSES TO ! VILLAGE1 ONE LAD5 ) BEAV] FURS1 ! O!R C>RY+ ! DEAD BODY ( ,TOP9BI4 ,CAKIMA HAD H] BRO!R'S BODY C>RI$ TO H] LODGE BY ,*EBANSI & ,NA%K[ATAK4 ,CAKIMA'S FACE WAS A MASK ( SORR[4 ,%E & H] BRO!R HAD BE5 CLOS] TO EA* O!R ?AN EI!R HAD BE5 TO ANYONE ELSE2 !Y HAD MIRROR$ & SUPPORT$ EA* O!R'S LIFELONG COMMITM5T TO ,WISKE'S WAYS4 ,I HAD NEV] BE=E SE5 ,CAKIMA WEEP4 

,%&O COLLAPS$4 ,IGNOR+ ! H[LS & WAILS LET LOOSE BY HIS CROSSWE>+ MO!R & H] FRI5DS1 ,I /AY$ BY ,%&O'S SIDE :ILE ,KOYO%KWE REVIV$ HIM4 ,EV]YONE 9 ! VILLAGE GA!R$ ON ! C\NCILGR\ND TO HE> HIS TALE4 

,TOP9BI & ,%&O HAD SET \T ) MISSION>Y ,MA-CAYN9 T[>D ! ,FIREKEEP]S' VILLAGES NOR? ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,TOP9BI W5T TO COLLECT FURS & ALSO TO CONV9CE ,MA-CAYN9 ?AT ,W$ASI WAS NOT ! ONLY Y\NG ,FIREKEEP] EAG] TO LEAVE ! ,P59SULA & MOVE WE/4 ,ALONG ! WAY1 ,TOP9BI %[$ ,MA-CAYN9 ! COMPLEXES ( M\NDS 9 ANCI5T BURIAL GR\NDS2 ! %E] SIZE ( ! M\NDS IMPRESS$ ,MA-CAYN9 :O ADMITT$ ?AT HE HAD CONSID]$ ONLY HIS FELL[-,9VAD]S CAPABLE ( SU* FEATS4 ,TOP9BI HAD SAID ?AT ,FIREKEEP]S W\LD REPEAT & SURPASS SU* FEATS IF ONLY !Y F\ND A PLACE :]E !IR V]Y EXI/5CE WASN'T ?REAT5$4 

,9 ! VILLAGES1 ,TOP9BI 9TRODUC$ ! MISSION>Y TO EV]Y ,FIREKEEP] :O WANT$ TO LEAVE ! BESIEG$ ,P59SULA4 ,MA- CAYN9 WAS CONV9C$2 HE PROMIS$ TO ASK ! HEADMAN ON ! ,/RAIT = ! SUPPLIES NE$$ = SU* A TRIP1 & HE SAID HE WAS WILL+ TO SET \T ) ,TOP9BI & ,%&O 9 SE>* ( A SUITABLE PLACE4 ,O!RS ACCOMPANI$ ,MA-CAYN9 BACK TO HIS MISSION :ILE ,TOP9BI & ,%&O GA!R$ !IR LA/ FURS4 

,ALONG !IR RETURN1 ,TOP9BI & ,%&O CROSS$ PA?S ) A P>TY ( L& MEASUR]S :O W]E GIRDL+ TREES--ELM1 A% & BIR* AS WELL AS SAP-DRIPP+ MAPLE4 ,TOP9BI APPROA*$ ! TREE-GIRDL]S & TOLD !M !Y W]E DE/ROY+ ! FOOD & %ELT] ( PEOPLE :O /ILL LIV$ 9 ?OSE WOODL&S1 & BEGG$ !M NOT TO 9VITE UNNECESS>Y ANG] & POSSIBLE VIOL5CE4 ,! L& MEASUR]S LI/5$ CALMLY1 BUT :5 ONE ( !M TURN$ VICI\S1 !Y ALL DID4 ,!Y TI$ ,TOP9BI & ,%&O TO TWO GIRDL$ TREES NE> ! L& MEASUR]S' NI<T CAMP4 ,9 ! MORN+ !Y RETURN$ ! HORSES BUT NOT ! FURS4 ,!Y C>RI$ ! B\ND CAPTIVES TO ! HORSES' BACKS & %OT 9TO ! AIR4 ,! HORSES BOLT$ & ,TOP9BI WAS ?R[N TO ! GR\ND4 ,SEE+ ?AT ,TOP9BI WAS DEAD1 ! M5 AB&ON$ ! FUR LOAD & FL$4 

,FIREKEEP]S FROM SEV5TY VILLAGES GA!R$ 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE = ! BURIAL4 ,FEW AMONG !M HAD ACCEPT$ GIFTS = DEAD BEAV]S1 BUT ALL ( !M HAD KN[N ,TOP9BI4 ,NA%K[ATAK DRANK HIMSELF TO S5SELESSNESS4 ,W$ASI HID 9SIDE ! MISSION1 HUMILIAT$ BY HIS FAILURE AS A W>RIOR1 TOO A%AM$ TO FACE ,MIK9AK & ! O!R REV5GE-SEEK+ Y\?S4 ,*EBANSI & ,CAKIMA BEGG$ ,%&O TO GO TO ! ,/RAIT & DEM& ! REP>ATIONS REPEAT$LY (F]$ BY ,LOOS-GAS = MURD]S P]PETRAT$ BY HIS AG5TS4 

,%&O HAD BE5 AFRAID TO GO TO ! ,/RAIT S9CE ! TIME HIS C>AVAN WAS AMBU%$1 & HE WAS MORE AFRAID N[4 ,I (F]$ MYSELF4 ,I KNEW ! WAY4 ,CAKIMA PREP>$ ! HORSE & ! FURS4 ,*EBANSI GAVE ME HIS TALK+ LEAVES & MISSION>Y ,MA- CAYN9 RAN TO ME ) LEAVES = HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS4 ,MIK5OKWE TOLD ME TO BE SURE TO ASK ,LOOS-GAS TO S5D A PROP] ,BLACKROBE4 ,I LOOK$ = ,M5A%I BUT %E WAS NOT :]E ,I C\LD SEE H]4 ,WIMEGO CAME TO ME1 HIS WIDE EYES PLEAD+4 ,I PROMIS$ TO BUILD HIM A FA/+ LODGE AS SOON AS ,I RETURN$4 ,JU/ BE=E ,I LEFT1 ,KOYO%KWE CAME T[>D ME4 ,SAY+ NO?+1 %E HUNG ! ,FIREKEEP]S' BUNDLE >\ND MY NECK4 

,REUNIT$ ) ! BUNDLE ( MY ANCE/ORS1 ,I SET \T = ! ,/RAIT1 FOLL[+ ! PA? ?AT C>RI]S HAD TAK5 = G5]ATIONS4 ,?\< ! HORSE C>RI$ FURS & ,I BORE MESSAGES = ! ,9VAD]1 ,I WAS MAK+ ?IS J\RNEY 9 ! HOPE ( F9D+ ! MEANS ( MA9TA9+ ! ,FIREKEEP]S' WAYS1 :E!R IT BE 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE OR WE/ ( ! ,LONG ,RIV]4 ,AS ,I TRAVEL$ EA/1 MY ?\<TS W]E SAD AS ,I OBS]V$ ! EV]-WID] SWA? ( DE/RUCTION ALONG ! R\TE4 

,MEMORIES & LONG+S CAUS$ ME TO LEAVE ! WIDE PA? & REVISIT ! %ORE ( ! ,GRASSLAKE :]E FIFTE5 YE>S E>LI] ,I HAD SP5T ! JOY-FILL$ DAYS & NI<TS ) ,UDATONTE4 ,SPREAD+ ! LOCK ( BLACK HAIR1 ! FEA!R1 ! FI%BONES1 ! %ELL & ! SCROLL FRAGM5TS 9 FRONT ( ME1 ,I WAS R5EW$ & /R5G!N$4 ,! SURR\ND+S BR\<T ME PEACE & ,I REMA9$ BY ! TREE ON ! %ORE ( ! LAKE S++ ( ?+S ,I HAD HE>D & SE54 

,BUT NOT EV5 SONGS AB\T LOVE & DREAMS W]E POSSIBLE BY ! ,GRASSLAKE4 ,AN 9TRUD+ PIONE] 9T]RUPT$ MY SONGS1 SCATT]$ MY MEMORIES4 ,HIS FIRE/ICK P]MITT$ HIM TO TREAT ME AS ! 9TRUD]4 ,I RETURN$ TO ! PA? LEAD+ TO ! ,/RAIT & F\ND MY WAY TO ! LODGE ( MY SI/] ,WABNOKWE & \R K94 

,BE=E REA*+ ! LODGE ,I WAS GREET$ BY A GR\P ( PLAY+ *ILDR51 MO/ ( !M BORN S9CE ,I HAD LEFT ! ,/RAIT ELEV5 SPR+S E>LI]3 ,WABNOKWE'S TW9 DAU<T]S ,MOLLY & ,M>TI1 AUNT ,M>GIT'S ,B5JY-MAY & H] GR&DAU<T] ,M>IANNE ,BROOKS4 ,AMONG !M WAS A Y\NG WOMAN ,M5DIDETI1 ) A LONG BLACK BRAID1 :O SPOKE 9 ,UDATONTE'S TONGUE4 ,I EAG]LY S\<T H] EYES1 EXPECT+ TO 5C\NT] ! FI]CE GAZE ( MY LO/ BRIDE4 ,9/EAD ,I F\ND EYES LIKE MY C\S9 ,MIMIKWE'S1 EYES ?AT SEEM$ TO BE LOOK+ ELSE:]E4 ,! HAIR1 TOO1 DIFF]$ FROM ,UDATONTE'S1 BE+ WAVY RA!R ?AN /RAI<T4 ,I FELT SUDD5 %AME = APPE>+ H]E AS A C>RI] & ,I WANT$ TO EXPLA9 TO ! BLACK-BRAID$ GIRL ?AT ,I HAD NOT J\RNEY$ TO ! ,/RAIT = ! ,9VAD]S' OBJECTS1 BUT 9 ORD] TO SEEK A WAY ( RETA9+ ! H>MONY BETWE5 E>? & ALL H] CREATURES4 ,! >RIVAL ( AUNT ,M>GIT & ,WABNOKWE PREV5T$ ME FROM EV5 BEG9N+ TO EXPLA9 ?AT ,I WAS NOT :AT %E SAW4 

,I TOLD ,WABNOKWE ,I HAD COME ) MESSAGES FROM \R ,BISON ,PRAIRIE K9 & ASK$ H] TO ASSEMBLE A C\NCIL SO ,I C\LD C>RY \T ! TASK 5TRU/$ TO ME4 ,I TOLD H] ,I W\LD SLEEP & FEA/ ONLY AFT] ,I HAD C\NCIL$ ) \R K94 

,! W>M? ?AT GREET$ MY >RIVAL WAS ABRUPTLY %ATT]$ BY ! SCREE* ( PA9 & ! BLACK SMOKE ( A FLOAT+ ISL& ?AT MOV$ 9 ! ,/RAIT4 ,! UGLY 9TRUSION ( ?IS MA*9E ON ! WAT]S NEXT TO ! GRAVES ( \R GR&MO!RS WAS SO PA9FUL ?AT ,I GREW CONFUS$1 ASK+ MYSELF :Y ,I HAD COME TO ?IS PLACE1 ?IS PLACE :I* REMA9$ /RANGE TO ME1 ASK+ IF MY GR&MO!RS C\LD =GIVE ME = ACCEPT+ ! TRANS=MATION ( !IR ,TIOSA ,RONDION4 

