,*APT] #f 
,KATABWE ,CONT9UES 

#aihhaihh 

,PEOPLE 3 

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

,TEXT 3 

,NAMAKWE 

  

,9 ,KEKIONGA1 & AT LA/ 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ,I WAS MADE MU* (1 AS W]E ! O!R W>RIORS :O HAD F\<T ON ! ,KANA:A4 ,WE W]E LAUD$1 NOT = \R >TFUL RETREAT1 BUT = \R VICTORY 2 WE HAD D>$ TO ATTACK ! LEAGUE ( ,WIT*BURN]S1 ,SLAV]S & ,*EAT]S1 WE HAD R\T$ SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN'S FRONT L9ES1 A FEAT AS YET UNEQUAL$ BY ALL ! ,R$COAT >MIES4 

,! LEAGUE WAS ON EV]YONE'S LIPS2 ITS FRI<TFUL COH]5CE WAS ! SUBJECT ( EV]Y C\NCIL4 ,UN=TUNATELY1 ! >MY ?AT W\LD CONFRONT ! MON/] WAS SL[ 9 =M+2 ! ,P59SULA'S K9 LACK$ COH]5CE1 NOT BECAUSE !Y W]E ALL GUID$ BY DIFF]5T VISIONS1 BUT BECAUSE1 LIKE ! ,9VAD]S1 !Y W]E GUID$ BY NONE4 

,NANIKIBI'S SI/] ,NAMAKWE CAME TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ) H] ,BATI & ! O!RS :O HAD /OPP$ (F ON ! ,/RAIT1 9CLUD+ ,M9I & ,ALE%I1 & ) TWO W>RIORS FROM ! ,TURTLELEAGUE :O CAME ON A MISSION1 BUT NOT !IR [N1 & BR\<T BELTS1 BUT NOT W>BELTS4 

,! ,TURTLELEAGUE W>RIORS W]E SAD FIGURES4 ,!IR LEAGUE WAS BROK52 IT HAD SPLIT PRECISELY AT ! MOM5T :5 ?IRTE5 GANGS ( ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S =M$ A LEAGUE4 ,I ALREADY KNEW ?AT ! ,TURTLELEAGUE HAD ALLI$ ) ONE ,9VAD] AGA9/ ! O!R ONCE TOO (T52 AFT] HELP+ ! ,R$COATS DEFEAT ! ,BLACKROBES & ,LEMOND1 ! ,TURTLELEAGUE W>RIORS HAD F\ND !IR ALLIES HELP+ !MSELVES TO ,TURTLELEAGUE L&S & FIELDS1 DE/ROY+ W>RIORS ) RUM & TREAT+ !M AS UND]L+S4 ,I N[ LE>N$ ?AT SOME ,TURTLELEAGUE W>RIORS TURN$ TO ! L&GANGS = PROTECTION AGA9/ ! ,R$COATS :ILE ! RE/ TURN$ TO !IR R$ ALLIES = PROTECTION AGA9/ ! L&GANGS4 ,W>RIORS :O HAD ONCE BOA/$ ?AT FREE HUMAN BE+S W5T :]EV] !Y PLEAS$ W]E NO LONG] FREE4 

,! TWO 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE CAME ON AN EMBASSY = ! ,R$COATS2 !Y URG$ ! W>RIORS 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TO ACCEPT ! ,R$COATS' PEACEBELTS N[ ?AT ! ,R$COATS W]E BESET BY NEW 5EMIES4 

,I WOND]$1 & SURELY ,NANIKIBI WOND]$1 IF !SE BROK5 W>RIORS W]E HEIRS ( ,YAHATASE'S K91 IF !SE SAD MESS5G]S W]E ! FI]CE ,S]P5TS AGA9/ :OM ,BLACKROBES HAD FUM$1 AGA9/ :OM ,W9AMEK HAD =M$ A LEAGUE ( WE/]N ,ROOTK94 ,! SADDE/ & /RANGE/ ?+ ( ALL WAS ?AT ! ONE P]SON :O W\LD HAVE ACCEPT$ !IR BELTS WAS ,W9AMEK'S GR&SON ,NAGMO1 BUT ,NAGMO WAS 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A ) HIS Y\NG] SON ,W9AMEK & ) MY ,TOP9BI1 DELIV]+ FURS TO ! ,R$COATS4 

,NANIKIBI & O!R ,FIREKEEP]S TURN$ !IR BACKS TO ! EMISS>IES4 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S W>RIORS HAD DEFEAT$ EV]Y >MY ! ,R$COATS HAD S5T AGA9/ !M1 & HAD NO REASON TO SUBMIT TO A PEACE (F]$ BY !M4 

,I FELT CLOS] TO ,NANIKIBI ?AN ,I EV] HAD BE=E4 ,HE KNEW SOME?+ ,LOKASKWE KNEW1 SOME?+ ,OA%I HAD KN[N3 \R /R5G? WAS 9 :AT WE GAVE1 NOT 9 :AT WE TOOK2 IT WAS 9 \R C]EMONIES & \R SONGS1 9 ! P[]S GIV5 TO US BY E>?1 9 ! GUIDANCE GIV5 BY \R DREAM ANIMALS4 ,TE>S CAME TO MY EYES :5 HE BR\<T \T ! CONT5TS ( HIS BUNDLE & BEGG$ ME = ! SONGS & /ORIES MORE FAMILI> TO ME1 ?ANKS TO ,MIOGWEWE1 ?AN TO ,OZAGI'S SON3 ! FEA!R ( ! FIR/ ,B9ESIKWE1 :OSE NAMESAKE ,I WAS TO BE2 ! DIS9TEGRAT+ PIECE ( B>K SCROLL ) M>KS AS VANI%$ AS ! WORLD IT HAD DESCRIB$2 ! %ELL & ! FI%BONES & ! OTT]SK9 ITSELF1 ) !IR PROMISE ( GIV+1 ( R5EWAL TO COME FROM ! 9ACCESSIBLE1 9VAD$ ,OCEAN%ORE4 

,NAMAKWE WAS 5RAG$ BY ,NANIKIBI'S & MY ABS5CE FROM ! C\NCIL ) ! ,TURTLELEAGUE W>RIORS1 BY \R 9DIFF]5CE TO !IR MISSION4 ,BATI & ,ALE%I SUPPORT$ H]1 & EV5 ,M9I1 ?\< NOT :OLEHE>T$LY4 ,NAMAKWE'S RAGE WAS HY/]ICAL2 %E EXAGG]AT$ & %E GE/ICULAT$1 JU/ LIKE ?OSE ( ,LEMOND1 :OSE CLOSE NEI<BOR %E WAS4 ,NAMAKWE DIVID$ ! WORLD 9TO TWO HALVES3 ONE HALF CONSI/$ ( H] K9 ( ,K>ONTA5 ALLI$ ) ! ,/RAIT'S ,R$COATS2 ! O!R HALF CONSI/$ ( ,SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN & HIS LEAGUE ( L&GANGS4 ,%E SAID H] BRO!R C\LDN'T TURN HIS BACK TO BO? HALVES BECAUSE !RE WAS NO:]E ELSE TO TURN4 

,I HE>D ,NAMAKWE ) DISMAY2 ,I W\LD HAVE BE5 LIKE H] IF ,I HADN'T GR[N ALONGSIDE ,L5API1 ,OA%I & ,LOKASKWE4 

,%E SPOKE ( H] ?REE *ILDR51 ( H] NIECES1 TW9 DAU<T]S ( ,BATF S BRO!R ,PI]1 ( ,M9FS & ,NIZOKWE'S ,ISADOR & ,ISABEL4 ,%E SAID MO/ ( ! ,/RAIT'S *ILDR5 LOOK$ UP TO FA!RS & UNCLES :O HAD MADE A BLOOD PACT & NEV] BROK5 IT UNTIL N[4 

,%E SAID ALL !SE W>RIORS HAD RESPOND$ TO ,%AWANO'S CALL AFT] ! MURD] ( ,OA%I & HAD BRAVELY FAC$ A MON/] ON ! ,KANA:A4 ,!Y HAD RETURN$ FROM ! ,KANA:A 9T5T ON =M+ AN >MY ?AT C\LD CONFRONT ! MON/] & HAD SAT 9 A C\NCIL ) ALL ?OSE :O HAD F\<T 9 ! W> AGA9/ ! 5CLOSURES3 ,TURTLEFOLK ( ! ,/RAIT1 ,ROOTK9 ( ,KI*IGAMI1 ,KEKIONGA ,PRAIRIEK91 C>RI]S FROM ,S&USKY BEL[ ! ,/RAIT & FROM ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE VILLAGE ABOVE IT1 AS WELL AS ,TURTLELEAGUE W>RIORS FROM ! EA/]N ,WOODL&S4 ,! =M] 5EMY1 ! NEW HEADMAN ( ! ,/RAIT'S ,R$COATS1 NAM$ ,HAM- T91 HAD COME TO ?IS C\NCIL ) WORDS1 BELTS1 DE$S4 

,) WORDS1 ,HAM-T9 HAD COMMITT$ HIMSELF TO KEEP+ ALL ,9VAD]S \T ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,M9I ADD$ ?AT ?IS WAS A COMMITM5T TO CONT9U+ ! FUR TRADE ) ! ,VALLEY'S ,ROOTK91 = ?IS TRADE FATT5$ ! FUR GANGS BEH9D ! ,R$COATS1 GANGS :I* HAD ALREADY R$UC$ ! =M] NOR!RN ,9VAD]S TO GA!R]S & HAUL]S ( PELTS HUNT$ BY ,ROOTK94 

,) BELTS1 ,HAM-T9 COMMITT$ HIMSELF TO W> AGA9/ ,SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN'S LEAGUE4 

,& ) DE$S1 ,HAM-T9 HAD ALREADY CURB$ ! GRE$ ( SOME ( HIS [N ,R$COATS1 :O HAD TRI$ TO TAKE ,RATTLESNAKE ,ISLE & O!R COMMON GR\NDS AWAY FROM ! ,/RAIT'S 9HABITANTS4 ,M9I TOLD US ?AT ! ,R$COATS HAD D5UD$ ,RATTLESNAKE ,ISLE AFT] ! W> AGA9/ ! 5CLOSURES1 ON ! PRETEXT ?AT ITS TREES (F]$ HID+ PLACES TO HO/ILE W>RIORS1 & HAD !N GRANT$ ! 5TIRE ISL& TO ,LEMOND'S ,DECU&1 TO REW>D HIM = HIS COLLABORATION4 ,! 9DIGNANT VILLAG]S P]SUAD$ ,TI%A'S FA!R1 ,KAMPO1 TO FI<T = ! RETURN ( ! ISL& TO ! 9HABITANTS4 ,KAMPO WAS ?REAT5$ ) ! LOSS ( ALL HE HAD1 & ! ISL& WAS TAK5 FROM ,DECU& & GIV5 TO A ,R$COAT4 ,HAM-T9 RETURN$ ! ISL& TO ! ,/RAIT'S 9HABITANTS ONLY :5 HE NE$$ AN >MY TO CONFRONT ,SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN4 

,M9I WAS LESS 5?USIA/IC ?AN ,NAMAKWE AB\T ! GOOD 9T5TIONS ( HEADMAN ,HAM-T91 BUT HE TOO DIVID$ ! WORLD 9TO ! SAME TWO HALVES4 ,HE SAW NO ALT]NATIVE TO AN ALLIANCE ) ! ,R$COATS2 HE TOO WAS UPSET BY ! ABS5CE FROM ! ,/RAIT'S C\NCIL ( ,%AWANO & ! ,S\?BRAN* K91 ,NANIKIBI & ! ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ,FIREKEEP]S1 ,SIG5AK1 ,JOZES1 ,TI%A & ! ,WABA% ,PRAIRIEK94 

,FAIL+ 9 !IR MISSION1 DISMAY$ BY ! 9DIFF]5CE1 EV5 HO/ILITY1 ( !IR [N K91 ,NAMAKWE & ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS DREW CLOS] TO ! R$FROCK$ HEADMAN ( ! ,/RAIT'S 5CLOSURE1 :OM !Y CONSID]$ A D\BTFUL BUT NECESS>Y ALLY1 A S\RCE ( WEAPONS & PROVISIONS SOME:AT LESS RELIABLE ?AN ,LEMOND'S ,LEKOM&A HAD BE5 E>LI]4 

,:5 ,I SAW ,M9I AGA91 HE SAID ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS C\LD NO LONG] 5VISION FI<T+ ) WOOD & /ONE4 ,!Y LE>N$ ?AT ! ,SCALP]S AT ! ,PIT-/R5G? W]E MOV+ T[>D ! ,/RAIT & !Y SET \T T[>D ! ,=K >M$ ) ! ,R$COATS' WEAPONS1 EXPECT+ TO BE /R5G!N$ ALONG ! WAY BY W>RIORS FROM AMONG ! ,S\?BRAN* K9 & ! ,EA/BRAN* SURVIVORS4 ,AGA9 !Y W]E DISAPPO9T$4 ,%AWANO & HIS K9 P]SI/$ 9 VIEW+ BO? ,SCALP]S & ,R$COATS AS 5EMIES1 EV5 IF ! TWO W]E MOM5T>ILY AT EA* O!R'S ?ROATS1 & ( ! TWO1 ,%AWANO FE>$ ! LONG-UNIFL$ ,R$COATS MORE ?AN HE FE>$ ! ?IRTE5 REC5TLY-UNIFI$ ,OCEAN%ORE GANGS4 ,! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS W]E EV5 MORE DISMAY$ BY ! FALSE NEUTRALITY ( ! ,EA/BRAN* SURVIVORS GA!R$ >\ND BLACKCOLL>$ ,BRE?R5 ON ! ,TUSC>AWAS3 !Y W]E US$ AS SPIES & MESS5G]S1 AS ,BRO!R ,PO/-]R HAD BE5 US$ E>LI] BY ,R$COATS2 VILLAG]S TOLD ,BRE?R5 ( ! DO+S ( !IR K91 ,BRE?R5 SEEK+ PROVISIONS AT ! ,PIT-/R5G? TOLD ,SCALP]S :AT !Y'D HE>D1 & RETURN$ TO ! ,TUSC>AWAS ) ! ,SCALP]S' GOOD WORDS4 

,! WE/]N W>RIORS W]E ISOLAT$ 9 ?IS SEA ( 9DIFF]5CE & \TNUMB]$ BY !IR 5EMIES2 !Y RETURN$ TO ! ,/RAIT )\T ATTEMPT+ TO SEIZE ! 5CLOSURE AT ! ,=K1 !IR ONLY CONSOLATION BE+ ?AT ! ,PIT-/R5G? ,SCALP]S HAD BE5 SIMIL>LY UNABLE TO GA!R =CES = AN ASSAULT ON ! ,/RAIT4 ,BUT A SURPRISE AWAIT$ ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS4 ,!Y LE>N$ ?AT ANO!R ,SCALP] >MY1 ONE L$ BY A L&SUCK] KN[N AS ,RAH-J]KS-L>K1 HAD REA*$ ! WE/]N P>T ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 HAD NOT BE5 /OPP$ BY ,SIG5AK & ,PRAIRIE W>RIORS1 & HAD BE5 ALL[$ TO E/ABLI% A /RON<OLD ON ! ,WABA%4 

,SE5 ?R\< ,NAMAKWE'S EYES1 ,SIG5AK HAD TURN$ HIS BACK ON PA/ & K9 & HAD ?R[N HIMSELF 9TO AN ADV5TURE ?AT C\LD ONLY 5GULF ,WAGO%KWE'S *ILDR5 9 FRATRICIDAL W>4 ,BUT ,I KNEW ?AT ,SIG5AK WAS DO+ :AT HE HAD ALWAYS DONE1 HE WAS TRY+ TO REVIVE MY FA!R'S ALLIANCE1 ,WAGO%KWE'S ALLIANCE1 ) ?OSE NE> AT H&4 ,NAMAKWE WAS DO+ ! SAME ?+1 ONLY ) ?OSE NE> TO H]4 

,SIG5AK LODG$ NE> ! GREAT M\ND AT ,CAHOKIA ON ! ,LONG ,RIV] ) ,MANATO & !IR SIX SONS2 HE MA9TA9$ CLOSE CONTACT ) ,MAGDA'S SON ,TI%A1 ALREADY M>RI$ & ) A DAU<T] 9 ,UIATANON ON ! ,WABA%1 HIS MO!R'S BIR?PLACE1 & 5GAG$ 9 ! FUR TRADE BETWE5 ,KITTIHAWA'S ,S&YPO9T & ! S\?WE/]N ,9VAD]S ON ! O!R SIDE ( ! ,LONG ,RIV]1 CALL$ ,S5YORES4 ,SIG5AK WAS ALSO 9 CONTACT ) ,TI%A'S UNCLE ,JOZES1 :O MA9TA9$ A FUR PO/ 9 ! ,PRAIRIE VILLAGE ,KI!PEKANU NE> ,UIATANON4 

,= ,SIG5AK1 ! W> AGA9/ ! 5CLOSURES HAD NEV] 5D$1 & HE TOOK P>T 9 ! FREQU5T RAIDS ( ,PRAIRIEK9 AGA9/ ,R$COATS1 RUMC>RI]S & L&SUCK]S :O V5TUR$ 9TO ! VALLEY ( ! ,WABA%4 ,9 ONE ( !SE RAIDS1 ,SIG5AK CAPTUR$ A Y\? NAM$ ,WILL-WELL1 ! AGE ( HIS OLDE/ SON1 & ADOPT$ HIM4 ,! RAID]S1 ,PRAIRIEK9 ALLI$ ) ,PLA9S W>RIORS & >M$ BY ! %AD[Y ,S5YORES1 W]E 9 ,SIG5AK'S EYES ! HEIRS ( ,WAGO%KWE'S ,R$E>? W>RIORS4 

,:5 ! ,SCALP]S UND] ,RAH-J]KS-L>K REA*$ ! ,WABA%1 ,SIG5AK & O!R ,PRAIRIE W>RIORS :O HAD KN[N ( ! ,9VAD]S' APPROA* PLAC$ !MSELVES 9 !IR PA? AS ,NAGMO HAD ONCE PLAC$ HIMSELF 9 ! PA? ( ! ,R$COATS :O CAME TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,BUT !N ,SIG5AK & ! ,PRAIRIE W>RIORS FELL 9TO A TRAP4 ,?IS ,RAH-J]KS-L>K WAS A CONSUMMATE LI>2 HE /YL$ HIMSELF A R5EGADE FROM ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S1 AN ALLY ( ! %AD[Y ,S5YORES1 & A FRI5D ( ALL :O OPPOS$ ,R$COATS4 ,KN[+ NO?+ ( ! ,SCALP]S' 9VASION ( ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S OR ( ! MASSACRES ON ! ,KANA:A1 ,SIG5AK & ! ,PRAIRIE W>RIORS LET ! SELF-/YL$ R5EGADES 9/ALL !MSELVES 9 ! ,UIATANON 5CLOSURE :OSE R$FROCK$ OCCUPANTS ,SIG5AK HAD HELP$ \/ A G5]ATION E>LI]4 

,AS SOON AS ?IS NEWS REA*$ ! ,/RAIT1 ,R$COAT ,HAM-T9 DECID$ TO SET \T AGA9/ ,RAH-J]KS-L>K1 BUT V]Y FEW ( ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS AGRE$ TO ACCOMPANY HIM4 ,5RAG$ BY :AT !Y CONSID]$ ,SIG5AK'S BETRAYAL1 ,M9I1 ,ALE%I1 ,BATF & O!RS NEV]!LESS REFUS$ TO %$ ! BLOOD ( K9 ALONGSIDE :OM !Y HAD F\<T4 ,HEADMAN ,HAM-T9'S UNDISGUIS$ CONTEMPT = ,ROOTK91 SOME?+ HE %>$ ) HIS =]UNN] ,BRA-DUCK AS WELL AS HIS 5EMY ,UA-%N-TN1 DROVE AWAY MANY ( ! W>RIORS :O DID />T \T ) HIM1 SO ?AT ,HAM-T9 WALK$ TO ,UIATANON ALL BUT ALONE1 AS 9TREPID AS HIS PR$ECESSOR ON ! ,/RAIT1 MULEHEAD$ ,MAD-W94 ,R$COAT ,HAM-T9 TRI$ TO 5LI<T5 ,SIG5AK & ! ,PRAIRIEK9 AB\T ! ,SCALP]S' 9T5TIONS1 BUT HE MET ONLY HO/ILITY4 ,COMPLETELY ISOLAT$ 9 EV]Y QU>T]1 ! PA!TIC ,HAM-T9 LET HIMSELF BE CAPTUR$ BY ! ,SCALP]S1 :]EUPON ,RAH-J]KS-L>K S5T \T RUNN]S ) ! MESSAGE ?AT HE HAD CAPTUR$ AN >MY ( ,R$COATS ALLI$ ) WE/]N ,ROOTK94 

,! =CE ?AT F9ALLY MOV$ TO DISLODGE ! ,SCALP]S FROM ! ,PRAIRIES DID NOT ORIG9ATE ON ! ,/RAIT BUT 9 ! NOR?1 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A & ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE VILLAGE1 & IT WAS L$ BY MY UNCLE ,NAGMO4 ,! NOR!RN C>RI]S1 MANY1 LIKE ,NAGMO HIMSELF1 9 R$ COATS1 W\LD NOT %Y AWAY FROM FRATRICIDAL W>2 !Y W]E HEIRS ( W>RIORS :O HAD F\<T )\T QUALMS AGA9/ K9 ALONGSIDE ,W9AMEK & ALONGSIDE ,WABSK5I1 & !Y VIEW$ ! ,CAHOKIANS AS !IR TRADITIONAL 5EMIES1 ,R$E>? K91 WE/]N ,S]P5TS4 

,NAGMO'S >M$ C>RI]S >RIV$ 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ACCOMPANI$ BY AN UN>M$ GIFT C>AVAN :I* 9CLUD$ HIS TWO SONS & !IR WOM51 MY ,TOP9BI & HIS NEWLY-NAM$ DAU<T] ,MIMIKWE1 AS WELL AS A ,*EAT] FROM ! ,OCEAN%ORE NAM$ ,BURR-NET4 ,NAGMO BEGAN HIS FRATRICIDAL W> BY CAPTUR+ ,KIT- TIHAWA'S ,S&YPO9T ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM DUR+ ! NAM+ C]EMONY = ,S&YPO9T'S FIR/ SON4 ,?IS CAPTURE ( ,KATWYN'S FRI5D1 ( A MAN :O1 LIKE ,NAGMO HIMSELF1 WAS A CROSSWE>] & A GIFT C>RI]1 WAS 9COMPREH5SIBLE TO ME & ,NANIKIBI & ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S1 UNTIL WE REMEMB]$ ! CONNECTION BETWE5 ! >M$ C>RI]S & ! UN>M$ GIFT C>AVAN4 

,S&YPO9T HAD BE5 GA!R+ FURS ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM & S5D+ !M1 ) ,TI%A'S & ,SIG5AK'S HELP1 NOT TO ,MI%ILIMAK9A & !NCE TO ,HO*ELAGA1 BUT TO ,CAHOKIA ON ! ,LONG ,RIV] & !NCE TO ,S5YORES 9 ! S\?WE/ & TO ,LEMOND'S K9 AT ! ,LONG ,RIV]'S M\?4 ,NAGMO & HIS SONS1 AS WELL AS MY ,TOP9BI & ,NIZOKWE'S BRO!R ,ANTO & HIS FRI5D ,SOLI-MAN1 W]E ALL EMBROIL$ ) ,HO*ELAGA FUR GANGS :O 9SI/$ ?AT ALL FURS GA!R$ 9 ,MI%IGAMI FOLL[ ! TRADITIONAL R\TE E/ABLI%$ BY ! FIR/ ,NANGISI4 

,! ,HO*ELAGA FUR GANG HAD BE5 WAIT+ = A PRETEXT TO /OP ,S&YPO9T FROM S5D+ PELTS TO O!R FUR GANGS2 ! W> BETWE5 ,R$COATS & ,SCALP]S & NEWS ( ,RAH-J]KS-L>K'S SUCCESS ON ! ,WABA% GAVE !M ?AT PRETEXT4 ,S&YPO9T WAS CAPTUR$ AS AN 5EMY & ESCORT$ BY ,NAGMO'S Y\NG] SON ,W9AMEK TO ,MI%ILIMAK9A'S HEADMAN ,/>-L+1 ! RUMC>RI] :O HAD M>RI$ ,ALE%I'S SI/] ,ANJELIK4 

