Chapter 22 #2
The Thunderer was pacing toward Black Lion, and Black Lion spoke to him. “Why do you hate us so much? Have we not paid enough for our past misdeed?”
“Never!” cried the Thunderer. “Those who have gone before you have been clever of late, I admit. They are free and have freed the bands of their clans, while my children, who committed no wrong in any of this, are dead. Yours is the last of the Clan still entrapped. Know this. It is my intention to keep you entrapped forever.”
“Ah, and now we know. But, as the wise ones have said, all things must come to an end, even curses and your hatred. Look at you! How can you live with such animosity? How can you bear it? No, your children would not have wished this for you, I think.”
“Would they not?” challenged the Thunderer. “Though I have their images in stone, their spirits haunt me. Were they here, they would demand I seek retribution for their deaths. I know it! Haiya, I will not rest until I see a fitting punishment for this evil your people have done to me.”
“Is not an eternal life in the mist punishment enough?” countered Black Lion.
“Nay! Never! Had I the strength, I would put a hex on you that would be a hundred times more powerful.”
“If this is how you see it, then come and kill me now,” Black Lion summoned. “You can end this thing. Come, let us do battle, for I would show you kindness, and if we are lucky, the victor may yet free his own people.”
“Haiya! You know I cannot battle with you and give you the chance to show me kindness. But…” The Thunderer paused, then he laughed again, sending shivers up and down Suzette’s spine. “But I can kill those close to you. There is one here who hides in the bushes.”
“Hiya! You will never get to her, for I protect her. You would have to kill me first.”
“Aa, yes, I can see this is so. And there is little I can do about it, for I cannot disobey the Creator and kill you…yet. But there are others who are dear to you. Ah”—the Thunderer pointed southward—“I see your friends now. There is a show there.”
“My friends have done nothing to you,” cried Black Lion. “They are not part of this.”
“Are they not? Did they not make the mistake of seeking to be friends with you?”
“Hiya! Do battle with me now. I am prepared to fend off your advances. Or do you lack the courage and must place your anger upon innocents?”
The Thunderer’s reaction to this challenge was another misplaced laugh. “Three days,” roared the Thunderer. “This will be all the time you have to save them. Three days.”
“Hiya!”
But further protest was useless. Stepping into the spin of a whirling cloud, the Thunderer retreated, then disappeared, back into the darkened night above them. The clouds began to move, and, indeed, they traveled south.
“Hiya! Hiya! Hiya!” Black Lion shouted to the heavens, and then, “Damn!” he shouted in English. “Come back!”
But there was no answer.
“Hiya!” he cried again, then as though he spoke to another, he said, “If he can, he will kill my friends. We must go back to the show, and in a hurry if we are to be there in three days. You and the Song Bird must return as well. How far away from us are you?”
Who was Black Lion talking to?
And then she saw White Claw, the medicine man. He stood there, next to Black Lion. But where had he come from? Or had he been there all along? Did this mean Irena was here too?
“Irena?” Suzette stood up from her hiding spot and took a few awkward steps forward. “Irena? Is Irena here, as well?” She paced toward Black Lion.
“Your grandmother is not with us here,” said Black Lion.
Suzette glanced around the clearing, but no one else was to be seen. “I thought I saw White Claw.”
“So you did,” said Black Lion. “But in spirit form only. White Claw’s physical body is not here.”
“In spirit only?” She frowned.
“Did you hear?” Black Lion asked.
“I did.”
“Then you understand we must leave to go south. I must get to my friends quickly.”
“Yes, but—”
“I think if we do not rest, if we travel as quickly as we can, we can get there in time to warn them. Tell me, if I give you the money I have made from the show, do you think you might be able to buy a horse in the next town we come to?”
She nodded. “I probably could, but—”
“Then come, we have no time to lose.” He made a move to leave.
“But Irena…”
“White Claw also knows the danger and is changing his course to come south.”
Again, Black Lion made a move to leave, but she pulled him back. “What exactly is the danger?”
“I am the last champion for my people, and the Thunderer knows it,” he said with little hesitation. “There are no longer any boys left in my band of the tribe who could follow me. Therefore, because I am the last, if I miss this chance to lift the curse, my people are doomed forever.”
“But I don’t understand.” She frowned at him. “In going south to your friends, aren’t you putting your life in danger? What good is it going to do your people if you die?”
“None. However, I have no choice.”
“But if you are truly concerned about your people…”
“Then you choose for me. Who do you think should die? My friends here, or my people who are still enslaved?”
“No one should die, particularly you. But if I were to choose, I think I would…” She shook her head. “Oh, go. I can see that you must. But when you get there, show the Thunderer kindness instead of animosity.”
“I will if I am able. Come,” he said as he turned away, “let us go and purchase a horse, for only in this way can we arrive at the show quickly enough.”
“Yes, all right.” She nodded. “How far away is the next town?”
“It is close. Half a day’s walk perhaps.”
She slanted him a frown. “We will walk during the day? Then you no longer worry about being found by a posse?”
“It is a worry, yes, but it cannot be helped.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” Her expression stilled. “I assume we leave at once.”
“We do. Come and gather your things.”
“What things?” she asked, as she swung her purse over her shoulder.
Without any further delay, they set out for the next town.