,*APT] #e 
,KATABWE 

#aihhaihh 

,PEOPLE 3 

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

,TEXT 3 

,L5API 

  

,AGA9 ,I F9D MYSELF BY ! ,/RAIT'S $GE1 VAGUELY AW>E ( A SELF SEP>ATE FROM ! MASK1 BUT NOT ( A BODY4 ,IT'S DAWN1 ! EI<? MOONLESS NI<T IS 5D+4 ,! SAME %AD[Y FIGURE APPROA*ES1 A MASK 9 ONE H&1 A BUNDLE 9 ! O!R4 ,PUTT+ ON ! MASK1 ,I REMEMB] MYSELF AS ,KATABWE2 ,I RECOGNIZE ! FIGURE AS LEAN ,SIG5AK & ! BUNDLE AS HIS BRO!R ,NANIKIBI'S4 ,EAGLES D>K5 ! SKY1 DEAD S]P5TS COV] ! GR\ND4 ,?IS IS ! DAY ,I DREAM$ (1 ! DAY ,I DREAD$4 

,MY DREAM'S EAGLE HAD SWOOP$ D[N ON ! S]P5TS & KILL$ !M4 ,I WAS A *ILD :5 ,I DREAM$2 ,I ?\<T ! EAGLE WAS MY FA!R ,MOTA1 :O HAD SWOOP$ D[N ON ,KEKIONGA'S ,SCABEAT]S4 ,:5 ,I TOLD MY DREAM1 BRO!R ,OA%I FR[N$1 GREATGR&MO!R ,MIOGWEWE TOLD ME ,I WAS A DAU<T] ( ,S]P5TS1 HE CALL$ ,WIT*BURN]S BECAUSE !Y SET FIRE TO !IR M$IC9E WOM51 ?OSE :O HAD BURNT ! VILLAGES ( MY ANCE/OR ,W9AMEK'S ,OCEAN%ORE K91 ?OSE CALL$ H]ETICS BY ! ,NOR!RN ,RIV]'S ,BLACKROBES4 ,W9AMEK HAD ALLI$ ) ! ,SCABEAT- ]S AGA9/ ! ,WIT*BURN]S1 MY UNCLE ,NAGMO WAS /ILL 5TANGL$ 9 ?AT ALLIANCE1 & AFT] SIX G5]ATIONS ( W>1 !RE W]E NO ,ROOTK9 ON ,W9AMEK'S ,OCEAN%ORE OR ON ! ,NOR!RN ,RIV]1 ! ,WIT*BURN]S W]E AS NUM]\S AS S&S1 ! ,SCABEAT]S REMA9$ /RONG1 & ! ONLY ORIG9AL PEOPLE BETWE5 !M W]E ,TURTLEFOLK ( ! ,EA/]N ,RIV] B\ND TOGE!R 9 A LEAGUE ?AT TREAT$ ALL O!RS AS 5EMIES4 

,H>ASS$ BY ,NAGMO'S NOR!RN ALLIES1 MY FA!R'S COMPANIONS S\<T TO ALLY ) ! G5]\S /RANG]S :O BR\<T RUM TO ,PICKAWILLANY4 ,TO GR&FA!R ,L5API ! RUMC>RI]S W]E NEI!R G5]\S NOR /RANG]S1 !Y W]E EMISS>IES FROM TWO GANGS :O OCCUPI$ ! ,OCEAN%ORE TO ! S\? ( ! ,WIT*BURN]S4 

,! RUMC>RI] ) ! WAGONS1 A MAN CALL$ ,KRAW-ON1 CAME FROM AMONG ! ,*EAT]S :O HAD 9VAD$ ! %ORE ( ,GR&FA!R ,L5API'S ,EA/BRAN* ,ROOTK94 ,LESS MURD]\S ?AN ! ,WIT*BURN]S NOR? ( !M OR ! ,SLAV]S S\? ( !M1 ! ,*EAT]S US$ !IR RIFLES ONLY TO KILL ANIMALS2 AGA9/ PEOPLE !Y US$ RUM1 GIFTS & TRICKS4 ,:5 !Y'D FIR/ >RIV$1 !Y'D =M$ A *A9 ( FRI5D%IP ) ! ,EA/BRAN* ,ROOTK91 & HAD ACCEPT$ GIFTS ) GRATITUDE4 ,:5 !Y GREW /RONG] !Y BR\<T GIFTS1 & :5 !Y GAVE1 !Y WANT$ MORE ?AN GRATITUDE4 ,FIR/ !Y WANT$ COM1 !N ANIMAL FURS1 !N ! FIELDS :]E ! CORN GREW & ! =E/S :]E ! ANIMALS ROAM$4 ,EXASP]AT$ ,EA/BRAN* K9 TOLD ! ,*EAT]S TO TAKE :AT !Y WANT$ ONCE & = ALL1 & !N /OP NIBBL+4 ,! ,*EAT]S SAID !Y WANT$ ONLY SO MU* L& AS !Y C\LD CROSS ON A DAY'S WALK4 ,:5 ! ,ROOTK9 AGRE$ TO GRANT !M SO MU* & NO MORE1 ! ,*EAT]S DISPAT*$ !IR FA/E/ RUNN]S ALONG A PREP>$ C\RSE 9 RELAYS4 ,! ,EA/BRAN* K91 :O HAD GIV5 !IR WORD1 AB&ON$ !IR ANCE/RAL %ORE1 RIV]M\?1 BAY1 FIELDS1 =E/S & VILLAGES1 & RETREAT$ TO ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S4 ,& N[ ! ,*EAT]S' EMISS>Y ,KRAW-ON CROSS$ ! M\NTA9S TO ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY LOOK+ = O!R ,ROOTK9 ) :OM TO =M A *A9 ( FRI5D%IP1 BUT NOT BECAUSE HE WAS FRI5DLY4 

,! O!R RUMC>RI]S 9 ,PICKAWILLANY W]E EMISS>IES FROM ,9VAD]S GR&FA!R ,L5API CALL$ ,SLAV]S1 ,9VAD]S AS L&-HUNGRY AS ! ,*EAT]S NOR? ( !M1 BUT )\T ! ,*EAT]S' SCRUPLES AB\T MURD]+ PEOPLE4 

,! ,SLAV]S HAD FIR/ L&$ AMONG ,OCEAN%ORE ,ROOTK9 ( ! \T] BANKS JU/ S\? ( ! ,EA/BRAN* %ORE4 ,AFT] BE+ F$ & W>M$ & !N GUID$ FROM \T] TO 9N] BANKS1 AFT] BE+ FEA/$ & C>ESS$ BY ! ELOQU5T ,PO:ATAN'S K91 !Y HAD MURD]$ !IR HO/S1 !Y HAD HUNT$ ,PO:ATAN'S ,ROOTK9 AS IF !Y W]E GAME1 & !Y HAD 5SLAV$ ALL ?OSE !Y HADN'T KILL$4 ,ALL !IR +5UITY W5T 9TO MEASUR+ & DIVID+ ! E>?1 GRANT+ PAT*ES ( E>? TO L&SUCK]S & EMP[]+ EA* TO KILL EV]Y?+ ON HIS PAT* SO AS TO REPOPULATE IT ) 5SLAV$ HUMAN BE+S4 ,HAV+ EXT]M9AT$ ,PO:ATAN'S K9 & DIVID$ ,PO:ATAN'S %ORE 9TO SLAVE PAT*ES1 !IR EMISS>IES N[ CROSS$ ! M\NTA9S 9TO ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY LOOK+ = MORE PAT*ES4 ,?OSE :O HAD PROMIS$ MY FA!R WEAPONS & GIV5 HIM A BELT W]E EMISS>IES = A L&GANG FAMILI> TO GR&FA!R ,L5API1 & SOON 5\< TO ME1 ! L&GANG ( ,UA-%N-TN & ,KRE-SOP4 

,GR&FA!R ,L5API SAID HE 9T5D$ TO LEAVE ,PICK- AWILLANY3 ! VILLAGE WAS NO LONG] A REFUGE2 !RE WAS TOO MU* DISEASE1 TOO MU* RUM1 !RE W]E TOO MANY ,*EAT]S & ,SLAV]S4 ,NONE SPOKE AGA9/ HIM1 NOT ,SIG5AK NOR ,NAMAKWE NOR MY FA!R'S COMPANIONS4 ,GR&FA!R ,L5API 9VIT$ HIS FRI5D ,%AWANO & O!R ,S\?BRAN* K9 ( ,PICKAWILLANY TO JO9 ! ,EA/BRAN* K9 9 ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S4 ,HE SAID ! ,*EAT]S & ,SLAV]S :O W]E CROSS+ ! M\NTA9S W]E AVOID+ ! ,EA/BRAN* VILLAGES BECAUSE ! ,EA/BRAN* K9 HAD NO?+ LEFT ?AT ! ,9VAD]S C\LD TAKE AWAY4 ,HE TOOK IT = GRANT$ ?AT ,OA%I & ,I W\LD GO ) HIM4 

,OA%I LOV$ ! VALLEY ( ! M\NDS & ! ,S\?BRAN* K9 9 IT1 BUT HE AGRE$ TO LEAVE IT1 SAY+ ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S W]E ! GATEWAY TO ! ,VALLEY1 A PLACE = C\NCILS & C]EMONIES1 = PEACEMAK+4 ,TO ME1 A M\NTA9 GATEWAY WAS A PLACE = AMBU%ES4 

,WE 9VIT$ ,WAGO%KWE'S FIVE TO GO ) US1 BUT ,SIG5AK & ,NAMAKWE HADN'T HE>D ,L5API2 !Y /ILL BURN$ TO REVIVE MY FA!R'S ALLIANCE & RESUME ,WAGO%KWE'S W>2 !IR SI/]S ,T9AMI & ,KITTIHAWA C\LDN'T WAIT TO REJO9 !IR CROSS- WE>+ C\S9 ,KATWYN 9 ,NAGMO'S LODGE ( ! OPPOSITE CAMP2 :ILE ,NANIKIBI1 /ILL UNDECID$1 AS CONV9C$ AS GREATGR&MO!R ,MIOGWEWE ?AT SONGS & DANCES W\LD MAKE CLAW$ EAGLES K9D1 WANT$ TO UNITE ! TWO CAMPS BY LI<T+ ?REE FIRES4 

,OA%I & ,I ACCOMPANI$ ,L5API & ,%AWANO T[>D ! RIS+ SUN1 PA/ ! =K ?AT MAKES ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]1 TO ! PAIR ( ,EA/BRAN* VILLAGES CRADL$ 9 A WOOD$ VALLEY ( ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S4 

,! M\NTA9 VILLAGE ( ,L5API'S ,EA/BRAN* K9 REM9D$ ME ( MY *ILDHOOD'S ,KEKIONGA3 ,I WAS HAPPY2 ,I SEEM$ TO BE LIV+ CLOS] TO ! FIR/ TIMES1 :5 !RE W]E NO ,9VAD]S4 

,:ILE ,I LE>N$ TO HUNT ) A B[1 ,OA%I LE>N$ ! SONGS ( ,EA/BRAN* ,ROOTK91 IMM]S$ HIMSELF 9 C]EMONIES1 MEMORIZ$ EA* DETAIL ON GR&FA!R ,L5API'S SCROLL4 ,HE TOLD ME ! IRRUPTION ( ,9VAD]S 9 \R WORLD WAS TEMPOR>Y1 ! RHY?MS LIV$ BY ! G5]ATIONS DESCRIB$ ON ! SCROLLS W]E B\ND TO RESUME4 

,BUT ,I HAD DREAM$ ( CLAW$ EAGLES SWOOP+ D[N ON ! WORLD1 & MY DREAM TOLD ME MORE ?AN ! ANCI5T SCROLLS DID4 ,\R HAPP9ESS DIDN'T WEA!R F\R SEASONS4 

,! ,*EAT]S :O OCCUPI$ ! ,EA/BRAN* %ORE1 HAV+ SCRUPLES AB\T FI<T+ !IR [N W>S1 %[]$ RUM & GIFTS ON AN ,EA/BRAN* MAN NAM$ ,%+IS & NAM$ HIM HEADMAN ( ALL ,EA/BRAN* ,ROOTK91 HOP+ HE W\LD DO = !M :AT MY FA!R NO LONG] C\LD3 DEF5D !IR RUM C>AVANS FROM ATTACKS BY ,SCABEAT]S & !IR WE/]N ALLIES4 ,MEAN:ILE1 A L&GANG AMONG ! ,WIT*BURN]S ON ,W9AMEK'S %ORE BEGAN GRANT+ PAT*ES ( ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S TO RIFLE->M$ L&SUCK]S1 CLAIM+ ?AT ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S HAD BE5 GIV5 TO ! ,WIT*BURN]S BY ! ,TURTLE LEAGUE ( ! EA/]N ,WOODL&S4 ,L&SUCK]S >RIV$2 !Y AIM$ !IR RIFLES AGA9/ EV]Y?+ ?AT /IRR$ ON ! PAT*ES !Y'D BE5 GRANT$4 

,L5API'S K9 GREW AL>M$2 !Y C\NCIL$2 !Y URG$ ,%+IS TO SPEAK TO ?OSE :O'D NAM$ HIM HEADMAN4 ,%+IS VISIT$ ! *IEF ,*EAT]S & HE WAS ASSUR$ ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S W]E 9VIOLABLE & W\LD BELONG TO ,ROOTK9 UNTIL ! SUN NO LONG] ROSE2 ?AT ASSURANCE WAS ALL ! ,*EAT]S W\LD (F] ,%+IS1 S9CE !Y W]E AV]SE TO >M$ CLA%ES4 ,%+IS W5T TO ! O!RS1 ! ,SLAV]S :O OCCUPI$ ,PO:ATAN'S %ORE1 (F]$ TO SC\T = ! >MY !Y W]E PREP>+ = A CLA% ) ,SCABEAT]S & WE/]N ,ROOTK91 & ASK$ IF ?IS >MY1 AFT] ITS VICTORY1 W\LD HELP \/ ! DE/RUCTIVE L&SUCK]S FROM ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S4 ,! >MY'S HEADMAN1 CALL$ ,BRA-DUCK1 TOLD ,%+IS NEI!R WOLVES NOR WILD M5 W\LD 9H]IT ! L& HIS >MY CONQU]$4 ,/UNG BY ?IS RESPONSE1 ,%+IS & HIS W>RIORS RESOLV$ NOT TO HELP ?IS >MY TO VICTORY2 !Y JO9$ ! WE/]N >MY & HELP$ SEE TO IT ?AT ,BRA-DUCK 9H]IT$ NO L&4 ,BRA-DUCK & MO/ ( HIS >MY W]E KILL$2 ! REMNANTS FL$ LIKE RABBITS FROM WOLVES2 IT WAS SAID ?AT NO ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S HAD EV] SUFF]$ A GREAT] DEFEAT4 

,AS SOON AS !Y LE>N$ ( ,BRA-DUCK'S DEFEAT1 ! ,*EAT]S :O OCCUPI$ ! ,EA/BRAN* %ORE LO/ !IR SCRUPLES AB\T KILL+ PEOPLE4 ,BETRAY$ BY !IR MAN ,%+IS1 !Y TURN$ !IR WRA? ON ,%+IS'S K91 PROCLAIM$ ?AT ! SUN W\LD NO LONG] RISE OV] ! 9VIOLABLE ,EA/BRAN* VILLAGES1 & (F]$ B\NTIES = ! SCALPS ( ,EA/BRAN* M51 WOM5 & *ILDR54 ,!Y HAD SWALL[$ ! ,OCEAN%ORE BY *EAT+2 !Y TURN$ TO !IR NEI<BORS' WAYS TO SWALL[ ! ,M\NTA9S4 ,!Y S5T AMMUNITION TO ! L&SUCK]S & URG$ !M TO PO/PONE ! KILL+S ON !IR PAT*ES & JO9 ! ROV+ B&S ( B\NTYSEEK]S4 

,PEACE & HAPP9ESS W]E N[ P>T ( A BRIEF PA/4 ,AL>MS & 0RIFLE %OTS MADE UP ! RHY?M ( DAYS'4' ,EA/BRAN* & ,S\?BRAN* M5 TOOK TURNS AS HUNT]S1 SC\TS & W>RIORS2 WOM5 TOOK UP HAT*ETS & B[S4 

,! 5D CAME ON A DAY :5 ,OA%I HAD LEFT ) HUNT]S4 ,I WAS 9 GR&FA!R ,L5API'S LODGE2 ,%AWANO WAS VISIT+4 ,SC\TS TOLD US A GANG ( B\NTYSEEK]S WAS GUID+ ?REE HUNDR$ R$FROCK$ SOLDI]S T[>D \R VILLAGE4 

,I HE>D %OTS1 ! VILLAGE WAS SURR\ND$1 ! =E/ WAS 9FE/$ ) SCALPHUNT]S1 ! ,R$COATS & !IR GUIDES BEGAN TO SET FIRE TO ! LODGES1 FOOD/OCKS1 EV5 ! FIELDS4 

,GR&FA!R ,L5API SAID WE W]E TOO FEW TO FI<T1 BUT :5 \R LODGE FILL$ ) SMOKE HE SAID WE W]E TOO MANY TO DIE4 ,H&+ ME HIS B>K SCROLL1 HE GRABB$ ! OLD RIFLE HE HADN'T US$ S9CE HIS FIR/ DAYS 9 ,KEKIONGA & RU%$ \T ( ! BURN+ LODGE4 ,I RU%$ AFT] HIM4 ,%OTS DEAF5$ ME & ,I FELL4 ,%AWANO HAD PULL$ ! B[ FROM MY H& & TRIPP$ ME2 HE HELD ME TO ! GR\ND1 MOTIONLESS2 MORE %OTS RANG \T4 ,!N ! ,9VAD]S MOV$ AWAY FROM ! A%ES ( \R VILLAGE4 

,%AWANO & ,I W]5'T SCALP$4 ,BUT GR&FA!R ,L5API WAS DEAD4 ,HE HADN'T KILL$ ANY ,9VAD]S2 HIS OLD RIFLE WAS JAMM$4 

,FLAMES BURNT ! ,EA/BRAN* ,ROOTK9 \T ( ! LA/ COM] ( !IR ORIG9AL HOME4 

,! FLAMES ?AT BURNT ! VILLAGE BURNT 9 MY HE>T4 ,I LEFT ! SCROLL ) ,%AWANO1 PICK$ UP MY B[ & RAN T[>D A CIRCLE ( DANC+ ,S\?BRAN* W>RIORS4 ,I COV]$ MY BODY ) ! *>R$ REMA9S ( LODGES4 ,! DANCE FILL$ MY HEAD ) ?\<TS ( PLAGUES1 RUMC>RI]S & SCALP-HUNT+ L&- SUCK]S4 

,I ACCOMPANI$ ! W>RIORS TO ! NE>E/ PAT* ( D[N$ TREES & FURR[$ E>?4 ,WE DIDN'T ASK IF ! L&SUCK]S WE 5CIRCL$ HAD BE5 AMONG ! KILL]S ( \R K92 !Y HADN'T ASK$ IF !IR VICTIMS HAD BE5 AMONG ?OSE :O'D R\T$ ,BRA- DUCK4 ,MY >R[S HIT A RIFLE->M$ MAN & AN UN>M$ WOMAN4 ,:5 ! WOMAN FELL1 ,I LO/ MY RAGE4 

,I WAS RELIEV$ :5 AT LA/ ! W>RIORS RETURN$ TO ! CAMP BY \R BURNT VILLAGE4 ,I WAS EXPECT$ TO KEEP TRACK ( TWO ( \R CAPTIVES1 YELLO:AIR$ *ILDR5 ( ! ,9VAD]S ,I HAD KILL$1 ! OLD] ( :OM />$ AT ME ) HATE-FILL$ BLUE EYES4 ,%AK+ FROM EXHAU/ION1 HUNG] & DISGU/1 ,I SPAT 9 H] FACE4 