,! ,*EAT] ,BURR-NET WAS TO REPLACE ,S&YPO9T AS ! REGION'S FUR-GA!R]2 HE W\LD S5D PELTS TO ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 ) ! HELP ( ,TOP9BI & ,NAGMO'S SONS1 & HE W\LD DI/RIBUTE GIFTS MORE G5]\SLY ?AN ,S&YPO9T1 = HIS GIFTS1 MADE NOT BY FREE PEOPLE BUT BY CONTRIVANCES OP]AT$ BY PEOPLE 5CLOS$ 9 HIVES1 W]E MORE PL5TIFUL4 ,! CAPTURE WAS C>RI$ \T AS A RITUAL1 ALMO/ T5D]LY3 MY MULTI-L+UAL ,CAKIMA TRANSLAT$ = ,BURR-NET AS HE BEGG$ = ,S&YPO9T'S P]MISSION TO /ORE FURS AT ! ,LAKEBOTTOM PO/1 P]MISSION :I* ,S&YPO9T GRANT$ AS HE WELCOM$ ,BURR-NET & TOLD HIM !RE WAS ROOM 5\< 9 ,MI%IGAMI = BO? ( !M4 ,BURR-NET EV5 PREP>$ TALK+ LEAVES = ! BRO!RS ,ANTO 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A & ,PI] ON ! ,/RAIT ASSUR+ !M ( ,S&YPO9T'S H>MLESSNESS TO ! NOR!RN FUR GANG4 

,NAGMO DIDN'T DO AS WELL 9 ,CAHOKIA4 ,AL?\< HIS WELL- SUPPLI$ =CE DIDN'T DIS9TEGRATE1 IT WAS \TNUMB]$1 NOT BY ! NOISY ,RAH-J]KS-L>K1 :OSE =CE VANI%$ AS COMPLETELY AS ,HAM-T9'S1 BUT BY ,SIG5AK'S ALLIES3 ,PRAIRIEK9 ALLI$ ) M\NT$ ,PLA9S W>RIORS1 >M$ BY ,S5YORES1 & AID$ BY A SURPRISE ?AT NEI!R ,NAGMO NOR ANYONE ELSE HAD ANTICIPAT$4 ,A ,LEKOM&A ,LABAM HAD COME UP FROM ! M\? ( ! ,LONG ,RIV] ) AN >MY ( ,SCABEAT]S1 PRECISELY ! >MY ,LEMOND HAD WAIT$ & LONG$ = TW5TY W9T]S E>LI]1 :5 ! ,R$COATS HAD FIR/ APPROA*$ ! ,/RAIT1 ONLY ,LABAM'S >MY CAME AS ALLIES ( ! ,SCALP]S BECAUSE !IR OV]MAN ACROSS ! ,OCEAN1 LIKE ,SIG5AK1 WAS /ILL W>R+ AGA9/ ! ,R$COATS4 ,?IS UNLIKELY ALLIANCE DE/ROY$ ,NAGMO'S >MY1 KILL$ ,NAGMO1 & PROMPTLY DIS9TEGRAT$4 ,NAGMO1 ! LA/ HEIR ( ,W9AMEK'S LEAGUE1 HAD BE5 ! ONLY P]SON 9 ,CAHOKIA ) :OM ,LABAM HAD ANY?+ 9 COMMON4 ,A CROSSWE>] ACCOMPANI$ BY ,BLACKROBES1 LOYAL TO HIS OV]SEAS OV]MAN1 HO/ILE TO R5EGADES1 ,LEKOM&A ,LABAM %>$ NO MORE ?AN A COMMON 5EMY ) ,RAH-J]KS-L>K1 :O SPAT ON CROSSES1 DESPIS$ ,BLACKROBES & RECOGNIZ$ NO OV]MAN O!R ?AN ! L&GANGS2 ,LABAM %>$ EV5 LESS ) ,SIG5AK & ,PRAIRIEK9 :O HAD LOV$ ! ,SCABEAT]S NO MORE ?AN !Y LOV$ ! ,SCALP]S4 

,FLU%$ ) ! VICTORY OV] ,NAGMO1 & SO CONTEMPTU\S ( HIS ALLIES ?AT HE ATTRIBUT$ ! VICTORY TO HIMSELF1 ,LABAM SET \T TO COMPLETE HIS MISSION & DEFEAT ! REMA9+ ,R$COATS ON ! WE/]N ,LAKES1 BUT HE SET \T ALONE1 ) NO MORE M5 ?AN HE >RIV$ ) EXCEPT A FEW SC\TS1 AMONG !M ,TI%A4 

,TI%A TOLD HIS UNCLE ,JOZES ( HIS 5GAGEM5T4 ,JOZES S5T A W>N+ TO ! ,/RAIT4 ,ALE%I & O!R W>RIORS MET ,LABAM'S >MY 9 ,KEKIONGA1 BUT NOT 9 TIME TO SAVE ,KEKIONGA'S LODGES FROM DE/RUCTION4 ,ALE%I & ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS KILL$ ,LABAM & DE/ROY$ ! =CE !Y W\LD HAVE EMBRAC$ ) UNQUALIFI$ JOY A G5]ATION E>LI]4 

,TI%A GUID$ A REMNANT ( ,LABAM'S >MY TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,HE F\ND REFUGE 9 MY & ,NANIKIBI'S LODGE & PROMPTLY S5T WORD TO ,SIG5AK ( ,S&YPO9T'S CAPTURE & ,LABAM'S DEFEAT4 

,! ,CAHOKIANS' REV5GE AGA9/ ,ALE%I WAS NOT LONG 9 COM+1 BUT IT WAS A C[>DLY REV5GE1 UNWOR?Y ( ,SIG5AK & ,PRAIRIE W>RIORS4 ,! ,CAHOKIANS SET \T1 NOT T[>D ,ALE%I & ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS RESPONSIBLE = ,LABAM'S DEFEAT1 BUT T[>D DEAD ,NAGMO'S K9 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 :]E ,SIG5AK KNEW !Y W\LD F9D NO OPPOSITION2 EV5 ,NAGMO'S SONS W]E AWAY :5 ! ,CAHOKIANS >RIV$4 ,IT WAS CLE> ?AT ,SIG5AK WAS NO MORE ANXI\S ?AN ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS TO %$ ! BLOOD ( K94 ,& IT WASN'T CLE> :OSE BLOOD ,SIG5AK'S ALLIES WANT$ TO %$4 ,AS SOON AS !Y 5T]$ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE !Y TURN$ ON EA* O!R4 

,! SURVIVORS ( ,LABAM'S >MY & ! FEW ,CAHOKIANS :O ) PRIDE TRAC$ !IR P>5TAGE TO ,LEMOND W]E EAG] TO AV5GE ,LABAM2 !Y WANT$ TO RAZE ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TO ! GR\ND1 AS ,LABAM HAD RAZ$ ,KEKIONGA4 ,!Y W]E SUPPORT$ BY ,PLA9S ,R$E>? K9 :O REMEMB]$ ,BISON ,PRAIRIE AS ! /RON<OLD FROM :I* ,WABSK5I'S >MIES ANNIHILAT$ ! BRAVE ,R$E>? W>RIORS1 BUT W]E OPPOS$ BY C>RI]S & FUR-GA!R]S :O WANT$ NO?+ DE/ROY$1 :O WANT$ TO 9/ALL !MSELVES 9 ,BURR-NET'S & ,S&YPO9T'S FUR PO/S1 :O WANT$ ! FURS ?AT ,S&YPO9T NO LONG] BR\<T TO !IR PO/S4 

,! FEW ,S5YORES :O CAME ) ,SIG5AK W]E EAG] TO LEAVE AS SOON AS !Y >RIV$2 !Y WANT$ ONLY TO PLANT !IR FLAG & RUN (F ) BOOTY2 !IR EYES GREW L>GE ) GRE$ = ! CONTRIVANCE-MADE CLO? & METAL OBJECTS 9 ,BURR-NET'S /ORE4 

,SIG5AK'S ADOPT$ SON ,WILL-WELL1 FLU5T 9 ! LANGUAGE ( ,ROOTK91 WAS ! ONLY DEF5D] ( ,RAH-J]KS-L>K AMONG ! ALLIES2 HIS SOLE DESIRE WAS TO CONV9CE US ?AT ,OA%I'S MURD]]S W]E LIB]ATORS FROM ! OPPRESSION ( ,R$COATS4 ,SIG5AK'S OLDE/ SON1 ,METEYA1 HAD /AY$ 9 ,CAHOKIA1 REFUS+ TO TAKE P>T 9 AN EXP$ITION AGA9/ ! VILLAGE ( HIS FA!R'S BRO!R4 ,! ?REE SONS :O CAME ) ,SIG5AK--,GIZES1 ,WAPMIMI & ,WAKAYA--WANT$ TO PLEASE & IMPRESS !IR ,BISON ,PRAIRIE K91 & EX]T$ ALL !IR EF=TS TRY+ TO KEEP !IR FA!R'S ALLIES FROM EA* O!R'S ?ROATS & FROM DO+ H>M TO ANY ( US4 

,AT ! ,FIREKEEP]S' C\NCIL1 ,SIG5AK TRI$ TO EXCUSE & EV5 PRAISE HIS ALLIES1 BUT HIS WORDS DESCRIB$ AN ALTOGE!R DIFF]5T 5TITY ?AN ! >MY HE BR\<T4 ,HE SPOKE ( AN ALLIANCE P[]FUL 5\< TO PU% ALL ,9VAD]S 9TO ! ,OCEAN1 ( ! ALLIANCE HE'D BE5 SEEK+ S9CE ! DAY MY FA!R ATTACK$ ! ,KEKIONGA 5CLOSURE1 ( ,WAGO%KWE'S ALLIANCE4 ,HE TOLD US ! ,S5YORES 9 HIS >MY W]E NOT ,9VAD]S BUT DESC5DANTS ( ! ,/ONELODGE PEOPLE :O 9 ,YAHATASE'S DAY \/$ ALL ,9VAD]S FROM !IR VALLEYS & M\NTA9S4 ,HE SAID ! ,BLACKROBE ) ! ,S5YORES WAS NOT K9 TO ! ,BLACKROBES :O HAD IMPRISON$ ,YAHATASE4 ,?IS MAN1 A FOLL[] ( AN ANCI5T ,BLACKROBE :O HAD URG$ ! 9VAD$ TO RISE UP AGA9/ ! ,9VAD]S1 RAG$ AGA9/ ALL ! JU/IFICATIONS ) :I* ,9VAD]S COV]$ !IR DE$S1 9SI/$ ?AT NO PRETEXT1 NO REASON :ATEV] C\LD JU/IFY ! OPPRESSION & SLAU<T] ( SOME PEOPLE BY O!RS1 & PRAIS$ ALL ?OSE :O HAD RIS51 AMONG !M ! ,/ONELODGE PEOPLE1 ! ,R$E>? K91 PEOPLE CALL$ ,TUPAKAM>U :O HAD JU/ RIS5 AGA9/ ,S5YORES AT ! OPPOSITE 5D ( ! WORLD1 AS WELL AS ,RAH-J]KS-L>K'S HALF AMONG ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S4 

,SIG5AK WAS /RONG ) WORDS1 BUT HIS >M$ ALLIES W]E VISIBLY UNFIT TO FACE ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS & ,R$COATS1 OR EV5 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S2 ?OSE :O W]5'T PRO/RAT$ FROM B\TS ) RUM W]E BICK]+ ) EA* O!R4 ,SIG5AK'S IMM$IATE TASK WAS NOT TO PU% ,9VAD]S TO ! SALT SEA1 BUT TO SATISFY ! GRE$ ( HIS ALLIES :ILE KEEP+ !M FROM H>M+ HIS K91 NO EASY TASK4 

,SOME ( ! ,S5YORES WANT$ TO PLUND] ,S&YPO9T'S /ORE AT ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 :I* WAS PROTECT$ ONLY BY LITTLE CROSSWE>] ,KITTIHAWA2 !Y HAD TO BE REM9D$ ?AT !Y HAD COME TO REV5GE ! CAPTURE ( ,S&YPO9T1 NOT TO CONSUMMATE IT4 ,S5YORES & C>RI]S WANT$ TO PLUND] DEAD ,NAGMO'S LODGE1 :I* CONTA9$ ! GREATE/ WEAL? ( OBJECTS 9 ,MI%IGAMI1 BUT ,KITTIHAWA CAME TO H] C\S9 ,KATWYN'S DEF5SE1 9SI/+ ?AT ,KATWYN WAS ,S&YPO9T'S MO/ LOYAL FRI5D4 

,?IS LEFT ONLY ,BURR-NET'S /ORE1 & ALL ( ! ALLIES1 9CLUD+ ,SIG5AK1 CONV]G$ ON ?IS OBJECT = PLUND]1 EAG] TO C>RY (F ! FURS1 ! GIFTS1 & ,BURR-NET HIMSELF1 AS RETALIATION = ! CAPTURE ( ,S&YPO9T4 ,SU* A DE$ W\LD NOT HAVE BE5 A FIT MONUM5T TO ,WAGO%KWE1 NOR WOR?Y ( ,SIG5AK4 ,BUT IT DID NOT TAKE PLACE4 ,MY & ,NANIKIBI'S *ILDR5 ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA PREV5T$ ! DE$ BE=E ANY ( ,SIG5AK'S ALLIES HAD ACT$1 & !Y PREV5T$ IT ) A RUSE1 LIKE ,ROOTK92 ,I SUSPECT ! RUSE ORIG9AT$ ) ,CAKIMA4 ,I WAS PR\D ( BO?1 9 SPITE ( MY DISLIKE = ! OBJECT ( !IR VICTORY1 A *EAT+ RUMC>RI]4 

,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA HAD HE>D ALL ! /ORIES & SONGS AB\T ,OZAGI'S ADOPTION ( ,WAGO%KWE & H] ,R$E>? K9 9 ! FACE ( ,WABSK5I'S >MY4 ,TOP9BI 9VIT$ ALL 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE & ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 9CLUD+ ,SIG5AK & HIS ALLIES1 TO CELEBRATE ! M>RIAGE ( ,CAKIMA ) ,BURR-NET4 ,! 5EMY1 ! OBJECT = PLUND]1 BECAME ,SIG5AK'S NEPHEW1 & MANY ( ,SIG5AK'S ALLIES1 ?OSE :O W]5'T DRUNK1 LEFT ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,SEV5TE5-SPR+ ,CAKIMA MADE UP 9 5]GY :AT %E LACK$ 9 BEAUTY4 ,%E ASK$ H] CROSSWE>+ AUNTS TO HELP ) ! >RANGEM5TS1 BUT ,KITTIHAWA WAS ALL TAK5 UP ) ,S&YPO9T'S PO/ & ,KATWYN WAS M\RN+ ! DEA? ( ,NAGMO1 SO ,CAKIMA TOOK ON ALL ! >RANGEM5TS H]SELF4 ,%E WAS EV]Y:]E AT ONCE1 FLU5TLY SPEAK+ EV]Y LANGUAGE EXCEPT ?AT ( ! ,S5YORES2 %E WAS ,BURR-NET'S W9D[ TO ! WORLD ( ,ROOTK92 %E HAD LE>N$ HIS LANGUAGE FROM ! RUMC>RI] ,CON-]R ON ! ,MUSK+UM4 

,9 GREAT-GR&MO!R ,MIOGWEWE'S DAY1 ! ADOPT$ ,PY]WA1 ,M9I'S GR&FA!R1 HAD FELT OBLIG$ TO LE>N ! LANGUAGE ( HIS HO/S4 ,BUT ?IS ,BURR-NET SEEM$ TO FEEL NO SU* OBLIGATION2 HE WAS MUTE2 ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA W]E OBLIG$ TO SPEAK TO HIM 9 ! ,9VAD]S' TONGUE4 ,IF ! SPIRIT ( ,%UTAHA WAS PRES5T AT ?IS ADOPTION1 IT C\LD ONLY HAVE BE5 DISMAY$4 ,CAKIMA >RANG$ ! C]EMONY ( ?REE FIRES1 ! ONLY P>T ( :I* ,BURR-NET SEEM$ TO UND]/& WAS ! P>T TO :I* HE CONTRIBUT$3 ! RUM-DR9K+4 ,IT WASN'T A C]EMONY 9 :I* ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S ADOPT$ ,BURR-NET1 BUT RA!R ONE 9 :I* ,BURR-NET ADOPT$ ! ,FIREKEEP]S AS WELL AS ! HO/ILE REMA9+ ,CAHOKIANS4 ,HE WAS ! HO/4 ,CAKIMA KNEW ?IS4 ,IT WAS ?IS ?AT %E HAD >RANG$4 ,MY DAU<T] WAS A DESC5DANT ( ! FIR/ ,NANGISI1 ! C>RI] :O US$ ! WAYS ( ,ROOTK9 AS ?+S ) :I* TO 5HANCE HIS P[] AMONG ,ROOTK94 

,NEI!R ,NANIKIBI NOR ,I C\LD UND]/& :Y BO? ( \R *ILDR5 W]E FASC9AT$ BY A *EAT+ RUMC>RI] :O SEEM$ TO HAVE NO PRAISEWOR?Y QUALITIES4 ,L5API'S 9SI<TS DIDN'T HELP ME3 HE HAD SPOK5 ( PEOPLE :O W]E DEBILITAT$ & TRAPP$2 MY ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA W]E /RONG & FREE4 ,! CLOSE/ ,I C\LD COME TO UND]/&+ !M WAS TO IMAG9E ?AT 9 !IR EYES !Y W]E BECOM+ IMPORTANT 9 A LEAGUE ?AT WAS L>G] & MORE P[]FUL ?AN ! FIR/ ,W9AMEK'S1 A LEAGUE :OSE W>RIORS C>RI$ 9VISIBLE WEAPONS 7WELL-HIDD5 MEMB]S1 ,MIOGWEWE W\LD HAVE SAID74 ,?AT WAS :Y MY ,TOP9BI AS WELL AS ,KATWYN'S TWO SONS ,NANGISI & ,W9AMEK1 SO WELL-NAM$1 FELT NO NE$ TO PROVE !IR PR[ESS AS W>RIORS ) VISIBLE WEAPONS2 !Y W]E PEACEMAK]S1 9NOC5TS ALL1 YET MORE P[]FUL ?AN >M$ W>RIORS1 & !Y KNEW !IR [N P[]S :ILE NO ONE ELSE KNEW !M4 ,PRIVATION1 MIS]Y & DEA? W]E NE> ! ROOT ( !IR P[]S4 ,! DEA? ( ,NAGMO1 !IR [N BELOV$ UNCLE ,NAGMO FROM :OM !Y'D LE>N$ SO MU*1 WAS NOT A LOSS = ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA BUT A GA94 ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA 9H]IT$ ! POSITION FIR/ OCCUPI$ BY ANCI5T ,NANGISI2 !Y BECAME ! 9T]M$I>IES BETWE5 ! ANIMALS 9 ! =E/ & ! GIFTS ( ! ,9VAD]S4 ,) ,S&YPO9T GONE1 ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA1 TOGE!R ) ,KATWYN'S SONS1 REA*$ OV] ! 5TIRE L5G? ( ,MI%IGAMI FROM ,GRE5BAY TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM ALONG BO? %ORES4 ,! RUMC>RI] ,BURR-NET CONNECT$ !M ) ! P>T ( ! GIFT-GIV+ LEAGUE ?AT LODG$ 9 ! ,9VAD]S' WORLD1 = ,BURR-NET WAS L9K$ TO ,NIZOKWE'S BRO!R ,ANTO & TO ,SOLI-MAN 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A & TO ,NIZOKWE'S MUSICAL BRO!RS ON ! ,/RAIT1 ,PI] & ,BATI1 ,NAMAKWE'S ,BATI2 !Y 9 TURN C>RI$ !IR BUNDLES TO FUR GANGS ON BO? SIDES ( ! ,OCEAN4 ,SOLI-MAN1 M>RI$ TO A CROSSWE>+ ,TURTLEWOMAN FROM ! ,BAY ( ,ROLL+ ,:ITE ,S&S1 HAD CONNECTIONS ) FUR GANGS 9 ,HO*ELAGA & ) FUR GANGS ( ?REE DIFF]5T TONGUES ACROSS ! ,OCEAN4 ,PI]1 A FA!R ( TW9 GIRLS1 HAD CONNECTIONS ) A FUR GANG HEADMAN ON ! ,/RAIT :O CAME FROM AMONG ! ,WIT*BUM]S1 A MAN CALL$ ,JAY- MAY :O HAD RAIS$ HIS TRAD+ PO/ ON L& GIV5 TO HIM BY ,SOLI-MAN'S C\S9 ,%AP-MAN1 ! RUMC>RI] UNSUCCESSFULLY ADOPT$ BY ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S4 ,IT WAS SAID ,%AP-MAN HAD ACQUIR$ L& ON ! ,/RAIT BY FE$+ RUM TO ONE ( ! ,BISON ,PRAIRIE W>RIORS :O HAD ESCORT$ HIM TO ! ,/RAIT1 & BY HAV+ ! DRUNK5 W>RIOR PUT A M>K ON A TALK+ LEAF4 

,MIOGWEWE HAD BE5 W>Y ( ,W9AMEK'S NOISY & V]Y VISIBLE LEAGUE4 ,I WOND]$ :O AMONG MY K9 WAS AS W>Y ( ?IS SIL5T1 9VISIBLE & 9SIDI\S LEAGUE3 P]HAPS ,MA%EKEWIS 9 ,B[ET+1 P]HAPS ,M9I ON ! ,/RAIT1 C]TA9LY ,LOKASKWE 9 ! ,VALLEY--& :O ELSE8 

,CAKIMA'S M>RIAGE CELEBRATION 5D$ ABRUPTLY4 ,! SMALLPOX BROKE \T 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 AMONG ! *ILDR54 ,TOP9BI'S BABY ,MIMIKWE WAS /RICK51 AS WELL AS ,NANGISI'S ,MANILU & ,W9AMEK'S ,MIAGA4 ,SIEGNAK'S DRUNK5 ALLIES W]E IGNOR$1 ALL 5MITIES W]E =GOTT52 ,KATWYN & ,I NURS$ GR&*ILDR5 ALONGSIDE EA* O!R4 ,! *ILDR5 BEGAN TO RECOV]2 ,I />T$ TO ?9K WE W]E AT LA/ GA9+ ! IMMUNITY ?AT WAS ! /R5G? ( ! ,9VAD]S4 ,BUT !N ,KATWYN SUCCUMB$ TO ! SWELL+S1 & %E FAIL$ TO RECOV]4 

,APTEGIZHEK 

  

,SIG5AK & HIS SONS1 AS WELL AS ,TI%A1 W]E /ILL 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE :5 A TALL & PR\D W>RIOR >RIV$ FROM ! ,/RAIT1 C\S9 ,M9I'S SON ,ISADOR1 ) ! NEWS ?AT ! SMALLPOX HAD NOT ATTACK$ ONLY \R VILLAGE4 ,NANIKIBI & ,I TOOK ,ISADOR 9TO \R LODGE1 TO %>E A CORN] ) HIS 5EMY ,TI%A2 ,PY]WA'S GREAT-GR&SON & ,MANYAN'S GR&SON W]E1 AFT] ALL1 C\S9S4 ,TI%A WAS UPSET BY ! >RANGEM5T2 ,ISADOR WAS TOO PREOCCUPI$ TO NOTICE ,TI%A'S PRES5CE4 

,ISADOR SAID ,LABAM'S >MY HAD C>RI$ ! SMALLPOX 9 ITS TRA91 P]HAPS UN9T5TIONALLY4 ,AFT] DEFEAT+ ,LABAM'S >MY1 ,ALE%I & ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS1 ,M9I & ,ISADOR AMONG !M1 HAD GA!R$ UP ! WEAPONS & PROVISIONS AB&ON$ BY ! DEFEAT$1 & HAD DI/RIBUT$ !M AMONG ! ,KEKIONGANS :O HAD TAK5 REFUGE ON ! ,/RAIT4 ,! SMALLPOX HAD IMM$IATELY BROK5 \T ON ! ,/RAIT4 

