People - People of the Wolf Part 33

Long minutes pa.s.sed while they listened to the rasping of Wind Woman over the rocky plains and watched the flickering northern lights.

"You're not coming back to camp .. . really?"

"No, I'm going to wait here and talk to the Star People." Talon squinted upward a little fearfully.

"I'm staying with you. It's not right that you die by yourself."

Talon shooed her away. "Dying's a private thing. I don't want you here."

A sob welled in Dancing Fox's throat. She forcibly choked it back. "Are you sure?"

Talon scrutinized her tormented expression. "You really need to be close to me to the end?"

"I can't stand the thought of you getting weak .. . and the wolves .

"Well, I can't much either. You going to keep them off?" "If you'll let me."

"You think you can face it? It'll mean that much longer before you find out what's happened to Runs In Light."

Dancing Fox's eyes locked with the wrinkled old woman's and some silent communication pa.s.sed between them, tender and intimate. "I can face it."

She lifted the broken sh.e.l.l from the nest, tender fingers caressing the sharp edges.

Chapter 39.

The lodge stretched twenty feet across the base, rising six feet over Ice Fire's graying head. Caribou and mammoth robes were stacked neatly in the far corner, their hair glittering in the light of the fire burning in the rock-lined fire pit. Multicolored medicine bundles dotted the walls, each carefully placed to correspond to the direction that gave it Spirit Power.

He looked up, frowning at the bundle on the southern wall, the sea bundle. For days it had taunted him, its sweet voice disturbing his sleep. "I haven't closed my ears," he a.s.sured it softly, reaching out to stroke the bundle. "Keep talking. Eventually, I'll understand your message." "Ice Fire?"

He dropped his hand, seeing Broken Shaft's face peeking through the door flap. He motioned the young warrior in, getting to his feet to hug him.

Twenty Long Lights old, Broken Shaft stood tall and heavily muscled with a b.u.t.ton nose and round face. His full lips were sensual as he smiled and pushed back a little, eyes drifting over the elder. "Thank the Great Mystery that you're all right. With all the attacks from the Enemy, I feared for your life."

Ice Fire smiled. "Don't worry. I know the time of my death, and it isn't for a while yet." Broken Shaft c.o.c.ked his head skeptically. "On occasion, I've known your visions to be wrong."

Ice Fire laughed. "But only on occasion."

"True, but it worries me nonetheless."

They exchanged a warm smile.

"You made excellent time." Ice Fire changed the subject. "I hope that means it was an easy trip with no troubles."

"Smoke proved difficult."

Ice Fire frowned. "Why? He's a good--"

"He met a girl from the Round Hoof Clan and lost his head. He brought her bouquets of autumn leaves for days before she reluctantly gave in and agreed to spend time with him. But the rest of the trip was uneventful."

Ice Fire's eyes crinkled in amus.e.m.e.nt. "Smoke stayed, I take it?"

"Indeed, he did."

Putting an arm around Broken Shaft's broad shoulders, Ice Fire guided the warrior to the fire, where they both settled on the sandy soil. "You look tired. Can I offer you a hot meal?"

"That sounds wonderful. I could eat an entire mammoth." The young man placed his darts to his lips a moment, apologizing for letting them out of his hands, before he carefully laid them to the side.

Ice Fire scooped up a horn full of the thick musk-ox stew, handing it to the grateful warrior."Thank you, Elder. I've much to tell you."

"Ice Fire?" Red Flint appeared in the doorway.

"Thank you for coming, old friend. Come in."

The middle-aged man ducked beneath the flap and ambled tiredly to settle on his knees across the fire. His eyes looked down, the lines around his mouth remained tightly drawn-as they had since the Enemy carried off his daughter, Moon Water.

Ice Fire's thoughts drifted, mind leaping s.p.a.ce and time to imagine the pretty girl doing ch.o.r.es in the camps of the Enemy. The thought of her there left a burning resentment in his stomach. They'd have raped her by now. For all he knew, she already carried a child in her young womb.

