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,PEOPLE 3 

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

,TEXT 3 

,BIR? & J\RNEY 

  

,! BABY'S CRY PULL$ ME \T ( MY GR&MO!R'S MASK AS IF ,I W]E M>R[ ?AT WAS SUCK$ \T ( A BONE4 ,ON ! NI<T :5 ,SIG5AK1 ,WAKAYA1 ,ISADOR & ,APTEGIZHEK GA!R$ AT ,NIZOKWE'S LODGE & TOLD ( ! DEA? ( ,NANIKIBI ON ! FIELD ( FALL5 TREES1 ,I WAS NO LONG] 9 ,NIZOKWE'S LODGE1 & ,I WAS NO LONG] ,KATABWE4 ,I WAS A T9Y BEG9N+ 9 ,NAMAKWE'S LODGE NEXT DOOR1 %RIEK+ ALONGSIDE ,CAKIMA1 KICK+ T9Y FEET & WAV+ T9Y >MS4 ,I KNEW NO?+ ( :AT HAD HAPP5$1 NO?+ ( ! PEOPLE 9 ,NAMAKWE'S LODGE NOR ( ?OSE NEXT DOOR4 ,MY MEMORIES W\LD ALL BE GIV5 TO ME LAT]1 :5 ,I WAS READY TO ACCEPT ! GIFTS4 ,ON ?AT NI<T ,I KNEW NO?+ ( ! SPOT :]E ,I LAY1 NO?+ ( ,TIOSA ,RONDION ON ! /RAIT BETWE5 ! ,CLE> ,LAKE & ! ,LAKE ( ! VANI%$ ,EHRYES1 NO?+ ( ! BURIAL M\NDS BEH9D ,NAMAKWE'S LODGE \TL9$ AGA9/ ! MOONLESS SKY BY RIS+ DAWN1 NO?+ ( ! BUBBL+ SPR+S ?AT S5T !IR WAT]S PA/ ! M\NDS T[>D ! /RAIT4 ,& ( C\RSE ,I KNEW NO?+ ( ! OTT]SK9 BUNDLE ,SIG5AK WAS GIV+ TO HIS DEAD BRO!R'S WID[ ,KATABWE1 MY GR&MO!R4 

,I W\LD GO ON KN[+ NO?+ ( MY BIR?PLACE BECAUSE ,I WAS C>RI$ AWAY FROM IT ACROSS ! WID? ( ! ,P59SULA T[>D MY MO!R'S & MY UNCLE'S BIR?PLACE1 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,F$ BY ,CAKIMA 9 TRAD] ,BURR-NET'S GREAT LODGE1 ,I WASN'T AW>E ( ! FALL+ LEAVES1 ( ! SN[S ?AT COV]$ ALL ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ( ! NUM]\S VISITORS :O GA!R$ ON ! C\NCIL- GR\ND AFT] ! SN[S MELT$4 ,I MAY HAVE HE>D SOME SONGS1 SE5 SOME COMMOTION1 BUT ,I DIDN'T KN[ ! VISITORS W]E ANGRY W>RIORS1 NOR ?AT MY GR&MO!R HAD BURN$ H] SON ,TOP9- BI'S GIFTS1 NOR ?AT ONE ( ! VISITORS1 MY GR&FA!R'S NEPHEW ,METEYA HAD /AY$ 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE AFT] HIS COMPANIONS LEFT1 M>RI$ ,B9DIZEOSEKWE ( ! ,LAKEBOTTOM VILLAGE1 & RAIS$ A LODGE NE> ,TOP9BI'S4 ,MORE SN[S HAD TO FALL & MELT BE=E ,I C\LD DI/+UI% ,TOP9BI FROM ,METEYA2 & BY !N ,I1 LIKE MY BRO!R ,NA%K[ATAK & MY SI/] ,WABNOKWE WAS NO LONG] 9 ! TRAD]'S LODGE BUT 9 ,TOP9BI'S1 MY MO!R'S BRO!R'S LODGE1 ) HIS DAU<T] ,MIMIKWE & H] MO!R & \R GR&MO!R ,KATABWE4 ,BY !N ,I ?\<T ,METEYA & ,B9DIZEOSEKWE HAD ALWAYS BE5 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE & ?AT MY BRO!R ,W$ASI HAD ALWAYS LIV$ 9 !IR LODGE1 JU/ AS ,I ?\<T \R O!R BRO!R1 ,*EBANSI1 AS WELL AS ,TOP9BI'S SON ,NESOKI1 HAD ALWAYS LIV$ ) ,CAKIMA 9 TRAD] ,BURR-NET'S LODGE4 ,BR[N LEAVES FELL & NEW BUDS GREW BE=E ,I WAS AW>E ( ! BAD AIR ?AT FL[$ BETWE5 GR&MO!R ,KATABWE & TRAD] ,BURR- NET4 ,BY !N ! C>RI] ,%AB5I HAD RAIS$ HIS LODGE NE> ,METEYA'S4 

,! BAD AIR BETWE5 MY FA!R & GR&MO!R BECAME A /5* ON ! DAY :5 MY BRO!R ,NA%K[ATAK RETURN$ FROM ! FA/+ LODGE GR&MO!R HAD RAIS$ = HIM4 ,NA%K[ATAK DIDN'T RETURN ON HIS [N2 \R FA!R PULL$ HIM 9TO ! VILLAGE BY ! E>1 %\T$ MEAN NAMES AT HIM1 & CALL$ \R GR&MO!R A WIT*4 ,KATABWE %\T$ BACK4 ,%E SAID ! TRAD] WAS DE/ROY+ TREES1 KILL+ ANIMALS & EAT+ E>? )\T GIV+1 ?AT HE WAS ! WIT*--BUT %E SPOKE 9 \R ,ROOTLANGUAGE & TRAD] ,BURR-NET DIDN'T UND]/&4 ,BUT ?AT NI<T1 TRAD] ,BURR-NET CAME ) ,CAKIMA TO PULL ,WABNOKWE & ME \T ( ,TOP9BI'S LODGE1 & !Y FET*$ ,W$ASI \T ( ,METEYA'S4 ,WE W]E ,BURR-NETS1 HE SAID1 & WE W]E TO GR[ 9 \R FA!R'S LODGE4 ,NA%K[ATAK & ,*EBANSI W]E TO BE S5T TO ! ,/RAIT1 ,WABNOKWE TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,W$ASI & ,I W]E TO REMA9 ) C\S9 ,NESOKI 9 ! TRAD]'S LODGE4 

,AL?\< ,I DIDN'T UND]/& :Y1 ,I KNEW ?AT ,CAKIMA & ,BURR-NET WANT$ TO PULL ALL ! Y\NG PEOPLE AWAY FROM ,KATABWE--NOT ONLY !IR [N *ILDR51 BUT ,TOP9BI'S DAU<T] ,MIMIKWE AS WELL4 ,S9CE ,TOP9BI WAS (T5 AWAY ) ! C>AVANS1 ! OLD WOMAN W\LD BE LEFT COMPLETELY ALONE4 ,CAKIMA WAIT$ UNTIL ,TOP9BI RETURN$ ) ! SUMM] GIFT C>AVAN4 ,!N %E GOT ,TOP9BI TO HELP H] >RANGE A LAVI% M>RIAGE C]EMONY UNIT+ ,MIMIKWE TO ! C>RI] ,%AB5I4 ,BUT ,NA%K[ATAK KEPT RUNN+ TO ,KATABWE TO TELL H] :AT WAS BE+ PREP>$ & %E MADE >RANGEM5TS ( H] [N4 

,! C]EMONY WAS GR&4 ,?REE FIRES W]E LI<T$1 & K9 FROM ! F\R QU>T]S GA!R$ ON ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S C\NCIL- GR\ND4 ,BUT ! EV5TS W]5'T ! ONES ,CAKIMA & ,TOP9BI HAD >RANG$1 & ! \TCOME WASN'T ! ONE ,NA%K[ATAK HAD HOP$ =4 ,:5 ALL W]E GA!R$ >\ND ! FIRES1 GR&MO!R ,KATABWE C>RI$ ,B9DIZEOSEKWE'S & ,METEYA'S FIR/BORN TO ! C5T]1 LAID ! BABY GIRL ON ! GR\ND :ILE S++ TO H]1 & NAM$ ! *ILD ,KOYO%KWE4 ,& !N ,KATABWE BEGAN TO S+ ( R5EWAL & REG5]ATION1 SONGS ,I'D (T5 HE>D 9 H] LODGE2 & AS %E SANG1 ! GA!R$ HO/S & GUE/S =M$ !MSELVES 9TO CIRCLES >\ND ! FIRES & BEGAN TO DANCE4 ,I WAS 9 ONE ( ! CIRCLES1 9T5T ON IMITAT+ ! MOTIONS4 ,ONLY :5 ?OSE NE>E/ ME /OPP$ DID ,I BECOME AW>E ( A DISRUPTION3 A FIGURE ) ! MASK ( A LONG-E>$ H>E & ! CLO!S ( TRAD] ,BURR-NET WAS PUTT+ \T ! FIRES4 ,I SAW ,CAKIMA ANGRILY PULL+ ,BURR-NET AWAY FROM ! C\NCIL- GR\ND :ILE ,KATABWE & O!R WOM5 >M$ !MSELVES ) /ICKS1 TURN$ ON ! MASK$ DISRUPT] & *AS$ HIM AWAY FROM ! FIRES1 9TO ! =E/4 ,FROM ! WAY ! H>E RAN1 ,I C\LD TELL IT WAS ,NA%K[ATAK4 ,HE HAD EXPECT$ ,MIMIKWE TO JO9 ! *AS+ WOM51 RUN TO ! =E/ AFT] HIM1 & PUT AN ABRUPT 5D TO ! M>RIAGE C]EMONY4 ,BUT DUR+ ! 5TIRE *ASE1 ,MIMIKWE DIDN'T BUDGE1 & :5 ! *ASE ( ! H>E WAS OV]1 %E ACCEPT$ A GIFT ( DE] MEAT FROM ,%AB5I4 

,MY BRO!RS ,NA%K[ATAK & ,*EBANSI ACCOMPANI$ ! FOLL[+ SPR+'S FUR C>AVAN TO ! ,/RAIT4 ,\R SI/] ,WABNOKWE WAS TAK5 TO ! ,LAKEBOTTOM1 TO ! LODGE ( TRAD] ,S&YPO9T & GR&FA!R'S CROSSWE>+ SI/] ,KITTIHAWA4 

,BUT ,W$ASI & ,I DIDN'T REMA9 9 TRAD] ,BURR-NET'S LODGE4 ,NOR DID ,MIMIKWE MOVE TO ,%AB5I'S LODGE4 ,AFT] ! C]EMONY1 ,W$ASI RETURN$ TO ,METEYA'S1 ,I RETURN$ TO ,KATABWE'S1 & ,%AB5I AB&ON$ HIS [N LODGE & JO9$ ,MIMIKWE 9 \RS4 ,UNLIKE ,TOP9BI1 A ,FIREKEEP] :O HAD BECOME A C>RI]1 ,%AB5I WAS A C>RI] :O WANT$ TO BECOME A ,FIREKEEP]4 

,! TREES HAD %$ & R5EW$ !MSELVES FIVE TIMES :5 A SECOND DAU<T] WAS BORN TO ,B9DIZEOSEKWE & ,METEYA1 & !N A SON TO ,MIMIKWE & ,%AB5I4 ,I WANT$ TO TAKE AN ACTIVE P>T 9 ! NAM+ C]EMONY1 & ,I BEGG$ ,KATABWE TO S+ ME ! SONGS & %[ ME ! MOVEM5TS4 ,%AB5I WAS ALWAYS AT MY SIDE :5 ! OLD WOMAN SANG & DANC$4 ,HE SAID HIS PEOPLE HAD ALL BUT =GOTT5 ! OLD C]EMONIES4 ,SOMETIMES ,W$ASI ALSO LI/5$ & WAT*$4 

,I HUMM$ ! MELODIES & REPEAT$ ! WORDS :5 ,I ACCOMPANI$ ,METEYA OR ,%AB5I TO ! =E/1 :5 ,I W5T ) ,B9DIZEOSEKWE & ,MIMIKWE TO ! CORNFIELDS4 ,:5 ! C]EMONY BEGAN ,I WAS READY4 ,KATABWE NAM$ ! BABY GIRL ,WAMO%EKE%EKWE1 ! BOY ,KOM5OTEYA4 ,& ,I />T$ ONE ( ! DANCES4 

,MY GR&MO!R WAS PLEAS$ ) ME1 BUT MY MO!R WAS NOT4 ,CAKIMA LET IT BE KN[N ?AT TRAD] ,BURR-NET WANT$ ,W$ASI & ME1 & ALSO \R SI/] ,WABNOKWE1 TO LEAVE ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ) ! FOLL[+ SPR+'S FUR C>AVAN4 ,I WAS EAG] TO SEE ! H&-%AP$ ,P59SULA1 & ESPECIALLY EAG] TO SEE MY BIR?PLACE AT ! OPPOSITE CORN] ( ! WRI/4 ,BUT ,KATABWE SPOKE ( ! ,/RAIT AS A GA!R+PLACE ( ,SCABEAT]S :O W]E K9 TO US & ( O!RS--%E CALL$ !M VILLAGEBURN]S1 %IT- MAK]S & MANHUNT]S--:O DIDN'T MEAN US WELL4 ,%E SPOKE (T5 ( ,NA%K[ATAK'S LOS+ HIMSELF 9 !IR MID/ BECAUSE HE HAD NO DREAM SPIRIT TO GUIDE HIM4 ,BY N[ %E KNEW--! :OLE VILLAGE KNEW1 ?ANKS TO ,NESOKI'S SPY+ & TELL+--?AT ,NA%K[ATAK HADN'T WAIT$ = A DREAM-SPIRIT 9 HIS FA/+ LODGE1 BUT = ,MIMIKWE4 

,I BEGG$ ,KATABWE TO BUILD ME A FA/+ LODGE SO ?AT ,I W\LDN'T BE LO/4 ,%E SAID ,I WAS TOO LITTLE2 ! SPIRITS W\LDN'T SEE ME4 ,I KEPT BEGG+1 & AT LA/ %E ASK$ ,%AB5I TO RAISE A LODGE = ME4 ,IT WAS MIDW9T]4 ,%AB5I & ,I HUDDL$ >\ND ! LODGE FIRE :ILE ,KATABWE PREP>$ HIM = ! LODGE-RAIS+ & ME = ! DREAM-SPIRIT4 ,I WAS ALREADY FA/+4 ,LATE ONE NI<T1 :5 ! FIRE WAS NE>LY BURNT \T1 %E UNPACK$ ! CONT5TS ( GR&FA!R ,NANIKIBI'S BUNDLE4 ,IT WAS SO D>K ,I C\LD B>ELY MAKE \T ! T9Y BONES ( ! WAT] DWELL]1 ! FEA!R ( ! AIR DWELL]1 ! %ELL ?AT GAVE LIFE TO E>? DWELL]S1 ! B>K ?AT DEPICT$ ! DWELL+PLACE4 ,%E SANG ( CRAWL]S1 WALK]S & FLI]S1 ( GREAT SUFF]+S & DEA?S1 & ( E>?'S R5EWAL4 

,! FOLL[+ MORN+1 WRAPP$ 9 BLANKETS & HIDES1 ,%AB5I & ,I SET \T ON SN[%OES4 ,WE DIDN'T GO F>4 ,%AB5I DUG ?R\< ! SN[ UNTIL HE EXPOS$ AN OP5+ BETWE5 TWO ROCKS1 A CAVE JU/ BIG 5\< = A P]SON HIS SIZE1 MORE ?AN 5\< = ME4 ,WE DUG UP BRU% & FALL5 LEAVES ) :I* HE L9$ ! FLOOR1 & ) ! SN[ ITSELF HE RAIS$ A W9D B>RI] AT ! 5TRANCE4 ,!N HE LEFT ME4 

,WRAPP$ 9 MY BLANKETS1 MY HEAD LEAN+ ON ! ROCK1 ,I SAT & WAIT$4 ,I HE>D A S\ND & ?\<T ,%AB5I WAS /ILL \TSIDE ! CAVE4 ,I ALSO ?\<T IT :\LD HAVE BE5 NI<T1 BUT IT WAS BRI<TE/ DAY4 ,PE]+ ?R\< ! BRU% PA/ ! W9D WALL1 ,I SAW1 NOT ,%AB5I1 BUT AN 5ORM\S BIRD1 AN EAGLE4 ,ITS W+ WAS SPREAD ON ! GR\ND1 ! TIP T\*+ ! CAVE 5TRANCE1 LIKE A MATT$ PA? T[>D ITS BACK4 ,I FOLL[$ ! PA?1 SANK 9TO ! (F]$ SEAT1 & ROSE T[>D ! CL\DS4 ,LOOK+ D[N1 ,I SAW ?AT ! =E/ ,I'D TRAV]S$ ) ,%AB5I WAS SN[LESS4 ,I ?\<T ,I RECOGNIZ$ ! RIV]BANK & ! VILLAGE :5 SUDD5LY ! BIRD SWOOP$ D[N1 ALMO/ CRA%+ 9TO ! TOP ( A LODGE4 ,N[ ,I SAW ?AT ! LODGES W]E HULKS1 M]E SKELETONS ( LODGES1 )\T WALLS OR HE>?S2 ! VILLAGE WAS EMPTY2 ! TREES SURR\ND+ ! VILLAGE W]E TANGLES ( LEAFLESS BRAN*ES & TRUNKS1 ALL FALL51 & NO LIFE /IRR$4 ,KEEL+ TE>S FLOOD+ MY EYES1 ,I BURI$ MY HEAD 9 ! D[N1 BUT SOME?+ PULL$ MY HEAD BACK UP4 ,I FELT MYSELF LIFT$ & C>RI$4 ,I KNEW ,I WAS NO LONG] ON ! BIRD'S BACK1 BUT ,I WAS TOO EXHAU/$ TO OP5 MY EYES4 ,I MU/ HAVE SLEPT !N1 BECAUSE ,I WOKE 9 TRAD] ,BURR-NET'S LODGE2 ,CAKIMA WAS TRY+ TO FE$ ME BRO?4 

