by Paul Clayton
Just the other day there had been a tumultuous wrestling match that brought out most of the village to the square ground to watch. Calling Crow and Samuel had had great difficulty in calming the passions that the fight had inflamed. But now things would quiet down. Tomorrow there would be a feast in honor of Calling Crow and Red Feather, and the Englishmen, and then they would be gone. That was why Green Bird Woman and her daughter, Bright Eyes, were still cooking at this hour.
Bright Eyes’s voice rose as she and her mother argued. Green Bird Woman was not happy that Bright Eyes had given herself to the Englishman, Samuel. Calling Crow was not unhappy with the arrangement. Although Samuel had a wife and child in England, he did seem to care much for Bright Eyes. And Bright Eyes seemed happy with him. That was good to see. They had chosen. Still, Green Bird Woman was not happy about it.
Aieyee! There were bigger things to concern them. Calling Crow’s life and dreams had shown him that the white people would keep coming. If the people were to deal with them out of strength, he must form an alliance with Samuel and the English. Bright Eyes’s love for him, and the child they would have together, would help in that regard. Now the village had one shooting stick and several braves knew how to shoot it. That was good and would help to scare off any small raiding parties who might think the village an easy target. But when Mantua and his Spanish master returned at the second corn harvest, Calling Crow and his men would have to be here with twenty of the shooting sticks. Ho! Calling Crow was sure he was going down the proper path. It was good that they were now leaving.
Bright Eyes bade her mother good night. She would be going to Samuel now. She looked over at Calling Crow and smiled before going out into the night.
Green Bird Woman’s face was somber as she banked down the fire. She came over and sat beside Calling Crow. Saying nothing for a while, they looked into the shriveling flames of the fire.
Finally Green Bird Woman spoke. “You know how much all of this has hurt Red Feather. For so long he has been fond of her. I fear for him.”
“Red Feather is my tastanagi,” said Calling Crow, “I need not worry about my tastanagi.”
Green Bird Woman fell silent. Outside someone walked past the compound, laughing softly. Green Bird Woman put her hand on Calling Crow’s. She looked at him, worry marring her face. “What will their baby look like?”
Calling Crow turned to her. “It will look like him.”
“Aieyee!” said Green Bird Woman, her face constricting in a frown.
“And,” said Calling Crow, “it will look like her.”
Green Bird Woman’s smile returned and she laughed. Tears came to her eyes. “I do not want you to go,” she said. “I fear you will not return to me.”
“Did not Sees Far say that I would?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is so.”
“I must go,” said Calling Crow, “because I alone have had many experiences with the white people. Remember that I was their slave for a long, long time and I know their ways.”
“Say no more,” said Green Bird Woman. “I cannot bear to think of these things anymore.” She caressed his hand for a moment and cried softly.
Calling Crow felt her pain as his own and his heart was heavy. He put his arm around her and they sat close for a long while. Later they lay back on the pallet of skins that was their bed. Soon her cries were of passion, not sorrow, and then they slept.
Chapter 17
The square ground in front of the chokafa filled with people well before full day. Women came and went with pots of soup and wooden bowls of roasted meats, fishes and fowls as the people feasted. Calling Crow and Samuel and his men sat at the head of the assemblage as speakers related the experiences of the hunters in bringing in all the skins. Groups of young men and then young women came and danced before the assemblage to the accompaniment of drums and singing. Samuel and Fenwick entertained the group with a tune they played, Samuel on the fiddle and Fenwick on the lute, while two lads danced a jig. The people ate and laughed, filling their hearts with all the joy the occasion brought, knowing that days of uncertainty and sadness lay ahead. Toward the end of the day, when the sun had settled over the trees to the west, a dozen braves approached Calling Crow, Samuel and the others. The one who was their spokesman, a squat, muscled brave with a wide face and deep-set eyes, spoke with Calling Crow.