Pray to the Great Mystery they hadn't hurt her.

He'd become so lost in his thoughts, it took Broken Shaft clearing his throat to bring him back. He looked up, somewhat startled to see the stew depleted by several horns, the haggard Broken Shaft looking respectfully his way.

"You have been to the Round Hoof Clan? And to the Tiger Belly Clan, too?"

Broken Shaft nodded, slipping into formal tones. "Yes, Most Respected Elder. The tidings are mostly good. Some of the pressure is easing to the west. Something happened out there. The Glacier People are moving south along the coast. Some of the other tribes are moving north still, others are slowing as our clans hunt out the game. The Great Mystery also punishes those who seek to drive us. Some terrible disease, a sickness of the soul, wastes their warriors. Oozing sores cover their bodies. For the moment, they aren't fighting as fiercely as before."

Ice Fire digested that, lost in thought. "Then our clans didn't lose so much land this year?"

"No. In fact, we gained some back." Broken Shaft grimaced and shook his head, glancing briefly at Red Flint.

Ice Fire followed his gaze, noting the older man's absent prodding of the fire with a willow branch. He turned back to Broken Shaft. "What's bothering you?"

The warrior raised his eyebrows expressively. "The salt water, Most Respected Elder."

"The salt water?"

Broken Shaft gazed nervously at the fire for a moment. "The land between the Round Hoof and Tiger Bellies." He shook his head. "Smoke and I pa.s.sed at the beginning of the Long Light and traveled through Buffalo Clan to the Tiger Bellies. On the way back, not more than two moons ago, I tried to follow the same trail with Caribou Foot of the Buffalo Clan.

The water had covered the old route. We had to go several days' journey to the north. It's eerie, plants sticking up as the water covers them.

The land is narrower through there now. The northern salt water moves south, too. The seas are trying to meet. Not only that, but Caribou Foot tells me the rivers have never been so full. Half his clan were cut off from the dancing this year by the great western river. You know, the onethat runs out of the other side of these mountains to the west. Not even the strongest and bravest would try to cross the swollen flood." "So soon .. Ice Fire reflected to himself, a tendril of anxiety winding through him. A sweet child's voice penetrated his mind. His gaze drifted slowly to the sea bundle. "Is that it?" he whispered, eyes narrowing.

"It's happening sooner than I'd thought?"

Broken Shaft swallowed uneasily. "What is, Elder?"

Ice Fire continued staring at the green and blue bundle, but it had hushed again. Blinking, he looked back to the warrior. "The seas are going to cut us off from the Glacier People." "How?" "By flooding the land."

Broken Shaft sat still and somber. "What if the water cuts us off from the Tiger Bellies? They're pus.h.i.+ng back into land abandoned by the Glacier People." Ice Fire lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "Then they'll have to face the Glacier People alone--as well as this horrible disease."

Broken Shaft swallowed and s.h.i.+fted, eyes turning to his darts. "If the water is going to drown the world, are we safe?"

"Don't worry about it. You'll be long dead by the time it follows us this far." He smiled, glancing at the bundle from the corner of his eye.

Won't he?

Red Flint licked his lips and straightened. "Are the other clans sending warriors to help us fight the Enemy? We have to get our families back!"

Viciously, he slammed a fist into the dirt floor.

Broken Shaft lowered his eyes as Ice Fire reached a comforting hand across to squeeze his friend's shoulder. "We'll get her back," he softly affirmed.

Red Flint relaxed a little, nodding tensely. "I .. .1 know, Elder."

Ice Fire released his grip reluctantly, asking, "How many are coming?"

"Many," Broken Shaft said certainly. "With the Glacier People going south to take the land of the sick tribes, there is no one brave to fight. Warriors from all the clans are on their way here, to find honor fighting the Enemy with us."

