Ice Fire looked away, licking his lip. "I didn't know I spoke."
"You spoke. Many heard you."
"My son . . . doesn't matter. Our hope is to head south."
"You believe this ghost-hole story?"
"You call your own daughter a liar?"
Red Flint lowered his eyes, staring at the damp hem of his hide pants leg. "No . . . But I think she was taken in by that Dreamer of theirs and his delusions of a land of plenty."
"But she saw the game."
"She might have, but after people have been there for a year or two, it'll be gone—just like it is here. I say we head north. We left a perfectly good salt water full of seals and fish and clams and mussels."
"And already the Buffalo Clan is living there. They follow in our tracks while the Tiger Belly and Round Hoof Clans are restricted by the rising salt water along the western plains. True, it allows them to defend the west from the far Enemy and their disease, but people are worried."
"Let them worry. We know there's plenty of food along the coast. Meanwhile, let's destroy the Enemy here—make one concerted effort to wipe them out and live north—"
"Yes . . . but how long before the far Enemy and other tribes cross the water and—"
"Listen, old friend. I've had my ears open. I've listened to the representatives sent by the clans. Ice Stalker and the others say the White Tusk Clan is happy with what we've done. We've brought the White Hide home again. The old men think that's enough. But the hunters complain that the game isn't as plentiful here. The young women whisper among themselves, fearful of being captured by an Enemy. I see an erosion of will. A lack of commitment to the extermination of these Enemy. You must do something! Stir up their hatred! Remind them of the rapes ... of the mutilated babies. Of captured warriors cut apart and left for the crows. You have that power! Make them hate! Or we'll lose the Hide next year.''
Ice Fire looked up at him, smiling feebly. ' 'And what are the other clan representatives saying? What do the Round Hoof and Buffalo think? Do they, too, argue for extermination?"
Red Flint's fanatic gaze fell. "Since being here, they have doubts about the honor gained warring with such a small " remnant as the Enemy. They wonder whether we truly have courage." He looked away and rubbed his nose. "And many are clamoring for peace."
"The people tire of war?"
"Yes, but they don't understand that we have to—"
"What are they saying?"
Red Flint thundered, " 'Let the Enemy go!' they cry. 'We've killed enough to atone for the deaths of our own. Isn't that enough?' " He balled a fist. "Enough? Enough? Where's our honor? Already too many of our young girls carry their rotted seed!"
"Is this a personal battle? Have you stopped caring what the people want?"
Red Flint's lips twitched as he looked away, making a throwing-away motion with his arm. "Moon Water has told me over and over how the Enemy treated her. I want them wiped out. All of them. Pay them back for the mutilations of our young men. When the last of them is killed and buried, then I say we go back and live by the salt water.''
Ice Fire lifted a shoulder, idly watching an eagle dive and
I
soar on the wind currents, a black dot swirling in endless blue.
"I walk around the camp and hear our children talking about the Blessed Star People. I like that. I hear them talk about the Monster Children. I like that story, too. Perhaps we shouldn't be warring with each other? We were one people once."
"Impossible! Relatives to an Enemy who cut my cousin's body apart when they captured him! Cut him apart! His soul's out there, wandering, crying for justice—and you'd befriend these Enemy? I say kill them for the vile corruption they are. Men, women, children! Brain them all. Erase every last trace of their seed from the earth."
"So, you will destroy your daughter's child when it comes?"
Red Flint jerked around, scowling. "Of course not! What sort of question is that?"
"The seed is this Jumping Hare's. Your daughter's child was planted on the other side of the ice by an Enemy. But then, you'll have to kill Wasp over there. Look at him." He pointed to the handsome boy who frolicked with a group, practicing throwing their darts at a mound of soil. Childish laughter lilted on the cool breeze.
"What are you—"
"He thinks he's going to be a warrior. Down Chest and Ten Feathers fawn over him. He was the child they couldn't have, remember? Black Claw picked him out of an Enemy camp years ago. Stole him away in the middle of the night. He's full-blooded Enemy. You'll break their hearts when you kill him."
"You're twisting my words," Red Flint grumbled, looking away.