,WABNOKWE & ,JIM-MAY L$ ME 9TO ! H\SE1 BO? SEEM+ TO %>E MY PA9 AT ! SI<T ( ! FLOAT+ OBJECT4 ,JIM-MAY HAD GR[N TO MANHOOD S9CE ,I HAD LA/ SE5 HIM4 ,EXCEPT = HIS P5SIVE EYES1 HE RESEMBL$ HIS FA!R ,JAY-MAY SO CLOSELY ?AT ,I ?\<T P]HAPS HE W\LD DISCUSS MATT]S ( TRADE4 ,I SAW ,I WAS MI/AK5 :5 9/EAD ( ACC\NT BOOKS1 ,JIM-MAY PULL$ \T 9/RUM5TS & ASSEMBL$ PLAY]S4 ,! E*OES ( ! UNNATURAL1 9TRUD+ MA*9E W]E REPLAC$ BY ! WONDR\S S\NDS BR\<T 9TO ?IS WORLD BY ! F\R 9/RUM5TS ANTI !IR PLAY]S4 ,! MUSIC RE/OR$ MY S5SE ( HAV+ A PLACE AMONG MY K9 ON ! ,/RAIT4 

,AS ! ROOM FILL$ ) ?OSE COM+ TO C\NCIL1 ! MUSIC 5D$4 ,I PREP>$ A PIPE & :5 IT HAD BE5 PASS$ >\ND ! CIRCLE1 ,I TOLD AB\T ,TOP9BI'S & ,%&O'S VISIT TO ! L&S BEYOND ! ,LONG ,RIV] & AB\T ,TOP9BI'S MURD]4 ,I SPOKE ( ! UNC]TA9TY & DIVISIONS AMONG \R K9 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,SOME1 LIKE ,W$ASI & ,%&O1 WANT$ TO TAKE !IR FAMILIES TO ! WE/]N L&S4 ,O!RS1 LIKE ,CAKIMA & ,*EBANSI1 REFUS$ TO CONSID] AB&ON+ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,\R MO!R'S LIFE 5GAGEM5T HAD ! FUR PO/ AS ITS C5T] & %E & \R BRO!R W]E RESOLV$ TO CONT9UE IT4 

,I TOLD ( ! CON/ANT FE> ?AT LURK$ 9 ALL QU>T]S ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,9VAD]S & !IR WEAPONS W]E EV] MORE NUM]\S4 ,! =E/S & FIELDS ( \R ANCE/ORS W]E NO LONG] SAFE = ,ROOTK9 & MANY ( US SAW HOPE = \R PEOPLE'S R5EWAL ONLY 9 A DI/ANT PLACE4 ,I ASK$ MY SI/]1 C\S9S & K9 IF !Y C\LD CONSID] JO9+ ?OSE PLANN+ TO J\RNEY TO A NEW PLACE4 

,!IR ANGRY RESPONSES BUR/ =? LIKE A TORR5T4 ,BLACKHAIR$ ,M5DIDETI'S RESPONSE WAS EXPRESS$ 9 ,UDATONTE'S TONGUE & CAME AS QUE/IONS4 ,%E ASK$ IF ! ,FIREKEEP]S W]E PREP>$ TO SEE !MSELVES AS ,9VAD]S1 PREP>$ TO OCCUPY ! PRAIRIES ?AT BISON HUNT]S ROAM1 PREP>$ TO MAKE !IR HOME ON ! RIV]LESS PLA9S :I* >E SO UNLIKE ! ,P59SULA'S WOODL& %ELT]S4 ,%E ASK$ IF ! UPROOT$ K9 C\LD F9D A PA? :5 ! ,9VAD] FOLL[$ !M ACROSS ! ,LONG ,RIV] & BR\<T 9TO !IR NEW HOME ! FE>S !Y W]E N[ FLEE+4 ,I C\LD NOT ANSW] ! QUE/IONS POS$ BY ! BLACK-BRAID$ GIRL BUT !Y MADE ME SEE MYSELF AS ,I WAS SE51 & AGA9 ,I FELT %AME4 

,! SUDD5 ANG] ( AUNTS ,M>GIT1 ,JOZET & ,MONIK1 ( C\S9S ,LISA1 ,BE? & ,LIKET & ( ,WABNOKWE WAS C\NT]$ BY ,JAY-MAY'S1 ,WIT-NAGS' & ,KILL] ,BROOKS'S SUDD5 9T]E/4 ,!Y W]E 9DIFF]5T TO UNCLE ,TOP9BI'S DEA?1 BUT TALK ( ,ROOT- K9 AB&ON+ ! ,P59SULA BRI<T5$ !IR FACES & !IR WORDS4 ,TO !M1 ! PROSPECT ( MORE WOODL&S & MEAD[S ACCESSIBLE TO L& MEASUR]S1 TREE CUTT]S & F5CE-BUILD]S SEEM$ A MATT] IMPORTANT 5\< = A C\NCIL ) HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS4 ,M5DIDETI'S COMM5T :I* LIK5$ !SE M5 TO BIRDS ( PREY ONLY BRIEFLY 9T]RUPT$ !IR 5?USIASM4 ,AFT] *AS+ ,M5DIDETI FROM ! ROOM1 !Y RESUM$ !IR TALK4 ,DISMAY$ BY H[ MY NEWS HAD BE5 RECEIV$1 ,I FOLL[$ ! *ILDR5 :O LEFT ) ,M5DIDETI4 

,I /UMBL$ T[>D CLE> AIR1 TO A SPOT OV]LOOK+ ! N[ CALM RIV]4 ,9 ! DUSK1 ! *ILDR5 APPE>$ TO BE RE5ACT+ ! SC5E 9SIDE2 ,B5JI-MAY SAT LIKE HIS FA!R :ILE ,M5DIDETI EXT5D$ H] >MS & SANG ( GRE$Y VULTURES CIRCL+ !IR PREY4 ,BUT ! *ILDR5'S V]SION *ANG$ ! \TCOME4 ,:5 ,B5JI-MAY ROSE TO ATTACK ,M5DIDETI1 ! ATTACK] WAS P9N$ D[N BY ! GIRLS2 & ,M5DIDETI'S BLACK HAIR1 LOOS5$ FROM H] BRAID BY ! CAPTIVE'S FLAIL+ >M1 FELL OV] ! BOY'S *E/ LIKE DROOP+ BRAN*ES ( A WILL[4 ,! SONG & ! HEAV+ TORSO 5TRANC$ ME & ,I RE/$ MY HEAVY HEAD ON ! TRUNK ( ! TREE AT ! WAT]'S $GE4 ,FOG 5VELOP$ ME1 ! TREE & ! WAT]4 

,I WOND] IF ?IS IS ! N9? MOONLESS NI<T BY ! R\ND ROCK & ! TREE OV]HANG+ ! WAT] ( ! ,/RAIT4 ,!RE'S A S\ND 9 ! FOG :I* ,I FIR/ TAKE = WAT] LAPP+ ! %ORE1 BUT :5 ,I LOOK 9TO ! WAT] ,I SEE ,UDATONTE'S FACE RIS+ UP2 H] LIPS MEET M9E4 ,MY H& REA*ES = H]S & ,I CRAWL 9TO ! WAT]1 BECOM+ LIQUID1 FULL1 UNB\ND$4 ,WAT] ) A DREAM 9 ITS DEP?S1 A DREAM ?AT LOVE-PLAY ( SUN & MOON R\SE1 RUPTUR+ ! UNITY4 ,DESIRE EM]GES ON W+$ FRAGM5TS OSCILLAT+ BETWE5 L& & WAT]1 UNDECID$4 ,TURN+ ! WAT] 9TO H] BODY'S BLOOD1 E>? DECORATES H] MOI/5$ FLE% ) HAIR & WELCOMES ! SILV]Y-GRAY TURTLE SPAWN+ ON ITS SURFACE4 ,! P>5T TURNS ON ! *ILDR5 & SWALL[S ! (FSPR+4 ,!Y GIVE !MSELVES--BUT ONLY :5 !Y CAN'T AVOID BE+ EAT54 ,SOME ( US FLY 9TO ! AIR1 O!RS CRAWL UND] ROCKS1 YET O!RS WALK TO D5S4 

,\R SCALES FALL (F ON \R J\RNEY BEYOND S&'S 5D4 ,WE FLEE ! COLD SLU% ?AT SWALL[S \R C\S9S & W&] 9TO WOODL&S B\ND$ BY SEAS ( SWEET WAT]4 ,WE F9D ! TREE SPLIT BY A GREAT ROCK ?AT /&S ON ! %ORE ( ,KI*IGAMI'S WAT]S4 ,:5 A RAV5 LIFTS ME ON H] W+S ,I %>E ! FLI<T ( MY ,OCEAN%ORE GR&MO!R & WE M]GE ) ,YAHATASE :O SCATT]S SE$S & S+S ! LON<\SE SONGS ( E>?'S REG5]ATION4 ,WE (F] \RSELVES TO E>? & DISCOV] \RSELVES 9 ,MIOGWEWE1 EXPELL+ ,WISKE4 ,WE %>E ! SONGS & DREAMS ( ,ROOTK9 AS ,KATABWE1 AS ! W>RIOR-WOMAN :O TURNS AWAY FROM KILL+4 ,WE REJOICE AT ! SPL5DOR ( E>?'S GIFTS4 ,UDATONTE'S LOVE CAUSES \R LIMBS TO GR[ LI<T2 ! JOY IS FOLL[$ BY GRIEF AT \R LOSS4 ,) AMAZEM5T WE SEE1 ?R\< A T5T ( TRANSP>5T HAIR1 F\R GU%+ /REAMS ( LIQUID1 EA* %AP$ LIKE AN >*4 ,ON ! SPOT :]E ONE ( ! GU%+ >*ES REA*ES GR\ND1 A SAPL+ EM]GES2 :]E A SECOND /REAM HITS GR\ND AN EGG CRACKS1 A T9Y BIRD EM]GES2 A ?IRD JET L&S ON A WORM & ELONGATES IT 9TO ! WRI?+ BODY ( A SNAKE2 ! F\R? /REAM %[]S ! BODY ( A FURRY ANIMAL ?AT RISES ON ITS H9D LEGS LIKE A BE>4 ,TREMBL+1 WE HE> A BABY'S CRY ?AT REA*ES US ?R\< ! FOG4 

,EV5 BE=E OP5+ MY EYES1 ,I KNEW ,I WAS 9 ! ROOM :]E ,I HAD BE5 LOCK$ UP F\RTE5 SUMM]S E>LI]1 AFT] ,I HAD BE5 SEP>AT$ FROM ,UDATONTE4 ,N[ ! W9D[S W]5'T B>R$ & ! DOOR WASN'T LOCK$4 ,I WALK$ TO ! MUSIC ROOM1 DRAWN TO ! S\ND LIKE A BEE TO FL[]S4 ,! MUSIC /OPP$4 ,WABNOKWE L$ ME \T ( ! H\SE TO V5T H] ANG]4 ,I HAD EXCIT$ & UPSET EV]YONE ) MY ANN\NCEM5TS & 9T5TIONS1 & HAD !N GONE TO SLEEP = ?REE DAYS 9 A HID+PLACE BY ! ,/RAIT'S %ORE4 ,%E HAD >RANG$ = ! C\NCIL ,I HAD WANT$ ) HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS & HAD PO/PON$ IT BECAUSE %E C\LDN'T F9D ME4 

,I TOLD ,WABNOKWE ?AT ,I HADN'T SLEPT4 ,I HAD LE>N$ :O ,I WAS4 ,I HADN'T KN[N :O ,I WAS :5 ,I HAD EXPRESS$ A DESIRE TO LEAVE ! ,P59SULA4 ,I HELD ! M$IC9E BUNDLE ( ! ,P59SULA'S ,FIREKEEP]S & ,I W\LDN'T MOVE UNTIL ! ,P59SULA ITSELF MOV$4 ,I W\LD C\NCIL ) ,LOOS-GAS1 BUT ONLY TO DELIV] O!R PEOPLE'S MESSAGES4 ,MY MO/ URG5T DESIRE WAS TO RETURN TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,! ONLY P]SON ,I WANT$ TO SEE AGA9 WAS ! GIRL ) ! LONG BLACK BRAID BECAUSE %E REM9D$ ME ( SOMEONE ,I HAD KN[N4 ,I WAS DISAPPO9T$ TO LE>N ?AT ! GIRL HAD LEFT ! ,/RAIT :ILE ,I DREAM$2 %E HAD ACCOMPANI$ ,WABNOKWE'S DAU<T]S ON A VOYAGE T[>D ! ,OCEAN%ORE4 

