CHAPTER TWO OLD GHOSTS
CHAPTER TWO
OLD GHOSTS
“The ground on which we stand is sacred ground.
It is the blood of our ancestors.”
Chief Plenty Coups (Crow Nation)
9:30 AM
June 12th
Pine Ridge Reservation Hospital
South Dakota
Mika slid the Bison sideways into the short driveway of the emergency room. As soon as the truck came to a stop, Kodiak and Greyeagle were out the door and lifted David by the legs and shoulders. David groaned, but it couldn’t be helped.
“Is he still alive?” asked Mika as he ran around the front of the truck.
“Yeah, barely,” Greyeagle said. “He just groaned when we moved him.”
Two orderlies saw them carrying David up the sidewalk and raced out with a gurney. Greyeagle and Kodiak gently placed him on the bed and stepped back.
“We’ve got him from here,” said one.
His nametag read, Chris White Feather.
“What happened?” asked the other.
His nametag read Jacob Tall Trees.
“He’s Officer David Walks Far with Game and Fish,” Greyeagle explained. “Looks like an animal attack. Bad one.”
“Got it,” said Chris, and they ran inside, pushing the gurney as fast as they dared.
Greyeagle and Kodiak were right behind them.
“I’ll go park the truck,” Mika said. “I’ll be right in.”
Mika leaped back into the Bison and screeched his tires as he headed for the parking lot. Greyeagle and Kodiak followed the orderlies inside and watched as they took him straight back. They started to follow, but a nurse stopped them.
“I’m sorry, gentlemen,” she said firmly. “You can’t go back there until they say it’s okay. Right now, he’s heading for the trauma unit, and they don’t need you in the way.”
“Alright,” Greyeagle said, nodding. “I’m sorry. He’s my cousin.”
“Does he have any other family?” asked the nurse.
“No,” Greyeagle replied. “His parents are both gone. I think my grandfather and I are all he’s got left.”
“Okay,” said the nurse. “I need you to come with me and give me some information. Anything you can give us will help with his treatment.”
“I’ll tell you anything I can,” Greyeagle replied.
“One quick question,” the nurse said. “Why are you all armed?”
“Oh, sorry about that,” Greyeagle replied. “We were called out to help track the bear that attacked him. It also killed two campers. We found him and rushed him to the hospital.”
“Where did this happen?” she asked.
“Eagle Talon Campground,” Greyeagle explained.
“That’s a long way out there,” she replied. “You’re lucky he made it here with all that blood loss.”
“David’s tough,” Greyeagle replied. “If anyone can pull through, it’s him.”
Greyeagle spent a few minutes giving her all the information he knew. By the time he was finished, Mika was coming into the building. He nodded at Kodiak, and they quickly collected all the guns and took them back to the truck.
“Thank you,” the nurse said. “I don’t mean any disrespect, but I feel better with those out of the hospital.”
“No problem,” Greyeagle replied. “Sorry that we forgot in all the excitement.”
The doors opened, and two Tribal Police Officers and a woman wearing a blue polo that read OST Dispatch ran into the room.
They were all Native American. Greyeagle knew them all.
He’d called them on the way to the hospital.
It was Katie Red Thunder, her father Jack Red Thunder, and a sergeant named Gilbert Two Dogs.
“How is he?” asked Katie immediately.
“He’s in the back,” Greyeagle replied. “They took him straight to the trauma unit. He’s lost a lot of blood.”
“Did he say anything?” asked Katie.
“He was out when we found him,” Greyeagle answered. “He didn’t wake up during the trip.”
“How bad is he hurt?” asked Jack Red Thunder.
“His shoulder was ripped up pretty good,” Mika said. “You could see the bone. My guess is, they’ll have to do reconstructive surgery on that joint. Or, he might lose the arm. We won’t know until they finish stabilizing him.”
“Did you track down the bear that did it?” asked Jack.
“Not yet,” Greyeagle said. “When we found David, we rushed him straight here. We knew he couldn’t wait for an ambulance.”
“You made the right call,” Jack said. “Are you planning on going after it?”
“Yes,” Greyeagle said. “I need to get my people together.”
“Whatever you need from us, just let me know,” Jack replied.
“Well, we might get some trouble if anyone sees us armed to the teeth,” Greyeagle said.
“Get me a list of your people,” Jack said, “and I’ll have credentials naming you all as part of my department. No one on the Rez will question that.”
“Thanks, Jack,” Greyeagle said. “I’ll text you the list as soon as I have it. Can you keep an eye on David so we can get going?”
“Absolutely,” Jack said. “Katie and I will wait for them to come tell us what’s going on. Do you want to take Gilbert with you?”
“I’ve got my rifle in the truck,” Gilbert said.
“Not right now,” Greyeagle said. “Let me get my people together, and we’ll let you know if we need anyone else.”
“I know that area pretty well,” added Gilbert. “I’d be happy to guide you.”
“Me too,” Mika said, smiling. “I’ve been up there hunting and fishing a lot. I know the area well.”