Red Flint nodded again, a fist clenched. "This year, our warriors will win the Sacred White Hide back for our clan." Broken Shaft grinned. "I plan on it. "

Ice Fire smiled proudly. The hide was the sacred center of the tribe, the heart of the people, the promise of survival. Without the supreme Power of the hide, the Mammoth People would cease to exist. Each Long Light, it pa.s.sed to the clan that had shown the most valor, gained the most honor for the tribe.

He bowed his head and nodded. "I've no doubts that you'll win it back for us."

Sleep did not come for Ice Fire that night. Like a dying salmon after the sp.a.w.n, he twirled and twisted in his robes. The sea bundle called repeatedly, but he couldn't quite make out its words; it disturbed himdeeply.

Wind tousled the door flap, revealing stars glistening in the dark bowl of the sky. He inhaled a deep tired breath and concentrated on the feel of the cold breeze was.h.i.+ng over his face.

"Man of the Others," a voice called hauntingly.

He tensed, heart pounding. Holding his breath, he waited, knowing the Watcher's touch.

"I see you there," she said. "You can't hide." Her scratchy voice echoed around him like the pounding of the surf.

Rubbing hands over his eyes, he blinked anxiously around the lodge, finally rasping, "Who are you?"

"Heron. I've known you for years, man of the Others-since that day you raped--"

"I remember." He winced, memories stirring. Then, like now, the feeling had been that of a Dream. A feeling so strong, it had fooled him that day. Now it washed around him, a tangible presence that brought him bolt upright.

"Such a powerful Dreaming," he whispered.

"Are you ready to talk to me?"

"Yes." He pushed his hides back, feeling the presence wrap around his soul. Locking his mind on the essence, he stirred the fire--now gone to dull red embers--looking deeply into the coals.

"I'm here.. .." she called, guiding his attempt to see. "Here. " A face formed in the crimson glow. She was old; silver shot hair lay in waves over her shoulders. Even in her age, she remained a striking beauty.

"I see you," he whispered, voice low so as not to disturb the other sleepers. "Such Power ... is it you who stands before us, drives your warriors against us?"

Heron shook her head, image s.h.i.+mmering in the rising heat of the fire.

"Your son is responsible. You know him, don't you? The one born of blood?"

"No, I don't know him."

"Too bad. I'd hoped you'd seen him in your visions,. He's a man of partial Dreams, glimmerings of greatness. He's unschooled, impetuous.

Like a caribou bull driven mad by flies, he charges ahead, heedless of the consequences."

"What does he have to do with--"

"He'll be the death of your people."

Cold fear constricted around his heart. "How? Your people are too few to stand against us. He can't--"

"Not alone. Why don't you ask about your other son?"A tickle of icy sweat threaded down the side of his face. "The boy with the rainbow. You .. . know him ?"

"Wolf Dreamer," she whispered, a curious awe in her tone. "He's powerful, man of the Others. Powerful like I could only wish."

"He'll join with his brother to destroy us?" Ice Fire shook his head wearily. "They can't. Not even with the help of your potent magic. We'll trample them--and you--into the snow." But he knew his fear showed on his taut face.

She c.o.c.ked her head curiously. "Did you know that once, long ago, your people and mine were one tribe? We can be again."

"The same people?" He studied her serious expression. "If we were .. .

why did we split?"

"Over the Dreaming. Your clans drove us out because they feared us as magicians. Thought we could witch a person's soul and pitch it into the void. That's why you're the only Dreamer among the Mammoth People--you killed the bloodline. Fools ..."

"We didn't kill it," he said, heart thundering at mention of his sons.

"We gave it to you."

"A very great gift, but it'll destroy you." Anger and dread mixed into a terrible brew inside him. He raised both fists to the sky and screamed, "How! Tell me!"

"Your sons are coming for you. Coming from different directions, but coming."

The coals flickered and s.h.i.+fted as if they were underwater, and the Dream vanished.

Folding his arms over his chest, he hung his head and hugged himself, s.h.i.+vering violently in the cold. "My sons ..."