,TI%A VEHEM5TLY D5I$ ?AT ,LABAM'S >MY WAS TO BLAME2 ,LABAM HAD E>LI] DI/RIBUT$ GIFTS & PROVISIONS 9 ,CAHOKIA1 & NO ONE HAD FALL5 TO ! POX4 

,ISADOR DIDN'T 9SI/2 HE HAD YET MORE NEWS4 ,HIS FACE AS RIGID AS A MASK1 SUPPRESS+ TE>S ) ALL HIS 9N] /R5G?1 ,ISADOR TOLD US !RE W]E NUM]\S REFUGEES FROM ! ,TURTLELEAGUE ON ! ,/RAIT4 ,%UTAHA'S EA/]N K91 ANCI5T ,YAHATASE'S PEOPLE1 ! ONCE FI]CE ,S]P5TS ( ! EA/]N ,WOODL&S1 HAD BE5 ALL BUT EXT]M9AT$ BY ! L&GANG ALLIANCE UND] ,SCALP] ,UA- %N-TN4 ,I FELT AS IF ,I'D HE>D ?AT A CORN] ( ! WORLD HAD FALL5 ?R\< A HOLE2 IT WAS 9CONCEIVABLE4 ,?IRTE5 MUTUALLY HO/ILE B&S ( ,SCALP]S HAD UNIT$ 9 ! FA%ION ( ! ,TURTLELEAGUE AT ! MOM5T :5 ! ,TURTLELEAGUE HAD SPLIT 9TO MUTUALLY HO/ILE B&S1 SOME ALLI$ ) ONE1 FEW ) ! O!R1 MO/ ALLI$ ) NONE & NEUTRAL AT LA/4 

,ON ! PRETEXT ?AT SOME ,TURTLEW>RIORS W]E ALLI$ ) ,R$COATS1 ,SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN DECL>$ W> AGA9/ ! 5TIRE ,TURTLELEAGUE1 & HE *>G$ AN UNSCRUPUL\S KILL]1 A HEADMAN ,SULLI$-VAN1 ) ! TASK ( EXT]M9ATION4 ,AT ! HEAD ( A VA/ >MY ( ?IR/Y L&SUCK]S & GRE$Y B\NTYSEEK]S1 HEADMAN ,SULLI$-VAN SET \T1 NOT AGA9/ ! ,TURTLEW>RIORS ALLI$ ) ,R$COATS1 BUT AGA9/ ! UNPREP>$1 AGA9/ ! NEUTRALS1 AGA9/ ?OSE :O W]E PLANT+1 HUNT+1 DANC+1 & NOT SEEK+ ANY MORE ALLIES OR 5EMIES4 ,AFT] FILL+ !IR BAGS ) ! SCALPS ( ! UN>M$1 ! ,SCALP]S BECAME DEM5T$ ) MURD]\S FR5ZY2 !Y SET FIRE TO =E/S ) ALL !IR LIV+ BE+S1 BURN$ FIELDS & VILLAGES4 ,NEXT !Y TURN$1 NOT AGA9/ ! ,R$COATS' ALLIES BUT AGA9/ !IR [N1 AGA9/ ,TURTLEFOLK :O HAD HELP$ ,SCALP]S AGA9/ ,R$COATS1 & !Y MURD]$ ALL1 ! OLD1 ! WOM51 ! *ILDR51 & !N !Y SET FIRES1 9T5T ON LEAV+ NO LIFE 9 ! EA/]N ,WOODL&S1 ON D5UD+ ?AT P>T ( ! WORLD4 ,! ONLY ,TURTLEFOLK ! ,SCALP]S DIDN'T CONFRONT W]E ?OSE !Y HAD DECL>$ W> AGA9/1 ?OSE ACTUALLY ALLI$ ) ! ,R$COATS1 ?OSE :O W]E >M$ & READY1 BUT ! DEVA/ATION HAD DE/ROY$ !SE W>RIORS AS WELL1 LEAV+ ! ,TURTLEW>RIORS ISOLAT$ AMONG !IR R$FROCK$ ALLIES1 )\T VILLAGES OR K9 TO DEF5D4 ,NEV] BE=E C\LD A GREAT PEOPLE HAVE VANI%$ SO SUDD5LY4 

,ISADOR WAS /ILL N>RAT+ ! HORRORS :5 ALL ?REE ( ,OA%I'S & ,LOKASKWE'S *ILDR5 >RIV$ 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE3 ,APTEGIZHEK ) A B&AG$ HEAD & CLUT*+ ,L5API'S SCROLL1 ,%ECOGOSIKWE WE>+ ,MIOGWEWE'S P5DANT1 H] EYES FILL$ ) T]ROR1 & Y\NG ,WAGO%KWE %AK+ ) FE>4 ,LOKASKWE1 MY DE>E/ FRI5D & ONLY SI/]1 WAS DEAD2 ,%AWANO WAS DEAD2 ,APTEGIZHEK'S HEAD WAS B&AG$ BECAUSE HE'D BE5 SCALP$4 

,! TE>S ,ISADOR HAD SUPPRESS$ N[ BUR/ FROM HIS EYES4 ,HE HAD NEV] MET HIS C\S91 BUT HE EMBRAC$ ,APTEGIZHEK ) ALL HIS /R5G?2 ! PACT !IR FA!RS HAD MADE WAS R5EW$ ) ! TWO Y\?S' TE>S4 ,ISADOR ALREADY KNEW SOME ( :AT ,APTEGIZHEK TOLD US2 HE NO LONG] MADE ! EF=T TO HIDE HIS SADNESS4 

,! ,SCALP]S UND] ,UA-%N-TN PROCE$$ AS IF UN]R+ SE]S GUID$ !IR EV]Y /EP4 ,AFT] HEADMAN ,SULLI$-VAN'S DEVA/AT+ ATTACK1 SURVIV+ ,TURTLEW>RIORS1 ?OSE :O HAD BE5 READY TO MEET ! ,SCALP]S1 SET \T ) A FURY EQUAL$ ONLY BY ,SULLI$-VAN'S4 ,!SE FEW HUNDR$ HOMELESS & K9LESS M5 DEM5T$ BY SORR[1 DE/ROY$ & BURN$ EV]Y LODGE1 FIELD & TAME ANIMAL BETWE5 ! ,EA/]N ,RIV] & ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S1 FROM ! ,NOR!RN ,RIV] TO ! ,PIT-/R5G?@5 ,UA-%N-TN & HIS L&GANG C\NCIL1 AS IF !Y HAD BE5 WAIT+ = ?IS RETALIATION1 R\S$ !IR [N PEOPLE TO RAG+ HATR$ BY SPREAD+ LURID /ORIES ( ! ,TURTLEW>RIORS' BRUTALITY AMPLIFI$ ) DETAILS FROM ,SULLI$-VAN'S ATROCITIES1 & PROMPTLY DECL>$ W>1 NOT AGA9/ ! RAG+ ,TURTLEW>RIORS1 BUT AGA9/ ! ,ROOTK9 ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 

,! L&GANGS JU/IFI$ ! SCALP+ ( CAPTIVES BY CONV9C+ !MSELVES ,ROOTK9 ATE !IR CAPTIVES4 ,!IR C\NCIL N[ TRI$ TO DISC\RAGE ITS >M$ M5 FROM TAK+ ! SCALPS ( WOM5 & *ILDR51 NOT BECAUSE ( A SUDD5 \TBUR/ ( HUMANITY BUT BECAUSE ( UNWILL+NESS TO COV] ! B\NTIES2 ! C\NCIL WAS 9T]E/$ 9 ! KILL+1 NOT ! SCALP+ OR EAT+4 

,BUT ! >M$ M5 DEP5D$ ON ! B\NTIES4 ,!Y P\R$ ACROSS ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S 9TO ! VALLEY'S ,S\?L& ALL ! WAY TO ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]'S FALLS NE> ITS M\? AT ! ,LONG ,RIV]1 DRAWN ?AT F> BY ALL !Y HAD HE>D ( ,RAH-J]KS-L>K'S S+LE-H&$ VICTORY OV] ,HAM-T9'S ,R$COATS4 ,:]EV] !Y W5T !Y AVOID$ >M$ W>RIORS1 P\NC$ ON VILLAGES ) ABS5T HUNT]S1 GA!R$ ! SCALPS ( WOM5 & *ILDR51 BURN$ FIELDS1 LODGES & /ORES ( CORN4 ,ON ! ,MUSK+UM1 ,%AWANO1 /ILL BELIEV+ ! UNITY ( ! ?IRTE5 ,OCEAN%ORE B&S WAS TEMPOR>Y1 /ILL CONV9C$ HE C\LD C\NCIL ) SOME AMONG ! ,SCALP]S1 EV5 AFT] ! LOSS ( ALL HIS NE> K91 L$ AN EMBASSY TO ! ,PIT-/R5G? TO HOLD ! ,9VAD]S TO !IR PROMISES4 ,HE WAS TOLD ! HEADMAN WAS WILL+ TO C\NCIL4 ,ONCE 9SIDE ! 5CLOSURE1 ,%AWANO & ALL HIS COMPANIONS W]E MURD]$4 

,APTEGIZHEK WAS 9T]RUPT$ BY ! >RIVAL ( NEWS ( YET ANO!R TRAG$Y4 ,SIG5AK'S OLDE/1 ,METEYA1 CAME TO TELL HIS FA!R & BRO!RS & ,TI%A ?AT ! SMALLPOX HAD BROK5 \T 9 ,CAHOKIA4 ,MANATO & ,SIG5AK'S Y\NGE/ SONS1 ,KULSWA & ,PILAWA1 HAD GONE TO ! ,PRAIRIE VILLAGE ,KI!PEKANU ON ! ,WABA%1 :]E A ,BLACKROBE HAD TAK5 ,TI%A'S TWO *ILDR51 ,LIKET & BABY ,JOZES1 !IR MO!R BE+ DEAD4 ,9 NE>BY ,UIATANON1 ,RAH-J]KS-L>K & HIS B& W]E T]RORIZ+ ! 9HABITANTS1 ?REAT5+ & PLUND]+4 ,METEYA SAID ! SMALLPOX HAD BE5 BR\<T BY ,RAH-J]KS-L>K FROM ! EA/1 OR BY ,S5YORES FROM ! WE/1 OR BY ,LABAM FROM ! S\?4 ,TI%A DIDN'T PROTE/2 HE & ,SIG5AK & !IR REMA9+ ALLIES RU%$ \T ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,! RE/ ( :AT ,APTEGIZHEK TOLD WASN'T KN[N TO ,ISADOR4 ,! NEWS ( ,%AWANO'S DEA?1 MURD]$ :ILE SEEK+ PEACE DESPITE ! LOSS ( ALL HIS K91 HAD SPREAD LIKE FIRE TO EV]Y VILLAGE ( ,S\?BRAN* & ,EA/BRAN* K94 ,EV]Y:]E NEUTRALITY 5D$2 EV]YONE WAS EXASP]AT$ ) PEACEMAK]S2 ALL :O C\LD WALK PA9T$ !MSELVES & JO9$ W> C\NCILS4 ,ONE SU* C\NCIL1 HELD AT ,S&USKY ,BAY1 9CLUD$ ,ISADOR1 ,MANF1 ,BATI1 ,ALE%I & O!RS FROM ! ,/RAIT4 ,ONLY ?REE OR F\R VILLAGES REMA9$ NEUTRAL1 & !SE HAD 9 !M L>GELY ,EA/BRAN* SURVIVORS :O W]E AFRAID ( VANI%+ ALTOGE!R4 

,DEAD ,%AWANO'S VILLAGE ON ! ,MUSK+UM1 :]E ,LOKASKWE & H] *ILDR5 LIV$ ) ,S\?BRAN* K9 & ) MANY ( ! SURVIVORS FROM ,L5API'S ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9 VILLAGE1 WAS AWAY FROM ! MA9 PA?S FOLL[$ BY W>RIORS1 FURS1 RUM & RIFLES1 WAS DEF5D$ & PROTECT$ BY E>?1 TREES1 ANIMALS & C]EMONIES1 WAS RI* 9 MEAN+ & SELF-RESPECT BUT POOR 9 CORN & MEAT4 

,! CAMP ?AT HAD GR[N UP >\ND ,MAGID9S' & ,CON- ]R'S FUR & GIFT PO/ ON ! ,TUSC>AWAS DID NOT ?RIVE4 ,HUNT]S TOOK FEW FURS TO ,CON-]R1 :O TRAVEL$ TO ! ,PIT-/R5G? R>ELY1 ) LITTLE TO GIVE & LESS TO TELL1 & HE RETURN$ ) FEW GIFTS = ,ROOTK94 

,! VILLAGE1 OR RA!R GR\P ( VILLAGES ( ,EA/BRAN* CONV]TS & BLACKCOLL>$ ,BRE?R5 ON ! ,TUSC>AWAS1 WAS ON ONE ( ! MA9 PA?S ?R\< ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY T[>D ! M\NTA9 PASSES1 & !SE VILLAG]S MA9TA9$ !IR NEUTRALITY BY GIV+ HELP TO BO? SIDES3 VILLAG]S F$ NEI<BOR+ ,S\?BRAN* W>RIORS ) !IR CORN & VEGETABLES1 = !Y HAD MU* TO GIVE1 :ILE ,BRE?R5 C>RI$ NEWS ( ! W>RIORS TO ! ,SCALP]S AT ! ,=K4 

,9=M$ BY ! ,BRE?R51 A B& ( ,SCALP]S ATTACK$ A VILLAGE :OSE M5 HAD LEFT TO JO9 ! W>RIORS AT ,S&USKY1 SCALP$ WOM5 & *ILDR51 BURN$ LODGES & FOOD /OCKS1 & !N MOV$ TO ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV] TO JO9 ,RAH-J]KS-L>K1 :O 9T5D$ TO MAKE A SWA? ( DE/RUCTION 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY ON HIS WAY TO ! ,/RAIT4 

,ISADOR & ! ,S&USKY W>RIORS KNEW ( ?IS PLAN1 & !Y MET & SURPRIS$ ! ,SCALP] B& BE=E IT REA*$ ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]1 BUT !Y FAIL$ TO SURPRISE ,RAH-J]KS-L>K1 :O HAD BE5 W>N$ BY MESSAGES ORIG9AT+ ) ! ,BRE?R54 

,EXASP]AT$ BY ! ODD NEUTRALITY ( ! ,BRE?R51 ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS S5T A P>TY TO ! ,TUSC>AWAS TO CAPTURE ! BLACKCOLL>$ M5 & ESCORT !M PEACEFULLY TO ! ,/RAIT4 

,& !N A RUMOR CAME ?AT ,RAH-J]KS-L>K 9T5D$ TO MAKE HIS SWA?1 MODEL$ ON ,SULLI$-VAN'S1 ALONG ! ,TUSC>AWAS4 ,! ,EA/BRAN* CONV]TS W]E T]RIFI$2 !Y ALL KNEW ( ! SLAU<T] ( ,BRE?R5'S CONV]TS BY ! ,POX-TN ,BOYS A G5]ATION E>LI]4 ,!Y HURRI$LY AB&ON$ !IR NEAT LODGES1 G>D5S & UNH>VE/$ FIELDS & FL$ TO ! NEUTRAL K9 ( ,LOKASKWE'S VILLAGE1 AWAY FROM ALL MA9 PA?S4 ,LOKASKWE'S K9 WELCOM$ & LODG$ ! REFUGEES1 BUT HAD B>ELY 5\< FOOD = !MSELVES 9 ! W>-SURR\ND$ VILLAGE1 & LITTLE TO SP>E = ! HUNDR$ GUE/S4 ,N9ETY OR SO ( ! CONV]TS1 ACCOMPANI$ BY ,LOKASKWE1 ,APTEGIZHEK & O!R ,EA/BRAN* K91 RESOLV$ TO RETURN TO ! ,TUSC>AWAS1 ) !IR TALK+ LEAVES & !IR *ILDR51 TO H>VE/ ! CORN 9 ! FIELDS & HIDE IT AT SOME DI/ANCE FROM !IR VILLAGE4 

,BE=E LEAV+ H] VILLAGE1 ,LOKASKWE TOLD ,APTEGIZHEK TO C>E = HIS FA!R'S SCROLL1 AS IF %E ALREADY KNEW %E WAS GO+ TO DIE AT ! H& ( ?OSE %E MI<T HAVE GR[N AMONG4 

,! UN>M$ CONV]TS HAD B>ELY REA*$ ! BASKETS ) :I* TO GA!R !IR CORN :5 A GR\P ( >M$ M5 5T]$ ! VILLAGE3 PIONE]S1 ,KRE-SOPS1 ,UA-%N-TNS1 MURD]]S ( ,OA%I4 ,APTEGIZHEK HAD NEV] BE=E SE5 !M ON A MANHUNT4 ,! >M$ M5 H]D$ ! ,EA/BRAN* K9 LIKE TAME ANIMALS 9TO SEV]AL LODGES4 ,APTEGIZHEK WAS SEP>AT$ FROM HIS MO!R4 ,ONLY ONE VOICE AMONG ! >M$ M5 SPOKE ( ! HELPLESSNESS & 9NOC5CE ( ! CONV]TS2 ! O!RS GRE$ILY EY$ ! H>NESSES1 CLO?+1 TOOLS & O!R OBJECTS MADE BY ! CONV]TS4 ,ONE MAN /ROK$ ,APTEGIZHEK'S HEAD & SPOKE ( ! L>GE B\NTIES GIV5 = SU* PL5TIFUL SCALPS4 ,ANO!R TOOK A METAL MALLET & L[]$ IT ON ! HEAD ( AN OLD WOMAN ) A PRAY] ON H] LIPS & A BUNDLE ( TALK+ LEAVES 9 H] H&4 ,APTEGIZHEK LO/ CONSCI\SNESS4 ,:5 HE OP5$ HIS EYES1 HIS HEAD PA9$2 HE SAW A SI<T TOO HORRIBLE TO DESCRIBE2 HE SAW A SCALP$ HEAD RISE FROM AMONG ! MANGL$ DEAD1 !IR EYES MET BUT NEI!R RECOGNIZ$ ! O!R4 ,AN >M$ MAN RU%$ 91 SAW ! MOV+ HEAD1 BEAT IT D[N & CONT9U$ BEAT+ ) DEM5T$ FR5ZY1 AS IF HE W]E ! CORN]$ VICTIM4 ,APTEGIZHEK PRET5D$ TO BE DEAD2 :5 ! VOICES MOV$ AWAY1 HE LOOS5$ A BO>D & SLIPP$ \T ! RE> ( ! LODGE1 T[>D BU%ES4 ,HE HE>D L\D TALK & LAU<T]4 ,HE SAW ! KILL]S GA!R !IR PLUND]1 SET FIRE TO ! LODGES FILL$ ) ! BLOODY SCALP$ BODIES1 & RIDE AWAY ON !IR VICTIMS' HORSES4 

,! Y\? MADE HIS WAY TO ! ,MUSK+UM VILLAGE2 HIS V]Y APPE>ANCE SPREAD ! NEWS ( ! MASSACRE TO EV]Y REMA9+ VILLAGE ON ! ,MUSK+UM & ! ,TUSC>AWAS1 & ALL ! VILLAGES DISP]S$4 ,T]RIFI$ ,S\?BRAN* & ,EA/BRAN* K9 FL$ WE/W>D1 HUNDR$S ( !M T[>D ! ,/RAIT1 9CLUD+ ,LOKASKWE'S SI/] ,MAGID9S & ! RUMC>RI] ,CON-]R & !IR *ILDR54 ,Y\NG ,%ECOGOSIKWE & ,WAGO%KWE PULL$ !IR SCALP$ BRO!R AS F> FROM ! PLACE ( ! MASSACRE AS !Y C\LD REA*1 T[>D !IR AUNT ,KATABWE & !IR FA!R'S PACT-BRO!R ,NANIKIBI4 

,I WAS TOO %AK5 TO COM=T ,LOKASKWE'S *ILDR54 ,I KEPT SEE+ MY DREAM'S EAGLE1 ?AT CONTRIVANCE ) A METAL BEAK & /EEL CLAWS1 HOV]+ ABOVE ,ROOTK9 DIS>M$1 5CLOS$ & DISABL$ LIKE ! ,BRE?R5'S CONV]TS1 EXPOS$ ON B>E E>? D5UD$ ( ALL %ELT]1 %ADE & REFUGE4 ,I SAW ! CONTRIVANCE SWOOP D[N ON ITS HELPLESS VICTIMS & CUT !M TO PIECES ) ITS METAL BEAK & CLAWS BE=E FLY+ (F1 ITS BEAK FILL$ ) SCALPS4 

,LOKASKWE'S DAU<T]S FL$ YET FUR!R1 T[>D ! \T]MO/ $GE ( ! WORLD KN[N TO ,%ECOGOSIKWE1 T[>D H] BIR?PLACE1 ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 & 9TO ,KITTIHAWA'S LODGE4 

,APTEGIZHEK /AY$ ) ,ISADOR1 ,NANIKIBI & ME4 ,WE DIDN'T NE$ TO C\NCIL ) \R ,BISON ,PRAIRIE K94 ,ALL :O HE>D ! Y\? HEAD$ T[>D ! W> C\NCILS ON ! ,/RAIT1 ALL EXCEPT ,CAKIMA1 :O /AY$ ) ! K9SMAN ( ,LOKASKWE'S MURD]]S4 ,EV5 ,TOP9BI CAME ) US1 BUT ONLY TO DELIV] ,BURR-NET'S HORSES & FURS TO ! ,/RAIT4 

,I NO LONG] C>$ :O MY ALLIES W]E2 ,I WAS DET]M9$ TO ANSW] = ,OA%I & ,LOKASKWE2 !Y N[ LIV$ ONLY 9 ME4 

,! ,/RAIT HAD MORE PEOPLE ON IT ?AN ANY PLACE ,I'VE EV] SE52 !RE WAS NO ROOM = PLANTS OR ANIMALS4 ,AT LEA/ A ?\S& HUMAN BE+S W]E CR[D$ 9TO ! ADJAC5T VILLAGES2 !RE W]E REFUGEES & W>RIORS FROM EV]Y P>T ( ! EMBATTL$ ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 FROM ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S1 FROM ! EA/]N ,WOODL&S1 FROM ! ,WABA%1 FROM EV]Y CORN] ( ! WORLD4 ,NAMAKWE & ,BATI B>ELY HAD ROOM = ,NANIKIBI & ME4 ,APTEGIZHEK WAS WELCOM$ BY ,NIZOKWE & ,M9I4 ,NIZOKWE'S DAU<T] ,ISABEL EMBRAC$ ,LOKASKWE'S MAIM$ SON AS W>MLY AS ,NIZOKWE'S SON HAD 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,I WAS BURN+ TO SET \T AGA9/ ! ,SCALP]S 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY & HAD NO SYMPA?Y = ! PROBLEMS ( ! REFUGEES2 EV]Y DELAY 9CREAS$ MY IMPATI5CE4 

,! SURVIV+ CONV]TS1 !IR ,BRE?R51 ,MAGID9S & MANY ( ,L5API'S REMA9+ K9 W]E AS T]ROR-/RICK5 AS ,LOKASKWE'S DAU<T]S1 & !Y TOO WANT$ TO GO F> FROM ! PLACE ( ! MASSACRE4 ,ROOTK9 FROM ,SAGI ,BAY GUID$ !M TO A M>% COV]$ BY D5SE BRU% ALONG ! %ORE ( ! ,CLE> ,LAKE NOR? ( ! ,/RAIT1 A PLACE ! L&GANGS W]E NOT LIKELY TO 9VADE4 ,! ADOPT$ RUMC>RI] ,CON-]R WAS SUPPLI$ ) FOOD1 WEAPONS & CLO?+ BY ,BATI & ,PI]2 ! ,WIT*BURN] ,JAY- MAY S5T ) ,CON-]R PROVISIONS DE/9$ = ,S&YPO9T1 :O WAS CUTT+ TREES 9 ,SAGI ,BAY = HEADMAN ,/>-L+4 ,=TY OR FIFTY PEOPLE1 MO/ ( !M HEIRS ( ,ROOTK9 :O HAD ONCE ROAM$ FREELY ON ! ,OCEAN%ORE1 MADE !IR WAY TO ! BRU%-COV]$ M>% BY ! ,CLE> ,LAKE4 