,I LAT] LE>N$ ?AT ,NESOKI HAD SE5 ,%AB5I GUIDE ME TO ,I HE =E/1 HAD !N SE5 ,%AB5I RETURN ALONE4 ,NESOKI HAD TOLD ,CAKIMA1 & :5 %E'D TOLD ,BURR-NET1 ! TRAD] HAD RAG$ AB\T ! SAVAG]Y ( EXPOS+ HELPLESS *ILDR5 TO W9T]'S TOLD4 ,CAKIMA HAD !N ASK$ ,TOP9BI TO LE>N MY :]EAB\TS1 BREAK 9TO MY FA/+ LODGE & 9T]RUPT MY DREAM4 

,I RETURN$ TO MY GR&MO!R'S HE>? ONLY ONCE BE=E ,I LEFT ) ! C>AVAN4 ,I TOLD ,KATABWE MY 9COMPLETE DREAM4 ,%E POND]$ = A LONG TIME4 ,!N %E SMIL$4 ,%E SAID MY DREAM WAS COMPLETE4 ,MY SPIRIT HAD COME TO ME & SPOK5 TO ME4 ,%E TOLD ME TO CALL ON MY SPIRIT :5 ,I NE$$ IT1 & %E TOLD ME TO TRU/ MY DREAM4 ,I RES5T$ H] SMILE & H] WORDS4 ,I ?\<T %E CONSID]$ ME TOO Y\NG TO BE VISIT$ BY A REAL SPIRIT4 ,I ?\<T %E WAS DISMISS+ ME ) PAT PHRASES4 ,I KNEW ?AT MY DREAM HAD BE5 AWFUL1 HAD TOLD ME NO?+ MEAN+FUL1 & C\LDN'T S]VE ME AS A GUIDE4 ,I GREW EAG] TO LEAVE ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,:5 ! ICE ?AW$ ,I ?REW MYSELF 9TO ! PREP>ATIONS = ! J\RNEY4 ,I AVOID$ ,KATABWE4 ,YET ,I WAS RELIEV$ TO LE>N ?AT ,I W\LDN'T BE COMPLETELY SEP>AT$ FROM H] /ORIES & SONGS1 BECAUSE ,%AB5I 9T5D$ TO ACCOMPANY ! C>AVAN1 NOT TO C>RY FURS BUT TO VISIT K9 9 ! NOR? & COMPANIONS ON ! ,/RAIT4 ,I BEGG$ ,%AB5I TO PROMISE TO BUILD ME ANO!R FA/+ LODGE1 ONE :]E ,I W\LDN'T BE F\ND & 9T]RUPT$4 

,W$ASI & ,I W]E 9 ,%AB5I'S CANOE1 RI<T BEH9D ,TOP9- BI'S1 :5 WE PU%$ (F4 ,METEYA'S & ,B9DIZEOSEKWE'S Y\NG DAU<T]S ,WAMO%KE%EKWE & ,KOYO%KWE W]E ILL & ,MIMIKWE WAS NURS+ !M 9 AN ISOLAT$ PLACE1 BUT ! O!R VILLAG]S GA!R$ ON ! %ORE TO WAT* US LEAVE4 ,GR&MO!R /OOD BEH9D !M4 ,I FELT A SUDD5 SADNESS & WANT$ TO RUN TO ,KATABWE4 ,BUT WE W]E ALREADY MID/REAM4 ,I TURN$ MY EYES D[NRIV] & CRI$4 ,I ALREADY KNEW ?AT %E HADN'T DISMISS$ ME ) PAT PHRASES4 

,WE CAMP$ AT ! ,RIV]M\? UNTIL WE W]E JO9$ BY ! CANOES FROM ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,MY FA!R HAD GONE TO FET* FURS1 MESSAGES1 AS WELL AS MY SI/] ,WABNOKWE1 & HE CAME ) ! ,LAKEBOTTOM C>AVAN ?AT W\LD JO9 US ON ! NOR?W>D P>T ( ! J\RNEY4 ,BE=E WE SET \T1 ,W$ASI & ,I CLIMB$ ! HILL OV]LOOK+ ! ,RIV]M\?1 TO HAVE A LOOK AT ! RU9S ( ! WOOD5 5CLOSURE ONCE RAIS$ !RE BY ! BE>D$ ,SCABEAT] CALL$ ,BOATMAK]4 ,TOP9BI TOLD US IT WAS ! ONLY 5CLOSURE ON ! ,P59SULA ?AT HAD NOT EXP&$ 9TO A GA!R+PLACE ( ,9VAD]S4 

,TRAD] ,BURR-NET 9SI/$ ?AT ,W$ASI & ,I JO9 \R MO!R & SI/] 9 HIS CANOE1 SO ?AT 9/EAD ( %>+ GR&MO!R'S SONGS ) ,%AB5I1 ,I HE>D ,WABNOKWE TALK ( \R ,LAKEBOTTOM K94 ,I WAS SURPRIS$ BY ! DISP>AG+ WAY ,WABNOKWE SPOKE ( ,%ECOGOSIKWE & ,WAGO%KWE1 ! DAU<T]S ( ! B[L- WOMAN ,LOKASKWE & GR&MO!R'S BRO!R ,OA%I1 \R CLOSE/ K9 ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,%ECOGOSIKWE WAS M>RI$ TO ,B9DIZEOSEKWE'S C\S9 ,TOPA%1 & !IR DAU<T] ,M5A%I HAD JU/ BE5 NAM$1 BUT ,WABNOKWE SPOKE ONLY ( ,%ECOGOSIKWE'S ADDICTION TO DEM5T+ DR9K4 ,( ,WAGO%KWE1 \R [N GREATGR&MO!R'S NAMESAKE1 ( C>RI] ,LALIM & ( !IR SON ,NAGANWATEK1 ,WABNOKWE SAID ONLY ?AT !Y %UNN$ ! WAYS ( ,LEMOND4 ,W$ASI & ,I KNEW ( CROSSWE>]S LIKE GR&FA!R'S SI/] ,KITTIHAWA1 BUT WE KNEW NO?+ ( ,LEMOND4 ,WABNOKWE TOLD US ?AT ,KITTIHAWA'S MAN1 TRAD] ,S&YPO9T1 & !IR DAU<T] ,SUZAN1 W]E ! C5T] ( ! ,LAKEBOTTOM'S ,LEMOND4 ,%E PO9T$ \T ,SUZAN'S HUSB& ,JAMBATI 9 ONE ( ! CANOES AS AN EXEMPL> ( A MAN FROM ! REAL ,LEMOND4 ,TO ME HE LOOK$ LIKE A MAN PADDL+ A CANOE4 

,%E SAID ,KITTIHAWA'S SON ,KEGON HAD TURN$ HIS BACK ON ,LEMOND BY MOV+ 9TO ! LODGE ( ! ,FIREKEEP] ,ME%EWOKWE1 ,B9DIZEOSEKWE'S SI/]1 JO9+ ! CIRCLE ?AT 9CLUD$ ,LOKASKWE'S DAU<T]S4 ,AFT] FILL+ \R HEADS ) ,LEMOND1 %E TOLD US !RE WAS ALSO A FALSE ,LEMOND1 & \R UNCLE ,NANGISI'S DAU<T] ,MANILU1 AS WELL AS \R UNCLE ,W9AMEK'S DAU<T]S ,MIAGA1 ,KITASMO & ,NOGEKWA W]E ITS C5T]S4 ,%E SAID !Y WORE ,LEMOND'S CLO!S :ILE KN[+ NO?+ ( ,LEMOND'S WAYS4 ,%E PO9T$ T[>D ! CANOES ( ,NANGISI & ,W9AMEK1 :OM ,I HAD SE5 BE=E1 & TOLD US ! M5 ) !M1 M5 NAM$ ,LA%AS1 ,LAFRAMBOAZ1 ,LEME & ,LEPETI1 W]E ! HUSB&S ( ! FALSE ,LEMOND4 ,TO ME !Y LOOK$ NO MORE FALSE ?AN ,LEMOND'S ,JAMBATI2 !Y W]E UPRI<T 9 !IR CANOES1 PU%$ !IR PADDLES FROM FRONT TO BACK4 ,AT LA/ MY SI/] BOA/$ ?AT %E W\LD SOON \T%9E BO? ( ! ,I IAKEBOTTOM'S ,LEMONDS1 ! FALSE AS WELL AS ! REAL1 BECAUSE \R F9AL DE/9ATION1 ! ,/RAIT1 H] & MY BIR?PLACE1 WAS ! V]Y HE>T ( ,LEMOND1 & %E 9T5D$ TO IMM]SE H]SELF 9 IT4 

,W$ASI LI/5$ TO \R SI/] ) COMPLETE 9DIFF]5CE4 ,HE WAS AS EAG] TO REA* ! ,/RAIT AS %E1 BUT NOT TO IMM]SE HIMSELF 9 ,LEMOND4 ,W$ASI C\LDN'T WAIT TO SEE ,METEYA'S BRO!R1 ! W>RIOR ,WAKAYA4 ,W$ASI HAD MOV$ TO ,METEYA'S LODGE SO AS TO BE ) A W>RIOR1 & HAD BE5 DISAPPO9T$4 ,METEYA1 LIKE \R GR&MO!R1 HAD CEAS$ TO BE A W>RIOR :5 HE MOV$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,W$ASI & ,I HAD BO? LE>N$ FROM ,METEYA TO HUNT ) B[S4 ,W$ASI HADN'T LE>N$ TO USE A LI RE/ICK UNTIL ,%AB5I HAD %[$ HIM4 ,BUT EV5 ,%AB5I %UNN$ ! W>RIOR'S WAYS4 ,W$ASI WAS SURE ?AT ,WAKAYA W\LD NOT DISAPPO9T HIM4 

,W$ASI & ,I W]E EAG] TO REA* \R FIR/ /OPP+PLACE SO AS TO GO BACK TO ,%AB5I'S CANOE4 ,MY HE>T ?ROBB$ ) EXCITEM5T :5 ,CAKIMA PO9T$ TO ! ,BEAV] ,ISL& & :5 ! S& HILLS CAME 9TO VIEW4 ,WE REA*$ ! VILLAGE ( ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE4 ,ON %ORE1 CR[DS ( DANC]S WAV$ & %\T$ T[>D US4 ,WADASI1 ,WABNOKWE & ,I W]E ALL BUT PULL$ \T ( \R CANOE BY WELCOM+ CELEBRANTS4 ,! 5TIRE %ORE SEEM$ TO BE 9 MOTION4 ,HOT /ONES W]E C>RI$ TO 9NUM]ABLE SWEAT LODGES4 ,C\NTLESS FIRES W]E LIT1 & A CIRCLE ( DANC]S =M$ >\ND EA* HE>?4 ,I /AY$ CLOSE TO ,W$ASI4 ,! ?ROBB+ C\NCILGR\ND1 ! FIRES1 ! CRIES ( ! DANC]S1 MADE MY HEAD SP94 

,W$ASI & ,I LO/ TRACK ( ALL \R K94 ,WE W&]$ ALONG ! \TSKIRTS ( ! C\NCILGR\ND1 PA/ ! M\NDS ( PELTS /&+ BE=E ! LODGES4 ,WALK+ BEH9D ! LODGES1 WE SAW 5ORM\S WOOD5 CROSSES ON ! HILLS2 \TL9$ AGA9/ ! MOONLIT SKY !Y LOOK$ LIKE ANGRY ?UND]BIRDS HOV]+ OV] ! DANC]S4 ,WE RETURN$ TO ! C\NCILGR\ND4 ,! DANC]S HAD =M$ !MSELVES 9TO A VA/ CIRCLE4 ,!Y W]E DO+ A W> DANCE4 ,!Y SEEM$ TO BE PROPITIAT+ ! ANGRY HILLTOP GIANTS ) IMAG9>Y VICTIMS4 ,WE HE>D ! NAMES ( SOME ( ! VICTIMS & WE %UDD]$4 ,W$ASI & ,I HAD BO? HE>D \R GR&MO!R S+ ( ?OSE NAMES4 ,!Y W]E ! NAMES ( \R [N K94 ,WE REALIZ$ ?AT ! DANC]S W]E RE5ACT+ ! EXPLOITS ( ANCI5T ,W9AMEK'S LEAGUE2 !Y W]E CELEBRAT+ ! LEAGUE'S VICTORIES AGA9/ ANCI5T ,YAHATASE'S ,TURTLEFOLK1 ,SAGI- KWE'S ,P59SULAK91 ,WAGO%KWE'S ,R$E>? K92 !Y W]E GLORIFY+ ,WISKE 9/EAD ( EXPELL+ HIM4 ,IT DAWN$ ON US ?AT ,%AB5I'S K91 ! PEOPLE ( ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE1 ID5TIFI$ ,WISKE ) ! WOOD5 GIANTS ON !IR HILLS1 CALL$ HIM ! SAVIOR1 & (F]$ \R GREAT-GR&MO!RS' PEOPLE TO HIS GRE$4 

,W$ASI & ,I W]E BAFFL$ & ANGRY4 ,I F\ND NO RE/ UNTIL ! CANOES LEFT ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE %ORE4 ,WE SET \T 9 ,%AB5I'S CANOE & PLI$ HIM ) QUE/IONS4 ,%AB5I TOLD US HE %>$ \R ANG]1 HE HADN'T TAK5 P>T 9 ! DANCE4 ,BUT HE REM9D$ US ?AT \R UNCLES ,NANGISI & ,W9AMEK1 :O HAD TAK5 PROM95T P>TS 9 ! DANCE1 W]E NOT GREAT-GR&SONS ( ,YAHATASE OR ,SAGIKWE OR ,WAGO%KWE4 ,LIKE ,%AB5I HIMSELF1 \R ,LAKEBOTTOM UNCLES DID DESC5D FROM PEOPLE :O HAD F\<T AGA9/ ,TURTLEFOLK1 ,R$E>? K9 & ,P59SULAK94 ,& LIKE ,%AB5I BE=E HE'D COME TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 BE=E HE'D HE>D GR&MO!R'S SONGS1 \R UNCLES & ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE PEOPLE KNEW NO?+ ( ! E>LI] DESC5DANTS2 !Y HAD =GOTT5 ?OSE :O'D LIV$ ON ! ,P59SULA BE=E ! COM+ ( ! CROSSES & FUR PO/S & LEAGUES4 ,%AB5I TOLD US HE WAS A%AM$ ( ! CROSSES & ! NAMES1 BUT NOT ( ! DANCE ITSELF4 ,HE TOLD US T HE DANCE CAME FROM ! WORLD DESCRIB$ ON \R GR&MO!R'S ,MCROLL1 & ?AT HIS K9 W\LD REMA9 ,ROOTK9 SO LONG AS !Y CONT9U$ TO DANCE1 EV5 IF !Y NAM$ !IR [N K9 5EMIES MID ! ,9VAD]S SAVIORS4 ,:5 !Y =GET ! DANCE AS WELL1 HE HII ID1 !Y'LL DIE4 

,! CANOE C>AVAN REA*$ ! TOP ( ! H&4 ,F> T[>D ! SUNSET WAS ! GREAT ,GRE5BAY1 ONE-TIME REFUGE ( ,YAHATASE & ANCI5T ,W$ASI4 ,I C\LD SEE ONLY ! RIPPL+ WAT]S ( ,M 9HIGAMI AS WE />T$ TO CIRCLE ! ,P59SULA & TURN$ T[>D ! SUNRISE4 

,WE BEA*$ AMONG C\NTLESS CANOES & L>G] VESSELS1 MANY ( !M FUR-LAD51 NE> ! =TIFI$ 5CLOSURE ( ,MI%I- LIMAK9A4 ,K9 AS WELL AS /RANG]S GREET$ \R >RIVAL1 BUT NOT ) READY SWEAT LODGES OR LIT HE>?S4 ,M5 RU%$ TO HELP \R ,LAKEBOTTOM K9 SET !IR PELT-LOADS ON %ORE4 ,! PELTS HAD REA*$ !IR DE/9ATION4 

,WABNOKWE HURRI$ TO IMM]SE H]SELF 9 :AT %E CALL$ ,LEMOND2 %E FOLL[$ ,JAMBATI T[>D HIS BRO!RS ,L\ & ,IZZY & !IR SI/] ,ANGIE1 & WAS SOON W>M$ BY ! EMBRACES ( ,IZZY'S WIFE ,S(I & DAU<T] ,FELICE4 ,! RE/ ( US W]E L$ TO ,I LIE 5ORM\S LODGE ( ! SONGMAK] ,ANTO1 :]E WE W]E TO LEA/4 ,WE W]E EMBRAC$ BY ,LESOT] & ,M>IKWE & !IR F\R *ILDR51 BY ,WILL ,SOLI-MAN & ! M$IC9EWOMAN ,AGIBI- COCONA4 ,W$ASI CLUNG TO ,%AB5I & BO? LEFT ) ,ANTO'S ,HON1 ,LESOT]1 GR&NEPHEW ( ! W>RIOR ,MA%EKEWIS & HIMSELF A W>RIOR :O1 LIKE ,%AB5I1 HAD /OOD ALONGSIDE ,WAKAYA ON ,I LIE FIELD ( FALL5 TREES4 ,MY FA!R & ,S(F S BRO!R ,WILL ,SOLI- MAN FILL$ ! AIR ) PELT TALK :I* TURN$ MY /OMA* & ,I TOO SLIPP$ \T ( ! LODGE BE=E ! FEA/4 