Samuel noted how the other braves in the party looked at him and his men as their spokesman and Calling Crow conversed. Although Calling Crow had taught Samuel many words in the Muskogee tongue, just as Samuel had taught Calling Crow many English words, still Samuel could not tell exactly what the young man was saying to Calling Crow. He did understood enough, however, to feel his anger rising. He listened a while longer, then, unable to control himself, he got to his feet.
John, Fenwick and the others looked at Samuel in surprise as he turned to Swordbrought. “I think I know, but pray tell me what they have said to Calling Crow,” demanded Samuel.
Swordbrought told him straight-faced, “They worry about Calling Crow going away with you. They say they don’t trust you. They don’t want him to go. They say you will never bring him back. That is what they said. My father has told them that there is no need for them to worry.”
Samuel’s face was red. “Haven’t I agreed to leave two men here?”
“They say you will abandon them here.”
“Is that really what they think?”
Swordbrought looked at him solemnly. “Yes.”
Samuel turned to Calling Crow as the brave continued to talk quietly. “Calling Crow,” he said, interrupting the man, “tell him to wait. I have something to say to him and the others.”
Calling Crow spoke to his men and they turned and waited for Samuel to speak.
“I have been most happy with the kindness you have shown us these past months,” said Samuel to the men. The others around them quieted as they picked up the emotion in Samuel’s voice. “We are all grateful.” Samuel included his men with a sweep of his hand, “I have seen firsthand how highly you value such things as courage and honor, and I assure you that we English value these things highly too. Because of that I now make this pledge.
“Coosa people. I promise you that I will bring your leader home safe to you. When we have concluded our business and return, you will see that the word of an Englishman is as good as the word of a Coosa!”
Samuel looked at the people, most of whom were silently wondering what he had said. He sat and Swordbrought immediately got to his feet and translated Samuel’s words for them. The people listened in silence, and when Swordbrought sat, a drumming started up.
Samuel said good night to his brother and the other men as they left for the ship. He had decided to spend his last night here in the village with Bright Eyes. A runner came and spoke in a soft voice to Calling Crow, who then called Samuel over. Come with me,” Calling Crow said, getting to his feet, “Sees Far has some things to say to us about our voyage.”
Samuel saw Sees Far in the back of the chokafa. He sat hunched over on a raised platform covered with skins, one of his wives sitting beside him. As Samuel approached with Calling Crow, he wondered what the old wizard wanted with him.
Sees Far smiled when he heard their footsteps. He turned and took something from behind him. It was a small pouch, made of soft doeskin. Its fold over flap had been painted with a pattern of tiny bird feet, as if a bird had been dipped in different colors of paint and made to walk across it.
Sees Far held it out to Calling Crow. “Calling Crow, I have had a dream about your journey. In it I was told to make this medicine for you. It will bring you and Red Feather back to us. Keep it with you always.”
“Yes, Grandfather,” said Calling Crow. He held up the pouch to show Samuel. “When we bring home the shooting sticks, the Timucua threat will be no more.”
Sees Far nodded. “You can look inside,” he said.
Calling Crow opened it. Inside was the corpse of a small black bird, its yellow be
ak poking out from a mass of shiny, iridescent feathers. Calling Crow closed it and put it into the larger pouch tied to his sash.
“Don’t lose it,” said Sees Far, “or you cannot come back to us.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
“Sa-mu-all,” said Sees Far, still having difficulty with the Englishman’s name. “I heard you made a fine speech. I know you will bring Calling Crow back in your floating house.”
“Thank you,” said Samuel.
“You were in my dream also,” said the old man.
Samuel’s features grew sharp with interest. Sees Far’s powers of soothsaying were sworn to by everyone in the village. “What did you see?” he said.
The old man was suddenly somber. “I saw that your circle will close in these lands.”
Samuel turned to Calling Crow in confusion. “My circle closes? What is he saying?”
“He means,” said Calling Crow, “that you will die in these lands.”
Samuel scoffed. “How does he know that?”