,NAMAKWE'S & ,M9I'S K91 ALL BUT ,SIG5AK & ,JOZES1 HAD AT LONG LA/ COME TO T]MS ) ! ALLIANCE ON ! ,/RAIT4 ,NAMAKWE WAS ALL 5]GY & HOPE4 ,NAMAKWE'S SON ,NAWAK WAS AS ANXI\S AS ,I TO LEAVE ) ! W>RIORS4 

,BE=E WE F9ALLY DID LEAVE1 ,M9I W>N$ ! ,WABA% REFUGEES ?AT ! ALLIANCE ON ! ,/RAIT WAS NOT ALL ?AT ,NAMAKWE W\LD HAVE IT BE4 ,! ,/RAIT'S VILLAGES W]E NO LONG] ,%UTAHA'S OR HIS GREAT-GR&MO!R ,*ACAPWE'S VILLAGE4 ,K9%IP WAS MU* TALK$ AB\T1 BUT ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS VANI%+4 ,! ,R$COATS RECOGNIZ$ NO ONE AS K91 & ?OSE :O HAD =M]LY BE5 ,LEMOND W]E 9CREAS+LY LIKE ! ,R$COATS4 ,TI%A'S FA!R ,KAMPO KNEW ?AT HIS SON WAS ON ! ,/RAIT1 BUT HE PRET5D$ NOT TO HAVE A SON4 ,KAMPO HAD BE5 *OS5 BY ! ,/RAIT'S 9HABITANTS TO FI<T AGA9/ !IR EXCLUSION FROM ! COMMONS ON ,RATTLESNAKE ,ISLE4 ,HE HAD WON ONLY BECAUSE ! ,R$COATS' HEADMAN HAD NE$$ A LOYAL >MY1 BUT DUR+ ! FI<T HE HAD BECOME 5TANGL$ ) ! L&GRABB]S TO ! PO9T ( AGREE+ TO >RANGE A M>RIAGE BETWE5 HIS NIECE ,CECIL & A L&-MEASUR] NAM$ ,WILL-YAMS4 ,?IS UNION HAD NOT MADE ,WILL-YAMS ,TI%A'S C\S92 IT HAD M]ELY /R5G!N$ A L9K 9 ! L& & FUR NETS :I* W]E ! ONLY CIRCLES ( K9%IP RECOGNIZ$ BY ! ,9VAD]S4 

,! DELAYS ABRUPTLY 5D$4 ,! PROBLEMS ( ! REFUGEES W]E =GOTT51 = WORD HAD COME ?AT ONE ( ,RAH-J]KS-L>K'S B&S WAS HEAD+ T[>D ! ,S&USKY ,BAY VILLAGE1 UND\BT$LY BECAUSE !Y KNEW ?AT ! ,S&USKY W>RIORS W]E ON ! ,/RAIT4 ,! B& WAS L$ BY A HEADMAN NAM$ ,KRAW-FUR1 ONE ( ! M5 :O HAD TAK5 P>T 9 ! MASSACRE ( ,LOKASKWE & ! ,EA/BRAN* CONV]TS ON ! ,TUSC>AWAS4 

,NO C\NCIL WAS NE$$1 NOR BELTS NOR ! RECRUITM5T ( ALLIES4 ,W>RIORS EM]G$ FROM !IR LODGES FULLY PA9T$ & >M$ & READY TO DANCE1 ! B&AG$ ,APTEGIZHEK =EMO/ AMONG !M4 ,NIZOKWE & ,ISABEL GAZ$ AT ,LOKASKWE'S ANGRY SON1 !IR ADMIRATION MIX$ ) PITY4 

,I TOOK P>T 9 ! DANCE2 :AT BOIL$ 9SIDE ME SEEM$ TO COME FROM ! B[ELS ( ! E>?1 AS IF E>? H]SELF W]E RIS+ UP AGA9/ :AT WAS TE>+ H]4 ,I FELT ,YAHATASE1 ,SAGIKWE1 ,MANGA%KO & ,WAGO%KWE 9 ! /R5G? ( MY LIMBS4 

,ALL ( ,OA%I'S PACT BRO!RS DANC$3 ,NANIKIBI & ,M9I1 ,ALE%I & ,BATI4 ,BATFS SON ,NAWAK WAS SETT+ \T ON HIS FIR/ SC\T+ MISSION4 ,TI%A TOOK ! PLACE ( ABS5T ,JOZES4 ,OA%I'S [N SON ,APTEGIZHEK WIELD$ A WEAPON = ! FIR/ TIME4 

,BUT ,OA%I WAS MISS+1 AS WAS ,LOKASKWE'S W>9ESS T[>D ! R$FROCK$ ALLY & HIS WEAPONS1 & ,I WAS TOO EAG] = REV5GE TO FILL ! VOID4 ,ONLY ,M9I RAIS$ HIS VOICE1 BUT EV5 HE DIDN'T QUE/ION ! NE$ = ! ALLY AGA9/ :OM !SE W>RIORS HAD F\<T DUR+ ! BE/ P>T ( !IR LIVES1 NOR ! NE$ = ! WEAPONS :I* MAIM$ !IR US]S BY MAK+ !M DEP5D5T4 ,M9I ONLY COMPLA9$2 HE WAS ANG]$ BY ! ALLY'S /+9ESS ) PROVISIONS & WEAPONS ?AT W]E PL5TIFUL 9SIDE ! 5CLOSURE BECAUSE !Y W]E MADE BY CONTRIVANCES2 HE WAS ANG]$ BY ! ALLY'S OP5 CONTEMPT T[>D W>RIORS READY TO GIVE !IR LIVES = EV]YONE ON ! ,/RAIT 9CLUD+ ! ,R$COATS4 ,M9I KNEW ?AT ! R$FROCK$ ALLIES W]E ALL TOO SIMIL> TO ! ,SCALP] 5EMIES2 ! UN5D+ SWEAT & LABOR ( BO? GANGS ( ,9VAD]S MADE !M /+Y & CONTEMPTU\S T[>D FREE PEOPLE = :OM HUNT+ WAS A SACR$ RITUAL & H>VE/+ ! OCCASION = A FEA/4 

,WE W5T ) ! ,R$COATS' WEAPONS1 BUT NO ACTUAL ,R$COATS ACCOMPANI$ US4 ,WE F\ND ! B& ( ,SCALP]S CAMP$ BY ! RIV] ?AT FL[S 9TO ,S&USKY ,BAY4 ,HEADMAN ,KRAW-FUR & HIS M51 AW>E ( \R PRES5CE ONLY AFT] \R ATTACK BEGAN1 RAN LIKE H>ES FROM WOLVES2 IT WAS PROBABLY ! FIR/ TIME !Y HAD FAC$ W>RIORS & NOT WOM5 & *ILDR54 ,WE FOLL[$ ! FLEE+ ,SCALP]S & CAPTUR$ MO/ ( !M1 9CLUD+ ,KRAW- FUR4 ,NO ONE SPOKE = ADOPT+ A S+LE ONE ( !M4 ,?OSE KN[N TO HAVE TAK5 P>T 9 ! ,TUSC>AWAS MASSACRE ) ,KRAW-FUR W]E TORTUR$4 

,A ,S\?BRAN* MESS5G] BR\<T NEWS ?AT ANO!R B& ( ,RAH-J]KS-L>K'S M5 W]E CAMP$ ON ! ,BLUE ,LICKS ACROSS ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]1 AS IF WAIT+ TO BE AMBU%$4 ,?IS B& WAS L$ BY A ,SCALP] NAM$ ,DAM-DOOM1 :O WAS SAID TO TELL HIS M5 ?AT KILL]S ( ,ROOTK9 W]E PIONE]S ( 9DEP5D5CE & REVOLUTION4 ,WE LE>N$ ?AT HE DIDN'T REF] TO ! KILL]S ( 5EMIES 9 W>1 BUT TO ! MURD]]S ( WOM5 & *ILDR52 AS SOON AS WE ATTACK$1 ,DAM-DOOM & HIS M5 FL$ LIKE ,KRAW- FUR'S2 WE D[N$ MO/ ( !M AS !Y FL$4 ,WE RETURN$ TO ,S&USKY4 

,TI%A1 :OM ,RAH-J]KS-L>K W\LD /ILL TAKE = AN ALLY1 W5T TO ! ,SCALP]S' C\NCILGR\ND TO LE>N :AT O!R >MIES ! L&GANG AG5T 9T5D$ TO S5D AGA9/ ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY'S 9HABITANTS4 

,M9I & ,ALE%I W5T DIRECTLY FROM ! ,BLUE ,LICKS TO ! ,/RAIT TO DESCRIBE \R TWO VICTORIES & TO REPL5I% ! W>RIORS' PROVISIONS4 ,!Y RETURN$ ) ! NEWS ?AT \R R$FROCK$ ALLIES HAD CAPITULAT$ TO ! ,SCALP]S6 ,ALL W]E 9DIGNANT1 BUT NOT ALL W]E SURPRIS$4 ,?IS WAS NOT ! FIR/ TIME ,9VAD]S HAD BETRAY$ =E/ ALLIES4 ,NANIKIBI1 ,M9I1 ,BATI & MANY O!RS REMEMB]$ ?AT OV] TW5TY SPR+S E>LI] !Y HAD DEFEAT$ ,UA-%N-TN & ,BRA-DUCK & SEV]AL O!R ,9VAD+ >MIES1 & AFT] ALL !IR VICTORIES1 !IR ,SCABEAT+ ALLIES ACROSS ! ,OCEAN HAD CAPITULAT$ TO ! 5EMY4 

,ALE%I SAID ?AT1 ALREADY BE=E WE HAD SET \T AGA9/ ! ,SCALP]S ON ! ,S&USKY1 TALK+ LEAVES HAD >RIV$ ON ! ,/RAIT1 LEAVES :I* SAID ! ,R$COATS' OV]MAN ACROSS ! ,OCEAN HAD GRANT$ ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY TO ! ,SCALP]S' LEAGUE4 ,?IS EXPLA9$ ! ,/RAIT HEADMAN'S WAV]+1 HIS DELAYS1 HIS /+9ESS4 ,\R PEACE ) ! ,R$COATS1 ! PEACE ,NAMAKWE & ,M9I & EV5 ,TURTLELEAGUE W>RIORS HAD BESEE*$ US TO MAKE1 HAD S]V$ ONLY TO GIVE ! ,R$COATS ! ILLUSION ?AT !Y HAD ! P[] TO GIVE \R WORLD AWAY4 

,ALE%I'S MESSAGE WAS GREET$ BY ALL ! D]ISION IT DES]V$4 ,APTEGIZHEK SAID ! ,9VAD]S C\LD GRANT EA* O!R ! MOON ON !IR TALK+ LEAVES2 ?IS WAS A GAME ! ,9VAD]S PLAY$ ) EA* O!R & W\LDN'T DEPRIVE ! RE/ ( US ( MOONLI<T UNLESS WE LET !M EXT]M9ATE US4 ,M9I SAID EV5 ! R$FROCK$ HEADMAN ON ! ,/RAIT RECOGNIZ$ ?AT HIS OV]MAN EXCE$$ HIS P[]S :5 HE GRANT$ ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 & PROMIS$ TO GIVE ,ROOTK9 ALL ! AID NE$$ TO PURSUE ! W>4 

,! HEADMAN'S M9D1 ,M9I SAID1 WAS ON ! FURS GA!R$ 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,M9I1 KEEP] ( ! PEACEBELTS ( ,%UTAHA'S VILLAGE1 HAD BE5 TREAT$ AS A NUISANCE BY ! HEADMAN1 :ILE R$FROCK$ LOYALI/S SEEK+ REFUGE FROM ! R5EGADE L&GANG LEAGUE W]E GIV5 ALL ! HEADMAN'S ATT5TION & C>E4 ,M9I LO/ ALL HIS QUALIFI$ 5?USIASM = ! ALLIANCE ) ! ,R$COATS1 HAV+ ALSO LE>N$ ?AT ! HEADMAN1 NO LONG] NE$+ TO RECRUIT VILLAG]S TO HIS >MY1 HAD ALL[$ ! ,ISLE ( ,RATTLESNAKES1 ! VILLAG]S' COMMONS1 TO BE SEIZ$ BY A ,R$COAT4 

,TI%A RETURN$ TO ,S&USKY FROM ! ,SCALP]S' C\NCIL ON ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV] & TOLD US ,RAH-J]KS-L>K KEPT HIS CAMP SURR\ND$ BY PEOPLE ,TI%A CALL$ RUMSACKS1 BROK5 & HOMELESS ,ROOTK9 :O CLUNG TO ! ,SCALP] = HIS RUM4 ,RAH- J]KS-L>K ADDRESS$ !SE RUMSACKS AS IF !Y HE>D & SPOKE = ALL ! ,ROOTK9 ( ! ,VALLEY1 AL?\< !Y NO LONG] HE>D OR SPOKE = ANY4 ,:5 ,TI%A REA*$ ! CAMP1 ,RAH-J]KS-L>K1 PURSU$ BY DEFEATS--HIS SOLE VICTORY HAD BE5 ! ONE OV] ,HAM-T9--TOLD ! RUMSACKS ?AT HIS SOLE CONC]N WAS TO KEEP ,9VAD]S \T ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,!N NEWS ( ! ,R$COATS' CAPITULATION >RIV$ FROM ! ,PIT-/R5G?4 ,ONCE AGA9 BOA/FUL ( A VICTORY ?AT WASN'T HIS1 ,RAH-J]KS-L>K TOLD ! RUMSACKS ?AT ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY'S ,ROOTK9 W]E DEFEAT$ PEOPLE1 & ?AT DEFEAT$ PEOPLE HAD NO RI<T TO ANY L&4 ,RAH-J]KS-L>K APP>5TLY ?\<T ?AT ,KRE-SOP & ?OSE :O />T$ ?IS W> BY MURD]+ ,OA%I HAD WON ! W>4 ,RAH-J]KS-L>K FUM$ & ?REAT5$1 DECL>+ W> ON ! ,VALLEY'S 9HABITANTS BECAUSE HE ?\<T !Y HAD BURI$ !IR WEAPONS4 

,! RUMSACKS LAU<$ AT HIM2 !Y KNEW ?AT NONE ( ! VALLEY'S >M$ ,ROOTK9 HAD BE5 DEFEAT$1 & !Y ALSO KNEW ?AT ! ,SCALP]S' ?REATS W]E AS EMPTY AS !IR PROMISES4 ,! ,SCALP]S' ?REATS & PROMISES W]E NOT EXPRESSIONS 9T5D$ TO CONVEY MEAN+S TO LI/5]S1 BUT EJACULATIONS 9T5D$ TO IMPRESS O!R ,SCALP]S ) ! PR[ESS ( !IR UTT]]4 ,! HEADM5 !SE PEOPLE *OSE = !IR C\NCILS1 9V>IABLY ! GRE$IE/ & MO/ VICI\S VICTIMIZ]S ( !IR FELL[S1 W]E *OS5 = !IR ABILITY TO UTT] EJACULATIONS ?AT GAVE !IR LI/5]S ! ILLUSION ( PR[ESS4 

,NEI!R ! ,SCALP]S' ?REATS NOR ! ,R$COATS' CAPITULATION WORS5$ ! SITUATION ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 BUT !Y DIDN'T IMPROVE IT EI!R4 ,APTEGIZHEK SET \T ) ,S\?BRAN* W>RIORS AGA9/ ,9VAD]S CROSS+ ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]4 ,HE HOP$ ! M]E PRES5CE ( W>RIORS ON ! RIV] W\LD S5D ! C[>DLY PIONE]S RUNN+1 SO ?AT HE C\LD RETURN ) GOOD NEWS = ,ISADOR & HIS BEAUTIFUL SI/] ,ISABEL4 

,ISADOR & ,TI%A RETURN$ TO ! ,/RAIT ) ,M9I1 ,ALE%I & ,BATI1 UNEASY AB\T !IR DEP5D5CE ON ! TREA*]\S ,R$COATS4 

,NANIKIBI & ,I & MO/ ( ! ,FIREKEEP]S & ,PRAIRIEK9 DID NOT ACCOMPANY ?OSE ( ! ,/RAIT4 ,WE W5T TO ,KEKIONGA ON ! $GE ( ! EMBATTL$ VALLEY1 MY BIR?PLACE AT ! 9T]SECTION ( PA?S FROM ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ! ,/RAIT1 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV] & ! ,WABA%4 

,= ! FIR/ TIME S9CE \R CAPTURE ( ! ,R$COATS 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ,I WAS ) W>RIORS :O DID NOT SEEK ! ,9VAD]S' HELP OR !IR WEAPONS4 ,I UND]/OOD1 AS ,I NEV] HAD BE=E1 MY GREATGR&MO!R'S C]EMONY ( ?REE FIRES1 ANCI5T ,W$ASI'S C]EMONY1 9 :I* ! ,P59SULA'S ,FIREKEEP]S1 !IR ,TURTLEK9 ( ! ,/RAIT & ,ROOTK9 & ,PRAIRIEK9 FROM ! EA/]N & WE/]N P>TS ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY COME TOGE!R TO EXPEL ,WISKE FROM !IR MID/1 ,WISKE ! ,9VAD]1 ! CONTRIV$ EAGLE ( MY DREAM4 

,BUT ,I ALSO UND]/OOD1 DUR+ FLA%ES :I* MADE MY HEAD SP91 ?AT ! ,KEKIONGA TO :I* ,I RETURN$ WAS NO LONG] A VILLAGE 9 :I* A BEAUTIFUL S\L LIKE MY MO!R ,M5OKO C\LD GR[2 IT WAS NOT A PLACE :]E EV5 A *ILD C\LD LIVE IMM]S$ 9 ! ANTICS ( GULLS1 9 ! DANCE ( BEES1 9 ! LOOK ( A DE] OR ! PETALS ( A FL[]4 ,A DAY DIDN'T PASS )\T NEWS ( A MURD]1 AN ATROCITY1 A MASSACRE1 & ALL ?OSE :O HE>D ! NEWS W]E IMPOV]I%$ & N>R[$J ,ALL !IR ACTS & ?\<TS CONC5TRAT$ ON NOT BE+ VICTIMIZ$1 NOT BE+ MURD]$4 ,KEKIONGA WAS NO LONG] ON ANCI5T ,W$ASI'S PEACEFUL ,P59SULA BUT 9 ! W>-EMBATTL$ ,VALLEY1 ON ITS $GE2 IT WAS NO LONG] A VILLAGE BUT A W> CAMP2 ITS ?REE FIRES LIT ! FACES ( W>RIORS FROM ! F\R QU>T]S2 IT WAS A GA!R+PLACE ( W>RIORS :O HAD NO O!R HOME1 :O HAD NO SURVIV+ K91 :OSE VILLAGES & FIELDS HAD BE5 DE/ROY$4 ,! C[>DLY ,SCALP]S :O DECL>$ W> AGA9/ >M$ 5EMIES BUT W>R$ ONLY AGA9/ UN>M$ M51 WOM5 & *ILDR51 KNEW :AT !Y W]E DO+4 

,NANIKIBI UND]/OOD ?IS TOO AS HE FUMBL$ ?R\< HIS OTT]SK9 BUNDLE & P]US$ ITS CONT5TS1 TRY+ TO GRASP :AT HIS GR&FA!R ,*EBANSI HAD BE5 LIKE1 & HIS GREATGR&FA!R ,W$ASI1 ! PEACEMAK]1 & ?OSE :O HAD COME BE=E ,W$ASI1 :O LIV$ BE=E ! COM+ ( ! ,9VAD]S4 

,APTEGIZHEK WAS GONE = B>ELY TWO SEASONS4 ,HE >RIV$ 9 ,KEKIONGA BE=E ! SN[S MELT$ TO TELL US ?AT SEV]AL B&S ( >M$ L&SUCK]S HAD CROSS$ TO ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]'S NOR!RN %ORE & W]E MOV+ TO CONV]GE AT ! M\ND VILLAGE ( ,S\?BRAN* K9 AT ! M\? ( ! ,MUSK+UM4 ,BESIDES !IR RIFLES !Y C>RI$ TALK+ LEAVES :I*1 !Y SAID1 GAVE ! M\ND VILLAGE & ALL ! FIELDS >\ND IT TO A B& ?AT CALL$ ITSELF ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,L&GANG1 NEWE/ HEIR TO ! GANGS ( ,UA- %N-TN1 ,KRE-SOP & ,DONE-MORE4 ,?IS L&GANG HAD =C$ A GR\P ( BROK5 ,TURTLEW>RIORS TO ADMIT1 AT GUNPO9T1 ?AT ! ,TURTLELEAGUE DID NOT CLAIM ANY P>T ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 & HAD !N GOTT5 A GR\P ( RUMSACKS :O HAD ONCE BE5 ,S\?BRAN* K9 TO PUT !IR M>KS ON A TALK+ LEAF4 ,?IS WAS A GAME ! ,SCALP]S PLAY$ TO 5T]TA9 EA* O!R1 BUT ! CONV]G+ L&SUCK]S W]E TOO NUM]\S = ! W>RIORS ON ! ,MUSK+UM1 & ! TITLES FIR$ !IR HOLD]S ) RI<TE\S BLOODLU/4 

,SIG5AK 

  

,! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS RETURN$ ) ,APTEGIZHEK TO C\NCIL & DANCE 9 ,KEKIONGA1 UN5CUMB]$ BY !IR R$FROCK$ ALLIES4 ,ALL ( !M CAME3 ,ISADOR AS WELL AS HIS FA!R ,M9I & UNCLE ,ALE%I2 ,NAWAK AS WELL AS HIS FA!R ,BATI4 ,BUT ,APTEGIZHEK WAS CRE/FALL5 & SEEM$ SELF-CONSCI\S AB\T HIS MAIM$ HEAD4 ,ISABEL HAD WELCOM$ HIM AS A CLOSE C\S92 ,ISADOR HAD TOLD HIM %E HAD BE5 ACCEPT+ GIFTS FROM A MEEK RUMC>RI] NAM$ ,LION4 

,TOO FEW TO REMOVE ! ,9VAD]S FROM ! ,S\?L& BEL[ ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]1 ! C\NCIL+ W>RIORS1 ,I AMONG !M1 RESOLV$ TO /OP ANY ,9VAD]S FROM E/ABLI%+ A FOO?OLD ON ANY P>T ( ! NOR!RN %ORE4 ,TI%A WAS TO C>RY \R RESOLVE TO ! ,*EAT]S' HEADMAN AT ! ,PIT-/R5G?4 ,ALE%I HELP$ ,TI%A =MULATE ! MESSAGE3 ! ,SCALP]S' GAME ( HAV+ RUMSACKS PLACE M>KS ON TALK+ LEAVES WAS NO?+ BUT AN 9SULT TO ,ROOTK92 ! >M$ M5 AT ! ,PIT-/R5G? W]E GO+ TO BE TOL]AT$ ONLY IF !Y HURRI$ TO REMOVE !IR [N L&SUCK]S BE=E \R HAT*ETS REMOV$ !M2 IF ! ,PIT-/R5G? HEADMAN WANT$ TO ADDRESS WE/]N W>RIORS1 HE %\LD S5D MESSAGES TO !IR C\NCILS1 NOT TO RUMSACKS :O HE>D & SPOKE = NO ONE4 

,MANY1 9CLUD+ ,NANIKIBI & ,I1 W]E DISSATISFI$ ) ,ALE%I'S =MULATIONS1 BUT ,M9I SAID IT WAS NECESS>Y TO SPEAK TO ! ,9VAD]S 9 A LANGUAGE !Y C\LD UND]/&1 & ,APTEGIZHEK & HIS COMPANIONS FROM ! ,MUSK+UM URG$ HA/E4 