,I DRIFT$ BACK TO ! L&+PLACE & WAT*$ ! M5 :O C>RI$ PELTS FROM CANOES & /ACK$ !M 9 M\NDS1 ! R[S ( M5 :O MOV$ FROM ONE PELT M\ND TO ! NEXT ) MEASUR- + IMPLEM5TS1 ! M5 :O %OV$ EA* O!R :ILE GE/ICULAT+ & %\T+4 ,! UNRHY?MICAL NOISE WAS AS UNREL5T+ AS ! MOTION4 ,EV5 :5 ,I UND]/OOD WORDS1 !IR MEAN+S PASS$ ME BY1 & ,I WAS SURE ! %\T+ M5 UND]- ,HTOOD EA* O!R NO BETT] ?AN ,I UND]/OOD !M4 ,I PUT MY H&S TO MY E>S1 LET MY ELB[S FLAP RHY?MICALLY1 & F\ND MYSELF ABOVE ! RO>1 HOV]+ OV] ! BUNDLE-C>RY+ M54 ,FIX+ MY EYES ON ! BUNDLES1 ,I SAW ?AT !Y W]E NOT PELTS1 HUT CADAV]S4 ,I %RIEK$1 MY FLAPP+ LO/ ITS RHY?M1 & ,I T UMBL$ TO ! GR\ND4 

,I F\ND MYSELF ON A MAT 9 A ROOM ( ! 5ORM\S LODGE4 ,AGIBICOCONA SAT BESIDE ME4 ,FROM ! %\T+ 9 ! FEA/ HALL1 ,I KNEW ?AT ! O!RS W]E DONE EAT+ & HAD />T$ TO DR9K4 ,! M$IC9EWOMAN TOLD ME ! O!RS ?\<T ME SICK2 ,BURR- NET ?\<T ME DEM5T$4 ,AGIBICOCONA HAD TE>S 9 H] EYES4 ,%E SAID %E KNEW :AT ,I HAD SE51 = %E HAD SE5 IT TOO4 ,%E SAID FURRY DAM-BUILD]S W]E BE+ ANNIHILAT$1 UNDAMM$ RIV]S W]E RUNN+ DRY1 E>? WAS BE+ WA%$ AWAY1 & ! SWEET WAT] ( ,KI*IGAMI WAS TURN+ BITT]4 ,H] AUNT ,B[E- T9KWE1 H] GR&UNCLE ,MA%EKEWIS1 H] COMPANION'S MO!R1 ! ,TURTLEWOMAN FROM ! ,BAY ( ,:ITE ,S&S1 HAD ALL SE5 ?IS4 ,%E BEGG$ ME TO GO ON SEE+1 TO GO ON DREAM+4 ,BUT %E W>N$ ME NOT TO SEE 9 ! COMPANY ( ?OSE :O C\LD NO LONG] SEE1 ?OSE :O *AS$ DREAM]S FROM !IR MID/4 ,I ?ANK$ ,AGIBICOCONA = H] GIFT2 ,I DIDN'T !N KN[ JU/ H[ PRECI\S H] GIFT W\LD BE4 

,\R DEP>TURE FROM ! NOR!RN FUR-GA!R+ PLACE WAS APP>5TLY DELAY$ BECAUSE ( ME4 ,BURR-NET WAS NOT CONV9C$ BY ,AGIBICOCONA'S ASSURANCES ?AT ,I WAS WELL 5\< TO TRAVEL4 ,HE SPOKE ( ME AS DEM5T$1 BEWIT*$ BY MY GR&MO!R1 & HE SEEM$ A%AM$ TO HAVE ME NE> HIM4 ,\R ,LAKEBOTTOM K9 HAD ALREADY FILL$ !IR CANOES ) GIFTS & HEAD$ T[>D ! SUNSET4 

,:5 WE F9ALLY LEFT ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 ,%AB5I & ,TOP9BI PADDL$ ! CANOE ?AT C>RI$ \R MO!R & FA!R4 ,WABNOKWE WAS ) ,JAMBATI'S SI/] ,ANGIE & BRO!R ,IZZY1 ) ,S(I & ,FELICE4 ,W$ASI & ,I W]E CR[D$ 9TO ,LESOT]'S CANOE ) \R AUNT ,M>IKWE & H] F\R *ILDR51 ! OLDE/ ( :OM1 ,%>LOKWE1 ATTA*$ H]SELF TO ,W$ASI4 ,%>LOKWE1 LIKE ,W$ASI1 ADMIR$ W>RIORS1 P>TICUL>LY H] FA!R ,LESOT] & H] GR&UNCLE ,MA%EKEWIS4 

,:ILE ,LESOT] PADDL$1 HIS SONS ,ZOZAS & ,M$> TAK+ TURNS ) ,W$ASI & ME1 ,%>LOKWE SPOKE )\T PAUSE4 ,H] Y\NG] SI/] ,R9A LI/5$ WIDE-EY$ BUT SAID NO?+4 ,%>LOKWE TOLD ( ! ,ROOTK9 :O HAD ONCE 9HABIT$ ! ,P59SULA'S SUNRISE %ORE2 ,I HAD HE>D SOME ( H] /ORIES FROM ,KATABWE4 ,%E TOLD ( ! PLAGUES1 *EAT+S & KILL+S ?AT HAD DRIV5 ! ORIG9AL PEOPLE T[>D DI/ANT PLACES ( REFUGE4 ,:5 WE TRAV]S$ ,SAGI ,BAY1 BETWE5 ! ,P59SULA'S F+] & ?UMB1 ,%>LOKWE SPOKE ) ANG] ( H] AUNT ,ANJELIK ,KUY]YE1 SI/] ( ! W>RIOR ,ALE%I1 :O HAD BETRAY$ ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS TO H] ,R$COAT CALL$ ,/>-L+1 & HAD !N GUID$ ! ,R$COAT TO ,SAGI ,BAY4 ,:ILE ,MA%EKEWIS & ,ALE%I HAD F\<T ALONGSIDE ,LESOT]'S UNCLE ,BATI TO \/ ! ,R$COATS FROM ! ,/RAIT1 ,ANJELIK'S ,/>-L+ ATTACK$ ! P9ES ( ,SAGI ,HUY4 ,HELP$ BY TREECUTT]S FROM ! ,/RAIT & EV5 BY MY ,LAKEBOTTOM K9SMAN ,S&YPO9T1 ?IS ,/>-L+ REMOV$ ! ,MAY'S P9ES1 />V$ \T ! DE]1 MOOSE & BEAV]1 & MADE ! SOIL ITSELF RUN 9TO ! ,BAY4 ,! TREEKILL] HAD DEFEAT$ \R 1@>@> ,SAGI K9 )\T ONCE FAC+ !M 9 BATTLE2 HE DID IT BY DE/ROY+ !IR =E/4 ,! ,BAY'S ,ROOTK9 HAD FL$ 9 F\R DIRECTIONS1 ,HOME T[>D ! ,ROOTK9 ON ,KI*IGAMI'S %ORES1 O!RS TO ! REMA9+ ,TURTLEFOLK 9 ,MORN+L&1 /ILL O!RS T[>D ! C>RI]S BY ! ,LEAN+ ,TREE1 ! RE/ T[>D ! SURVIV+ ,K$E>? K9 9 ! ,GRE5BAY ON ,MI%IGAMI'S O!R %ORE4 ,%E ,HUID ! ,*EAT]S & ,SCALP]S WANT$ TO REMOVE \R K9 FROM ,I LIE ,/RAIT AS WELL1 BUT H] FA!R ,LESOT] WAS READY TO CONFRONT ,I HEM ) TALK+ LEAVES :I* SPOKE A LANGUAGE !Y UND]- NL4OOD1 & IF ! ,SCALP]S FAIL$ TO UND]/& ! TALK+ LEAVES1 ,LESOT] & HIS C\S9 ,ISADOR & ,M>IKWE'S C\S9 ,WAKAYA W\LD RESUME ! BATTLE !Y HAD CALL$ (F :5 ,I WAS HORN1 ! BATTLE ON ! FIELD ( FALL5 TREES4 

,! ,/RAIT 

  

,AT LA/ WE L&$ ON ! %ORE ( ! ,/RAIT ?AT SEP>ATES ,I LIE ,MORN+L& FROM ! ,P59SULA1 ,WABNOKWE'S & MY BIR?PLACE1 ,TIOSA ,RONDION1 ! VILLAGE ( ! ?REE FIRES4 ,WAB- NOKWE LEAP$ T[>D ! EMBRACES ( ,LEMOND1 ,W$ASI RAN TO TIEEK ! W>RIOR ,WAKAYA4 ,I /EPP$ CAUTI\SLY \T ( ! CANOE1 LIL L$ ) APPREH5SION4 

,SAD FACES GREET$ US4 ,ANTO'S SI/] ,NIZOKWE WAS DEAD4 ,H] BURIAL WAS UND]WAY4 ,GR&MO!R ,KATABWE HAD SPOK5 L\DLY ( ,NIZOKWE4 ,I HAD HOP$ TO HE> H] S+4 

,S9CE WE W]E ,NANIKIBI'S GR&*ILDR51 ,LESOT]1 ! DEAD WOMAN'S NEPHEW1 L$ MY BRO!R1 SI/] & ME TO ! HEAD ( L ,IK- BURIAL PROCESSION4 ,NIZOKWE'S & ,M9I'S GR&DAU<T] ,BE? KNEW :O WE W]E & %E TOLD US :O ! O!RS W]E3 ,NIZOKWE'S SON & DAU<T] ,ISADOR & ,ISABEL2 ,NIZOKWE'S SURVIV+ BRO!R ,PI] & TWO ( HIS DAU<T]S1 ,JOZET & ,MONIK2 & ! SON & DAU<T] ( ,NIZOKWE'S DEAD BRO!R ,BATI1 ,NAWAK & ,PAMOKO4 ,BE? TOLD US \R GR&FA!R'S SI/] ,NAMAKWE WAS ELSE:]E HELP+ ,PI]'S DAU<T] ,M>GIT GIVE BIR?4 

,! PROCESSION /OPP$ ON ! HILL BY ! BUBBL+ SPR+S4 ,ISADOR & ,PI] PLAC$ ! BODY 9TO ! GR\ND1 & NEXT TO IT !Y PLAC$ A MUSICAL 9/RUM5T C>V$ = ,NIZOKWE BY H] BRO!R ,ANTO4 ,BUCKETS ( E>? W]E C>RI$ TO ! HILLTOP UNTIL A M\ND ( TE>-SOAK$ E>? ROSE ABOVE ! BODY4 ,9 ! MOONLI<T1 ,ISADOR UNFOLD$ & DISPLAY$ ! BELTS LEFT TO HIM BY ,NIZOKWE1 BELTS :I* SPOKE ( ! SECOND F\ND+ ( ,TIOSA ,RONDION4 ,& !N ANO!R PROCESSION MOV$ T[>D ! HILLTOP1 ) C&LES1 FLAGS & CROSSES1 ) WAILS & *ANTS4 ,?IS PROCESSION WAS L$ BY ,TI%A1 SON ( ,M9I'S C\S9 ,MAGDA1 BY ,TI%A'S DAU<T] ,LIKET1 & BY MY AUNT ,MIK5OKWE1 SI/] ( ,NAWAK & ,PAMOKO4 ,!SE *ANT+ M\RN]S PLAC$ A CROSS ON TOP ( ! M\ND4 

,! S\ND ( MUSICAL 9/RUM5TS FILL$ ! AIR & MANY ( ! M\RN]S BEGAN TO DANCE ON ! C\NCILGR\ND BETWE5 ! HILL & ! SPR+S4 ,! ?REE ( US /AY$ ) ,BE?1 & W]E SOON JO9$ BY ,JOZET & ,MONIK :O SAID !Y REMEMB]$ ,WABNOKWE'S BIR? 9 !IR FA!R'S GREAT LODGE2 !Y MADE MU* ( ,WABNOKWE'S YELL[ HAIR4 ,BE?'S C\S9 ,LIKET JO9$ US4 ,LIKET %[$ US AN AMULET LEFT TO H] BY H] GR&MO!R ,MAGDA4 ,MY GREAT-GR&FA!R ,OZAGI HAD GIV5 ?AT AMULET TO ,BE?'S GREATGR&MO!R ,MANI1 :O HAD PASS$ IT TO ,MAGDA1 ,MANI'S NIECE4 ,! AMULET L9K$ US4 ,BE? %[$ US ANO!R L9K1 A BUNDLE MADE ( BEADS & CLO? :I*1 %E SAID1 HAD ONCE BE5 %AP$ LIKE AN ANIMAL4 ,KATABWE HAD TOLD ME ( ?IS GIFT4 ,IT WAS MADE BY ,KATABWE'S MO!R ,M5OKO = ,BE?'S GREAT-GR&MO!R1 & ITS LA/ POSSESSOR HAD BE5 ,NIZOKWE4 ,BE? CRI$ :ILE TELL+ ( ! REC5T NI<T :5 ,NIZOKWE GAVE H] ! LITTLE ANIMAL ?AT HAD LO/ ITS %APE4 ,BE? SAID %E KNEW !N ?AT H] GR&MO!R WAS DY+2 %E KNEW ?AT ,NIZOKWE'S VILLAGE1 ! VILLAGE :]E ?REE HE>?S HAD BE5 KEPT BURN+ S9CE ! DAYS ( ! GREAT-GR&MO!RS ,UBANKIKO & ,*ACAPWE1 WAS DY+ ) ,NIZOKWE4 

,I DIDN'T GRASP ! DEP? ( ,BE?'S SORR[ BECAUSE ,I DIDN'T YET KN[ 5\<1 & ALSO BECAUSE MY CONC]NS W]E ELSE:]E4 

,WABNOKWE WAS :ISK$ AWAY BY ,MONIK1 PRESUMABLY T[>D ,LEMOND4 ,\R UNCLE ,TOP9BI & \R FA!R ,BURR-NET W]E ) ! ,*EAT]S1 DISPOS+ ( PELTS & HAGGL+ OV] ,HILLS4 ,%AB5I C\NCIL$ ) ,ISADOR & ,WAKAYA4 ,I KNEW ?AT ,SOLI & ,FELICE W]E ATT5D+ ! W$D+ ( ,IZZY'S SI/] ,ANGIE4 ,I LO/ TRACK ( ,LESOT]1 ,M>IKWE & !IR *ILDR54 ,W$ASI & ,I W]E LODG$ ) \R MO!R AT ,NAMAKWE'S1 WLI7'RE ,I WAS BORN4 ,WE %>$ ! LODGE ) CROSSWE>+ ,M IK5OKWE & H] SON ,%&O1 :O WANT$ TO BE A FUR C>RI] LIKE ,TOP9BI4 

,NAMAKWE1 ,NANIKIBI'S SI/]1 RETURN$ FROM ! BIR? AT ,I 'ICR'S1 BUT SOON LEFT AGA9 TO HELP H] [N DAU<T] ,PAMOKO GIVE HIR?4 ,NAMAKWE'S H&S HAD PULL$ ME \T ( ,CAKIMA'S WOMB4 ,I',YOM ! LITTLE ,I SAW ( ,NAMAKWE1 ,I KNEW ?AT %E WAS II ,I TOGE!R UNLIKE MY GR&MO!R ,KATABWE4 ,IF ,NAMAKWE REMEMB]$ ! DAYS :5 ANCI5T ,W$ASI LIV$ ON ! SPOT OCCUPI$ BY H] LODGE1 IF %E KNEW ( ! DAYS BE=E ! ,9VAD]S CAME1 %E GAVE NO SIGNS ( KN[+ OR REMEMB]+ !M1 NLIE SANG NO SONGS RECALL+ !M4 ,I REALIZ$ ?AT ,I WAS AMONG KM :O REMEMB]$ ,UBANKIKO & ,*ACAPWE & ! SECOND F\ND+ ( ,TIOSA ,RONDION BUT :O KNEW NO?+ ( ! FIR/1 K9 LOR :OM ! COM+ ( ! ,SCABEAT]S WAS ! BEG9N+4 ,I KNEW ?AT ! BELTS DISPLAY$ BY ,ISADOR AT HIS MO!R'S GRAVE W]E ANCI5T ,%UTAHA'S BELTS1 ?AT !SE BELTS CELEBRAT$ ! UNION ( ,TURTLEFOLK & ,ROOTK9 ) ! ,SCABEAT]S :OSE PLAGUES HAD DE/ROY$ ! FIR/ ,TIOSA ,RONDION'S ,TURTLEFOLK & ,KOOTK94 