,WABNOKWE BEGG$ ME NOT TO VANI% AGA9 BE=E ,I C\NCIL$ ) ! HEADMAN4 ,I DID VISIT ! SPOT ON %ORE ONCE AGA94 ,I DIDN'T SEE ! GREAT ROCK OR ! D\BLE-TRUNK$ TREE1 BUT ,I KNEW !Y W]E !RE4 ,ALL ,I SAW WAS A D5UD$ %ORE1 SQU>E LODGES1 A =T UP/REAM1 A ROAD1 SMOKE-SPEW+ %IPS 9 ! WAT]2 ,I KNEW ?AT !SE W]E ALL A BAD DREAM4 

,I C\NCIL$ ) HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS WE>+ MY BUNDLE \TSIDE MY %IRT4 ,LOOS-GAS1 A BIG MAN1 GR9N$ & B[$ AS HE LIT HIS TOBACCO TUBE4 ,HE TOLD ME HE'D HE>D ?AT ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S *IEF ,TO-P9-A-BEE1 AS HE CALL$ MY UNCLE1 HAD KILL$ HIMSELF BY FALL+ (F A HORSE :5 HE WAS DRUNK4 ,HE MU/ HAVE HE>D ?IS FROM ! L& MEASUR]S RESPONSIBLE = ,TOP9BI'S DEA?4 ,I H&$ HIM ! TALK+ LEAVES FROM ,*EBANSI & ,MA-CAYN94 ,LOOS-GAS FR[N$2 HE SAID HE W\LD HIMSELF GO TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TO COMP5SATE ,TOP9BI'S K94 

,HIS GR9 RETURN$ AFT] HE EXAM9$ ,MA-CAYN9'S LEAF4 ,HE SAID ?AT ! ,FIREKEEP]S :O WANT$ TO LEAVE ! ,P59SULA W]E S5SIBLE1 & ?AT HE W\LD URGE MISSION>Y ,MA-CAYN9 TO F9D !M A SUITABLE PLACE 9 ! WE/]N ,PLA9S4 ,HE ASK$ ME IF ,I TOO WAS EAG] TO LEAVE4 ,I TOLD HIM ?AT ,I W\LD CROSS ! ,LONG ,RIV] AFT] ,I DI$1 & ,I ASK$ HIM IF HE & HIS PEOPLE W]E S5SIBLE 5\< TO RETURN TO ! EA/4 ,LOOS-GAS FR[N$4 ,HE TOLD ME ,I HAD SPOK5 HIS LANGUAGE BETT] ! LA/ TIME HE HAD SE5 ME4 ,HE ?\<T ,I WAS ,NA%K[ATAK1 :O HAD ONCE BE5 A SOLDI] 9 ?IS HEADMAN'S >MY4 ,:5 ,I PREP>$ TO LEAVE HE TOLD ME1 /ILL FR[N+1 ?AT ,WABNOKWE & ,I & \R BRO!RS POSSESS$ TITLES :I* NO ONE C\LD VIOLATE1 ?AT WE C\LD /AY ON ! ,P59SULA AS LONG AS ! SUN KEPT RIS+4 

,I RETURN$ TO ,JAY-MAY'S LODGE = ! HORSE & ! MEAG] GIFTS4 ,I HAD NO?+ MORE TO SAY TO ,WABNOKWE OR ,M>GIT OR H] *ILDR54 ,I HEAD$ TO ,KEKIONGA1 TO ,APTEGIZHEK'S LODGE ON ! FR+ES ( A VA/ 5CAMPM5T ( ,9VAD]S4 ,APTEGIZHEK WAS A SKELETON ) A B&ANNA ON TOP4 ,HE C\LDN'T SEE WELL 5\< TO HUNT4 ,HE TOLD ME HIS C\S9 ,ONIMU% BR\<T HIM FOOD4 ,I /AY$ ) ,APTEGIZHEK ?R\< ! W9T]4 ,HE R>ELY LEFT HIS SMALL LODGE1 BUT HIS M9D /ILL ROAM$ OV] ,KI*IGAMI & ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,I TOLD HIM ,I HAD BE5 ) ,YAHATASE1 ,MIOGWEWE & ,KATABWE4 ,MY /ORY *E]$ HIM1 AS ,I KNEW IT W\LD4 

,! PA? FROM ,KEKIONGA WE/W>D WAS LITT]$ ) SIGNS ( PIONE]S4 ,! DEAD TREES1 CLE>$ PA?S REV]T+ TO =E/1 FIELDS ( /UNT$ COV] & AB&ON$ MAKE%IFT LODGES M>K$ ! >RIVAL & DEP>TURE ( PEOPLE :O MADE NO S5SE TO ME4 ,! SIGNS ACCOMPANI$ ME TO ! V]Y $GE ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,I LOOK$ = ,WIMEGO AS SOON AS ,I 5T]$ ! VILLAGE2 ,I WAS READY TO BUILD HIS FA/+ LODGE4 ,I WASN'T PREP>$ = ! NEWS ?AT GREET$ ME :5 ,I DELIV]$ ! HORSE & GIFTS TO ,CAKIMA & ,*EBANSI4 ,CAKIMA TOLD ME ,I HAD C>RI$ \T MY MISSION WELL4 ,HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS HAD LEFT ! ,/RAIT SOON AFT] ,I HAD C\NCIL$ ) HIM & HAD CALL$ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S TO A GA!R+ 9 ,KI!PEKANU4 ,LOOS-GAS HAD %[]$ ,CAKIMA ) GIFTS TO COMP5SATE H] = ! DEA? ( H] BRO!R1 HAD PROMIS$ TO /OP 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ON HIS RETURN J\RNEY TO CONFIRM ,CAKIMA'S TITLES & TO GRANT H] MORE1 & HAD S5T ALL ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S *ILDR5 TO A DI/ANT S*OOL4 

,DISMAY$ BY ,CAKIMA'S WORDS1 ,I RU%$ TO ,METEYA'S LODGE4 ,NA%K[ATAK GREET$ ME W>MLY1 ) NONE ( ! ANIMOSITY ,I ANTICIPAT$ S9CE ! DAY ,I HAD FOLL[$ ,M5A%I TO ! =E/4 ,HE TOLD ME HE REMEMB]$ ?AT HE HAD ONCE SEP>AT$ ME FROM MY BRIDE1 & HE ASK$ ME TO =GIVE HIM = SEP>AT+ ME FROM ,UDATONTE & ALSO FROM ,KOYO%KWE4 ,NA%K[ATAK TOLD ME ?AT AFT] ,M5A%I'S & ,WIMEGO'S DEP>TURE1 HE HAD MOV$ TO ,KOYO%KWE'S MAT4 ,KOYO%KWE1 GRATEFUL TO ANYONE :O ASK$ H] = ANY?+1 HAD NOT TURN$ HIM AWAY4 

,NA%K[ATAK WAS SURPRIS$ ?AT ,I DIDN'T KN[ :AT HAD HAPP5$ TO ! *ILDR54 ,HE ?\<T ,I HAD MADE ! >RANGEM5TS TO REMOVE ! *ILDR5 FROM PIONE]-5CIRCL$ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,MA-CAYN9 HAD RECEIV$ WORD ( ! ,WABA% GA!R+ & HAD C>RI$ WORD TO ,CAKIMA & ,M5A%I4 ,CAKIMA HAD BEGG$ ,NA%K[ATAK TO ACCOMPANY H] TO ,KI!PEKANU BECAUSE ,*EBANSI REFUS$ TO LEAVE ! /ORE & ,W$ASI REFUS$ TO BUDGE FROM ! MISSION4 ,M5A%I & ,MA-CAYN9 DRAGG$ ! *ILDR5 TO ! ,WABA%2 ,NA%K[ATAK WASN'T TOLD :Y4 ,! AIM ( HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS WAS TO DEPRIVE ! ,WABA% ,PRAIRIEK9 ( !IR L&S4 ,NA%K[ATAK'S AIM WAS TO DR9K AS MU* :ISKEY AS HE C\LD LAY HIS H&S ON4 ,EV]Y?+ WAS OV] BE=E ,NA%K[ATAK LE>N$ :AT HAD HAPP5$4 

,AFT] CONCLUD+ HIS TREATY ) ! ,PRAIRIEK91 ,LOOS-GAS TOLD ! ,FIREKEEP]S ?AT HE HAD C\NCIL$ ) ,BURR-NET'S SON1 MEAN+ ME1 & ?AT HE WAS READY TO FULFILL ! PROMISES HE HAD MADE TO ME4 ,HE GAVE TRAVEL+ SUPPLIES & ELABORATE PROMISES TO ,M5A%I1 ,DAMU%KEKWE & O!RS :O W]E WILL+ TO ACCOMPANY HIM TO ! WE/]N %ORE ( ! ,LONG ,RIV]2 HE GAVE COMP5SATION GIFTS TO ,CAKIMA2 & HE HAD ! *ILDR5 S5T TO A S*OOL CALL$ AN ACADEMY F> S\? ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]4 ,%&O'S SON ,POGON1 ,W$ASI'S ,MIK9AK & ,NA%K[ATAK'S ,WIMEGO W]E AMONG ! *ILDR5 L$ AWAY TO ! DI/ANT ACADEMY4 

,I TOLD ,NA%K[ATAK ?AT ,I HAD MET ) ! HEADMAN1 BUT HAD ASK$ = NO?+ & APPROV$ NO?+4 ,NA%K[ATAK TOLD ME ,LOOS-GAS HAD US$ ME ! WAY HE US$ ! SIGNATURES ON HIS TREATIES1 AS A COV] = HIS NEXT MOVE4 ,LOOS-GAS WANT$ US TO CONS5T TO EV]Y W\ND HE 9FLICT$ ON US1 & HE RECRUIT$ \R FE>S & \R GRE$ TO SQUEEZE ?AT CONS5T \T ( US4 ,M5A%I & ,DAMU%KEKWE W]E REW>D$ ) A M\ND ( GIFTS = EV]Y *ILD S5T AWAY4 ,%&O WAS PROMIS$ A REFUGE AWAY FROM AMBU%ES & MURD]S4 ,CAKIMA FAVOR$ ! S*OOL+ ( ! *ILDR54 ,CROSSWE>+ ,MIK5OKWE W\LD HAVE RAIS$ A CRY TO /OP ! KIDNAPP+ ( H] GR&SON ,POGON1 BUT ,M5A%I & ,%&O HAD BE5 C>EFUL NOT TO =EW>N ,MIK5OKWE1 & %E HADN'T GONE TO ! ,WABA% GA!R+4 ,NA%K[ATAK C\LDN'T HAVE /OPP$ ! KIDNAPP+4 ,EV5 IF HE'D KN[N ?AT ,LOOS-GAS WAS US+ ME1 & IF HE'D BE5 SOB]1 HE C\LD NOT HAVE COP$ ) ,%&O'S FE> OR ,M5A%I'S GRE$4 

,M5A%I WAS GONE4 ,NA%K[ATAK SPOKE CRUELLY ( H]4 ,HE SAID %E HAD GONE TO F\ND H] [N H\SE ( PRO/ITUTES--HE NAM$ IT ,M5A%I'S SUNSET :OREH\SE--9 A PLACE :]E ! MONOPOLY ( SEXUAL FAVORS W\LD BE GU>ANTE$ BY ! HEADMAN'S TROOPS2 ,DAMU%KEKWE WAS H] FIR/ RECRUIT4 ,I %>$ MU* ( ,NA%K[ATAK'S RES5TM5T1 & ,I WAS DISMAY$ BY ,M5A%I'S SACRIFICE ( H] SON4 ,BUT ,I ALSO PITI$ H]4 ,BEAUTIFUL ,M5A%I WORE ,%UTAHA'S P5DANT & %E KNEW H[ TO WIELD ,%UTAHA'S P[]S4 ,9 DIFF]5T CIRCUM/ANCES %E MI<T HAVE REPEAT$ OR EV5 SURPASS$ ,%UTAHA'S FEATS4 ,I ALSO PITI$ ,DAMU%KEKWE1 A GIRL-W>RIOR LIKE MY GR&MO!R ,KATABWE1 R$UC$ TO /ALK+ & ATTACK+ ! 5EMY ) H] SEXUAL ORGAN4 