,I WASN'T AS /RONG AS ,I HAD BE5 ON MY FIR/ RAIDS 9 ! ,SUNRISE ,M\NTA9S1 & ! HORSE RIDE ALONE EXHAU/$ ME4 ,I ?\<T ( ,LOKASKWE1 ( H] F9AL RESOLVE TO LIVE SURR\ND$ BY E>?'S UN/9T+ BEAUTY1 AWAY FROM ! BATTLEGR\NDS1 & ,I FELT MYSELF A CORN]$ S]P5T LA%+ \T 9 SELF-DEF5SE1 ! DEF5D$ BEAUTY REC$+ EV] FUR!R FROM MY REA*4 

,I WAS REPELL$ BY ! 5EMY :5 WE SI<T$ HIM EXACTLY :]E WE EXPECT$ HIM2 HE SEEM$ UNAW>E ?AT ! ,VALLEY WAS FULL ( VIBRANT LIFE1 ALL ( IT HO/ILE TO HIS PRES5CE4 ,TWO B&S ( ,SCALP]S W]E CAMP$ \TSIDE ! M\ND VILLAGE1 ONE ON EA* SIDE1 EA* WAIT+ = ! O!R TO ATTACK FIR/ BECAUSE BO? KNEW !RE W]E NOT ONLY WOM5 & *ILDR5 9 ! VILLAGE BUT W>RIORS AS WELL4 ,WE RETREAT$ TO ! =E/ TO DANCE BE=E WE SPLIT UP TO AMBU% BO? B&S SIMULTANE\SLY4 ,DUR+ ! DANCE ,I ?\<T ( ! B\NTYSEEK]S :O HAD SURR\ND$ ,L5API'S M\NTA9 VILLAGE1 ( ,KRE-SOP & ! L& MEASUR]S :O HAD MURD]$ ,OA%I ON ! ,KANA:A1 ( ,KRAW-FUR & ! MON/]S :O MASSACR$ ,LOKASKWE & ! UN>M$ CONV]TS4 

,BO? ,SCALP] B&S PANICK$ AS SOON AS !Y SAW US2 AS MANY ( !M W]E KILL$ BY EA* O!RS' RIFLES AS BY \R >R[S4 ,WE LET SURVIVORS FLEE ACROSS ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]1 HOP+ !Y & !IR LIKES W\LD KEEP ON SWIMM+ UNTIL !Y REA*$ ! O!R SIDE ( ! ,OCEAN4 ,A FEW 5RAG$ W>RIORS SCALP$ CORPSES4 ,APTEGIZHEK & ,NANIKIBI TRI$ TO /OP ?IS REPULSIVE ACT2 WE W]E D5ATUR$ 5\< BY ! ,9VAD]S' WAYS4 ,APTEGIZHEK & !N O!RS1 7I AMONG !M1 /UFF$ E>? 9TO ! M\?S ( CORPSES1 LETT+ !M SATISFY !IR L&LU/ N[1 :5 !Y W]5'T M]ELY TAK+ BUT ALSO GIV+1 AT LA/ ACKN[L$G+ ,E>?'S G5]OSITY BY (F]+ H] !IR BODIES4 

,ISADOR /AY$ AT ! M\ND VILLAGE ) HIS FRI5D ,APTEGIZHEK :5 ! RE/ ( US RETURN$ TO ,KEKIONGA4 

,WE F\ND ,TI%A WAIT+ = US1 TOGE!R ) MY ,TOP9BI & ,NAGMO'S SON ,NANGISI & A HORSE-DRAWN GIFT C>AVAN4 ,NEWS ( \R DEFEAT ( ! ,SCALP]S AT ! M\ND VILLAGE HAD REA*$ ! ,PIT-/R5G? %ORTLY BE=E ,TI%A HAD1 & ! ,PIT-/R5G? HEADMAN HAD TREAT$ ,TI%A ) EXCESSIVE OBSEQUI\SNESS1 SPEAK+ 5DLESSLY ( ! ,SCALP]S' DISPOSITION TO BE G5]\S TO ! PEOPLE ( ! ,VALLEY4 ,RAH-J]KS-L>K WAS NO LONG] HEADMAN2 ! L&GANGS HAD LE>N$ MORE AB\T HIS LONG & NOISILY BOA/$ VICTORY OV] ,HAM-T91 & !Y W]E 9C5S$ BY HIS PRACTICE ( *EAT+ NOT ONLY HIS UND]L+S BUT ALSO HIS FELL[ HEADM54 ,HIS SUCCESSOR WAS A HEADMAN ,H>R-M>R1 A LESS BOA/FUL MAN :O WAS DIRECTLY ANSW]ABLE = HIS WORDS & DE$S TO OV]MAN ,UA-%N-TN4 ,?IS ,H>R-M>R ADMITT$ TO ,TI%A ?AT ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY'S ,ROOTK9 W]E NOT DEFEAT$ PEOPLE :O HAD LO/ ! VALLEY1 S9CE !Y HADN'T BE5 DEFEAT$1 & SAID ?AT OV]MAN ,UA-%N-TN WAS PULL+ ALL HIS L&SUCK]S1 ) OR )\T TITLES1 AWAY FROM ! VALLEY'S NOR!RN %ORE1 & WAS DISB&+ ALL HIS >M$ B&S EXCEPT ,H>R-M>R'S4 ,AFT] HE>+ ,TI%A'S MESSAGE1 ,H>R-M>R SAID HE & HIS >M$ M5 W\LD /AY AT ! ,PIT-/R5G? ONLY LONG 5\< TO REMOVE ALL L&SUCK]S FROM ! NOR? ( ! VALLEY4 ,H>R-M>R !N CONFRONT$ ,TI%A ) A TALK+ LEAF & URG$ ,TI%A TO ACCEPT GIFTS & PUT A M>K ON ! LEAF1 !REBY ACKN[L$G+ ,H>R-M>R'S PRES5CE & ROLE 9 ! ,VALLEY4 ,TI%A REFUS$ TO M>K ANY?+1 & WAS DISMAY$ TO LE>N ?AT ! >M$ MAN HAD ALREADY GA!R$ M>KS1 NOT ONLY FROM RUMSACKS :O PRET5D$ TO SPEAK = ,S\?BRAN* K91 BUT FROM ,NAGMO'S ,NANGISI PRET5D+ TO SPEAK = ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S ,FIREKEEP]S1 & FROM MY ,TOP9BI PRET5D+ TO SPEAK = ,KEKIONGA'S ,PRAIRIEK91 AS ,NANIKIBI'S SON1 & = ! ,/RAIT'S ,TURTLEFOLK1 AS ,NAMAKWE'S NEPHEW4 ,!Y & ALL O!RS :O M>K$ ! ,SCALP]S' LEAVES W]E NAM$ *IEFS ( TRIBES BY ,H>R-M>R4 

,LET ! ,9VAD]S PLAY !IR GAMES1 SOME SAID1 BUT MANY O!RS1 MYSELF 9CLUD$1 DIDN'T LIKE !IR GAMES4 

,NANGISI & ,TOP9BI W]E FULL ( SELF-JU/IFICATION2 ,TOP9BI WAS ! MORE ELOQU5T ( ! TWO2 HE REM9D$ ME ( HIS GR&FA!R ,OZAGI4 ,HE SAID ! W> WAS DAMAG+ ! ,BISON ,PRAIRIE FUR TRADE1 & ! GIFTS HE & ,NANGISI HAD RECEIV$ W]E ANXI\SLY AWAIT$1 NOT ONLY BY ?OSE EAG] TO DR9K RUM1 BUT ABOVE ALL BY ! *ILDR5--HIS [N1 ,CAKIMA'S1 ,NANGISI'S & ,W9AMEK'S4 ,HE TOLD US ,S&YPO9T HAD RETURN$ TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 ONLY TO F9D ! S\RCE ( HIS GIFTS SO BLOCK$ UP ?AT HE HAD BEGG$ = GIFTS FROM ! ,/RAIT'S ,JAY-MAY1 TO :OM HE HAD GIV5 PA9T+S 9/EAD ( FURS2 ! O!R1 ,CAKIMA'S ,BURR-NET1 HAD BE5 CAPTUR$ & TAK5 TO ,MI%ILIMAK9A BY ,HO*ELAGA ,R$COATS :O WANT$ ,BURR-NET TO TAKE HIS FURS TO !IR PO/S & NOT TO ,SOLI-MAN & ,ANTO4 

,TOP9BI 9SI/$ ?AT HIS M>K ON A LEAF GAVE ! ,9VAD]S NO?+ & B\ND NO ONE1 S9CE NO C\NCIL ( ,ROOTK9 HAD EMP[]$ HIM TO SPEAK = !M4 ,BY REFUS+ TO M>K ! LEAF HE W\LDN'T KEEP ,9VAD]S \T ( ! ,VALLEY1 HE W\LD M]ELY LET ! ,9VAD]S' GIFTS BE DISSIPAT$ BY RUMSACKS :O DRANK ALL !Y W]E GIV54 

,I WAS DI/URB$ BY MY SON'S 9ABILITY TO LIVE )\T ! ,9VAD]S' GIFTS1 BUT ,I WAS MORE UPSET BY ! MESSAGE ,TI%A HAD TAK5 TO ! HEADMAN AT ! ,PIT-/R5G?1 A MESSAGE =MULAT$ BY ,ALE%I :I* EV5 ,M9I HAD JU/IFI$ 9 T]MS ( ! NE$ TO SPEAK TO ! ,9VAD]S 9 !IR LANGUAGE4 ,MY ANCE/ORS HAD NOT SPOK5 TO ,M9I'S GR&FA!R 9 HIS LANGUAGE2 ,PY]WA HAD LE>N$ ! LANGUAGE ( ,ROOTK94 ,! ,9VAD]S' LANGUAGE WAS 9COMPREH5SIBLE TO US NOT BECAUSE ITS S\NDS DIFF]$ FROM \RS1 BUT BECAUSE ITS MEAN+S DID4 ,!IR LANGUAGE PUT LA/ ?+S FIR/4 ,TI%A HAD GONE TO ! ,PIT-/R5G? TO TELL ! ,9VAD]S TO /AY EA/ ( ! M\NTA9S & S\? ( ! RIV]1 HE HAD GONE TO SPEAK AB\T BORD]S4 ,BUT BORD]S W]E NOT FIR/ ?+S1 !Y W]E LA/ ?+S4 ,E>? HADN'T PUT SU* CON/RA9TS 9 ! WAY ( ! CREATURES 5JOY+ H] FRUITS4 ,BORD]S CAME ) ! ,9VAD]S4 ,TI%A HAD TOLD ! HEADMAN TO REMOVE ,9VAD]S :O CROSS$ ! BORD]S1 AS IF IT C\LD BE UP TO HIM OR ANY MAN TO GIVE OR )HOLD P]MISSION1 AS IF HE OR ANY MAN C\LD HAVE ! P[] TO DET]M9E :O WAS TO LIVE 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 AS IF WE HAD SUDD5LY =GOTT5 ?AT IT WAS ?IS V]Y P[] WE W]E W>R+ AGA9/4 

,TI%A'S1 OR RA!R ,ALE%I'S MESSAGE DID NOT GO UNHE>D BY ! ,SCALP]S' HEADMAN4 ,ISADOR WAS SOON BACK FROM ! ,MUSK+UM M\ND VILLAGE CONFIRM+ MY WOR/ FE>S4 ,HEADMAN ,H>R-M>R HAD SP$ FROM ! ,PIT-/R5G? TO ! M\ND VILLAGE ) ,ALE%I'S WORDS1 SURMIS+ ?AT =MULATIONS ACCEPTABLE TO C\N- CIL+ W>RIORS ( ,KEKIONGA W\LD NOT BE REJECT$ BY A C\NCIL ( PEACEFUL VILLAG]S ON ! ,MUSK+UM4 ,US+ ,TI%A'S WORDS1 ,H>R-M>R SPOKE ( ! 9 VIOLABILITY ( ! M\NTA9S & ! RIV] AS BORD]S SEP>AT+ ,9VAD]S FROM ,ROOTK91 & ( HIS COMMITM5T TO REMOVE ,9VAD]S :O CROSS$ ?OSE BORD]S4 ,HE EV5 PROMIS$ TO LEAVE NE> ! M\ND VILLAGE A DETA*M5T ( >M$ M5 TO C>RY \T ?IS TASK1 & AGRE$ ?AT ! ,VALLEY'S W>RIORS W\LD RETA9 ! P[] TO REMOVE ALL ,9VAD]S HE FAIL$ TO REA*4 ,REGAL+ HIS HO/S ) GIFTS1 ,H>R-M>R !N ASK$ !M TO M>K HIS TALK+ LEAF1 A M>K :I* COMMITT$ !M TO NO?+ BUT ACCEPTANCE ( ,H>R-M>R 9 HIS PROMIS$ ROLE1 & ONLY SO LONG AS HE CONT9U$ TO C>RY IT \T4 

,S\?BRAN* K9 TIR$ ( CONT9UAL W> M>K$ ! LEAF2 ,APTEGIZHEK1 SON & HEIR ( PEACEMAK]S ,OA%I1 ,L5API & ,%AWANO1 M>K$ ! LEAF2 ,EA/BRAN* SURVIVORS :O FE>$ EXT9CTION M>K$ ! LEAF2 ,ISADOR1 SON ( ! ,/RAIT'S BEL?OLD]1 5*ANT$ TO BE P>T ( AN AGREEM5T ) MUTUAL B5EFITS & OBLIGATIONS1 LIKE ,%UTAHA'S ) ,LEKOM&A ,KADYAK1 SIGN$ ! LEAF4 

,ISADOR WAS /ILL 5*ANT$ :5 HE REA*$ ,KEKIONGA ON HIS WAY TO ! ,/RAIT ) ! MESSAGE ?AT PEACE HAD AT LA/ COME TO ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 

,! ILLUSION LA/$ = A SEASON1 DUR+ :I* TWO SONS ( ,MAGID9S & ,CON-]R ! RUMC>RI]1 GR[N Y\?S1 CAME TO ,KEKIONGA FROM ! M>% BY ! ,CLE> ,LAKE4 ,!IR VILLAGE HAD DISP]S$4 ,! ,/RAIT'S RUM & FUR GANGS HAD BE5 US+ ,CON- ]R TO R$UCE ! ,BRE?R5'S CONV]TS TO ! GANGS' APP5DAGES1 & ! CONV]TS HAD MOV$ !IR VILLAGE TO ! ,MORN+L&4 ,! Y\?S1 FOND NEI!R ( ! CONV]TS NOR ( ! GANGS1 HAD LEFT !IR FA!R & ,MAGID9S AT ! M>% ) !IR Y\NG] *ILDR54 

,APTEGIZHEK1 TOGE!R ) FE>-DRIV5 ,EA/BRAN* K91 WAS BACK 9 ,KEKIONGA SOON 5\<2 HE CAME %ORTLY AFT] ,SIG5AK >RIV$ ) T]ROR-/RICK5 REFUGEES FROM ! ,WABA%4 

,APTEGIZHEK & ! PEOPLE FROM ! M\ND VILLAGE W]5'T 9JUR$2 NO >M$ GANGS HAD ATTACK$ !M4 ,YET !Y LOOK$ & SPOKE AS IF1 LIKE ! ANCI5T ,RIV]PEOPLE1 !Y HAD SE5 M\NTA9-SIZ$ :ITE S]P5TS MOV+ ACROSS ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY SWALL[+ ALL LIFE1 AS IF !Y HAD SE5 ! FLY+ CONTRIVANCES ( MY *ILDHOOD'S DREAM4 

,AFT] ,APTEGIZHEK & ! O!RS M>K$ ,H>R-M>R'S LEAF1 ! HEADMAN LEFT ! PROMIS$ DETA*M5T NE> ! M\ND VILLAGE & MOV$ ON2 ,SIG5AK W\LD TELL US :]E ,H>R-M>R W5T NEXT4 

,! DETA*M5T1 HEAD$ BY A FAT MAN CALL$ ,SUN-CLE>1 REMOV$ ALL L&SUCK]S :O CROSS$ ! RIV] TO SQUAT ON ! NOR!RN %ORE2 IT SEEM$ 9T5T ON C>RY+ \T ITS OBLIGATION4 ,IT WAS EV5 RE9=C$ BY MORE >M$ M5 SO ?AT NO SQUATT]S W\LD BE MISS$4 

,LULL$ BY ,SUN-CLE>'S CONSCI5TI\SNESS1 ! M\ND VILLAGE K9 W]E SL[ TO NOTICE ?AT HEADMAN ,SUN-CLE>'S [N CAMP1 ! >MY ?AT KEPT ,9VAD]S \T ( ! ,VALLEY1 WAS ITSELF SWALL[+ ALL ! LIFE SURR\ND+ IT4 ,=E/S W]E FALL+2 DEAD ANIMALS LAY :]E !Y HAD BE5 %OT1 ROTT+2 TAME ANIMALS BELL[$ 9 PICKET$ 5CLOSURES ( B>E E>?4 ,ROOTK9 LOOK$ ON ) FASC9ATION1 9CR$UL\S ( :AT !Y SAW1 AS IF 5TRANC$4 

,HEADMAN ,SUN-CLE> WAS MISNAM$2 HE WAS MURKY2 NONE C\LD FA?OM HIS REAL 9T5TIONS4 ,ONLY AFT] QUE/ION+ ,SUN- CLE>'S >M$ M5 & REFLECT+ ON :AT !Y HE>D DID IT BEG9 TO DAWN ON ,APTEGIZHEK & O!RS ?AT ! DETA*M5T ,H>R- M>R HAD LEFT BEH9D WAS A L&GANG & ?AT ,SUN-CLE> WAS ITS HEADMAN4 ,IT WAS A L&GANG CONSI/+ ( >M$ M5 :O HAD S]V$ OV]MAN ,UA-%N-TN S9CE ! DAYS ( HIS SCALP+ ( ,JUMON & ,LEKOM&A ,%AK & HIS RETREAT ) ,BRA-DUCK'S BAGGAGE4 ,IT FULFILL$ ITS OBLIGATION TO ,ROOTK9 BY REMOV+ FROM ! ,VALLEY ALL ,9VAD]S :O HAD NOT BE5 ,UA-%N-TN'S ASSOCIATES1 ALL :O SQUATT$ )\T ITS P]MISSION4 

,! DETA*M5T QUICKLY BECAME A VILLAGE ?AT 5CROA*$ ON ! ,RIV]PEOPLE'S M\NDS4 ,! =E/ SURR\ND+ IT BECAME A VA/ CLE>+4 ,DEVA/ATION SU* AS ,EA/BRAN* K9 HAD SE5 ON !IR ,OCEAN%ORE DUR+ A G5]ATION WAS SE5 DUR+ LESS ?AN A SEASON AT ! M\? ( ! ,MUSK+UM4 ,! ,S\?BRAN* VILLAGE BY ! M\NDS WAS SOON SURR\ND$ BY >M$ M5 :O W]E 9DI/+UI%ABLE FROM ! LONELY PIONE]S1 ! L&SUCK]S SWEAT+ & LABOR+ OV] !IR 5CLOS$ TAME ANIMALS & TAME PLANTS DE/9$ TO FATT5 L&GANG HEADM5 & !IR AG5TS1 L&SUCK]S ANSW]ABLE = !IR EV]Y ACT TO HEADMAN ,SUN-CLE>2 ?OSE :O EXHIBIT$ ANY 9DEP5D5CE W]E 5CLOS$ 9 A WOOD5 TRAP4 

,EA/BRAN* K9 !N LE>N$ ?AT ! METAMORPHOSIS ( ! DETA*M5T DIDN'T JU/ HAPP51 BUT HAD BE5 9T5D$2 HEADMAN ,SUN-CLE> POSSESS$ A TALK+ LEAF1 CALL$ AN ORD9ANCE1 9 :I* HIS FA!R ,UA-%N-TN EMP[]$ HIM TO REMOVE UNAU?ORIZ$ SQUATT]S1 TO DE/ROY ! TREES & ANIMALS :I* W]E ! %ELT]1 ! FOOD1 ! COMPANIONS ( ,ROOTK91 & AT LA/ TO KIDNAP ! *ILDR5 ( />V$-\T ,ROOTK9 & TURN !M 9TO L&-SCRAT*+ PIONE]S4 

,APTEGIZHEK & ! ,EA/BRAN* K91 :OSE ?\<TS W]E NEV] F> FROM ! MASSACRE ON ! ,TUSC>AWAS1 5VISION$ !MSELVES AS UN>M$ CONV]TS H]D$ LIKE C[S 9TO SQU>E LODGES1 PRAY]S ON !IR LIPS & TALK+ LEAVES 9 H&1 BESET BY GR9N+ ,POX-TN ,BOYS1 ,KRE-SOPS & ,KRAW-FURS1 !IR BODIES CUT TO PIECES1 !IR SCALPS REMOV$ BY B\NTYSEEK]S1 ! LODGES ) !IR SCRAPS AT LA/ BURN$4 

,T]RIFI$ BY ?IS VISION1 MANY ,EA/BRAN* K9 FL$ WE/W>D1 9T5D+ NOT TO /OP UNTIL !Y REA*$ ! ,/ONELODGE PEOPLE ( ! ,SUNSET ,M\NTA9S4 ,O!RS ACCOMPANI$ ,APTEGIZHEK TO !IR K9SMAN ,L5API'S ONE-TIME HOME1 TO K9 :O HAD MADE NO AGREEM5TS ) ,SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN OR HIS HEADM54 

,TI%A'S UNCLE ,JOZES WAS 9 ,KEKIONGA1 AS WAS ,SIG5AK ) FIVE ( HIS SEV5 SONS1 BUT )\T ,MANATO4 ,SIG5AK WAS TOGE!R ) HIS K9 ( ! ,LAKES = ! FIR/ TIME S9CE ! W> AGA9/ ! 5CLOSURES4 ,HE HAD BE5 SL[ 9 SEE+ ?R\< ! MASKS ( ! ,SCALP]S4 

,SIG5AK HAD C>RI$ ,WAGO%KWE'S >RO:EAD P5DANT 9TO ! ,SCALP]S' NET4 ,:5 ,TI%A LEFT ! ,WABA% TO SEEK REFUGE ON ! ,/RAIT1 ,SIG5AK REMA9$ 9 ,KI!PEKANU & PR\DLY PROCLAIM$ HIMSELF NEUTRAL2 HE REFUS$ TO BREAK HIS ALLIANCE ) ! ,S5YORES1 BUT HE WANT$ NO?+ TO DO ) ! ,S5YORES' ALLY ,RAH-J]KS-L>K4 

,SIG5AK HELP$ ,JOZES E/ABLI% A FUR PO/ 9 NE>BY ,UIATANON1 & :5 ,S&YPO9T RETURN$ TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 ,SIG5AK ACCOMPANI$ ,NAGMO'S Y\NGE/ SON ,W9AMEK ON ! C>AVAN R\TE FROM ,S&YPO9T'S PO/ ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM TO ,CAHOKIA4 

,:5 !Y LE>N$ ?AT OV]MAN ,UA-%N-TN HAD GRANT$ ! L[] ,WABA% ,VALLEY TO ,RAH-J]KS-L>K1 ,SIG5AK & HIS SON ,METEYA MADE A GAME \T ( GRANT+ EA* O!R ! ,OCEAN%ORE & ! ,SUNSET ,M\NTA9S1 AMUS+ !IR K91 ALL ( :OM W\LD HAVE LAU<$ IF ONE HAD TOLD !M ( ! ,SCALP]S' S+L5ESS ( PURPOSE2 !Y HAD SE5 ,RAH-J]KS-L>K PLUND]+ HIS [N M51 ,S5YORES PLUND]+ ,RAH-J]KS-L>K1 F9ALLY ,RAH- J]KS-L>K HEAD+ EA/ TO PLUND] O!R HEADM54 