,W$ASI (T5 JO9$ ,ISADOR1 ,%AB5I & ,WAKAYA AT !IR C\NCILS1 & ACCOMPANI$ !M ON A %ORT HUNT4 ,I /AY$ CLOSE L-O ,NAMAKWE'S1 LOOK+ = ! SPOT ON ! WAT]'S $GE :]E A D\BLE-TRUNK$ TREE HAD ONCE CA/ A %AD[ ( H>E'S E>S ON A R\NDI% PA9T$ ROCK4 ,! UPP]MO/ W9D[S ( ,PI]'S 5ORM\S LODGE W]E VISIBLE ABOVE ! TREES BEH9D ! LODGES ( ,NAMAKWE'S NEI<BORS1 & UP/REAM ALONG ! %ORE ,I C\LD SEE N CORN] ( ! ,9VAD]S' =BIDD+ 5CLOSURE4 

,I LE>N$ ! CAUSE ( ,BE?'S GRIEF ABRUPTLY1 :5 AN >GUM5T BROKE \T BETWE5 MY BRO!R & \R LODGE-MATE ,%&O4 ,I LE>N$ ?AT ,BE?'S ,TIOSA ,RONDION1 ! SECOND1 ,%UTAHA'S VILLAGE1 WAS AB\T TO BREAK1 TO SPLIT 9 TWO4 ,%&O DEF5D$ HIS UNCLE ,DUPRE1 AUNT ,PAMOKO'S MAN1 :O HAD C\NCIL$ ) ! ,SCALP] M>RI$ TO ,PI]'S DAU<T] ,JOZET1 A MAN CALL$ ,WIT-NAGS4 ,%&O PRAIS$ ,DUPRE = EM]G+ FROM ! C\NCIL ) A LEAF ON :I* ,WIT-NAGS PL$G$ ?AT IF HE EV] CAMP$ NE> ,TIOSA ,RONDION1 HE W\LD PROTECT ! 9HABITANTS ( ,NAMAKWE'S VILLAGE1 AS WELL AS ! TREES1 ANIMALS & BURIAL GR\NDS4 ,BUT ,W$ASI HAD HE>D ,WAKAYA & ,ISADOR TALK ( ! LEAF & SAY !Y W\LD RA!R BE GIV5 A POISON\S RATTLESNAKE ?AN ! ,SCALP]'S PL$GE4 ,I REALIZ$ ?AT ,TIOSA ,RONDION'S K9 W]E PULL+ AP>T4 ,WAKAYA & ,ISADOR REMA9$ HO/ILE TO ! ,SCALP]S AGA9/ :OM !Y HAD F\<T ALONGSIDE MY GR&FA!R4 ,NAMAKWE'S SON ,NAWAK HAD ALSO F\<T AGA9/ ! ,SCALP]S4 ,BUT ,NAWAK'S HO/ILITY HAD COOL$1 BECAUSE HE & HIS SI/] ,MIK5OKWE HAD BE5 BETRAY$ BY ! ,SCALP]S' ,R$COAT 5EMIES4 ,!SE DIFF]5CES HAD NOT BE5 AIR$ :ILE ,NIZOKWE LIV$4 ,N[ !Y SUND]$ ! VILLAGE4 

,I DIDN'T PAY MU* ATT5TION TO ! >GUM5T4 ,I WAS MORE CONC]N$ AB\T ,%AB5I'S DEP>TURE FROM ! ,/RAIT4 ,HE WAS LEAV+ ) ,TOP9BI1 MY MO!R & FA!R1 & ,%&O AS ,TOP9BI'S APPR5TICE4 ,I REM9D$ ,%AB5I ( HIS PROMISE TO BUILD ME ANO!R FA/+ LODGE4 ,%AB5I SMIL$4 ,HE SAID ,I W\LD HAVE A LIFETIME 9 :I* TO DREAM1 BUT ONLY A FEW SEASONS TO EXAM9E MY BIR?PLACE4 ,HE R5EW$ HIS PROMISE BE=E HE LEFT4 

,W$ASI & ,I W9T]$ 9 ,TIOSA ,RONDION2 ,W'ABNOKWE /AY$ 9 ,PI]'S LODGE4 ,W$ASI ACCOMPANI$ ,WAKAYA & ,ISADOR ON !IR HUNTS4 ,HE ALREADY KNEW H[ TO USE A RIFLE1 & HE DIDN'T LIKE TO HE> AB\T ! ANCE/OR :OSE NAME HE BORE4 ,I OCCASIONALLY ACCOMPANI$ !M4 ,ONCE ,I W5T ) ,NAWAK & ,DUPRE1 BUT ,I CONF9$ MYSELF TO MY B[ & HIT NO?+ ) MY >R[S4 

,9 MIDW9T] ,NAMAKWE FELL ILL1 & ,PAMOKO WAS CON/ANTLY 9 \R LODGE ) COMPRESSES & H]BAL POTIONS4 ,:5 ! SN[S MELT$1 ,PAMOKO W5T TO ,PI]'S LODGE TO CELEBRATE ! M>RIAGE ( ,NIZOKWE'S WID[$ DAU<T] ,ISABEL1 ,BE?'S MO!R1 TO A MAN CALL$ ,GORE-NAGS1 BRO!R ( ,SCALP] ,WIT-NAGS4 ,:5 ,W$ASI LE>N$ ( ?IS M>RIAGE HE TOLD ME NOT TO BE SURPRIS$4 ,ISABEL WAS NOT LIKE H] MO!R1 BRO!R OR DAU<T]4 ,W$ASI HAD HE>D ,ISADOR TELL ?AT ,ISABEL HAD ONCE LOV$ \R UNCLE ,APTEGIZHEK1 SON ( ,OA%I & ,LOKASKWE2 %E HAD LOV$ ,APTEGIZHEK UNTIL HE LIV$ ?R\< ! MASSACRE ON ! ,TUSC>AWAS 9 ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 & HAD !N TURN$ H] BACK TO HIM1 REPELL$ BY HIS W\ND4 

,:5 ! FIR/ LEAF BUDS APPE>$1 IT BECAME CLE> TO EV]YONE ?AT ! ,SCALP]'S PL$GE TO ,DUPRE HAD BE5 A ROCK MADE ( ICE4 ,IT MELT$ 9 SPR+4 ,WIT-NAGS & A CREW ( TREECUTT]S CAME TO ! $GE ( ,TIOSA ,RONDION & BEGAN TO D[N A P>T ( ! =E/4 ,:5 ,NAWAK & ,DUPRE CONFRONT$ HIM1 ,WIT-NAGS EXPLA9$ ?AT HIS PEOPLE'S LODGES W]E SOME:AT DIFF]5T FROM \RS1 & HE PO9T$ TO ,PI]'S 5ORM\S WOOD5 LODGE TO ILLU/RATE ! DIFF]5CE4 ,NAWAK & ,DUPRE C\NCIL$ ) ,NAMAKWE & DECID$ TO KEEP ! PEACE4 

,BUT :5 ,ISADOR & ,WAKAYA RETURN$ FROM ! HUNT1 !Y1 US WELL AS SEV]AL Y\?S FROM ! LODGES ( ! ,TURTLEFOLK1 CONFRONT$ ! TREECUTT]S ) WEAPONS 9 H&4 ,WAKAYA ASK$ ! 9TRUD]S ! QUE/ION ! ,R$E>? W>RIOR ,LAM9A IS SAID TO HAVE ASK$ ! FIR/ ,SCABEAT]S ON ! ,/RAIT3 ,:AT DO Y\ WANT H]E8 ,SCALP] ,WIT-NAGS ANSW]$ ,WAKAYA DIFF]5TLY ?AN HE HAD ANSW]$ ,NAWAK4 ,WIT-NAGS SAID HE WAS BUILD+ A LODGE ON L& ?AT BELONG$ TO HIS WIFE'S FA!R ,PI] & TO H] C\S9 ,DUPRE1 & HE WAV$ A COPY ( ,DUPRE'S LEAF 9 ,WAKAYA'S LACE4 

,NAWAK1 ,DUPRE & ! O!R ,FIREKEEP]S W]E AS DET]M9$ TO LET ! ,SCALP] BUILD HIS LODGE AS ,ISADOR & ,WAKAYA W]E TO /OP HIM4 ,I WAS SURE ,LESOT] W\LD HAVE SID$ ) HIS C\S9 ,ISADOR1 BUT ,LESOT] HAD LEFT ,M>IKWE & HIS *ILDR5 ON ! ,/RAIT & RETURN$ TO ! NOR? ) ,IZZY & ,S(I AFT] ! M>RIAGE ( ,IZZY'S SI/] TO A ,SCALP] NAM$ ,:IP-O4 ,MANY ( ! ,TURTLEY\?S PA9T$ !MSELVES = W>4 ,BUT ,WAKAYA & ,ISADOR W]E WAIT+ = ! 5TIRE VILLAGE TO RESPOND TO ! I NCURSION2 NEI!R ( !M WANT$ TO TAKE UP >MS )\T1 OR POSSIBLY AGA9/1 ! O!R HALF ( HIS K9-VILLAGE4 

,! ,TURTLEFOLK ( ,TIOSA ,RONDION C\NCIL$ )\T ,FIREKEEP]S1 >\ND A S+LE HE>?4 ,W$ASI ATT5D$ !IR C\NCILS4 ,MANY ( ! Y\?S REMA9$ PA9T$1 READY TO PUT AN 5D T O ! CUTT+ AS WELL AS ! CUTT]S4 ,BUT ! LODGE MO!RS & ,I LIE W>RIORS :O /OOD BY !M1 SU* AS ,WAKAYA & ,ISADOR1 AT LA/ PREVAIL$4 ,!RE W\LD BE NO FRATRICIDE4 ,! ,TURTLEFOLK RESOLV$ TO KEEP ,SCALP]S \T ( !IR VILLAGE BY MOV+ !IR VILLAGE AWAY FROM ! ,SCALP]S4 ,!Y DISMANTL$ P>TS ( !IR LODGES1 AB&ON$ ! RE/1 & MOV$ D[N/REAM TO A PLACE ACROSS FROM ,TURKEY ,ISLE1 A PLACE !Y CALL$ ,K>ONTA54 ,ISADOR C>RI$ ! BELTS WOV5 BY ANCI5T ,%UTAHA1 BELTS :I* DESCRIB$ A VILLAGE ) F\R PEOPLES >\ND ?REE HE>?S1 TO A VILLAGE :]E ALL W]E ,TURTLEFOLK1 EI!R BORN OR ADOPT$4 ,ISA- DOR'S NIECE ,BE? ACCOMPANI$ H] UNCLE TO ! NEW VILLAGE4 ,W$ASI WANT$ TO GO !RE TOO1 BUT ,WAKAYA TOLD MY BRO!R ?AT ,NAMAKWE'S VILLAGE W\LD BE A SAD PLACE IF IT HADN'T A S+LE W>RIOR 9 IT4 ,W$ASI /AY$1 AS ,I DID1 9 A VILLAGE ?AT WAS NO LONG] ,TIOSA ,RONDION4 ,NAMAKWE'S K9 CONT9U$ TO LI<T ! ?REE HE>?S1 BUT ! HE>?S W]E NO LONG] MEET+PLACES4 ,NAMAKWE'S VILLAGE BECAME A ,FIREKEEP]S'S VILLAGE1 LIKE ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,:5 ! LEAVES W]E FULLY GR[N1 ,TOP9BI & ,%&O >RIV$ ON ! ,/RAIT ) ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S FURS4 ,!Y CAME BY WAY ( ,KEKIONGA1 HAV+ ACCOMPANI$ MY UNCLE ,APTEGIZHEK TO HIS VILLAGE4 ,%AB5I WASN'T ) !M4 ,:AT CAME ) !M 9/EAD WAS ! NEWS ?AT MY GR&MO!R ,KATABWE HAD BE5 BURI$4 

,TOP9BI TOLD US HIS MO!R HAD DI$ SOON AFT] WE HAD LEFT ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,I WAS SURE %E DI$ :5 WE W]E 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 :5 ,I BECAME A BIRD & SAW ?AT ! FUR BUNDLES W]E REALLY CORPSES4 ,KATABWE ! W>RIOR-WOMAN HAD ORIG9ALLY BE5 CALL$ BIRDWOMAN4 ,I !N KNEW IT HAD BE5 H] SPIRIT ?AT HAD COME TO ME 9 MY FIR/ DREAM & FL[N ME ABOVE A ,BISON ,PRAIRIE TURN$ B>R54 ,:5 H] SPIRIT LEFT H]1 P>T ( IT W5T TO ! L& BEYOND ! RIS+ SUN1 ! O!R P>T LODG$ ITSELF 9 ME2 ?AT WAS :Y ,I C\LD FLY ON MY [N4 ,%E'D TOLD ME MY FIR/ DREAM HAD BE5 COMPLETE4 ,N[ ,I BELIEV$ H]4 ,BUT ,I /ILL DIDN'T SEE H[ IT C\LD GUIDE ME4 

,TOP9BI SAID ! BURIAL HAD ALREADY 5D$ :5 ! GIFT C>AVAN FROM ! ,/RAIT HAD RETURN$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,OA%I'S SON ,APTEGIZHEK HAD LE>N$ ( ! DEA? & HURRI$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE FROM ,KEKIONGA2 HIS SI/]S ,%ECOGOSIKWE & ,WAGO%- KWE HAD LEFT ! ,LAKEBOTTOM TO ATT5D !IR AUNT'S BURIAL2 ,OA%I'S *ILDR5 REMEMB]$ ?AT ,KATABWE HAD BE5 CLOSE TO !IR MO!R ,LOKASKWE4 ,TOP9BI'S DAU<T] ,MIMIKWE HAD MADE ALL ! BURIAL >RANGEM5TS2 %E HAD BE5 ) ,KATABWE DUR+ ! LA/ DAYS4 

,& !N ,TOP9BI %[$ US A GIFT--A BUNDLE4 ,DY+ ,KATABWE HAD TOLD ,MIMIKWE TO S5D ! BUNDLE TO ME1 ,OB5ABI4 ,IT WAS GR&FA!R ,NANIKIBI'S OTT]SK9 BUNDLE1 ! ,FIREKEEP]S' M$IC9E BUNDLE4 ,I HADN'T CRI$ :5 ,TIOSA ,RONDION1 MY BIR?PLACE1 ! VILLAGE ( ?REE FIRES1 HAD BROK5 UP4 ,BUT ,I C\LDN'T /OP MY TE>S :5 ,I ACCEPT$ ! BUNDLE ,TOP9BI BR\<T ME4 ,LIKE MY BRO!RS & MY SI/]1 ,I HAD AB&ON$ \R GR&MO!R4 ,BUT %E HADN'T AB&ON$ ME2 %E HAD KN[N ?AT H] SPIRIT W\LD LODGE ITSELF 9 ME4 

,TOP9BI HAD ALSO C>RI$ TALK+ LEAVES FROM \R FA!R TO ! ,*EAT] CALL$ ,JAY-MAY1 ! GA!R] ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S FURS4 ,ONE ( !SE LEAVES ASK$ ?IS ,JAY-MAY TO SEE TO IT ?AT ,W$ASI & ,I MEET MORE PEOPLE ?AN \R CLOSE/ K92 ,BURR-NET WANT$ US TO GO AMONG ?OSE \R GR&MO!R HAD CALL$ ,WIT*BURN]S1 7'HEAT]S & ,%ITMAK]S1 ?OSE :OM ,WAKAYA1 & AFT] HIM1 ,W$ASI1 CALL$ ,UNIT$ ,SCALP]S4 

,*EAT] ,JAY-MAY ASK$ \R BRO!R ,*EBANSI TO DO US ?IS LAVOR4 ,*EBANSI1 AS WELL AS \R OLDE/ BRO!R ,NA%K[ATAK1 HAD REC5TLY RETURN$ FROM A LONG /AY 9 ,HO*ELAGA1 ! ONETIME C5T] ( ,TURTLEFOLK :I* WAS N[ A C5T] ( BEAV] FURS4 ,W$ASI & ,I HADN'T SE5 \R OLD] BRO!RS S9CE ,MIMIKWE'S M>RIAGE TO ,%AB5I 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 

,*EBANSI DID AS HE WAS BID1 BUT NOT JOYFULLY4 ,HE L$ ,W$ASI & ME \T ( ,NAMAKWE'S LODGE T[>D ! CR[D$ VILLAGE %>$ BY ,SCABEAT]S & ,UNIT$ ,SCALP]S4 ,! =TIFI$ 5CLOSURE WAS ! L>GE/ /RUCTURE1 BUT IT SEEM$ TO ME ! 5TIRE VILLAGE WAS AN 5CLOSURE4 ,L>GE1 SQU>E H\SES BLOCK$ ! VIEW ( ! =E/ AS WELL AS ! /RAIT1 & ! PA?S BETWE5 ! H\SES /ANK ( REFUSE4 ,! TALLE/ ( ! H\SES WAS ! ONE 9 :I* ! CROSSWE>]S LODG$ ALL !IR SPIRITS1 9CLUD+ ! ONE !Y CALL$ ,SAVIOR1 !IR ,WISKE4 ,*EBANSI L$ US TO A T9Y ROOM 9 A LODGE HE CALL$ ! S*OOLH\SE1 A ROOM WE W]E TO %>E ) HIM4 ,! ROOM WAS B>ELY L>G] ?AN ! 9SIDE ( A SWEAT LODGE1 & !RE W]E NO NE>BY WOODS TO RUN TO :5 WE W]E COV]$ ) SWEAT4 

