Death on the Trek (13 page)

Mootak collapsed and Sannum guided him into a sitting position. He fell over into the lap of Ongu Small One.

Enga knew the Healer had been looking after Mootak and she wondered why he was not yet over his terror. She wanted to talk to him after the meeting and ask him some questions.

Hama stood and thought-spoke to all.
A Spirit does not kill one person from behind with a rock and then put him into the water. That would have to be a most great Spirit, an evil one, one of Rocks and one of Water and of Death, all together. There is no Spirit like this.

Hapa stood up, looming over them.
Mootak Big Heart, I know you saw a Spirit lift a large rock and kill our Elder with it. There are some who believe a Spirit cannot do such a thing.
He did not look at Hama as he spoke.
I hope the Spirits are not listening to us now. Spirits are mighty. A Spirit can cause the side of a mountain to slide and that can bury someone, or cause a big wind to blow and destroy dwellings. Why could a Spirit not lift one rock and kill one Elder?

Enga was surprised that Hapa had changed his mind. Maybe Cabat the Thick had influenced him. If only all three of them could agree, it did not matter to Enga what they agreed on. The tribe must come to a consensus and move on. That was the most important thing.

Hapa looked around at the tribe to see if they agreed with him. Some tilted their heads in thought, considering, others nodded, some frowned. Enga held herself still, pondering the words of Hama, of Hapa, and of Mootak. Some questions occurred to her. They were more questions for Mootak that she would try to ask of him later, in private.

Cabat stood up with a grunt.
Does any Hamapa know every Spirit? We know many of them, but have they all been revealed to us? No other person was there, only Panan One Eye and Mootak Big Heart. If this great, evil Spirit did not kill our brother, then it must be that Mootak Big Heart did that. But did he? Can anyone say he did that? Look at him!
Cabat thrust his pudgy finger at Mootak, now curled up in the lap of his birth-mother, shivering as hard as ever.
Can anyone say that this young man killed our Elder? That is the choice, if the Spirit did not. Would he be this frightened if he had not seen a great evil Spirit, a Spirit not only of Rocks and Water, but of Death? A great White Spirit, a Spirit of Mist.

Enga saw Mootak quit shivering and pay attention to what Cabat said. Many, many heads nodded. In the end, Cabat the Thick, an Elder who no longer had a position of power, a heavy-set Hamapa who loved to eat more than anything else, convinced most of them that such a Great White Spirit existed. A Spirit so evil none had ever seen Her before.

There were a few who did not think the reasoning of Cabat was true. There was no flow of agreement.

Enga was one who did not agree. Her birth-sister, Ung Strong Arm was another. Their eyes met and, with slightly lifted eyebrows, they sent their doubts to each other. However, no one dissented to everyone and it was agreed that a person did not kill Panan One Eye. Hapa did not agree, but he did not give any more of this thoughts.

We will ponder these things during dark time,
Hama thought-spoke.
At first sun we will come to an agreement.

Enga did not approach Mootak after that. Her mind was too troubled. There was no agreement now. Would there be later?

At first sun, Hama searched every mind. She kept to herself what she was finding out. Enga tried to search some herself, but most Hamapa held their minds closed to her, to anyone but Hama.

When Hama had gathered the opinions of everyone, she stood and raised her arms upward to give a Pronouncement. Her face was tense and her body stiff.

“Hoody!” she began, as always. “Yaya, Hama vav.”

Listen! Yes, the Most High Female speaks.

“Hamamapapa no yaya. Mana too. Hamamapapa poos, vava yaya.”

The Hamapa do not agree. We stay here. The Hamapa will leave when all agree.

All throughout the day, the mood of the tribe was low. Small groups gathered together and some tried to change the minds of others.

Cabat and Sannum both spoke with Enga. It was difficult for her to differ with them, but she could not agree with either view. She did not think a strange, unknown Spirit killed Panan, but she did not know whether Mootak did it or not.