,! CAMP WAS FULL ( /RANG]S4 ,I F\ND ,OA%I LY+ 9 ,%AWANO'S T5T1 ) A BULLET 9 HIS LEG4 ,HE CLUT*$ GR&FA!R ,L5API'S SCROLL1 SAID NO?+ AB\T HIS W\ND1 & TOLD ME WE W]E ALIVE ONLY ?ANKS TO ! /RANG]S1 :O W]E \R WE/]N ,ROOTK92 \R UNCLE ,NANIKIBI WAS ILL AMONG !M4 

,\R WE/]N K91 AFT] R\T+ ,BRA-DUCK1 HAD DEFEAT$ EV]Y >MY ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S HAD S5T AGA9/ !M1 & HAD /ALK$ ! ,R$COATS S5T BY ! ,*EAT]S AGA9/ ! ,EA/BRAN* VILLAGES4 ,!IR >RIVAL HAD KEPT ! B\NTYSEEK]S FROM GA!R+ ALL ! SCALPS 9 \R BURNT VILLAGE1 & HAD TI$ UP ! DEF5D]S ( ! PAT*ES ,I HAD RAID$4 

,! WE/]N]S URG$ ! ,S\?BRAN* & SURVIV+ ,EA/BRAN* K9 TO MOVE T[>D ! SETT+ SUN & JO9 ! ,ROOTK9 ( ! ,LAKES & ,PRAIRIES4 

,I YE>N$ TO RETURN TO ! PLACES :]E MY GR&MO!RS HAD LIV$1 BUT ,I DIDN'T WANT TO GO 5CUMB]$ BY CAPTIVES2 ,I WANT$ TO KILL ! YELLO:AIR$ SI/]S4 

,OA%I TOOK MY H& & PLAC$ IT ON ! P5DANT ?AT HUNG FROM HIS NECK1 B9D+ ME TO IT2 HE SAID ! P5DANT'S MAK]1 \R GREAT-GR&MO!R ,%UTAHA1 HAD TAK5 ! *ILDR5 ( CLAW$ EAGLES 9TO H] LODGE AS H] [N K94 ,%AWANO & O!R ,S\?BRAN* K9 :O ?\<T AS ,OA%I DID ADOPT$ ! GIRLS4 

,:5 WE SEP>AT$ FROM ,%AWANO'S K9 NE> ! =K :]E TWO M\NTA9 RIV]S M]GE TO FL[ T[>D ! SUNSET AS ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]1 ! Y\NG] GIRL /AY$ ) ! ,S\?BRAN* K91 BUT ! OLD] CLUNG TO ! ,EA/BRAN* SURVIVORS :O ACCOMPANI$ ! WE/]N W>RIORS TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ON ! ,P59SULA4 ,DUR+ ! LONG J\RNEY1 ,YELLO:AIR C>$ = ! W\ND ON ,OA%I'S LEG & BEGAN TO CALL ME ,NITIS1 FRI5D1 AL?\< %E HAD CAUSE TO WANT ME DEAD4 

,I WAS MIS]ABLE DUR+ MY FIR/ SPR+ 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 & NOT ONLY BECAUSE ( ! HUNG]1 ! 9JURIES1 ! DISEASE4 ,I FELT CLOS] TO ,YELLO:AIR1 :O NURS$ ,OA%I UNTIL HE BEGAN TO LIMP1 ?AN TO ! VILLAG]S :O LODG$ & C>ESS$ US4 ,TO ME ! VILLAG]S W]5'T ONLY /RANG]S1 !Y W]E HAT$ ,SCABEAT]S1 & ,I WAS DISMAY$ TO LE>N !Y W]E C\S9S OR AUNTS OR UNCLES1 ALL MY K94 

,UNCLE ,NANIKIBI RECOV]$ SL[LY 9 ! LODGE ( ! CROSSWE>]S ,NAGMO & ,KATWYN1 NURS$ BY HIS CROSSWE>+ SI/] ,KITTIHAWA4 

,NANIKIBI REMEMB]$ ! NAME HIS MO!R ,WAGO%KWE HAD ?R[N AGA9/ MY GREAT-GR&MO!R'S AT MY NAM+2 HE CALL$ ME ,KATABWE1 W>RIOR1 HALF ADMIR+ & HALF TEAS+ ME = HAV+ ?R[N MYSELF 9TO RAIDS )\T KN[+ ?AT AN >MY PROTECT$ ME FROM BEH9D4 

,OA%I PLI$ ,NANIKIBI & ALSO ,M9I ) QUE/IONS1 EAG] TO LE>N H[ \R UNCLE & C\S91 BO? PEACEMAK]S1 HAD >RIV$ 9 ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S AS W>RIORS 9 UNCLE ,NAGMO'S >MY4 

,MANY SPR+S E>LI]1 BE=E ,I WAS BORN1 ,OA%I1 ,NANIKIBI & ,M9I HAD SWORN NEV] TO BECOME EMBROIL$ 9 ! W>S ( ! ,9VAD]S2 !Y CONSID]$ !MSELVES HEIRS & KEEP]S ( ! FIRES ANCI5T ,W$ASI HAD LIT ON ! ,P59SULA4 ,OA%I /AY$ AWAY FROM \R FA!R'S W>RIORS 9 ,KEKIONGA1 ,NANIKIBI FROM HIS C\S9 ,NAGMO'S >MY 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 & ,M9I FROM ! 5CLOSURE'S >M$ M5 ON ! ,/RAIT4 

,M9I 9CLUD$ O!RS 9 ! PACT1 AMONG !M ,BATI1 ! SON ( ! 5CLOSURE'S HAIRCUTT]1 ,ALE%I1 ! NEPHEW ( ! 5CLOSURE'S HEADMAN ,BELE/1 & ,M9I'S [N C\S9S ,JOZES & ,MAGDA :5 !Y MOV$ FROM ,KEKIONGA TO ! ,/RAIT4 ,A GR[+ NUMB] ( ! ,/RAIT'S Y\? C\NCIL$ & DANC$ ) ,M9I 9 ,K>ONTA51 ! VILLAGE ( ,%UTAHA & ! ,/RAIT'S ,TURTLEFOLK4 ,! OLD M5 ( ,LEMOND1 ! ,SCABEAT]S' C\NCIL1 9CLUD+ ,JOZES'S & ,MAGDA'S FA!R ,LEKOM&A ,%AK1 DISLIK$ !IR *ILDR5'S EV] FRE] WAYS4 ,LEKOM&A ,%AK PULL$ ,JOZES 9TO ! /ORE HE %>$ ) ,M9I'S FA!R ,%5 & !IR P>TN] ,KAMPO1 & HE PU%$ ,MAGDA 9TO A M>RIAGE ) ,KAMPO4 ,M9I1 ,%UTAHA & ,MAGDA'S MO!R ,MANYAN OPPOS$ ?IS M>RIAGE2 EV] S9CE %E'D LEFT ,KEKIONGA1 ,MAGDA HAD DREAM$ ( ,OA%I4 ,BUT ,MAGDA W\LD NEV] BE REUNIT$ ) MY BRO!R4 ,LEMOND'S >MY SET \T TO ,KEKIONGA TO RETALIATE AGA9/ MY FA!R'S CAPTURE ( !IR 5CLOSURE2 ,%UTAHA DI$1 ,M9I BECAME ! KEEP] ( ! ,/RAIT'S BELTS1 ,LEMOND'S >MY RETURN$ TO ! ,/RAIT & BOA/$ ( HAV+ EAT5 MY FA!R & ALL HIS ALLIES4 ,FE>+ ,OA%I DEAD1 ,MAGDA WALK$ 9TO ! >RANG$ M>RIAGE LIKE A P]SON ASLEEP4 ,N9E MOONS LAT] %E GAVE BIR? TO A SON & LEFT ! WORLD TO LOOK = ,OA%I AMONG ! <O/S1 NOT KN[+ ?AT MY BRO!R & ,I W]E DANC+ 9 ,PICKAWILLANY4 ,! DAY ,MAGDA DI$1 UNCLE ,NAGMO1 ) ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S HEADMAN ,JUMON & AN >MY ( W>RIORS FROM ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE VILLAGE1 >RIV$ ON ! ,/RAIT TO RECRUIT W>RIORS AGA9/ ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,V ALLEY4 ,FEW ( ! ,/RAIT'S Y\? JO9$ ,NAGMO4 ,M9I'S FRI5DS HAD 9 ! MEANTIME BECOME K9 BY M>RIAGE2 ,BATFS BRO!R ,ANTO HAD M>RI$ ,KAM- PO'S SI/]2 ,ALE%I'S OLD] SI/] HAD TAK5 ,MAGDA'S PLACE 9 ,KAMPO'S LODGE4 ,! FRI5DS REFUS$ TO BE EMBROIL$ 9 A W> BETWE5 ! ,9VAD]S4 

,M9I 

  

,LEKOM&A ,%AK WAS AMONG ! FEW FROM ! ,/RAIT :O JO9$ ,NAGMO'S W> P>TY2 HE HAD BE5 REMOV$ FROM ! ,KEKIONGA 5CLOSURE = LETT+ FURS REA* ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S1 & HE WANT$ TO R$EEM HIMSELF 9 ,LEMOND'S EYES4 

,BUT :5 ,NAGMO L$ ! P>TY T[>D ,PICKAWILLANY HIS SMALL =CE DIS9TEGRAT$3 ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE W>RIORS REFUS$ TO ATTACK MY FA!R1 ,LEKOM&A ,%AK REFUS$ TO ATTACK ,OZAGI4 ,NAGMO RETA9$ A REMNANT ( AN >MY ONLY BY DIV]T+ IT AGA9/ A DI/ANT 5EMY2 9/EAD ( ATTACK+ ,PICKAWILLANY1 HE W5T TO ,CAHOKIA ON ! ,LONG ,RIV]1 PLUND]$ TWO C>AVANS ( RUMC>RI]S1 & !N W5T TO ! EA/]N 5D ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY & PLANT$ METAL PLATES ON SACR$ SPOTS4 ,!SE PLATES1 IT WAS SAID1 %\T$ 9SULTS TO ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S1 & PROVOK$ ! ,SLAV]S ON ,PO:ATAN'S ,OCEAN%ORE TO DISPAT* AGA9/ ,NAGMO AN >MY L$ BY ! BRO!R ( ! L&GANG HEADMAN ,UA-%N-TN4 ,! TWO >MIES MET & CALL$ EA* O!R 9TRUD]S2 EA* DEM&$ ?AT ! O!R LEAVE ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,NAGMO'S WAS ! SMALL] & CALL$ A TRUCE4 ,LEKOM&A ,%AK & ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S HEADMAN ,JUMON C>RI$ A TRUCE FLAG TO ,UA-%N-TN'S T5T1 & NEV] AGA9 EM]G$4 ,UA-%N-TN & HIS COHORTS SUDD5LY RODE (F ON !IR HORSES4 ,! BODIES ( ,LEKOM&A ,%AK & ,JUMON W]E 9SIDE ! T5T1 !IR SCALPS REMOV$4 

,:ILE ! ,SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN RODE EA/W>D TO BOA/ ( HIS VICTORY AGA9/ A WE/]N >MY1 ,NAGMO & HIS R$UC$ B& BECAME ! NUCLEUS ( A WE/]N >MY L>G] ?AN ! LEG5D>Y >MY GA!R$ BY HIS GR&FA!R ,W9AMEK4 ,NEWS ( ! SCALP+ UND] A TRUCE FLAG WAS C>RI$ TO C\NCILS 9 EV]Y CORN] ( ! ,P59SULA2 :5 ,OA%I'S FRI5DS LE>N$ ( ! SCALP+1 !Y BROKE !IR OA? & BECAME EMBROIL$ 9 ! ,9VAD]S' W>4 ,ON ! ,/RAIT1 ,M9I1 ! SCALP$ MAN'S NEPHEW1 AS WELL AS ,BATI & ,ALE%I1 PREP>$ TO GO TO W>4 

,NANIKIBI1 ,SIG5AK & !IR ?REE SI/]S HAD JU/ RETURN$ TO ,KEKIONGA FROM ,PICKAWILLANY2 !IR FA!R WAS DEAD2 ,OA%I & ,I W]E ON \R WAY TO ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S4 ,:5 ,NAGMO PASS$ ?R\< ,KEKIONGA TO RECRUIT MORE W>RIORS AGA9/ ! SCALP]1 ,WAGO%KWE'S FIVE SEP>AT$ 9 ?REE DIRECTIONS4 ,SIG5AK & ,NAMAKWE REMEMB]$ ?AT ,NAGMO'S GR&FA!R HAD HUNT$ !IR MO!R'S K9 FROM !IR FIR/ APPE>ANCE AT ! ,/RAIT TO !IR F9AL DEMISE #aa ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 & ,SIG5AK WANT$ TO ATTACK1 NOT DI/ANT ,UA-%N-TN1 BUT ,NAGMO1 AS WELL AS ,JOZES1 ,KAMPO & ,%51 :O HAD REOP5$ !IR ,KEKIONGA FUR-GA!R+ PO/4 ,NANIKIBI HESITANTLY JO9$ ,NAGMO4 ,LITTLE ,KITTIHAWA SET \T = ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TO REJO9 H] CROSSWE>+ C\S9 ,KATWYN4 ,T9AMI /AY$ 9 ,KEKIONGA TO DO :AT H] FA!R ,OZAGI W\LD HAVE DONE1 TO MAKE PEACE BETWE5 ,SIG5AK & ,JOZES1 :O REMA9$ 9 HIS FUR PO/ :5 ! W>RIORS SET \T TO AV5GE HIS FA!R'S DEA?4 

,! WE/]N W>RIORS F\ND ,SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN B>RICAD$ 9 A SMALL 5CLOSURE NE> ! =K ?AT MAKES ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]4 ,?IS TIME ,UA-%N-TN & ! \TNUMB]$ ,R$COATS ADVANC$ ) TRUCE FLAGS4 ,!Y W]5'T SCALP$2 !Y W]E M>*$ \T ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY TO ! BEAT ( DRUMS1 !IR TAILS DROOP+ BETWE5 !IR LEGS4 ,SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN LOOK$ CLOSELY AT ! DRUMM] ,BATI & AT ,M9I1 ,ALE%I & ,NANIKIBI2 HE W\LD REMEMB] !M4 

,NANIKIBI1 ,M9I & !IR COMPANIONS SET \T AGA9 :5 IT WAS LE>N$ ?AT ANO!R >MY ( ,R$COATS WAS MOV+ 9TO ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 ,BRA-DUCK'S >MY ( ?\S&S1 GUID$ BY ,%+IS & ,EA/BRAN* ,ROOTK94 ,?IS >MY HADN'T YET REA*$ ! M\NTA9 PASS :5 ,%+IS & HIS K9 TURN$ UP 9 ! WE/]N]S' CAMP2 !Y SAID ! ,R$COATS TREAT$ ! ,EA/BRAN* GUIDES AS SLAVES1 REJECT$ ALL ADVICE1 EXPECT$ ! GUIDES TO BE 9 ! FRONT L9E1 & BOA/$ ?AT ONLY ,SLAV]S W\LD 9H]IT ! FRUITS ( VICTORY4 

,SMUG ,BRA-DUCK MOV$ T[>D ! M\NTA9 PASS )\T GUIDANCE1 EV5 ,UA-%N-TN'S1 HAV+ RELEGAT$ ! DRUMM$-\T SCALP] TO ! BAGGAGE TRA9 9 ! RE>4 ,BRA-DUCK & HIS ?\S&S ADVANC$ DIRECTLY 9TO ! AMBU% ( WAIT+ ,ROOTK94 ,! HEADMAN & MO/ ( HIS ,R$COATS W\LD 9H]IT NO MORE3 !Y %OT & /ABB$ EA* O!R 9 !IR MAD RU% TO ESCAPE FROM ! M\NTA9S1 L$ 9 !IR FLI<T BY ! RE>1 BY ,UA-%N-TN1 :O AB&ON$ WEAPONS1 P[D]1 CATTLE1 HORSES1 BAGGAGE WAGONS1 & RAN AT ! HEAD ( ! FLEE+ REMNANT4 

,! VICTORI\S WE/]N]S1 /R5G!N$ BY ,S\?BRAN* & ,EA/BRAN* K9 & BY ,HO*ELAGA CROSSWE>]S1 W5T ON TO DRIVE ,9VAD]S FROM ,%UAGAN ON ! ,EA/]NMO/ ,LAKE & FROM 5CLOSURES ALONG ! ,NOR!RN ,RIV]1 PU%+ !M T[>D ! /RIP ( ,OCEAN%ORE :]E ,ROOTK9 NO LONG] ROAM$4 ,AT ONE ( !SE 5CLOSURES1 ! TREA*]\S ,R$COATS1 PRET5D+ TO WANT A TRUCE1 GAVE ! WE/]N]S BLANKETS TAK5 FROM M5 AFFLICT$ ) SMALLPOX4 ,! DISEASE SPREAD MORE SUFF]+ & DEA? ?AN ALL ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S' >MIES HAD BE5 ABLE TO DO4 ,NANIKIBI WAS ONE ( ! MANY :O BROKE \T 9 BLI/]S BUT SURVIV$4 

,IT WAS ?IS DISEASE-AFFLICT$ BUT /ILL UNDEFEAT$ >MY ?AT R\T$ ! VILLAGEBURN]S :O HAD KILL$ ,L5API & DE/ROY$ HIS VILLAGE2 !SE W]E ! VICTORI\S W>RIORS ,OA%I & ,I & MY YELLO:AIR$ CAPTIVE ACCOMPANI$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ON ! ,P59SULA4 

,! ?REE ( US1 ,OA%I & ,I AS WELL AS ,YELLO:AIR1 W]E MADE UNEASY BY ! K9DNESS ( AUNT ,KATWYN & ,NANIKIBI'S Y\NGE/ SI/] ,KITTIHAWA4 ,WE W]E REPELL$ BY ! CROSSES & PICTURES1 BY ! IRON KETTLES & NE$LES1 BY ! CLO!S & ! ALI5 WAYS4 ,WE DIDN'T HAVE TE>S TO %$ = ! PRIVATIONS SUFF]$ BY UNCLE ,NAGMO'S K91 PRIVATIONS !Y SAID CAME FROM ,R$E>? HUNT]S AB&ON+ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE = ! ,PLA9S & ,FIREKEEP+ PLANT]S = ,PICKAWILLANY4 

,WE W]E RELIEV$ :5 K9 FROM ! ,/RAIT >RIV$ TO CELEBRATE ! VICTORIES1 :5 ,NANIKIBI'S SI/] ,NAMAKWE1 :O WORE NO CROSS1 & ,BATI'S SI/] ,NIZOKWE1 ,M9I'S BRIDE :O FILL$ ! AIR ) SONG1 HELP$ US RAISE A LODGE AT A COM=TABLE DI/ANCE FROM ,NAGMO'S4 

,OA%I WAS TOGE!R ) HIS *ILDHOOD FRI5DS = ! FIR/ TIME 9 T5 SPR+S4 ,YELLO:AIR & ,NIZOKWE TOOK TO EA* O!R AS IF !Y HAD SP5T !IR *ILDHOOD TOGE!R4 ,I FELT AMONG MY [N K91 ! WAYS ( ,M9I & ,BATI & ,NIZOKWE BE+ NO MORE ALI5 TO ME ?AN MY GREAT-GR&MO!R'S4 ,YET ,BATI & ,NIZOKWE W]E NO MORE ,ROOTK9 ?AN ,YELLO:AIR1 BE+ TWO ( F\R *ILDR5 ( ,LEMOND'S HAIRCUTT] & HIS ,HO*ELAGA WOMAN4 ,ALL F\R LOV$ TO MAKE SONGS ) !IR VOICES1 ) FLUTES1 ) /R+S1 EV5 ) RE$S & /ICKS4 ,?REE ( !M1 ,BATI1 ,NIZOKWE & !IR BRO!R ,ANTO1 HAD GR[N UP 9 AUNT ,MAN- YAN'S LODGE CLOSE TO ,MAGDA1 ,JOZES & !IR C\S9 ,M9I1 CLOSE TO ! B[LMAK] ,%UTAHA4 

