Ben nodded and replied, “You don’t ever have to ask that, Thad. I’l not let anyone hurt Miss Alisha, not as long as I have life and breath. I’l take care of the hunting today and you work on that trench. We been having good luck lately. Shouldn’t be no trouble to get some deer and elk today.” Ben was very confident about his hunting and trapping skils; he was one of their best hunters. Thad returned to his cabin to finish the work on the dugout. Ben caled the hunting party together to plan the directions for each smal group of men. They al took his suggestions and prepared to leave.
Even though Gray Eagle received no food or water that day, he was glad to be free to move around and to have overheard this new piece of information. It is good she wil be safe during the raid, but hers wil be the only life spared if she does as I command. He flamed at the thought of having her at his mercy. “E-cana …” he vowed heatedly, “E-cana…”
He became alert as a certain voice touched his ears. He peered out a crack and saw the grass-eyed girl washing clothes and hanging them out to dry beside her cabin. He strained to hear her soft voice singing low as she worked. His eyes strayed to where the man caled Horace was standing, watching her with great desire. Gray Eagle’s eyes narrowed and hardened. He watched the man strol over to where she worked and lean against the cabin wal. The girl tried hard to ignore him as he talked to her. Gray Eagle concentrated his eyes and ears on the scene before him. Eagle concentrated his eyes and ears on the scene before him. As if drawn by some mystical force, Alisha turned and gazed wistfuly at the smokehouse. Horace folowed her line of vision and clenched his teeth in anger. Slowly, she turned back to her work unaware of Horace’s cold fury. He sneered, “You been in to see your Injun this morning?”
She glared at him and retorted, “He isn’t my Indian. No, I haven’t been back to see him.” Without meaning to, she added,
“Nor do I plan to go again. It appears he doesn’t want my help. I can thank the way al of you treated him for it. I doubt if he trusts any white person, male or female, and I can’t blame him.”
Feigning shock, he commented innocently, “Don’t tel me you’ve wised up to him already! Whatsa matter, Alisha? That beautiful face and body had no effect on a savage? He must be blind, or maybe not innerested in ladies. He’s probably the only man who’s seen you who hasn’t wanted to…”
“Horace!” she screamed at him as a red flush lit her face.
“That’s enough! You’re despicable. Why should I care if I have any effect, as you cal it, on him? Not al men are filthy-minded like you. He’s more of a man than you can ever hope to be.” She flashed him a look of cold contempt.
“I have work to do and I assume you do, too. Didn’t I see the other men leaving for a hunt?” She dismissed him with the turn of her back and silence.
Believing her words were only spoken to anger him and because he had embarrassed her, he merely chuckled and walked away to join the other men outside the fortress. One day, he thought, that uncle of yours wil be dead and you’l be looking for someone to take care of you. I’l see to it that I’m the only one to choose from. If you take too long in coming to me, I might have to choose from. If you take too long in coming to me, I might have to arrange that little deed sooner than fate, he threatened mentaly. He glared at the smokehouse as he passed it, and vowed, pretty soon you won’t be around for her to compare me with, you red son-of-a-bitch. I’l show her which of us is the better man…
Gray Eagle watched until Horace was out of sight and returned his gaze to Alisha. Although I wil not feel her touch again, I am glad it wil not be the girl who feels my revenge when I flee. That white dog wishes to have her also, but he wil not. Maybe, I wil let him watch as I take her. Instantly, he knew he would not. For some unknown reason, her dislike and rejection of Horace pleased him. But he was far more satisfied by her words about him. He decided he would think on these things later. This was not the time or place to ponder her meanings and thoughts. As the hot afternoon moved up into late evening, Gray Eagle excitedly got up to his feet when he heard the horned owl signal from his friend. The hoot sounded three times, twice, then three times again. He was overjoyed and relieved. White Arrow had come and was close by. He waited tense and alert until the night was nearly gone and the moon low in the western sky. White Arrow’s entrance was so stealthful, Gray Eagle almost did not hear him. He smiled as the tal, lean form of his friend was outlined in the doorway by the waning moonlight.
“I am here, Wanhinkpe Ska. Yekiya wo,” he ordered and went to join his companion.
