People of the Lakes(101)

“You won’t need those,”-Otter had told him.

Black Skull remembered his bristling response: “I go nowhere without my weapons.”

“Leave them.” Otter’s voice had been cool, those black eyes commanding.

Black Skull had grunted, ignoring the Trader as he stalked up the slope, but Otter had stepped in front of him, blocking the way.

“I said, leave the weapons. We agreed. The Clan Elders agreed. This is my responsibility.”

Black Skull had smoldered, his rage building.

“Danger abounds!” Green Spider had shrieked as he laughed, clapped his hands, and pirouetted up to them. “Listen to the warrior, Trader! He’s right, always right! Take your clans and club! Let’s all go fight, fight, fight!”

That bit of silliness had changed Black Skull’s mind. He’d offer himself naked to the Copena before he’d allow the fool to mock him. Black Skull had given the Contrary a seething glare, wishing he could knock the smirk off the pest’s thin face.

And to Black Skull’s surprise, Otter had conceded, “At least leave your atlatl and darts. No one will bother them. Catcher will be on guard.” The Trader had smiled faintly. “After all, it wouldn’t do for the Black Skull to show up at Green Turtle village empty-handed.”

“Very well, Trader. I will leave the atlatl and darts.”

Nevertheless, his nerves had hummed as they walked up the slope and out into the open.

Green Turtle village consisted of a scattering of huts dotting a long hillock. A child saw them first, calling out and charging toward them.

“The Water Fox!” came the cry.

At the happy sound, Black Skull’s sense of dread lessened.

At least they spoke a language that a human being could understand.

He wouldn’t have to muddle his way through in Trader pidgin.

By the time they’d reached the outskirts of the settlement, an old man, supported by two equally old women, had hobbled to the head of the growing crowd.

“Long Squirrel and his two wives,” Otter had whispered from the side of his mouth.

“Two wives!” Black Skull stared. He’d seen such things before.

Traders from the north often had more than one wife, but that had struck him as a curious peculiarity. Here he saw people who actually lived that way. “These people are patrilineal.”

Black Skull had never heard of a matrilineal people with more than one wife.

“That’s right.” Then Otter raised his voice. “Long Squirrel!

You look fit, as spry as ever!”

“Ah, ha!” the old man cried. “Water Fox! You have come again. For a new shirt, perhaps?”

“May all of your grandchildren be healthy and happy. The blessings of Many Colored Crow on you and all of your clan!”

While they chattered on, Black Skull found himself standing to the rear, casting about nervously for some hint of what to expect. Somehow, in his preoccupation, he missed his introduction.

A calm had fallen, and all eyes were upon him.

“The Black Skull?” Long Squirrel had whispered in awe, his mouth agape. “Here? In our clan holdings?”

“And Green Spider, the great Dreamer,” Otter proclaimed with a flourish. “We have business in the north, my old friend.

Qreen Spider has had a Vision, become a Contrary.”

More gasps.

But of course Green Spider immediately ruined any solemnity and order the situation might have had. He flapped his arms and proclaimed at the top of his lungs, “Down is up, and up is down, and all the leaves blow ‘ and ‘.” Then his vision seemed to clear, and he asked, “Are we going to stand here all day?”

To which he promptly sat down.

Long Squirrel seemed at a complete loss for words. One of his more sensible wives gathered her wits and waved them toward the houses. “Come, we will feed you. Make a place for you to stay. Everyone! Bring food for our guests! Children, gather firewood. Hurry!”

Green Spider had jumped to his feet and started off back toward the canoes. Otter noticed and called, “Green Spider, go away and never come back!”

The Contrary promptly changed direction and led the shocked procession into the village.

Black Skull chuckled to himself as he remembered. Long Squirrel had provided not only an endless hot meal, but he’d cleaned out a house just for Black Skull’s use. So many gifts had been showered on them that it would have taken two extra canoes to carry them all. Artfully, the Trader had given it all back, most of the wealth going to recent widows and to a poor family whose house had burned down a couple of nights earlier. No wonder the Green Turtle people liked the Water Fox.

That night at the fire, the clanspeople had listened wide-eyed as Black Skull recounted stories of battles fought and won.