People of the Weeping Eye(127)

The riverbank was empty but for Swimmer and the beached canoes.





Old White glanced at Two Petals where she stood outlined against the river, her slender body no more than a silhouette. He sighed and inspected the camp, an aching weariness in his bones. Buffalo Mankiller had worn him out as he pushed from dark camp to dark camp. Rations had been one hastily cooked meal at night and cold dried meat, nuts, or whatever he could pull out of the sacks during the day.

“You’d think he didn’t like our company,” Trader said as he laid out tinder and used his fire bow to create a smoking ember. This he carefully scooped into the twigs and crushed leaves, blowing to coax a flame.

“It must have been something I said.” Old White stepped over, then groaned as he lowered himself onto one of the packs. He stared at the medicine box, remembering how Trader had been able to lay the heavy copper plate inside it.

Which had been formed to fit the other? The copper that they had pounded into a square could not have been more perfectly fitted had they measured it. The box was the last thing he had expected when Buffalo Mankiller had come walking out of the darkness. How long had it been since he’d seen the box last? Fifty winters? More? He’d been so young that day.

“You want to tell me about that box?” Trader asked, looking up from the fire. “Your eyes have been on it constantly, your expression like you were watching a live tie snake.” He pointed a finger. “And how could Two Petals hear it Singing?”

Old White stared at the wood, tracing its patterns with his gaze. He began in a soft voice: “The last time I saw that box it was on my father’s back when he marched away to war. It was a grand spring morning. He led a party of forty warriors north to drive the Yuchi out of our lands. The women were Dancing, clapping their hands. The Power of war filled all of us. We were so certain that Power favored us. I had no idea that my life was about to be turned upside down. None of us did.”

“Ah, so your father was a war chief? Finally, the Seeker speaks.”

“Two of his party returned. My father never did.” He paused, seeing Trader’s pinched expression. “That was but the first of a series of calamities.”

“As a child, I remember hearing about a lost medicine box.”

“Many have been lost over the years. This was not the first, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

Trader was figuring in his mind, adding the years up, no doubt. He finally asked, “How old were you?”

“That is the earliest memory I have. I just recall the sunlight shining on that seeing eye in the middle of the hand. I remember thinking that I would be a great warrior one day; and that I, too, would carry this box off to war against our enemies.” He chuckled, feeling the weariness riding his bones. “Children have such limited understanding.”

“Want to tell me the rest?”

“When the time is right.”

“Ah, yes,” Trader said sarcastically. “I should have known.” He shook his head, tired too. “This whole silly venture is mad.”

“Madness is only the other face of sanity.”

“Gods, you’re starting to sound like Two Petals.”

“I wish I could see it as clearly as she does.”

“That’s it. I’m going to go drown myself in the river.” Trader lurched to his feet, stalking off toward the forest.

“River’s the other way,” Old White offered.

“Don’t remind me,” Trader called over his shoulder.

Old White stared at the box, hearing branches snapping in the darkness beneath the trees as Trader gathered wood. Somewhere an owl hooted to greet the coming night.

Firelight bathed the medicine box. It accented the carvings, casting shadows into the grooves. The images on the wood wavered and Danced in the warm light. The Seeing Hand seemed to watch him with a penetrating stare.

You have come back to me. Why?

Tomorrow they would land at a Yuchi town. He realized that they would know exactly what the medicine box was, and what it signified.

Two Petals walked up. Swimmer—feet and legs wet—wagged his tail by her side.

“Are you as worn out as I am?” he asked.

“Wide awake,” she told him. Her head tilted. “I can see that you’re not worried about the Yuchi.”

“Oh, not at all.” He glanced up. “Got any advice?”

She paused, her eyes going vacant. “The Watcher’s arms are reaching out for us. A thousand souls will be unleashed. Can souls float on a flood?” She winced, as if pained. “You can see them, can’t you?”

“Who?” he asked.

She pointed upriver. “The blind man’s fingers. Right there. Reaching out.”