Chapter 6 #2
Again, he nodded.
With a quick smile at him, she turned to walk away. Having rounded the building, however, she peeked at the man from around the corner.
She could see him draw in a deep breath, and then move away from the post, which she supposed had been holding him up and keeping him standing straight. He looked as bewildered about the entire exchange as she felt.
Heaven help her, he was certainly an interesting character. Clumsy, yet handsome…and, if she were to be honest, something about him seemed achingly familiar. If she thought for a moment, maybe she could remember…
Frowning, Effie turned away.
“Are we going to abandon the project, then?”
The question came from dark-haired Carl Bell. With mugs and teacups in hand, the group was seated around a rudely cut, wood-hewn table, which sat in a far corner of a smoke-filled, dimly lit tavern. It was the only establishment in town that served food.
“No, we’re not going to abandon it.” Effie glanced at the young man. “Why would we?”
“Because of the trouble last night, as well as the matter of our guide quitting the project this morning. We can’t very well travel into Blackfeet country without a guide. Plus—”
“All excavations have their problems,” interrupted Effie. “It’s part of our duty to overcome them. We all knew there might be danger connected with this project, by its very nature.”
“Yes, but somebody accosted you in your room, Effie. They shot at you. That’s never been done before,” responded Lesley.
Effie frowned in Lesley’s direction. “This isn’t the first time we’ve been threatened. Do you remember that dig in Mexico that our parents were part of? Do you recall the danger of bandits?”
“Yes,” said Lesley, “but somehow it seemed more adventurous at the time, not dangerous.”
Effie nodded and smiled slightly. “You’re right, it did seem more adventurous. In fact, if any of you wish to quit the project, please feel free to do so. You are by no means bound to continue.”
Carl shifted uneasily in his chair, as did Henry, while both women stared anywhere but at her.
To press the point, Effie said, “If you’re going to quit, I would prefer it if you did so soon. At least then I will have a better idea of what I must do to get this project going.”
Effie waited. A moment passed, then two, the seconds clicking by slowly.
When no one rose to leave or interrupt the silence, Effie continued. “Then we’re all agreed to go on?”
Each one nodded.
“Good,” said Effie. “Then I should tell you that I have this day hired another guide. And this one, I think, will do well for us. In fact, I believe he’ll even be better than the last, for he is Indian.”
“Indian? Really?” gasped Henry Smith.
“Yes. His name is Red Hawk, he is Blackfeet, he knows the country that we must journey to, and he is willing to guide us and provide some protection, as well. I will be meeting with him later to finalize the details.”
“Miss Rutledge, I don’t know about this,” uttered Madeline, who was a pretty, slender, ginger-haired woman. “Are you certain you can trust such a one? After all, aren’t our people and his at war?”
“Come now, Maddy,” censured Carl. “We’re here to discover the truth about an Indian tribe. Surely it’s our good luck to have an Indian accompanying us. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can think of many things I would like to ask him, if given the chance.”
“But I’ve heard that Indians are not trustworthy.”
“I think that might be pure gossip, Madeline,” Effie replied. “I have spoken with the gentleman, and I can assure you he is trustworthy. In fact, I think much more so than the gentleman I had first hired.”
Madeline seemed reluctant, and she stared at the others, as if seeking an appeal. When no one spoke up for her, she uttered, “Am I the only one who objects?” Silence met this question, and Madeline went on to say, “There will be trouble because of this. I’m certain of it. I can feel it.”
“We already have trouble,” said Effie. “Perhaps that is what you feel. Personally, it is my hope that this man will help end any difficulties we’ve encountered.
Later you shall all meet him, and then you can each share your opinions.
In the meantime, let us review again our plans for the rest of the afternoon.
If we work quickly, I believe we shall be ready to leave as originally scheduled.
Madeline and Mr. Bell, have you arranged for a wagon yet? ”
“We are negotiating.”
“Good, good,” said Effie. “And, Lesley and Mr. Smith, have you arranged for rations?”
“We, too, are negotiating.”
“Very well, then. It seems to me as if we already have our day planned. Shall we continue?”
Various nods and agreeable noises met Effie’s question. Their waitress arrived, bringing with her the delicious aroma of roast beef and cabbage. As they applied themselves to the meal, it occurred to Effie that for the first time this day, things seemed to be going well.
As was his way, Red Hawk welcomed in the new day with song.
Naked, and with burning sage on a rock at his feet, he smudged himself with the sacred herbs, turning slowly in its smoke.
After a moment, he knelt by the rock, and using a feather as well as his hands, passed the herbal smoke over his face, his neck, his entire body.
It was a necessary procedure, for sage cleansed.
Looking upward and raising his arms toward the heavens, he lifted his voice in song:
“Haiya, haiya. Thank you, A’pistotooki, for this new day.
Haiya, haiya, I have discovered the water being, and have found her beautiful.
It is good. And though she has changed greatly, I am happy to see her again.
Haiya, haiya, I will help her by doing all that I can to find the thing she seeks.
Haiya, haiya. Her problems, her troubles will be as mine.
Haiya, haiya, but, Creator, I do not know what she seeks, or why she seeks this thing, that for which I also quest.
And I do not understand the poem you have given me.
Haiya, haiya, Creator, I would see the sea dog, my protector, again.
Haiya, haiya, for I have questions I would ask of my spirit protector.
I would understand this sign that you have shown me better.
Haiya, haiya, have pity on me. My needs are simple.
Haiya, haiya, haiya, my prayer is done.”
Lowering his arms, Red Hawk stepped out of the sacred smoke and knelt beside the stone, taking care to smother the fire and ensure it was out.
Carefully, he returned his feather to a pouch, before arising to pace the few necessary steps to the water.
Inhaling deeply, he dove into the middle of the lagoon.
The water was cold and invigorating as it slid over his body.
He lingered there, beneath the water. Here, he felt closer to something…
He wasn’t certain what that something was.
Only that something here soothed his troubled spirits.
In due time he surfaced, and, shaking his head, he felt the droplets of water run down his back, watched as they splattered everywhere.
For a moment, he worried that the ever-expanding circles in the water might warn an enemy of his position here. But, though Red Hawk was, indeed, within enemy territory—Crow country—he feared little.
He had scouted the area thoroughly before engaging in his daily prayers, and he had found nothing.
He supposed this was due to the fact that the Crow were friendly toward the whites.
Further, he conjectured that in order to discourage any incident between the two peoples, the Crows, as a rule, stayed away from the white man’s town.
In truth, this was a part of the country that held little reputation for shootings or killings.
With these thoughts effectively stifling any fear he might have held, Red Hawk returned his attention to the matter at hand, and plunging farther underwater, he awaited contact from his spiritual helper, hoping that the Creator had heard his plea. He waited…and he waited.
But of one thing, there was no doubt. Though he had bathed himself again and again, when there was no need, he did not meet the sea dog this day.