Calling Crow’s face was grave. “He knows. Don’t worry. It is a good thing. He said that my circle will also close here.”
Sees Far’s leathery face wrinkled even further as he looked toward the two men. “I don’t know why this is, Calling Crow, but I saw it, and so it must be so.” Sees Far looked in Samuel’s direction. “You will complete your days on this side of the great water.”
Samuel laughed bravely. “Perhaps I should bring my family over and settle here.”
“It is a good place to settle,” said Calling Crow. “I came here alone and these people made me one of them. They will accept you and yours if you bring them.”
Samuel’s face darkened with thoughtfulness. “We shall see; we shall see.”
The waves rose slowly above the dark sea without a sound as they attempted to throw themselves upon the land. Curling forward in their haste, they fell over onto themselves with a loud clap, dissolving into hissing white foam, finally dying with a sigh at the feet of the men who stood on the beach. Calling Crow and Swordbrought stood with Samuel Newman as they watched the dugouts that were already making their way out to the ship. Thirty feet away, the two Irish ship’s boys, Patrick and Kevin, stood close together as they stared dolefully at the little ship. A lone dugout canoe remained pulled up on the sand. Two Indian paddlers sat inside, waiting in silence. Red Feather stood alone next to the canoe. The blood-red globe of the sun pushed above the blue of the sea, warming the men with its rays. None of the men spoke. Neither the cry of a passing gull nor the laughter, then hushed words, of the four children who came up behind them disturbed the men, as each of them thought his thoughts, unmoving, as if time had stopped for them.
Red Feather was the first to move, walking over to Swordbrought and embracing him. “Your father will come back to you and the people. Do not worry.”
Swordbrought smiled a brave smile. “Because you go with him, I do not worry.”
Old Two Clouds, Green Bird Woman and Bright Eyes came down the beach. At the sight of Bright Eyes, Red Feather climbed into the canoe and sat, turning away. Green Bird Woman embraced Calling Crow and stepped back. Bright Eyes embraced Samuel and then the Englishman walked into the surf and climbed into the front of the canoe.
Calling Crow approached Two Clouds. “If the Timucua attack before we can return, fight hard. We will soon join you.”
The old man nodded sadly.
Finally Calling Crow turned round to his son Swordbrought. He looked deep into his eyes for a few moments, saying everything important without words. “Goodbye, my son.”
A quiver of emotion flashed across Swordbrought’s face, but when he spoke his voice was firm. “Goodbye, Father.”
Calling Crow walked to the dugout and climbed inside. He sat facing forward and did not turn round.
The paddler in the rear climbed out and dug his powerful feet into the sand as he pushed the dugout off. As a wave lifted the nose of the canoe, he nimbly climbed back in. Digging their paddles deep, he and the other man propelled the canoe past the breakers and out onto the calm swells.
Calling Crow stared across the blue sea. The morning sun had singed the air bright orange. Ahead, the many canoes that had taken the people out to see them off now seemed to meld into the ship. As Calling Crow’s canoe drew close, the many canoes opened a path for them and they paddled through them, looking into the faces of the people. Calling Crow, Red Feather and Samuel climbed aboard the English ship. Samuel left them to supervise his men in their duties.
Calling Crow and Red Feather stood at the rail and looked back at the land. The long line of returning canoes made a trail on the water from the ship to the beach. Calling Crow spotted the figures of Green Bird Woman, Bright Eyes, Swordbrought and Two Clouds on the beach, watching them. Calling Crow’s heart was heavy at the sight of them, and at having to leave his people, but at the same time his heart was full of wonder. He was going to England because that was where his earth path led. It was simply part of the Great Mystery and it filled him with awe.
The Contempt sailed steadily northward, driven by the trade winds. The days were clear and the sun shone down with favor upon the little ship. At night Samuel steered the ship by the stars and always a lookout stood forward at the bowsprit watching and listening for shoals. Calling Crow and Red Feather spent most of their time by the rail, watching the mysterious coast slip by. One day a large whale surfaced a short distance from the ship. Calling Crow and Red Feather watched in awe as it matched the ship’s speed, seemingly aware of their eyes upon it.
