CHAPTER EIGHTEEN AFTERSHOCK
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
AFTERSHOCK
“The eye tells what
the tongue would hide.”Chief Joseph
8:00 AM
June 18th
Pine Ridge Reservation
Everyone was gathered around the big firepit as they collectively prepared breakfast. Mason and Tashunka were sitting next to each other, and it was clear that they hadn’t been able to wash all of the oil out of their hair. However, Kodiak emerged from the trailer and looked fresh and clean.
“Hey,” called Mason. “How’d you get all the oil out of your hair?”
“I used that Dawn Dishwashing liquid,” Kodiak said.
“And that worked?” asked Tashunka.
“Well, I remembered that commercial where they used it to clean up a duck that was covered in oil,” Kodiak said. “Figured if it works on a duck, it will work on a bear.”
“That’s it?” said Mason. “That simple?”
“Yep,” Kodiak said, shaking out his long hair.
“Is there more of that stuff?” Mason and Tashunka asked in unison.
Kodiak jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
“It’s still in the shower,” Kodiak said. “Help yourselves.”
Mason and Tashunka quickly played “rock, paper, scissors to see who got to go first. Mason won.
“Sucker,” Mason said.
“How is it you always beat me?” asked Tashunka.
“Easy,” Mason replied, grinning. “You always go in order. Rock first, then paper, then scissors. I just go with what beats that. I win every time.”
“Well, not anymore, you won’t,” muttered Tashunka, shaking his head.
“Would someone mind helping me braid my hair?” asked Kodiak, glancing around.
“I’d be happy to,” said Tala Night Wind.
Even Kade seemed surprised to hear her say that. Tala wasn’t the most sociable on the best of days. Kodiak sat on a stump, and Tala stood behind him. Even sitting, he was still as tall as she was.
“Uh, do you mind sitting on the ground?” she asked quietly.
Kodiak moved to the ground, and she stepped up behind him again.
Although he was still much bigger than her, she was able to start brushing and braiding his hair without too much difficulty.
It made an odd dynamic. Kodiak was almost seven feet tall in human form, and Tala was just over five feet tall.
He also outweighed her by well over two hundred pounds.
Sarah and Raven exchanged glances.
“Tala is usually unapproachable,” Raven whispered. “She rarely opens up to any of us.”
“Cody’s the same way,” Sarah replied softly. “Ever since he lost someone close to him, he keeps most people at arm’s length.”
Raven watched as Tala worked quietly on the braid.
“That’s the most relaxed I've ever seen either of them,” Raven whispered.
“Maybe they just needed someone who understands,” replied Sarah softly, smiling.
“Maybe,” Raven agreed. “Let’s not scare them off.”
“Agreed,” Sarah said, chuckling.
Sarah sat next to Greyeagle and gently placed her hand on his. He smiled at her and nodded knowingly. He’d noticed it too.
“They do have quite a bit in common,” whispered Sarah. “They’re both from desert tribes. The Ute and Apache crossed paths for generations. I’m sure they share more traditions than either of them realize.”
“Probably,” Greyeagle said.
“Maybe I should…,” Sarah began.
“Stay out of it,” Greyeagle finished for her, squeezing her hand. “Don’t get involved. We don’t even know if this uneasy alliance of ours will last. Don’t pin hopes on something that might not work at all.”
“Was that about them or about Kade?” whispered Sarah.
Greyeagle just held her gaze. She had her answer. Greyeagle loved his brother but was still enough of a realist to know they were a long, long way from a full reconciliation. Kade might go back to his old ways at any time. Especially once they dealt with the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso.
By the time they’d finished breakfast, a familiar truck came driving down the road. Kade tensed up, and Greyeagle shook his head.
“It’s alright,” Greyeagle said. “We know him.”
Kade nodded but didn’t fully relax. He watched warily as the truck stopped and Declan climbed out with Abby. Abby smiled as they approached and Declan tipped his hat.
“Mornin’,” Declan said. “I hear I missed yer firefightin’ skills. Should I start a callin’ ye the Duke now?”
“I’ll pass,” Greyeagle said, smiling. “You did miss an interesting event. Where are my manners. Allow me to make introductions.”
Greyeagle introduced Kade and his pack, one by one. Declan and Abby shook their hands.
“Good t’ meet ye,” Declan said, nodding.
“You look familiar,” Kade said. “I never forget a face. Have we met before?”
“Yeah, he looks familiar to me too,” said Raven. “But I can’t remember where or when.”
“I don’t remember meetin’ ye a’for,” Declan said.
Raven got an odd expression on her face and took out her phone. She began scrolling through the pictures she’d taken.
“I don’t think he’s in any of our pictures,” Kade said. “But I know I’ve seen his face.”
After a moment, Raven handed Kade her phone.
“I knew I knew his face,” Raven said. “He looks just like that gunfighter in the picture in Deadwood. The one posing with Wild Bill Hickok.”
