CHAPTER THREE #3
And, so it had been. József Fehér had indeed gone on to inform Red Fox of what the Long Knives were doing in a country where gold had been discovered on land promised to the Lakota forever by treaty.
Had Red Fox and József Fehér not smoked the pipe of peace, where one's word was pledged to the Creator to speak only the truth, Red Fox would not have believed what Fehér had told him, so wild were the stories.
According to the elder Fehér, under the doctrine of a white man's belief called Manifest Destiny, the soldiers were in this western land to kill or subdue the Indian and to take their lands, thus opening it up to gold-seekers, settlers and farmers.
The white man believed it was his destiny, his duty and his right to steal what the Indians had held for thousands of years; the cavalry was here to ensure the new government in the East won these wars.
It had been unbelievable to Red Fox. More talk, however, had uncovered more about this Manifest Destiny: it was not a matter of the white man's religion or belief, as many believed; it was simply a viewpoint put forth by another white man by means of his scratches upon a white man's piece of paper.
From the elder Fehér, Red Fox had learned most Americans coming onto these lands believed their cultural ideas were superior to all other beliefs, and therefore, it was their destiny to extend their culture over all the land for the "good of all. "
But, Red Fox had not understood how this could be for the "good of all," especially when even the worst of his Indian enemies did not purposely kill their foes' innocent: the women and children.
Was there another reason for this sudden thrust of the Long Knives into Pikuni country?
Was it the white man's lust for the evil golden rock?
He had asked this of József Fehér.
"Yes, indeed," József Fehér said. "This is part of it. But, another aspect of it is that the Indians claim much land is theirs and the settlers coming into this country want this land as their own."
"But, there is no need for war and killing," Red Fox responded. "People have only to ask to settle here, and as long as they are not aligned with our enemies, we have granted them a right to be here with us. This, as you might remember, we did for you."
"Yes," answered József Fehér. "But, the new government wants the land for its own. It cannot rule the people when the land is owned by those who are not American. And so, in order to have it, the government must settle it with their own people."
Red Fox could think of nothing to say to this piece of knowledge, since it made no sense to him.
But, József Fehér had more to say, and he said, "There is another enemy to be considered in this fight.
There are also a people in the East who are known as the robber barons.
These men have attained their status in life not by doing good deeds but by the theft of what others have produced.
Yes, these robber barons wish for the gold, but they also crave all the land for their own use and for its resources.
And, by secret means, these men have convinced the American government to aid them in this cause. "
"This is permitted by your chiefs?"
"These robber barons are the chiefs," József Fehér responded. "Not openly do they rule. No, they rule by a system of the gold and silver they own. With this treasure, they can buy men in power who are the ones who make the decisions for this land."
"And, no man fights this?" asked Red Fox.
"Try to understand, these robber barons have slowly worked their grip upon these men in government,"the elder Fehér went on to explain.
"Sometimes it takes several generations to enforce their desires upon a people.
But, their zeal for imagining ways in which to steal the fruits of others' labors is unmatched by any other group of people.
And so, these changes often go unnoticed at first. It was this way in my homeland of Hungary; so it will be here, also. "
"But," Red Fox argued, "the land and all its riches is given to all people by Sun, the Creator. Only a god as powerful as the Creator would dare to take what He has created. It is not for man to do."
"But, you see," Fehér responded, "these robber barons and their breed consider themselves to be gods of a sort."
Stunned, Red Fox had not been able to counter any argument to this. The concept of a man believing he was the Creator was too much for him to hear, let alone to understand.
"But, surely," Red Fox said, "these barons could not intend to kill all Indians in order to take what is not theirs to take."
"Perhaps not," József Fehér replied. "Perhaps, if the good people in the East are successful, there will be a place for the Indians.
Now, my friend, hear me on another matter.
Although I have treated you like a son over the years, if I have to, I will fight you.
Know this: I wish my daughter to marry a man of her own kind, a man of wealth and prestige.
It is her duty to her family, as well as a privilege I give her.
It is my belief she should come to know another kind of people, a people of the same social status as her own.
Let me say this again so there can be no doubt: do not interfere with my plans for her.
Do not try to find her or steal her. I sent her far away so you both could not elope and take the matter out of my authority. Do you understand?"
Red Fox hadn't answered, except to ask, "What is this word 'elope'?"
"It means to steal the girl and marry her without the permission of her parents. Remember, if you try to do this when she returns, I promise you I will fight you."
And so, Red Fox had come to learn the reason why the elder Fehér had denied his daughter to him, a Pikuni man, a man Poka'aki's father did not consider good enough for her: simply, although her father did not wish her or any of her future family to be caught up in the middle of a war, he also wished to control her life.
It was a fantastic story about the American cavalry Fehér had told him. It was also one Red Fox had not believed.
And so, to determine for himself the truth or lies of József Fehér's assertions, Red Fox had left his beautiful Pikuni country, delaying only to heal the pony of Poka'aki's mother.
Then, he had dared to journey into enemy territory, his purpose being to either confirm or refute József Fehér's stories of war and the death of the Indian people…