Grail Quest (17 page)

When Moyock returned I asked him if he’d learned anything interesting at the Sioux camp. “No boys my age. Youngest warrior not want to talk to me. Not friendly people. I walk around and listen. I think they leave soon. Talk like they go down river for more trade.”

“That gives me an idea. Maybe they could use the ponies to trade more inland. Ask Wadena if there are other villages off the river to the east.”

“Yes, I think people live back from river where it floods.”

“Are they also your tribe?”

“No. I think mostly Osage people.”

“Are they friends of the Missouri?”

“Most time friends. Sometimes foe. Now friends.”

After we left Wadena, Moyock and I gathered our ponies, loaded one, and led them to the Sioux camp. We found Pukwana at the shore examining one of their canoes. I offered to have a smoke and gave him a handful of our tobacco. We shared a general conversation with Moyock interpreting. Pukwana eyed the ponies but didn’t mention them. I thought his attitude was very reserved. Certainly not open. Finally, I asked, “Do you trade with people back off of the river?”

“Only where canoe can go.”

“Pukwana, If you had pony to carry goods you could trade more.”

“Yes. I think so. Not see ponies before. Where I get ponies?”

“Only evil White Men, Spanish, many moons south have ponies. Spanish very powerful. Have thundersticks.” I didn’t mention that my symbol was also a thunderstick. “Spanish very bad to Natural people. Kill many. We have only ponies near here.”

“So? How you get ponies?”

I told Pukwana about our conflict with the Tenesans and how we got our ponies.

“Ponies good for traveling over land.”

Pukwana called to two of his men and together they ambled over to our mounts. Moyock leaped onto the lead steed and showed the Sioux how the ponies could be ridden, as well as carry goods.
 
That prompted the youngest of the Sioux to mount a pony the way Moyock had, and promptly fell off the other side.

Pukwana said, “Why you show me ponies if you have only ones?”

“We think now we must travel by water. Maybe trade ponies for canoe.”

“We have only two canoes. You think maybe trade for two canoes? We can not. Need canoes to travel far, carry much. Maybe too far for ponies.”

“Would you consider parting with one canoe?”

Pukwana looked at me, and then at his two followers. “Hmmmm. I not think so. We will talk about it with other men. See what everyone thinks. Tell you after.”

As the Sioux walked back to their tepee, Moyock and I returned our ponies to the other side of the Missouri camp. “What do you think, Moyock?”

“These Sioux, not friendly like Missouri. They have many weapons. Maybe used to fighting. Act strong. Maybe they like to have canoes and ponies.”

“That’s a thought. Get some grub for yourself. Keeping the Missouri camp between you and the Sioux, take the ponies away for a couple of miles. Keep them out of sight.”

Back at our wikkiup Leahna returned with some ladies who wanted to see the white Squire up close. “They want to know if you
 
white all over, or only
 
face and hands.”

I peeled off my deerskin shirt and turned around for their inspection. Leahna said, “they can see you white there. They want to know if all white.”

I pulled up my buckskin pants as far as I could. The ladies murmured. “They not see all yet. They want to know if everything is white.”

“Can’t you tell them that I’m white all over?”

The ladies murmured and laughed.
 
“They not believe me until you show them bone-thing.”

My turn to laugh. “You tell them if they just see it they’ll have monster white babies!”

More laughter. “They say it takes more than look to make babies.”

Just to get them to leave I dropped my trousers. To my embarrassment, my stallion didn’t rise to the occasion. Well you can’t win them all. I pulled my pants back up. Still laughing and giggling the ladies left. I didn’t ask Leahna what they were saying.

“Now you know I’m white all over too.”

“I already know.” She was still chuckling. “Where did bone-thing go?”

“It only comes up next to you.”

“Oh. That good. It not come up for other girls?”

“Have you ever seen it come up for other girls?”

“Not today. Maybe if I not here it come up for any girl.”

I threw my arms around her. “No. It doesn’t come up for any other girls. Only for my girl, Leahna.”

She kissed me. “If I your girl, your woman, that mean you are my man?”

“Yes, when you are my mate, I’ll be your man-mate.”

 
“That nice.”

“So what else have you done today? Besides talk about men’s color, and arrange for Squire to be ladies day show?”

“Very nice squaw make me new dress, old one cut up sides. I want give her colorful cloth.”

“If she does a good job, that’s fine. Save old dress. If I can’t get a canoe…and you have to ride again.”

“I not want ride again. Same squaw say if I ride again, she can make better skirt for riding. She make some like man’s pants.”

“Well let’s hope we can ride the river from here.”

A short time later, Chief Wadena came to our lodge. “I must speak to you, Chief Squire.”

“Fine, let us have a smoke.”

After settling down, he said, “We are your friends, the Missouri.”

“Yes, and we are happy to be good friends of the Missouri.”

“I must tell you. Not all here are your friends. Beware the Sioux.”

“I suspected as much.”

“They say bad things about White Men. A Sioux witch warns against you.”

“How can that be? We have never seen the Sioux before?”

“Who knows with a witch. Pukwana wants to attack you. I say, no, no. You can not attack my guests. You are guests too. There must be no quarrel among guests.”

“Chief Wadena, I thank you for your leadership, and most valuable friendship. I thought the
 
Sioux were not friends. We have hidden our ponies.”

He got up to leave. “That is good. I think their intentions are evil. Beware.”

Next morning, paddling downstream, the Sioux Traders left early without any answer to me about trading horses for canoe. I wasn’t sure how many men were in their camp, but there seemed suspiciously few in those two canoes. I hurried back to where our ponies had been picketed. In the distance I could see two of the Sioux walking away on a course that would bring them back to the river. I bet they planned to be riding instead of walking. Moyock’s hunch about the Sioux paid off. In case some of the Sioux decided to back track, he kept the ponies away the whole day.