As quiet and unnoticeable as shadows in the night, they crept across the yard to the fortress’s rear wal. Like agile antelope, they were over the fence easily and quickly with the aid of White Arrow’s rawhide rope. He led Gray Eagle through the trees to where he had hidden two horses. They mounted and were riding where he had hidden two horses. They mounted and were riding homeward before the first streaks of dawn were seen. With unsuppressed bitterness and anger, Gray Eagle related the story of his capture and treatment to his friend. White Arrow listened patiently, but could not conceal his growing anger as the story unfolded.
When Gray Eagle had finished his account of the past few days, White Arrow said, “When Chula returned without you, I knew you were in danger. I folowed your trail to that wasichu camp. I have watched al day to learn where they held you captive. There were many wasichu in the forest today. They hide many traps for the animals and Oglalas. When I found the place they had snared you, I was careful not to be tricked in the same way. I do not trust men who use traps for their enemies.”
Gray Eagle went into greater detail about the strengths and weaknesses of the fortress. He spoke heatedly about the evil the men had done to him. He explained al his thoughts and observations to White Arrow. When they had finished their talk about the men and the fortress, he told White Arrow about Alisha. White Arrow smiled and watched his friend curiously as he spoke of the grass-eyed white girl who had made such an impact on Gray Eagle. He carefuly listened to the words and tones of his friend’s speech. He was amused and surprised by the details of his friend’s study of the ska wincinyanna. Gray Eagle left no action, word or contact concerning her untold.
White Arrow listened in amazement and disbelief as he heard al about Alisha’s help to Gray Eagle and his treatment of her. He could not believe anyone could be so bold or innocent. The more he heard and learned about this unusual girl, the more intrigued he became about her. If such a creature existed, he would see and became about her. If such a creature existed, he would see and know more of her. The look on Gray Eagle’s face told him more about her beauty and gentleness than his words did. Truly, she must be a rare flower to so impress the fierce warrior Wanmdi Hota. Lucky the brave who took her in the coming raid, for surely there would be revenge for this evil act against the son of their chief. He was not surprised when Gray Eagle related his plans for the taking of the fortress and the men responsible for his treatment. However, he was more than surprised when Gray Eagle said the girl would be his. No other brave was to harm or touch her, only Wanmdi Hota.
“Do my ears hear right, Wanmdi Hota? You wish to keep the grass-eyed girl for yourself? Surely, you do not wish to hurt and torture her again? Did you not tel me just now how she went against her people to prevent your death and torture and later she came in secret to care for you and feed you? It cannot be in the heart of my friend to be so cruel and unwise. It is not like you to harm one who has helped you. Wil you not show mercy and kindness to this girl?”
“Your words and thoughts are true and wise, my friend. I have never kiled one who gave help to Wanmdi Hota, even an enemy. But this time, I must walk lightly and carefuly, for this girl stirs things in me that I do not understand. I must remember we are enemies. I fear the thoughts and feelings which come into my mind at the sight and thought of her. It is not good for a warrior to feel fear and hunger for his enemy, especialy one who is so different from the Indian. I do not like the weakness I feel at her touch and presence
. I desire her greatly as a winyan. She wil greatly warm my mat in the winters.”
A black scowl touched his features and he continued, “Also, I cannot alow another to take and use her. She is like the flower of cannot alow another to take and use her. She is like the flower of the plains, delicate, white and fragile. She would wither and die as they do when touched many times or handled roughly….”
White Arrow considered the words and feelings of his best friend. “It is unlike you, my koda, to so desire a woman. I feel she wil not only warm your mat, but also your heart.”
Gray Eagle cast a troubled, cynical look at White Arrow and averred, “I wil alow no woman to rule the heart and life of Wanmdi Hota, especialy a white slave! Do not misjudge her value and place, my koda.”
White Arrow suppressed a secret smile, knowing his friend was the one trying to underestimate the value he placed on the girl and his desire for her. Could it be the great warrior has met his match? he mused. Wil it be a white slave who wil win the heart of his koda? In time, we wil see … We wil see …
“The wasichu must pay for their dishonor to you. They must suffer and bleed as you did at their hands. Al the Oglala warriors wil want to come and help you punish them. It wil be as you say.”