“He has come to give us his blessing on our mission,” said Calling Crow.
Red Feather watched spellbound, saying nothing. A moment later the huge animal expelled its breath in an upward, explosive gasp of white vapor and disappeared beneath the sea. Calling Crow looked upon the sea with a lighter heart now. Much of the sadness he had felt at having to leave his people had been taken down into the sea by the whale.
Samuel spent some of his time with Calling Crow and Red Feather, explaining the workings of his ship, how it was steered and how the sails were turned to catch the wind. Five days after they had started out Calling Crow saw a familiar promontory, and just past that a little river. His heart raced as he realized that it was the site of his boyhood village. He stayed at the rail, watching the familiar coast as a flood of boyhood memories washed over him. Only when it was too dark to see did he turn away.
Eight days into the journey the air grew noticeably colder. The face of the land changed: sharp granite rocks pushing up through the earth, the thick green covering of broad-leafed trees gradually giving way to a scattering of tall pines. Four days later they encountered floating mountains of ice that dwarfed the ship. Calling Crow asked Fenwick where they were going and he said they were taking the northern route home. The winds blew colder and colder. The men donned heavy capes and hats and, as the cold grew bitter, seemed to shrink inside them.
Calling Crow and Red Feather thought with fondness of Green Bird Woman as they wrapped themselves in the heavy buffalo robes she had given them for the journey. She had bartered them from a Shawnee trader the year before.
The ship moved northward, turning white with frost and ice, and one day, Samuel turned it back in toward the land. There lay a great, quiet bay that seemed as big as any ocean. As Samuel gave the helmsman orders to turn the ship and enter, the men speculated anxiously about the dangers of leaving open waters.
John approached Samuel, Breuger and Miles hovering at his side. “Surely you’re not going in there, brother?”
“I am,” said Samuel, “it could lead to the Northwest Passage.”
“We’ve got a hold full of cargo, brother. This is not the time to go exploring.”
“We shan’t stay long, John.”
“But the danger--” said John. “If a storm caught us in there, we might not get out.”
Samuel searched the gray horizon. There seemed no end to the bay. Could this be it, he wondered. The
passage-- A way around the bloody Spaniards to Cathay and Zipangu? “We will sail for two days. If we don’t see any evidence of the passage in that time, we shall leave.”
John’s brow furrowed in anger and he turned and walked off.
Samuel sailed the Contempt inside the bay. Massive snow-covered mountains looked down on the tiny wooden ship. The black rock of the mountains was visible in places where the ice and snow had fallen away. Samuel sailed west across the great bay for the better part of the day. As evening approached, there was still no end in sight. Samuel anchored the ship near the shore and the men lined the rails to look out on the empty white land where nothing grew. The temperature dropped rapidly, and except for Calling Crow and Red Feather, who had no facial hair, the beards of the men became encrusted with white frost from their billowing breaths.
The men watched the frozen land, seeing nothing move, fascinated by its emptiness. Then, just before dark, a great white bear appeared as if out of nowhere. It quickly lumbered away out of sight.
The next day Samuel sailed the Contempt farther west and discovered a great river. He assuaged the growing fear of the crew with his promise to turn the ship about in the morning and start for home. They turned the ship up the river. They hadn’t gone far when snow began to fall, quickly coating the ship. The ropes moved stiffly through the blocks and the sheets became as thick and hard as wood. Their fingers stiff and bleeding, the men cursed the cold and ice as they worked the ship.
Calling Crow turned to Fenwick, who had come over to stand beside him. “Is England up this river?”
Fenwick shook his head as he stared at the misty white land. “No. Samuel thinks perhaps this could lead to the countries of Cathay and Zipangu.”
Calling Crow nodded. “I have heard others speak of these places. They say that the people there have worms that weave their cloth for them.”