,NIZOKWE HAD /OPP$ S++ ONLY ?REE TIMES 9 H] LIFE3 :5 GREAT-GR&MO!R ,%UTAHA DI$1 :5 ,NIZOKWE'S CLOSE/ FRI5D ,MAGDA DI$ GIV+ BIR? TO ,TI%A1 & :5 H] BRO!R & ,M9I LEFT ! ,/RAIT ) ! WE/]N >MY2 %E HAD BECOME ,M9I'S BRIDE ON ! EVE ( ! >MY'S DEP>TURE4 ,%E HAD REMA9$ SIL5T ALL ?R\< ! W>RIORS' ABS5CE4 ,AUNT ,MAN- YAN HAD TRI$ TO REVIVE ,NIZOKWE'S VOICE BY GIV+ H] A BEAD & CLO? ANIMAL ?AT MY MO!R ,M5OKO HAD ONCE MADE = ,M9FS MO!R1 & BY SAY+ ?AT ,M5OKO'S SPIRIT LIV$ 9 ,NIZOKWE4 ,BUT ,NIZOKWE KEPT SIL5T2 %E LE>N$ FROM REFUGEES FLEE+ FROM A DI/ANT EA/]N ISL& ?AT >M$ ,WIT*BURN]S HAD *AS$ PEOPLE FROM !IR LODGES & FIELDS2 %E SAW ,LEMOND'S ,NAV> & ,DECU& *ASE VILLAG]S FROM ! ,ISLE ( ,RATTLESNAKES :I* ALL HAD %>$ 9 COMMON2 %E ?\<T ! WORLD WAS 5D+4 

,NIZOKWE'S VOICE RETURN$ ONLY :5 %E REA*$ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE & ?REW H] >MS >\ND ,M9I & ,BATI4 ,%E KEPT ON S++ :ILE HELP+ US RAISE \R LODGE1 :ILE %[+ ,YELLO:AIR ! SECRETS ( B[LMAK+4 

,BE=E LONG1 ,YELLO:AIR SANG SONGS ( ,ROOTK9 & ,TURTLEFOLK ALONGSIDE ,NIZOKWE1 SPOKE ) 9CREAS+ FLU5CY & DANC$4 ,OA%I1 :OSE EYES W]E EV] ON HIS HEAL]1 CALL$ MY YELLO:AIR$ CAPTIVE ,LOKASKWE1 ,B[LMAK]4 

,LOKASKWE TOLD US ! PEOPLE MY >R[S KILL$1 H] K91 W]E 9NOC5TS4 ,!IR NAME WAS ,BA-Y]1 !Y SPOKE A TONGUE DIFF]5T FROM ?AT ( ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S1 !Y'D HAD LITTLE TO GIVE & GAVE IT ALL TO ! L&GANG ?AT S5T !M TO ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S4 ,!Y HAD LEFT !IR WORLD SO AS TO FLEE FROM L&GANGS1 HAD CROSS$ ! ,OCEAN TO F9D PEOPLE :O %>$ & GAVE AS FREELY AS !IR [N K9 HAD US$ TO DO4 ,BUT RIFLE->M$ B\NTYSEEK]S 9TIMIDAT$ ,LOKASKWE'S FA!R 9TO JO9+ A RAID AGA9/ ?OSE HE'D COME SEEK+4 ,HE'D WANT$ TO BE ACCEPT$ BY ! UNFAMILI> PEOPLE HE RAID$1 BUT HE WAS FAMILI> ) OPPRESSION & DESOLATION & HE KNEW ONLY TO OPPRESS & DESOLATE1 UNTIL HE WAS /OPP$ BY PEOPLE :O DEF5D$ !MSELVES AS HIS NEV] HAD4 

,OA%I BEGG$ ,LOKASKWE TO REPEAT H] /ORY OV] & OV]2 HE C\LDN'T BELIEVE ?AT ! ,9VAD]S OV]RUNN+ \R WORLD HAD !MSELVES BE5 OV]RUN2 HE C\LDN'T BELIEVE ?AT ?OSE :O HAD EXP]I5C$ DESOLATION C\LD BE SO 9HUMAN AS TO C>RY DESOLATION TO O!RS4 

,OA%I DREW ,LOKASKWE AWAY FROM S++ ,NIZOKWE & SANG HIS SONGS TO H]1 GREAT-GR&MO!R'S SONGS4 ,SITT+ BY ,L5API'S UNROLL$ SCROLL1 HE SANG TO H] ( ! ,TELLEGWI1 ,NE%NABEK & ,TALAMATUN :O HAD 9HABIT$ ! LAKES1 VALLEYS1 WOODL&S & OCEAN%ORES BE=E DESOLATION >RIV$ 9 GREAT %IPS4 ,LOKASKWE SAID H] FA!R HAD TOLD H] ( ! WORLD ,OA%I DESCRIB$3 ITS NAME WAS ,P>ADISE4 

,OA%I1 :O WORE ! P5DANT ,%UTAHA HAD MADE = ,MIO- GWEWE1 BEGG$ ME & ,NANIKIBI & ,M9I TO HELP HIM >RANGE AN ADOPTION & R5EWAL C]EMONY AS \R GREAT-GR&MO!R W\LD HAVE >RANG$ IT4 

,ON ! EVE ( ! C]EMONY1 ,NANIKIBI BR\<T ME A GIFT1 :I* ,I ACCEPT$4 ,! ADOPTION & R5EWAL WAS A D\BLE L9K+4 

,LOKASKWE & ,OA%I W\LD %>E SONGS AS WELL AS LODGE & MAT & FOOD4 

,NANIKIBI & ,I1 DESC5DANTS ( ANCI5T ,W$ASI & ! FIR/ ,NANGISI1 ( ANCI5T ,YAHATASE 4& ! FIR/ ,B9ESIKWE1 REUNIT$ ALL ! PEOPLES ( ! ,LAKES & ,PRAIRIES3 ON ,NANIKIBI'S SIDE ,WAGO%KWE'S ,R$E>? K91 ,SAGIKWE'S ,P59SULAK9 ( ,SAGI ,BAY1 ,YAHATASE'S ,TURTLEFOLK ( ,MORN+L&2 ON MY SIDE ,M5OKO'S PEACEFUL DREAM]S1 ,MANGA%KO'S ,PRAIRIE W>RIORS1 ,MIOGWEWE'S ,FIREKEEP]S1 ,B9ESIKWE'S ,ROOTK9 ( ,KI*IGAMI4 

,BUT ! LIFE ,OA%I DESCRIB$ TO ,LOKASKWE DID NOT RESUME 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,?OSE ( ! ,/RAIT LEFT US1 & :5 ,M9I AGA9 CAME TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 IT WAS TO BR+ US T]RIFY+ NEWS4 ,AFT] ALL ! DEFEATS 9FLICT$ ON !M BY ,NANIKIBI1 ,M9I1 ,BATI1 ,ALE%I & ! O!R WE/]N W>RIORS1 ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S HAD RETURN$ TO ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S ) ,R$COATS MORE NUM]\S ?AN ,BRA-DUCK'S4 ,! WE/]N SC\TS AT ! =K ?AT MAKES ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]1 ON ! LOOK\T = C>AVANS ( RUMC>RI]S1 RECEIV+ NO AID FROM NE>BY ,S\?BRAN* K91 AB&ON$ !IR SMALL 5CLOSURE & FL$ TO ! ,/RAIT4 ,! HEADMAN ( ! ,/RAIT'S 5CLOSURE1 ,ALE%I'S UNCLE ,BELE/1 L$ A =CE AGA9/ ! R$FROCK$ ,9VAD]S1 BUT RETREAT$ AFT] HALF HIS =CE WAS DE/ROY$2 ,M9I'S FA!R ,%5 WAS AMONG ! DEAD4 ,& !N NEWS REA*$ ! ,/RAIT ?AT YET L>G] >MIES ( ,R$COATS HAD SURPRIS$ ! 5CLOSURES AT ! ,GREAT ,FALLS1 ON ! ,EA/]N ,RIV] & ON ! ,NOR!RN ,RIV] ITSELF3 ,/ADACONA & ,HO*ELAGA HAD BO? FALL5 TO ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S4 ,! /RON<OLDS HAD BE5 POORLY DEF5D$2 9 ITS H\R ( NE$1 ,W9AMEK'S ALLIANCE ( WE/]N ,ROOTK9 ) ,NOR!RN ,RIV] ,9VAD]S HAD BE5 A CRACK$ B[4 ,:ILE ! ,ROOTK9 DEFEAT$ ! ,R$COATS' >MIES1 ,LEMOND'S HEADM51 9CLUD+ ,ALE%I'S UNCLE ,BELE/ & MY C\S9 ,JOZES1 HAD GRE$ILY 5L>G$ !IR PELT HO>DS2 !N1 :ILE ! ,ROOTK9 RE/$1 ,LEMOND'S W>RIORS C\LDN'T HOLD !IR GR\ND BECAUSE ! WEAPONS & PROVISIONS ( ! 5CLOSURES HAD BE5 GIV5 AWAY BY HEADM5 = PELTS4 ,TWO B&S ( ,9VAD]S NO LONG] CONFRONT$ EA* O!R ACROSS ! WORLD2 ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S' >MIES N[ CONFRONT$ NONE BUT ! WORLD'S ORIG9AL PEOPLE4 

,! ,/RAIT'S 5CLOSURE WAS ! ONLY ,SCABEAT] /RON<OLD ?AT HAD NOT YET FALL5 TO ! R$FROCK$ >MIES2 ITS HEADMAN1 ,ALE%I'S UNCLE ,BELE/1 WAS B5T ON KEEP+ IT FROM FALL+3 AT ! GATE HE PLAC$ A POLE ) A CR[ PECK+ AT ! HEAD ( AN ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]4 

,! ,/RAIT'S ,TURTLEY\? & ,ROOTK91 AMONG !M ,M9I1 ,NIZOKWE'S BRO!RS ,BATI & ,ANTO & !IR C\S9 ,ALE%I1 W]E READY TO P\NCE ON ANY ,R$COATS :O APPROA*$1 & EAG] TO C>RY BELTS TO EV]Y CORN] ( ! ,P59SULA4 

,BUT NO R$FROCK$ >MY CAME4 ,9/EAD1 A B& ( B\NTYSEEK]S LIKE ?OSE :O HAD BURN$ ,L5API'S VILLAGE1 A MOTLEY B& :O CALL$ !MSELVES ,RAH-J]KS ,RA9-J]KS1 CAME TO DELIV] A MESSAGE1 A TALK+ LEAF1 TO ! 5CLOSURE'S HEADMAN4 

,! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS C\LDN'T WAIT TO ANNIHILATE ! MESSAGE-C>RI]S1 BUT HEADMAN ,BELE/ & ! RE/ ( ,LEMOND W]E DEM5T$ BY ! TALK+ LEAF4 ,BELE/ & HIS >M$ M5 EVACUAT$ ! 5CLOSURE AS IF DEFEAT$ BY AN 9V9CIBLE >MY1 AB&ON+ WEAPONS & PROVISIONS TO ! ,RA9-J]KS4 ,LEMOND'S SCROLL-KEEP] ,NAV> & ,SCABEAT] ,DECU& TOOK ,SLAV] ,RAH-J]KS 9TO !IR LODGES1 EV5 9TO SCALP$ ,LEKOM&A ,%AK'S H\SE1 :]E AUNT ,MANYAN FELL ILL FROM RAGE4 ,& !N HEADMAN ,BELE/ & ALL HIS >M$ M5 LEFT ! ,/RAIT ALTOGE!R & HEAD$ T[>D ! ,LONG ,RIV]1 LEAV+ ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS TRAPP$ BETWE5 5EMIES AHEAD & 5EMIES BEH9D1 5EMIES LODG$ )\T A BATTLE 9 ! /RON<OLD ( =M] ALLIES4 ,! TALK+ LEAF ?AT HAD DEM5T$ ,BELE/ SAID ?AT ONE OV]MAN ACROSS ! ,OCEAN HAD C$$ TO ANO!R OV]MAN ACROSS ! ,OCEAN ALL ! VALLEYS1 =E/S1 PRAIRIES & LAKES BETWE5 ! ,LONG ,RIV] & ! ,OCEAN%ORE2 HAD ! OV]MAN C$$ E>?1 MOON & SUN1 DEM5T$ ,BELE/ W\LD HAVE HAD TO SEEK A PA? TO ! />S4 

,?IS CAPITULATION TO A TALK+ LEAF WAS ! LA/ ( ,LEMOND'S MANY BETRAYALS S9CE ! DAY1 SIXTY W9T]S E>LI]1 :5 GREAT-GR&MO!R ,%UTAHA & ! ,/RAIT'S ,TURTLEFOLK & ,ROOTK9 HAD 9VIT$ ,LEKOM&A ,KADYAK & HIS HUNDR$ ,SCABEAT]S TO A C\NCIL4 ,! ,SCABEAT]S W\LD BETRAY NO MORE2 ,%UTAHA'S C\NCIL WAS DEAD4 

,! ,9VAD]S FROM ! ,OCEAN%ORE 9/ALL$ !MSELVES 9 ,LEMOND'S LODGES2 !Y PO/$ >M$ S5T9ELS BY ! LODGES ( O!R VILLAG]S1 GRE$Y = ! OBJECTS 9 !M1 P>TICUL>LY ! FURS4 ,HEADMAN ,RAH-J]KS1 AS WELL AS HIS COMPANION1 ,*EAT] ,KRAW-ON1 :OM ,OA%I & ,I HAD SE5 9 ,PICKAWILLANY1 RESUM$ :]E ,BELE/ & ,LEMOND HAD LEFT (F2 !Y GRABB$ ALL ! FURS !Y C\LD REA*4 ,UNLIKE ! PREVI\S FURGA!R]S1 !SE GAVE ONLY RUM1 & EV5 WAT]$ ?IS S+LE GIFT4 ,TOLD BY ! HEADMAN ( ALL ! ,R$COAT >MIES1 A MAN CALL$ ,AM-FIR/1 TO GIVE HUNT]S NEI!R WEAPONS NOR BULLETS1 !Y GAVE WAT]$ RUM = ! FURS TAK5 FROM WOM5'S & *ILDR5'S BACKS4 

,OA%I & ,I REMEMB]$ ,L5API'S W>N+3 ! ,9VAD]S W]E G5]\S ONLY :5 ,ROOTK9 W]E /RONG2 !Y TURN$ MEAN :5 !Y ?\<T ! ,ROOTK9 DEPLET$4 

,ALL ?AT REMA9$ ( ,%UTAHA'S VILLAGE W]E ! BELTS ( ! FIR/ C\NCIL1 9 ,M9I'S KEEP+4 ,LEMOND'S FAT M5 %AMELESSLY PRO/RAT$ !MSELVES TO ! SCALP]S ( !IR C\S9 ,LEKOM&A ,%AK4 ,AUNT ,MANYAN'S LA/ WORD TO ,M9I WAS A PLEA TO C>RY R$ BELTS & FLAM+ RAGE TO ALL DESC5DANTS ( ! ,R$E>? W>RIOR ,LAM9A4 

,M9I /AY$ ! W9T] 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 HUNT+ ) ,OA%I & ,NANIKIBI1 C\NCIL+ CONT9U\SLY1 9 & \T ( ! VILLAGE1 ) ,FIREKEEP]S & ,PRAIRIEK9 & EV]YONE DISPOS$ TO LI/54 

,A SON WAS BORN TO ,NANIKIBI & ME2 ,I NAM$ HIM ,TOP9BI1 BE> ?AT SITS QUIETLY & WAITS = ! ICE TO ?AW4 

,:5 ! ICE DID ?AW1 FIFTE5 >M$ ,R$COATS & A RUM- C>RI] W]E SPOTT$ ON ! TRAIL T[>D ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,UNCLE ,NAGMO & SEV]AL W>RIORS1 FUR C>RI]S ALL1 RU%$ \T TO 9T]CEPT ! ,9VAD]S4 ,BUT ,NAGMO )\T ORD]S FROM ,SCAB- EAT] ALLIES WAS LIKE A VILLAGE DOG 9 ! =E/2 HE C\LDN'T COPE1 HE C\LDN'T DECIDE BETWE5 KILL+ ! ,R$COATS & +RATIAT+ HIMSELF AS ! ,/RAIT'S ,LEMOND HAD DONE4 ,GIV5 /R\DS1 BLANKETS & RUM1 ,NAGMO ESCORT$ ! ,R$COATS 9TO ! VILLAGE1 :]E ANGRY W>RIORS SURR\ND$ !M4 ,EV5 AUNT ,KATWYN1 REPELL$ BY ,NAGMO'S SLAVI%NESS1 URG$ ?AT ! ,9VAD]S BE KILL$4 

,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S1 AMONG !M ,NANIKIBI1 ,OA%I & !IR FRI5D ,M9I1 ALREADY HAD ANO!R PLAN4 ,!Y URG$ RE/RA9T2 ! KILL+ ( !SE FIFTE5 W\LD ONLY PROVOKE ! >RIVAL ( MANY TIMES !IR NUMB]1 :]EAS ! ELIM9ATION ( ! ,9VAD]S' /RON<OLDS W\LD /OP ! >RIVAL ( ANY4 ,! GA!R+PLACE ( ALL ?OSE COMMITT$ TO ! L>G] GOAL WAS ,K>ONTA51 AS ! ,TURTLEFOLK CALL$ !IR VILLAGE ON ! ,/RAIT'S %ORE1 ! PLACE :]E ,%UTAHA & H] K9 HAD C\NCIL$ ) ! PREVI\S ,9VAD]S1 :O HAD COME AS GUE/S4 

,! FIFTE5 ,R$COATS & !IR RUMC>RI] W]E LEFT TO EX]T !IR P[]S OV] EA* O!R AS VIRTUALLY EV]YONE ELSE SET \T T[>D ! ,/RAIT4 

,ON ! EVE ( \R DEP>TURE1 ,LOKASKWE LE>N$ ?AT ! RUMC>RI]1 A MAN CALL$ ,%AP-MAN1 SPOKE H] FA!R'S TONGUE1 CAME FROM H] FA!R'S P>T ( ! WORLD ACROSS ! ,OCEAN1 & HAD NO LOVE = ! ,9VAD]S HE HAD BE5 9TIMIDAT$ 9TO JO9+4 

,WE W5T BY WAY ( MY BIR?PLACE1 ,KEKIONGA1 :]E WE F\ND ,NANIKIBI'S SI/] ,T9AMI1 :O HAD /AY$ 9 ,KEKIONGA TO MAKE PEACE BETWE5 H] C\S9 ,JOZES & H] BRO!R ,SIG5AK4 ,T9AMI WAS %>+ H] MAT ) ,JOZES & HEAVY ) *ILD4 ,MAGDA'S SON ,TI%A1 ALREADY OLD 5\< TO SC\T & HUNT1 HAD BE5 ) HIS FA!R ,JOZES S9CE ,MANYAN HAD DI$4 ,! PEACE BETWE5 ,JOZES & ,SIG5AK HAD NOT BE5 MADE BY ,T9AMI BUT BY ! >RIVAL ( A DETA*M5T ( ,RAH-J]KS ,RA9-J]KS1 ONE ( :OM HAD 5T]$ ,JOZES'S /ORE ) >M$ COMPANIONS & SIMPLY TAK5 IT OV]1 ANO!R ( :OM HAD DEM&$ ,SIG5AK'S HORSE &1 ON BE+ REFUS$1 %OT & KILL$ ! BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL4 ,IT TOOK ! LOSS ( HIS /ORE TO R\SE ,JOZES1 :O HADN'T BE5 SO R\S$ BY HIS MO!R'S FRU/RAT$ 5D OR HIS FA!R'S SCALP+ UND] A TRUCE FLAG4 ,IT TOOK ! DEA? ( HIS HORSE TO S\R ,SIG5AK ON ! ALLIES HE'D BE5 WAIT+ TO EMBRACE S9CE HE'D LE>N$ ( MY FA!R'S RAID4 