,I KNEW ?AT ,M5A%I & ,DAMU%KEKWE HAD DONE NO MORE ?AN !Y HAD SE5 ,CAKIMA DO4 ,IT WAS FROM ,CAKIMA ?AT !Y LE>N$ TO HONOR GRE$ ABOVE K9%IP4 ,CAKIMA SAW NO?+ 9 !IR DEP>TURE BUT A DIM9UTION 9 ! /ORE'S GIFTS4 ,) ,TOP9BI DEAD & ,%&O TOO FE>FUL TO REPLACE HIM1 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S FUR TRADE %RANK TO ! FEW FURS ,NAGANWATEK /ILL BR\<T FROM ! ,LAKEBOTTOM & ! FEW GIFTS ,WAMO%KE%EKWE /ILL RECEIV$ = H] FAVORS4 ,BUT ,WAMO%KE%EKWE )\T H] TWO FRI5DS WAS EV] LESS WILL+ TO RECEIVE ! /ORE'S GUE/S & EV] MORE RECEPTIVE TO ! REPROA*ES ( CROSSWE>+ ,NOTANOKWE & ,MIK5OKWE4 

,CAKIMA'S TRAD+ PO/ WAS DY+2 %E & ,*EBANSI LOOK$ =W>D TO ,LOOS-GAS'S C\NCIL 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TO RESUSCITATE !IR AIL+ /ORE4 

,K9 FROM V>I\S VILLAGES1 ESPECIALLY FROM ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 BEGAN TO GA!R 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE LONG BE=E ! C\NCIL ) ! ,9VAD]S4 ,NAGANWATEK & HIS FAMILY MOV$ 9TO & ALONGSIDE ,METEYA'S LODGE2 HIS WOMAN ,ME%EWOKWE WAS ,KOYO%KWE'S AUNT2 !IR SON ,%AWANETEK1 :OM ,I HAD NAM$1 WAS ALREADY OLD 5\< TO WANT A FA/+ LODGE4 ,ME%EWOKWE'S NIECE ,MIS- KOKWE >RIV$ L>GE ) *ILD1 & %E GAVE BIR? TO A SON ALMO/ AS SOON AS %E REA*$ ,KOYO%KWE'S (F]$ MAT4 ,I WAS ASK$ TO NAME ! BOY4 

,I RESOLV$ TO CONFRONT ! FE> & ! GRE$1 TO CELEBRATE ! *ILD'S BEG9N+ AS A NEW BEG9N+ ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,KOYO%KWE KNEW :AT ,I HAD 9 M9D BE=E ,I SPOKE TO H]4 ,NA%K[ATAK WAS EAG] TO HELP1 AS W]E ,METEYA & ,TOPA%4 ,I APPROA*$ ,*EBANSI1 ?9K+ ?AT ! COLLAPSE ( ! FUR TRADE MI<T HAVE L$ HIM TO SEEK SOME?+ ELSE1 BUT F\ND HIM HO/ILE2 HE ?\<T ! C]EMONY W\LD MAKE BAD AIR = ! COM+ C\NCIL4 ,W$ASI & ,%&O W]E JU/ AS HO/ILE2 BO? ( !M CLUNG TO MISSION>Y ,MA-CAYN91 WAIT+ ONLY = ! DAY :5 HE W\LD LEAD !M WE/W>D4 ,W$ASI SAID ,BISON ,PRAIRIE WAS NO LONG] A PLACE :]E PEOPLE C\LD GR[1 EI!R AS DREAM]S OR AS W>RIORS4 

,KOYO%KWE KEPT H]SELF SO MU* 9 ! %AD[S ?AT EV]YONE ?\<T ,I WAS ! >RANG] ( ! C]EMONY4 ,YET IT WAS ,KOYO%KWE :O S5T WORD ( ! CELEBRATION TO EV]YONE EXCEPT ! CROSSWE>]S4 ,%E SAW TO ! GA!R+ ( FOOD & FIREWOOD4 ,%E GA!R$ ! MASKS ( ! SPIRIT-IMP]SONATORS1 M>K$ \T ! SPOTS = ! ?REE FIRES1 & REHE>S$ ?OSE UNFAMILI> ) ! C]EMONY4 ,I M]ELY TOOK ,MISKOKWE'S *ILD1 LAID HIM ON ! GR\ND BETWE5 ! FIRES1 & NAM$ HIM ,OKI OR E>?1 L&1 SOIL4 ,KOYO%KWE /AY$ 9 ! %AD[S DUR+ ALL ! R5EWAL DANCES >\ND ! ?REE HE>?S2 %E EM]G$ ONLY :5 ! LONG-E>$ ,TRICK/]1 ! BR+] ( FE> & >\S] ( GRE$1 IMP]SONAT$ BY ,NA%K[ATAK1 BROKE ?R\< ! CIRCLES TO EXT+UI% ! FIRES4 ,KOYO%KWE WAS =EMO/ AMONG ! WOM5 :O TOOK UP /ICKS & *AS$ ! ,9VAD] AWAY FROM ! ,FIREKEEP]S' CIRCLES4 

,SUICIDE ( ,WIMEGO 

  

,! DANC+ MOOD /AY$ ) US4 ,SOON AFT] ! NAM+ ( ,MISKOKWE'S *ILD1 ,KOYO%KWE ?REW H]SELF 9TO PREP>ATIONS = ! PLANT+ C]EMONY2 %E DREW \T ( ME SONGS ,I HAD HE>D AS A *ILD BUT NEV] SUNG4 ,BY ! TIME HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS & HIS TRA9 5T]$ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE WE--?OSE ( US :O HAD DANC$-- W]E ABLE TO FACE HIM )\T FE> & )\T GRE$2 WE KNEW :O WE W]E & :AT WE WANT$4 

,HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS >RIV$ FROM ! WE/ ) A TRA9 ( ,LAKEBOTTOM HUNT]S & C>RI]S4 ,NOTANOKWE'S BRO!R ,WISKE ,LA%AS & H] C\S9 ,%I%IB9QUA ,ROB9-S9 S]V$ HIM AS SC\TS & GUIDES2 ,MISKOKWE'S BRO!R ,BILLY ,COD-WELL S]V$ HIM AS 9T]PRET]4 ,I LE>N$ ?AT ! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S TRAD] ,K9- SIC HAD DI$ & ?AT ! L&GRABB]S & CO9SEEK]S :O REPLAC$ ,K9-SIC HAD KILL$ :AT REMA9$ ( ! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S FUR TRADE4 

,DEPRIV$ ( ! GIFTS & GUNP[D] !Y C\LDN'T LIVE )\T1 ! GR&SONS ( ,NANGISI & ,W9AMEK HAD GRASP$ AT ! PROMISES (F]$ TO !M BY HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS3 !IR SC\T+ & 9T]PRET+ W\LD BE REW>D$ ) GIFTS & P[D] & ALSO ) TITLES TO L& SECTIONS 9 ! WE/]N ,PLA9S4 ,!Y GUID$ ,LOOS-GAS FROM ! ,WABA% TO ! WE/]N %ORE ( ! ,LONG ,RIV] :]E1 NE> A VILLAGE ( ,R$E>? K91 ! ,LAKEBOTTOM HUNT]S HELP$ ,LOOS-GAS GA!R SIGNATURES ON LEAVES ?AT SPOKE ( ALL ! L&S ON ,MI%IGAMI'S O!R %ORE4 ,I WAS TOLD ?AT MY C\S9 ,%AB5I HAD ALSO HELP$ GA!R ! SIGNATURES4 ,! LA/ TASK ( ! SC\TS & GUIDES WAS TO LEAD ,LOOS-GAS EA/W>D1 TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 TO HELP HIM \/ ! ,FIREKEEP]S FROM ! ,P59SULA4 

,) ALL HIS GUIDES & 9T]PRET]S1 HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS DID NOT F9D :AT HE S\<T 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 MAYBE BECAUSE HIS ABLE/ ASSI/ANT ,TOP9BI WAS NO LONG] ) US1 OR BECAUSE WE HAD /R5G!N$ \RSELVES BE=E HIS >RIVAL4 ,! HEADMAN'S >RIVAL FROM ! WE/ CO9CID$ ) ! >RIVAL1 FROM ! EA/1 ( A C>AVAN ?AT 9CLUD$ MANY ( ! ,/RAIT'S TRAD]S AS WELL AS ,ONIMU% & ,APTEGIZHEK FROM ,KEKIONGA4 

,! TRAD]S CAME = GRANTS ( L& SECTIONS TO *ILDR5 ( ,FIREKEEP]S BY BIR? OR M>RIAGE4 ,APTEGIZHEK1 A SKELETON ?AT WALK$ & TALK$1 CAME TO W>N US NOT TO SIGN AWAY ANY L&1 NO MATT] H[ DI/ANT FROM US1 BUT TO 9SI/ WE W]E ALL *ILDR5 ( ,FIREKEEP]S BY BIR? OR M>RIAGE & TO DEM& TITLES TO \R L&S4 ,?IS WAS PRECISELY :AT WE DID ,NA%K[ATAK & ,I1 AS WELL AS ,MIK5OKWE1 ALSO DEM&$ ! RETURN ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S KIDNAPP$ *ILDR54 ,LOOS-GAS F\ND NO ALLIES 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE O!R ?AN MISSION>Y ,MA-CAYN9 & ?OSE :O1 LIKE ,W$ASI & ,%&O1 W]E DRIV5 BY HUMILIATION & FE>4 ,LOOS-GAS PRET5D$ TO GIVE 9 TO \R DEM&S1 & HE GAVE ,MA-CAYN9 & ! ,LAKEBOTTOM HUNT]S SUPPLIES = ! WE/]N J\RNEY4 

,AS SOON AS ,LOOS-GAS & HIS TRA9 LEFT ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ! ,LAKEBOTTOM HUNT]S FILL$ !MSELVES ) FIREWAT] SUPPLI$ TO !M BY A :ISKEY P$DL] LEFT BEH9D BY ! HEADMAN4 ,! DR9K+ FEA/ TURN$ 9TO A BRAWL & TWO M5 W]E KILL$2 ONE ( ! VICTIMS WAS ,MISKOKWE'S MAN ,SOGUN1 :O HAD NOT WANT$ TO ACCOMPANY HIS C\S9S TO ! WE/4 

,KOYO%KWE1 ,ME%EWOKWE & ,I HELP$ ,MISKOKWE >RANGE ! BURIAL C]EMONY4 ,! ,LAKEBOTTOM HUNT]S LEFT ,BISON ,PRAIRIE DUR+ ! BURIAL4 ,MA-CAYN9 & ,%&O LEFT ) !M1 TO SEE ! ,PLA9S & TO LOOK = A PLACE SIMIL> TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,Y\NG ,%AWANETEK LONG$ TO LEAVE ) HIS C\S9S ,KATWYN ,COD-WELL1 ,PEZH5KWE ,ROB9-S91 ,WABSK5I ,LA%AS & LITTLE ,NAGMO ,LEPETI1 BUT ,%AWANETEK'S MO!R1 ,ME%EWOKWE1 HAD NO DESIRE TO LEAVE ,KOYO%KWE'S LODGE4 ,& ! BOY'S FA!R ,NAGANWATEK1 :O HAD ONCE LOV$ ,M5A%I1 WAS PREP>+ TO DEP>T 9 ! OPPOSITE DIRECTION1 TO ACCOMPANY ,APTEGIZHEK BACK TO ,KEKIONGA4 

