CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR ACES AND EIGHTS #2
Then, above the din of battle and the shouted commands, something changed.
At first, it was just a drum that grew steadily stronger.
Then, a single voice cut through the cacophony.
Rose’s voice. She was singing in Lakota.
As her song cut through the chaos, everyone stopped.
Even the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso. Everyone turned and faced the source of the song.
Perched atop one of the maintenance buildings were Jay and Rose.
Jay played the drum, and Rose danced as she sang.
“What is that?” asked Gideon.
“That’s a song called Follows The Hidden Water,” Declan explained. “It’s the Lakota song o’ Reconciliation with the Earth.”
“Why did that stop them?” asked Gideon.
“Fuck if I know, grandfather,” Declan said. “Just be glad it did.”
All around the facility, the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso stood immobile, transfixed by the song.
Greyeagle listened, and an idea began forming in his head.
He looked around at the group and motioned for them to shift back to human.
One by one, they all did as he instructed.
Word was passed, and soon all of the Hotamétaneo’o and Makhótaneo’o were back in human form.
They quickly gathered around Greyeagle as Doc began throwing them clothes. They dressed rapidly and looked to Greyeagle.
“What did you come up with, brother?” asked Kade. “I hope it’s good.”
“Just look and listen,” Greyeagle said, gesturing.
“Alright, slap my ass and call me an idiot,” Kade said, “but what am I missing?”
“Jason only slowed them down before they could attack,” Greyeagle said. “This stopped them in their tracks, even with them actively pushing through us.”
“And…,” Kade said, gesturing for him to continue.
“We can’t fight them,” Greyeagle said. “We can’t overpower them. We can’t even push them back. But this song. It stopped them dead in their tracks.”
“I love what you’re doing here,” Kade said, “but could you maybe explain it to me like I’m stupid. I ain’t following you.”
“What have we learned so far?” asked Greyeagle.
“They don’t want to fight us, but they will,” Sarah said.
“Good,” Greyeagle said, nodding at her. “What else?”
“They could’ve wiped us out without missing a beat,” Mika added, rubbing the back of his head where he’d hit the truck.
“Right,” Greyeagle added, smiling. “And…”
“Hey, I think I actually got this one,” Kade said. “They ain’t here to fight at all. They’re only here because everything is out of balance and they’re trying to restore it.”
“Exactly,” Greyeagle said. “I knew you’d get there.”
“Well, next time, Reader’s Digest that bitch for me,” Kade said. “You know, condense that down a bit. Alright?”
“We have to convince them that the balance has been restored,” Sarah said. “So, how do we do that?”
“I’m still working on that part,” Greyeagle replied. “We need to show them that we’re one people again and we want to heal the land. Even this land.”
“Tough to do with an ugly-assed oil derrick sticking up out of the ground,” Kade said.
“He’s not wrong,” Sarah added.
“That’s just a superficial structure,” Greyeagle said. “Balance will only come when the dispute is settled, and Red Basin isn’t a threat anymore.”
“So, we go fuck up Red Basin and let them shred the oil rig?” asked Kade. “I mean, I’m down, but I don’t see how that helps.”
Greyeagle shook his head and frowned at Kade.
“So close,” Greyeagle said. “I thought I had you there, but you’re off in left field again.”
“Well, I don’t see Red Basin showing up and saying I’m sorry, and here’s your money we stole,” Kade replied. “Do you?”
“Even if we convinced the Ma’êstse-hóhkeso that the balance is restored,” Sarah said, “they’ll just come back when Red Basin starts drilling again.”
“Maybe not,” Declan said, his breath puffing as he came to a stop. “I got word a few hours ago from Emily Stansfield with the EPA.”
“Please tell me you’ve got good news,” Sarah said.
“Well, it might just be the miracle yer a lookin’ for,” Declan said.
“After the threat o’ a full congressional investigation int’ their company, Red Basin is backin’ off.
They ceded a hundred thousand acres back t’ the Rez and ‘ll lease the wells from ‘em. It ain’t exactly what ye wanted, but it’s likely the best deal any o’ us are gonna get. ”
“And what did the Tribal Council say?” asked Greyeagle.
“As far as I know,” Declan said, “they’ve agreed t’ the deal. Emily brokered it herself.”
“Then the balance is restored,” Sarah said. “Or at least, tilted slightly less against us. This will help the Rez tremendously.”
“Now, we just hae t’ tell them beasties they can go,” Declan said. “Howe’er that’s s’posed t’ happen.”
“Therein lies the rub,” Greyeagle said, frowning. “We might not be able to convince them we’re all on the same page here. How do we communicate to them that Red Basin isn’t the threat anymore?”
“Counting coup,” Kade said.
“What?” asked Greyeagle, looking at Kade like he’d lost his mind.
“We count coup,” Kade said. “Show them we can touch them, but we choose not to fight them. The Lakota way.”
“Will that work?” asked Sarah.
“I don’t see why it would,” Greyeagle answered. “What does that prove?”
“Not just us, dumbass,” Kade replied, shaking his head. “We get some of the others to do it too. Declan’s people, maybe some of those Team Odie folks, too.”
“Odin,” corrected Greyeagle.
“No, I prefer Odie,” Kade said. “It suggests the existence of Team Garfield.”
“You’re an idiot,” Greyeagle said, shaking his head.
“Takes one to know one,” Kade retorted.
“What are you two?” asked Sarah. “Five?”
“Other than the Odie bit,” said Mika, “he might be onto something. I mean, counting coup was a big thing for our ancestors. And by doing it with the Not Lakota, we might just send them a message. I mean, it’s worth a try. Nothing else seems to be working. Besides, I’m Team Heathcliff all the way.”
“Hey, said Robert Alok. “What about Team Go-Go Gophers?”
“Hell yeah!” agreed Richard Akaash.
Greyeagle frowned as he thought about the counting coup idea, ignoring the other comments.