“If you change your mind,” Gilbert said, “just call me. I can be ready on a few minutes’ notice.”
There was something about Gilbert that Greyeagle just couldn’t put his finger on. His senses were trying to tell him something, but he couldn’t figure out what. Whatever it was, Old Wolf didn’t like it.
“We will,” Greyeagle said. “Thank you.”
With that, Greyeagle, Mika, and Kodiak headed out to the parking lot. Once they were in the Bison, Mika turned to Greyeagle.
“Alright, what aren’t you telling us?” he demanded.
“I can’t say yet,” Greyeagle replied. “I have to speak to Grandfather first. We need to get to the others. After I speak with him, I’ll tell you everything.”
“You’d better,” Mika replied. “I ain’t no damned mushroom.”
“What?” asked Greyeagle.
“Don’t keep me in the dark and feed me bullshit,” Mika replied.
“Cody, you’re awfully quiet,” Greyeagle said.
“Did you notice the scent?” asked Kodiak darkly.
“I did,” replied Greyeagle.
“These aren’t Oolonga-Doglalla,” Kodiak said. “Not like we’ve faced before, anyway. Something’s different about them.”
“I noticed that too,” Mika added. “What was it? I couldn’t put my finger on it.”
“The lingering human scent,” Greyeagle replied quietly.
“Meaning what?” asked Mika.
“Either they all just recently turned,” said Kodiak.
“Or they can shift,” finished Greyeagle.
“Bullshit,” Mika said. “Dogmen can’t shift. That’s just how it is. What about werewolves? We’ve run into them before.”
“Maybe,” Greyeagle said. “Something’s different, though. If they were werewolves, Old Wolf would tell me. I’d sense it. I’ve got to talk to Grandfather. He might be able to shed some light on this.”
“Then let’s get moving,” Mika said, firing up the engine.
They roared out of the parking lot, accelerating as they cleared the edge of town and raced down the highway. Greyeagle pulled out his phone and checked the signal. The signal was strong, so he dialed his grandfather’s number. Jay Matoskah picked it up on the second ring.
“Hello, Will,” Jay said. “How’s the hunting going?”
“We haven’t started yet,” Greyeagle said. “We ran into a problem. David’s been attacked. He’s in the hospital.”
“Are you going back to find the bear?” asked Jay.
“No,” Greyeagle replied. “We’re coming to you. We need to get everyone together and prepared.”
“For what?” added Jay.
“I’ll explain when I get there,” Greyeagle said. “Something’s happened, and I don’t want to say it on the phone.”
“Alright,” Jay replied. “I’ll gather the others and have them prepared for your arrival. When should we expect you?”
Greyeagle glanced over at Mika, then at the speedometer.
“Twenty minutes,” Greyeagle replied. “Maybe twenty-five.”
“We’ll be ready,” said Jay. “Why do I have the distinct feeling I’m not going to like what you have to say?”
“No one will,” Greyeagle replied.
Greyeagle hung up and tucked the phone back into his pocket.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this, brother,” said Mika. “Tell me it’s not as bad as it seems.”
“I wish I could,” Greyeagle said without looking at him. “I really wish I could.”
Fifteen minutes later, Mika slowed down enough to make the turn onto the gravel road leading to their camp.
Moments later, he slid to a stop near the big communal firepit.
Everyone was already gathered there. Jay Matoskah was seated next to Sarah and the twins, Mato Watakpe and Wambleeska. Running Bear and White Eagle.
Greyeagle stepped out of the truck, and they all could tell something was very wrong by the look on his face. Greyeagle walked directly to Jay Matoskah and nodded.
“Grandfather, we need to speak privately,” Greyeagle said.
“Whatever it is, you may speak freely,” Jay replied. “Everyone should hear this.”
“Are you certain?” asked Greyeagle.
“I am,” Jay assured him.
“We found David,” Greyeagle said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “He was badly injured, and we rushed him to the hospital. However, it was no bear that attacked him. At first, I believed it was the Oolonga-Doglalla based on the tracks and the scent.”
“What changed?” asked Jay.
“As we investigated,” Greyeagle explained, “we realized that the scent was wrong. Too much lingering human mixed with the wolf.”
“Were they recently turned?” asked Black Fox.
“At first, I believed so,” Greyeagle replied, “but another possibility struck me. I don’t believe the entire pack was just recently turned. No, I believe they can shift their form.”
“That’s impossible,” said Cassie. “Dogmen can’t shift forms.”
“Then they ain’t Dogmen,” Mika replied. “I smelled it too.”
“And Dogmen can’t control their forms,” Black Fox said. “I know firsthand.”
“What about werewolves?” asked Cassie.
“It’s possible,” Greyeagle replied. “I don’t think so, but if that’s the case, then we need to watch David, if he survives.”
“But you don’t think that’s it, do you?” asked Sarah.
“My gut says no,” Greyeagle answered, “but I could be wrong.”