,AFT] ! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S HUNT]S SET \T TO DECIMATE ! BEAV] 9 ITS NEXT REFUGE1 NEI!R BEAV]S NOR PEACE RETURN$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,! :ISKEY P$DL] LEFT BEH9D BY ,LOOS-GAS1 A MAN CALL$ ,B>-TR5D1 DID NOT FOLL[ ! HEADMAN EA/W>D NOR ! HUNT]S WE/W>D4 ,B>-TR5D /AY$ 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE & RAIS$ A :ISKEY T5T ON ! PA? FROM ,TOPA%'S LODGE TO ! RIV]4 ,! :ISKEY T5T ATTRACT$ Y\?S :O FANCI$ !MSELVES W>RIORS :5 ! LIQUID BURN$ !IR BRA9S1 & :O ?REAT5$ ALL NE>BY VILLAGES4 

,:5 ,TOPA% & ,NA%K[ATAK ASK$ ,B>-TR5D TO MOVE HIS :ISKEY T5T ELSE:]E1 HE WAV$ A LEAF 9 !IR FACES4 ,NA%K[ATAK RECOGNIZ$ ! LEAF AS ! TITLE TO ,M5A%I'S L& SECTION :I* /RET*$ FROM ! HE>T ( \R VILLAGE TO ,BOAT- MAK]'S AB&ON$ =T AT ! RIV]M\?4 ,M5A%I HAD APP>5TLY EX*ANG$ H] ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TITLE = A TITLE TO WE/]N L&S1 & ,LOOS-GAS HAD GIV5 H] TITLE TO ! :ISKEY P$DL]4 

,TOPA% CALL$ = A C\NCIL ( ,FIREKEEP]S4 ,CAKIMA WAS IRATE AT ! MAN'S PRES5CE 9 \R VILLAGE1 AL?\< AS A GIRL %E HAD BR\<T A SIMIL> MAN1 MY FA!R1 TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,W$ASI1 PR$ICTABLY1 CALL$ = A W> DANCE1 BUT ,TOPA% & ,METEYA 9SI/$ ON A PEACEFUL CONFRONTATION & CONV9C$ MO/ O!RS4 ,I ACCOMPANI$ ! GR\P ?AT SET \T TO EXPEL ! :ISKEY P$DL]4 ,B>-TR5D KNEW ( ! C\NCIL'S RESOLVE & FL$4 ,SEV]AL DRUNK5 Y\?S GU>D$ ! :ISKEY T5T1 & :5 WE APPROA*$1 !Y %OT AT US4 ,Y\NG ,%AWANETEK WAS W\ND$4 ,METEYA WAS %OT 9 ! HE>T4 

,NA%K[ATAK & ,I C>RI$ ! 9JUR$ BOY TO ,METEYA'S LODGE2 !RE1 ,ME%EWOKWE & ,KOYO%KWE APPLI$ SALVES TO ! W\ND & SANG TO ! BOY'S SPIRIT4 ,KOYO%KWE LEFT ,%AWANETEK 9 HIS MO!R'S C>E & ?REW H]SELF 9TO PREP>ATIONS = ,METEYA'S BURIAL4 ,KOYO%KWE %$ NO TE>S1 %[$ NO VISIBLE SORR[2 %E C\LD HAVE BE5 >RANG+ A *ILD'S NAM+1 BUT ,I KNEW ?AT ,KOYO%KWE'S 9SIDES W]E TOM4 ,%E HAD LOV$ H] FA!R AS MU* AS ONE P]SON CAN LOVE ANO!R4 ,%E HAD CONSID]$ ,METEYA H] GUIDE4 ,%E %>$ HIS %YNESS ( TALK1 HIS LOVE ( TREES & ANIMALS1 HIS LONEL9ESS4 ,! M]E SI<T ( H] TE>LESS FACE FILL$ MY EYES ) TE>S2 ,I WAS TOO SAD TO HELP H]4 

,I W5T TO %>E MY SORR[ ) ,W$ASI1 :O HAD LIV$ MO/ ( HIS LIFE ALONGSIDE ,METEYA4 ,W$ASI TOO %$ TE>S1 BUT HIS W]E TE>S ( HUMILIATION4 ,HE SPOKE ( HIMSELF AS ,DAMU%KEKWE HAD SPOK5 ( HIM1 AS A W>RIOR ) HIS M\? ONLY1 AS A W>RIOR :O HAD NOT /OPP$ A S+LE ABUSE OR A S+LE MURD]4 ,& HE AGA9 SPOKE ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE AS A PLACE :]E PEOPLE C\LD NO LONG] LIVE4 ,HIS ONLY ?\<TS W]E ON ,%&O'S & ,MA- CAYN9'S RETURN ) NEWS ( ! WE/4 

,KOYO%KWE'S SI/] ,WAMO%KE%EKWE WAIL$ SO ! 5TIRE VALLEY C\LD HE>4 ,%E WORE A BLACK DRESS GIV5 TO H] BY ,*EBANSI'S UNT\*$ BRIDE ,NOTANOKWE1 & %E DISPLAY$ H] SORR[ :]EV] PEOPLE C\LD SEE & HE> H]4 ,SEASON AFT] SEASON ,WAMO%KE%EKWE HAD LI/5$ TO ,NOTANOKWE & TO ,%&O'S MO!R TELL+ H] ?AT H] S9FUL LIFE WAS TO BLAME = ! RAPE ( ,KOYO%KWE1 = ! DEA? ( ,TOP9BI1 = ! KIDNAPP+ ( ,POGON4 ,N[ %E WAS TO BLAME = ! MURD] ( H] FA!R4 ,WAMO%KE%EKWE MADE A %[ ( MOV+ \T ( ,CAKIMA'S LODGE & 9TO ,MIK5OKWE'S1 ALONGSIDE ,NOTANOKWE4 ,H] GUILT L$ H] TO GRIEVE 9 ! CROSSWE>]S' WAY1 SO %[ILY ?AT %E MADE TE>LESS ,KOYO%KWE SEEM H>DHE>T$4 

,CAKIMA %$ NO TE>S = H] DEAD C\S9 ,METEYA4 ,H] MA9 CONC]N WAS ! :ISKEY P$DL]1 :O HAD MOV$ HIS PO/ TO ! RIV]M\? AFT] ! %OOT+4 ,CAKIMA & ,*EBANSI W]E CONV9C$ ?AT ,LOOS-GAS HAD LEFT ,B>-TR5D AMONG US AS A REPLACEM5T = ,K9-SIC1 TO RU9 ,CAKIMA'S PO/1 TO R$UCE US TO MIS]Y1 SO AS TO MAKE US BEG TO EX*ANGE \R TITLES = FOOD & SUPPLIES4 ,CAKIMA SPOKE TO ,NAGANWATEK AS HE PREP>$ TO LEAVE ) ,APTEGIZHEK4 ,%E ASK$ ,NAGANWATEK TO GO FUR!R ?AN ,KEKIONGA1 TO REPLACE ,TOP9BI & BE H] EMISS>Y TO ! ,/RAIT1 TO DEM& ?AT ,M5A%I'S TITLE BE RETURN$ TO ,M5A%I'S K9 & TO SEEK COMP5SATION = ! MURD] ( ,METEYA4 

,ON ! EVE ( ,APTEGIZHEK'S DEP>TURE ) ,NAGANWATEK1 ! SK9NY OLD MAN W5T TO ! B$SIDE ( ,NAGANWATEK'S SON & PLAC$ SMALL %ELLS ON ,%AWANETEK'S W\ND & ON ! BOY'S *E/4 ,APTEGIZHEK !N SCATT]$ %ELLS 9 O!R CORN]S ( ,METEYA'S LODGE1 NE> ! 5TRANCES TO O!R LODGES & ON SPOTS :]E NO LODGES /OOD4 

,) ! AID ( ,APTEGIZHEK'S %ELLS1 ,ME%EWOKWE'S COMPRESSES1 ,KOYO%KWE'S H]BS & SONGS1 ,%AWANETEK SOON RECOV]$4 ,I SANG TO ! BOY ( ANCI5T DAYS :5 ,ROOTK9 REGA9$ !IR /R5G? AFT] 5C\NT]S ) MON/]S MORE P[]FUL ?AN DRUNK5 Y\?S1 & ( ! SPIRITS :O GUID$ & PROTECT$ ?OSE ( US :O C\LD SEE !M4 ,AT FIR/ ! BOY PUT A WALL BETWE5 HIMSELF & ME4 ,HE SAID HE WANT$ ONLY TO REJO9 HIS C\S9S1 ,NANGISI'S Y\NGE/ DESC5DANTS ,NAGMO1 ,WABSK5I & ,KATWYN4 ,BUT ,APTEGIZHEK HAD LEFT A M>K ON ! BOY4 

,! SK9NY GR&UNCLE :O HAD LIV$ A LONG LIFE AFT] BE+ SCALP$1 :O SEEM$ TO DEFY DEA?1 IMPRESS$ ,%AWANETEK4 ,:5 ! SN[S MELT$1 HE ACCOMPANI$ ,ME%EWOKWE & ,KOYO%KWE TO ! CORNFIELDS & 9TO ! =E/ TO GA!R H]BS1 & HE BEGAN TO S+ ,KOYO%KWE'S SONGS4 ,AT LA/ HE TOLD ME HE TOO WANT$ :AT ,APTEGIZHEK SURELY HAD3 A PROTECTOR1 A SPIRIT- GUIDE4 

,! JOY ( ! NEW SPR+ WAS ON ! FACES ( ,ME%EWOKWE & ,KOYO%KWE ! MORN+ ,I SET \T ) ,%AWANETEK4 ,I L$ HIM DEEP 9TO ! =E/ TO A HILL AT ! TURN ( A /REAM1 ! SAME HILL TO :I* ,%AB5I HAD L$ ME OV] TW5TY SPR+S E>LI]4 ,%AWANETEK HELP$ ME PROP A SMALL RA9 %ELT] ON AN ANCI5T BIR* OV]LOOK+ ! /REAM4 ,:5 ,I GOT BACK TO ! VILLAGE1 ,I F\ND ,KOYO%KWE & ,ME%EWOKWE ALREADY PREP>+ TO CELEBRATE ,%AWANETEK'S RETURN FROM HIS FA/4 ,! VOID LEFT 9 ,KOYO%KWE BY ,METEYA'S DEA? WAS P>TIALLY FILL$ BY Y\NG ,%AWANETEK2 & 9 H] AUNT ,ME%EWOKWE1 ! Y\?'S MO!R1 ,KOYO%KWE F\ND SOME?+ %E HADN'T KN[N BE=E1 LOV+ FRI5D%IP4 

,! CELEBRATION ( ,%AWANETEK'S DREAM WAS M>R$ BY ! CLAMOR\S RETURN ( ,%&O & ,MA-CAYN9 FROM ! WE/4 ,MA- CAYN9 ANN\NC$ ?AT HE & ,%&O HAD F\ND ! PROMIS$ L& & ?AT HE HAD A TITLE TO IT4 ,NA%K[ATAK & ,I RU%$ TO ! MISSION TO HE> ! GOOD NEWS4 ,MA-CAYN9'S VOICE DR[N$ \T ALL O!RS1 BUT ! MORE HE SPOKE ! MORE EVID5T IT BECAME ?AT HE WASN'T SPEAK+ ( AN ACTUAL PLACE4 

,MA-CAYN9 SAID WE C\LD ALL REA* ! PROMIS$ L& IF WE KEPT REA*+ = BETT] ?+S2 HE SAID ALL PEOPLE W]E BEA/S BY BIR?1 & ALL C\LD GROPE !IR WAY FROM BE/IALITY TO CIVILITY4 ,HE REM9D$ ME ( MY *ILDHOOD TEA*]1 ,MISUS ,BAY-CON4 ,YET ,W$ASI WAS 5TRANC$ BY ! MAN'S WORDS2 HE SEEM$ TO HAVE =GOTT5 \R ANIMOSITY T[>D ,MISUS ,BAY-CON2 HE BEHAV$ AS IF ! EMPTY WORDS ANNULL$ HIS LIFE'S HUMILIATIONS & RE/OR$ HIS MISS+ LEG4 

