Four Teeth sighed wearily. "I know you have honor, Singing Wolf."
"And he has something else," One Who Cries added. "He has seen both sides for himself.''
Four Teeth frowned at him, lifting his chin ominously. "You didn't fight, what right do you have to talk?"
"No, I , . . I . . ." He stumbled over the words, shame rising crimson in his cheeks. "I hate war."
Buffalo Back smiled grimly, accusingly. "So we've heard."
"Coward!"
"I'm not a coward!" One Who Cries defended bravely, lifting his eyes to meet his elders. The fire-stained pallor of the old men frightened him. Their cheeks caught the fire-flickers hollowly, mouths pursed tightly. "I just want to be left alone in life—to hunt. That's all. And I'm a fine hunter. No one can run mammoth like I can." He dropped his eyes again, fumbling with the hem of his shirt. "But I don't want my Green Water taken by some Other while I die with a dart in my gut. Singing Wolf has been my eyes and ears. I've listened to him and spent many long nights in thought, trying to decide what to do, who to follow."
Four Teeth relented, sucking his cracked incisors—the only teeth left in his head. "A man has to do what he thinks is best."
"That is the way of the People—the way I was taught. And the best I could see was to take my wife and my child to safety on the other side of the Big Ice. I've seen it—and it's as glorious as Singing Wolf says. I only came back to tell the People."
Buffalo Back shifted uncomfortably. "I'm here because the Others raided my camp. Drove me out. Many of my young men are dead."
One Who Cries jerked forward, spreading his arms, plead-
ing. "There's a place beyond the ice where there's no war! Come with us."
"I don't want to go under the ice. Souls get lost in darkness. Trapped, you know? I just want to keep my people safe while Raven Hunter chases the Others away."
Singing Wolf exhaled tiredly. "Think about this. We're holding Renewal here this year, as far south as men can go before being stopped by the Big Ice. The Others are pushing. Where will we go next year?"
"Father Sun gave this land to us. Gave it to us!"
"Why should we let the Others have it?" Buffalo Back growled.
' 'Because we may not be able to stop them.'' Singing Wolf said it coolly. "You've heard Blueberry? We've had captive women for a year. They talk about the journeys the Others take over great stretches of land. Walking for a whole Long Light and never leaving their territory. Can we, who are so few, stop so many?"
"The People won't run away through a black hole in the Big Ice!" Four Teeth thumped a fist on a bony knee in final-, ity.
Buffalo Back nodded. "Let's wait and hear what Crow Caller and Raven Hunter say. Maybe even now they've driven the Others from the north and we can go back."
"Grandfathers," Singing Wolf murmured. "I know your respect for Crow Caller, but a new Dreamer has come to the People. Please, do not blind yourselves to his powers just because he is young. The People are at stake here. Our way is balanced between a rebirth and death."
"A new Dreamer?" Four Teeth scoffed, spitting into the sand beside him. "Runs In Light won't even face his own people. He hides in a witch's hole to avoid the shame he deserves."
Singing Wolf closed his eyes painfully. Is this how it will end? What can I do to make them see? What?
Chapter 50
Raven Hunter looked back at the rocky hills they'd traversed. Runs In Light's Dream had brought him here? Around him, the wormwood and sedge tussocks looked ratty, hugging the ground. Nevertheless, old dung proved game had been here. Down by the Big River, willow, dwarf birch, and berry bushes thickened and made a wall around the lusher wetlands there. To the west, magnificent mountains shot white-glazed peaks to spear Blue Sky Man's belly. Behind him to the north, a low line of hills ran in an arc to the Big Ice, visible in the distance where it curved around to the south, meeting the mountain ice. And his foolish brother had crossed that?
"Impossible!" he muttered under his breath.
"Runs In Light?" Crow Caller asked.
"Are my thoughts that apparent, Dreamer?"
"No one sane could believe he crossed."
"But the rumors are spreading like wildfire." Raven Hunter's frown deepened. Could they be true?
Heron's valley spread out before them, the hot springs sending plumes of steam into the coppery sky.
"Maybe we can put this Wolf Dream nonsense to rest, eh?"
Raven Hunter nodded soberly. "Oh, I intend to. One way or another."
"That's it!" Three Falls exploded with a disgusted snort.
"Curse her!"