“We wil give them time to learn fear or become lazy with their guard. In time, their pride wil be their downfal. We wil strike swiftly and secretly. We wil take our enemies in nine hunwi. I have spoken.”
White Arrow nodded agreement and asserted, “It wil be so. You wil take the enemy and the white girl with the grass eyes.”
They picked up speed and rode hard and fast to return to the vilage as soon as possible. Many plans would have to be made and the warriors selected for this task. He smiled a crooked half-smile as he realized Alisha would be his in nine days. He did not know White Arrow was observing him very closely and guessed the reason for the look and smile. She would soon be a surprise to both reason for the look and smile. She would soon be a surprise to both men.
They stopped at midmorning to water and rest the horses and themselves. As the animals drank and nibbled at the grass by the stream, White Arrow told Gray Eagle the news from his camp. Gray Eagle listened carefuly as he informed him of the news sent from the councils of the other six tribes of the Sioux nation during his absence. The increase in white settlers, trappers and traders was also being felt and resented in nearby areas. “¥ou must go speak with the other leaders when we return. They have much to tel you. You must speak for our people against the wasichu coming.”
Gray Eagle frowned as he imagined what the other warriors of the area would say and think when they learned the fierce Wanmdi Hota has taken a white slave to his tent. He must prepare himself for the teasing and taunting he was sure to receive when the news was told. No doubt the words would travel swiftly when someone of his importance and power was involved. I must be very careful to keep the girl in her place as a slave, he resolved. I wil not alow her to bring shame and dishonor on the name of Wanmdi Hota. She is but a woman… she wil do as I say… she wil fear me too much to defy my commands. I wil see to it from the start…
He recaled how they had tried to scare the trappers and traders out, but they had failed. The value of the furs, skins and shiny rocks outweighed their fear of his people or death. Either they must kil them or accept their unwanted presence, for they refused to be driven back to their lands. Such foolish thoughts and greed to cost a man his life and blood, he muttered softly. Many of the other tribes were just as angry at the wanton slaughter of the animals and destruction of the forest as was his. He recaled the many wildfires which had burned away many trees and recaled the many wildfires which had burned away many trees and kiled many animals. He thought on how careless many of the whites were with their campfires. He had seen entire grasslands black and dead. He was aware of the numerous warriors who had been ambushed, robbed and scalped. The kiler would take the warrior’s jewelry, life, possessions and scalp. Each time Gray Eagle found the evidence of such a deed, he became enraged’ and tracked down the culprit when possible and avenged the dead warrior. He would have laughed at the whites who pretended to own the land and sel it to others, if the situation were not so serious and deadly to both sides. He mused over the white man’s obsession with the thing he caled money and the shiny rocks from the streams and mountains nearby.
White Arrow was speaking of the ones, who came from the East teling the Indians of a strange God who sees, hears and knows al. “They say He made the lands, animals and people. They say we are created by Him and not the Great Spirit. They speak with two tongues and the truth is not in their hearts. They speak of love and friendship with the Oglala and his brothers, but they do not live this love and peace. They live death and hate to us. They cal us heathen and savage. They say we must worship this God of theirs or He wil punish us. They lie! It is the wasichu who wil feel the wrath of Wakantanka.
“Do they expect us to give truce to them when they bring the firesticks of death to kil us and the buffalo on the plains? Many were injured in the last stampede the firesticks caused.”
Hate swirled in him like a maelstrom when he recaled the white dogs he had captured while stealing the sacred possessions of falen warriors from their death scaffolds. The wasichu would stop at nothing! he thought heatedly.
at nothing! he thought heatedly.
White Arrow told Gray Eagle of the murder of Chenuhula and the raping and kiling of Okiliea by the wasichu in the area. “The warriors cried out for vengeance. They await your return to lead them. It is good we did not attack the fortress where the kilers hid, for you could have been harmed in the attack.”