The next day, four Missouri hunters returned to camp with part of the carcass and hide of a large shaggy beast they called buffalo. We saw these creatures before. I didn’t know what they were. Wadena said, “Very hard to kill. Take four or five hunters. Must slip up very quiet, close to animal, hunters shoot many arrows to kill. Very tough hide”

With much of the village watching, the successful hunters offered a prayer of thanks to the spirit of the animal for allowing them to kill it. Then the meat was apportioned out. We being honored guest were given the tongue, the most delicate part of the animal. I thanked the hunters and gave each of them enough tobacco for a couple of smokes. Later over our tongue repast, which we shared with Wadena’s family, Leahna said, “Squaws tell me hunting buffalo is very dangerous for men. Wives always happy when buffalo brought in. Hide make robes, moccasin soles, bags, shields. Bones make scrappers and knives. Can make thread from sinews. Stomach make cook pot.
 
Clean hide much work. Squaws work together. Much meat, very tough. Tongue best part.”

Leahna learned a lot from the Missouri women. I seldom saw her during the day. I was really glad that she was readily accepted. Her size and appearance were not a cause of concern among the Missouri. “What you say to Squaws about Coyote.”

“I not say about Coyote. I think maybe they not want to hear about witch.”

“I would like to ask Wadena about witches.”

“No, no,” said Moyock. “I think maybe talking about witches is taboo. If he want talk about
 
witches. Then you can ask. If not, don’t say about witches.”

“You speak wise for such a young man.”

Leahna said, “I think Moyock have smart head.”

To show the versatility of our ponies, Moyock and I staged a race around the outside of the village. Then when we had everyone watching, I pointed to a log near the shore that had washed up and said, “Buffalo!”

Riding his pony at a gallop Moyock rushed up to the log, and still moving, shot an arrow into the tree trunk. He turned around, came back and shot from the other side. “Buffalo is down!” I shouted.

The Missouri were clearly impressed by Moyock’s demonstration. Chief Wadena was no body’s fool. “That very good show. Moyock good shot from pony. As good with live buffalo?”

“Before we come to Missouri we have seen a few buffalo. I don’t know what they are like. Don’t know they are good for many things. We don’t kill. Because they are so big, maybe bad, we stay away from them.”

“So, can Moyock kill buffalo from pony?”

While we talked, Moyock approached leading his mount. I waited until he got within earshot. “Chief Wadena says you are very good on horseback. He wants to know, can you kill a real buffalo from your mount?”

“Not do before, but can do!”

I said to Wadena, “Perhaps a Missouri hunter will lead Moyock to buffalo. See if rider can kill buffalo.”

We discussed how to handle this hunt. We agreed that Moyock would accompany the four hunters who’d brought in the last beast. The hunters would find the game and put Moyock in position to kill one. So that they had all day to find a herd, and get back the same day, they would leave early in the morning. When we were alone, Moyock said, “We can’t push ponies too much. The one I rode today was at his limit. I won’t take it with. On the hunt tomorrow, I’ll be the only one with a mount, so I’ll lead the other three until I need to ride.”

After Moyock was gone, Leahna, with a smile on her face, puttered around the wikkiup humming to herself. “I never heard you hum before, Honey. Where did you learn to do that?”

“I hear all Missouri squaws humming. Happy, doing chores.”

“So you’re happy too.”

“Yes, I big happy. You happy you love Leahna?”

I slowed her down and rapped her in my arms. “Yes, I’m big happy, big happy love for Leahna.”

She held her face up to be kissed. “You big happy you want Leahna to be mate, to be your woman?”

“Yes, more than anything else in the world, I want Leahna to be my woman.”

Leahna reached down to my crotch. Laughing, “Where your bone-thing then?”

“Keep your hand there, and soon you will find it. Are you teasing me, Honey?”

“Not tease. For real. Want bone-thing.”

“I think you afraid to have baby.”

“No more. Missouri squaws know how to stop baby.” She held up a delicate doeskin bag. “They tell me this potion stop baby. Make me your woman.”

Ever the gentleman to acquiesce to a lady’s wishes, I promptly attended to her wants. Prude that I am, I was glad that Moyock was away. Leahna responded to her new status, and indeed, had been a virgin. Afterward, lying with Leahna in my arms, a sudden, violent thunderstorm blew up. Lightning struck next to our wikkiup. For a few minutes we were deaf and blind.
 
I didn’t say anything to Leahna. I wondered if our mating had provoked a supernatural being. To be on the safe side, I knelt and prayed to God to protect us. I also reminded him that I was on a quest to find his son’s Holy Grail. My amen was followed by a loud thunderclap. I feared I’d overstepped the bounds of supplication to the Almighty.

When the hunt party returned the next afternoon, one horse missing. Moyock was walking. All of the men carried some meat. The two ponies were loaded with more meat, the hide and some of the bones. Moyock told what happened.

“Mid morning we found a small herd…one bull and six or seven cows…a couple of calves. Slowly riding up to a cow I had no trouble. None of the herd paid any attention to us. Then I shot my arrow into her. She let out a bellow like a cannon’s roar.

My pony shied. The cow spun around…nearly gored the pony. Then she ran around one way and another. I got control of my mount. I
 
raced back and shot another arrow into the cow. Not killed, she backed around in a small circle. Then I heard one of the hunters shout a warning. The buffalo bull charged right at us!
 
He got under the horse’s legs. Lucky for me, I was thrown unharmed off to the side. The bull mangled the horse…then ran after his herd. The other hunters finished killing the cow. Maybe hunting from horse back is not a good idea. The ponies as pack horses though, helped save the day.”

“How bad were the injuries to the pony.”