At high sun Enga felt her pains returning. She walked out from the dismal tribe. Her pains seemed better when she moved, even though it was hot, walking. At least her mind felt better, being away from the secretive, soft thought-speak murmurs, making the air shimmer with their discordant vibrations. She walked with her head down, lost in her own gloomy thoughts.

A sudden movement straight ahead made her look up. A strange deer bounded across her path and disappeared over a slight rise. The animal had four horns on its head, two horns pointing forward and two pointing up.

Excited, she turned back toward the tribe to transmit a picture to Ung Strong Arm of the strange deer with many horns.
Maybe you and Fee Long Thrower and some others can go after this creature. There may be more of them nearby. Those animals usually run in herds.

Ung transmitted the thought that she would call others, grab her spear, and run to the place where Enga was.

Enga spied someone trotting toward her. But that person was not Ung. It was Hapa.

I have been looking for you
, he thought-spoke directly to her.
You know that the tribe must move on. We must reach agreement. There are many who think that there was an evil Spirit. I do not think so. Neither do you. We are the only ones.

Why was he saying all this to her? She knew there was one other, Ung, and maybe Tog, but Hapa did not know this.

I have a proposal, for the good of the tribe.

The good of the tribe was always the most important consideration. She listened intently to Hapa as she caught sight of Ung and Fee running toward her carrying their spears.

We must all agree,
he continued
. If we agree that there was such an evil Spirit, we can move on.

And the person who killed Panan One Eye?
Enga asked.
This might be Mootak Big Heart, but it might not be him.

Enga had had the unwanted thought that Hapa could have killed Panan. He said he found Panan dead, but he could have killed him, if what Mootak saw was not true.

Hapa answered.
I do not know. As we travel, we can find out who it was. Will you help me? You are the one who helped find the killer in our midst once before. Can you do it again?

She was confused by Hapa taking one view, then another. These were confusing times, but was Hapa speaking his true thought? Whether he was or not, the plan of Hapa was the best thing she could think of. She agreed to do that. She would seek out the thoughts of all her brothers and sisters and see if she could find the hidden, dark, wicked corner that sat in the mind of the killer.

I, Hapa, will give you any help you need.

Enga nodded. Ung and Fee had reached them.

Where is this strange beast you saw?
Ung asked.

Enga pointed over the rise and the two hunters trotted off to try to find it. It had been large and fast, so Enga was not sure they would get near enough to throw their spears.

Chapter 20

“There is no better herb [than mother-wort] to drive melancholy vapors from the heart; to strengthen it, and make a merry, cheerful, blithe soul, than this herb is.

“Mugwort soaked in water, is very useful to strengthen trembling hands…”

—
Indian Doctor: Nature’s method of curing and preventing disease according to the Indians
compiled and published by Nancy Locke Doane, pp. 36 and 49

“Mugwort is a plant that grows in Asia, North America, and Northern Europe. The plant parts that grow above the ground and the root are used to make medicine… It is also used as a liver tonic; to promote circulation; and as a sedative.”

—from http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-123-mugwort.aspx?activeingredientid=123&activeingredientname=mugwort

Ung Strong Arm and Fee Long Thrower returned to the others long after Enga Dancing Flower and Hapa got back. They had found a herd of the beasts, but had only managed to catch up with a small one. The animals ran fast and were gone before they could lift a spear.

No one wanted to start a fire here for this one small kill, so the bit of meat that was shared was eaten raw.

To Enga, it tasted wonderful, even uncooked. It wasn’t the dried Hooden jerky. Anything tasted better than that. She had a thought, that they had had enough raw meat recently that she might get used to it. Then she changed her mind. She would always prefer cooked meat.

Before the two hunters got back, Enga and Hapa had announced their agreement that an evil Spirit was the killer. After that, all agreed and it was decided they would leave at first sun. Enga was glad others had not changed their minds. At last, they would be able to get on the way to the new land.

Zhoo of Still Waters had given to Mootak Big Heart more of the healing and slowing herb she carried in her medicine satchel. He sat calm and still, no longer trembling. Enga knew his parents were relieved about that.

