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People of the Masks(154)

By:W. Michael Gear


Dust’s mouth quirked, but she didn’t comment.

Hungry Owl handed the third cup to Rumbler. Awe tinged his voice when he said, “You must be the False Face Child we have heard so much about.”

Rumbler nodded. He took the cup as best he could with his bandaged fingers. “Yes. My name is Rumbler.”

“Rumbler,” Hungry Owl said. “I like that.”

As he filled his own cup, Hungry Owl’s brows drew down over his turned-up nose. “Is Earth Thunderer Village well?”

Dust frowned down into her tea. “As far as we know. We haven’t been there in more than a moon.”

Hungry Owl took a drink of tea, and waited for more. The red stripes on his black shirt shone orange in the fire’s gleam. “We heard that the False … that Rumbler had been stolen during the attack on Paint Rock. How does he come to be with you?”

Sparrow said, “You mean you haven’t heard the story? I’m surprised. I thought that by now every village for a moon’s walk would have—”

“We have heard a few things,” Hungry Owl interrupted. “But only about Rumbler. A Trader came through two days ago, and said that the Headman of Walksalong Village had cut Rumbler loose, and escaped with him into the forest. We also heard that a war party was chasing this Headman, trying to get Rumbler back.” His gaze slid to Rumbler, then back to Sparrow. “But we heard nothing about you two.”

“Well, our story starts many days ago, when Cornhusk came to Earth Thunderer bringing a message—”

Dust put a hand on Sparrow’s arm. “Let me tell Hungry Owl, Sparrow,”, she said. “The Headman, Blue Raven, sought us out on the trail to Paint Rock Village. He sold Rumbler to us. Right after that happened, Jumping Badger caught Blue Raven. We barely escaped with our lives.”

Rumbler’s mouth gaped at the errors in the story, but he didn’t dare correct his grandmother in front of other people.

Hungry Owl didn’t blink. He asked, “Is the war party hunting you?”

“Almost certainly. We haven’t seen them today, but you should assume that they are behind us.”

Hungry Owl nodded. “I feared as much.” Leaning sideways, he pulled the door curtain back, and called, “Opposumback?”

The man immediately ducked beneath the curtain, and lowered himself on one knee. He must have been waiting just outside. Tall, with broad shoulders, and shoulder-length hair held in place by a braided leather headband, he might have seen twenty-one winters. A long healing cut slashed across his right cheek. “Yes, Patron?”

“I want you to take the elders, children, young mothers, and all of the dogs into the forest to the Hollow Rocks. Carry plenty of food and water. Tell them they may have to stay there for a few nights. And tell the war leader I wish to see him.”

“Yes, Patron. I’ll go right now.”

“Thank you, Opposumback.”

He ducked beneath the curtain, and voices barraged him with questions. Opposumback shouted answers, and called, “Bigtooth? Find Gull, tell him the patron wishes to speak with him.”

While he waited for his war leader’s arrival, Hungry Owl looked at Dust. “There aren’t many of us left, but those of us who are able will help you protect the False Face Child.”

Dust reached around the fire and squeezed Hungry Owl’s hand. “Thank you. You are a generous leader.”

“No,” Hungry Owl said through a long exhalation. “I am just my father’s son. He taught me well. Someday, I may need to ask your help.”

“When you do, you will have it,” Dust promised.

The door curtain lifted and cold air streamed into the warm lodge, slapping at the fire, and blowing smoke into Hungry Owl’s face. He squinted against it, and waved the man inside, saying, “Please sit down, War Leader.”

Gull crouched between Hungry Owl and Sparrow. Around thirty winters old, he had a heavy brow, with fierce brown eyes and deep lines across his forehead. Silver streaked his long braid. He wore a knee-length buckskin shirt, and pants. “Yes, Patron?”

Hungry Owl held out a hand. “This is Rumbler, also known as the False Face Child”—Gull’s face slackened. He nodded respectfully to Rumbler—“and this is Matron Dust Moon, and Silver Sparrow, from Earth Thunderer Village.”

Gull inclined his head to each of them. “We are honored to have you in our village.”

Hungry Owl said, “They are running from a war party led by your wife’s murderer.”

Gull’s eyes went hard. He looked at Sparrow. “How far behind you are they?”

“A few hands of time. If they picked up our trail, they could be here by dusk.”