,JOZES1 :O ONLY MOV$ BETWE5 ,UIATANON & ,KI!- PEKANU1 NEV]!LESS KNEW BETT] ?AN ,SIG5AK ?AT ! ,SCALP]S' GAMES HAD LA/+ CONSEQU5CES4 ,RAH-J]KS-L>K'S SUCCESSOR >RIV$ 9 ,UIATANON ) ! MESSAGE ?AT ONLY PEOPLE LOYAL TO ,UA-%N-TN W\LD BE ALL[$ TO LIVE 9 ! VILLAGE4 ,:5 ! VILLAG]S LAU<$1 ! ,SCALP]S PLUND]$ V>I\S LODGES1 9CLUD+ ,JOZES'S PO/4 ,LEMOND'S K9 UNIT$ ) ,PRAIRIEK9 & *AS$ ! ,SCALP]S \T ( ,UIATANON1 & W]E !N SUBJECT$ TO DAILY AMBU%ES & ATROCITIES4 ,JOZES & O!RS BEGG$ ,SIG5AK & ! ,PRAIRIEW>RIORS TO 9T]V5E1 BUT ,SIG5AK P]SI/$ 9 ?9K+ HIMSELF NEUTRAL4 

,AMONG ,SIG5AK'S SONS1 ONLY ,WAPMIMI ATTA*$ HIMSELF TO W>RIORS :O RAID$ ! ,SCALP]S4 ,ADOPT$ ,WILL-WELL WANT$ ONLY TO KEEP PEACE BETWE5 ,SIG5AK & ! ,SCALP]S4 ,METEYA WAS NEUTRAL BY 9CL9ATION4 ,P5SIVE ,WAKAYA /OOD AP>T1 & ,KULSWA & ,PILAWA W]E NOT YET OLD 5\< TO SC\T4 

,IT WAS LE>N$ ?AT A NEW HEADMAN ) AN >MY WAS CAMP$ AT ! FALLS ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]--?IS WAS ,H>R-M>R1 :O HAD JU/ LEFT HIS DETA*M5T AT ! ,MUSK+UM M\ND VILLAGE4 ,SIG5AK1 HIS OLD] SONS1 & A SIZABLE NUMB] ( W>RIORS LEFT ,KI!PEKANU TO C\NCIL ) ! NEW HEADMAN & TO MAKE HIM ANSW] = ! ,SCALP]S' ATROCITIES4 

,HEADMAN ,H>R-M>R1 ) ,WILL-WELL TRANSLAT+1 PROMIS$ TO REMOVE FROM ! ,WABA%1 NOT ONLY ! TR\BLEMAK]S1 BUT ALL O!R UNAU?ORIZ$ ,9VAD]S4 

,:5 ,SIG5AK TOLD ( ?IS1 ,I C\LDN'T BELIEVE ?AT ,WILL-WELL DIDN'T GRASP ,H>R-M>R'S 9T5TION TO REMOVE SOME :ILE AU?ORIZ+ O!RS4 

,! W>RIORS HAPPILY PUT M>KS ON ,H>R-M>R'S LEAF & RETURN$ T[>D ,KI!PEKANU4 

,AS !Y APPROA*$ !IR VILLAGE1 !Y SAW BURNT FIELDS1 BURNT CORN/ACKS1 BURNT LODGES4 ,MANATO & H] TWO Y\NGE/ SONS W]E AMONG ! A%ES4 

,! W>RIORS ( ?AT VILLAGE HAD BE5 NEUTRAL OR EV5 FRI5DS ( ?OSE :O BURN$ IT4 ,NONE ( ! W>RIORS W]E DEAD4 

,! DEAD W]E ALL OLD PEOPLE & WOM5 & *ILDR54 

,JOZES1 :O HAD N[ LO/ HIS PO/ 9 ,KI!PEKANU AS WELL1 WAS RETURN+ FROM ,UIATANON :5 ! MASSACRE OCCURR$4 ,>M$ M5 5CIRCL$ ! VILLAGE1 A FEW 5T]$4 ,!RE W]E TW5TY HORSES 9 ! VILLAGE & ! >M$ M5 WANT$ !M4 ,T9AMI & O!R VILLAGE WOM5 RESI/$4 ,! >M$ M5 BROKE \T 9 A FR5ZY ( %OOT+1 /ABB+ & SCALP+1 LETT+ NONE ESCAPE1 AT LA/ BURN+ ! REMA9S4 ,T9AMI WAS AMONG ! BURNT REMA9S4 

,JOZES HAD NEV] SE5 ANY?+ LIKE IT2 NEI!R HAD ,SIG5AK4 ,! W>RIORS1 ,JOZES1 ,SIG5AK & HIS REMA9+ SONS1 ALL HEAD$ DIRECTLY TO ,KEKIONGA1 :]E !Y KNEW !Y W\LD F9D W>RIORS :O W]E ALLI$ ) NO ,9VAD]S4 

,JOZES %OOK ) FE>4 ,SIG5AK & ,WAKAYA N>RAT$4 ,:5 !Y W]E DONE1 ,APTEGIZHEK EMBRAC$ ,WAKAYA AS HE HAD BE5 EMBRAC$ BY ,ISADOR AFT] ,LOKASKWE'S DEA?4 ,SIG5AK'S RAGE COMP5SAT$ = ALL HIS YE>S ( NEUTRALITY2 HIS RAGE MADE EV]Y W>RIOR'S HE>T BLAZE4 

,WE S5T A BELT TO ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS4 ,VIRTUALLY EV]YONE CAME TO ! ,KEKIONGA C\NCIL4 

,ON ! C\NCILGR\ND1 ,I HELP$ ,NANIKIBI LI<T ?REE FIRES4 ,!RE WAS NO RUM1 !RE W]E NO GIFTS1 !RE W]E NONE ( ! ACCRETIONS ?AT HAD DIMM$ \R FIRES S9CE MY ANCE/OR ,NAAN- GISI'S DAYS4 ,I FELT ?AT SOME?+ ALMO/ LO/ BECAME RECON/ITUT$ DUR+ ?AT ANGRY C\NCIL & C]EMONY4 ,WE W]E ALL TOGE!R3 ,YAHATASE'S1 ,B9ESIKWE'S & ,*ACAPWE'S HEIRS ) K9 FROM ! ,OCEAN%ORE1 ! M\NTA9S1 ! VALLEYS & ! PRAIRIES4 ,WAGO%KWE'S ,NAMAKWE WAS ) H] TWO BRO!RS AT LA/4 ,OA%I'S PACT BRO!RS W]E ) EA* O!R AGA9 & ,OA%I'S SON WAS ) !IR SONS4 ,EV5 A ,R$COAT FROM ,HO*ELAGA TOOK P>T 9 ! C\NCIL2 ,NAMAKWE'S DAU<T] ,MIK5OKWE HAD MADE HIM MY & ,NANIKIBI'S NEPHEW4 ,CALL$ ,%&ONE1 ?IS TALKATIVE MAN WAS BETT] 9=M$ AB\T ! ,SCALP]S' =CES ?AN ANY ( ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS4 

,SIG5AK & HIS HO!AD$ SON ,GIZES1 AS WELL AS ,NAMAKWE'S & ,BATFS Y\?FUL ,NAWAK1 WANT$ TO SET \T IMM$IATELY & P\NCE ON ! NE>E/ ,9VAD]S4 

,M9I & ,ALE%I1 AS WELL AS ,NANIKIBI1 WANT$ TO WAIT UNTIL ONE ( ! ,SCALP]S' >MIES MOV$4 ,SIG5AK'S ,METEYA & ,WAKAYA1 AS WELL AS ,APTEGIZHEK1 URG$ ,SIG5AK TO WAIT & PREP>E = AN 5C\NT] MORE SIGNIFICANT ?AN A RAID4 

,BO? ,METEYA & ,WAKAYA LI/5$ 9 RAPT ATT5TION TO MY & ,NANIKIBI'S SONGS & /ORIES2 ,SIG5AK HAD TOLD !M ( NO?+ O!R ?AN ! W> ( ! ,R$E>? K94 ,WAKAYA WAS WIDE-EY$ AS HE GAZ$ ON ! B>K SCROLL ,APTEGIZHEK UNROLL$ = HIM4 ,! Y\? MADE ,APTEGIZHEK OR ,NANIKIBI OR ME REPEAT EV]Y DETAIL AB\T ! WORLD'S EXT5T1 ! NAMES ( ! ANCI5T PEOPLE1 ! NAMES ( ! VANI%$ & ! NE>LY VANI%$4 ,SL[LY ! ?\<TS SANK 93 ,WAGO%KWE'S ?\<TS1 ,SAGI- KWE'S1 ,YAHATASE'S2 ! Y\?'S EYES BURN$ ) A DESIRE TO PU% ! MURD]\S ,9VAD]S AWAY4 

,WAKAYA G5]\SLY (F]$ HIS ?\<TS TO HIS OLD] BRO!R ,WILL-WELL1 BUT ! ADOPT$ Y\? WAS NO ,LOKASKWE4 ,WILL-WELL %OOK ) FE>1 LIKE ,JOZES1 LIKE ,%ECOGOSIKWE HAD %AK5 :5 %E HAD PULL$ ,APTEGIZHEK TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 LIKE ,MAGID9S MU/ HAVE %AK5 :5 %E HAD LEFT H] ,EA/BRAN* K9 TO SEEK REFUGE 9 RUMC>RI] ,CON-]R'S PO/4 

,I DIDN'T TRU/ ! N]V\S ,WILL-WELL1 :O CLUNG TO ,SIG5AK & SAID NO?+ TO ANYONE2 BUT ,I DIDN'T TRU/ MANY CLOS] K91 AMONG !M ,NAGMO'S SONS1 ,MAGID9S' SONS1 MY [N ,TOP9BI & ,CAKIMA4 

,WE KNEW ! ,SCALP]S W\LD NOT COME TO SEEK US 9 ,KEKIONGA4 ,WE W\LD HAVE TO SEEK !M4 ,!Y ATTACK$ WOM5 & *ILDR51 & TURN$ ON W>RIORS ONLY :5 ! W>RIORS W]E UN>M$ & BEGG+ TO C\NCIL1 LIKE ,%AWANO4 ,!Y EXCLUD$ *ANCE & FAIRNESS AT ! V]Y \TSET2 !Y FAC$ W>RIORS ONLY IF !Y W]E C]TA9 ( OV]:ELM+ SUP]IORITY4 ,! MURD]]S ( ,LOKASKWE HAD NO NE$ = WIT1 SKILL OR D>+2 !Y W]E PEOPLE :O HUNT$ WOLVES1 DE] & BEAV] ) RIFLES1 9 A HUNT :]E !RE'S NO DANG] ( RETALIATION1 EV5 ! RABBIT'S AGA9/ ! WOLF4 ,!Y DIDN'T HUNT1 !Y P5N$ !IR *ICK5S 9 & !N SIMPLY WRUNG ! NECKS ( TAME ANIMALS :O C\LDN'T FLEE4 

,WE ?\<T !RE W]E TWO L>GE >MIES 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,! ,R$COAT ,%&ONE 9SI/$ !RE WAS ONLY ONE1 ,H>R-M>R'S4 ,! CONC5TRATION >\ND ! FAT ,SUN-CLE> AT ! ,MUSK+UM WAS ANY?+ BUT CLE>4 ,NO ONE KNEW IF IT WAS A BUDD+ >MY1 OR ! BRA9 ( ! 5TIRE 9VASION1 OR SIMPLY A GA!R+ ( L&GANGS FATT5+ !MSELVES ) GIFTS FROM ?OSE TO :OM !Y GRANT$ PORTIONS ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 

,WE DID KN[ ?AT ,H>R-M>R'S WAS AN >MY1 F> FROM ITS ,PIT-/R5G? /RON<OLD1 CAMP$ BY ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]'S FALLS AT ! WE/]N 5D ( ! ,VALLEY1 IMPLEM5T+ ,H>R-M>R'S ONLY CONCRETE PROMISE3 TO REMOVE UNAU?ORIZ$ SQUATT]S FROM UNMEASUR$ L&S4 

,ALE%I JOK+LY EXPLA9$ ?AT ,H>R-M>R'S PROMISE WAS NOT A LIE BUT A HALF-TRU?1 S9CE IT WAS NOT ,H>R-M>R'S >MY BUT A DIFF]5T GANG1 ,KRE-SOP'S HEIRS1 :O DID ! MEASUR+1 & /ILL ANO!R GANG1 ,UA-%N-TN'S & ,DONE-MORE'S AG5TS1 :O DID ! AU?ORIZ+4 

,WE KNEW ?AT ,SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN1 OV]MAN ( ! LEAGUE ( ,SLAV]S1 ,*EAT]S & ,WIT*BURN]S1 WAS /ILL COMMITT$ TO 9VAD+ ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY2 HE HAD BE5 TRY+ TO DO IT = NE>LY =TY YE>S1 & HIS LEAGUE HAD BE5 =M$ = ?AT PURPOSE4 ,BUT ,%&ONE TOLD US OV]MAN ,UA-%N-TN WANT$ TO CONQU] ! ,VALLEY )\T A BATTLE1 TO DEFEAT ! 5EMY )\T EV] FAC+ HIM4 ,HE S5T RE9=CEM5TS TO ,H>R-M>R1 BUT HIS 9T]CEPT$ MESSAGES ALL URG$ ,H>R-M>R TO PUNI% ! 5EMY1 TO FLOG ! 5EMY1 YET TO AVOID BATTLES4 ,! ,SCALP] SAW US AS RECALCITRANT HORSES OR *ILDR52 HE SAW HIMSELF AS ! HORSE-BREAK] OR BULLY+ FA!R4 ,HE W\LD TREAT US AS HE TREAT$ HIS *ILDR54 ,DEMOCRACY WAS HIS NAME = ! WORLD ( *ILDR51 9FANTILIZ$ M5 & IMPRISON$ WOM5 CR[D$ LIKE TAME ANIMALS 9TO HIS L&GANGS' 5CLOSURES4 

,H>R-M>R WAS UNABLE TO FLOG HORSES :O W]5'T 5CLOS$1 SO = ! TIME BE+ HE CONT5T$ HIMSELF ) ILLUSORY FLOGG+4 ,HE SURR\ND$ HIMSELF ) RUMSACKS & ) GIFT- SEEK]S LIKE MY SON ,TOP9BI1 & GOT !M TO PLACE M>KS ON LEAVES ?AT SPOKE ( ,UA-%N-TN AS !IR ,GREAT ,FA!R4 

,BUT ,H>R-M>R WASN'T WITLESS4 ,IT SOON DAWN$ ON HIM ?AT GIFT-SEEK]S LIKE ,TOP9BI & HIS C\S9S ,NANGISI & ,W9AMEK LAU<$ AT HIM :5 HE TURN$ HIS BACK2 !Y W]E WILL+ TO M>K ANY?+ TO COMP5SATE = !IR POOR FUR HUNTS4 ,H>R- M>R GREW RE/IVE1 & \R BOR$ SC\TS HAD TO WAT* = HIS NEXT MOVE4 ,! ,KEKIONGA C\NCIL WAS READY :5 SC\TS REPORT$ ?REE MOVEM5TS ( ! ,SCALP]S' >MIES4 

,SUN-CLE> GAVE ! NAME ,M>R-YET TO HIS /RON<OLD BY ! M\ND VILLAGE ON ! ,MUSK+UM & !N MOV$ WE/W>D TO ! ,S]P5T ,M\ND1 ! PLACE :]E ! LEG5D>Y ,WISKE & HIS ,ROOTK9 FIR/ MET ! ,VALLEY'S ,RIV]PEOPLE4 ,SUN-CLE>'S 9T5TIONS W]E /ILL UNCLE>4 

,H>R-M>R'S =CE LEFT ! FALLS & SPLIT 9TO TWO GR\PS1 ONE HEAD+ T[>D ,KEKIONGA1 ! O!R T[>D ! ,WABA% DE/ROY+ EV]Y FIELD & UNDEF5D$ VILLAGE ON ITS PA?4 

,SIG5AK BURN$ TO MEET ! =CE MOV+ T[>D ! ,WABA%1 TO AV5GE ! MASSACRE ( ,MANATO1 ,KULSWA & ,PILAWA1 TO REALIZE ,WAGO%KWE'S DREAM ( REMOV+ ! ,9VAD]S4 ,HIS SONS ,METEYA1 ,WAPMIMI & ,WILL-WELL ACCOMPANI$ HIS =CE ( ,PRAIRIEK91 AS DID ,NANIKIBI & ,I4 ,HIS SON ,WAKAYA /AY$ ) ,APTEGIZHEK & ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS TO DEF5D ,KEKIONGA4 

,AS WE APPROA*$ ! ,WABA%1 WE LE>N$ ?AT ! ,SCALP]S HAD DE/ROY$ RE-RIS5 ,KI!PEKANU = ! SECOND TIME1 & SCALP$ ! PEOPLE ( SEV]AL O!R VILLAGES :OSE W>RIORS W]E 9 ,KEKIONGA4 ,BUT WE NEV] MET ! >MY4 ,AS SOON AS !Y LE>N$ ?AT W>RIORS W]E HEAD+ T[>D ! ,WABA%1 ! ,SCALP]S' =CE DISP]S$1 ALL SIX HUNDR$ ( !M1 9 AS MANY DIRECTIONS1 )\T KN[+ H[ MANY W>RIORS W]E HEAD+ T[>D !M4 ,WE W]E 5RAG$ ?AT SO MANY ( US HAD GONE TO MEET !M2 ,SIG5AK & ,METEYA & A FEW SC\TS C\LD HAVE DISP]S$ !M4 

,IF MO/ ( US HAD /AY$ 9 ,KEKIONGA1 WE MI<T HAVE PREV5T$ ! DEA? ( ,M9I4 ,! >MY WE W5T TO MEET WAS A DIV]SION1 & IT ACCOMPLI%$ ITS PURPOSE BY TY+ US UP4 

,! >MY ?AT MOV$ T[>D ,KEKIONGA WAS ,H>R-M>R'S MA9 =CE1 AN >MY ?REE TIMES AS NUM]\S AS ! W>RIORS 9 ,KEKIONGA4 ,?IS >MY1 LIKE ! O!R1 ATTACK$ VILLAGES ON ITS PA?1 BUT ! VILLAGES W]E EMPTY AS !IR ,ROOTK9 HAD BE5 W>N$4 ,EV5 SO1 ,H>R-M>R ATTACK$ ?\S&S ( BU%ELS ( CORN1 5\< TO FE$ ! ,VALLEY1 & HE ATTACK$ SQUA% & BEANS1 AS IF E>?'S GIFTS W]E HIS 5EMY4 ,MANY ( ! ,S\?BRAN* VILLAGES NE> ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV] W]E DE/ROY$ = ! F\R? TIME S9CE ,KRE-SOP'S & ,DONE-MORE'S W>4 

,KEKIONGA WAS EMPTY :5 ,H>R-M>R REA*$ IT2 EV5 FOOD HAD BE5 TAK5 TO ! =E/1 AS MU* ( IT AS HORSES C\LD PULL4 ,?REE HUNDR$ ( ,H>R-M>R'S M5 5T]$ ,KEKIONGA TO BURN IT1 BUT A HUNDR$ W>RIORS ) ,WAKAYA1 ,APTEGIZHEK & ,M9I W]E WAIT+ 9 ! =E/1 AMBU%$ ! ,9VAD]S & DROVE ! REMNANTS BACK TO ,H>R-M>R'S =CE4 ,?9K+ HE HAD DISCOV]$ ! POSITION ( ! MA9 BODY ( W>RIORS1 ,H>R-M>R MOV$ HIS 5TIRE >MY T[>D ! SPOT FROM :I* ,WAKAYA HAD SPRUNG--& WAS TRAPP$ ON ?REE SIDES BY ! W>RIORS ) ,ISADOR1 ,BATI & ,TI%A4 ,NE>LY A F\R? ( ,H>R-M>R'S NUM]\S >MY FELL4 ,MO/ ( ! PACKHORSES W]E CAPTUR$4 ,H>R-M>R & HIS SURVIV+ M5 FL$ 9 A R\T1 BUT NOT BE=E HAV+ GUNN$ D[N NE>LY A HUNDR$ ( ! BRAVE/ & MO/ BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BE+S ( ! WE/]N ,LAKES1 AMONG !M ,M9I1 KEEP] ( ! BELTS ( ,%UTAHA'S VILLAGE1 ,*ACAPWE'S & ,AHSEPONA'S GREAT-GR&SON1 MY C\S94 

,M9FS SON ,ISADOR1 HIS NEPHEW ,TI%A1 HIS ,NIZOKWE'S BRO!R ,BATI W]E UNABLE TO HIDE !IR TE>S4 ,NIZOKWE >RIV$ AS SOON AS ! NEWS REA*$ ! ,/RAIT--SIL5T1 LIKE MY MO!R ,M5OKO BE=E H] 5D1 ALL H] MUSIC GONE4 

,NANIKIBI 

  

,MANY 9 ,KEKIONGA REJOIC$ AFT] ! VICTORY1 AMONG !M ,METEYA & ,WAPMIMI1 :O DIDN'T KN[ ! L&GANGS WELL1 & ,APTEGIZHEK1 :O LONG$ = PEACE & ?\<T ! 9VASION HAD BE5 /OPP$1 ITS CUDGEL BROK54 

,RUNN]S W5T 9 ALL DIRECTIONS1 NOT ONLY TO VILLAGES ( VICTORI\S & ( FALL5 W>RIORS1 BUT ALSO TO ! ,SCALP]S' /RON<OLDS AT ! ,S]P5T ,M\ND & ! ,PIT-/R5G?4 ,! MESSAGES W]E BRIEF & CLE>3 ! ,9VAD]S' >MY HAD BE5 DECISIVELY DEFEAT$2 !Y W]E N[ ASK$ TO PULL ALL !IR SQUATT]S1 MEASUR]S1 L&GANG AG5TS & 5CLOSURES \T ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 ,?OSE :O HELP$ =MULATE ! MESSAGES--,SIG5AK & ,WAKAYA ) HELP FROM ,ISADOR1 ,APTEGIZHEK & ,ALE%I-- /ILL BELIEV$1 AS ,M9I HAD BELIEV$1 ?AT ! ,9VAD]S UND]/OOD !IR [N LANGUAGE & ABID$ BY !IR [N RULES4 ,! ,SCALP]S HAD TOLD UNDEFEAT$ ,ROOTK9 ?AT CONQU]ORS 9H]IT$ ! L&1 ?AT ! DEFEAT$ HAD NO RI<T TO L&4 ,UA-%N-TN HIMSELF HAD BE5 DEFEAT$1 NOT ONCE BUT EV]Y TIME HE HAD S5T AN >MY AGA9/ WE/]N W>RIORS4 ,BY HIS [N T]MS & RULES HE WAS OBLIG$ TO RETREAT1 NOT ONLY FROM ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 BUT FROM ! ,OCEAN%ORE AS WELL4 

,BUT ! ,SCALP]S GRASP$ !IR [N T]MS NO BETT] ?AN \RS2 !Y OBS]V$ NO RULES1 RESPECT$ NO LIMITS1 NOT EV5 !IR [N2 FAIRNESS WAS AS /RANGE TO !M AS K9%IP & GIV+4 

,!IR ANSW] CAME AT ! 5D ( A %ORT W9T]1 DUR+ ! TIME ( GAMES & DANCES CELEBRAT+ E>?'S R5EWAL1 :5 IT WAS LEA/ EXPECT$2 PREVI\S ATTACKS HAD COME AFT] ! FURS W]E DRESS$ & ! COM & VEGETABLES H>VE/$1 SO ! ,9VAD]S C\LD PLUND] ALL !Y C\LD C>RY BE=E DE/ROY+ ! RE/4 

,! ,SCALP]S LE>N$ ONLY ONE ?+ FROM \R MESSAGES & FROM !IR HEADMAN'S DEFEAT3 TO AVOID ,KEKIONGA1 TO CONFRONT ONLY ?OSE !Y C\LD OV]:ELM1 TO W> ONLY AGA9/ ?OSE !Y C\LD BUT*] LIKE !IR 5CLOS$ CATTLE4 ,! ANSW] CROSS$ ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV] 9 ! =M ( A ?\S& B\NTYSEEK]S FROM ! ,S\?L&4 

