People of the Thunder(38)
White Bear stepped down from his stool, took the stem in his mouth, and drew. As he exhaled he raised his head, Singing his prayer for health, Power, and good fortune.
Old White and Trader followed the ritual. Then, to everyone’s amazement, Two Petals walked to the pipe, took the stem, and blew with all her might. Burning tobacco erupted from the bowl, sending sparks and embers in a cascade.
The young man stared in horror before he came to his senses and began stamping the smoldering leaf out with his foot.
The silence was complete, everyone staring in disbelief.
“Thank you, Contrary,” Old White said smoothly. “Power has received your gift.”
White Bear’s mouth hung open, his eyes on Two Petals.
“Wait! This is not an offense to Power! Hear our words!” Trader cried, stepping forward. “Our apologies, Great Chief. She is Contrary, and follows the rules of that Power. I would have you understand that if you speak to her, anything she says will be backward. If she is happy, she will tell you she is sad. When hungry, she claims to be full. Should you find her speaking to empty space, it is to someone, something, that we in this world cannot see.”
“This is true?” White Bear asked. “You are Contrary?”
Two Petals looked absently around the room. “It’s all lies. There’s no such thing as a Contrary.” She sniffed. “Whatever that smell is, it’s awful. I wouldn’t feed that swill to a raccoon.”
At the sudden looks of consternation, Old White simply sighed.
For his part, Trader sniffed, catching the odor of venison, steamed mussels, and sweet corn on the air. Old White stood easily, adopting a faint smile as he translated Two Petals’ words for anyone who didn’t speak Trade Tongue.
White Bear’s mouth worked, as if searching for words. He walked forward and stared incredulously at Two Petals. In Trade Tongue he said, “We only serve filth here. If you want good food, you’ll have to go elsewhere.”
“I wouldn’t touch good food if I was full to bursting,” she replied. Then one of the women at the side of the room caught her attention. She pointed at the woman’s abdomen. “It’s a boy.”
The woman, who apparently didn’t know Trade Tongue, gaped when White Bear translated. She placed a defensive hand on her stomach. “You know?”
When Old White translated the woman’s question, Two Petals shrugged. “Contraries know nothing. Nothing at all. But that boy is going to marry well.”
“So, it’s really a girl?” the woman asked after the translation, then glanced at the man beside her. “I just realized myself. How could she know?”
“Don’t know a thing,” Two Petals insisted. “Actually, I don’t even know a great many things.”
Sensing incipient panic, Trader glanced down at Swimmer and spread his arms wide. “I think we should stop this for now. The Contrary’s answers can be disconcerting in the best of times. And,” he laughed, “sometimes a man may not want his wife pondering too deeply on the meaning of her words.” Some of the men chuckled; the women looked less sure. “The Seeker and I will make the Contrary available to any who wish to speak with her later.” He looked around, adding, “And in a more private setting conducive to maintaining marital bliss.”
“I concur.” Old White raised his staff. “It can be upsetting when she tells a person that their toenails will grow backward.” He sighed wearily. “And believe me, traveling—as Trader and I do—in her company is not without its travails.” He used his staff to point at the packs. “We have brought Trade from the north. Our goods include furs, medicinal plants, some copper nuggets, pigments, and crafts the likes of which you have rarely seen. Among our Trade are relics obtained in far-off Cahokia. If your chief agrees, we will be happy to Trade tomorrow morning in the plaza.”
“We are honored by your offer to Trade.” White Bear was staring at the charred places in his matting.
“But, there is more,” Old White told them. “I am Old White, the Seeker. The stories you have heard are true. I have crossed the world from ocean to ocean. I have lived among peoples so distant their names have never been uttered among the Chahta.” He raised a finger. “But I warn you now: These stories are not freely given, but in Trade.”
“Trade for what?” Great Cougar asked skeptically.
Old White turned, inclining his staff toward the war chief. “Why, in Trade for some of that wondrous cooking all of us but the Contrary are delighted to smell. For food, and of course in Trade for your kind hospitality.” He smiled. “If I conduct myself correctly, we shall all believe ourselves the better for the bargain.”