Hama decided to have a council meeting as darkness fell. They gathered in a circle around the remains of the small antelope. It was mostly a pile of bones now, but it had given them pleasure. Lakala Rippling Water started with a Song of Thanks to the animal. Enga was surprised when the Gata male, Fall Cape Maker, picked up the flute of Panan and began to play along with her melody. Sannum beat two sticks together for rhythm and Enga could almost imagine that she was back in the village. Some day, all of this would happen in a new village. Sannum would have a large hollow log to beat and maybe Fall would be the new flute player. The notes he blew from the flute sounded tuneful and sweet.

Mootak swayed with the music. He should be playing the flute, taking over for Panan, but Enga did not think his lessons on the instrument were complete. Would he give the Saga tonight? When Hama beckoned him, he rose, slowly. He was going to give the Saga. Enga was glad of that.

He began by announcing that he would tell the Saga of the High Places. This, they all knew, told of impossibly high passages their ancestors crossed many, many summers ago. More summers than could be counted.

Mootak started strongly.

The brothers and sisters saw the High Places in their path. They could not get around them. They must go across, over the tops of the high peaks. It was with great trial that they…that they climbed and climbed and climbed. It took many…many…many moons…

Mootak shook his head.

The Saga is ended.

He sat, with shame on his face.

Zhoo of Still Waters, who had given him the healing and slowing herb, soothed Mootak.
Do not be ashamed, Mootak Big Heart. The medicine I gave you will not let you continue. You did your best.

Still, Mootak was disheartened that he was not able to complete the Saga. He radiated his feeling of disgrace.

If Hama knew he had been given the herbs, Enga wondered why she called on him for a Saga. It would have been more wise to omit it for this council. Everyone was suffering on this trek.

At first sun, when Hama awoke and told everyone to get ready to leave, it was evident that Mootak could not yet travel. This time it was because the calming medicine had had a great effect on him. Zhoo looked worried. She touched the back of her hand on his forehead, then laid her cheek against it. She stared into his eyes for a long moment.

No, he cannot travel today
, she thought-spoke
. Maybe at the next sun.

Enga was disappointed. She and Hapa had announced their false conclusion just so the tribe could proceed. She would use this one more motionless day to seek out the thoughts of her tribe. Maybe the person who hit Panan with a rock would let a stray thought slip out when idle and off guard. That was a terrible, heavy deed to hold inside and not to share. It must be weighing someone down.

She noticed Ung and Fee conferring together. Soon, they left for the rolling hills where the antelopes had been. They were gone most of the day.

Enga went from one chattering cluster to another. They were all conversing about different things. Some wondered what they would find ahead. Several speculated on what the distant gray shapes were.

Maybe Mootak Big Heart is wise beyond his years
, Ongu Small One, his birth-mother, thought-spoke.
Do you think those are the High Places of the Saga?

They are small. They are not high
, Jeek answered.

But they might be very, very far away
, his birth-brother, Teek countered.

That same subject was much discussed by others also.

Vala Golden Hair and Bodd Blow Striker played with Sooka. Bodd was gentle with the child. He would hide his face behind his hands, then take them away with a sudden sound, which startled Sooka and made her laugh. That was a game all Hamapa babies liked. Enga stopped to play with the baby also. Sooka was delightful when she was happy. She rolled a pine cone to the child, landing it between her chubby outstretched legs. Sooka then picked it up and tried to roll it back. They both laughed at the game. Enga left her with a smile on her face. But she had not picked up any dark thoughts from Vala or Bodd.

Her mate, Tog, stood conversing with the other Gata, Fall Cape Maker. Tog was interested in how Fall made his special capes, by lacing them with thongs in an intricate way, crossing the leather strips over each other to be more secure. The only things on their minds were capes and laces. She would never think Tog had killed Panan, but Fall was new to the tribe and no one knew him well yet.

She wandered to others, stayed awhile at some, passed by others, always tuned in to their thoughts as acutely as she could be. Nowhere, in any of the minds, could she find a dark, hidden spot that would tell her who was the killer.

Discouraged, she squatted by herself, with her own thoughts. They went in the direction of the seed of Tog that she carried. She started to smile at these thoughts.