People of the Lakes(338)
The crow’s throat swelled. The bird shrieked and flapped its wings, as though in reprimand.
“You’re worse than your brother,” Green Spider said. “Both bad losers! Never bet on a human, Raven Hunter. We’re not reliable.”
The wolf bounded forward, scattering people, and Green Spider turned and ran flat out, leaping deadfall, slipping on moss and mist-slick rocks. He cried, “The rainbow! The rainbow!
Where once a red spider Danced on the bridge … a green spider will now Dance!”
The wolf snapped at his heels.
“No!” Otter shouted. He had suddenly grasped Green Spider’s words. The rainbow touched the bank just above the precipice.
If Green Spider tried to … “No! Green Spider, wait!”
The wolf yipped and growled at Otter’s pursuit, while the crow squawked as it flew above him, trying to drive him back.
Otter batted at the diving bird.
And ahead of them all, the Contrary whooped and screamed, his ecstatic laughter carrying over the roar of crashing water.
Pearl lunged down the path after them, and Pale Snake grabbed up Silver Water, carrying her as he followed. Black Skull limped along as quickly as he could, Star Shell staggering as she helped him keep his balance.
Perhaps it was a trick of the foaming water, or perhaps the Mask gave him the luminosity, but Green Spider remained bathed in an unearthly light as he raced down the path crying, “I’m here. I’m here now! Do you hear that, you squabbling brothers? I win! I’m here now!”
“Get back here, fool!” Black Skull bellowed desperately.
“Stay away from the water! I don’t have the strength to save you!”
Green Spider charged into the rushing river and dove straight into the rainbow. Thick mist boiled out, sparkling so vibrantly that it swallowed him whole.
“No! Green Spider! No.’” The cry tore from Otter, who splashed frantically out into the shallows of the river where the water curled clear and bright. “Green Spider, where are you?
Where … are … you?”
A desperate Pearl lunged out and grabbed Otter, locking her arms around his waist in time to halt him from running down river and into eternity.‘They both stood there, battling the inexorable current that coiled whitely around their legs as it sought to topple them. Otter struggled against her for a moment, then relented, allowing her to draw him back to the relative safety
of stiller waters before he buried his face in the wealth of her hair. They clung to each other.
Star Shell stood quietly, using her hip to help bear Black Skull’s weight. She couldn’t hear Otter’s weeping, but she felt it.
The rainbow slowly faded, dissolving as the sun sank below the horizon. Her eyes drifted to the west, where golden clouds floated on a polished amber background.
Pale Snake lowered Silver Water to the ground, and she walked to the water’s edge and stared out across the falls. Her stubby fingers wove into Catcher’s fur as they stood side by side, their eyes on the rolling white fountain of mist that billowed up from the chasm.
“Has he gone over?” Black JSkull demanded. “Did anyone see—”
Star Shell pointed. “Look!”
Just upriver, Wolf stood with Crow perched on his back. Apparently they’d made peace—for the moment. Both Spirit Animals peered at the falls, waiting … And from somewhere deep in her soul, Tall Man’s words rose: Only the greatest Dreamers have ever survived.
“He’s beautiful,” Pale Snake whispered, his eyes gone curiously vacant. Star Shell followed his gaze in time to see Green Spider shoot out over the falls, his arms spread, flapping slowly as he fell, as lazy as an eagle on a warm summer updraft. He twisted in the air to tip his Masked face eastward, staring at the few dewdrops of stars that gleamed on the pale blue blanket of dusk.
Star Shell softly said, “I wonder what the stars look like through the eye holes of the Mask. They must be glorious.”
Silver Water whispered, “Oh, they are.” A radiant smile lit her young face. “They truly are. He’s living in the Light of the world now … “