,*EBANSI CONFESS$ TO US ?AT HE WASN'T PLEAS$ TO DRAG US 9TO ! ,9VAD]'S WORLD1 BUT ?AT IF HE HADN'T DONE IT1 ,NA%K[ATAK W\LD HAVE4 ,W$ASI & ,I W]E SURPRIS$1 S9CE 9 ,BISON ,PRAIRIE ,*EBANSI HAD AVOID$ ,KATABWE & ALL ! O!R ,FIREKEEP]S & HAD CONF9$ HIMSELF TO TRAD] ,BURR-NET'S LODGE4 ,WE W]E EV5 MORE SURPRIS$ :5 HE TOLD US ?AT \R FA!R WANT$ US NOT ONLY 9TRODUC$ TO ! ,9VAD]S1 BUT TOTALLY ,IRANS=M$ BY !M4 ,HE W>N$ US ( ! ,9VAD]S' P[]S :I*1 HE SAID1 W]E NOT LIMIT$ TO ! 9/ANT DEA? ?AT RU%$ FROM !IR FIRE/ICKS4 ,HE TOLD US !Y KNEW H[ TO TAKE ! MEAN+S \T ( WORDS1 NOT ONLY ! WORDS ( !IR LANGUAGE BUT ?OSE ( \RS AS WELL4 ,ONCE WE LO/ ! MEAN+S1 WE W\LD BE UNABLE TO REMEMB] \R [N WAYS OR TO ?9K ( \R K94 

,W$ASI BOA/$ ?AT HE WAS IMP]VI\S TO ! ,9VAD]S' P[]S2 HE SAID HE WAS COM+ AMONG ! ,9VAD]S AS A SC\T ,I ROM ,WAKAYA'S W> CAMP4 ,I WASN'T AS SURE ( MYSELF1 ESPECIALLY NIT] ,*EBANSI TOLD US ?AT ,NA%K[ATAK & ,WABNOKWE HAD ALREADY BE5 TRANS=M$4 ,! NEWS ( ,WABNOKWE DID NOT SURPRISE ME1 BUT ! NEWS ( ,NA%K[ATAK %OCK$ ME1 = ,I REMEMB]$ ?AT \R OLDE/ BRO!R HAD GR[N AT ,KATABWE'S HE>?4 

,*EBANSI TOLD US ! ,SCALP]S DID !IR TRANS=M+ 9 C]EMONIAL GA!R+S !Y CALL$ S*OOLS1 BUT !IR S*OOLS DID NOT ALWAYS SUCCE$4 ,HE SAID ! GA!R+ :I* HE & ,NA%K[ATAK ATT5D$ HAD BE5 DIV]T$ BY \R C\S9S ,LIKET1 ,MONIK & ,BE?1 SO ?AT ,*EBANSI & ,NA%K[ATAK HAD HAD TO BE S5T TO ,HO*ELAGA = MORE P[]FUL M$IC9E4 ,BUT HE W>N$ US ?AT ,SCALP]S ,JAY-MAY & ,WIT-NAGS1 TOGE!R ) ! ,SCABEAT] CALL$ ,JO ,KAMPO1 HAD PREP>$ ANO!R S*OOL1 & ?AT !Y LE>N$ FROM !IR FAILURES4 

,WE W]E NOT EXPOS$ TO ! ,9VAD]S' TRANS=M+ PROCESS UNTIL ! BIRDS FLEW S\?W>D4 ,BY !N ,I WAS FAMILI> ) MANY ( ! O!R *ILDR5 :O W]E TO BE TRANS=M$4 ,\R AUNT ,M>IKWE BR\<T H] F\R *ILDR51 ,%>LOKWE1 ,ZOZAS1 ,M$> & LITTLE ,R9A2 !Y /AY$ CLOSE TO ,W$ASI & ,*EBANSI1 JU/ AS ,I DID4 ,!IR C\S9 ,FELICE1 ,S(FS DAU<T]1 :O HAD BE5 LEFT 9 ,M>IKWE'S LODGE BY H] MO!R1 /AY$ AWAY FROM ,M>IKWE'S *ILDR5 & ALSO FROM ,WABNOKWE1 CONF9+ H]SELF TO A CIRCLE ?AT ,WABNOKWE CALL$ ! SNOBS4 ,FELICE HAD A PRETTY SMILE2 ,I WAS SORRY %E WAS A SNOB4 ,MY SI/] WAS H]SELF A SNOB & AVOID$ US AS MU* AS ,FELICE DID1 EXT5D+ H] FRI5D%IP ONLY TO ,PI]'S DAU<T] ,MONIK & TO ,ISADOR'S NIECE ,BE?4 ,BE? CAME BY HORSE FROM ,K>ONTA5 TO BE 9CLUD$ 9 ! S*OOL2 %E /AY$ ) H] C\S9 ,LIKET 9 ! CROSSWE>]S' SPIRIT- LODGE4 ,! F\R? GR\P1 SIX CROSSWE>]S1 W]E RELATIVELY FRI5DLY TO US2 ONE ( !M1 A BOY NAM$ ,B]T1 %>$ MY APPREH5SIONS2 ,B]T'S SI/] ,T]ESA %>$ ,W$ASI'S SCORN T[>D ! ,SCALP]S' P[]S & WAS SOON ON JOK+ T]MS ) MY BRO!R4 ,BELLE-MAY1 ! ,SCALP]'S DAU<T]1 ALSO CAME1 & KEPT L>GELY TO H]SELF1 BE+ %UT \T ( ALL F\R GR\PS4 

,! GA!R+ ITSELF TOOK PLACE 9 ! H\SE 9 :I* MY BRO!RS & ,I HAD \R ROOM4 ,I PREP>$ MYSELF C>EFULLY = ! FIR/ 5C\NT]1 REMEMB]+ ! ADVICE ,I'D RECEIV$ 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A FROM ! M$IC9EWOMAN ,AGIBICOCONA4 ,I FLATT5$ ! OTT]SK9 BUNDLE AGA9/ MY *E/ & COV]$ IT COMPLETELY ) MY %IRT4 ,I =M$ MY EYES & M\? 9TO A MASK ( AMUS$ ATT5TIV5ESS1 A MASK ?AT TOLD ANYONE :O LOOK$ AT ME ?AT ,I HAD SE5 NO?+1 HE>D NO?+1 & KNEW NO?+4 

,! AG5T :O WAS TO ACCOMPLI% \R TRANS=MATION WAS A WOMAN :O CALL$ H]SELF ,MISUS ,BAY-CON1 A WOMAN Y\NG] T HAN ,LIKET1 :O UND]/OOD ONLY ! ,SCALP]S' LANGUAGE4 ,EXCEPT = TWO OR ?REE ( ! CROSSWE>]S1 ALL ! *ILDR5 UND]/OOD TI] LANGUAGE4 ,I UND]/OOD H] WORDS P]FECTLY & ,I ALSO UND]- ,HTOOD ,*EBANSI'S W>N+4 ,MISUS ,BAY-CON US$ FAMILI> WORDS & GAVE !M TWI/$ MEAN+S1 SO ?AT ,I GRASP$ AS LITTLE AS ,I W\LD HAVE IF %E'D SPOK5 A LANGUAGE ALI5 TO ME4 ,WORDS CAN HAVE DIFF]5T MEAN+S1 JU/ AS TREES CAN BE BIR*ES OR OAKS8 ,HUT A BIR* ?AT'S TWI/$ OR /UNT$ IS NOT A ?IRD K9D ( TREE2 IT'S A TWI/$ BIR*4 ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S MEAN+S W]E LIKE ! ,HTUNT$ BIR*2 !Y W]5'T MEAN+S ?AT M]ELY DIFF]$ FROM ! ONES ,I WAS US$ TO2 !Y W]E TWI/$1 B5T \T ( %APE4 

,I SOON ?\<T ?AT ,*EBANSI'S W>N+S HAD BE5 EXAGG]AT$4 ,I DIDN'T KN[ :AT CONJUR+S HAD BE5 WORK$ ON ,NA%K[ATAK 9 ,HO*ELAGA1 BUT ,I KNEW ?AT NEI!R ,W$ASI NOR ,I W]E LIKELY TO SWALL[ ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S TWI/$ MEAN+S4 ,IF WE HAD BE5 M]E BABIES WE MI<T HAVE SUCCUMB$1 BUT AS IT WAS1 EV5 LITTLE ,R9A1 ! Y\NGE/1 WAS OLD 5\< TO DI/+UI% A FULL-GR[N BIR* FROM A TWI/$ ONE4 ,! ONLY ONE :O PAID ATT5TION TO ,MISUS ,BAY-CON WAS ,BELLE-MAY1 DAU<T] ( ,JAY-MAY'S FIR/ WIFE1 & %E HAD ALREADY LE>N$ ! TWI/$ MEAN+S FROM H] FA!R4 ,I ACTUALLY FELT SORRY = ,MISUS ,BAY- CON1 :O HAD NO IDEA H[ ALONE %E WAS4 ,MO/ ( ! *ILDR51 & OBVI\SLY ?OSE :O C\LDN'T UND]/& H] LANGUAGE1 WORE SMIL+1 ATT5TIVE MASKS1 SAID NO?+1 & HE>D AS MU* AS !Y SAID4 ,MONIK & ,BE? CONFRONT$ H] CONT9UALLY1 & NLIE MU/ HAVE ?\<T !Y W]E ! ONLY ONES :O DISLIK$ :AT %E SAID4 ,%E MU/ ALSO HAVE GUESS$ ?AT ,*EBANSI WAS LESS ?AN SYMPA!TIC TO H]1 BECAUSE ,W$ASI AS WELL AS ,BE? CONSULT$ ,*EBANSI :5EV] !Y PREP>$ TO CONFRONT ,MISUS ,MAY-CON4 

,MISUS ,BAY-CON SPOKE A GREAT DEAL AB\T PROP]TY & CLEAN9ESS4 ,*EBANSI TOLD ,W$ASI & ME :AT %E MEANT4 ,HE TOLD US ,SCALP] ,JAY-MAY HAD HAD SOME ROTT5 MEAT 9 HIS /ORE4 ,! PROP] ?+ TO DO ) ?AT FIL?Y MEAT W\LD HAVE BE5 TO BURY IT4 ,BUT ,SCALP] ,JAY-MAY HAD SALT$ ! ROTT5 MEAT & !N GIV5 IT TO PEOPLE ONE W\LD HAVE ?\<T TO BE HIS MORTAL 5EMIES1 BUT :O CONSID]$ HIM A FRI5D4 ,9 ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S EYES1 ,JAY-MAY HAD DONE :AT WAS CLEAN & PROP]1 = HE HAD GA9$ PROP]TY 9/EAD ( LOS+ IT4 

,IT WAS ,W$ASI :O ACTUALLY CONFRONT$ ,MISUS ,BAY-CON2 HE ASK$ H] IF HE1 ,W$ASI1 C\LD EV] BECOME CLEAN & PROP]1 & %E SET \T ON A LONG TIRADE AB\T [N+ & SAV+ PROP]TY4 

,:5 %E WAS DONE1 ,W$ASI ADVIS$ H] NOT TO VISIT \R K92 OR EV5 H] [N4 ,ALMO/ ALL ! *ILDR5 LAU<$1 BUT ,MISUS ,BAY- CON'S FACE WAS BLANK2 %E REALLY DIDN'T UND]/& :AT ,W$ASI 4MEANT4 J,SO ,W$ASI EXPLA9$ ?AT A P]SON :O HO>D$ FOOD :ILE O!RS HUNG]$1 :O HO>D$ CLO?+ :ILE O!RS W]E COLD1 :O LOCK$ UP A LODGE :ILE O!RS HAD NO %ELT]1 W\LD NOT BE CONSID]$ EI!R CLEAN OR PROP] 9 ANY VILLAGE1 BY ANYONE'S K94 ,HE TOLD H] SU* A P]SON W\LD BE CONSID]$ AN 5EMY1 & NOT ONLY AN 5EMY BUT AN UNADOPTABLE ONE1 AN 5EMY :O WAS HO/ILE TO ANY & ALL HUMAN BE+S1 K9 & FOE ALIKE2 SU* A P]SON W\LD BE EXPELL$ AS A HIDE\S MON/]4 

,EV]YONE ELSE UND]/OOD ,W$ASI1 BUT ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S FACE REMA9$ BLANK2 %E SAID %E HAD NO IDEA :AT HE WAS TALK+ AB\T4 ,HE MI<T AS WELL HAVE SPOK5 TO H] 9 ! LANGUAGE ( ,ROOTK94 ,BE? & ,MONIK CONT9U$ TO *ALL5GE ,MISUS ,BAY- CON1 BUT ,W$ASI TIR$ ( ! CONFRONTATIONS4 ,& HE RIDICUL$ ,*EBANSI'S W>N+S4 ,IF ,MISUS ,BAY-CON ILLU/RAT$ ! EXT5T ( ! ,SCALP]S' SORC]Y1 !N WE HAD NO?+ TO FE> FROM ! ,SCALP]S EXCEPT !IR KILL+-/ICKS4 ,AS SOON AS SPR+ CAME1 ,W$ASI /OPP$ ATT5D+ ! GA!R+S1 PREF]R+ TO RUN TO ! WOODS \TSIDE ! CR[D$ VILLAGE4 ,I TOO GREW TIR$ ( ! POOR WOMAN'S PA!TIC ATTEMPTS TO TWI/ US \T ( %APE4 ,I RETA9$ MY ATT5TIVE MASK1 BUT ,I FELT AS IF ,I'D BE5 HOLD+ MY BREA?2 ,I WAS />V$ = FRE% AIR4 

,! DRE>Y SESSIONS ) ! SCALP$ WORDS & TWI/$ MEAN+S F9ALLY 5D$1 NOT BECAUSE ( ,W$ASI'S BOR$OM OR ,MONIK'S *ALL5GES1 BUT BECAUSE ,NAMAKWE DI$ & MO/ ( US MADE \R WAY TO ! ,FIREKEEP]S' VILLAGE4 ,!RE WAS TALK ( SORC]Y EX]T$ BY ! ,SCALP] ,WIT-NAGS & ( SPELLS CA/ BY ! ,TURTLEFOLK ( ,K>ONTA51 BUT ,W$ASI & ,I KNEW ?AT \R GR&FA!R'S SI/] HAD BE5 OLD & ILL1 & H] DEA? GAVE US REASON TO ESCAPE FROM ! NUMB+ S*OOL & REJO9 \R K94 

,IT WAS MY ?IRD SPR+ ON ! ,/RAIT4 ,MU* HAD *ANG$ S9CE MY >RIVAL4 ,! LODGES ( ,NAWAK1 ,PAMOKO1 ,MIK5OKWE & ! O!R ,FIREKEEP]S /ILL /OOD BEL[ ! HILL BY ! SPR+S1 BUT !RE W]E FEW SIGNS ?AT !SE LODGES HAD ONCE BE5 P>T ( A L>G] VILLAGE1 ONE ) ?REE LIV+ HE>?S1 ,TIOSA ,RONDION4 ,! REMA9S ( ! LONG LODGES ( ! ,TURTLEFOLK HAD BE5 DISMANTL$ & BURN$ 9 W9T]'S HE>?S4 ,TO ! NOR? ! VILLAGE WAS B\ND$1 WALL$-9 BY ,PI]'S 5ORM\S H\SE & BY ! NE>LY-F9I%$ MON/ROSITY ( ,SCALP] ,WIT- NAGS4 

,%ORTLY AFT] \R RETURN TO ,NAMAKWE'S1 ,TOP9BI >RIV$ ) ,NAMAKWE'S GR&SON ,%&O & ) GUE/S FROM ,KEKIONGA4 ,%&O /AY$ ) ,W$ASI & ME 9 HIS MO!R ,MIK5OKWE'S LODGE1 :ILE ,MIK5OKWE & ,PAMOKO & !IR BRO!R ,NAWAK MADE >RANGEM5TS = ! BURIAL ( !IR MO!R4 ,%&O SPOKE ( ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S BEAV]S & HUNT]S1 BUT1 HE BR\<T US NO NEWS ( ,METEYA1 ,MIMIKWE OR ,%AB5I1 EXCEPT ! NEWS ?AT ,%AB5I HAD NOT WANT$ TO ACCOMPANY ! ,I'UR C>AVAN4 

,! K9 FROM ,KEKIONGA W]E /RANG]S TO ME1 AL?\< ,I KNEW :O !Y W]E4 ,GAB9YA WAS ! SON ( ,NAMAKWE'S SI/] ,T9AMI2 HE WAS ,M>IKWE'S BRO!R4 ,I KNEW ?AT :5 HIS CMI,HI NS HAD F\<T ! ,SCALP]S AT ! TIME ( MY BIR?1 ,GAB9YA HND 7L$ FROM ! FALL5 TREES & HIDD5 9 ! ,R$COATS' =T NEXT TO ! BATTLEFIELD4 ,GAB9YA CAME ) A DI/ANT K9SMAN ( M9T2 :O DID NOT LIVE 9 ,KEKIONGA BUT 9 ,PIQUA1 9 ! C5T] ( ! ,MEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 AMONG ,S\?BRAN* & ,EA/BRAN* K94 ,HIS NAME WAS ,BIJIKI & HE WAS ! SON ( ,LOKASKWE'S SI/] ,MAGID9S4 ,GAB9YA WAS ON ! ,/RAIT TO ATT5D HIS AUNT'S BURIAL4 ,MIJIKI HAD COME TO 9TRODUCE HIS SON ,PEZHKI & HIS NEPHEW ,MIMS TO ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S S*OOL4 

