People of the Fire(153)

Laughter drifted up on the still air, carrying the emotions of the people. The image burst.

The panic within him spread. The One lay so close—yet so far away.

To drop the thresholds was so easy. I did it. I can do it again. Just let go, drift around the One. He imagined Wolf Dreamer's hand in his. His fingers tightened on nothingness until his muscles trembled, pain eating into his concentration. No, not that way. That's a false trial. Another illusion to trap you.

In the back of his mind, a voice reminded. "The time is now. You must go and Dream. You must. You must

He clamped his eyes closed, desperation bottled within his burning breast. "What if I can't?"

Panic burned free until he collapsed in tears

* * *

Morning had begun to cast a muddy yellow haze across the implacable wall of the mountains to the east. The mighty crags of rock stood resolute, impervious to the light. A giant black wall, it rose, irregular and jagged, to block the coming of the sun.

Like my soul, Elk Charm thought.

She climbed the last bit of steep trail, stepping out onto the cap rock in the chill morning air. A robin called plaintively in the predawn. Already a knot of people stood uncomfortably, their forms contrasting with the puffy shapes of the juniper and rabbitbrush. To one side, Little Dancer sat cross-legged, staring out to the east, hands in his lap, eyes closed, face expressionless.

Gravel grated on the rock underfoot. She forced her muscles to work, walking awkwardly as if to spite her natural grace. Cricket's feet scuffed the rock behind her. She hadn't slept that night. Instead, they'd talked of love and life and pain. Did anything else exist in this world?

Her heart beat dully in her chest as she stopped, staring at her husband. Memories of his smiles, his jokes and uncertainties whirled through her mind. And it had all come to this?

He's the hope of the people—Red Hand and Short Buffalo. He's got to go. He's got to. He's a Power warrior, fighting for his world. She shook her head, remembering how Two Smokes had warned her. Cricket's tales of fear and death only strengthened the knowledge that his time had come. I must let go. I have to free him. But why does it hurt so much?

As if he heard, Little Dancer opened his eyes, turning his head to look at her. He rose to his feet. Wolf appeared magically at his side, following as he approached. The others might not have existed as he came to stand before her. The sight of his tortured features, of the desperation, sliced her composure with the keenness of sharp obsidian.

What tormented him so? What terror gave him that look of anguish? The curb on her emotions broke and she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. His arms went around her.

'Tm sorry," he whispered in her ear. "You'll understand one day."

"Maybe I understand now. Go, Little Dancer. Dream the world back to normal. I'll Sing for you. Chant. Do anything I ... by the Wise One, I'm so proud of you it hurts."

"I love you. I'll never stop loving you. Maybe, well, it's my strength in the Dream. I had to know love, be willing to give up everything for it. You've given me the greatest of gifts."

"We'll be waiting. Your girls, all of us. Come back."

"If lean."

And he pulled away.

Dry-eyed, she stared up at him, seeing the pain in his eyes. Slowly she shook her head. "I'll be waiting for you. For as long as it takes. Forever."

His smile warmed her soul despite the chill.

He stepped back, turning to Cricket, who held his youngest daughter. He reached where the child slept in Cricket's arms, and touched the little girl's forehead, the caress as tender as a spring breeze on a fawn's hide. A delighted smile curled his daughter's lips and a gurgle erupted.

Next, Little Dancer settled where their oldest daughter stood, an uncertain thumb in her mouth.

"You will be good? You will mind your mother and grow to be as beautiful?"

She nodded curtly and rushed into his arms. "Don' go. Don' leave me!"

"I must, little one. The Power calls." He bent to kiss her on the top of the head and her tears dried, lit by a smile.

"Tha'sgood."

"That's the Power, little one. Take it with you."

And he stood, a tear leaving a trail along his cheek. "This is so hard."

Elk Charm's stomach knotted as if she'd been kicked.

"Come," Two Smokes said gently, stepping out of the crowd. "We've a long way to go."

Elk Charm's protests died in her throat. Silently, she watched as Two Smokes and Little Dancer took the trail to the east.

"As long as it takes," she whispered.

She barely realized her daughter had clutched her hand, hugging her leg. A wailing rose within. Despite the promises, her eyes swelled with tears, shimmering her vision so he j walked away in a silver mist.