,NA%K[ATAK & ,I SEP>AT$ ,%&O FROM HIS M5TOR & PRESS$ ,%&O TO SPEAK ( ! PLACE HE HAD VISIT$4 ,%&O ADMITT$ ?AT ! PLACE WAS DRY ! YE> R\ND1 ) NO CONNECT$ LAKES ?R\< :I* TO PADDLE B>K CANOES & NO BIR*ES ) :I* TO MAKE ! CANOES2 ! ANIMALS & ! PLANTS W]E NOT ?OSE ?AT HAD SU/A9$ \R ANCE/ORS1 & !RE W]E NO SAP-BE>+ MAPLES2 TRAD]S W]E E/ABLI%$ :]EV] PA?S 9T]SECT$1 & UNI=M$ >M$ M5 GU>D$ ! PO/S2 ! ORIG9AL 9HABITANTS ( ! PLACE W]E BE+ DRIV5 T[>D ! ,SUNSET ,M\NTA9S TO MAKE ROOM = ! NEWCOM]S1 & >M$ ,9VAD]S W]E CROSS+ ! ,LONG ,RIV] 9 HORDES1 D5UD+ E>? ( H] COV]4 

,YET AFT] ALL HIS ADMISSIONS1 ,%&O P]SI/$ 9 SPEAK+ ( ! PLACE AS ! PROMIS$ L&1 :I* HE ALSO NAM$ ,CAYN94 ,I REMEMB]$ ?AT AS A BOY ,I HAD BE5 W>N$ ( ! ,9VAD]S' P[]FUL SORC]Y4 ,9 ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S S*OOL ,I HADN'T BE5 IMPRESS$4 ,N[ ,I WAS IMPRESS$4 ,MA-CAYN9 HAD BEWIT*$ ,%&O & ,W$ASI4 ,HE GAVE !M EV]Y?+ !Y LACK$3 FULL VILLAGES ( K91 P[]FUL SPIRIT-GUIDES & HEAL?Y LIMBS4 ,BUT HIS GIFTS LODG$ ONLY 9 HIS HEAD2 !Y W]E M]E WORDS--WORDS :I* EMPTI$ ,%&O & ,W$ASI :ILE SEEM+ TO FILL !M4 

,NAGANWATEK'S RETURN FROM ! ,/RAIT 9 A H\SE ON :EELS BR\<T EV]Y?+ 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TO A /&/ILL4 ,WE ALL ?\<T ,NAGANWATEK HAD BR\<T FIVE ,9VAD]S 9TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE :5 WE SAW ! /RANGELY DRESS$ OCCUPANTS ( ! ROLL+ LODGE1 TWO ( !M ) YELL[ HAIR4 ,ONLY GRADUALLY DID ,I RECOGNIZE ! M9I/]-LIKE Y\? 9 BLACK AS ,%&O'S SON ,POGON1 ! TWO Y\?S 9 TRAD]S' CLO!S AS MY NEPHEWS ,WIMEGO & ,MIK9AK1 ! TWO WOM51 ONE 9 A R$ DRESS ?AT CLA%$ ) H] YELL[ HAIR1 ! O!R 9 BLACK1 AS MY SI/] ,WABNOKWE & H] FRI5D ,LIKET4 ,MY EYES FIX$ !MSELVES ON ! OBJECT SUSP5D$ FROM ,WIMEGO'S NECK1 ON ,M5A%I'S GRE5/ONE P5DANT2 IT SEEM$ MISPLAC$ 9 FRONT ( ! TRAD]'S JACKET1 BEL[ ! YELL[ HAIR4 

,NA%K[ATAK WAS ! FIR/ TO RECOGNIZE ! GUE/S4 ,HE GREET$ \R SI/] BY ASK+ IF %E HAD COME TO REJO9 H] K91 OR ONLY TO %[ !M TO H] FRI5D4 ,CAKIMA BACK$ AWAY EMB>RASS$1 AS IF %E W]E A%AM$ TO BE ONE ( US4 ,CAKIMA'S COMPOSURE RETURN$ :5 %E TURN$ TO H] GR&SON ,WIMEGO1 :O WAS NOT AS %OCK+LY =EIGN TO H]4 ,! Y\?'S CLO!S1 HIS BLUE EYES1 HIS %YNESS SURELY REM9D$ H] ( H] FIR/ VIEW ( TRAD] ,BURR-NET4 

,NA%K[ATAK P]SI/$ 9 HIS RUD5ESS4 ,9/EAD ( 9VIT+ ! GUE/S TO ! *AIRS 9 ,CAKIMA'S C\NCILROOM1 HE ANN\NC$ ?AT S9CE ! GUE/S W]E NOT REALLY GUE/S BUT ,FIREKEEP]S RETURN+ TO !IR K9-VILLAGE1 ! PLACE TO GREET !M WAS ! C\NCILGR\ND4 ,FROM !IR V]Y MANN]S ,NA%K[ATAK KNEW ?AT ! GUE/S HAD BE5 ACCEPT$ AMONG ! ,9VAD]S AS HE HAD NOT BE51 & HIS RUD5ESS WAS HIS WAY ( QUE/ION+ !IR NE$ TO RETURN TO !IR K9-VILLAGE DUR+ ITS LA/ DAYS4 ,I WAS AFRAID HE W\LD /RET* HIS 9APPROPRIATE (F]S TO ! PO9T ( ASK+ ,KOYO%KWE TO PREP>E A SWEAT LODGE & ME TO />T A DANCE1 BUT HE /OPP$ ) HIS 9VITATION TO ! C\NCILGR\ND4 ,%&O'S MO!R1 9C5S$ BY ,NA%K[ATAK'S 9VITATION1 PULL$ H] GR&SON ,POGON & ALSO ,LIKET AWAY FROM ! RE/ ( US1 T[>D ! CROSSWE>]S' LODGE4 

,WABNOKWE & ! TWO Y\?S ACCEPT$ ! 9VITATION TO ! C\NCILGR\ND2 ,KOYO%KWE & ,I LIT A FIRE4 ,W$ASI HOBBL$ \T ( ! MISSION H\SE4 ,*EBANSI CAME \T ( ! /ORE4 ,WABNOKWE TOLD US %E & ,LIKET HAD COME TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TO URGE US NOT TO LEAVE ! ,P59SULA1 & TO HELP US /AY IF !Y C\LD4 ,! ?REE Y\?S HAD RETURN$ = REASONS ( !IR [N1 AL?\< !IR COM+ TOGE!R WAS LESS ?AN A CO9CID5CE4 

,I WAS UND] ! IMPRESSION ?AT HEADMAN ,LOOS-GAS WAS HONOR+ HIS PROMISE TO US BY RETURN+ ! Y\?S TO US4 ,W$ASI'S SON QUICKLY DISABUS$ ME ( ?IS IMPRESSION4 ,MIK9AK TOLD US ,LOOS-GAS 9T5D$ TO =CEFULLY REMOVE ALL ! FREE VILLAG]S :O /ILL HUNT$ & DANC$ ON \R SIDE ( ! ,LONG ,RIV]1 & HE HAD BEGUN TO C>RY \T HIS 9T5TION BY RECRUIT+ ! Y\?S 9 ! S\!RN ACADEMY 9TO HIS >MIES4 ,MIK9AK & ,WIMEGO HAD NOT BE5 RECRUIT$ BECAUSE !IR TRA9]S HAD KN[N !Y W\LD TURN !IR RIFLES 9 ! WRONG DIRECTION AS SOON AS !Y W]E GIV5 RIFLES4 ,POGON HAD NOT BE5 RECRUIT$ BECAUSE HE HAD BECOME ! M9I/]'S FAVORITE & DUR+ ALL HIS FIVE YE>S AT ! ACADEMY1 ,POGON HAD LE>N$ ONLY TO PRAY1 NOT TO %OOT4 ,:5 ! ACADEMY BROKE UP1 ! M9I/] GAVE ,POGON A PURSE ( CO9S ) :I* TO RETURN TO HIS PEOPLE SO AS TO TEA* !M ! ,WORD ( ,GOD1 & IT WAS ?ANKS TO ,POGON'S PURSE ?AT ! ?REE Y\?S W]E ABLE TO TRAVEL ON ! ,9VAD]S' PA?S4 

,MIK9AK SPOKE )\T AN ACC5T1 BUT HIS MANN] WAS =EIGN1 & HE PUNCTUAT$ HIS /ATEM5TS ) F\L EXPRESSIONS 9 ! ,9VAD]S' LANGUAGE4 ,HE WAS :AT ,W$ASI HAD WANT$ HIM TO BE1 A W>RIOR1 BUT ,W$ASI LOOK$ ILL AT EASE BESIDE HIM1 & :5 ,MIK9AK WAS DONE SPEAK+1 ,W$ASI HOBBL$ BACK TO ! MISSION4 ,! CONTEMPT ) :I* ,MIK9AK SPOKE ( ,POGON WAS HE>D BY EV]YONE4 ,I SAW ?AT ! Y\? LOOK$ AT ME ) UNMI/AKABLE CONTEMPT4 ,W$ASI FL$ BE=E HIS SON TURN$ TO HIM & CALL$ HIM A P[]LESS CRIPPLE4 

,:5 ! C\NCIL 5D$1 ,I SAW ,%AWANETEK APPROA* ,WIMEGO & ,MIK9AK TO 9VITE !M TO LODGE ) HIM AT ,KOYO%KWE'S4 ,BO? Y\?S TURN$ !IR BACKS TO ,%AWANETEK AS SOMEONE UNWOR?Y ( !IR ATT5TION4 ,WIMEGO ACCOMPANI$ ,WABNOKWE TO ,CAKIMA'S LODGE2 HE HAD UND\BT$LY BECOME US$ TO RAIS$ B$S1 *AIRS & PLATES4 ,MIK9AK ASK$ :]E ! :ISKEY WAS KEPT & MADE HIS WAY TO ! :ISKEY P$DL]'S PO/4 

,A FEW DAYS LAT]1 ,NA%K[ATAK & ,I VISIT$ \R SI/] TO LE>N :AT TRU? !RE WAS 9 ,MIK9AK'S DESCRIPTION ( ! ,9VAD]S' 9T5TIONS4 ,WE F\ND ,CAKIMA 9 A DEA?-LIKE TRANCE & ,*EBANSI 9CAPACITAT$ BY A TREMBL+ FIT4 ,WABNOKWE TOLD US ?AT ! ,/RAIT'S TRAD] ,JAY-MAY WAS DEAD1 ?AT HIS SUCCESSORS W\LD NOT HAVE GIV5 ANY?+ TO ,TOP9BI1 & W\LD NOT EV5 OP5 !IR DOOR TO ,NAGANWATEK4 ,WABNOKWE & H] FRI5DS HAD SUCCE$$ 9 >RANG+ A C\NCIL BETWE5 ,NAGANWATEK & ! HEADMAN1 BUT TO NO AVAIL4 ,! HEADMAN'S RESPONSE TO ,*EBAN- SI'S MESSAGES HAD BE5 ?AT ! GOV]NM5T [$ ,BURR-NET NO?+1 NEI!R A TITLE NOR COMP5SATION1 & ! HEADMAN HAD SPOK5 ( ,B>-TR5D AS ! [N] ( ,M5A%I'S L& SECTION4 ,WABNOKWE ?\<T ,*EBANSI \<T TO PREP>E ANO!R APPEAL TO ! HEADMAN1 & (F]$ H]SELF AS MESS5G]4 