,ON ! ,/RAIT1 ,NANIKIBI & ,I1 ,OA%I & ,LOKASKWE1 ,JOZES & ,T9AMI & ,SIG5AK W]E MADE MU* ( BY ,NANIKIBI'S SI/] ,NAMAKWE1 :O HAD REC5TLY BECOME ,BATI'S COMPANION1 & BY ,M9I'S BIRDLIKE ,NIZOKWE1 :O TOGE!R ) H] ?REE BRO!RS SURR\ND$ ! GA!R+ W>RIORS ) MUSIC SO GORGE\S ?AT IT ALMO/ MADE ME =GET MY RAGE & MY REASON = BE+ ON ! ,/RAIT4 

,I HAD HE>D ( MANY GREAT C\NCILS ON ! ,/RAIT1 BUT C\LDN'T IMAG9E ONE GREAT] ?AN ?IS4 ,9TO ?IS PLACE CALL$ ,TIOSA ,RONDION BY ANCI5T ,TURTLEFOLK & ,K>ONTA5 BY ,%UTAHA'S HEIRS1 ?IS C5T] ( ! FIR/ ,FIREKEEP]S1 ANCI5T ,W$ASI'S VILLAGE BE=E ! W&]+S BEGAN1 !RE CAME W>RIORS FROM EV]Y CORN] ( ! WORLD3 ,ROOTK9 CAME FROM ,B[E- T+1 ,MI%ILIMAK9A & ,GRE5BAY2 C>RI]S CAME FROM ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE VILLAGE & FROM ,S&USKY ,BAY 9 ! ,LAKE ( ! VANI%$ ,EHRYES2 ,S\?BRAN* K9 & EV5 A FEW ,EA/BRAN* K9 CAME FROM ! ,MUSK+UM1 ,TUSC>AWAS & ,KANA:A 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY 7,LOKASKWE UNSUCCESSFULLY S\<T H] SI/] AMONG !M72 !RE W]E EV5 TWO EMISS>IES FROM ! EA/]N ,TURTLELEAGUE1 ! PEOPLE CONSID]$ ,S]P5TS BY ANCI5T ,W9AMEK & HIS ,SCABEAT+ ALLIES2 ! ONLY PLACES FROM :I* NO W>RIORS CAME W]E ,LEMOND'S =M] /RON<OLDS ,HO*ELAGA & ,/ADACONA4 

,FIREKEEP]S W]E ANXI\S TO REVEAL !IR PLAN TO ! C\NCIL+ W>RIORS1 BUT ! TIME WASN'T RI<T1 ! L9ES W]5'T CLE>1 !RE W]E MANY AT ! C\NCIL :O HAD ALREADY GONE OV] TO ! ,9VAD]4 ,NE> ! C\NCIL'S C5T] SAT ,LEMOND'S ,NAV> & ,DECU& ) O!R FAT M5 & TWO LEAN ,BLACKROBES2 !SE W]E PRES5T AS SPIES = !IR NEW MA/]1 DOGS :O LICK$ ! NEW H& ?AT REW>D$ !M4 ,! RE/ ( ! C5T] WAS TAK5 UP BY UNCLE ,NAGMO & HIS FELL[ FUR C>RI]S FROM ,GRE5BAY1 ,LEAN+ ,TREE & ,MI%ILIMAK9A4 ,!SE TWO GR\PS YELL$ AT EA* O!R4 ,NAV> %\T$ ?AT RIFLES & BULLETS & O!R GIFTS W\LD BE GIV5 ONLY TO ! DES]V+3 HE SPOKE FROM HIS [N EXP]I5CE4 ,NAGMO %\T$ ?AT RIFLES & BULLETS W]E NOT GIFTS1 BUT ! V]Y CONDITION = ! HUNT2 )HOLD+ !SE WAS A FOOL'S DECISION1 S9CE NONE C\LD REA* FURS )\T !M1 DES]V+ OR UNDES]V+4 ,NANIKIBI REM9D$ ,NAGMO ( ,OZAGI'S PROPHESY3 :5 ONE ,9VAD] ELIM9AT$ ! O!R1 HIS G5]OSITY W\LD 5D1 = HE W\LD NO LONG] NE$ ,ROOTK9 AS ALLIES4 

,SIG5AK SAID ! ,9VAD] )HELD WEAPONS & P[D] BECAUSE HE 9T5D$ TO ATTACK ! ,P59SULAK9 AS ! =M] ,9VAD] HAD ATTACK$ ! ,R$E>? K91 & = ! SAME REASON3 ! K9 ( ! ,P59SULA BLOCK$ HIS PA?4 ,SIG5AK WAS L\DLY APPROV$ BY MANY C>RI]S1 =M]LY MY FA!R'S ALLIES1 =M]LY 5EMIES ( ,%UTAHA'S VILLAGE & FRI5DS ( ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S BUT N[ !IR L\DE/ 5EMIES4 

,M9I RAIS$ HIS VOICE AGA9/ ! C>RI]S' APPROVAL2 HE SAID ! C>RI]S AS WELL AS ,NAGMO W]E READY TO COME TO T]MS ) ! NEW ,9VAD]S IF ONLY ! T]MS W]E ! SAME AS ?OSE GRANT$ BY ! E>LI] ,9VAD]S4 ,HE DISPLAY$ ! BELTS ( ! AGREEM5T MADE TWO G5]ATIONS E>LI] BY ! ,/RAIT'S VILLAG]S & GUE/S1 PROMIS+ MUTUAL 5HANCEM5T1 & HE SAID NO SU* AGREEM5T HAD BE5 MADE ) ! ,SLAV]S1 :O PROMIS$ NOT TO 5HANCE BUT TO OPPRESS1 BREAK & REMOVE1 BECAUSE !Y REG>D$ K9%IP AS A BURD51 BECAUSE !Y APPLI$ HORSE-BRE$+ & -BREAK+ TRICKS TO HUMAN BE+S1 BECAUSE !Y SAW HORSES1 PEOPLE & E>? H]SELF AS NO?+ BUT OB/ACLES TO BE 5SLAV$ & PUT TO USE4 ,M9I SAID ,SLAV]S W]E NOT WANT$ ON ! ,/RAIT NO MATT] :AT T]MS !Y GRANT$2 !IR M]E PRES5CE WAS A PROVOCATION4 

,AFT] ! SIL5CE ?AT FOLL[$ ,M9I'S WORDS1 ! TWO ,TURTLELEAGUE EMISS>IES ROSE4 ,MANY EYES HAD BE5 FIX$ ON !SE TWO R$\BTABLE W>RIORS :OSE M]E PRES5CE ON ! ,/RAIT WAS A SURPRISE1 :O W]E VIEW$ AS LONG-LO/ C\S9S BY SOME & AS MORTAL 5EMIES BY O!RS4 ,IT WAS ! FIR/ TIME ,TURTLELEAGUE W>RIORS HAD V5TUR$ 9TO A C\NCIL ( WE/]N ,ROOTK9 S9CE ! DAYS :5 ,BLACKROBES HAD NAM$ !M ,S]P5TS & TRI$ TO R$UCE ,ROOTK9 TO TOOLS = ! EXT]M9ATION ( ,S]P5TS4 ,! ,TURTLELEAGUE HAD GR[N /RONG BY ALLY+ ) ONE ,9VAD] & !N ) ! O!R1 PLAY+ ) BO? & TRU/+ NEI!R1 AS ,NANIKIBI'S FA!R ,OZAGI HAD DONE1 UNTIL ! LA/ W> BETWE5 ! ,9VAD]S1 :5 !Y LO/ !IR S5SE & GAVE ALL !IR /R5G? TO ! ,9VAD]S ( ! ,OCEAN%ORE1 EV5 TO ! PO9T ( ADVIS+ !IR ALLIES TO /R5G!N !MSELVES BY UNIT+ !IR ?IRTE5 BICK]+ GANGS 9TO A S+LE LEAGUE LIKE !IR [N4 ,! VICTORY ( !IR ALLIES BR\<T ! ,TURTLELEAGUE DEFEAT1 :I* WAS SOME?+ ,L5API C\LD HAVE & ! ,TURTLEFOLK %\LD HAVE =ESE54 

,AFT] HELP+ DEFEAT ?OSE :O CALL$ !M ,S]P5TS1 ! ,TURTLELEAGUE W>RIORS RETURN$ TO !IR EA/]N WOODL& HOMES TO F9D !IR K9 HUNGRY & !IR ALLIES CAMP$ 9 HUNT+ GR\NDS1 DE/ROY+ PLANTS & GAME1 !IR ALLIES' HEADMAN ,AM-FIR/ GRANT+ L&S TO R$FROCK$ UND]L+S & 9SI/+ ?AT ,TURTLEFOLK BE GIV5 RIFLES & GIFTS ONLY = SLAVI% S]VICES P]=M$ = ,R$COATS4 ,WE/]N MEMB]S ( ! LEAGUE ROSE UP AGA9/ !IR R$FROCK$ ALLIES1 BUT !IR EA/]N C\S9S DIDN'T RISE1 & ! GREAT ,TURTLELEAGUE TORE4 

,! TWO M5 :O ROSE AT ! ,/RAIT'S C\NCIL W]E NOT EMISS>IES = ! :OLE LEAGUE1 BUT ONLY = ITS ANGRY WE/]N HALF4 ,!Y PRES5T$ TWO R$ BELTS TO ! C\NCIL & CALL$ = ! SIMULTANE\S ANNIHILATION ( EV]Y 5CLOSURE WE/ ( ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S4 ,?IS WAS EXACTLY ! PLAN ?AT ,FIREKEEP]S W]E WAIT+ TO REVEAL4 ,BUT ! ,TURTLE EMISS>IES1 UNFAMILI> ) WE/]N ,ROOTK91 HAD NO S5SE = ! TIME OR ! PLACE TO REVEAL ! PLAN1 & !Y ADDRESS$ !IR W> CRY & GAVE !IR BELTS TO ,NAGMO1 9 !IR EYES ! HEIR ( ,W9AMEK'S GREAT LEAGUE ( WE/]N ,ROOTK9 ) NOR!RN ,9VAD]S4 

,NAGMO GAVE ! BELTS TO ,LEMOND'S ,NAV>4 ,?IS PR$ICTABLE BETRAYAL WAS ! LA/ ACT ( ,W9AMEK'S GREAT LEAGUE4 ,NAV> PROMPTLY C>RI$ ! BELTS TO ,MAD-W91 ! R$FROCK$ HEADMAN 9 ! ,/RAIT'S 5CLOSURE4 ,!IR TASK ACCOMPLI%$1 ,LEMOND'S FAT M5 AS WELL AS ,NAGMO & HIS COMPANIONS LEFT ! C\NCIL4 

,N[ AT LA/ ! L9ES W]E CLE>4 ,! TIME WAS RIPE = A SECOND C\NCIL1 ?IS ONE AMONG ?OSE :O HAD ALWAYS BE5 HO/ILE TO ,W9AMEK'S LEAGUE1 AMONG ?OSE :O HAD ALLI$ ) ,R$E>? K9 AGA9/ ,W9AMEK & HIS HEIRS1 AMONG ?OSE TO :OM ,M9I'S GREAT-GR&FA!R ,AHSEPONA HAD S5T BELTS4 ,N[ ,FIREKEEP]S & ,TURTLEFOLK )\T CROSSES & ,PRAIRIEK9 :O HAD F\<T ALONGSIDE ,R$E>? K9 & C>RI]S :O HAD TURN$ AGA9/ ! REMA9S ( ,W9AMEK'S LEAGUE BEGAN TO ELABORATE ! DETAILS ( ! PLAN PREMATURELY ANN\NC$ BY ! ,TURTLELEAGUE EMISS>IES1 A PLAN ?AT 9 ANY CASE WASN'T NEW3 ANCI5T ,YAHATASE HAD TRI$ TO KILL ! FIR/ ,9VAD]S 9 ! WE/]N ,LAKES1 MY GR&MO!R ,MANGA%KO HAD REJECT$ ALL ! ,9VAD]S' WAYS1 ,NANIKIBI'S MO!R ,WAGO%KWE HAD F\<T TO PU% ! ,9VAD]S T[>D ! SALT SEA4 

,LOKASKWE 

  

,IT WAS DUR+ ! 9T]LUDE BETWE5 ! FIR/ & SECOND C\NCIL ?AT YELLO:AIR$ ,LOKASKWE BEGAN TO HAVE H] DREAMS4 ,%E DREAM$ ( ! L&GANG :O HAD GIV5 H] FA!R A TALK+ LEAF1 ( ! >M$ M5 :O HAD =C$ H] FA!R TO JO9 !M 9 RAIDS AGA9/ ! PEOPLE HE HAD COME TO JO91 ( ! ,R$COATS :O HAD >RIV$ 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ( ! RUMC>RI] :O HAD >RIV$ ) !M1 & AFT] EA* DREAM %E WOKE UP SCREAM+1 T]RIFI$1 AFRAID ( SLEEP4 ,H] FRI5D ,NIZOKWE & ,NANIKIBI'S SI/]S TRI$ TO SOO! H] BY EXORCIZ+ ! SPIRIT RESPONSIBLE = H] BAD DREAMS1 ,NIZOKWE ) SONGS1 ,NAMAKWE ) H]BAL POTIONS1 ,T9AMI ) GIBB]I% LE>N$ FROM ,BLACKROBES4 

,OA%I & ,I1 & ALSO ,NANIKIBI1 S5S$ ?AT WE W]E 9 ! PRES5CE1 NOT ( DREAMS TO BE EXORCIZ$1 BUT ( VISIONS TO BE %>$1 & WE URG$ ,LOKASKWE TO TELL ALL %E SAW & TO FA?OM ITS MEAN+4 ,OA%I SAW QUICKLY & ,I V]Y SL[LY ?AT ! MEAN+ ( ,LOKASKWE'S DREAMS WAS V]Y CLOSE TO ! DEEPE/ MEAN+ ( \R [N4 

,BE=E LEAV+ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ,LOKASKWE HAD SPOK5 TO ,%AP-MAN1 ! RUMC>RI] :O SPOKE H] FIR/ LANGUAGE2 %E HAD ASK$ HIM :O ! ,R$COATS W]E & :AT !Y WANT$ 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,%AP-MAN'S ANSW] WAS AT ! ROOT ( ,LOKASKWE'S VISIONS4 ,HE TOLD H] TWO ?+S3 ! ,R$COATS CONSID]$ !MSELVES HEIRS TO ANCI5T PEOPLE *OS5 AT ! BEG9N+ ( TIME BY A P[] \TSIDE ! WORLD TO BE ! WORLD'S IMPROV]S1 & ! IMPROVEM5T CONSI/$ ( 5CLOS+ PEOPLE1 ANIMALS & E>? H]SELF 9 A NET SO /RONG ?AT NONE ( ?OSE CAU<T 9 IT C\LD EV] EM]GE4 

,NANIKIBI & ,OA%I IMM$IATELY RECOGNIZ$ ! GREAT 5TANGL] ,WISKE1 BUT ,LOKASKWE 9SI/$ ! ,9VAD] WAS SOME?+ L>G]1 SOME?+ NOT 5COMPASS$ BY \R /ORIES4 ,! ,9VAD] CONSID]$ HIMSELF ONE ( ! *OS51 & HIS V]Y CONTEMPT T[>D ALL ?AT WASN'T *OS5 CONFIRM$ HIS SELF- IMAGE AS *OS54 ,HE CONSID]$ HIMSELF *OS5 BECAUSE HE PUT LA/ ?+S FIR/1 BECAUSE HE FELT CONTEMPT = E>?'S BODY AS WELL AS HIS [N4 ,PUBLIC DISPLAY ( HIS CONTEMPT = WOM51 ,ROOTK91 UNP5N$ ANIMALS & UNCULTIVAT$ PLANTS1 O/5TATI\S DISPLAY ( HIS %AME ( HIS [N BODY1 DESIRES1 NATURAL ACTS & EV5 NAK$NESS1 MADE HIM GREAT AMONG HIS LIKES & GAVE HIM A LIC5SE TO *EAT1 PLUND] & KILL )\T QUALMS4 ,!SE ACTS1 :5 DONE BY ! *OS51 W]E NOT CALL$ *EAT+ OR PLUND] OR MURD] BUT ALWAYS IMPROVEM5TS1 & !Y W]E NEV] 9FLICT$ ON K91 S9CE ! *OS5 CALL$ NONE K91 NEI!R E>?'S PLANTS NOR ANIMALS NOR PEOPLE BUT ONLY ! \TSIDE P[] ?AT *OSE !M4 ,! AFFIRMATION ( ?AT \TSIDE P[] L$ TO ! D5IAL ( EV]Y?+ ELSE4 

,LOKASKWE SAID ! \TSIDE P[] WAS ,DEA?1 & ! IMPROVEM5TS P]=M$ BY ,DEA?'S *OS5 CONSI/$ ( 5CLOS+1 5ME%+ & SWALL[+ EV]Y?+ ?AT HAD EM]G$ AS ,LIFE4 ,%E WAS T]RIFI$ BECAUSE %E FELT 5ME%$1 NOT BY H] BIR? & *ILDHOOD AMONG ! ,9VAD]S1 BUT BY ! NET ( OBJECTS ?AT LAY OV] \R VILLAGES1 BY ! CLO? & METALS & RUM & FL9T :I* MANGL$ US BY MAK+ US DEP5D5T ON ! WORLD-IMPROV]S1 :I* 5TANGL$ US 9 A NET SO /RONG ?AT NONE CAU<T 9 IT EV] EM]G$4 

,OA%I & ,NANIKIBI %>$ ,LOKASKWE'S VISION ) !IR C\NCIL+ K94 ,BUT ! VISION WAS TOO DEM&+1 EV5 = W>RIORS PREP>+ TO DE/ROY EV]Y 5CLOSURE ?IS SIDE ( ! ,M\NTA9S4 

,MANY HE>D ,OA%I & ,NANIKIBI1 EV5 ! R5[N$ ,MA%EKEWIS ( ! ,NOR!RN ,/RAITS1 & W]E EAG] TO BEG9 LIFE ANEW1 ADOPT+ FROM ! ,9VAD]S ONLY !IR *ILDR5 SO AS TO LET !M GR[ 9TO HUMAN BE+S4 

,BUT MANY W]E IMPATI5T ( WORDS & VISIONS & EAG] TO BEG9 TO PU% ! ,9VAD]S T[>D ! ,OCEAN%ORE & EV5 BACK TO ! SALT SEA !Y CAME FROM4 ,SIG5AK & MY DEAD FA!R'S ALLIES W]E AMONG ! MO/ EAG]4 

,HA/Y PREP>ATIONS TO SEIZE ! ,/RAIT'S 5CLOSURE W]E MADE4 ,LOKASKWE & ,I FOLL[$ ,NAMAKWE & O!R WOM5 TO REPLACE ! VILLAGE M5 9 ! FIELDS1 = AMONG ! ,/RAIT'S 9HABITANTS ! M5 DID ! SE$+4 

,FIVE HUNDR$ W>RIORS !N SURR\ND$ ! 5CLOSURE2 SIXTY 5T]$ ON ! PRETEXT ( WANT+ TO CONF] ) HEADMAN ,MAD-W91 KNIVES & HAT*ETS 7AS ,I !N ?\<T7 HIDD5 UND] !IR CLOAKS1 READY TO OP5 ! GATE TO ! FIVE HUNDR$ \TSIDE4 ,BUT ONCE 9SIDE1 ! SIXTY F\ND !MSELVES SURR\ND$ BY ALL ! HUNDR$S ( ,R$COATS 9SIDE ! 5CLOSURE1 & !Y C\LD ONLY RETREAT1 A%AM$ & FRU/RAT$4 