,AL?\< NEI!R ,NAWAK NOR ,PAMOKO WORE CROSSES1 !Y LET ,I LIC'I R SI/] ,MIK5OKWE PREP>E A CROSSWE>]'S BURIAL4 ,I WAS NOT 9VIT$ TO HELP ) ! >RANGEM5TS1 SO ,I TOOK MY OTT]SK9- LIUNDLE 9TO ! =E/ :]E1 SURR\ND$ BY NONE BUT TREES & ,IM RDS1 ,I UNPACK$ ITS CONT5TS4 ,I SAW & T\*$ ! GIFTS PASS$ ON T O ME1 GIFTS FROM LONG-VANI%$ ANCE/ORS1 GIFTS :OSE MEAN+ C\LD NOT YET GRASP4 ,ALL ,I SAW WAS A BUNDLE ( FI%BONES1 A ,9TT4H]1 A %ELL1 & TWO ROLL$ %EETS ( B>K :I* ,I KEPT ROLL$ FROM FE> !Y W\LD DIS9TEGRATE4 

,PURITAN S*OOL 

  

,I WALK$ ALONGSIDE ,PAMOKO TO ! BURIAL PLACE4 ,%E HAD NURS$ H] MO!R ?R\< ! W9T]4 ,AT ! 5D ,NAMAKWE HAD GIV5 ,PAMOKO H] H]B BUNDLE & HAD ASK$ ,PAMOKO TO BR+ ,MIK5OKWE & ,NAWAK TO H] LODGE4 ,PAMOKO TOLD ME H] MO!R DIDN'T KN[ ?AT ,TIOSA ,RONDION HAD ALREADY DISP]S$2 ,NAMAKWE'S LA/ WORDS TO H] SON & DAU<T] W]E TO KEEP ! HE>?S ( ,TIOSA ,RONDION LIT1 TO MAKE SURE ! ?REE FIRES NEV] DI$4 

,WAKAYA AS WELL AS ,ISADOR HAD COME UP = !IR AUNT'S BURIAL1 BUT !Y KEPT !MSELVES 9 ! %AD[S & ,I DIDN'T SEE !M4 ,I DID SEE ,LESOT] & ,S(I1 :O >RIV$ DUR+ ! BURIAL PROCESSION4 ,I LE>N$ FROM ,LESOT]'S DAU<T] ,%>LOKWE ?AT ,S(FS MAN ,IZZY HAD DI$ DUR+ ! J\RNEY TO ,MI%ILIMAK9A & ?AT ,LESOT] HAD LO/ HIS FA!R ,ANTO4 ,%>LOKWE ALSO TOLD ME ?AT ,S(FS DAU<T] ,FELICE WAS A%AM$ ( H] MO!R = RETURN+ TO ! ,/RAIT ) ,LESOT] 9/EAD ( COM+ PROP]LY ) ,IZZY'S BRO!RS4 ,I ALSO SAW ,T9AMI'S SON ,GAB9YA AT HIS AUNT'S BURIAL1 MORE 9T5T ON *AS+ AFT] ,MONIK ?AN ON ,MIK5OKWE'S CROSSES & C&LES4 

,:ILE ! CROSSWE>]S KNEEL$ TO ! SPIRITS ON !IR BANN]S1 WAIL$1 & PLANT$ CROSSES1 ,S(I W5T FROM ,*EBANSI TO ,BE? TO ,ISADOR SPREAD+ NEWS ( O!R HAPP5+S 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 HAPP5+S :I* CONC]N$ ME & ALL ! O!R *ILDR5 ATT5D+ ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S S*OOL4 ,:5 ! BURIAL 5D$1 ,BE? 9VIT$ ALL ?OSE 9VOLV$ ) ! S*OOL TO C\NCIL ) ,S(I AT ,ISADOR'S HE>? 9 ,K>ONTA54 ,*EBANSI L$ ,W$ASI & ME1 & ALSO ! BOYS FROM ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY1 ,MUNS & ,PEZHKI1 TO ! ,TURTLEFOLKS' %ORE4 ,PEZHKI'S FA!R ,BIJIKI HAD GONE TO VISIT HIS MO!R & HIS Y\NG] BRO!R ON ! %ORE ( ! ,CLE> ,LAKE NOR? ( ! ,/RAIT1 & HE'D LEFT HIS SON & NEPHEW AT ,NAWAK'S1 AFT] ASK+ ,*EBANSI TO 9TRODUCE ! BOYS TO ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S S*OOL4 

,9/EAD ( RETURN+ TO ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S S*OOL AFT] ,NAMAKWE'S BURIAL1 MORE ?AN HALF ( ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S S*OL>S W]E GA!R$ >\ND ,S(I AT ! ,K>ONTA5 C\NCILGR\ND4 ,MY SI/] ,WABNOKWE WAS !RE ) ,BE?4 ,LESOT]'S & ,M>IKWE'S F\R *ILDR5 W]E !RE4 ,BE?'S C\S91 ! CROSSWE>] ,LIKET1 WAS !RE4 ,I F\ND A PLACE 9 ! CIRCLE BETWE5 MY C\S9 ,%>LOKWE & MY UNCLE ,WAKAYA2 ,W$ASI SAT ON ! O!R SIDE ( ,WAKAYA4 ,IT WAS ! FIR/ TIME ,I HAD SE5 ! R5[N$ W>RIOR UP CLOSE2 HE DIDN'T SEEM AT ALL =MIDABLE4 ,9 ! FIRELI<T ,I SAW ! SILH\ETTE ( ! >RO:EAD DANGL+ FROM HIS NECK4 

,MO/ ( ! GA!R$ K9 W]E ,TURTLEFOLK :O HAD LEFT ,TIOSA ,ITONDION ) ,ISADOR SOON AFT] HIS MO!R'S DEA?1 :5 ! ,SCALP]S />T$ D[N+ ! TREES4 ,!IR VILLAGE1 CONSI/+ ONLY ( LON<\SES SURR\ND$ BY PICKETS & WAT*T[]S1 NEEM$ AS /RANGE TO ME AS ! ,9VAD]S' VILLAGE UP/REAM4 

,AFT] ! USUAL GREET+S & EXPRESSIONS ( GRATITUDE1 ,S(I ,HPOKE TO ! GA!R+ 9 ! LANGUAGE ( ! ,TURTLEFOLK1 SO ?AT ,I UND]/OOD NO?+ ( :AT %E SAID4 ,MY ?REE BRO!RS1 & EV5 MY SI/] ,WABNOKWE1 HAD HE>D ,TIOSA ,RONDION'S ,TURTLEFOLK DUR+ MANY SEASONS1 BUT ,I HAD BE5 C>RI$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE BE=E ,I HAD LE>N$ TO SPEAK4 

,I WAS 5TRANC$ BY ,WAKAYA'S >RO:EAD P5DANT2 IF ,%>- LOKWE HADN'T KEPT NUDG+ ME1 ,I W\LD HAVE DREAM$4 ,I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL EV]YONE WAS HE>D1 & ! C\NCIL BROKE UP1 BE=E ,I LE>N$ :Y !Y HAD GA!R$4 ,%>LOKWE G5]\SLY TRANSLAT$ EV]Y SPEE* = ME & ALSO = ,MUNS & ,PEZHKI1 BO? ( :OM HAD FALL5 ASLEEP DUR+ ! C\NCIL4 

,%>LOKWE TOLD US ?AT ,MISUS ,BAY-CON HAD A C\NT]P>T 9 T HE NOR?1 A HUSB& BY ! NAME ( ,REV-R5D ,BAY-CON4 ,BO? ,MAY-CONS HAD BE5 9VIT$ TO ! ,P59SULA BY ! ,SCABEAT] ,JO ,KAMPO & BY ! ,SCALP]S ,JAY-MAY & ,WIT-NAGS4 ,! ,REV- R5D WAS TO DO 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A :AT ,MISUS DID TO US ON ! ,/RAIT4 ,%>LOKWE SPOKE ! SAME WAY ,*EBANSI HAD :5 HE'D W>N$ US ( ! S*OOL4 ,%E SPOKE ( FALL5 =E/S & SPLIT V I ,I LAGES1 ( K9 PU%$ \T ( !IR ANCE/RAL HOMES4 ,%E SAID ! ,HORC]Y ( ! ,BAY-CONS WAS MORE P[]FUL ?AN ! ,SCALP]S' ,I'I REWAT] & EV5 !IR FIRE/ICKS4 ,%E SAID ! ,R$COATS :O HAD F\<T AGA9/ \R GR&FA!RS & GR&UNCLES ,M9I1 ,ALE%I1 ,MA%EKEWIS & ,NANIKIBI HAD NOT BE5 ABLE TO ACCOMPLI% SO MU* AS ! ,BAY-CONS4 ,I PROTE/$ ?AT ,MISUS ,BAY-CON HAD NOT DONE ANY?+ TO US4 ,%>LOKWE ASSUR$ ME ?AT ,MISUS WAS EI!R FEEBLE OR LESS EXP]I5C$1 BECAUSE ,REV-R5D ,BAY-CON HAD DONE MU*4 ,HE HAD TURN$ ,S(FS BRO!R ,WILL ,SOLI-MAN & H] DEAD ,IZZY'S BRO!RS ,L\ & ,JAMBATI 9TO ,WIT*BURN]S & ,*EAT]S4 ,HE HAD SEP>AT$ ,S(FS BRO!R FROM ,AGIBI- COCONA1 ACCUS+ ! M$IC9EWOMAN ( BE+ A SORC]ESS & SAY+ ?AT A PROP] P]SON C\LD NOT BE M>RI$ TO A SORC]ESS4 ,HE HAD SEP>AT$ ,JAMBATI FROM ,S&YPO9T'S DAU<T] ,SUZAN BECAUSE1 HE SAID1 ,SUZAN WAS TOO D>K TO BE ! WIFE ( A PROP] P]SON4 ,& :5 ,S(I & ,LESOT] HAD RETURN$ TO ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 !Y'D BE5 LOCK$ UP TOGE!R 9 A SMALL ROOM1 ACCUS$ ( BE+ ,AGIBICOCONA'S ACCOMPLICES & EV5 ( MURD]+ ,IZZY4 ,& ALL ?IS HAD BE5 DONE SO ?AT ,L\ & ,JAMBATI & ,WILL ,SOLI-MAN C\LD TAKE OV] ,S(FS1 ,LESOT]'S & ,AGIBICOCONA'S LODGES4 ,ANTO HAD DI$ FI<T+ ! S*EM]S1 & ,LESOT] & ,S(I HAD ESCAP$ TO ! ,/RAIT TO SEEK ALLIES4 

,I DIDN'T BELIEVE EV]Y?+ ,%>LOKWE TOLD ME BECAUSE ,I C\LDN'T SEE H[ SOMEONE ) ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S P[]S C\LD ACCOMPLI% SO MU*4 ,BUT ! K9 GA!R$ AT ! ,K>ONTA5 C\NCILGR\ND APP>5TLY BELIEV$ ,S(I BECAUSE ! LON<\SE WOM5 & ! W>RIORS RESOLV$ TO \/ ! ,BAY-CONS FROM ! ,P59SULA IF ! CROSSWE>]S ON ! ,/RAIT FAIL$ TO DO SO4 ,LIKET1 :O HAD SPOK5 9 ! LANGUAGE ( ,PRAIRIEK91 HAD ASSUR$ ! ANGRY ,TURTLEFOLK ?AT %E & H] FA!R ,TI%A & ! O!R CROSSWE>]S W\LD SEE TO IT ?AT NO >M$ CLA% BECAME NECESS>Y1 AT LEA/ NOT ON ! ,/RAIT4 ,LIKET'S ASSURANCES HAD FAIL$ TO COOL ! ANG]1 BUT ,I DIDN'T UND]/& ! V>I\S RESPONSES4 

,W$ASI & ,I RETURN$ TO ,MIK5OKWE'S AFT] ! C\NCIL DISP]S$4 ,MUNS & ,PEZHKI W]E LODG$ NEXT DOOR TO US1 AT ,NAWAK'S4 ,MUNS & ,I W]E ! SAME AGE1 & WE SOON LE>N$ WE HAD MANY O!R ?+S 9 COMMON4 ,MUNS'S FA!R ,ONIMU% & HIS UNCLE ,BIJIKI1 SONS ( ,MAGID9S & TRAD] ,CON-]R1 W]E !MSELVES TRAD]S1 LIKE MY [N FA!R4 ,MUNS HAD NO DESIRE TO BE A TRAD]4 ,HE HAD GR[N AMONG ! K9 ( HIS MO!R ,MEK+ES & H] SI/] ,*9DISKWE1 ,EA/BRAN* ,ROOTK9 :OSE ANCE/ORS HAD BE5 DRIV5 TO ! ,BEAUTIFUL ,VALLEY FROM ! ,OCEAN%ORE4 ,ONE ( HIS ANCE/ORS WAS ,L5API1 A MAN MY GR&MO!R HAD RESPECT$4 ,HE TOLD ME AB\T K9 :OSE :]EAB\TS EV5 ,KATABWE HADN'T KN[N4 ,HIS CLOSE/ FRI5D 9 ,PIQUA WAS ,OJEJOK1 SON ( ,WAKAYA'S & ,METEYA'S BRO!R ,WAPMIMI4 

,MUNS BEGG$ ME TO %>E ! CONT5TS ( ! OTT]SK9 ) HIM4 ,HE WAS ESPECIALLY EXCIT$ AB\T ! B>K SCROLLS4 ,HE TOLD ME HIS UNCLE ,APTEGIZHEK 9 ,KEKIONGA HAD A SIMIL> SCROLL1 A SCROLL ?AT SPOKE ( ,MUNS'S [N ,EA/BRAN* K92 ,I WAS ABLE TO TELL ,MUNS H[ ! ,EA/BRAN* SCROLL HAD COME TO BE 9 ,APTEGIZHEK'S H&S4 

,MUNS DIDN'T %>E MY D\BTS ( ,%>LOKWE'S V]ACITY4 ,HE HADN'T YET SE5 ,MISUS ,BAY-CON1 BUT HE WAS AS W>Y AS ,*EBANSI ( ! ,UNIT$ ,SCALP]S' TRANS=M+ P[]S4 ,HE TOLD ME ! ,SCALP]S HAD TRANS=M$ HIS UNCLE ,BIJIKI ! SAME WAY !Y'D TRANS=M$ ,S(FS K9SM5 9 ! NOR?4 ,BIJIKI HAD GR[N AMONG ! ,ROOTK9 ( ,SAGI ,BAY1 AT ! ,CLE> ,LAKE JU/ NOR? ( ! ,/RAIT4 ,:5 HE'D BE5 READY TO HUNT ON HIS [N1 ,BIJIKI & ,II,IH BRO!R ,ONIMU% HAD MOV$ TO ,PIQUA & M>RI$ ,S\?- TIRIII,K'H & ,EA/BRAN* WOM54 ,!Y HAD %>$ MEAT ) ! ,I'IQUN K91 SMOK$ ) !M & C\NCIL$ ) !M4 ,BUT AT KMO C\NCIL1 SOME ( ! ,PIQUA K91 & ALSO ! PREA*+ ,MRC? ]N :O'D JO9$ !M1 URG$ ,BIJIKI TO TRAVEL TO ! EA/ TO COMPLA9 ( 9CURSIONS & KILL+S P]PETRAT$ BY ! ,9VAD]S P\R+ OV] ! M\NTA9S 9TO ! VALLEY4 ,BIJIKI HAD GONE PTI,HT1 & HE'D RETURN$ TRANS=M$4 ,HE BEGAN TO HO>D 9/EAD OL ,HHNR+4 ,HE BEFRI5D$ ! ,KEKIONGA TRAITOR ,WILL-WELL :O'D NTICC BE5 ,WAKAYA'S HALF-BRO!R4 ,HE 9SI/$ ON BE+ CALL$ ,JOHN ,CON-]R 9/EAD ( ,BIJIKI4 ,& HE BR\<T HIS OLD] SON & ,II,IM NEPHEW TO ! ,/RAIT TO HAVE !M UND]GO A SIMIL> TRANS- LII99TION4 

,WABNOKWE & ,MONIK CAME TO ,MIK5OKWE'S TO PREP>E US T9 ,HU#a F9AL CONFRONTATION ) ,MISUS ,BAY-CON4 ,WE W]E TO PIEL5D WE W]E SIMPLY RETURN+ TO S*OOL AFT] \R KLII,HWOMAN'S BURIAL1 & ?AT WE KNEW NO?+ AB\T ,MISUS OR LLEV R5D ,BAY-CON4 ,I WAS ALREADY EXP]I5C$ AT PRET5D+1 BUT ,MUIIH WAS NOT V]Y GOOD AT IT4 

,I WALK$ ) ,MUNS & ,PEZHKI FROM ! ,FIREKEEP]S' VIL- WE W]E ACCOMPANI$ BY ,MONIK & ,WABNOKWE4 ,W$ASI TOLD NIL HE KNEW TO ,T]ESA & ,B]T1 :O SPREAD ! NEWS TO ! 7TLH] ]OSSWE>]S4 

,!RE W]E SEV]AL CONFRONTATIONS1 SOME ( !M SO FUNNY ,I HNL ,M UNS & O!R *ILDR5 BUR/ \T LAU<+1 PUTT+ ,MISUS LLII V CON ON H] GU>D4 ,MONIK HAD RECRUIT$ MY UNCLE ,GAB9YA TO LIE ! AG5T ( ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S D[NFALL1 NOT BECAUSE ,GAB9YA AHNR$ ! HO/ILITY ( ! O!RS BUT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T %>E IT4 7IIIHMYA LODG$ ) HIS SI/] ,M>IKWE4 ,HE KNEW :AT HAD ,IMPP5$ 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A1 BUT HE WAS COMPLETELY 9DIFF]5T ,9 #a#a#aH K9 AS WELL AS !IR PLI<T4 ,GAB9YA'S SOLE 9T]E/ WAS 9 VNIIII7-3 GIRLS1 & ,MONIK KNEW ?AT ! M]E SI<T ( ,BELLE-MAY DEM5T$ HIM4 ,SO ,MONIK URG$ HIM TO ASSI/ ,BELLE-MAY1 ,MISUS ,I ,9 V RUN'S LONE DEF5D]1 & TO PRES5T HIMSELF TO ,MISUS ,BAYUN I IIH SOMEONE EAG] TO LE>N H] TEA*+S4 