,ANO!R BRAWL HAD BROK5 \T & ,%AWANETEK WAS 9JUR$ AGA94 ,= SEV]AL NI<TS ,MIK9AK HAD BE5 JO9+ ! DRUNK5 Y\?S AT ,B>-TR5D'S :ISKEY PO/4 ,MIK9AK HAD EXCIT$ ! Y\?S ) TALK ( W> UNTIL AT LA/ !Y HAD ALL SET \T 9 SE>* ( 5EMIES4 ,%AWANETEK1 /ILL TRY+ TO BEFRI5D ,MIK9AK1 HAD APPROA*$ ! DEM5T$ Y\?S4 ,MIK9AK HAD CALL$ ,%AWANETEK ! SON ( A TRAITOR1 HAD REF]R$ TO ME AS A SORC]] & TO ,NA%K[ATAK AS AN 5EMY AG5T4 ,%AWANETEK HAD REPLI$ ?AT ! ONLY TRAITORS 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE W]E ! DRUNK>DS :O HAD MURD]$ ,METEYA4 ,MIK9AK & HIS CONF$]ATES RESPOND$ TO ,%AWANETEK'S ACCUSATION BY SURR\ND+ & BEAT+ ! Y\NG] BOY4 ,KOYO%KWE OV]HE>D ! EX*ANGE1 FET*$ ,ME%EWOKWE & ,TOPA%1 & SAV$ ! BOY FROM S]I\S H>M4 

,I RAN TO ,KOYO%KWE'S4 ,! BOY WASN'T !RE4 ,ME%EWOKWE WAS 9 TE>S4 ,%AWANETEK HAD REFUS$ TO LET ,ME%EWOKWE OR ,KOYO%KWE TREAT HIS BRUISES1 & HAD JO9$ HIS FA!R & ! O!RS :O W]E READY TO LEAVE ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,KOYO%KWE ACCOMPANI$ ME TO ! DISMANTL$ MISSION4 ,REV-R5D ,MA-CAYN9 & HIS ASSI/ANTS W]E DONE PACK+1 & W]E WAIT+ = ,%&O TO RETURN FROM HIS LA/ VISIT ) HIS MO!R1 WIFE & SON4 ,W$ASI WAS READY TO LEAVE )\T P>T+ WORDS = ANYONE4 ,NAGANWATEK & HIS SON W]E ALONGSIDE ,W$ASI4 ,NAGANWATEK TOLD ME ,ME%EWOKWE HAD F\ND ,KOYO%KWE & NO LONG] NE$$ HIM4 ,HE WAS A C>RI] & HE HAD ONCE LOV$ ,M5A%I2 HE HAD WANT$ TO GO WE/ EV] S9CE ,M5A%I HAD LEFT2 N[ ?AT !RE W\LD BE NO MORE C>RY+ TO OR FROM ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 HE HAD NO REASON TO /AY1 & ! BEAT+ ( HIS SON MADE HIM EAG] TO LEAVE QUICKLY4 ,%AWANETEK1 /ILL BLE$+ FROM UNT5D$ BRUISES1 DEFIANTLY TOLD ME HE'D HAD BETT] FRI5DS ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM ?AN HE'D F\ND 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 & HE WANT$ ONLY TO REJO9 HIS FRI5DS4 ,:5 ! C>AVAN BEGAN TO MOVE1 ,%AWANETEK ?ANK$ ME = HELP+ HIM F9D HIS DREAM-SPIRIT2 HE DID NOT ?ANK ,KOYO%KWE1 & HE DID NOT GIVE ME A P>T+ WORD = ,ME%EWOKWE4 

,MY C\S9 ,NESOKI1 DRESS$ 9 BLACK1 WAS AT ! HEAD ( ! DEP>T+ C>AVAN1 ALONGSIDE ,REV-R5D ,MA-CAYN94 ,MA-CAYN9 HAD PULL$ ,NESOKI AWAY FROM ,MIK5OKWE & ! O!R CROSSWE>]S BY ADDRESS+ HIM AS *IEF ,TO-P9-A-BEE & SPEAK+ ( HIM AS ! SON & HEIR ( ! =M] *IEF1 AS ! SPOKESMAN ( ,KI*IGAMI'S ,FIREKEEP]S1 AS ! SAVIOR :O L$ HIS PEOPLE TO ! PROMIS$ L&4 ,MA-CAYN9 KNEW ?AT ,NESOKI HAD NEV] BE5 SO IMPORTANT1 & ?AT ,NESOKI'S REBIR? AS ,*RI/ & ,WISKE W\LD TURN ,NESOKI 9TO A PLIANT TOOL1 USEFUL = ,MA-CAYN9'S DEAL+S ) O!R ,9VAD]S 9 ! PROMIS$ L&4 

,! LEAVES FELL FROM ! TREES & SOON SN[ COV]$ ! TRACKS ( ?OSE :O HAD DEP>T$4 ,NA%K[ATAK & ,TOPA% LEFT1 TO HUNT4 ,KOYO%KWE & ,ME%EWOKWE TI$ ! RIBS ( SN[- %OES & SANG SONGS ( M\RN+4 ,9 MIDW9T] ,WIMEGO 5T]$ \R LODGE1 ONLY TO VISIT1 HE SAID1 BUT HE /AY$ ON4 ,HE LET ,KOYO%KWE & ME KN[ ?AT HE HAD NOT RETURN$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TO DO :AT HIS GR&MO!R ,CAKIMA EXPECT$ ( HIM4 ,) ,LOKASKWE'S YELL[ HAIR & ,BURR-NET'S BLUE EYES1 ,WIMEGO C\LD HAVE BECOME TRAD] ,BURR-NET 9 ANY ( ! ,9VAD]S' CAMPS ALONG ! WAY FROM ! S\!RN ACADEMY TO ! ,/RAIT4 

,HE TOLD US HE NO LONG] KNEW :O HIS K9 W]E1 & HAD RETURN$ TO SEEK !M4 ,HE REMEMB]$ ?AT ,M5A%I HAD BE5 HIS REFUGE1 ?AT HE HAD TRU/+LY ACCOMPANI$ H] TO ! ,WABA%1 & ?AT %E HAD GIV5 HIM AWAY TO ! ACADEMY'S RECRUIT+ AG5T 9 EX*ANGE = A PURSE & A PROMISE4 ,HE REMEMB]$ ?AT ,NA%K[ATAK HAD ALSO BE5 ON ! ,WABA%1 TOO DRUNK TO PROTECT OR EV5 RECOGNIZE HIS [N SON4 ,ON ! EVE ( HIS DEP>TURE1 HE HAD RUN TO ,M5A%I & BURI$ HIS FACE 9 H] BOSOM4 ,%E HAD PU%$ HIM AWAY1 HUNG ,%UTAHA'S P5DANT >\ND HIS NECK1 & TOLD HIM ! GRE5/ONE W\LD HELP HIM LE>N ! ,9VAD]S' WAYS4 

,WIMEGO DIDN'T WANT TO LE>N !IR WAYS2 HE FE>$ ! ,9VAD]S4 ,HE HAD NOT =GOTT5 :AT !Y HAD DONE TO ,KOYO%KWE & ,TOP9BI4 ,BUT HIS MO!R PU%$ HIM AWAY1 & ! BOY FELT REJECT$1 ALONE & K9LESS4 ,HE GAVE HIMSELF TO HIS TRA9]S AS COMPLETELY AS ,NA%K[ATAK HAD ONCE DONE4 ,HE CROPP$ HIS HAIR1 WORE CLO!S ?AT KEPT ! SUN FROM HIS SK91 C>RI$ HIS SNOT 9 HIS POCKET & HIS SWEAT 9 HIS UND]CLO!S4 ,HE IMPRISON$ HIS NECK 9 A /IFF COLL> & HIS FEET 9 LEA!R BOOTS4 ,HE LE>N$ H[ TO READ FROM PAP] :ILE =GETT+ H[ TO READ FROM BRAN*ES & ANIMAL TRACKS4 ,HE LE>N$ H[ TO SLEEP ON A RAIS$ B$1 COMB HIS %ORN HAIR1 EAT ) A =K1 USE A TOILET1 PRAY TO ! SAVIOR & %OOT A RIFLE1 :ILE =GETT+ H[ TO GIVE & %>E4 ,HE LE>N$ TO RIDICULE & DESPISE HIS K9 = !IR 9ABILITY TO EAT ) =KS OR READ FROM PAP]4 ,LIKE HIS C\S9 ,MIK9AK1 HE LE>N$ TO ?9K ( HIS MO!R AS A PRO/ITUTE1 HIS FA!R A DRUNK>D1 HIS UNCLES A PIMP1 A CRIPPLE & A SORC]]4 ,BUT HE DID NOT LOSE HIS FE> ( ! ,9VAD]S2 HE NEV] =GOT ?AT !IR LIKES HAD RAP$ ,KOYO%KWE & MURD]$ ,TOP9BI4 ,HIS TRA9]S KNEW HE HAT$ !M1 & :5 !Y BEGAN TO RECRUIT Y\?S 9TO !IR >MY1 !Y REJECT$ ,WIMEGO = ! SAME REASON !Y REJECT$ ,MIK9AK1 AS UNTRU/WOR?Y4 

,KOYO%KWE1 ,ME%EWOKWE & ,I C\LD NOT KEEP \R EYES DRY2 WE W]E SADD5$ AS MU* BY ,WIMEGO'S /ORY AS BY ! MANN] 9 :I* HE TOLD IT4 ,HE SPOKE AS IF HE FELT NO?+1 AS IF HE W]E EMPTY1 AS IF HIS HE>T HAD BE5 REMOV$4 ,HE ASK$ NO?+ ( US1 SEEM$ TO WANT NO?+ FROM US4 

,REMEMB]+ MY [N RETURN AFT] MY YE>S ( S*OOL+ ON ! ,/RAIT1 ,I REM9D$ ,WIMEGO ?AT ,I HAD PROMIS$ TO BUILD HIM A FA/+ LODGE4 ,WIMEGO LOOK$ AT ME ) ! SAME CONTEMPT ,I HAD SE5 9 ,MIK9AK'S EYES1 & SAID ?AT ANY FOOL :O FA/$ LONG 5\< W\LD SEE ?+S ?AT W]5'T REAL4 

,:5 ,NA%K[ATAK RETURN$1 ,WIMEGO SPOKE NOT A WORD TO HIS FA!R4 ,BUT :5 ! GR\ND S(T5$1 ,WIMEGO APPE>$ TO S(T5 TOO4 ,HE ACCOMPANI$ ,KOYO%KWE & ,ME%EWOKWE1 HE FOLL[$ ,KOYO%KWE TO ! =E/ TO GA!R H]BS1 HE QUE/ION$ ,KOYO%KWE AB\T ! USES ( ! B>KS & ROOTS4 

,:5 HE ASK$ ME TO GUIDE HIM TO A FA/+ LODGE1 ,I ?\<T HIS HE>T WAS RETURN+1 ,I ?\<T HE WANT$ TO BECOME ONE ( US4 ,I DELAY$ AS LONG AS ,I C\LD BECAUSE HE LE>N$ NONE ( ! SONGS1 DID NOT GIVE SIGNS ( EV5 HE>+ ME4 ,BUT ,I REMEMB]$ MY [N FRU/RATION AT HAV+ MY DREAM DEF]R$1 & ,I GAVE 9 TO HIS REQUE/4 

,KOYO%KWE WAS UNEASY :5 ,WIMEGO & ,I LEFT H] LODGE & HEAD$ T[>D ! =E/4 ,I SANG1 UNACCOMPANI$1 ALONG ! TRAIL TO ! HILLSIDE :]E ,%AWANETEK & ,I MYSELF HAD DREAM$2 ,WIMEGO FOLL[$1 SIL5T4 ,I REPAIR$ ,%AWANETEK'S RA9 %ELT] UNAID$1 & LEFT ,WIMEGO 9 IT4 

,REMEMB]+ ,TOP9BI'S 9T]RUPTION ( MY FIR/ DREAM1 ,I RESOLV$ TO LEAVE ,WIMEGO ALONE = A =TNI<T4 ,BUT ONLY TWO OR ?REE NI<TS AFT] WE HAD SET \T1 ,I HAD A BAD DREAM1 & ! FOLL[+ MORN+ ,I PREP>$ TO RETURN TO ! HILLSIDE1 NOT TO 9T]RUPT BUT ONLY TO SEE4 