,!N ! HUNT = ?OSE GUILTY ( BETRAY+ ! PLAN BEGAN4 ,FROM ! 5CLOSURE ITSELF CAME ! /ORY1 DEVIS$ BY ,LEMOND'S ,NAV>1 ?AT A ,ROOTWOMAN CALL$ ,KATWYN HAD W>N$ ,MAD-W9 FROM AFFECTION2 ?IS /ORY WAS DEVIS$ TO TURN ,ROOTK9 AGA9/ EA* O!R1 BUT IT CONV9C$ NO ONE3 IT WAS KN[N ?AT ,MAD-W91 :O TREAT$ ,ROOTWOM5 AS IF !Y W]E GOATS1 C\LD NOT 9SPIRE AFFECTION4 ,ACCORD+ TO ANO!R /ORY ?AT CAME FROM ! 5CLOSURE1 ,ALE%I'S Y\NG] SI/] ,ANJELIK HAD REVEAL$ ! PLAN TO ! MAN %E LOV$1 A *EAT+ RUMC>RI] NAM$ ,/>-L+1 :O !N W>N$ ,MAD-W94 ,?IS MAY HAVE HAPP5$1 S9CE ,ANJELIK LAT] M>RI$ ,/>-L+1 & ! /ORY TURN$ MANY W>RIORS AGA9/ ! C>RI]S 9 !IR MID/1 = ! C>RI]S1 AS WAS KN[N BY ,NAV> 9SIDE ! 5CLOSURE1 WANT$ TO 9/ALL ,ANJELIK'S FA!R ,KUY]YE 9TO ! PO/ ( ,LEKOM&A & ! C>RI]S ALSO S5T TALK+ LEAVES TO ,ANJELIK'S UNCLE ,BELE/ COMPOS$ BY ,ANJELIK'S BRO!R ,ALE%I4 ,:E!R TRUE OR NOT1 ?IS /ORY1 LIKE ! FIR/1 WAS S5T \T ( ! 5CLOSURE TO CREATE DISS5SION AMONG ! ATTACK]S4 

,IT WAS ! ATTACK]S !MSELVES :O W>N$ ! ,R$COATS4 ,SEV]AL DAYS BE=E ! PLANN$ 5TRY1 C>RI]S HAD VISIT$ EV]Y GUNSMI? ON ! ,/RAIT TO HAVE !IR RIFLES %ORT5$1 & !SE VISITS W]E KN[N BY ,ANJELIK AS WELL AS ALL ! O!R VILLAG]S1 9CLUD+ ?OSE S]V+ ! ,9VAD]S4 ,:5 ! C>RI]S 5T]$ ! 5CLOSURE1 NOT ) KNIVES & HAT*ETS BUT ) %ORT5$ RIFLES UND] !IR CLOAKS1 ! BULGES C\LDN'T HAVE BE5 A MY/]Y TO ,9VAD]S FAMILI> ) SAW$-(F RIFLES4 

,! C>RI]S HADN'T HE>D ,LOKASKWE'S VISION1 !Y C\LDN'T LIVE )\T ! ,9VAD]S' WEAPONS1 !Y NO LONG] KNEW H[ TO USE /ONE & WOOD1 !Y C\LDN'T IMAG9E H[ !IR ANCE/ORS HAD W>R$ & HUNT$4 

,!RE WAS NO TIME TO BE DISGU/$ ) ! C>RI]S2 ! FAIL$ ATTACK DID NOT IMPAIR ! RE/ ( ! PLAN2 ! DE/RUCTION ( ! O!R /RON<OLDS W\LD CUT ! SUPPLY L9ES TO ! ,9VAD]S ON ! ,/RAIT1 & 9 ! EA/1 ,TURTLELEAGUE W>RIORS W]E READY2 !IR BELTS W]E ACCEPT$ BY ! SECOND C\NCIL4 

,SIG5AK SET \T T[>D ,S&USKY ,BAY 9 ! ,LAKE ( ! VANI%$ ,EHRYES ) MY FA!R'S ONE-TIME ALLIES & ALSO ) MY FA!R'S ONE-TIME 5EMIES ,JOZES & ,M9I & !IR C\S9S ,BATI & ,ALE%I4 

,LOKASKWE & ,OA%I1 ,NANIKIBI & ,I SET \T T[>D ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ) ,FIREKEEP]S & ,PRAIRIEK91 UN5CUMB]$ BY ! ,9VAD]S' WEAPONS OR ALLIANCE1 ,NAGMO & ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S C>RI]S HAV+ RETIR$ TO ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE VILLAGE 9 ! NOR?4 

,! ,R$COATS /OPP$ US ON ! PA? 9TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ALMO/ ON ! V]Y SPOT :]E ,NAGMO HAD /OPP$ !M4 ,AFT] AUNT ,KATWYN & ,NANIKIBI'S SI/] ,KITTIHAWA MADE IT CLE> TO ! ,R$COATS ?AT WE W]E K9 RETURN+ TO \R [N VILLAGE1 ! ,9VAD]S LET US PASS1 & WE IMM$IATELY SURR\ND$ EV]Y ,R$COAT4 ,?OSE :O RAIS$ !IR RIFLES W]E D[N$ BY >R[S2 ! RE/ W]E DIS>M$4 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE WAS FRE$ ( ITS ,9VAD]S )\T RIFLES1 )\T METAL1 9 A BATTLE ?AT LA/$ A FEW MOM5TS4 

,! CAPTIVES W]E PREP>$ = !IR J\RNEY T[>D ! RIS+ SUN4 ,!Y W]E HO/ILE & CONTEMPTU\S2 NO ONE WANT$ TO ADOPT ANY ( !M EXCEPT ! RUMC>RI] ,%AP-MAN4 ,KATWYN HAD WELCOM$ ! RUMC>RI] 9TO H] LODGE1 H] Y\NG] SON HAD BEFRI5D$ HIM4 ,KATWYN WANT$ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S TO ADOPT ! RUMC>RI]2 %E C\LDN'T LIVE )\T HIS GIFTS4 ,LOKASKWE TOO URG$ HIS ADOPTION1 NOT = HIS GIFTS BUT = HIS 9SI<TS & HIS S5SE ( HUMOR4 

,OA%I >RANG$ GREAT-GR&MO!R ,MIOGWEWE'S C]EMONY ( ?REE FIRES1 NOT ONLY TO ADOPT ! RUMC>RI]1 BUT TO CELEBRATE ! REBIR? ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,DUR+ ! *AOS ?AT ACCOMPANI$ ! RITUAL EXPULSION ( ! H>E1 9 :I* EV5 CROSSWE>+ ,KATWYN & ,KITTIHAWA TOOK P>T1 ! UN=TUNATE RUMC>RI] ALMO/ LO/ HIS WITS3 HE DIDN'T UND]/& HE WAS BE+ ADOPT$ & APP>5TLY ?\<T ! FIRES HAD BE5 LIT TO ROA/ HIM6 ,:5 A P>TY ( W>RIORS1 ,NANIKIBI AMONG !M1 ESCORT$ ! CAPTIVE ,R$COATS \T ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ADOPT$ ,%AP-MAN ACCOMPANI$ !M1 EVID5TLY AFRAID TO BE LEFT AMONG HIS NEW K94 

,NANIKIBI RETURN$ BE=E ! MOON HAD COMPLET$ TWO PHASES ) NEWS ?AT SWEET5$ ! V]Y AIR4 ,! ,FIREKEEP]S' PLAN WAS BE+ C>RI$ ?R\<2 ALL ,9VAD]S HAD BE5 \/$ FROM ! VALLEYS & PRAIRIES4 

,AFT] ESCORT+ ! CAPTIVES TO ! ,/RAIT'S 5CLOSURE1 ,NANIKIBI HAD JO9$ ,SIG5AK 9 ,KEKIONGA4 ,SIG5AK & ! O!R W>RIORS HAD JU/ AMBU%$ & CAPTUR$ ! HEADMAN ( ! ,S&USKY 5CLOSURE1 D[N$ ! ,R$COATS :O TRI$ TO %OOT1 & BURN$ ! 5CLOSURE4 ,9 ,KEKIONGA1 ! W>RIORS CAPTUR$ ?REE ,R$COATS & A HO/ILE RUMC>RI] \TSIDE ! 5CLOSURE2 ! HEADMAN1 DEM5T$ BY FE>1 %OT AT %AD[S1 & !N FOOLI%LY RAN \T AFT] A GIRL :O PROMIS$ HIM LOVE & SAFETY2 SURR\ND$1 HE %OT 9 EV]Y DIRECTION UNTIL HE WAS KILL$2 ALL ! ,R$COATS 9 ! 5CLOSURE PROMPTLY SURR5D]$4 ,LEAV+ ,KEKIONGA1 ! W>RIORS W]E JO9$ BY C>RI]S :O HAD SURPRIS$ A C>AVAN ( ,R$COATS MOV+ FROM ! ,GREAT ,FALLS TO RE9=CE ,MAD-W9 AT ! ,/RAIT4 ,! =CE ?AT W5T FROM ,KEKIONGA TO ! ,WABA% TO ATTACK ! ,UIATANON 5CLOSURE CONSI/$ ( ,WAGO%KWE'S SONS AS WELL AS SONS ( W>RIORS :O HAD ONCE F\<T ALONGSIDE ,WABSK5I & ,LEKOM&A ,%AK AGA9/ ,WAGO%KWE'S ,R$E>? K94 ,! ,R$COATS 9 ,UIATANON1 SURR\ND$ BY PEOPLES ALL ( :OM W]E HO/ILE TO !IR PRES5CE1 W]E EASILY CAPTUR$ & DIS>M$2 NONE W]E KILL$4 ,A,H ! ,9VAD]S WE/ ( ! ,/RAIT W]E N[ \/$4 ,M9I1 ,ALE%I & ,BATI ESCORT$ ! CAPTIVES TO ! ,/RAIT4 ,SIG5AK1 ,JOZES & ,MAGDA'S SON ,TI%A1 :O HAD GONE AS A SC\T1 /OPP$ AT ,KEKIONGA4 

,NANIKIBI LE>N$ ( YET MORE CAPTURES BE=E HE RETURN$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,AT ! SECOND C\NCIL ON ! ,/RAIT1 ! NOR!RN]S ) ! R5[N$ ,MA%EKEWIS HAD LI/5$ C>EFULLY TO ,OA%I'S IMP]SONATION ( ,LOKASKWE'S VISIONS4 ,MA%EKEWIS & ! NOR!RN ,ROOTK9 SET \T T[>D ! ,NOR!RN ,/RAITS UN5CUMB]$ BY CROSSWE>]S OR C>RI]S1 :O HAD RETIR$ ) ,NAGMO TO ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE VILLAGE4 ,MA%EKEWIS' W>RIORS CAMP$ 9 FRONT ( ! 5CLOSURE AT ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 ! ,BLACK- ROBES' LONG-TIME /RON<OLD & ! GREATE/ FUR PO/ ON ! ,LAKES4 ,! W>RIORS PLAY$ BAGATAWAY ) VISIT+ K9 FROM ,SAGI ,BAY :ILE ,R$COATS WAT*$ ! GAME & ,ROOTWOM5 5T]$ ! 5CLOSURE ) CONCEAL$ KNIVES & HAT*ETS4 ,! BALL1 AS IF BY *ANCE1 B\ND$ 9TO ! 5CLOSURE2 ! PLAY]S B\ND$ AFT] IT1 GRABB$ WEAPONS1 SURR\ND$ ! ,R$COATS & DIS>M$ !M BE=E ANY C\LD %OOT2 A RUMC>RI] CALL$ ,SOLI-MAN1 A C\S9 ( \R ,%AP-MAN1 WAS AMONG ! CAPTIVES4 ,NEWS ( ! CAPTURE TRAVEL$ QUICKLY TO ! NE>BY ,LEAN+ ,TREE VILLAGE & TO ,GRE5BAY4 ,C>RI]S & CROSSWE>]S 9 ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE VILLAGE W]E 9SULT$ BECAUSE !Y & !IR RIFLES HAD NOT BE5 9VIT$ TO HELP CAPTURE ! GREAT 5CLOSURE ON ! ,NOR!RN ,/RAIT4 ,MA%EKEWIS CONCILIAT$ ,NAGMO BY LETT+ ! C>RI]S ESCORT ! CAPTIVES EA/W>D4 ,BE=E ,NAGMO'S P>TY LEFT ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 ! ,R$COATS :O HAD OCCUPI$ ! ,GRE5BAY 5CLOSURE >RIV$ ON !IR [N & VOLUNT>ILY ADD$ !MSELVES TO ! CAPTIVES1 T]RIFI$ BY !IR ISOLATION3 !Y ALREADY KNEW ( ! FALL ( ! WE/]N 5CLOSURES & ( ! CAPTURE ( 5CLOSURES ON ! ,EA/]NMO/ ,LAKE & 9 ! EA/]N ,WOODL&S BY W>RIORS ( ! ,TURTLELEAGUE4 

,FROM ! FIR/ PLANT+ UNTIL ! LEAVES FELL1 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE WAS ALIVE ) DANCE & SONG4 ,WAGO%KWE'S DREAM WAS COM+ TRUE1 & 9 ! WAY %E W\LD HAVE WANT$1 ,LOKASKWE'S WAY4 ,EV5 ,KATWYN & ,KITTIHAWA W]E BEG9N+ TO 5JOY LIFE UN5CUMB]$ BY ALI5 CONTRIVANCES4 ,BUT \R JOY FELL ) ! LEAVES4 

,ALE%I BR\<T ! BAD NEWS4 ,ALL W>RIORS :O HAD FOLL[$ ,LOKASKWE'S WAY HAD SUCCE$$2 ?OSE ON ! ,/RAIT HAD FAIL$1 & !RE WAS NO WORD FROM ?OSE AT ! =K ?AT MAKES ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]4 

,M9I1 ,BATI & ,ALE%I RETURN$ TO ! ,/RAIT CELEBRAT+ !IR VICTORIES 9 ,S&USKY1 ,KEKIONGA & ,UIATANON4 ,!Y SOON LE>N$ ?AT ! ,/RAIT'S 5CLOSURE WAS ! ONLY /RON<OLD ON ! ,LAKES /ILL 9 ! ,9VAD]S' H&S4 ,C>RI]S WANT$ TO /ORM ! 5CLOSURE ) RIFLES & FIRE4 ,M9I & ! ,/RAIT'S ,TURTLEFOLK REMEMB]$ ! ,R$E>? K9'S SIEGE & W>N$ ?AT SU* AN ASSAULT W\LD MEAN A LOSS ( LIFE HUMAN BE+S C\LD NOT SU/A94 ,ALE%I W>N$ ?AT SU* AN ASSAULT W\LD NOT EV5 FRI<T5 ! 5CLOSURE'S HEADMAN2 ,ALE%I HAD LE>N$ FROM A R5EGADE ,R$COAT NAM$ ,HOP-K9 ?AT HEADMAN ,MAD-W9 WAS A BLOCK ( /ONE :O S]V$ HIS DI/ANT P[] ) ! RIGIDITY ( A CONTRIVANCE1 SOME?+ LIKE ! MON/] ?AT TOOK ! %APE ( AN EAGLE 9 MY DREAM2 NO DOG C\LD BE BROK5 TO SU* EXTREME LOYALTY2 ,MAD-W9 WAS DET]M9$ TO HOLD FA/ UNTIL EV]Y ONE ( HIS ,R$COATS WAS KILL$1 & HE WAS CONV9C$ ( ! WISDOM ( SU* IDIOCY4 ,!RE W]E NO BLOCKS ( /ONE AMONG ! BESIEG+ W>RIORS TO LEAD SU* AN ASSAULT4 

,! W>RIORS PREP>$ ANO!R RUSE1 = !Y KNEW ?AT ! 5CLOSURE'S ,R$COATS W]E RUNN+ \T ( PROVISIONS3 ,JOZES & ,TI%A W]E SUMMON$ FROM ,KEKIONGA2 TOGE!R ) O!R SONS & GR&SONS ( ,LEMOND :OSE 9VOLVEM5T ) ! W>RIORS WAS UNKN[N BY ?OSE 9SIDE1 !Y W]E TO OP5 ! 5CLOSURE'S GATES & LET ! W>RIORS FLOOD 94 

,C>RI]S :O HAD BE5 CAPTUR+ EV]Y SUPPLY C>AVAN APPROA*+ ! ,/RAIT FROM ABOVE & BEL[ PRECIPIT\SLY AB&ON$ !IR AMBU%+ PO/S & CAMP$ \TSIDE ! 5CLOSURE ) ALL !IR WEAPONS1 LETT+ SEV]AL HUNDR$ ,RAH- J]KS ,RA9-J]KS1 L$ BY A HO!AD CALL$ ,DAH-SELL ) TW5TY DUG\T CANOES ( PROVISIONS1 SLIP 9TO ! 5CLOSURE UNOBS]V$4 

,! PLAN WAS PUT (F4 ,9SIDE ! 5CLOSURE1 HO!AD ,DAH- SELL1 5RAG$ BY ! W>RIORS 5CIRCL+ ! 5CLOSURE 9 PLA9 VIEW1 L$ HIS HUNDR$S \T TO EXT]M9ATE ! 5CIRCL]S1 BUT NOT BE=E ?OSE 9SIDE ! 5CLOSURE HAD S5T \T W>N+S4 ,DAH- SELL & HIS 5TIRE =CE RU%$ 9 BLACKE/ NI<T DIRECTLY 9TO ! AMBU% ?AT AWAIT$ !M2 ALMO/ HALF W]E KILL$1 ! RE/ RAN BLE$+ & SCREAM+ T[>D ! 5CLOSURE1 SAV$ ONLY BY ! FOG4 

,! C>RI]S CELEBRAT$ ! VICTORY2 ?IS WAS A BATTLE !Y C\LD UND]/&3 RIFLES AGA9/ RIFLES4 ,BUT ,JOZES & ,TI%A HAD BE5 SPOTT$ W>N+ !IR COMPANIONS2 ! PLAN WAS RU9$4 ,! C>RI]S W5T BACK TO CAPTUR+ C>AVANS ( PROVISIONS HEAD+ T[>D ! ,/RAIT4 

,SUDD5LY ,LEMOND'S ,DECU& TURN$ UP 9 ONE ( ! C>RI] CAMPS1 ,NAV> 9 ANO!R1 ) WORD ?AT ,R$COAT HEADMAN ,MAD-W9 AS WELL AS OV]MAN ,AM-FIR/ W]E WILL+ TO COME TO T]MS ) ! ,/RAIT'S BESIEG]S2 !Y W]E WILL+ TO RESUME ! FUR TRADE1 TO PROVIDE WEAPONS TO HUNT]S1 & TO BLOCK 9CURSIONS ( L&SUCK]S BEYOND ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S4 ,!SE W]E ! T]MS ANCI5T ,NANGISI'S HEIRS HAD F\<T =2 !Y AGRE$ TO RETURN CAPTIVES & DISP]S$ TO !IR VILLAGES TO PREP>E = !IR W9T] HUNT4 

,HEADMAN ,MAD-W9 PROMPTLY CAPTUR$ ,M9I1 ,ALE%I1 ,JOZES & ,TI%A4 ,M9I & ,JOZES W]E PLAC$ 9TO A WOOD5 TRAP4 ,KAMPO'S SON ,TI%A & ,ANJELIK ,/>-L+'S BRO!R ,ALE%I W]E RELEAS$ & BANI%$ FROM ! ,/RAIT4 

,ALE%I'S BAD NEWS WAS ONLY ! BEG9N+4 ,! >RIVAL 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ( ,EA/BRAN* & ,S\?BRAN* REFUGEES FROM ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 MO/ ( !M POCKM>K$1 CONFIRM$ ,LOKASKWE'S VISION ( ! ,9VAD]S AS NO?+ LIKE EAGLES1 EV5 CONTRIV$ ONES1 BUT AS ,DEA?'S AG5TS4 ,%AWANO CAME ) ! EMACIAT$ REFUGEES1 HIS FACE M>K$ BY ! DREAD DISEASE1 AS WELL AS ,LOKASKWE'S Y\NG] SI/]1 NAM$ ,MAGID9S BY ?OSE :O'D ADOPT$ H]1 FLU5T 9 ,ROOTSPEE*1 A Y\NG ,S\?BRAN* WOMAN ) YELL[ HAIR4 

