excerpt
White Eagle called the council of elders to tell them what they had found at the
camp of the strangers. The elders gathered in pale doeskins and doe hide boots to sit
on woven rabbit-fur blankets around the council fire.
“Mountain Lion and I saw six strangers,” said White Eagle. “Only two have been
to our hunting feast. More may be close by. They wait for the return of the serpenthead
canoe. I fear the savage ones will be back with more warriors.”
Chogan Blackbird took the talking stick from White Eagle. “I say we kill the strangers
now and wipe their camp from our shores. Leave no sign they came to our land.”
Eagle Talon and Broken Wing sounded approval. White Eagle listened as each
elder had his say.
“The strangers kill children. Brown Bear mourns his daughter. The strangers
must die.” Eagle Talon spat into the sand.
The talking stick passed to Broken Wing. “This night, while they sleep, we must
surprise them. Their shining weapons cut too easily through flesh and bone.”
It was Mountain Lion’s turn to take the talking stick. “My brothers, if we kill the
strangers, more will come. Their weapons are mightier than ours. If we take them
captive, we might bargain with the others when they return.”
Eagle Talon reached out to take the talking stick once more, though he had already
spoken. The sachem permitted Eagle Talon to speak again. “My son-to-be is
now called One Ear. There is no honour in this name. His hurt was not in battle. He
gave no wound. His missing ear cries out for vengeance. Grey Wolf must now take
up the lance to win an honest name. I say we fight until that monster’s ear has joined
his knife to burn in our council fire.”
White Eagle had heard each elder speak for himself and for his tribe. Now it was his
turn to speak. Though his word was not binding, his advice was always considered more
favourably than all others. His reputation and position as sachem was well earned.
He held the talking stick and nodded first to each elder to acknowledge the input
they had given. “My brothers. Each of you has spoken with calm spirit and wise
tongue. Yes, we could surprise their camp and kill the strangers while they sleep.
There is no honour in this. It is not our way.”
The elders nodded and voiced agreement.
White Eagle continued, “We do not kill for vengeance. Some of them are honourable
men. Should we kill the good with the bad?”
The sachem paused to look to each elder in turn. Then he continued in a slow
steady voice. “I agree we must surprise them while they sleep. We must take their
long knives before they strike us with them. We must take them to our hunting
camp. We will judge the bad ones as our laws allow.”
Broken Wing raised his hand to hold the talking stick. White Eagle conceded.
“What of the others when they return? We can not trust them.” He handed the
stick back to White Eagle.
White Eagle answered. “We must all move to our hunting camp until the
planting time. The strangers will not find us. They will leave. Go now; talk to the
young braves. We will meet again before the sun is down.”
Libros Libertad 