,AS ,I /EPP$ \T ( ! LODGE1 ,I SAW ,MIK9AK & HIS PA9T$ COMPANIONS 5T] ! VILLAGE C>RY+ A BODY4 ,VILLAG]S GA!R$ >\ND ! Y\?S4 ,MIK9AK ANN\NC$ ?AT HE & HIS COMPANIONS HAD BE5 SC\T+ & HAD SE5 A B& ( ,SCALP]S SURR\ND & MURD] ,WIMEGO4 ,MIK9AK URG$ ! VILLAGE M5 TO >M !MSELVES & FOLL[ HIM 9 PURSUIT ( ! 5EMY4 ,KOYO%KWE SCREAM$ AS IF %E'D JU/ WAK5 FROM A NI<TM>E & RAN T[>D ! BODY1 ,NA%K[ATAK & ,I CLOSE BEH9D H]4 

,KOYO%KWE PU%$ ,MIK9AK & HIS FRI5DS ASIDE1 TOOK ! DEAD BODY 9 H] >MS1 EXAM9$ ! EYES1 ! M\?4 ,) A TREMBL+ H& %E GAVE ME ! GRE5/ONE P5DANT4 ,BETWE5 SOBS %E SAID ?AT ,WIMEGO HAD QUE/ION$ H] ONLY AB\T POISON\S ROOTS4 ,WIMEGO HAD NOT BE5 SURR\ND$ OR MURD]$4 ,HE HAD EAT5 ! ROOT ( A MAYAPPLE4 

,I DID NOT JO9 ,NA%K[ATAK 9 DR[N+ ! PA9 ) :ISKEY1 BUT ,I WAS AS DAZ$ AS HE1 & ,KOYO%KWE MADE ALL ! BURIAL >RANGEM5TS UNAID$4 ,EXCEPT = ,MIK9AK1 :O CONF9$ HIMSELF TO ,B>-TR5D'S PO/ AT ! ,RIV]M\? DUR+ ! BURIAL1 EV]YONE 9 ! VILLAGE1 EV5 ! CROSSWE>]S1 TOOK P>T 9 ,KOYO%KWE'S C]EMONY4 ,NUM]\S UNREALIZ$ & CONFLICT+ EXPECTATIONS W5T 9TO ! GR\ND ) ! YELLO:AIR$ Y\?4 

,MIK9AK DID NOT RETURN TO ! VILLAGE UNTIL A B& ( VISITORS >RIV$ FROM ! WE/1 & !N HE RETURN$ PA9T$1 >M$ & DEFIANT1 MAK+ NO APOLOGIES = HIS LIE AB\T ,WIMEGO'S DEA?4 ,! VISITORS W]E Y\NG ,R$E>? W>RIORS1 & ,MIK9AK 5T]$ ! VILLAGE AS ONE ( !M4 ,I />$ ) AMAZEM5T AT ! PA9T$ FACE ( ONE ( ! W>RIORS2 ! EYES W]E FRI<T5+LY FAMILI> TO ME4 ,I APPROA*$ HIM & LE>N$ HE WAS ,%AB5I'S SON ,KOM5OTEYA1 SMALL LIKE HIS MO!R & ) ,MIMIKWE'S DI/ANT & SORR[FUL EYES1 ! EYES ?AT ,I TOO HAD GOTT5 FROM MY GREAT-GR&MO!R ,M5OKO4 

,KOM5OTEYA CAME TO US ) A MESSAGE FROM HIS WIFE'S FA!R1 ! ,R$E>? W>RIOR ,MACATAIME%EKIAKAK4 ,HE TOLD US ?AT GRE$Y /ONESEEK]S W]E ON ,MI%IGAMI'S O!R %ORE1 DIGG+ 9 SACR$ PLACES1 G\G+ 9 M\NTA9S & BURR[+ 9TO ANCE/RAL GR\NDS4 ,!Y W]E KILL+ ALL :O /OOD BETWE5 !M & !IR /ONES1 DRIV+ ! O!R %ORE'S VILLAG]S TO SEEK REFUGE AMONG ! ,R$E>? K9 ON ! WE/]N %ORE ( ! ,LONG ,RIV]4 

,! REFUGEES W]E ANGRY2 !Y W]E PA9T+ !MSELVES & DANC+2 !Y W]E RESOLV$ TO PUT AN 5D TO ! EXT]M9ATION ( ! O!R %ORE'S ,ROOTK94 ,MANY1 AMONG !M ,KOM5OTEYA'S FA!R ,%AB5I1 ?\<T ?AT ,ROOTK9 W]E TOO FEW TO PA9T !MSELVES & DANCE1 TOO FEW TO FACE ! ,9VAD]S ON YET ANO!R BATTLEFIELD4 ,BUT ,MACATAIME%EKIAKAK & O!R ,R$E>? W>RIORS1 9CLUD+ ,%AB5I'S SON1 W]E SURE ?AT ! ,P59SULA'S ,ROOTK91 VICTIMS ( SO MANY 9CURSIONS & MURD]S S9CE ! DAYS ( ! FIR/ PLAGUES1 W\LD MAKE COMMON CAUSE ) ! ,R$E>? K91 & !N ! W>RIORS W\LD NOT BE TOO FEW4 ,! MESSAGE WAS A CALL TO GA!R AT ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE VILLAGE = A W> C\NCIL ) K9 FROM BO? %ORES4 

,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S LI/5$ TO ! ,R$E>? MESS5G]S1 MANY ) DEEP SYMPA?Y1 BUT !Y AGRE$ ) ,%AB5I ?AT WE W]E TOO FEW TO CONFRONT ! ,9VAD]S ) WEAPONS 9 H&4 ,ONLY ,MIK9AK & HIS DR9K+ COMPANIONS COMMITT$ !MSELVES TO ATT5D+ ! W> C\NCIL AT ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE4 ,BUT AFT] ! MESS5G]S HAD MOV$ ON TO RECRUIT 9 NEI<BOR+ VILLAGES1 :5 ,MIK9AK PREP>$ TO SET \T1 HIS COMPANIONS LO/ !IR C\RAGE4 ,!Y W]E AS READY TO BOA/ AS !Y W]E TO DEF5D !IR :ISKEY SUPPLI] FROM UN>M$ M5 & BOYS1 BUT !Y W]E NOT READY TO GO TO W>4 

,MIK9AK SEV]$ HIS FRI5D%IPS & PREP>$ TO DEP>T ALONE4 ,KOYO%KWE BEGG$ ME TO TALK TO ! HO!AD$ Y\?1 TO %[ HIM ! ,FIREKEEP]S' BUNDLE1 TO KEEP HIM 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 BUT TO GO ) HIM IF ,I C\LDN'T KEEP HIM FROM GO+4 ,%E BEGG$ ME TO RETURN ) HIM1 & ) ,MIMIKWE'S SON IF ,I C\LD4 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE WAS HALF EMPTY4 ,KOYO%KWE FE>$ ?AT A W> W\LD BR+ COMPLETE DESOLATION4 

,BUT TALK+ TO ,MIK9AK WAS BEYOND MY P[]S4 ,I SANG & ,I SPOKE1 BUT ,MIK9AK DID NOT SAY A WORD TO ME DUR+ ! 5TIRE J\RNEY4 ,HE KNEW ,I WAS ) HIM ONLY TO RE/RA9 HIM1 JU/ AS ,%AB5I HAD ONCE RE/RA9$ ,W$ASI4 ,MIK9AK'S FA!R HAD ADMIR$ ,%AB5I4 ,MIK9AK HAT$ ME2 HE TOL]AT$ MY COMPANY ONLY BECAUSE ,I KNEW ! WAY4 

,! C\NCIL WAS ALREADY UND] WAY :5 WE BEA*$ \R CANOE4 ,MIK9AK PROMPTLY TURN$ HIS BACK TO ME & HEAD$ T[>D ,KOM5OTEYA & ! O!R ,R$E>? W>RIORS4 ,I SAW ,%AB5I ON ! OPPOSITE SIDE ( ! CIRCLE & SAT D[N NE> HIM4 ,I LI/5$ TO ONE AFT] ANO!R ,R$E>? W>RIOR URGE HIS LI/5]S TO PREP>E = W>4 ,I LI/5$ TO ! SPEAK]S ON MY SIDE DECL9E ! 9VITATION TO W>1 RIDICULE ! *ILDI% RA%NESS ( ! ,R$E>? SPEAK]S1 W>N ( ! PROSPECTS1 ACCUSE ! W>RIORS ( WANT+ TO HA/5 \R DEMISE4 

,I KNEW ,I WAS SEE+ ! LA/ GREAT C\NCILFIRE ON ! ,GREAT ,LAKES1 & MY EYES FILL$ ) TE>S4 ,MY ?\<TS AGRE$ ) ?OSE ( ,%AB5I & ! O!R PEACEMAK]S1 BUT MY SYMPA?IES W]E ) ,MIMIKWE'S SON & ! ,R$E>? W>RIORS4 ,TO ME1 ! ,FIREKEEP]S & C>RI]S ON MY SIDE1 EV5 ,%AB5I1 SEEM$ SIMIL> TO ! BOA/]S :O GA!R$ AT ,B>-TR5D'S :ISKEY PO/4 ,!Y PRAIS$ ! FEATS ( ANCI5T W>RIORS BUT ACCEPT$ GIFTS1 P[D] & :ISKEY FROM ! PRES5T 5EMY4 

,I HAD AN URGE TO RISE1 TO DANCE1 TO SCATT] ! %ELLS ?AT W\LD REVIVE ! ANCI5T ,P59SULAK94 ,I DIDN'T RISE1 BUT MY EYES W&]$ ACROSS ! FIRE & CAME TO RE/ ON ! FACE ( A WOMAN1 A FAMILI> FACE FRAM$ BY /RAI<T BLACK HAIR4 ,FI]CE EYES1 LIT BY ! FIRE & ! FULL MOON1 LOOK$ DIRECTLY 9TO M9E1 MADE MY HEAD SP91 5TRANC$ ME4 ,I SANK TO ! GR\ND & ,I DREAM$ ( MY NE>-DEA? ON ! ,MORN+L& BATTLEFIELD1 ( MY 9ABILITY TO F9D ,UDATONTE1 & ( MY ATTEMPTS TO /RAY FROM & !N TO /AY ON ! PA? ( A BUNDLE-C>RI] UNTIL IT L$ ME TO ! VILLAGE BY ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE1 :]E ,I ?\<T ,I WAS AB\T TO REJO9 ,UDATONTE4 

,! SUN WAS RIS+ :5 ,I WOKE FROM MY DREAM4 ,! LA/ C\NCIL WAS OV]1 ! FIRE WAS ALL BURNT \T1 MO/ ( ! W>RIORS W]E GONE4 ,A FEW PEOPLE /ILL SAT AT V>I\S PO9TS ALONG ! BROK5 CIRCLE2 ! SUN 9 MY EYES KEPT ME FROM SEE+ !IR FACES4 ,I ROSE FROM ! GR\ND & WALK$ PA/ ! BURNT-\T FIRE4 ,I SAW ?AT ! PEOPLE :O REMA9$ W]E OLD WOM5 & M5 :O />$ AT ! /ILL HE>? OR DOZ$4 ,I LEAP$ =W>D :5 ,I SAW ?AT ! WOMAN ) ! BLACK HAIR & FI]CE EYES WAS /ILL !RE--& !N ,I /OPP$4 ,! EYES W]5'T FI]CE2 !Y W]E DI/ANT & TORTUR$4 ,! HAIR WAS BLACK & /RAI<T1 & IT HUNG D[N TO ! GR\ND LIKE A T5T1 BUT ! FACE IT FRAM$ WAS AS WR9KL$ AS B>K4 

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