,! M5 ON ,UA-%N-TN'S C\NCIL DID NOT BOA/ ( !IR OV]MAN'S Y\?FUL SCALP+ EXP$ITIONS4 ,!Y N[ SCALP$ ONLY BY DEPUTY4 ,!IR DEPUTIES FROM ! ,S\?L& W]E L$ BY A HEADMAN NAM$ ,! ,T]ROR BY HIS [N M54 ,!IR MODEL WAS ! SWA? ( DESOLATION CUT ?R\< ! ,TURTLELEAGUE'S WOODL&S BY ,SULLI$-VAN4 ,!Y MOV$ FROM !IR L&+PLACE1 ACROSS ! PRAIRIES1 ALL ! WAY TO ! ,WABA%1 MURD]+ & SCALP+ ALL VILLAG]S !Y C\LD REA*1 KILL+ ALL ANIMALS1 LOOT+ & BURN+ ALL VILLAGES4 ,ALMO/ ALL !IR VICTIMS W]E VILLAG]S :O HAD NEV] W>R$ AGA9/ ,SCALP]S1 SOME ( :OM HAD BE5 ! ,SCALP]S' ALLIES4 ,!Y DE/ROY$ ,SIG5AK'S ,KI!PEKANU = ! ?IRD TIME1 & ON !IR RETURN1 :5 SURVIVORS W]E RAIS+ NEW LODGES & ,JOZES WAS AMONG !M GA!R+ ! REMA9S ( HIS PO/1 ,! ,T]ROR DE/ROY$ ,KI!PEKANU = ! F\R? TIME2 ,JOZES WAS AMONG ! SCALP$ VICTIMS4 

,I HAD NEV] BE5 CLOSE TO ,LEKOM&A ,%AK'S SON1 NO ONE HAD2 BUT ! NEWS ( HIS DEA? WAS PA9FUL4 ,MANYAN'S SON WAS ,M9I'S C\S9 & ,TI%A'S UNCLE2 HE HAD BE5 ,OA%I'S & ,M9I'S *ILDHOOD FRI5D & PACT BRO!R1 & HAD 9 ! 5D REJO9$ !M4 

,JOZES'S ?REE SONS1 ,NANIKIBI'S & MY NEPHEWS1 W]E AMONG ! W>RIORS4 ,M>IKWE1 ,JOZES'S DAU<T]1 HAD NO DESIRE TO REMA9 9 ,KI!PEKANU4 ,I ACCOMPANI$ H] & H] BRO!R ,TI%A'S *ILDR5 ,LIKET & ,JOSE TO ! ,/RAIT4 

,FE> ( ! ,SCALP]S' ATROCITIES ALSO L$ MY ,CAKIMA ) H] ?REE Y\NG SONS TO SEEK SAFETY ON ! ,/RAIT4 ,NOGEWI1 MO!R ( MY SON'S *ILDR5 ,MIMIKWE & ,NESOKI1 HAD BE5 AMONG ! VICTIMS MASSACR$ AT ,KI!PEKANU4 

,IF ,! ,T]ROR'S ATROCITIES W]E 9T5D$ TO 9TIMIDATE ,KEKIONGA'S W>RIORS & NOT M]ELY SATISFY ! BLOODLU/ ( FRU/RAT$ M5 TOO D5ATUR$ TO CONFRONT ! P[] ?AT /UNT$ !M1 !Y FAIL$ TO A*IEVE !IR AIM4 ,! GR\ND ( ,KEKIONGA TREMBL$ FROM UN5D+ W> DANCES1 ! AIR WAS ?ICK ) W> CRIES4 ,R$ BELTS W]E S5T TO ! FUR!/ CORN]S RUNN]S C\LD REA*1 FROM ! ,TURTLELEAGUE'S WOODL&S TO ! ,PLA9S ( M\NT$ ,R$E>? K9 & !IR WE/]N C\S9S4 ,W> P>TIES SET \T DAILY ) ,SIG5AK'S SONS1 ) ,ISADOR OR ,BATI4 ,APTEGIZHEK1 ,ISADOR & O!RS /ILL TRI$ TO /OP ! SCALP+ ( VICTIMS1 BUT MANY1 9CLUD+ ,SIG5AK & HIS SON ,WILL-WELL1 C\LDN'T BE RE/RA9$ FROM RECIPROCAT+ ! ,SCALP]S' REPULSIVE DE$4 

,IT WASN'T LONG BE=E NEWS CAME ?AT ! FAT HEADMAN CAMP$ BY ! ,S]P5T ,M\NT1 ,SUN-CLE>1 HAD />T$ TO MOVE4 ,HIS 9T5TIONS W]E F9ALLY CLE>1 EV5 TO ,MIK5OKWE'S ,R$COAT ,%&ONE4 ,SUN-CLE> PLAC$ HIMSELF AT ! HEAD ( ,H>R-M>R'S REMA9+ >MY1 & OV]MAN ,UA-%N-TN S5T HIM ?REE ?\S& MORE SEASON$ KILL]S1 A ?\S& ON HORSES1 TO GIVE HIM ABSOLUTE SUP]IORITY OV] ANY W> P>TY HE MI<T MEET4 ,HIS DE/9ATION WAS ALSO CLE>2 HE MOV$ AT A SNAIL'S PACE T[>D ,KEKIONGA1 FELL+ TREES TO BUILD 5CLOSURES AT EV]Y CROSS+1 AFRAID ( EV]Y BU% & GROVE4 

,I JO9$ ,NANIKIBI & ,SIG5AK & ! W>RIORS :O SET \T TO MEET ,SUN-CLE>'S =CE BE=E IT REA*$ ,KEKIONGA4 

,SIG5AK WAS NE>+ SIXTY W9T]S1 BUT HE REMA9$ FA/ & AGILE2 HE HAD A S5SE = ! TIM+ & AN EYE = ! AMBU%4 ,WAKAYA & ,WILL-WELL W]E LE>N+ QUICKLY4 

,AS SOON AS ,SIG5AK UTT]$ ! W> CRY1 BE=E ! HIDD5 W>RIORS HAD LEAP$ FROM ! =E/1 ,SUN-CLE>'S 5TIRE HUGE >MY COLLAPS$ LIKE SOME BEA/ ) FEET TOO ?9 = ! WEI<T ( ITS BODY4 ,FAT ,SUN-CLE>'S RESPONSE TO ! W> CRY WAS TO TURN HIS HORSE & TRY TO FLEE ?R\< HIS [N L9ES1 AWAY FROM ! 5EMY HE'D COME TO MEET4 ,SUN-CLE> FELL (F HIS HORSE & HAD HIMSELF C>RI$ AWAY BY RUNN]S4 ,HE RETA9$ HIS LIFE ONLY BECAUSE ! W>RIORS :O SAW HIM BUR/ \T LAU<+4 

,SUN-CLE>'S >MY1 >RAY$ 9 NEAT R[S LIKE ! CONTRIVANCE ( A SQU>E BRA91 ITS M5 BROK51 LIKE !IR HORSES1 TO ACT ONLY ON ! HEADMAN'S 9/RUCTIONS1 PANICK$ :5 IT LO/ ITS HEAD4 ,! NEAT R[S W]E LIKE CONSECUTIVE WALLS1 EA* BLOCK+ ! PREVI\S R['S RETREAT2 ! HY/]ICAL M5 %OT !IR WAY ?R\< ! WALLS1 KILL+ F> MORE ( !IR FELL[S ?AN \R >R[S REA*$1 LEAV+ A ?\S& CORPSES 9 ! FIELD4 

,WE/]N W>RIORS HAD NEV] SE5 SU* C>NAGE4 ,ALE%I WAS KILL$ BECAUSE HE PLANT$ HIMSELF 9 ! WAY ( A RETREAT+ MADMAN4 

,ALE%I & ,M9I HAD BO? BE5 AMONG ! W>RIORS :O HAD HUMILIAT$ ,SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN =TY SUMM]S E>LI]1 NE> ! =K ?AT MAKES ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]4 ,ALE%I HAD ONLY BE5 A BOY !N2 HE HAD GONE AS A SC\T4 

,!RE WAS NO VICTORY CELEBRATION 9 ,KEKIONGA4 ,SUN-CLE>'S LOSSES W]E AS GREAT AS ,BRA-DUCK'S HAD BE52 ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S HAD NEV] SUFF]$ A GREAT] DEFEAT4 ,WE LO/ FEW1 BUT C\LDN'T BE> A S+LE LOSS2 MANY W>RIORS HAD NO SURVIV+ K91 NEI!R ELD]S NOR WOM5 NOR *ILDR52 !Y HAD NEI!R FIELDS NOR LODGES TO RETURN TO4 ,A WORD ! L&GANGS W]E SAID TO BE US+ /UCK 9 \R ?ROATS2 ! WORD WAS ,EMPTY2 IT WAS BE+ US$ TO DESCRIBE V>I\S P>TS ( ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY4 

,AFT] \R DEFEAT ( ,SUN-CLE>1 ! ,/RAIT'S ,R$COATS W]E MU* FRI5DLI] TO US ?AN !Y HAD BE5 TO ,M9I :5 HE HAD BEGG$ = !IR HELP4 ,MIK5OKWE'S R$FROCK$ ,%&ONE & ,JOZES'S SON ,GAB9YA BR\<T ! ,/RAIT'S HEADMAN TO ,KEKIONGA1 O/5SIBLY TO JO9 US 9 CELEBRAT+ \R VICTORY & 9 M\RN+ ,ALE%I'S DEA?4 ,ALE%I1 BANI%$ BY ! ,R$COATS AFT] ! W> AGA9/ ! 5CLOSURES1 HAD BE5 !IR LOYAL ALLY S9CE ! SPLIT ( ! ,OCEAN%ORE ,9VAD]S 9TO TWO HO/ILE GANGS4 

,! HEADMAN'S REAL REASON = COM+ WAS TO PLACE HIMSELF AT ! HEAD ( ! VICTORI\S P>TY4 ,HE WANT$ TO R5EW ! ALLIANCE4 ,HE ?\<T WE HAD F\<T = ! WELLBE+ ( ! ,R$COATS' FUR GANGS4 ,HE WAS PLEAS$ TO HAVE WON A VICTORY ) SU* EASE1 ) NEI!R M5 NOR PROVISIONS NOR BLOODY CLA%ES4 ,HE WANT$ US TO CONT9UE TO KEEP ! ,VALLEY OP5 TO HIS FUR GANGS4 ,HIS ADVICE TO US WAS TO AGREE TO GRANT ! ,SCALP]S ! EMPTY PORTIONS ( ! ,VALLEY1 ) CLE>LY DEF9$ B\ND>IES1 LIKE ! ,MUSK+UM & ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV]1 9 ORD] TO KEEP ! RE/ ( ! ,VALLEY4 ,HE W\LD EV5 HELP US BY BUILD+ AN 5CLOSURE NE> ,KEKIONGA4 

,! C\NCIL+ W>RIORS W]E ALL REPELL$ BY ! ,R$COAT'S ADVICE1 ,APTEGIZHEK1 ,SIG5AK & ,WILL-WELL =EMO/ AMONG !M4 ,APTEGIZHEK SAID SU* ADVICE W\LD HAVE US ACCEPT ! MURD] ( \R K91 ! DE/RUCTION ( \R C]EMONIES1 VILLAGES & FIELDS2 SU* ADVICE W\LD HAVE US ACCEPT ?AT MASSACRES & ATROCITIES GAVE ! ,9VAD]S !IR COVET$ TITLE4 

,SIG5AK ANGRILY SAID HE W\LD RECOGNIZE NO ,9VAD]S 9 ANY P>T ( ! ,VALLEY1 HE W\LD ACCEPT NO B\ND>IES1 & HE W\LD MAKE NO AGREEM5TS4 ,HE SPOKE = MO/ ( ! W>RIORS 9 ,KEKIONGA4 

,! ,R$COAT !N TOLD US !RE W]E RUMORS ?AT ! ,SCALP]S W]E PREP>+ A YET L>G] >MY AT ! ,PIT-/R5G?1 ?IS ONE L$ BY A HEADMAN ,VA91 CALL$ ,MAD-ANT = HIS DEM5T$ KILL+ SPREES DUR+ ! ,SCALP]S' W> AGA9/ ! ,R$COATS4 

,FE>FUL ,WILL-WELL GREET$ ?IS NEWS ) SEEM+ C\RAGE2 HE BOA/$ HE W\LD C>RY ,SIG5AK'S ANGRY MESSAGE TO ! NEW ,PIT-/R5G? HEADMAN4 

,SIG5AK SAW ?R\< HIS ADOPT$ SON'S DISPLAY ( C\RAGE\S DEFIANCE4 ,HE SADLY TOLD ! Y\? HE HAD NOT E/EEM$ HIS O!R SONS ABOVE HIS ADOPT$ SON2 HE HAD ACCEPT$ :AT ,WILL- WELL GAVE & HE HAD GIV5 :AT HE C\LD2 HE HAD NO REPROA*ES2 ,WILL-WELL HAD A FA!R 9 ,KEKIONGA1 AS WELL AS F\R BRO!RS1 A Y\NG BRIDE1 A SON1 & NUM]\S C\S9S2 ,WILL-WELL WAS A ,ROOTP]SON1 HE WAS FREE TO *OOSE HIS [N PA?1 TO GO :]E HE PLEAS$4 

,WILL-WELL HAD SLEPT ) BAD DREAMS S9CE HE HAD RETURN$ TO BURNT ,KI!PEKANU & SE5 ! A%ES ( HIS Y\NG BRO!RS & !IR MO!R2 HIS FE> ( SU* AN 5D WAS GREAT] ?AN HIS K9%IP4 

,SIG5AK KNEW HE WAS LOS+ ANO!R SON1 & HE KNEW ?AT ! ,SCALP]S' >MY W\LD NOT TURN AWAY A W>RIOR :O /ILL REMEMB]$ !IR LANGUAGE1 :O HAD SC\T$1 SURPRIS$ & AMBU%$ ALONGSIDE ,SIG5AK'S SON ,WAKAYA2 !Y W]E 9 SORE NE$ ( SU* SC\TS4 ,SIG5AK REMEMB]$ ?AT ,WILL-WELL HAD (T5 SPOK5 ( ,R$COATS AS CONSPIRATORS :O HAD 9/IGAT$ ! W> BETWE5 ,ROOTK9 & L&GANGS1 & ( ,SCALP]S AS FRE$OM-LOV+ NATURAL ALLIES ( ,ROOTK9 AGA9/ ! REPRESSIVE ,R$COATS4 

,SIG5AK WASN'T PREP>$ = ! DEFECTOR'S FIR/ DE$1 :I* WAS P]V]SE4 ,! ADOPT$ SON SEEM$ 9T5T ON RUBB+ HIS FA!R'S FACE 9 DIRT4 ,WILL',WELL GUID$ A L&GANG AG5T1 A ,BLACK- COLL> & SEV]AL CAPTIVE ,PRAIRIEK9 TO A C\NCIL 9 ,CAHOKIA AT ! ,VALLEY'S WE/]NMO/ EXTREMITY4 ,WILL-WELL WAS WELCOM$ BY ! ,R$E>? & ,PRAIRIEK9 9 ,CAHOKIA AS A K9SMAN1 AS ,SIG5AK'S SON4 ,! ,BLACKCOLL>1 A SUCCESSOR TO ,BRO!R ,PO/-]R NAM$ ,BRO!R ,HACK-A-WELL1 PRES5T$ ! CAPTIVES AS A GIFT FROM PEOPLE :O1 HE SAID1 S\<T ONLY PEACE4 ,?IS ,BLACKCOLL> :O PRET5D$ ?AT ! MURD]]S ( HIS CONV]TS ON ! ,TUSC>AWAS W]E ALL ,BRE?R5 WAS OBVI\SLY NOT AS S9C]E A MAN AS ,BRO!R ,PO/-]R4 ,! L&GANG AG5T !N GOT ,R$E>? & ,PRAIRIEK9 TO AGREE NOT TO \/ HIS PEACELOV+ PEOPLE FROM !IR HOMES ON ! ,MUSK+UM 7PRECISELY ! B\ND>Y SUGGE/$ BY ! ,R$COATS SO HAT$ BY ,WILL-WELL74 ,! ,CAHOKIANS M>K$ ! AG5T'S LEAF2 ?OSE AMONG !M :O HAD HE>D ( ! ,MUSK+UM W]5'T SURE IF IT WAS ON ! ,OCEAN%ORE OR ACROSS ! ,OCEAN4 ,! L&GANGS C\LDN'T HAVE GONE FUR!R FROM ! ,MUSK+UM 9 SE>* ( !IR M>KS4 

,ALL ! TRICKS 9 ! BAG W]E FAMILI>1 BUT ,SIG5AK WAS ANG]$ BY ! V]Y EXI/5CE ( A LEAF :I* SPOKE ( ,WA- GO%KWE'S K9 GRANT+ ! EA/]N PORTION ( ! ,VALLEY TO ! ,SCALP]S4 

,! W> C\NCIL ?AT PREP>$ TO CONFRONT ! ,SCALP]S' NEWE/ >MY WAS SMALL] ?AN ! PREVI\S TWO4 ,MO/ W>RIORS :OSE VILLAGES HAD NOT BE5 DE/ROY$ LEFT ,KEKIONGA1 NOT BECAUSE !Y FE>$ ,MAD-ANT ,VA9'S >MY1 BUT BECAUSE !Y FE>$ ! ,EMPT9ESS ?AT W\LD BE ! LOT ( VILLAGES )\T W>RIORS 9 !M4 ,!RE REMA9$ 9 ,KEKIONGA ONLY ?OSE :O HAD NO:]E ELSE TO GO1 :O W]E NUM]\S 5\<1 TOGE!R ) !IR C\S9S FROM ! NE>BY ,/RAIT4 

,SIG5AK'S SONS1 ,WAKAYA & ,WAPMIMI 9 ! CIRCLE ( ,S\?BRAN* K91 ,METEYA ) ,NANIKIBI 9 ! CIRCLE ( ,FIREKEEP]S1 ,SIG5AK HIMSELF 9 ! CIRCLE ( ,PRAIRIEK91 DANC$ ) ! RESOLVE TO CONFRONT :ATEV] CAME AGA9/ !M4 ,?OSE ( ! ,/RAIT1 ,NAMAKWE'S SON ,NAWAK ) ,ISADOR & ! ,TURTLEFOLK1 ,TI%A ) ,BATI & ! ,ROOTK91 DANC$ ) LESS RESOLVE1 & ,MIK5OKWE'S R$FROCK$ ,%&ONE AS WELL AS ,T9AMI'S SON ,GAB9YA W]E ALREADY SEEK+ REFUGE 9 ! 5CLOSURE ! ,/RAIT'S ,R$COATS RAIS$ NE> ,KEKIONGA4 

,I DIDN'T JO9 ANY ( ! F\R CIRCLES4 ,I DIDN'T PA9T MYSELF1 EV5 ?\< MANY DREAMS & SIGNS TOLD ME ?IS W\LD BE ! LA/ C\NCIL 9 ,KEKIONGA & ,I W\LD NEV] AGA9 DANCE ) ! W>RIORS4 ,I FELT MYSELF TURN+ 9TO A WR9KL$ OLD WOMAN1 TOO SL[ & WEAK TO ACCOMPANY Y\?FUL W>RIORS41 ,I REGRETT$ NOT HAV+ FOLL[$ ! PA? ,LOKASKWE HAD S\<T1 NOT HAV+ LIV$1 LOV$1 SUNG1 PLANT$ & DI$ ) A JOYFUL SONG ON MY LIPS AMONG WAV+ CORN/ALKS & SPREAD+ V9ES4 ,I REGRETT$ HAV+ FOLL[$ ! TWI/$ PA?1 ,WABSK5I'S PA?1 A KILL]'S PA?4 

,HEAVY ) SU* ?\<TS1 ,I WASN'T HO/ILE TO ,TOP9BI :5 HE CAME TO ,KEKIONGA ) HIS GIFTS4 ,HE WAS FOLL[+ SOME K9D ( /RAI<T PA?1 A C>RI]'S PA?1 ANCI5T ,NANGISI'S1 NOT ,WABSK5I'S4 ,HE SPOKE RADIANTLY ( MY & ,NANIKIBI'S GR&*ILDR51 AS IF !Y ALL W]E WELL4 ,MY ,CAKIMA ALREADY HAD F\R1 & ALL ( !M PRES]V$ ! OLD NAMES1 IF NOT ! OLD WAYS4 ,9/EAD ( FAC+ ! BLOOD & GORE1 ,I C\LD HAVE BE5 A GR&MO!R TO !SE *ILDR52 ,NANIKIBI & ,I C\LD HAVE SUNG TO !M ( ,YAHATASE1 ,MIOGWEWE1 ,%UTAHA1 EV5 ,WAGO%KWE2 WE C\LD DIE ) ! ?\<T ?AT !SE *ILDR5 W\LD REALIZE \R DREAMS BETT] ?AN WE HAD4 

,NANIKIBI'S ?\<TS W]E F> FROM M9E4 ,HE DANC$2 HE SEEM$ AS Y\?FUL & AGILE AS ,SIG5AK HAD APPE>$ BE=E ! CONFRONTATION ) ,SUN-CLE>4 ,NANIKIBI KNEW ! EYES ( ! Y\?S W]E ON HIM1 P>TICUL>LY ,WAKAYA'S1 ,METEYA'S1 ,APTEGIZHEK'S1 ,TI%A'S4 ,HE HAD SUNG TO !M ( ! OBJECTS 9 HIS BUNDLE1 ( ! WORLD DESCRIB$ ON ,APTEGIZHEK'S SCROLL1 ( ! REGIONS S9K+ BEYOND ! REA* ( MEMORY1 & HE WAS AS RESOLV$ AS !Y TO KEEP YET ANO!R VILLAGE1 FIELD OR EV5 S+LE TREE FROM S9K+4 

,SC\TS TOLD US ,MAD-ANT ,VA9'S >MY WAS LEAV+ ! ,PIT- /R5G? ) EAGLES ON ITS /&>DS1 CROSS+ ! VALLEY ( M\NDS SO LOV$ BY ,S\?BRAN* K91 SO BRIEFLY A REFUGE TO ! REMA9+ ,EA/BRAN* K94 ,! >MY WAS MOV+ T[>D ,SUN- CLE>'S =M] /RON<OLD BY ! ,S]P5T ,M\ND1 ) EA* /EP WIP+ \T BEAUTY ITS D5ATUR$ L&SUCK]S C\LDN'T GRASP1 ) EA* /EP DE/ROY+ ! LIV+ & !IR FOOD1 PLUND]+ E>?'S COV]1 RAZ+ EV5 ! GREAT M\NDS1 ! TRACES1 ! MEMORY--) EA* /EP MAK+ AN 9F9ITE WORLD UN9HABITABLE1 TURN+ IT 9TO ! ,EMPT9ESS !Y LU/$ TO POSSESS4 

,! F9AL ATROCITY WAS ! R5AM+3 ! =K ?AT MAKES ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,RIV] BECAME ! ,PIT-/R5G?1 ! ,MUSK+UM M\ND VILLAGE BECAME ,M>R-YET1 ! ,S]P5T ,M\ND WAS BECOM+ ,UA-%N-TN'S ,/R5G?1 ! ,S\?L& WAS BECOM+ ,SLAVEL& & A HUGE >MY WAS PREP>+ TO TURN ! MO/ BEAUTIFUL P>T ( ! WORLD 9TO ,SCALP]S' ,VALLEY4 

,OV]MAN ,UA-%N-TN'S NEWE/ DEPUTY 9 ! VALLEY WAS APP>5TLY RESOLV$ TO PUT AN 5D TO ! OLD ,SCALP]'S =TY SUMM]S ( DEFEATS1 RETREATS & HUMILIATIONS1 TO ]ASE ! V]Y MEMORY ( ?OSE DEFEATS BY ANNIHILAT+ EV]Y LA/ ONE ( ! W>RIORS :O 9FLICT$ !M1 & TO SPREAD ! OV]MAN'S MEMB] OV] ! L5G? & BREAD? ( A ONCE-BEAUTIFUL VALLEY AT LA/ UNCOV]$ & RAVAG$4 

,WILL-WELL1 ,SIG5AK'S =M] SON1 WE>+ A ,SCALP]'S UNI=M1 CAME TO ,KEKIONGA AS ,MAD-ANT ,VA9'S MESS5G]4 ,WAKAYA TURN$ HIS BACK ON HIS =M] BRO!R & LEFT ! C\NCIL TO REJO9 ANGRY ,S\?BRAN* K94 ,WAPMIMI1 :O HAD A BRIDE & *ILD AMONG ! ,S\?BRAN* K91 PREP>$ TO KILL ! DEFECTOR1 BUT WAS /OPP$ BY ,SIG5AK4 