Declan began chuckling. Abby smiled knowingly and shook her head.
“Yeah, it looks just like him,” Kade said, “but that can’t be him. This picture was taken in 1876.”
“Aye, that’d be impossible,” Declan said, grinning.
Greyeagle kept his face neutral, but Kade wasn’t fooled.
“How?” asked Kade.
“Well, yer grandfather ain’t the only one who’s been cursed with long life,” Declan said.
“Don’t you mean blessed?” asked Kade.
“No, I meant exactly what I said,” Declan countered. “That was me in the picture. I knew Bill. I used t’ call him Mudsill Bill, the second fastest gun in the West. He called me that and worse.”
“I take it you weren’t friends, then,” Raven said.
“Not at first,” Declan said. “We wore different colors durin’ that awful war. He was a scout for the Union, and I was one o’ Quantrill’s Raiders.”
“And now you’re a Marshal,” said Kade, nodding at the badge on his vest.
“Oh aye, and that’s a story long in the tellin’, boyo,” Declan replied. “Perhaps another day.”
“Wait, you’ve been kicking around the West since the late 1800s,” said Raven. “Then why do you have an Irish accent?”
“I was born in Ireland,” Declan explained. “I’m afraid it’s in me bones now.”
“I have so many questions,” Raven said in a hushed tone.
“Aye, I bet ye do,” Declan replied. “But Jay o’er there has been around a mite longer ‘n me. If ye got questions, ask him. I’m sure he’s got lots o’ stories.”
“So, how did your phone call go?” asked Greyeagle.
“Emily ‘ll be here by the end o’ the week,” Declan said. “Best she can do.”
“Well, here’s hoping it’s over before then,” Greyeagle said. “Otherwise more people are going to die.”
“Well, hopefully we’ll be able t’ find a solution t’ all this a’for she gets here,” Declan replied. “So, did ye learn anythin’ new about the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso?”
“Unfortunately, no,” Greyeagle said. “But, we did prove once and for all that the Rez isn’t behind the attacks.”
“I’d say ye did,” Declan answered, grinning. “Yer little Red Adair trick made national news. A crew with a zoom lens was filmin’ the entire debacle. Werewolf firefighters tend t’ make the front page. Especially when they transform on camera.”
“Well, crap,” Greyeagle said, frowning.
“Hell yeah,” Kade said, grinning. “Let the world see it.”
“Not everyone ‘ll be thrilled t’ see it,” Declan cautioned. “There’ll be a few who want t’ either put ye down ‘r control ye.”
“They can try,” Kade said dangerously.
“We’ll do what we can t’ manage the backlash,” Declan assured them. “I should be able t’ handle the political end o’ it, but individual reactions ‘ll vary. Just be warned that the proverbial cat’s out o’ the bag.”
“Alright,” Greyeagle said. “Thank you for warning us.”
“Hey, it ain’t like ye ain’t been on YouTube a’for,” Declan said. “Yer little jaunt in Eureka Springs still gets shown on podcasts and documentaries.”
“With the age of Artificial Intelligence,” Kade said, “it’ll be easy to say it was all fake footage. No one will bat an eye.”
“Ye might be surprised,” Declan said. “Some no doubt ‘ll dismiss it. Others won’t.”
“So, what’s our next move?” asked Greyeagle. “At least, as far as the Marshals are concerned.”
“I sent word t’ the boys,” Declan said. “They should all be here in a day ‘r so. Six-Killer and White Horse ‘ll be here later t’night with more horses. They’re a comin’ from the ranch.
Siobhan and Riordan are flyin’ in from California.
Doc and Jed ‘ll be a comin’ in by transport, not commercial.
Likely bringin’ a few o’ the Hunt with ‘em.”
“The Hunt?” asked Greyeagle. “Are they getting involved?”
“After yer television debut, they got the call,” Declan answered. “I got a call from Saunders askin’ what’s goin’ on. I briefed him on the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso. They’re sendin’ a CAT Team.”
“Cat?” asked Kade. “Cat shapeshifters?”
“No, it stands for Cryptid Assessment Team,” Greyeagle explained. “Usually, four to six people. They decide if the rest of the team needs to get involved.”
“And this was the team you used to be part of?” asked Kade.
“Depending on which team they send, yes,” Greyeagle replied. “I was part of Team Odin, but they’re only one team of the Wild Hunt.”
“It’s Odin that’s a comin’,” Declan said. “I didna ask who they was sendin’.”
“I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” Greyeagle said with a shrug.
“Aye, that we will,” Declan said. “I got the full brief from Wisdom. He’s impressed by ye. Said he’d snap ye up in a heartbeat for PACT, if yer interested.”
Greyeagle glanced around at the others.
“No, I’m right where I want to be,” Greyeagle said, slipping his hand into Sarah’s. “Where I belong.”
“I figured that’d be yer answer,” Declan said, grinning. “And I don’t blame ye one bit.”