,MONIK C\LDN'T HAVE F\ND A BETT] P]SON = ! ROLE4 ,MONIK H]SELF1 AS WELL AS ,BE? & A CROSSWE>+ C\S9 ( ,I HI'I RS CALL$ ,LISA1 CONFRONT$ ,MISUS ,BAY-CON BY REF]R+ TO ANCI5T CROSSWE>]S' TRADITIONS :I* ,MISUS ,BAY-CON CLAIM$ ,9 UND]/& BETT] ?AN ! CROSSWE>]S2 !Y EXPOS$ ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S IGNORANCE ( ?OSE TRADITIONS4 ,BUT ,GAB9YA PRET5D$ TO AGREE ) ,MISUS ,BAY-CON4 ,GAB9YA PRET5D$ TO DEF5D H] /ATEM5TS & HALT+LY REPEAT+ H] WORDS1 HE !N TRANSLAT$ H] WORDS 9TO LANGUAGES ALL BUT ,BELLE-MAY C\LD UND]/&4 ,?US HE TRANSLAT$ H] /ATEM5TS AB\T SAV+ MONEY 9TO /ATEM5TS AB\T SAV+ MALE SE$1 & H] /ATEM5TS AB\T SP5D+1 OR AS %E SAID 9VE/+1 ! MONEY1 9TO /ATEM5TS AB\T PUMP+ ! SE$ 9TO A WOMB4 ,MUNS LAU<$ UNTIL TE>S FL[$1 ! CROSSWE>]S W]E MORTIFI$1 BUT ,MISUS ,BAY- CON PRAIS$ ,GAB9YA'S UND]/&+ & ,BELLE-MAY ?ANK$ HIM = HIS CL>ITY4 

,! LA/ CONFRONTATION WAS NOT ,GAB9YA'S DO+1 BUT ,LIKET'S4 ,\TSIDE ! S*OOLH\SE1 BE=E ! SESSION EV5 BEGAN1 ,LIKET /OPP$ ,MISUS ,BAY-CON ! MOM5T %E >RIV$4 ,) H] C\S9 TRANSLAT+1 ,LIKET ASK$ 9 ,LEMOND'S LANGUAGE IF ,MISUS ,BAY-CON KNEW :]E %E WAS LEAD+ ! *ILDR54 ,MISUS ,BAY- CON ANSW]$ ?AT %E WAS LIFT+ ! *ILDR5 FROM BEL[ ! GR\ND4 ,LIKET !N ASK$ H[ ,MISUS ,BAY-CON C\LD LIFT *ILDR5 :O HADN'T YET FALL51 & IF %E DIDN'T HAVE TO TRIP ! *ILDR5 FIR/4 

DIDN'T FULLY UND]/& ,LIKET'S QUE/IONS 9 EI!R LANGUAGE1 BUT ,MISUS ,BAY-CON APP>5TLY DID1 BECAUSE %E BUR/ 9TO TE>S & RAN FROM ! S*OOLH\SE 9/EAD ( 5T]+ IT4 ,BELLE-MAY1 ALSO UPSET1 RAN AFT] ,MISUS ,BAY-CON TO CONSOLE H]1 & ,GAB9YA RAN AFT] ,BELLE-MAY4 ,MUNS & ,I LEFT ! GA!R+ & RAN BACK TO ! ,FIREKEEP]S' VILLAGE2 WE BO? KNEW !RE W\LD BE NO MORE S*OOL4 ,BUT WE MI/AK5LY ?\<T ,LIKET HAD BR\<T ! 5D BY HUMILIAT+ ,MISUS ,BAY-CON2 WE SOON LE>N$ ?AT ! 5D WASN'T ,LIKET'S DO+2 IT WAS ,GAB9YA'S4 

,! DAY AFT] ! CONFRONTATION 9 FRONT ( ! S*OOLH\SE1 ,MONLK CAME TO GA!R US ALL AT ,PI]'S2 %E DIDN'T SAY :Y4 ,I SAW1 = ! FIR/ TIME1 ! 9SIDE ( ! GREAT LODGE ?AT /OOD BEYOND ! NOR!RN $GE ( ! ,FIREKEEP]S' VILLAGE1 ! LODGE MY SI/] CALL$ ,LEMOND1 ! C5T] ( H] WORLD4 ,I REMEMB]$ %E WAS BORN 9 ?AT LODGE4 ,IT WAS ALSO ! FIR/ TIME ,I MET ,MONIK'S SI/] ,M>GIT1 AL?\<1 LIKE EV]YONE ELSE1 ,I ?\<T ,I'D MET H] BE=E1 BECAUSE ,I HAD SE5 H] SI/] ,JOZET AT ,NAMAKWE'S BURIAL4 

,M>GIT L$ ME TO A PLACE 9 ! C\NCILROOM1 ! ROOM MY SI/] CALL$ ! SALON4 ,M>GIT'S FACE EXPRESS$ A COMB9ATION ( AMUSEM5T & APPREH5SION2 %E ALREADY KNEW ! PURPOSE ( ! GA!R+4 ,M>GIT WAS ,BELLE-MAY'S FO/]-MO!R1 SECOND WIFE ( ,SCALP] ,JAY-MAY4 

,! ROOM FILL$ UP4 ,EV]YONE ,I KNEW ON ! ,/RAIT WAS !RE EXCEPT ! ,FIREKEEP]S & ! ,TURTLEFOLK4 ,PI] HIMSELF SAT 9 A CORN]1 SAID NO?+1 & SEEM$ MORE LIKE A GUE/ ?AN A HO/4 ,M>GIT'S TW9 ,JOZET WAS !RE AS WELL AS H] HUSB&1 ,SCALP] ,WIT-NAGS4 ,LIKET & ALL H] C\S9S W]E !RE4 ,S(I WAS !RE ) ,FELICE & ,M>IKWE'S F\R1 BUT ,M>IKWE & ,LESOT] W]E NOT !RE4 ,ALMO/ ALL ( ! O!R S*OOL*ILDR5 W]E !RE1 AS WELL AS ,MISUS ,BAY-CON H]SELF4 

,)\T ANY PRELIM9>IES1 ,JAY-MAY ANN\NC$ :Y HE HAD GA!R$ US ALL !RE4 ,HE SAID ,BELLE-MAY1 ! DAU<T] ( HIS FIR/ M>RIAGE1 C\LDN'T BE F\ND4 ,HE'D SP5T ! 5TIRE NI<T LOOK+ = H]4 ,ANO!R P]SON :O C\LDN'T BE F\ND WAS ,GAB9YA4 

,MUNS BUR/ \T LAU<+ & ,I C\LDN'T KEEP MYSELF FROM JO9+ HIM4 ,EV]Y?+ BECAME CLE> TO ME4 ,GAB9YA HAD RUN 

,IT] ,BELLE-MAY TO CONSOLE H]1 & HE MU/ HAVE GONE ON CONSOL- + H] UNTIL %E AGRE$ TO RUN (F ) HIM4 ,MONIK MU/ HAVE KN[N SOME?+ LIKE ?IS W\LD HAPP5 :5 %E RECRUIT$ ,GAB9YA TO BE ,BELLE-MAY'S HELP]4 ,EV]YONE 9 ! ROOM WAS LAU<+1 EXCEPT ! ,SCALP]S4 ,JAY-MAY WAS R$ ) RAGE4 ,HE SAID HIS DAU<T] HAD ELOP$ ) A MAN TWICE H] AGE1 & HE HLAM$ ,MISUS ,BAY-CON = ALL[+ SU* A ?+ TO HAPP54 

,MISUS ,BAY-CON PO9T$ H] F+] AT ,*EBANSI1 BUT %E WAS SO DI/RAU<T %E C\LDN'T SPEAK4 ,SCALP] ,WIT-NAGS ACCUS$ ,*EBANSI ( LEAD+ ! S*OOL*ILDR5 TO :AT HE CALL$ A WIT*ES' SABBA? 9 ,K>ONTA51 & ( 9/IGAT+ A CONSPIRACY TO DE/ROY ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S S*OOL4 ,JAY-MAY %\T$ AT ,*EBANSI1 CALL+ HIM A VICI\S *>ACT] & ?REAT5+ HIM ) PUNI%M5TS4 

,ALMO/ EV]YONE 9 ! ROOM KNEW ?AT ,*EBANSI HAD DONE NONE ( ! 9/IGAT+1 ?AT HE'D M]ELY GUID$ A FEW ( US TO ,ISADOR'S HE>?4 ,BUT ,*EBANSI DIDN'T DEF5D HIMSELF4 ,HE JU/ SAT & SWEAT$2 SOON HE />T$ TREMBL+4 ,I C\LD SEE ?AT HE WAS NETT+ SICK4 

,S(I LEAP$ FROM H] SEAT1 LUNG$ AT ,MISUS ,BAY-CON1 CALL$ H] A LI>1 & SAID ! ONLY CONSPIRACY WAS ! ONE HAT*$ BY ,MISUS ,BAY-CON & H] ,REV-R5D TOGE!R ) ! ,/RAIT'S ,SCALP]S4 ,IT TOOK ! COMB9$ /R5G? ( ,JAY-MAY & ,WIT- NAGS TO KEEP ,S(I FROM SCRAT*+ ! FRI<T5$ ,MISUS ,BAY-CON4 ,ONE ( ! ,SCALP]S ADVIS$ ,PI] TO MAKE HIS SALON MORE SELECTIVE4 ,! OLD MAN DIDN'T ACKN[L$GE HE>+ ! ADVICE1 BUT ,SOLI' /ORM$ \T ( ! ROOM4 ,FELICE RAN \T AFT] ,S(I2 ,I C\LD TELL %E WAS A%AM$1 NOT ( ! ,SCALP]'S 9SULT1 BUT ( H] MO!R'S BEHAVIOR4 

,*EBANSI LEFT NEXT1 B5T OV] & %AK+2 ,LIKET HELP$1 & ALMO/ C>RI$ HIM \T ( ! ROOM4 ,ALL LAU<T] HAD LONG S9CE DI$4 ,ONLY ,JAY-MAY'S VOICE CUT ?R\< ! /ONY SIL5CE4 ,HE SPOKE ( ORGIES & P]V]SIONS2 HE ?REAT5$ PUNI%M5TS4 ,HE CONT9U$ TO BLAME ,*EBANSI = ,BELLE-MAY'S DISAPPE>ANCE1 BUT AFT] ,LIKET LEFT ! ROOM HE PUT SOME ( ! BLAME ON H]4 ,HE SAID ! CROSSWE>]S WANT$ TO DE/ROY ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S S*OOL SO AS TO REPLACE IT ) A S*OOL ( !IR [N4 ,AT LA/ HE ?REAT5$ TO BREAK ! NE/ ( CONSPIRATORS1 AS HE CALL$ US1 9TO SPL9T]S4 

,W$ASI & ,I WANT$ TO JO9 \R SICK BRO!R1 BUT ,JAY-MAY & ,WIT-NAGS KEPT US FROM HIM4 ,WE RETURN$1 ) ,MUNS & ,PEZHKI1 TO ! ,FIREKEEP]S' VILLAGE4 ,I C\LDN'T BELIEVE :AT HAD HAPP5$4 ,! ,SCALP]S SURELY KNEW :AT ,REV-R5D ,BAY-CON HAD DONE TO ,LESOT] & ,S(I & !IR K9 9 ,MI%ILIMAK9A4 ,!Y SURELY ALSO KNEW ?AT ,S(I & ,LESOT] W]E ! ONES :O HAD CONSPIR$ & 9/IGAT$1 & ) GOOD REASONS4 ,YET ! ,SCALP]S HAD PUT ALL ! BLAME ON \R BRO!R4 ,W$ASI ?\<T HE KNEW :Y ,*EBANSI HAD BE5 S+L$ \T4 ,LESOT]1 ,ANTO'S SON1 WAS ! HO/'S NEPHEW4 ,S(I HAD BE5 REG>D$ AS A NIECE BY ,ANTO1 & UND\BT$LY WAS BY ,PI]4 ,ON ! O!R H& ,*EBANSI WAS ! SON ( DI/ANT TRAD] ,BURR-NET1 & ! ,/RAIT'S ,SCALP]S SURELY KNEW ?AT ,BURR-NET W\LD NOT /& BY HIS SON4 ,!Y S+L$ \T ,*EBANSI1 NOT BECAUSE HE WAS ! 9/IGATOR1 BUT BECAUSE HE WAS A CONV5I5T VICTIM4 

,TOP9BI & ,%&O W]E /ILL ON ! ,/RAIT1 READY TO C>RY !IR LOAD ( GIFTS TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE4 ,!Y W]E ASK$ TO DELAY !IR DEP>TURE UNTIL ,JAY-MAY IMPLEM5T$ HIS ?REAT & BROKE UP ! NE/ ( CONSPIRATORS4 ,:5 ! GIFT-C>AVAN F9ALLY LEFT1 \R BRO!R & SI/] AS WELL AS \R FRI5DS LEFT ) IT4 ,*EBANSI REMA9$ ILL1 & ,JAY-MAY 9SI/$ HE RETURN TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE = M$IC9E4 ,WABNOKWE WAS YANK$ \T ( H] BELOV$ ,LEMOND & TOLD TO NURSE H] BRO!R DUR+ ! J\RNEY4 ,BIJIKI WAS GO+ TO ACCOMPANY ! C>AVAN AS F> AS ,KEKIONGA1 & HE TOOK ,MUNS & ,PEZHKI ) HIM4 ,W$ASI & ,I W]E LEFT AT ,MIK5OKWE'S4 

,W$ASI WAS AGA9 ABLE TO JO9 HIS ,K>ONTA5 UNCLES1 ESPECIALLY ,WAKAYA1 9 !IR C\NCILS & ON !IR HUNTS2 HE W5T ) ,PAMOKO'S CANOE1 SOMETIMES ) ,NAWAK'S HORSE4 ,! ANIMOSITY BETWE5 ,TURTLEFOLK & ,FIREKEEP]S DI$ D[N1 AL?\< ,NAWAK HIMSELF DID NOT JO9 HIS D[N/REAM C\S9S4 ,W$ASI SP5T HIS DAYS 9 ,K>ONTA5 BUT DIDN'T WANT TO BE ADOPT$ 9TO ONE (! LON<\SES1 AS ,WAKAYA HAD BE54 ,HE WAS DISAPPO9T$4 ,:5 WE'D FIR/ >RIV$ ON ! ,/RAIT1 ,W$ASI HAD EXPECT$ ! ,/RAIT'S W>RIORS TO BE PREP>+ = !IR NEXT 5C\NT] ) ! ,9VAD]S4 

,HIS FIR/ DISAPPO9TM5T HAD BE5 ,NAWAK'S CAPITULATION TO ,SCALP] ,WIT-NAGS' 9VASION ( ,TIOSA ,RONDION4 ,HE'D ?\<T ! ,TURTLEFOLK HAD MOV$ D[N/REAM 9 ORD] TO RALLY !IR =CES4 ,N[ HE KNEW ?AT !IR C\NCILS W]E NOT W> C\NCILS2 !Y TOO HAD CAPITULAT$4 ,W$ASI /ILL PREF]R$ TO HUNT ) ,WAKAYA & ,ISADOR1 BUT ON TWO OR ?REE OCCASIONS ?AT W9T] HE JO9$ ,I HE ,FIREKEEP]S ,NAWAK & ,DUPRE4 ,ON ?OSE OCCASIONS ,I W5T ALONG ) MY B[4 ,I W5T = ! /ILLNESS ( ! FROZ5 =E/ & = ! GLIMPSES ( DE] B\ND+ OV] ! SN[4 ,& ,I W5T TO HE> ,NAWAK REPEAT HIS /ORIES AB\T HIS UNCLES ,ALE%I & ,M9I & HIS FA!R ,BATI1 AB\T !IR W>S AGA9/ ! ,R$COATS :O 9VAD$ ! ,/RAIT1 AB\T !IR ALLIANCE ) ?OSE V]Y ,K$COATS AGA9/ ! ,UNIT$ ,SCALP]S1 & AB\T !IR ALLIES' BETRAYAL AT ! FIELD ( FALL5 TREES4 

,NAWAK TOLD H[ HE %IELD$ HIS 9JUR$ FA!R ,BATI :ILE ,I LIE BULLETS :I/L$ OV] !M1 H[ HE GUID$ HIS FA!R PA/ ,I LIE FALL5 TREES TO ! GATE ( ! ,R$COATS' =T1 H[ HIS FA!R EXPIR$ 9 HIS >MS :ILE ! ,R$COATS REFUS$ TO OP5 ! GATE TO ! 9JUR$ W>RIOR4 ,?AT BETRAYAL P]MAN5TLY COOL$ ,NAWAK'S RAGE AGA9/ ! ,SCALP]S :O HAD KILL$ SO MANY ( HIS K94 

