Home>>read People of the Weeping Eye free online

People of the Weeping Eye(96)

By:W. Michael Gear


“Wah! Wah!” came the cry from Blood Skull. His warriors nodded in agreement.

“The problem was: With so many people on the trails, how were we to pass? Surely, such a large party, dressed as hunters, would be questioned. And who knew? Even if the Chahta believed we were who we said we were, what was to keep them from sending a runner to inform White Arrow Town that meat was coming? The simple fools might have sent people out to help us carry our burden!”

“Wah! Wah!” came the assent.

“That is when I remembered crossing the river.”

His warriors nodded happily.

“A plan—like the gift of Breath Giver—came to me.” He paused, letting the expectation build. “What if we floated down the river? We didn’t need to steal canoes and take the chance that a warning might be given upon discovery of the theft. No, we could wrap our weapons in deer hide, paying particular attention to the bindings, and float downstream in the night.”

Pale Cat stared. “Didn’t you think of the Horned Serpent? The tie snakes, and water cougars? They come out at night, prowling the river depths.”

Mutterings of unease could be heard; people whispered nervously to each other.

Smoke Shield spread his arms wide. “You, O great Hopaye, drove that fear from my souls.”

“I did.” Pale Cat looked confused.

“How could warriors purified and prepared by the greatest Hopaye alive fall prey to Horned Serpent, or any other Underworld creature?”

“Wah! Wah!”

Yes, he had them. “I told as much to our warriors.” He indicated the seated circle. “These are not some brave Chahta … like the ones we passed hanging from the squares.” Laughter erupted. “No, these are Sky Hand warriors! They mustered their courage, believing in the Power of our Hopaye. In the darkness, after making all ready, we waded into the river, pushing our bundles before us. We floated down to the high bank beneath White Arrow Town.” He chuckled, asking the warriors, “Do any of us wish to be that cold again?”

“No!” they shouted in unison, laughing all the while.

“We huddled there in the darkness and made our plans. Blood Skull—in honor of his bravery—I sent to capture that foul Screaming Falcon. I took three other warriors to capture their high minko in his palace. Black Hand went with Bobcat to capture Tishu Minko Bow Mankiller, and Panther Hide sought the matron, Sweet Smoke. The other warriors fanned out; their duty was to instill panic when we were discovered. Those warriors were to set fire to every house, and like a deer drive, herd the foolish Chahta toward the palisade gate.”

He enjoyed the wide-eyed stares of the clan chiefs. They hung on every word.

“The White Arrow had been feasting, Dancing, and entertaining. They were weary, exhausted, thinking themselves safe. The camp dogs, after days of guests walking among them, had no reason to bark at strangers. Our surprise was complete. No one guarded the palace. My warriors and I crept into the great hall, then passed into the rear. There we found Biloxi sleeping with one of his wives. He had no idea anything was wrong until I pressed a gag into his mouth. He was tied up before he could even blink. Only one of the wives fought. After a war club broke her arm, she, too, was subdued. Then, as we left, we found torches conveniently stacked by the wall.” He grinned. “We lit them from their sacred fire, splashed oil on anything that would burn, and set the place on fire.”

Wild applause broke out.

“When I am finished, the others can tell you of their actions that morning, but I stayed atop the mound. My duty was to use the conch-shell horn from Biloxi’s palace to call my warriors back when the time came. True to their war chief, my men came when I blew the horn. Together we retreated to the canoe landing and loaded our prisoners. Any boat we didn’t need was set adrift so that pursuit could not be easily launched. Then we floated downriver, out of sight, and landed on the east bank. From there, we made our way home.”

He seated himself amidst a clapping of hands and gleeful shouts. He looked around the room. You poor fools. Do you really think I’d risk my neck that way just to avenge our honor? I went for Morning Dew. And now I shall have her.

Blood Skull then took the floor. As he talked, Smoke Shield turned to his food. For propriety’s sake, he tossed yet another scrap of the roast venison into the fire before sinking his teeth into the succulent meat.

One by one his warriors told their tales, each approved by calls of “Wah! Wah!” Smoke Shield fidgeted. Would they never get to the end? He tried not to squirm as he waited for the exchange of gifts. Curse it all, since the moment he’d seen Morning Dew, he’d waited for this day.