“There was a time that offer would’ve been tempting,” Greyeagle said. “But I’ve figured out what’s important to me. We’ll help when we’re needed, but my place is here. With my family.”
“When all this flap with the bloody Ouroboros Society is o’er,” Declan said, “I’m thinkin’ a doin’ the same thing. Maybe step back, rest me spirit if I can, maybe raise a few young ‘uns.”
After the last word, he winked at Abby. She grinned and took his hand.
“But we’ve got a ways t’ go a’for we can do that,” Declan added. “What’s that auld poem? Things t’ do, promises t’ keep, and miles t’ go a’for I sleep.”
“Robert Frost,” Raven said, nodding.
“Hell o’ a writer,” Declan said. “Kind o’ a dick, though.”
“You knew him?” asked Raven.
“We crossed paths a time ‘r two,” Declan replied cryptically. “I cannae say we was friends.”
“Who else have you met?” asked Raven.
“Oh, there’s lots o’ folks ye might consider historical figures that I knew, either by association ‘r by reputation.”
“Did you meet Abe Lincoln?” she asked.
“No, but it probably would’na been a good meetin’,” Declan replied. “Me uniform was grey.”
“Who did you think the most highly of?” asked Raven.
“Well, now,” Declan said, scratching his chin. “That’s a hell o’ a question.”
Even Abby turned to watch Declan’s reaction.
“Like I said, some I only knew in passin’,” Declan said, “but there is one I still miss. Ye might know him as Mark Twain. I knew him as Sam Clemmons. We’re both from Missouri, ye see.
I met him on a steamboat on the Missouri River floatin’ down from Kansas City t’ St. Louis.
We struck up a conversation. O’er the years, I spent many a day sittin’ and sippin’ whiskey, discussin’ the intricacies o’ life with Sam.
I still go by his grave t’ pay me respects when I’m close t’ Elmira, New York. ”
No one spoke right away. They could hear the loss in his words. For Declan, it might as well have been yesterday. To all of them, Mark Twain was an infamous writer and caustic wit. To Declan, he was a friend.
It was a rare glimpse behind the humor and easy confidence. For a moment, they were reminded that Declan had outlived generations of people he had laughed with, fought beside, and cared about. Somehow, that made him seem older than ever. And perhaps lonelier.
“Well now,” Declan said, “let’s not wax maudlin. We’ve a job t’ do.”
“Agreed,” Greyeagle said. “If we keep reacting to the attacks, more people will die. We need to find a way to get ahead of them.”
“To predict where the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso will hit next?” asked Kade. “How are we supposed to do that?”
“Well, funny ye should ask,” Declan said. “Abby noticed somethin’ interestin’ when we was plottin’ out the map in the hotel.”
“What’s that?” asked Greyeagle.
“They hit the closest rig t’ the reservation first,” Declan said.
“Then hit the next closest,” said Abby. “Then the next closest after that.”
“There’s the pattern,” Greyeagle said, smiling.
“And if there’s a pattern,” Kade added, “we can guess where they’re going next.”
“And what’s the next closest installation?” asked Greyeagle.
“Oil Rig Nineteen, Black Mesa,” Abby said. “If the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso stick to their pattern, that’s who they’ll hit next.”
“Then that’s where we need to be,” Greyeagle replied. “And we’d better get there soon. They could hit it at any time.”
“Ye lot get movin’,” Declan said. “I’ll call Wisdom and get him up t’ speed. I’ll meet ye there.”
“Let’s go,” Greyeagle said, then headed for the motorcycles.
“You heard the man,” Kade said. “Let’s saddle up and ride.”
“Ye know,” Declan said, “they used t’ refer t’ the steam locomotive as an iron horse. I think it fits yer motorcycles better.”
“Like the Motorhead song,” Kade said. “Iron Horse, Born To Lose.”
“Aye,” Declan replied. “Somethin’ like that.”
Greyeagle swung his leg over his bike and held out his hand for Sarah to climb on.
Then, he hit the starter and the big engine rumbled to life.
Kade slipped onto his bike and waited for Raven to climb on behind him.
Once she was on, he lifted the bike off the kickstand and hit the electric starter.
His bike rumbled to life with a low, predatory growl.
The other bikes began roaring to life as they readied themselves for the ride ahead.
As they began moving down the road and onto the highway, they paired up to fill the lane.
Kade rode next to Greyeagle. Behind them, Tala pulled in next to Kodiak and matched his speed.
Kodiak nodded at her as she rode, her smaller Harley-Davidson Nightster seeming tiny next to Kodiak’s custom Boss Hoss with the V8 engine.
As they increased speed, the group spread out enough to give themselves a reactionary gap, but they stayed in road formation.
Greyeagle and Kade set the pace, and everyone else fell in line.
Cassie was on with Mika, and the Mohawk Twins brought up the rear of the formation.
Shockingly, a lot of the Makhótaneo’o rode beside the Hotamétaneo’o.
For the first time, they looked less like two packs and more like one hunting party.