People of the Fire(29)

"Men and dogs are the same. Beat one, and it gets mean. Keep one from the pack and it never quite fits in. Never has a place with the others."

"You think he's ..."

"Not right in the head?" Chokecherry spread her arms wide. "How should I know? Girl, we've lost so much, maybe we've lost our way to Spirit Power. Horn Core always worried that he didn't really understand. But he tried with all his heart. He gave all of himself, but he told me once that he didn't have the fire in his soul—and it worried him. A person with Spirit Power can Dance with fire, can Sing the stars."

Sage Root tilted her head. "Can you conceive of Heavy Beaver Dancing with fire?"

Chokecherry chuckled at the image it conjured in her mind. "Hardly." Then she sobered. "But the People are waiting."

"So are the antelope. I . . . can almost ..."

"Yes?"

Confused, Sage Root tried to clear her roiled mind. "I don't know. I can just feel them. That's all. Hovering around. Waiting."

"An angry feeling?"

"No. Just . . . well, it's not clear."

"Then you had better choose. Will you eat the meat? Will you defy Heavy Beaver? You're not alone in your dislike for him. Don't look at me like that. Think about it. It's the young people who flock to Heavy Beaver. He preaches a new way-says if we do as he says, it'll all be better. He calls for us to separate ourselves from the old ways, to follow his path and change things. Sage Root, listen to the old people. We're the ones who remember. So many have split off—Two Stones, Elk Whistle, Seven Suns—all left to form bands of their own. We'll be like smoke on the wind in the end, drifted so far apart, we'll disappear. Is that what you want?"

"Why does it have to be me to stand up and—"

"Mother?"

The voice startled her. She turned, seeing Little Dancer approaching uneasily. 'Yes, little one."

"Can we keep the meat? The antelope are all waiting. They're uneasy. I'm hungry again. I wish you could feel it like I do."

For the briefest moment, she sensed his want. The gnawing hunger in his small body became hers. She staggered at the impact. What to do? Fear of Heavy Beaver balanced with the pangs of want, of a full stomach.

And if Heavy Beaver Cursed her? I'm just a woman. How can I stand against him?

A presence lingered, expectant. Nervously, she scanned the sky, searching for the source. A shiver traced her spine as her son's eyes burned up at her. She struggled with her thoughts, and everything in the world seemed to go still, all of it waiting on her.

“We'll keep the meat, son. It would be more offensive to waste the animals than to heed Heavy Beaver's words." Hungry Bull, forgive me. My dearest love, please, forgive me for what I'm about to do. But I swear, I'll never watch another of my children starve. I've lost two boys, not another. Never again!

Chokecherry sighed, her relief almost tangible.

Sage Root blinked up at the stars, aware of a change, but her son surprised her again.

''Mother? The antelope are leaving. They were worried. You made them feel better."

"The antelope?"

"Yes, Mother. Didn't you hear them talking to you?"

Sage Root shot a quick look at Chokecherry, wishing she could see the old woman's face as she stared down at Little Dancer. The old woman had bent, peering intently in the darkness.

"No, son. I didn't."

Her soul felt dislocated, the sensation almost sickening. Heavy Beaver couldn't ignore this. How could she ever resist? What could she do to save herself?

Heavy Beaver leaned against his willow backrest, smoking red willow bark in his straight clay pipe. Before him, the fire smoldered crimson in the darkness of the sweat lodge. Looking up, he could see nothing but the faint outline of the low roof. He placed his hand in the water pouch and cast droplets onto the hot stones beside him. His skin prickled as heat and steam rose.

Hot, so very hot.

"Heavy Beaver?" a young man called from outside. "I have just come from the antelope kill site. Sage Root has ordered everyone to fetch parfleches. She will keep the meat and feed her family. Chokecherry and Makes Fun are Singing her praises."

Heavy Beaver smiled to himself, nodding in the dim light. "Very well. She has chosen. Thank you."

Beyond the walls of the sweat lodge, he could hear the young man's step's receding.

To his surprise, the thought of destroying her hurt slightly. After all these years, she'd finally let her pride force her into his hands. One never knew where Power would lead. No matter.

"Foolish to sweat in weather like this. But you see, it cleanses. Clears the confusions out of our souls. Now I must go and prepare myself."

Straight Wood shot a quick look his direction, nodding.