,AFT] FLEE+ FROM ! RU9$ ,EA/BRAN* VILLAGE 9 ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S1 ,%AWANO & HIS K9 HAD CAMP$ NE> ! =K ?AT MAKES ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]4 ,!Y W]E FOLL[$ BY RUMC>RI] ,KRAW-ON & BY A ,BLACKCOLL> CALL$ ,BRO!R ,PO/- ]R1 :O SPOKE ,MAGID9S' FIR/ TONGUE & US$ H] AS TRANSLATOR4 ,?IS ,PO/-]R SPOKE ( HIMSELF AS ONE ( SEV]AL BLACK- COLL>$ ,BRE?R5 :O C>RI$ NO WEAPONS1 & TO :OM ! WAYS ( ! ORIG9AL PEOPLE W]E DE>] ?AN ! ,9VAD]S' WAYS4 ,AFT] ,BRO!R ,PO/-]R WON ! CONFID5CE ( ! ,S\?BRAN* K91 ,KRAW-ON DELIV]$ ! MESSAGE ?AT AN >MY ( ,R$COATS W\LD RETURN TO ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S SOLELY 9 ORD] TO KEEP L&SUCK]S FROM 9VAD+ ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY ON ! PRETEXT ?AT ! VALLEY HAD BE5 GRANT$ TO !M BY ! ,TURTLELEAGUE4 

,IMPRESS$ BY ,BRO!R ,PO/-]R'S EVID5T S9C]ITY & NOT EAG] TO PA9T !MSELVES = W>1 ,%AWANO'S K9 LOOK$ ON :ILE ,R$COATS UND] A HEADMAN CALL$ ,B[-KAY1 ,BRA-DUCK'S SUCCESSOR1 BUILT1 =TIFI$1 & 5TR5*$ !MSELVES ON ! =K ITSELF1 9 AN 5CLOSURE !Y CALL$ ,PIT-/R5G?4 

,S\?BRAN* WOM5 W]E H>DLY DONE PLAC+ !IR FIR/ CORNSE$S 9TO ! GR\ND :5 A /EADY /REAM ( L&SUCK]S BEGAN TO P\R ?R\< ! M\NTA9 PASSES1 EA* >M$ ) A RIFLE & A TALK+ LEAF ?AT CONF]R$ :AT ! ,9VAD]S CALL$ A TITLE4 ,%AWANO'S K9 HAD BE5 TAK5 9 BY ,PO/-]R'S S9C]ITY2 APP>5TLY ,BRO!R ,PO/-]R HIMSELF HAD BE5 TAK5 92 HE HAD BE5 S5T TO IMPRESS ! ,S\?BRAN* K9 ) HIS S9C]ITY2 IT WAS ,KRAW-ON :O HAD DELIV]$ ! FALSE PROMISES4 ,! ,R$COATS HAD PROMIS$ TO \/ L&SUCK]S :O 9VAD$ ON ! PRETEXT ?AT ! L& HAD BE5 GRANT$ BY ! ,TURTLELEAGUE2 BUT ! ,R$COATS PROTECT$ ?OSE :O 9VAD$ ON ! PRETEXT ?AT ! OV]MAN ( ,9VAD]S ( ONE TONGUE HAD GRANT$ ! L& TO ! OV]MAN ( ,9VAD]S ( ANO!R TONGUE4 ,! ,9VAD]S PROCE$$ BY %E] =CE1 BUT !Y APP>5TLY NE$$ TO BELIEVE !Y PROCE$$ BY RI<T--O!RWISE1 AS ,LOKASKWE OBS]V$1 !Y C\LDN'T FEEL *OS54 ,?IS NE$ WAS EASILY MET3 ANY PRETEXT1 ANY ILLUSION1 SEEM$ TO SATISFY IT4 

,S\?BRAN* K9 W]E AL>M$4 ,%AWANO1 ACCOMPANI$ BY ,MAGID9S1 L$ AN EMBASSY TO ! ,BLACKCOLL> ,PO/-]R4 ,!Y LE>N$ ?AT ,BRO!R ,PO/-]R HAD SPOK5 = HEADMAN ,B[-KAY ONLY :5 HE HAD BELIEV$ ,B[-KAY'S WORDS2 DISABUS$ ( HIS BELIEF1 ,PO/-]R SPOKE = NO ONE4 ,*EAT] ,KRAW-ON GREET$ ! EMBASSY ) A GRE$Y GR92 HE /ILL SPOKE = ! HEADMAN2 HE N[ SAID ?AT POSSESSION ( ! M\NTA9S & VALLEY RESID$ 9 AN OV]MAN & A P]MAN5T >MY1 & ?AT W&]+ TRIBES1 AS HE CALL$ ! ,S\?BRAN* K91 C\LD NOT POSSESS L&4 ,?IS LANGUAGE ( >M$ HATR$ WAS AS 9COMPREH5SIBLE TO ,MAGID9S AS TO ,%AWANO1 & :ILE !Y WA/$ !MSELVES ON ?IS PO9TLESS MISSION1 ,9VAD]S CONT9U$ TO P\R PA/ ! ,S\?BRAN* VILLAGES1 KILL+ ALL LIFE 9 !IR PA?3 PLANTS & PLANT-EAT+ ANIMALS & MEAT-EAT+ ANIMALS & PEOPLE4 

,! ,S\?BRAN* K9 HE>D RUMORS ( ! CAPTURE ( ! ,S&USKY & ,KEKIONGA 5CLOSURES4 ,:5 ,TURTLELEAGUE W>RIORS >RIV$ ) W>BELTS1 ,%AWANO'S K9 ACCEPT$ ! BELTS4 ,S\?BRAN* W>RIORS1 & EV5 A FEW W>RIORS FROM AMONG ! REMA9+ ,EA/BRAN* K91 JO9$ ) ,TURTLEW>RIORS = ! FIR/ TIME S9CE ! DAYS DESCRIB$ ON ! ANCI5T SCROLLS2 !Y EMPTI$ TWO 5CLOSURES 9 ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S1 PU%$ A RUM C>AVAN OV] A PRECIPICE1 AMBU%$ TWO R$ >MIES1 & PRESUCCESSFUL W> ( WE/]N ,ROOTK9 AGA9/ ! ,9VAD]S' 5CLOSURES & !N BY ! AGREEM5T BETWE5 ! ,9VAD]S & ! ,/RAIT'S C>RI]S4 

,PIT-/R5G? HEADMAN ,B[-KAY WAS NOT PLEAS$ BY ! AGREEM5T1 & HE TWI/$ ITS MEAN+ TO CONT9UE HIS W> ( EXT]M9ATION4 ,:5 OV]MAN ,AM-FIR/ HAD PROMIS$ TO BLOCK FUR!R 9CURSIONS ( ,9VAD]S1 C>RI]S HAD AGRE$ TO 5D !IR SIEGE & RETURN !IR PRISON]S4 ,B[-KAY N[ MOV$ HIS >MY AGA9/ PLAGUE-DESOLAT$ VILLAGES & ?REAT5$ TO RAZE !M UNLESS !Y RETURN$ NOT ONLY W>-CAPTIVES BUT ALL PEOPLE LIKE ,MAGID9S & \R ,LOKASKWE :O HAD BE5 ADOPT$1 :O SPOKE ! LANGUAGE & FOLL[$ ! PA?S ( ,EA/BRAN* & ,S\?BRAN* ,ROOTK91 :O W]E DAU<T]S1 SI/]S1 UNCLES & C\S9S1 :O ?\<T !MSELVES FREE HUMAN BE+S & REG>D$ ! ,9VAD]S' T[NS AS PRISONS1 :O W\LD BECOME PRISON]S ONLY AFT] !Y W]E RETURN$4 

,B[-KAY KNEW :AT ,%UTAHA HAD KN[N1 :AT WAS BECOM+ COMMON KN[L$GE3 ! SMALLPOX DECIMAT$ ?OSE :O HAD NOT BE5 EXPOS$ TO IT1 IT DECIMAT$ ORIG9AL PEOPLE1 IT SP>$ ! ,9VAD]S :O HAD BE5 EXPOS$ TO IT = C\NTLESS G5]ATIONS1 & ! VILLAGES ( ORIG9AL PEOPLE W]E BE+ REPOPULAT$ & RECON/ITUT$ BY PEOPLE ,B[-KAY *OSE TO CALL PRISON]S1 BY ADOPT$ K91 :O N[ MADE UP A L>GE PROPORTION ( ! SURVIV+ ,EA/BRAN* & ,S\?BRAN* ,ROOTK94 

,VILLAG]S :O FE>$ TOTAL ANNIHILATION DRAGG$ !MSELVES TO ! ,PIT-/R5G? & GAVE UP TO ,B[-KAY'S CAPTIVITY ! BRO!RS1 SI/]S & C\S9S ) :OM !Y HAD %>$ LIVES4 ,:5 ! RETURN$ PRISON]S %$ !IR ,9VAD]S' CLO!S & TRI$ TO RETURN TO !IR =E/ K91 !Y W]E MURD]$4 

,MAGID9S & H] K9 CAME TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TO BE \T ( ,B[-KAY'S REA*2 %E DREAD$ ! ?\<T ( LIV+ )\T MEAN+ & DY+ )\T DIGNITY AMONG P5N$-9 ,POX-TN ,BOYS4 

,ALL MY 9SIDES FL[$ \T AS TE>S :5 ,I HE>D ( ! DESOLATION ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY'S ,S\?BRAN* ,ROOTK94 ,OA%I WAS SAD BEYOND DESCRIPTION2 HE SAID ! DESIRE = REV5GE WAS DR[N$ BY DE$S SO GROSS1 SO VICI\S1 SO UN?9KABLE4 ,MY SADNESS DREW ME YET FUR!R FROM ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S C>RI]S & ,FIREKEEP]S1 YET CLOS] TO ,LOKASKWE & ,OA%I1 TO ,MAGID9S1 ,%AWANO & ! ,S\?BRAN* K94 

,I WAS HEAVY ) MY SECOND *ILD1 ,LOKASKWE WAS C>RY+ H] FIR/4 ,WE R>ELY P>T$4 ,I B>ELY NOTIC$ ?AT ,ALE%I HAD RETURN$ TO ! ,/RAIT BECAUSE NEWS HAD COME ?AT ,M9I & ,JOZES HAD BE5 RELEAS$ FROM !IR TRAP4 ,LOKASKWE & ,I TOLD EA* O!R \R DREAMS4 ,M9E W]E VAGUE1 LIKE MEMORIES ,I C\LD NO LONG] REA*4 ,I DREAM$ MYSELF SOME?+ SUSP5D$ ABOVE ! GR\ND1 NEV] ABLE TO REA* ! GR\ND1 NEV] ABLE TO EMBRACE E>? OR T\* E>? ) MY 5TIRE BODY LIKE A S]P5T1 & ,I WOKE ) A VAGUE S5SE ( LOSS1 A S5SE ( 9COMPLET5ESS2 ,I FELT ?AT ! PLAGUES1 P]SECUTIONS & W>S HAD SEP>AT$ ME FROM E>? & FROM K91 HAD 9VAD$ MY M9D & MY V]Y BLOOD1 HAD TURN$ ME 9TO A CONTRIVANCE ?AT FLOAT$ BECAUSE IT C\LD NO LONG] /& ) FEET ON ! GR\ND1 HAD MADE ME UNABLE TO PUT FIR/ ?+S FIR/ & =C$ ME TO PLANT LEAVES & DE/ROY SE$S4 

,! BIR? ( ,LOKASKWE'S ,APTEGIZHEK & MY ,CAKIMA1 A MOON AP>T1 CO9CID$ ) ! RETURN ( ,NAGMO & ! BIR? TO ,KATWYN ( !IR SECOND SON1 :OM !Y NAM$ ,W9AMEK TO HONOR ! MEMORY ( ! GREAT EMBROIL]4 ,NAGMO S\<T TO RECONCILE 5MITIES & RE/ORE PEACE TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ) A M\ND ( GIFTS--POTS1 CLO?1 BLANKETS--?+S ,KATWYN & ,KIT- TIHAWA EMBRAC$ ) JOY1 & ) A LOT ( RUM4 

,:ILE ,S\?BRAN* K9 HAD BE5 P]I%+1 ,NAGMO HAD BE5 REE/ABLI%+ HIS LO/ POSITION1 EM]G+ ) AN IMPORTANCE 5JOY$ BY NO ONE S9CE HIS GREAT-GR&FA!R ,NANGISI4 ,NAGMO HAD TURN$ ! CAPTURE ( ! ,MI%ILIMAK9A ,R$COATS TO HIS [N USE4 ,MA%EKEWIS & ! NOR!RN W>RIORS HAD GIV5 UP !IR CAPTIVES TO ,NAGMO & O!R C>RI]S :O HAD DONE NO?+ EXCEPT TO FUME AFT] ! CAPTURE4 ,ON ! WAY TO OCCUPI$ ,HO*ELAGA ) ! CAPTIVES1 ,NAGMO LE>N$ ?AT ! RUMC>RI] ,SOLI-MAN1 \R ,%AP-MAN'S C\S91 WAS EAG] TO REE/ABLI% ! FUR TRADE NETWORK FIR/ E/ABLI%$ BY ,NANGISI & ! ,SCABEAT] ,FALSETONGUE4 ,NAGMO1 :O TRU/$ ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S NO MORE ?AN ! RE/ ( US DID1 LE>N$ ?AT ,SOLI-MAN DIDN'T TRU/ !M EI!R1 = !Y TREAT$ HIM AS AN \TSID] :OM !Y TOL]AT$ 9 !IR MID/4 ,! TWO CAME TO AN AGREEM5T3 ,NAGMO WAS TO GA!R ! FURS ( ALL ,MI%IGAMI FROM ! ,LAKEBOTTOM TO ,GRE5BAY1 & TO RETURN ) GIFTS ACQUIR$ 9 ,HO*ELAGA BY ,SOLI-MAN & DI/RIBUT$ 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A BY ,BATF S BRO!R ,ANTO4 ,IT WAS ! WEAL? ( GIFTS FROM ?IS NET ?AT ,NAGMO BR\<T TO ! CELEBRATION ( ! ?REE NAM+S4 

,UN=TUNATELY = ,NAGMO1 ,SIG5AK & ,MAGDA'S ,TI%A >RIV$ DUR+ ! CELEBRATION & DE/ROY$ ,NAGMO'S HOPES = RECONCILIATION & PEACE4 ,9 ,SIG5AK'S EYES1 ! W> AGA9/ ! ,9VAD]S' 5CLOSURES WASN'T OV]1 C\LDN'T BE OV]1 S9CE NONE ( ! WE/]N W>RIORS 5GAG$ 9 IT HAD BE5 DEFEAT$1 & ! AGREEM5T BETWE5 ! ,9VAD]S & ! C>RI]S B\ND NO ONE2 ! AGREEM5T WAS NO?+ BUT AN 9SULT4 

,OA%I 

  

,SIG5AK & ,TI%A CAME ) A /RANG] :O ORIG9AT$ NEI!R AMONG ,ROOTK9 NOR AMONG ANY ,9VAD]S FAMILI> TO ME2 HE WAS CALL$ ,S&YPO9T AFT] A PLACE ON A DI/ANT ,OCEAN ISL& :]E HE WAS BORN1 & HE CAME ) GIFT BUNDLES4 ,KATWYN WELCOM$ ! /RANG] TO ,NAGMO'S LODGE4 

,SIG5AK HAD BE5 9 ,KEKIONGA :5 ,TI%A HAD BR\<T HIM NEWS ( ! C>RI]S' AGREEM5T & ( ! IMPRISONM5T ( ,TI%A'S UNCLES ,M9I & ,JOZES4 ,SIG5AK HAD BE5 LIVID ) RAGE :5 ! *EAT+ RUMC>RI] ,KRAW-ON TURN$ UP 9 ,KEKIONGA1 GUID$ !RE BY ,JOZES1 :O HAD BE5 RELEAS$ ON CONDITION ?AT HE GUIDE ! WILY EMISS>Y TO ! GA!R+PLACES ( ,PRAIRIEK94 ,KRAW-ON C>RI$ HORSE-LOADS ( GIFTS AS WELL AS ! MESSAGE ?AT ! ,9VAD]S W\LD TAKE NO L&S BY =CE1 NOT EV5 ! L& = !IR =TIFI$ 5CLOSURES1 BUT W\LD BEG ,ROOTK9 = ! RI<T TO TAKE ANY L&4 ,?IS =K$-TONGUE :O HAD REC5TLY TOLD ,S\?BRAN* K9 !Y HAD NO RI<T TO L& BECAUSE !Y LACK$ AN OV]MAN & A P]MAN5T >MY DID NOT GO TO ,KEKIONGA ACCOMPANI$ BY A ,BLACKCOLL> :O ACTUALLY BELIEV$ HIS WORDS1 & NONE W]E TAK5 94 ,SIG5AK1 & ALSO ,TI%A1 NEV]!LESS DECID$ TO ACCOMPANY ,JOZES & ! RUMC>RI] TO ,UIATANON2 ,SIG5AK 9T5D$ TO TRANSLATE ,KRAW-ON'S 9T5TIONS :ILE ,JOZES TRANSLAT$ HIS WORDS4 

,ONCE ON ! ,WABA%1 ,SIG5AK F\ND ?AT WE/]N ,PRAIRIEK9 DID NOT NE$ HIS TRANSLATIONS4 ,!Y ACCEPT$ ,KRAW- ON'S GIFTS BY PLUND]+ & CAPTUR+ HIM4 ,! WE/]N ,PRAIRIEK9 W]E AS FOND AS ,SIG5AK ( ! C>RI]S' PEACE1 & HAD BE5 PLUND]+ & CAPTUR+ EV]Y RUMC>RI] :O HAD REA*$ ! ,WABA%4 

,JOZES FL$ TO ! VILLAGE ( ,KI!PEKANU ON ! ,WABA%4 ,T9AMI & H] TWO SONS SOON JO9$ HIM4 

,TI%A GUID$ ,KRAW-ON TO NE>BY ,UIATANON SO ?AT ! RUM- C>RI]'S V]Y LIFE W\LDN'T BE TAK5 AS WELL4 

,SIG5AK WAS 5*ANT$ BY :AT HE F\ND WE/ ( ! ,WABA%3 ! ,PRAIRIEK9 ) :OM HE HAD CAPTUR$ ! ,UIATANON 5CLOSURE W]E ALLI$ ) ,R$E>? SURVIVORS FROM ! O!R %ORE ( ,MI%IGAMI & ) ,TELLEGWI FROM ACROSS ! ,LONG ,RIV]1 & ALL HAD RIFLES & HORSES FROM S\?WE/]N ,9VAD]S CALL$ ,S5YORES :O HAD ONCE BE5 \/$ BY ,/ONELODGE PEOPLE ( ! ,SUNSET ,M\NTA9S1 ,9VAD]S CONSID]$ TOO DI/ANT & WEAK TO ?REAT5 ! 9VASION ( ! ,PLA9S OR ,PRAIRIES4 ,TO ,SIG5AK1 ?IS WAS ! ALLIANCE HIS MO!R ,WA- GO%KWE HAD DREAM$ (1 & HE ACCOMPANI$ ,PRAIRIEK9 TO ,CAHOKIA ON ! ,LONG ,RIV]1 ! GREAT M\ND ?AT HELD ! REMA9S ( ! LA/ ,RIV]PEOPLE ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,!RE ,SIG5AK WAS GIV5 W>BELTS ) :I* TO REM9D ,ROOTK9 ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ,KEKIONGA & ! ,/RAIT ?AT ! W> AGA9/ ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S HAD NOT BE5 COMPLET$4 