They remounted and rode on at a steady galop. They hoped to reach their vilage by late afternoon. They were both silent for the remainder of their ride, each lost in deep thoughts and plans. Near dusk, they arrived at the Oglala camp. His tribe was overjoyed to see him safely returned. He shook many hands and slapped many backs in fond affection. He laughed and joked with a few of his warriors. He told them he would meet with the tribal council after he had rested and eaten. White Arrow stood quietly as he watched his friend duck and enter his teepee. His friend needed to have this time alone to come to terms with the meaning of his capture and the meeting of the white girl. It is a grave thing to order the deaths of many people, even one’s enemies. It was even harder for his friend to accept the fact he desired one of them as he had never desired one of his own kind. He was happy Wanmdi Hota had the power and strength of mind and body to be a great leader of the Oglala. It was easy for him to see why his people loved and respected his friend above al others. But greatness has its costs, he thought sadly. You wil have a bitter, harsh lesson to learn, my koda. The path you chose wil be treacherous and painful for you and the white girl if my eyes and ears do not trick me…. The fortress was a cauldron of mixed emotions the next day when Gray Eagle’s escape was discovered. Panic and terror ruled the scene for a time. The escape had been brought to light when several of the men and Thad went to the smokehouse to give him several of the men and Thad went to the smokehouse to give him food and water. Ben and Jed stationed themselves by the door as Thad unlocked it to enter.
At Thad’s hesitation and ashen expression, Ben and Jed peeped over his shoulder. They al stared at the empty smokehouse as reality set in.
Jed was the first to react. He shouted, “He’s gone! That bloody bastard’s escaped!”
Horace shoved past several onlookers and gaped at the room. He asked suspiciously, “Nobody heard or saw nothing? How’d he git out without help?” He whirled around and glared at Alisha’s door.
Jed fumed, “I told you we ought to kil him. I betcha he’s out there now planning to attack us. Why wasn’t there a guard on the smokehouse?”
Thad muttered something about not thinking it necessary because of the bar on the outside of the door. Everyone quickly realized the brave had been given help by someone, but whom?
Who would have dared to release a bloodthirsty kiler l
ike that?
Hel, they al knew what the revenge from him could be like. Al except…
Janie began to cry and scream. Her fear and agitation were so great that she fainted. Martha was raving how they would al be tortured and scalped. “We’re done for! They’l kil us al!”
People were frantic and confused. Alisha came out ofher cabin and stood by the stoop, trying to discover what al the loud commotion was about. Were the people trying to form another mob and take the life of the brave in their hands again? Why was her uncle just standing there silently? Wasn’t he going to stop them this time, too? Something was gravely wrong….
time, too? Something was gravely wrong….
She listened carefuly to the screams and comments from the group by the smokehouse. Her eyes widened in shock and disbelief when the truth became evident to her. He had escaped! She watched the frenzy of the people in confusion. Did they realy fear one warrior this much? She thought rebeliously, they should have thought of this before they tortured and tried to kil him. If they feared him and his people this much, then why didn’t they try to make friends with him?
Her own reality of his departure touched her. He’s gone… I’l never see him again…. When she became aware of her sad thoughts, she asked herself why his leaving brought such feelings and thoughts to her. She scolded herself, be glad he’s gone and they can’t hurt or kil him now. Even if he had stil been their prisoner, what good would it have done her? They were worlds apart.
Her attention returned to the scene before her. She wondered what good regrets or questions did now. He was gone without a trace. Ben was yeling for the people to be quiet and listen.
“There’s nothing we kin do about him now. Like Jed said, we shoulda kiled him when we had the chance. Best we git things ready¿ Sure as that sky’s blue, he’l be back.”
The men agreed with his words and angrily appointed him their new leader. With sadness in his face, Thad lowered his head in embarrassment for letting his people down. He was to blame for the Indian’s escape and if he came back with his warriors for a raid, he would be to blame for what happened then. If he had it al to do again, would he stil stop the torture and death of the brave? Sadly he shook his head, for he could not honestly answer his query. Now, only Ben had the power to make the men obey his Now, only Ben had the power to make the men obey his orders and do what was necessary to defend the fortress. There could be no doubt he was better experienced in fighting and kiling than Thad. Thad bowed to Ben’s place as the new leader and waited with the other men for his orders. He was relieved their destiny was no longer in his hands.
Savage Ecstasy Page 7