People of the Fire(56)

"Little Dancer!'' The cry caught in Hungry Bull's throat as Heavy Beaver lifted a hammer high over his head.

Little Dancer squealed in fear as the shaman approached. Where they braced themselves to steady the struggling boy, Fire At Night and Throws Rocks looked eagerly at the lifted hammer.

"No!" The cry tore from Hungry Bull's throat.

"Enough!" White Calf shouted, catching Hungry Bull with one taloned hand as he tried to charge past. People turned to stare. Heavy Beaver stopped, mallet held high as his enraged face fixed on Hungry Bull and froze.

Hungry Bull struggled against the old woman's eagle-strong grip. "Let me handle this," she hissed, eyes burning of Power and locking with his.

Sage Root? Where was Sage Root?

"You promised on your soul, hunter. Don't break that promise now. Three Toes, Black Crow, see that he doesn't do anything stupid."

And at that, White Calf hurried forward, panting with effort. Hungry Bull followed, fear charging his taut muscles.

"Turn the boy loose!" her ancient voice cracked like a buffalo-hide whip. "Now!"

"White Calf!" Two Smokes cried.

"White Calf?" Heavy Beaver stood uncertainly, the heavy hammer still held ready. "The witch

"Turn the boy loose At her words, Fire At Night gulped and let the boy down. Throws Rocks held on for a moment more before he let go. Little Dancer ran screaming, jumping into Hungry Bull's arms to bawl uncontrollably. Hungry Bull hugged him tight, feeling his son's frantic need. He whispered gently to reassure him.

Two Smokes crawled from under Straight Wood's guard, dragging himself forward with his hands.

"Who are you?" Heavy Beaver demanded. "What new form of pollution are you? Why are you here

She turned on her heel, staring from face to face as the People watched, waiting, shocked by it all. "So." She shook her head, trying to catch her breath. This is what the People have fallen to?”

"Why are you here, WITCH?" Heavy Beaver demanded, advancing toward her ? the hammer threatening.

"If you were a Dreamer, boy, you'd know." She met his eyes, stopping him in his tracks. "But you're not, are you? You haven't heard the child calling?" She jerked her head at Little Dancer. "You didn't hear his Dreams? You didn't know what you had, did you? Is that what this is all about? You're tormenting what you don't understand?" To them all, she shouted, "Is that it? Have you lost so much that you don't see Power anymore?"

A hushed intake of breath met her words.

White Calf spat her disgust.

"Get out!" Heavy Beaver cried, advancing again. "I declare you a pollution! Get your filth out of here!"

White Calf hunched, shaking her pack from her back, lifting her hands wide. "Or what? You'll Curse me?"

"I Curse you now, witch! By the fourth day your body will be-"

"Oh, shut up! You wouldn't know a Curse if it lifted its head from the grass and bit you on the ass. Where's this boy's mother?"

People had begun to back away. Now they left at a run, leaving a space open where a young woman lay sprawled on the ground before a dingy-looking lodge.

"Oh . . . no . . ." Hungry Bull stared, hugging the weeping Little Dancer to his chest. He knew. All of a sudden it came clear, his soul crying and screaming within him.

The rest seemed to blur as he charged forward, lifting her into his arms, tears blurring the reality of her pale flesh, the red-stained earth under her gaping wrists.

He lifted his face to the sun, blinking at the rush of pain.

"Why? How? WHO DID THIS?"

White Calf barely shifted as Hungry Bull rushed past. To the two hunters, she added softly, "I think he needs your help now."

No one moved as Black Crow and Three Toes hurried after.

"I Curse you!" Heavy Beaver repeated. "By the sun above, I declare you unclean and evil."

“You declare nothing." She cocked her head. "So you killed Sage Root?"

"He drove her to it." Two Smokes cried, voice cracking. “Just like he did Dancing Doe. He abused the Wolf Bundle-threw it into the dirt and chased it away. It's gone."

White Calf gasped and placed a knotted fist to her breast. “0 Blessed Wise One Above." She shook her head, mouth falling open as she stared into Heavy Beaver's triumphant eyes. “Do you know what you've done?"

"I've cleansed the People!"

“You ignorant, stupid fool!" She darted a hard finger at him. "That Wolf Bundle . . . that sacred bundle is the legacy of the First Man!"

Horrified, more and more people began to melt away.

Heavy Beaver stood uncertainly, mouth bobbing open and closed as a frown lined his head.

“Get me away from here, White Calf," Two Smokes pleaded from where he lay on the ground. ''They're tainted, all of them. You brought me here. Take me away. I can't do anything for them anymore."