,9 ,CAHOKIA ,TI%A HAD MET ,S&YPO9T1 A GIFT-C>RI] & FUR-GA!R] ) ! WAYS1 LANGUAGE & CLO?+ ( ,LEMOND1 A MAN :OSE ANCE/ORS HAIL$ FROM A WORLD DI/9CT FROM ?AT ( ! O!R ?REE ,9VAD]S1 A MAN :O HAD COME UP ! ,LONG ,RIV] LOOK+ = CROSSWE>+ ,ROOTK9 CONV]T$ BY ,BLACK- ROBES TO ! ,9VAD]S' LANGUAGE & WAYS LIKE HIS [N ANCE/ORS1 A MAN :O FE>$ ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S BECAUSE1 HE SAID1 !Y W]E TOO /UPID TO RECOGNIZE HIS K9 AS HUMAN BE+S4 ,TI%A BR\<T ! /RANG] TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE :5 ,SIG5AK CAME TO DELIV] HIS BELTS4 

,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S C\NCIL$ ) ,SIG5AK & WELCOM$ ! BELTS2 MANY ( !M W]E1 LIKE ,SIG5AK & ,NANIKIBI1 *ILDR5 ( ,R$E>? K94 

,NAGMO AVOID$ ! C\NCILS2 P]HAPS HE ALREADY KNEW HE W\LD W> ALONGSIDE ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S AGA9/ ,SIG5AK'S ALLIES AS HIS FA!R & GR&FA!R HAD W>R$ ALONGSIDE NOR!RN ,9VAD]S AGA9/ ,WAGO%KWE'S K94 ,HE & ,KATWYN & !IR *ILDR5 MOV$ TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 :]E ! BRAVE ,R$E>? K9 W]E SAID TO HAVE BE5 ANNIHILAT$4 

,KITTIHAWA ONCE AGA9 *OSE H] CROSSWE>+ C\S9 ,KATWYN OV] H] BRO!RS1 & %E TOO MOV$ TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,MY SON ,TOP9BI1 ALREADY OLD 5\< TO DREAM & DECIDE1 ACCOMPANI$ ,KITTIHAWA TO BE ) HIS FRI5DS1 ,NAGMO'S SONS4 

,?OSE ( US :O W]E NOT TAK+ P>T 9 ,SIG5AK'S C\NCILS W]E SOON 9VIT$ TO CELEBRATE ,KITTIHAWA'S M>RIAGE4 ,OA%I & ,I & ,LOKASKWE HEAVY ) H] SECOND *ILD W5T TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,KITTIHAWA & ,S&YPO9T HAD F\ND EA* O!R2 BO? W]E CROSSWE>+ CONV]TS :O HAD MADE ! WAYS1 LANGUAGE & CLO!S ( ,LEMOND !IR [N4 ,OA%I & ,I1 AL?\< FOND ( NEI!R1 HELP$ !M RAISE A LODGE NE> ,NAGMO'S ON ! MIDPO9T BETWE5 ,CAHOKIA & ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 BETWE5 ! FUR-GA!R]S AT ! M\? ( ! ,LONG ,RIV] & ?OSE ( ! ,NOR!RN ,RIV]4 

,A DAU<T] WAS BORN TO ,LOKASKWE ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM2 ,OA%I NAM$ H] ,%ECOGOSIKWE4 

,OA%I & ,LOKASKWE1 AS WELL AS ,%AWANO1 ,MAGID9S & ! ,S\?BRAN* K91 W]E EAG] TO BE GONE FROM ,BISON ,PRAIRIE & ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,RUMOR REA*$ US ?AT ! ,PIT-/R5G? >MY HAD /OPP$ HUNT+ = PRISON]S & ?AT HEADMAN ,B[-KAY HAD BE5 REPLAC$4 ,MAGID9S WAS REPELL$ BY ! IDOL- WOR%IP+ ,KATWYN1 ,LOKASKWE BY ,NAGMO'S FUR-GA!R+ NETWORK1 ,OA%I BY ! EMBROIL+ ALLIANCES4 

,MY BRO!R1 ,MIOGWEWE'S GREAT-GR&SON1 WAS DISAPPO9T$ BY HIS FRI5D ,NANIKIBI'S 9VOLVEM5T ) ,SIG5AK'S BELTS & C\NCILS4 ,OA%I SAW ?AT ,SIG5AK'S & ,NAGMO'S ALLIANCES W]E ! SAME1 !Y W]E BO? REVIVALS ( EMBROIL] ,W9AMEK'S ,LEAGUE BETWE5 ,ROOTK9 & ,9VAD]S1 ALLIANCES BETWE5 JAWS & MEAT1 9 :I* ,ROOTK9 W]E ! MEAT4 ,BUT ,OA%I SAID NO?+2 HE DIDN'T DREAM ( TRY+ TO TURN ,NANIKIBI AGA9/ HIS BRO!R1 OR ( TRY+ TO TURN BO? BRO!RS AGA9/ !IR MO!R4 ,HE DELAY$ \R DEP>TURE UNTIL ,SIG5AK & ,NANIKIBI W]E READY TO SET \T T[>D ,KEKIONGA & ! ,/RAIT ) ! BELTS ( ! ,CAHOKIANS4 

,9 ,KEKIONGA ,I SEP>AT$ FROM ,NANIKIBI1 SADLY1 = ,I TOO WAS ATTRACT$ TO ,SIG5AK'S LEAGUE2 ,I HAD BE5 ATTRACT$ TO ,SIG5AK'S LEAGUE MANY YE>S E>LI]1 9 ,PICKAWILLANY4 ,I REMEMB]$ ?AT ,I HAD BE5 TOO Y\NG TO SEE1 & ,L5API HAD HELP$ ME4 ,N[ ,I WAS OLD 5\< TO SEE ) MY [N EYES4 

,I ACCOMPANI$ MY BRO!R & ,%AWANO'S K9 TO ! VALLEY ( VANI%$ ,RIV]PEOPLE1 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY ( M\NDS & MEMORIES4 ,OA%I C>RI$ ,L5API'S B>K SCROLL TO A VILLAGE ( ,S\?BRAN* & ,EA/BRAN* SURVIVORS CAMP$ ON ! ,MUSK+UM2 HE WORE A P5DANT %AP$ BY ,%UTAHA AS HE C>RI$ ! TWO *ILDR5 BORN BY ,MI%IGAMI'S %ORE TO A VISION>Y MO!R ADOPT$ FROM ! ,9VAD]S' WORLD4 

,\R RETURN TO ,S\?BRAN* & ,EA/BRAN* K9 MU/ HAVE BE5 LIKE LEG5D>Y ,YAHATASE'S RETURN TO PLAGUE-DEVA/AT$ ,MORN+L& AFT] A *ILDHOOD ( IMPRISONM5T 9 ! ,BLACK- ROBES' MISSION 9 ,/ADACONA4 ,%AWANO & ,MAGID9S W]E EMBRAC$ BY CELEBRAT+ K9 :O HAD ?\<T !M DEAD4 

,! FAMILI> FACES1 LANGUAGE & SONGS1 ! CORN-FILL$ FIELDS1 GAVE AN IMPRESSION ( LIFE R5EW$1 VIBRANT & /RONG1 UNTIL MEMORY 9T]V5$ ) ITS REM9D] ?AT ! PEOPLE ON ! ,MUSK+UM W]E NO LONG] :OLE1 ?AT !Y W]E M]E FRAGM5TS ( :AT !Y HAD ONCE BE54 ,! ,EA/BRAN* K9 W]E NOT GUE/S FROM AMONG NUM]\S PEOPLE :O 9HABIT$ ! ,OCEAN%ORE1 BUT M]E REMNANTS4 ,! ,MUSK+UM VILLAGE WAS NOT ONE ( ! C\NTLESS & TEEM+ ,S\?BRAN* VILLAGES ?AT DOTT$ ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 BUT ONE ( ! FEW DEPOPULAT$ VILLAGES ?AT REMA9$4 ,! C\NCILS W]E NOT OCCASIONS = DANCE & SONG BUT = RUM DR9K+2 !Y W]E NOT SESSIONS ( REMEMB]+ ! ,BEG9N+ DESCRIB$ BY ! SCROLLS1 BUT SESSIONS ( =GETT+ ! PLAGUES & W>S1 ! HUMILIATION & DEVA/ATION41 

,OA%I WAS DISMAY$ TO LE>N ?AT EV5 ! LIFEGIV+ SPIRIT ( ADOPTIONS WAS WAN+4 ,S\?BRAN* K9 HAD ADOPT$ A LONE L&SUCK] :O HAD COME FROM AMONG ,OCEAN%ORE ,*EAT]S1 & HAD !N PU%$ HIM TO TAKE UP HIS DISC>D$ SK9 & PUT IT ON AGA91 TO BECOME A RUMC>RI]1 TO BR+ CLO? & BEADS1 RIFLES & METAL HAT*ETS & RUM FROM ! ,PIT-/R5G?1 ! ,9VAD]S' CAMP AT ! =K4 

,?IS RUMC>RI]1 CALL$ ,CON-]R1 HAD WANT$ L&1 BUT NOT BADLY 5\< TO KILL = IT2 HE HAD RESPOND$ ) GRATITUDE TO ! (F]$ K9%IP1 = HE HAD NEV] BE=E EXP]I5C$ K9%IP2 HE TOOK UP HIS ROLE AS GO-BETWE5 HESITANTLY & ) %AME1 ! %AME ,I REMEMB]$ ON MY FA!R'S FACE :5EV] HE RETURN$ ) ! ,9VAD]S' GIFTS4 

,OA%I WAS MORE DISMAY$ BY ! DEP5D5CE ( ! ,S\?BRAN* K9 ?AN BY ,NAGMO'S OR ,KATWYN'S1 BECAUSE ! ,S\?BRAN* K9 KNEW :AT ,L5API HAD KN[N2 !Y KNEW ! M5 :O PU%$ ! RUM1 ! M5 :O SCALP$ = B\NTIES1 ! M5 :O AIM$ RIFLES AT EV]Y LIV+ ?+ ?AT /IRR$1 ! M5 :O MURD]$ = ! SAKE ( A PAT* ( L& :I* !Y !N D5UD$ & RAVAG$1 ! M5 :O CONSID]$ E>? & ALL ITS CREATURES TO BE NO?+ BUT WEAPONS = DOM9AT+1 DISABL+ & KILL+4 ,! ,S\?BRAN* K9 KNEW ?AT ! ,9VAD]S' GIFTS DISABL$ ,ROOTK9 & MADE !M DEP5D5T ON ! V]Y NET ?AT HELD ! ,9VAD]S !MSELVES 9SIDE !IR 5CLOSURES4 

,! ,EA/BRAN* SURVIVORS 9 ! ,MUSK+UM VILLAGES1 H>DLY A ?\S&1 ! LA/ REMNANTS ( ,L5API'S ONCE NUM]\S K91 W]E DRIV5 BY IP GREAT FE>3 !Y :O = AGES HAD CELEBRAT$ & SUNG & RECORD$ !IR EV5T-FILL$ TRAJECTORY FE>$ ?AT SOON NONE W\LD REMEMB] IT1 SOON NO LIV+ P]SON W\LD HAVE ANCE/ORS :O HAD FOLL[$ ?AT PA?1 SOON !RE W\LD BE NO MEMORY ( ,EA/BRAN* ,ROOTK9 EV] HAV+ EXI/$4 ,SOME HUNDR$ ( ! ,EA/BRAN* K91 L>GELY SURVIVORS FROM ,L5API'S ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9 VILLAGE1 HAD ADOPT$ SEV]AL BLACKCOLL>$ ,BRE?R5 :O ORIG9AT$ FROM ,LOKASKWE'S & ,MAGID9S' P>T ( ! WORLD1 & HAD =M$ A VILLAGE ON ! ,TUSC>AWAS1 A VILLAGE ( NEAT WOOD5 LODGES SURR\ND$ BY F5C$-9 G>D5S4 

,LOKASKWE WAS HO/ILE TO ! ,BLACKCOLL>S 9 ! ,TUSC>AWAS VILLAGE4 ,%E REMEMB]$ ?AT ,BRO!R ,PO/-]R1 HIMSELF S9C]E 5\<1 HAD BE5 US$ BY ! ,PIT-/R5G? HEADMAN TO DECEIVE ,%AWANO'S K94 ,LOKASKWE QUE/ION$ ONE ( ! ,BLACKCOLL>S1 A ,BRO!R ,KANI%1 :O WAS LESS TI<T-LIPP$ AB\T ?+S ?AT MATT]$ ?AN ! O!R ,BRE?R54 

,LOKASKWE LE>N$ ?AT ,BLACKROBES1 :O = AGES HAD CROSS$ OCEAN & M\NTA9S TO CONV9CE PEOPLE BROK5 BY PLAGUES & W>S ?AT !IR MIS]Y CAME FROM !IR [N FAIL+S1 HAD BE5 SUPPRESS$ BY !IR OV]M5 ACROSS ! ,OCEAN4 ,N[ ONLY BLACKCOLL>$ ,BRE?R5 CROSS$ OCEAN & M\NTA9S ) A MESSAGE1 & !IR MESSAGE WAS ALTOGE!R DIFF]5T FROM ! ,BLACKROBES'4 ,KANI% TOLD ?AT HIS & ,LOKASKWE'S ANCE/ORS HAD ONCE BE5 AS FREE & HEAL?Y AS ,ROOTK9 BE=E ! 9VASION4 ,DEVA/AT$ BY PLAGUES & W>S & DRIV5 BY A GREAT FE>1 ! ANCE/ORS HAD ALL[$ PROTECTORS & ,BLACKROBES TO COME AMONG !M4 ,! PROTECTORS EXACT$ EV]-HEAVI] BURD5S = EV]-LESS PROTECTION2 ! ,BLACKROBES SAID PEOPLE HAD FALL51 W]E VICI\S & DEPRAV$1 & W\LD BE AT EA* O!R'S ?ROATS IF ! PROTECTORS DIDN'T KEEP PEACE AMONG !M4 ,%ORTLY BE=E ! FIR/ ,9VAD]S CROSS$ ! ,OCEAN1 ,KANI%'S ANCE/ORS REBELL$ AGA9/ PROTECTORS & ,BLACKROBES2 !Y /ILL REMEMB]$ ! TIME BE=E ! PROTECTORS1 !Y KNEW ?AT !IR ONLY FALL HAD BE5 TO LET !MSELVES FALL TO PROTECTORS4 ,AT A M\NTA9 CALL$ ,TABOR !Y DIS5CUMB]$ !MSELVES ( PROTECTORS & ,BLACKROBES & CELEBRAT$ ! RETURN ( !IR ORIG9AL CONDITION4 ,! REBELLION SPREAD UNTIL IT ?REAT5$ TO DISLODGE ALL ! WORLD'S PROTECTORS1 :O S5T !IR COMB9$ >MIES TO SUPPRESS IT2 ! REBELS DEF5D$ !MSELVES BY =M+ AN >MY1 & QUICKLY F\ND !MSELVES AGA9 BESET BY PROTECTORS1 ?IS TIME !IR [N2 ?OSE :O W]5'T KILL$ BY ! COMB9$ >MIES W]E R$UC$ TO UND]L+S BY !IR [N4 ,KANI% & ! O!R ,BRE?R5 CONSID]$ !MSELVES !SE REBELS' HEIRS4 ,!Y HAD DRAWN ! LESSONS ( ! GREAT REBELLION & !Y C>RI$ ITS MEMORY TO ALL ! WORLD'S CORN]S1 SECRETLY1 BECAUSE !Y W]E P]SECUT$2 !Y CONSID]$ !MSELVES TEA*]S ( ! REBELLION'S LESSONS4 ,BUT MANY1 TO AVOID P]SECUTION1 HAD CORRUPT$ !IR MESSAGE & COME TO T]MS ) ! WORLD'S P[]S4 

,LOKASKWE SAW ?AT ,BRO!R ,PO/-]R WAS ONE ( ! CORRUPT$1 S9CE HE'D LET HIS S9C]E & PEACEFUL SELF BE US$ BY LI>S & KILL]S AS ! FRONT L9E ( ! 9VAD+ >MY4 ,& %E LA%$ \T AGA9/ ,KANI% HIMSELF3 %E ASK$ IF ! PEOPLE ( ! M\NTA9 CALL$ ,TABOR HAD DIS5CUMB]$ !MSEL VES ( PROTECTORS ONLY TO 5CLOSE !IR [N G>D5S ) PROTECTIVE F5CES1 IF !Y DIDN'T KN[ ?AT E>?1 SUN & CL\DS GREW CORN & GRE5S AS WELL AS B]RIES & FRUITS = ALL TO 5JOY4 ,%E ASK$ :Y PEOPLE :O W]E NOT DEPRAV$1 FALL5 CREATURES NE$$ TEA*]S1 S9CE FREE PEOPLE LE>N$ FROM EA* O!R & ONLY ! FALL5 NE$$ TO BE RAIS$ UP2 %E SAID ! ,BRE?R5 HAD COME TO COMPLETE :AT ! ,BLACKROBES HAD BEGUN1 TO GET ! LAME TO WALK1 NOT ON !IR [N1 BUT LEAN+ ON CRUT*ES4 

,OA%I & ,%AWANO GREW 9CREAS+LY AL>M$ BY ! L&HUNGRY ,9VAD]S :O CONT9U$ TO FL[ OV] ! M\NTA9 PASSES 9TO ! VALLEY1 & !Y TOOK !IR AL>M TO A C\NCIL ) ! ,R$COATS AT ! ,PIT-/R5G?4 ,!Y W]E TOLD ?AT NO ,9VAD]S W]E TO CROSS ! M\NTA9 DIVIDE1 ?AT !Y HAD B\ND !MSELVES TO /AY ON ! SIDE :]E ! RIV]S FL[ 9TO ! ,OCEAN4 

,AFT] PROMIS+ TO /AY AWAY FROM W> P>TIES IF ! ,R$COATS AGRE$ TO REMOVE ,9VAD]S :O NEV]!LESS CROSS$ ! DIVIDE1 ,OA%I & ,%AWANO LE>N$ ?AT ! ,R$COATS W]E HELPLESS3 !IR OV]MAN ACROSS ! ,OCEAN HAD GIV5 ! TASK ( REMOV+ ! L&SUCK]S TO ! V]Y L&GANGS ?AT S5T ! L&SUCK]S OV] ! M\NTA9S4 

,OA%I HE>D :AT HE WAS TOLD1 BUT ,M5OKO'S SON C\LDN'T TAKE 9 ! DUPLICITY ( IT1 & HE C\LDN'T LE>N TO ACT 9 ! FACE ( SU* DUPLICITY4 ,HE SAW1 ) ,LOKASKWE'S EYES1 ?AT ! ,9VAD]S :O CAME EV] CLOS] TO ! ,MUSK+UM W]E MORE PA!TIC ?AN VICI\S4 ,LIKE ! ADOPT$ ,CON-]R1 LIKE ,LOKASKWE'S [N FA!R1 !Y W]E M5 :O'D HAD LITTLE ON ! ,OCEAN%ORE & :O HAD GIV5 MO/ ( ?AT TO A ,UA-%N-TN OR A ,KRE-SOP 9 EX*ANGE = A TITLE TO L& 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY GRANT$ TO ! L&GANG BY ! ,TURTLELEAGUE ( ! EA/]N ,WOODL&S OR BY AN OV]MAN ACROSS ! ,OCEAN OR BY SOMEONE ELSE :O DIDN'T LIVE 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,SU* A MAN CAME TO ! VALLEY ) A POT 9 ONE H& & A RIFLE 9 ! O!R1 GREW LONESOME ON ! PAT* :]E HE HAD NO HUMAN CONTACT1 FE>$ ! =E/ & NURS$ RES5TM5TS2 HE RES5T$ ! L&GANG ?AT HAD SK9N$ HIM ( ALL HE'D HAD2 HE RES5T$ ! RUMC>RI]S TO :OM HE BECAME 9CREAS+LY 9DEBT$ BECAUSE HE NE$$ MORE BULLETS1 MORE POTS1 NAILS = ! CAB9 9 :I* HE IMPRISON$ ! MO!R ( HIS *ILDR51 & RUM2 HE RES5T$ ROCKS & TREES & ! L& ITSELF BECAUSE ( ! JOYLESS SWEAT & LABOR HE HAD TO EXP5D BE=E HIS SE$S W\LD GR[2 ABOVE ALL HE RES5T$ ,ROOTK9 :OSE JOY\S SONGS HE SOMETIMES HE>D1 BECAUSE !Y NEI!R SWEAT$ NOR LABOR$1 & IF ANY D>$ TO V5TURE ONTO HIS PLANT$ FIELD1 HE KILL$ )\T REMORSE4 ,?IS MAN :OSE SWEAT & LABOR ALL W5T TO FATT5 L&GANGS & RUMC>RI]S WAS SU/A9$ BY ! ILLUSION ?AT ! L& & ! PLANTS ?AT GREW ON IT W]E HIS2 HE ?\<T IT WAS NOT E>? OR SUN OR RA9 ?AT MADE SE$S GR[ BUT HIS SWEAT & LABOR1 & HE ELIM9AT$ EV]Y?+ 9 HIS REA* ?AT DIDN'T CONFIRM HIS ILLUSION2 HE DE/ROY$ :ATEV] ?RIV$ )\T HIS SWEAT & LABOR3 TREES & BU%ES1 DE]1 BEAV] & WOLVES4 