,DESPITE ,WILL-WELL'S UN=GIVABLE /UNT ( HAV+ ,R$E>? K9 GIVE ! ,VALLEY TO ! ,SCALP]S1 ,SIG5AK DID NOT WANT HIS =M] SON KILL$4 ,HE ASK$ = A DESCRIPTION ( ,WILL-WELL'S NEW BRO!RS4 

,! DEFECTOR OBLIG$ UN/9T+LY4 ,HE SAID ,MAD-ANT ,VA9 HAD NOT RECRUIT$ AMONG ! SURVIVORS ( ,H>R-M>R'S OR ,SUNDE>'S DEFEATS2 HE HAD RECRUIT$ AMONG ! KILL]S :O HAD ACCOMPANI$ ,! ,T]ROR ON ! SWA? ( GORE FROM ! ,S\?L& TO ! ,WABA%2 HIS C\NCIL 9CLUD$ A Y\NG HEIR TO A L&GANG NAM$ ,WILL-H5-G>RISON :O W\LD /OP AT NO OB/ACLE4 ,HIS SC\TS & SPIES1 BESIDES ,WILL-WELL1 9CLUD$ Y\NG ,NAV>1 SON ( ,LEMOND'S =M] SCROLLKEEP]1 AS WELL AS ,S\!RN PEOPLE :O DESC5D$ FROM M\ND BUILD]S & REMEMB]$ ! PEOPLE ( ! ,/RAIT AS ,WABSK5I'S MURD]\S ALLIES :O DE/ROY$ ! ,NA*E & O!R K94 ,MAD-ANT ,VA9'S M5 W\LDN'T WALK 9 NEAT R[S1 LIKE ,SUN-CLE>'S1 BUT LOOSELY1 LIKE ,ROOTK9--BUT NOT 9 ORD] TO ESCAPE FREELY1 = !RE W\LD BE NO ESCAPE2 !Y W]E BE+ BROK51 DRILL$1 TO KILL ANY ( !IR [N :O TURN$ AWAY FROM ! 5EMY4 ,OV]MAN ,UA-%N-TN WAS TIR$ ( FE$+ & PROVISION+ >MIES :O RAN AWAY4 ,?IS >MY W\LD GO ON KILL+ UNTIL ITS LA/ MAN FELL4 

,! MESSAGE ,WILL-WELL BR\<T1 :I* WAS ALSO HIS [N1 WAS ?AT OV]MAN ,UA-%N-TN DID NOT WANT TO W> AGA9/ ,ROOTK91 BUT ONLY AGA9/ ,R$COATS2 ?AT ,UA-%N-TN DID NOT CLAIM A S+LE TREE 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY2 ?AT HE RECOGNIZ$ ! ,VALLEY BELONG$ TO ! PEOPLE :O LIV$ 9 IT4 ,WILL-WELL SPOKE AS IF HE HAD =GOTT5 :OSE VICTORIES HAD PROMPT$ ,UA-%N-TN TO DROP HIS CLAIMS4 ,HE SAID ,UA-%N-TN WANT$ ONLY TO HELP ,ROOTK9 KEEP ! ,R$COATS FROM 9VAD+ ! ,VALLEY1 AS !Y'D BEGUN TO DO ) !IR NEW 5CLOSURE NE> ,KEKIONGA4 ,& ! ,GREAT ,FA!R ,UA-%N-TN S5T GIFTS3 BLANKETS1 CLO? & PEACE M$ALS1 TO 5C\RAGE HIS *ILDR5 TO RESPOND TO HIS G5]\S (F] TO HELP !M4 

,SIG5AK PICK$ UP ONE ( ! (F]$ PEACE M$ALS & %[$ IT TO ?OSE ( US :O W]E /ILL AT ! GA!R+4 ,AT FIRSC GLANCE ! PICTURE ON ! M$AL %[$ A ,ROOTP]SON & AN ,9VAD] EXT5D+ !IR H&S T[>D EA* O!R1 A LEAFLESS TREE BEH9D ! ONE1 AN OX-DRAWN TOOL SCRAT*+ TREELESS E>? BEH9D ! O!R4 ,! MAN ON ! LEFT WAS NAK$ BUT ! E>? BEH9D HIM WAS COV]$1 ! MAN ON ! RI<T WAS COV]$ BUT ! E>? BEH9D HIM WAS NAK$4 ,A SECOND GLANCE REVEAL$ ?AT ! NAK$ MAN ON ! LEFT HAD HIS RI<T >M HANG+ AT HIS SIDE1 HIS H& EMPTY1 HOLD+ NEI!R B[ NOR HAT*ET2 HIS LEFT >M EXT5D$1 NOT T[>D ! O!R1 BUT T[>D ! B[L ( A CALUMET ! L5G? ( HIS >M2 HE /OOD UN/EADILY1 AS IF HE W]E FULL ( RUM OR ! ,SLAV]S' DR9K ,WISKE2 HE WAS A RUMSACK :O DIDN'T KN[ :]E HE WAS OR :Y HE WAS SMOK+4 ,! MAN ON ! RI<T1 COV]$ FROM HIS FALSE HAIR TO HIS BOOTS1 WAS ! ,SLAV]S' DE>'S DEFEATS2 HE HAD RECRUIT$ AMONG ! KILL]S :O HAD ACCOMPANI$ ,! ,T]ROR ON ! SWA? ( GORE FROM ! ,S\?L& TO ! ,WABA%2 HIS C\NCIL 9CLUD$ A Y\NG HEIR TO A L&GANG NAM$ ,WILL-H5-G>RISON :O W\LD /OP AT NO OB/ACLE4 ,HIS SC\TS & SPIES1 BESIDES ,WILL-WELL1 9CLUD$ Y\NG ,NAV>1 SON ( ,LEMOND'S =M] SCROLLKEEP]1 AS WELL AS ,S\!RN PEOPLE :O DESC5D$ FROM M\ND BUILD]S & REMEMB]$ ! PEOPLE ( ! ,/RAIT AS ,WABSK5I'S MURD]\S ALLIES :O DE/ROY$ ! ,NA*E & O!R K94 ,MAD-ANT ,VA9'S M5 W\LDN'T WALK 9 NEAT R[S1 LIKE ,SUN-CLE>'S1 BUT LOOSELY1 LIKE ,ROOTK9--BUT NOT 9 ORD] TO ESCAPE FREELY1 = !RE W\LD BE NO ESCAPE2 !Y W]E BE+ BROK51 DRILL$1 TO KILL ANY ( !IR [N :O TURN$ AWAY FROM ! 5EMY4 ,OV]MAN ,UA-%N-TN WAS TIR$ ( FE$+ & PROVISION+ >MIES :O RAN AWAY4 ,?IS >MY W\LD GO ON KILL+ UNTIL ITS LA/ MAN FELL4 

,! MESSAGE ,WILL-WELL BR\<T1 :I* WAS ALSO HIS [N1 WAS ?AT OV]MAN ,UA-%N-TN DID NOT WANT TO W> AGA9/ ,ROOTK91 BUT ONLY AGA9/ ,R$COATS2 ?AT ,UA-%N-TN DID NOT CLAIM A S+LE TREE 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY2 ?AT HE RECOGNIZ$ ! ,VALLEY BELONG$ TO ! PEOPLE :O LIV$ 9 IT4 ,WILL-WELL SPOKE AS IF HE HAD =GOTT5 :OSE VICTORIES HAD PROMPT$ ,UA-%N-TN TO DROP HIS CLAIMS4 ,HE SAID ,UA-%N-TN WANT$ ONLY TO HELP ,ROOTK9 KEEP ! ,R$COATS FROM 9VAD+ ! ,VALLEY1 AS !Y'D BEGUN TO DO ) !IR NEW 5CLOSURE NE> ,KEKIONGA4 ,& ! ,GREAT ,FA!R ,UA-%N-TN S5T GIFTS3 BLANKETS1 CLO? & PEACE M$ALS1 TO 5C\RAGE HIS *ILDR5 TO RESPOND TO HIS G5]\S (F] TO HELP !M4 

,SIG5AK PICK$ UP ONE ( ! (F]$ PEACE M$ALS & %[$ IT TO ?OSE ( US :O W]E /ILL AT ! GA!R+4 ,AT FIRSC GLANCE ! PICTURE ON ! M$AL %[$ A ,ROOTP]SON & AN ,9VAD] EXT5D+ !IR H&S T[>D EA* O!R1 A LEAFLESS TREE BEH9D ! ONE1 AN OX-DRAWN TOOL SCRAT*+ TREELESS E>? BEH9D ! O!R4 ,! MAN ON ! LEFT WAS NAK$ BUT ! E>? BEH9D HIM WAS COV]$1 ! MAN ON ! RI<T WAS COV]$ BUT ! E>? BEH9D HIM WAS NAK$4 ,A SECOND GLANCE REVEAL$ ?AT ! NAK$ MAN ON ! LEFT HAD HIS RI<T >M HANG+ AT HIS SIDE1 HIS H& EMPTY1 HOLD+ NEI!R B[ NOR HAT*ET2 HIS LEFT >M EXT5D$1 NOT T[>D ! O!R1 BUT T[>D ! B[L ( A CALUMET ! L5G? ( HIS >M2 HE /OOD UN/EADILY1 AS IF HE W]E FULL ( RUM OR ! ,SLAV]S' DR9K ,WISKE2 HE WAS A RUMSACK :O DIDN'T KN[ :]E HE WAS OR :Y HE WAS SMOK+4 ,! MAN ON ! RI<T1 COV]$ FROM HIS FALSE HAIR TO HIS BOOTS1 WAS ! ,SLAV]S' OV]MAN HIMSELF1 ,SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN2 HIS LEFT H& RE/$ ON A SWORD H&LE1 READY TO KILL2 HE HADN'T BURI$ EI!R HIS RIFLE OR HIS SCALP+ KNIFE2 HE /OOD SOLIDLY2 ! SEEM+ \TREA* ( HIS RI<T >M T[>D ! O!R'S CALUMET-SUPPORT+ >M WAS ACTUALLY A ?REAT5+ GE/URE BLOCK+ ! CALUMET SMOK] FROM /EPP+ ONTO ! SCRAT*$ TREELESS FIELD4 ,! RUMSACK HAD NO:]E TO GO BUT UP ! TREE BEH9D HIM4 

,SIG5AK ?REW ! M$AL TO ! GR\ND & BURI$ IT ) HIS FOOT4 ,KICK+ O!R GIFTS T[>D ,WILL-WELL1 HE SAID HE UND]/OOD HEADMAN ,VA9'S MESSAGE P]FECTLY & W\LD GIVE HIS ANSW] TO IT ON ! BATTLEFIELD4 

,APTEGIZHEK1 TRY+ TO REASON ) ! DEFECTOR1 =MULAT$ A RETURN MESSAGE4 ,HE SAID MO/ ( ! ,9VAD]S W]E DESP]ATE BECAUSE !Y HAD NO?+1 LIKE ,APTEGIZHEK'S [N GR&FA!R & ,WILL-WELL'S FA!R4 ,! L&GANGS & ,SLAV] ,UA-%N-TN HAD MU*1 & !Y US$ MU* ( IT ON GIFTS = ,ROOTK9 & ON >MIES S5T AGA9/ ,ROOTK94 ,IF !Y REALLY WANT$ PEACE1 !Y W\LD CALL !IR DESP]ATE M5 BACK TO ! EA/ & GIVE !M ALL ! GIFTS & PROVISIONS4 ,?IS WAY !Y W\LD RELIEVE !IR MIS]ABLE M51 ALL[ D5UD$ E>? TO RECOV]1 & LEAVE US 9 PEACE4 

,BUT ,WILL-WELL1 DESPITE ALL HIS W9T]S & SUMM]S AMONG ,ROOTK91 WAS GUID$ BY FE>1 NOT BY REASON4 ,HE C\LDN'T GRASP ! UNREASON ( A WORLD :]E ! FAT FE$ ON ! LEAN1 :]E ! LEAN PLUND] = ! FAT 9/EAD ( TURN+ ON !M1 :]E ! FAT PROTECT !MSELVES FROM ! WRA? ( ! LEAN BY MAK+ ! LEAN FACE ! WRA? ( ! PLUND]$4 ,APTEGIZHEK KNEW !Y DIDN'T REALLY WANT PEACE1 BUT ,WILL-WELL SEEM$ NOT TO KN[ ?AT )\T W>S ( PLUND] ! L&GANGS W\LDN'T NE$ >MIES TO PROTECT !M FROM ! PLUND]$1 & )\T >MIES !Y C\LDN'T HAVE MADE !IR DESP]ATE M5 GIVE EI!R !IR H>VE/S OR !IR LIVES TO OV]M54 

,I ACCOMPANI$ ! NONCOMBATANTS :O AB&ON$ ,KEKIONGA BE=E ! BATTLE4 ,I F\ND REFUGE 9 DEAD ,M9I'S1 N[ ,NIZOKWE'S SIL5T LODGE1 ON A SPOT ON ! ,/RAIT'S %ORE :]E1 IT WAS SAID1 A TWO-BRAN*$ TREE & A R\NDI% ROCK HAD ONCE /OOD1 MONUM5TS TO ! GIFT-BR+] ,WISKE4 ,CAKIMA WAS 9 ! NEI<BOR+ LODGE1 ,NAMAKWE'S1 ) H] F\R *ILDR5 & HEAVY ) A FIF?4 ,I PLAY$ ) ,NAMAKWE'S1 ,T9AMI'S1 ,NIZOKWE'S1 ,MAGDA'S & MY [N GR&*ILDR54 ,I LE>N$ ( ! BATTLE FROM MESS5G]S' FRAGM5TS4 

,SIG5AK SET \T ) ,WAKAYA & A SMALL P>TY ( W>RIORS TO MEET ,MAD-ANT ,VA9'S >MY AS IT MOV$ PA/ ! DESOLATE VILLAGES & BURNT FIELDS ( ,APTEGIZHEK'S ,S\?BRAN* & ,EA/BRAN* K94 ,SIG5AK WANT$ TO F9D \T IF ,WILL-WELL'S DESCRIPTION WAS ACCURATE1 OR IF ?IS HUGE >MY1 LIKE ! TWO BE=E IT1 W\LD D\BLE BACK ON ITSELF :5 ,SIG5AK CRI$ \T & DIS9TEGRATE :5 ,SIG5AK'S SMALL =CE LEAP$ FROM ! =E/4 ,! W>RIORS RETURN$ TO ,KEKIONGA UNH>M$1 BUT ) ! NEWS ?AT ! 5ORM\S =CE HADN'T BUDG$4 

,! EXP$ITION MADE ,SIG5AK CAUTI\S2 ! DESOLATION ( ! ,S\?BRAN* VILLAGES MADE ,WAKAYA 5RAG$4 

,SIG5AK TOLD ! C\NCIL+ W>RIORS ?AT ,MAD-ANT ,VA9'S HUGE >MY WAS AN 9HUMAN ?+1 A ?+ ?AT NEV] SLEPT4 ,IT WAS WORSE ?AN ! ,R$COAT >MY HE HAD OPPOS$ =TY SUMM]S E>LI]1 ,MAD-W9'S >MY ON ! ,/RAIT1 DET]M9$ TO HOLD ! 5CLOSURE UNTIL EV]Y MAN FELL4 ,VA9 WAS C]TA9 HIS >MY W\LD HOLD UNTIL EV]Y MAN FELL4 ,! ?REAT ?AT ALL :O FL$ W\LD BE MURD]$ BY !IR [N COMPANIONS WAS NO EMPTY BOA/3 M5 :O HAD TRI$ TO FLEE FROM ,VA9'S CAMP W]E ALREADY DEAD4 ,?OSE M5 FE>$ ! 5EMY LESS ?AN !Y FE>$ !IR HEADMAN2 !Y W\LD KILL ,ROOTK9 = FE> ( BE+ KILL$ BY !IR [N M52 !Y HAD BE5 R$UC$ TO MEMB]S ( A BE+ :I* EXI/$ NOT TO PROTECT & PRES]VE !M BUT TO KILL & KEEP ON KILL+2 !Y W]E P>TS ( A MON/R\S WORM :I* W5T ON MURD]+ NO MATT] H[ MANY PIECES IT WAS CUT 9TO4 ,! LIFE ( ?AT >MY'S HUMAN CON/ITU5TS WAS NEI!R ITS GOAL NOR ITS LIMIT4 ,SU* A MON/ROSITY C\LDN'T BE OPPOS$ BY PEOPLE :O LOV$ LIFE4 ,HUMAN BE+S C\LD NOT VIE ) IT AS DEA?-DEAL]S4 ,NO ONE AMONG ! PEOPLE ( ! ,LAKES & ,VALLEYS C\LD TAKE ON HIMSELF ! RESPONSIBILITY = ALL ! W>RIORS :O W\LD FALL BE=E ! MON/ROSITY WAS /ILL$4 

,WAKAYA EXPRESS$ HIMSELF AS WILL+ TO TAKE ON ?AT AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY4 ,HE SAID E>? W\LD BE %AM$1 ! DEAD BETRAY$1 IF NONE AMONG ! LIV+ ROSE UP AGA9/ ! ,9VAD]S' UNNATURAL DE$S2 ! DESOLATION CRI$ = REV5GE4 

,SIG5AK REMOV$ ! P5DANT FROM HIS NECK1 ! >RO:EAD GIV5 TO HIM BY ,WAGO%KWE1 SAID TO HAVE COME FROM ! ,R$E>? W>RIOR ,LAM9A1 & PLAC$ IT ON ,WAKAYA'S NECK4 

,SIG5AK KNEW & ,NANIKIBI KNEW ?AT ! ONLY ALT]NATIVE TO ,WAKAYA'S RECKLESS WILL+NESS TO CONFRONT ! MON/] WAS TO FLEE T[>D ! SUNSET1 T[>D ! ,PLA9S :]E ,WAGO%KWE HAD FL$4 ,ALL ,ROOTK9 W]E N[ ,R$E>? K94 

,AFT] ! BATTLE1 ,SIG5AK TOLD ! M\RN]S GA!R$ ON ! %ORE ( ! ,/RAIT ?AT ! W>RIOR F\<T BRAVELY & WISELY4 

,WAKAYA *OSE A POSITION BETWE5 ! ADVANC+ >MY & ! ,R$COATS' 5CLOSURE ON ! FR+E ( ,KEKIONGA1 & HE *OSE WELL3 ! BATTLEGR\ND WAS A FIELD ( TREES BL[N OV] BY ! W9D1 ) HID+-PLACES = W>RIORS T5 TIMES AS NUM]\S4 ,! DEAD TREES KEPT ,! ,T]ROR'S M\NT$ =CE FROM GETT+ ANY:]E NE> ! BATTLE4 ,! ATTACK WAS WELL TIM$1 ! AMBU% WELL PREP>$4 ,! W> CRY FOLL[$ BY ! VOLLEY FROM ! FALL5 TREES W\LD HAVE S5T ANY E>LI] ,SCALP] >MY SCAMP]+4 ,BUT ,VA9'S M5 W]5'T HUMAN1 !Y HAD BE5 REMADE 9TO CONTRIVANCES1 !Y DIDN'T PANIC :5 SURPRIS$1 !Y DIDN'T TURN :5 AMBU%$1 !Y DIDN'T RUN :5 !IR COMPANIONS' BODIES LITT]$ ! GR\ND2 !Y /OOD & %OT1 AS S\LLESS AS !IR RIFLES1 DOCILE & UNNATURAL1 :IP-TRA9$ LIKE DOGS OR HORSES1 BROK5 HUMANS )\T HE>TS OR M9DS1 !IR FRE$OM FLOGG$ \T ( !M4 ,& !N !Y CAME AFT] ! RETR5*+ W>RIORS ) !IR /EEL KNIVES4 ,SIG5AK WAS BESIDE ,NANIKIBI :5 A BULLET HIT ,NANIKIBI'S LEG4 ,NANIKIBI KEPT ON AIM+ AT ! ADVANC+ ,9VAD]S LIKE A Y\NG W>RIOR ON HIS FIR/ PROV+ GR\ND4 ,NANIKIBI TOLD ,SIG5AK ( HIS *ILDHOOD DREAM3 A W\ND$ FOX 9 A FIELD ( DEAD ANIMALS HAD BEGG$ ,NANIKIBI TO AV5GE ! DEAD4 ,HE WAS DO+ IT4 

,WAKAYA %\T$ ! RETREAT4 ,HIS ANCE/OR ,LAM9A WAS SAID TO HAVE LE>N$ FROM ! ,9VAD]S TO HOLD HIS GR\ND UNTIL ! LA/ W>RIOR FELL2 ,LAM9A'S BRAVE DE$ HAD A SAD SEQUEL4 ,WAKAYA HAD NO TA/E = SU* BRAV]Y2 ONLY A MURD]] W\LD 9VITE HIS K9 TO REMA9 9 A DEA? TRAP4 ,WAKAYA DIDN'T WANT TO ANSW] = ALL ! DEA?S :I* W\LD FOLL[ FROM SU* A DECISION4 ,SIG5AK APPROV$1 BUT HIS ?\<TFUL BRO!R ,NANIKIBI1 ! PEACEMAK]1 DID NOT APPROVE2 LAME & BLE$+1 HE /AY$ BEH9D1 D[N+ ANO!R & /ILL ANO!R ,9VAD]4 ,SIG5AK %\T$ TO HIM ?AT A S+LE W>RIOR C\LDN'T /OP A MOV+ WALL4 ,NANIKIBI TURN$1 NOT TO SEEK SAFETY1 BUT TO URGE HIS BRO!R TO SEEK IT1 & :ILE HE WAS TURN$ A BULLET PI]C$ HIS BACK4 

,NANIKIBI WASN'T SCALP$4 ,SIG5AK HID HIS BRO!R'S BODY 9 A HOLL[ TREE2 HE & ,APTEGIZHEK & ,ISADOR RETURN$ AT NI<T & BURI$ ,NANIKIBI 9 A GRAVE NE> ! S\RCE ( ,KEKIONGA'S RIV]4 

,NAMAKWE'S SONGMAK] ,BATI1 SAD ,NIZOKWE'S BRO!R1 WAS AMONG ! FALL54 ,HE TOO HAD BE5 ) ! W>RIORS :O HAD 9FLICT$ TWO HUMILIAT+ DEFEATS ON ,SCALP] ,UA-%N-TN =TY SUMM]S E>LI]4 ,N[ !Y W]E ALL DEAD4 ,ISADOR %$ TE>S BUT SAID NO?+4 

,SIG5AK ASSUR$ SIL5T ,NIZOKWE !RE W\LD BE NO MORE BATTLES4 ,HE URG$ HIS SI/] ,NAMAKWE TO REJOICE AT ! SAFE RETURN ( H] BRAVE SON ,NAWAK1 ( ,PAMOKO'S HUNT] ,DUPRE1 ( ,MIK5OKWE'S R$FROCK$ ,%&ONE1 :O HAD /AY$ 9 ! ,R$COATS' 5CLOSURE NEXT TO ! BATTLEFIELD1 NOT OP5+ ITS GATE EV5 TO RETREAT+ W>RIORS SEEK+ REFUGE !RE1 & HAD FL$ ) ! O!R ,R$COATS TO ! ,/RAIT :ILE ,VA9 & HIS >MY W]E OCCUPI$ HACK+ D[N TREES1 BURN+ CORN-RI* FIELDS1 RAZ+ VILLAGES1 TURN+ ! 5TIRE VA/ BEAUTIFUL EXPANSE ?AT WAS ,KEKIONGA 9TO A FIELD ( FALL5 TREES4 

,LEAN ,SIG5AK GIVES ME ALL ?AT REMA9S ( HIS BRO!R1 ! PEACEMAK]'S BUNDLE ,NANIKIBI C>RI$ TO SO MANY BATTLES4 ,I SEE EAGLES D>K5+ ! SKY1 DEAD S]P5TS COV]+ ! GR\ND4 

,A CRY COMES FROM ,NAMAKWE'S LODGE :]E MY DAU<T] LIES1 ! CRY ( A NEWBORN *ILD4 ,I TURN TO IT4 

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

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

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