,DUR+ !SE HUNTS ,I /AY$ CLOSE TO ,NAWAK1 AWAY FROM ,I @>NPRE1 :5EV] !Y SEP>AT$4 ,NAWAK W\LD FOLL[ TRACKS1 & :5 HE SI<T$ AN ANIMAL HE W\LD PAUSE1 LI/51 WAT*1 DROP SOME TOBACCO & :ISP] TO ! ANIMAL'S SPIRIT1 & ONLY !N SET \T AFT] ! PREY4 ,& AS SOON AS HE HAD 5\< TO FE$ ,9N VILLAGE K91 HE'D /OP1 BUILD A FIRE1 & TALK4 

,DUPRE'S WAYS REPELL$ ME4 ,AS SOON AS HE SAW TRACKS1 HIS FACE LIL UP ) GRE$ & HE RAN4 ,IF HE SPOTT$ SEV]AL ANIMALS1 HE KILLL$ & W5T ON KILL+1 ) NO (F]+S TO !IR SPIRITS & )H NO ?\<T TO ! NE$S ( ! VILLAGE1 AS IF HIS KILL+-/ICK W]E \T ( HIS CONTROL2 ,I KNEW ?AT ! ,SCALP]S HUNT$ LIKE ,I HAT4 ,NAWAK & ! O!RS HELP$ ,DUPRE LUG ALL ! DEAD ANIMALS TO ! VILLAGE4 ,PAMOKO & ! O!R WOM5 DRI$ ! MEAT & DRESS$ ! FURS1 :I* ,DUPRE !N C>RI$ TO ! ,S,I RAIL'S TRAD]S4 ,HE RETURN$ ) MORE P[D]1 CLO?1 FOOD & :ISKEY ?AN ANYONE 9 ! VILLAGE C\LD USE4 

,T[>D ! 5D ( ?AT W9T]1 ,MIK5OKWE TOLD US ?AT ,MISUS ,BAY-CON & H] ,REV-R5D HAD LEFT ! ,/RAIT1 & ?AT ,LIKET & H] CROSSWE>+ FRI5DS W]E PREP>+ TO LAUN* A S*OOL ( !IR [N4 ,MIK5OKWE BEAM$ AS %E TOLD ( ,LIKET'S 9T5TIONS1 & ,I SAW ?AT MY AUNT DIFF]$ 9 YET ANO!R WAY FROM H] ,K>ONTA5 C\S9S4 ,I REMEMB]$ ?AT ,ISADOR & ! ,TURTLEFOLK :O'D HE>D ,S(I HAD EXPRESS$ REVULSION NOT ONLY T[>D ,MISUS ,BAY-CON1 BUT ALSO T[>D ! DAILY GA!R+S ( *ILDR5 9 A S*OOL4 

,MY SI/] RETURN$ TO ! ,/RAIT ) ,TOP9BI1 ,%&O & ! ,BISON ,PRAIRIE FURS SOON AFT] ! BIRDS RETURN$ FROM ! S\?4 ,WABNOKWE PROMPTLY RE9/ALL$ H]SELF 9 ,PI]'S LODGE1 BUT %E WAS FRI5DLI] T[>D H] COCONSPIRATORS ?AN %E HAD BE5 E>LI]4 ,%E TOLD US ,*EBANSI WAS WELL1 ?AT HIS DEP>TURE FROM ! ,/RAIT WAS ! M$IC9E ?AT CUR$ HIM4 ,%E TOLD US ( AN UNPLEASANT 5C\NT] %E & ,*EBANSI HAD HAD ) A ,SCALP] :O HAD LODG$ HIMSELF ON ! ,LAKEBOTTOM4 ,& %E TOLD US ! CONT5T ( ! TALK+ LEAVES ,TOP9BI DELIV]$ TO ,JAY-MAY4 

,ON ONE ( !SE LEAVES1 ,BURR-NET SAID HE HADN'T KN[N HIS SON ,*EBANSI WAS SU* A VICI\S *>ACT]1 & HE ?ANK$ ,JAY-MAY = LETT+ HIM KN[4 ,BURR-NET !N SAID HE DID NOT WANT HIS ?IRD SON1 ,W$ASI1 TO BECOME ANO!R IDL]1 %IRK] & POET1 & HE BEGG$ ,JAY-MAY TO B9D ,W$ASI4 ,WABNOKWE HAD NO IDEA :AT ! B9D+ 5TAIL$1 BUT %E WAS SURE \R FA!R DID NOT WANT HIS ?IRD SON CUT UP & EAT54 ,! LEAF DIDN'T AS MU* AS M5TION ME1 & ,I SUPPOS$ MY FA!R CONSID]$ ME UNR$EEMABLE2 BY ! TIME ,AGIBICOCONA TAU<T ME TO HIDE1 ,BURR-NET HAD ALREADY SE5 ME4 

,W$ASI ALT]NAT$ BETWE5 WANT+ TO FLEE TO ,WAKAYA'S & WANT+ TO PROVE HIMSELF /RONG 5\< TO )/& ! MY/]I\S B9D+1 :I* DIDN'T LONG REMA9 A MY/]Y4 ,IT WASN'T ,*EAT] ,JAY-MAY :O REVEAL$ ! NATURE ( ! B9D+1 BUT \R OLDE/ BRO!R ,NA%K[ATAK4 ,DUR+ ALL \R SESSIONS ON ! ,/RAIT1 WE HAD M]ELY GLIMPS$ ,NA%K[ATAK GO+ 9 OR \T ( ,PI]'S LODGE1 OR NE> ! =T 9 ! COMPANY ( >M$ ,SCALP]S4 ,*EBANSI HAD TOLD US ,NA%K[ATAK HAD BE5 TRANS=M$ 9TO A ,SCALP] :O DIDN'T KN[ HIS [N BRO!RS1 & ,NA%K[ATAK'S LONG AVOIDANCE ( US CONFIRM$ ! DESCRIPTION4 ,BUT ,I SAW RI<T AWAY ?AT ,*EBANSI HAD EXAGG]AT$4 

,NA%K[ATAK MAY HAVE BE5 TRY+ H>D TO BE A ,SCALP]1 BUT HE HAD AVOID$ US BECAUSE HE'D BE5 A%AM$ TO FACE US 9 HIS BLUE UNI=M & CROPP$ HAIR4 ,MY OLDE/ BRO!R WAS ! SAME P]SON ,I REMEMB]$ FROM ! DAYS :5 \R GR&MO!R ,KATABWE /ILL LIV$4 ,HE HADN'T !N GIV5 ! IMPRESSION ( BE+ SURE ( HIMSELF1 & HE SEEM$ EV5 LESS SURE ( H I MSELF N[4 ,:5 ,*EBANSI HAD FIR/ L$ US TO ! S*OOLH\SE1 HE'D BE5 RELUCTANT & SELF-JU/IFY+4 ,NA%K[ATAK WAS EV5 MORE SO4 

,HE TOLD ,W$ASI ?AT ! B9D+ SIMPLY MEANT ?AT ,W$ASI WAS TO ASSI/ ,JAY-MAY 9 ! ,*EAT]'S /ORE4 ,NA%K[ATAK W\LD ACCOMPANY ,W$ASI TO ! /ORE IF ,W$ASI WANT$ TO GO 7 H]E1 BUT HE TOLD US HE W\LD NEI!R CONV9CE NOR CO]CE4 

,W$ASI LEFT ,MIK5OKWE'S1 & :5 ,%&O & ,TOP9BI RETURN$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE1 ,I WAS ALONE4 ,I PLAY$ ) ,PAMOKO'S LITTLE SON1 ACCOMPANI$ ,MIK5OKWE TO ! CORNFIELD1 WAT*$ ,I 'AMOKO DRESS FURS OR W5T ) H] TO GA!R H]BS4 ,WABNOKWE & ,BE? & !IR C\S9S1 AS WELL AS ,%>LOKWE1 ,R9A & ,I',VLICE1 W5T TO ,LIKET'S S*OOL4 ,ONLY GIRLS W5T !RE4 ,MO/ ( ! HOYS ,I'D MET AT ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S GA!R+S N[ W5T DAILY TO LI/5 TO ! ,/RAIT'S ,BLACKROBE1 A CADAV]\S MAN :O LOOK$ LIKE A HUNGRY VULTURE2 ,I FELT SORRY = !M4 

,FIRE & DEP>TURE 

  

,I DIDN'T EXI/ = ,BURR-NET1 BUT ,*EAT] ,JAY-MAY REMEMB]$ ?AT ,I WAS /ILL 9 ! ,FIREKEEP]S' VILLAGE1 & :5 ! LEAVES BEGAN TO FALL1 ,NA%K[ATAK VISIT$ AGA94 ,HE TOLD ME ,I C\LD EI!R JO9 ! BOYS :O ATT5D$ ! ,BLACKROBE'S GA!R+S1 OR ,I C\LD JO9 ,W$ASI 9 ! ,*EAT]'S /ORE1 BUT ,I C\LDN'T L'1O ON WAT*+ ,PAMOKO GA!R H]BS4 ,BO? ( MY AUNTS AGRE$1 NO ,I DIDN'T ASK ,NA%K[ATAK :Y4 ,I HAD />T$ TO MISS ,W$ASI MID DECID$ TO %>E HIS B9D+4 

,JAY-MAY SEEM$ PLEAS$2 HE BEAM$ :5 ,I 5T]$ ! ITTORE4 ,HE ASSUR$ ME ?AT HE HAD ONCE BE5 A BOY HIMSELF1 & ,I HAT HE UND]/OOD :AT HE CALL$ MY RE/LESS LOVE ( WILD]NESS MIK,I MY HE$LESS FRE$OM4 ,BUT1 HE SAID1 ,I WAS N[ OLD 5\< TO CLOSE UP ?OSE S\RCES ( CORRUPTION4 ,ORD] W\LD REG5]ATE ME1 HE SAID4 ,& S9CE ,I HADN'T ACQUIR$ ORD] FROM ,MISUS ,BAY-CON1 ,I W\LD SURELY ACQUIRE IT FROM WORK4 ,HE W>N$ ME ?AT ,I W\LD NOT LIKE ! WORK ANY BETT] ?AN ,W$ASI DID1 BUT HE PROMIS$ ?AT AS SOON AS ,I REAP$ ! REW>D1 ,I W\LD ACQUIRE ! HABIT1 !N ! TA/E1 & F9ALLY ! NE$ = WORK4 

,I SAW RI<T AWAY ?AT ,W$ASI HAD NOT YET ACQUIR$ EI!R ! HABIT OR ! TA/E1 BUT ,W$ASI HADN'T YET REAP$ ANY REW>DS4 ,:5 ! ,*EAT] /EPP$ \T1 ,W$ASI %[$ ME ! TYPES ( REW>DS ,JAY-MAY & O!R ,*EAT]S LIK$ TO REAP4 ,W$ASI %[$ ME A *E/ FULL ( DECORAT$ %ELL-BELTS & PAP] LEAVES & R\ND /ONES1 :OLE OR CUT UP 9TO HALVES1 QU>T]S & EI<?S4 ,! R\ND /ONES W]E SO-CALL$ CO9S ?AT CAME FROM ! ,9VAD]S CALL$ ,S5YORES1 ! PEOPLE AMONG :OM ,LIKET & H] BRO!R HAD GR[N ON ! SUNSET %ORE ( ! ,LONG ,RIV]4 ,!SE OBJECTS W]E ! ?+S ,MISUS ,BAY-CON HAD URG$ US TO REA* \T = & SAVE4 ,WE W]E AMUS$ BY ! ?\<T ?AT ,JAY-MAY C>RI$ A ,MISUS ,BAY-CON 9SIDE HIM2 HE WAS C]TA9LY BIG 5\<4 

,W$ASI HAD ALREADY LE>N$ TO KEEP TRACK ( ! BEAV] FURS & CO9S ?AT W]E BR\<T 91 & ( ! BLANKETS1 DECORAT$ PLATES & O!R ?+S ?AT W]E C>RI$ \T4 ,HE TOLD ME ,JAY- MAY WAS GRE$Y AB\T ! GIFTS ?AT W]E BR\<T 91 BUT /+Y AB\T ?OSE ?AT W5T \T1 & ?AT HIS /+9ESS HAD A REASON1 ,MISUS ,BAY-CON'S REASON4 ,! GIFTS ,JAY-MAY HELD BACK FROM EV]Y VISITOR TO ! /ORE W]E ,JAY-MAY'S SAV+S4 ,HE HO>D$ !M4 ,& ! HO>D ITSELF WAS A P[]4 ,! HO>D C\LD TRANS=M ITSELF 9TO H\SES OR BOATS OR EV5 PORTIONS ( E>?4 ,JAY-MAY WAS AS FOND ( HIS HO>D AS ,I WAS ( MY M$IC9E BUNDLE4 ,BUT UNLIKE MY BUNDLE1 ,JAY-MAY'S HO>D WASN'T FREELY GIV5 TO HIM BY HIS K91 BUT WAS WR5*$ FROM PEOPLE HE TREAT$ AS 5EMIES1 & 9/EAD ( L9K+ HIM TO ! PEOPLE HE LIV$ AMONG1 IT SEV]$ HIM FROM !M4 ,EV]Y GIFT-EX*ANGE 9 ! /ORE WAS A HO/ILE ACT1 & NEI!R ,JAY-MAY'S FROZ5 GR9 NOR HIS DAY-LONG REPETITION ( ! SAME JOKE DISGUIS$ HIS RELATION TO HIS VISITORS3 HE WAS AT W> ) !M4 

,JAY-MAY'S W> WAS NOT ! TYPE ( W> ,W$ASI HAD DREAM$ (4 ,?IS WAS NO H]OIC AFFAIR2 IT WAS SORDID4 ,W$ASI & ,I BEGAN TO UND]/& H[ \R [N FA!R HAD RELAT$ TO ,BISON ,PRAIRIE'S VILLAG]S BE=E ,CAKIMA HAD TAK5 *>GE ( ! GIFT-GIV+ & TRANS=M$ ,BURR-NET FROM A /+Y 5EMY TO A G5]\S K9SMAN4 ,W$ASI & ,I DECID$ TO DO = ,JAY-MAY :AT ,CAKIMA HAD DONE = ,BURR-NET4 ,*EAT] OR NO1 ,JAY-MAY WAS1 AFT] ALL1 \R K9SMAN1 H[EV] DI/ANTLY RELAT$4 

,WE HAD \R *ANCE :5 ,JAY-MAY1 ,WIT-NAGS & O!R ,SCALP]S LEFT ! ,/RAIT TO VISIT A FUR-GA!R]S' C5T] CALL$ ,I'IT-/R5G?4 ,W$ASI WAS LEFT 9 *>GE ( ! /ORE1 ) ME AS ASSI/ANT & ]R&-RUNN]4 ,W$ASI & ,I PROMPTLY RE>RANG$ ! GIFTS1 PROM95TLY DISPLAY+ ?+S ?AT ,JAY-MAY G5]ALLY KEPT HIDD54 ,& WE URG$ ALL VISITORS TO TAKE :ATEV] !Y NE$$ NOT ONLY TO PURSUE ! HUNT1 BUT ALSO TO SATISFY !IR K94 ,MO/ ( ! ,/RAIT'S 9HABITANTS :O VISIT$ ! /ORE GLANC$ AT US SUSPICI\SLY & TOOK NO MORE ?AN ,JAY-MAY W\LD HAVE GIV5 !M4 ,BUT ! HUNT]S FROM ,K>ONTA51 ,MORN- +L&1 ,SAGI ,BAY & FUR!R NOR? W]E HI<LY PLEAS$4 ,!IR E/EEM = ,JAY-MAY ROSE IMM5SELY4 ,SOME ( ! HUNT]S KNEW :O WE W]E1 & !Y TOLD US SU* G5]OSITY HAD NOT EXI/$ ON ! ,/RAIT S9CE ! DAYS ( \R GREAT-GR&FA!RS ,MOTA & ,OZAGI4 ,!SE HUNT]S SPREAD ! WORD TO !IR K I NSM51 & !Y TOO W]E PLEAS$ TO LEAVE US !IR FURS & TO ACCEPT \R GIFTS4 ,& ,W$ASI CONSCI5TI\SLY KEPT TRACK ( ALL ?AT WAS BR\<T & ALL ?AT WAS TAK51 AS HE'D BE5 TAU<T4 

,:5 ,JAY-MAY RETURN$1 ! /ORE WAS FULL ( BEAV] FURS1 TOBACCO P\*ES1 %ELL BELTS & DECORAT$ SA%ES1 BUT ?+S 

LIKE BLANKETS1 P[D]1 BEADS1 CLO? & PLATES W]E ALL DEPLET$4 ,JAY-MAY BEAM$ :5 HE SAW ! FUR PILES2 HE %OOK \R H&S2 HE CALL$ ,W$ASI A %>P BUS9ESSMAN4 ,BUT :5 HE LOOK$ AT ,I LIE L$G] HIS FACE *ANG$ COLOR4 ,HE LOOK$ AT ! L$G] A NECOND TIME1 & HIS FACE BECAME GRE54 ,HE LE]$ AT ,W$ASI4 ,I WANT$ TO TELL HIM ?AT HIS E/EEM HAD RIS51 BUT BE=E ,I C\LD =MULATE A WORD1 A /REAM ( ABUSE BEGAN TO P\R FROM ,JAY-MAY'S M\?1 MO/ ( IT UN9TELLIGIBLE1 BUT ALL ( IT L\D4 ,I CAU<T WORDS LIKE ?IEF & CRIM9AL & BAD /OCK2 ,I UND]/OOD ?AT O LAY-MAY WAS SAY+ ,W$ASI & ,I W]E EVIL *>ACT]S1 JU/ LIKE