,NEI!R ,OA%I NOR ,%AWANO NOR ANY ON ! ,MUSK+UM TOOK UP >MS AGA9/ ! 5CROA*+ ,9VAD]S1 BUT ,S\?BRAN* K9 WE/ ( US1 9 VILLAGES NE> ! ,S]P5T ,M\ND1 DID TAKE UP >MS4 ,!Y RAID$ ! ,9VAD]S' PAT*ES & LODGES2 !Y W]E JO9$ BY ALLIES & !IR RAIDS BECAME MORE NUM]\S4 ,?ANKS TO !SE RAIDS1 ! 9VASION SL[$ D[N & 9 SOME PLACES EV5 REC$$4 ,! ,R$COATS' OV]MAN ACROSS ! ,OCEAN1 UNWILL+ TO PROVOKE ANO!R W> AGA9/ ! ,9VAD]S' 5CLOSURES1 UNWILL+ TO S5D =CES TO PROTECT ! L&SUCK]S1 DECID$ TO GIVE BACK TO ! ,R$COATS ! TASK ( KEEP+ L&SUCK]S EA/ ( ! M\NTA9S4 

,OA%I ?\<T ! ,R$COATS W]E KEEP+ !IR PROMISES = ! FIR/ TIME2 ,R$COATS W]E TURN+ AGA9/ L&GANGS4 

,OA%I & ,%AWANO1 BO? PEACEFUL M51 ACTUALLY BELIEV$ ! ,R$COATS W]E GO+ TO REMOVE ! 9TRUD]S FROM ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,!Y W5T HUNT+ NE> ! ,KANA:A EXPECT+ TO F9D ! HUNT+ GR\NDS UNDI/URB$4 

,NEI!R ,LOKASKWE NOR ,MAGID9S W]E AS TRU/+ AS ,OA%I & ,%AWANO4 ,LOKASKWE1 HEAVY ) H] ?IRD *ILD1 LE>N$ ?AT ANGRY B\NTYSEEK]S ATTACK$ BY ! ,S]P5T ,M\ND W>RIORS HAD RETURN$ TO ! EA/ TO R\SE !IR LIKES TO A FR5ZY ( HATR$ AGA9/ ,ROOTK91 & %E KNEW ?AT L&GANGS AMONG ! ,*EAT]S & ! ,SLAV]S W]E WAIT+ = ! SLI<TE/ EXCUSE TO S5D >M$ M5 TO EV]Y RIV]M\? & EV]Y 9T]SECTION ( PA?S4 ,BO? SI/]S REMEMB]$ ! KILL]S :O HAD 9TIMIDAT$ !IR FA!R 9TO TAK+ UP A RIFLE AGA9/ ,ROOTK91 BO? REMEMB]$ ! BLOODLU/ ?AT SPREAD LIKE A DISEASE ?R\< A MOB ( >\S$ KILL]S4 

,:5 RUMORS REA*$ US ( >M$ B&S MOV+ FROM ! EA/1 ,MAGID9S BECAME NE>LY DEM5T$ ) FE>4 ,%E S\<T REFUGE 9 ! ,TUSC>AWAS VILLAGE ( ,BRE?R5 & !IR ,EA/BRAN* CONV]TS :O DRANK NO RUM & C>RI$ NO RIFLES4 ,BUT ONCE !RE1 %E FE>$ ATTACK FROM BO? SIDES2 %E ?\<T ! ,S]P5T ,M\ND W>RIORS W\LD TAKE ! VILLAGE1 ) ITS OR*>D1 ITS G>D5S F5C$ BY RAILS1 ITS SQU>E LODGES & L>GE COMMON LODGE1 = A SETTLEM5T ( ,9VAD]S2 & %E WAS SURE ! ,9VAD]S W\LD DE/ROY IT AS A VILLAGE ( ,ROOTK91 5VI\S ( ITS NEAT LODGES SURR\ND$ BY OAKS1 HICKORY1 MAPLE & A%1 ITS NE>BY GAME & B]RIES & H]BS BY A RIV] TEEM+ ) FI%2 %E REMEMB]$ H[ ! ,POX-TN ,BOYS HAD VIEW$ E>LI] CONV]TS ( ! ,BRE?R54 ,%E ABRUPTLY LEFT ! VILLAGE & ACCEPT$ ! 9VITATION ( ! ADOPT$ ,CON-]R2 %E FELT SAFE 9 ! FUR & GIFT PO/1 S9CE TO ,S\?BRAN* W>RIORS %E W\LD BE A K9SWOMAN LODG$ 9 A C>RI]'S LODGE1 & TO ! ,9VAD]S %E W\LD BE ! WIFE ( ONE ( !M1 ! ,PIT-/R5G? RUMC>RI] ,CON-]R4 

,LOKASKWE'S & ,MAGID9S' FE>S W]E CONFIRM$ BY AN UNIMAG9ABLE HORROR4 ,%AWANO & ! HUNT]S RETURN$ TO ! ,MUSK+UM VILLAGE ) MY BRO!R'S BODY1 BLOODY & SCALP$4 

,! HUNT]S HAD BE5 AW>E !Y W]E NOT ALONE 9 !IR HUNT+ GR\ND NE> ! ,KANA:A2 >M$ MEMB]S ( ,KRE- SOP'S L&GANG W]E MEASUR+ PAT*ES :I*1 !Y SAID1 HAD BE5 GIV5 TO !M BY ! ,TURTLELEAGUE4 ,I LAT] LE>N$ ,KRE-SOP HAD GOTT5 SOME ,TURTLEFOLK TO ADMIT ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY WASN'T !IRS1 & ,KRE-SOP HAD GIV5 MANY GIFTS = ?IS ADMISSION4 ,OA%I & ,%AWANO DISREG>D$ ! MEASUR]S & !Y SEP>AT$ 9 !IR QUE/ = DE]2 !Y TOLD !MSELVES ,KRE-SOP'S M5 W]E >M$ AGA9/ ! ,PIT-/R5G? ,R$COATS :O HAD PROMIS$ TO KEEP L&GANGS \T1 & W]E RELIEV$ ?AT ! TWO B&S ( ,9VAD]S W]E 9T5T ON WIP+ EA* O!R \T4 ,KRE- SOP'S M5 LO/ A HORSE1 & !SE M5 :O BOA/$ ( !IR AGILITY 9 TAK+ ! HORSES ( ,ROOTK9 SET \T ON A MANHUNT2 !Y P\NC$ ON ! NE>E/ CAMP ( ISOLAT$ HUNT]S2 !Y %OT1 CUT & SCALP$ ,OA%I & HIS COMPANIONS1 ,%AWANO'S C\S9 & NEPHEW1 9 A FR5ZY ( BLOODLETT+4 

,UNCONTROLLABLE FURY WELL$ UP 9SIDE ME1 RE/RA9$ ONLY BY ,LOKASKWE'S HY/]ICAL /ATE4 ,LOKASKWE GAVE PREMATURE BIR?4 ,) TREMBL+ H&S %E GAVE ! B>K SCROLL1 ,L5API'S SCROLL1 TO ,OA%I'S FIR/BORN1 TE>-COV]$ ,APTEGIZHEK2 %E GAVE ! P5DANT TO ,%ECOGOSIKWE2 %E NAM$ H] NEWBORN GIRL ,WAGO%KWE4 ,LOKASKWE'S EYES BURN$ ) ! DESIRE TO PU% ! MANHUNT- ]S1 NOT ONLY BEYOND ! ,M\NTA9S1 BUT BEYOND ! ,OCEAN%ORE & 9TO ! SALT SEA4 

,WE /ILL HADN'T BURI$ ,OA%I :5 WORD CAME ?AT A B& ( ,9VAD]S HAD APPROA*$ ! HUNT+ CAMP ( ,%AWANO'S ONLY SURVIV+ BRO!R1 HAD (F]$ CLO? & RUM = ! HUNT]S' FURS1 & :5 ! HUNT]S W]E ILL FROM ! RUM1 HAD MURD]$ & SCALP$ EV]Y ONE ( !M4 

,AFT] !SE TWO MASSACRES1 !RE W]E NO MORE PEACEMAK]S AMONG ! ,S\?BRAN* K9 ( ! ,MUSK+UM4 ,I JO9$ ! DANC+ W>RIORS1 ,%AWANO JO9$ !M1 EV5 ,LOKASKWE W\LD HAVE JO9$ !M IF H] SI/] HADN'T FALL5 ILL :ILE GIV+ BIR? TO H] FIR/1 TO ,CON-]R'S *ILD4 

,)\T ,LOKASKWE OR ,OA%I BESIDE ME1 ,I SUPPRESS$ ALL ,I KNEW ( DEP5D5CE ON ! ,9VAD]S' WEAPONS & ,I TOOK UP A RIFLE2 MY S+LE ?\<T WAS TO KILL ,OA%I'S MURD]]S4 ,WE S5T BELTS TO NE> & DI/ANT K91 & W]E SOON JO9$ BY ! ,S\?BRAN* W>RIORS FROM ! VILLAGES NE> ! ,S]P5T ,M\ND1 BY C\S9 ,M9I & HIS FRI5DS ,ALE%I & ,BATI TOGE!R ) ,TURTLEW>RIORS FROM ! ,/RAIT1 F9ALLY BY ,NANIKIBI ) ,FIREKEEP]S FROM ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,! FRI5DS :O HAD MADE A PACT AS *ILDR5 REMA9$ LOYAL TO !IR PACT-BRO!R ,OA%I AFT] HIS DEA?4 ,%AWANO L$ A HUNDR$ ( US T[>D ! SPOT :]E ,KRE-SOP HAD ATTACK$4 ,WE F\ND & SURPRIS$ ! FRONT ( ! ,9VAD]S' =CE NE> ! M\? ( ! ,KANA:A2 \R *>GE R\T$ ! M5 9 ! FRONT L9E1 :O /ABB$ & %OT EA* O!R FLEE+ FROM US1 UNTIL SUDD5LY ! R\T 5D$1 & ! ,9VAD]S /OOD !IR GR\ND4 ,WE SAW ?AT WE W]E FACE TO FACE ) MYRIADS ( RIFLE->M$ ,9VAD]S1 WE W]E \TNUMB]$ T5 TO ONE4 ,%AWANO1 SATISFI$ ?AT \R R\T ( !IR FRONT L9E HAD ALREADY 9FLICT$ MORE DAMAGE ?AN ALL ( ,KRE-SOP'S B&S HAD1 SIGNAL$ A RETREAT4 ,LIKE ! /ORM+ ( ! ,/RAIT'S 5CLOSURE1 ?IS WAS A BATTLE ONLY DEM5T$ KILL]S W\LD HAVE F\<T1 IT W\LD HAVE L$ TO ! DEA? & MAIM+ ( MANY ( ! REMA9+ ,S\?BRAN* ,ROOTK9 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,A H&FUL ( W>RIORS DIV]T$ ! MON/R\S >MY AWAY FROM ! RIV]2 ! RE/ ( US W]E 9 \R HIDD5 CANOES & ACROSS ! RIV] BE=E ! ,9VAD]S KNEW ! W> WAS OV]2 \R RETREAT WAS AS UNNOTIC$ AS \R APPROA*4 

,I RETURN$ TO ,LOKASKWE4 ,MAGID9S HAD GIV5 PA9FUL BIR? & WAS /ILL AIL+4 ,I HAD ALREADY DECID$ TO LEAVE ! ,MUSK+UM & ,I BEGG$ ,LOKASKWE TO COME ) ME4 ,I HAD LE>N$ FROM ,M9I & ,ALE%I ?AT ! =CE WE HAD FAC$ ON ! ,KANA:A WAS NOT ,KRE-SOP'S L&GANG2 IT WAS ! COMB9$ =CE ( ALL ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S4 ,?OSE ( ! ,/RAIT ALREADY KNEW :AT !Y W\LD BE FAC+ :5 !Y DECID$ TO RESPOND TO \R BELTS4 

,NANIKIBI & ,M9I URG$ ,%AWANO & ! ,S\?BRAN* W>RIORS TO GO TO ! ,P59SULA & JO9 W>RIORS MORE NUM]\S ?AN ?OSE WE FAC$ ON ! ,KANA:A2 !Y SAID EV5 ! ,R$COATS ON ! ,/RAIT W]E READY TO TAKE UP >MS AGA9/ ! ,9VAD]S ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 

,BUT ,%AWANO & ,LOKASKWE *OSE TO REMA9 ) ! ,S\?BRAN* & REMA9+ ,EA/BRAN* K91 HE$+ DEAD ,L5API'S W>N+ AGA9/ 5TANGLEM5T ) ALLIES :O SWALL[$ ,ROOTK9 9 VICTORY & DEFEAT4 ,%AWANO *OSE TO DEP5D ON NO P[]S O!R ?AN HIS [N4 ,LOKASKWE W\LD HAVE GONE = MY SAKE OR = ,M9I'S ,NIZOKWE1 BUT %E FELT NO LOVE = ,NAGMO OR HIS K92 %E PREF]R$ TO LIVE ALONGSIDE H] SI/]'S COMPROMISES1 BESET BY DAILY ?REATS1 YET CLEAN & :OLE2 %E DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE ALONGSIDE ,KATWYN & ,KITTIHAWA :O NO LONG] KNEW H[ TO GIVE )\T TAK+1 OR ALONGSIDE ! ,/RAIT'S P]PETUALLY >M$ W>RIORS :O W]E EV] MORE SIMIL> TO ! >M$ M5 !Y HUNT$4 

,I TOOK MY ,CAKIMA & ACCOMPANI$ ,NANIKIBI TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,M9I & ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS ALREADY KNEW ?AT ,KRE-SOP'S MURD] ( ,%AWANO'S K9 & ,OA%I WAS ! FIR/ 9CID5T ( ! ,9VAD]S' NEW W> AGA9/ ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY'S ,ROOTK94 

,! W> WAS UNLEA%$ BY ! ,SLAV]S :O OCCUPI$ ,PO:ATAN'S %ORE4 ,:ILE ONE ( !M1 ! L&GANG LEAD] ,KRE- SOP1 W5T TO ! ,KANA:A TO MEASURE L&1 A SLAV] CALL$ ,DONE-MORE1 LEAD] ( ANO!R L&GANG1 W5T TO ! ,PIT- /R5G? TO \/ ! HEADMAN :O HAD COMMITT$ HIMSELF TO \/+ ! L&GANGS FROM ! ,VALLEY4 ,SLAV] ,DONE-MORE TURN$ ! =CE ( ! ,R$COATS1 NOT AGA9/ ,OA%I'S MURD]]S1 BUT AGA9/ ,OA%I'S K91 & HE 5L>G$ ?IS =CE T5FOLD BY RECRUIT+ ! VICTIMS ( ! L&GANGS1 ! LONELY L&SUCK]S :O CONDEMN$ !MSELVES TO W> AGA9/ TREES1 BU%ES1 ROOTS & ROCKS 9 ORD] TO MAKE ROOM = TAME PLANTS :I*1 :5 H>VE/$1 W]E SWALL[$ BY L&GANGS & RUMC>RI]S4 

,?IS ALLIANCE ( SPID]S ) FLIES WAS NOT LAU<ABLE4 ,! FLIES1 ! L&SUCK]S :O CALL$ !MSELVES PIONE]S1 DID NOT V5T !IR P5T-UP RES5TM5T AGA9/ ?OSE :O VICTIMIZ$ !M1 BUT AGA9/ ?OSE :O /AY$ CLE> ( ! VICTIMIZATION1 AGA9/ FREE PEOPLE4 ,SOME ( !SE L&SUCK]S HAD1 LIKE ,LOKASKWE'S FA!R1 CROSS$ ! ,OCEAN 9 ORD] TO F9D P>ADISE2 !Y HAD BE5 *EAT$ BY L&GANGS ON ! ,OCEAN%ORE & S5T WE/ TO REMOVE ALL ! V>I$ 9HABITANTS FROM A PAT* ( L&4 ,TRAPP$ 9 A NET ( DEBTS & OBLIGATIONS ?AT DEM&$ CEASELESS LABOR1 !Y F\ND P>ADISE AT LA/ BY EAT+ IT1 BY SWALL[+ ,ROOTK9 & !IR WORLD1 BY BECOM+ MANHUNT]S1 & ONCE !Y EXP]I5C$ ! MURD]]'S JOY1 !Y S\<T NO O!R P>ADISE4 

,!SE MANHUNT]S W]E :AT ,BRA-DUCK'S >MY HAD LACK$4 ,NO:]E C\LD ! L&GANGS HAVE F\ND BETT] FRONT L9ES ?AN AMONG !IR [N VICTIMS4 

,?IS ALLIANCE ( L&GANGS ) !IR VICTIMS HAD PROCLAIM$ ITSELF 9DEP5D5T ( ! ,R$COATS & !IR OV]MAN ACROSS ! ,OCEAN4 ,?IRTE5 DIFF]5T B&S ( ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S1 AMONG !M ! ,WIT*BURN]S1 ,*EAT]S & ,SLAV]S1 HAD UNIT$ !MSELVES 9 A LEAGUE ?AT WAS A LOOSE P>ODY ( ! ,TURTLELEAGUE1 A LEAGUE 9 :I* NEI!R ! VILLAG]S NOR ! LON<\SE GR&MO!RS MADE ANY DECISIONS4 ,! VICTIMS *OSE !IR OV]M5 FROM AMONG ! L&GANG HEADM5 :O OPPRESS$ !M1 & !SE OV]M5 MADE ALL ! DECISIONS4 ,! C5TRAL OV]MAN ( ! 5TIRE ALLIANCE WAS ,SLAV] ,UA-%N-TN1 ! MAN WELL-REMEMB]$ BY ,NAGMO & ,NANIKIBI 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 BY ,JOZES 9 ,KEKIONGA1 BY ,M9I ON ! ,/RAIT1 AS ! SCALP] ( ,JUMON & ,LEKOM&A ,%AK4 ,! PURPOSE ( ! ALLIANCE WAS TO 9VADE ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 A V5TURE BEGUN TW5TY W9T]S E>LI] BY ,UA-%N-TN4 ,! ,R$COATS HAD LATELY BE5 HAMP]+ ?IS V5TURE2 ?AT'S :Y ! L&GANGS HAD PROCLAIM$ !MSELVES 9DEP5D5T ( ! ,R$COATS4 

,! L&GANGS HAD ACQUIR$ !IR RI<T TO ! ,VALLEY BY HAV+ ,TURTLELEAGUE W>RIORS DISCLAIM SU* A RI<T1 & :5 !Y FAIL$ TO CONV9CE EV5 ! ,R$COATS ( !IR RI<T ?US ACQUIR$1 !Y EXPRESS$ !IR RES5TM5T AGA9/ ! ONE & !IR GRATITUDE TO ! O!R BY HAV+ Y\NG ,SCALP]S DUMP ! ,R$COATS' TEA 9TO ! ,OCEAN DRESS$ AS ,TURTLELEAGUE W>RIORS4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #aihg 3 ,*APT] #e -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,APRIL #b#f1 #bb 3 ,*APT] #e -- ,ADD$4 

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