a bluff? What if he wished to protect her from disgrace and harm?
The wooden gates opened to let him re-enter. He quickly walked over to the general’s office, ignoring the many questions from those around. He tapped lightly on the door and was let inside. He went to stand before the general’s desk. He disregarded al the other officers and Jeffery as he gave his report. He repeated the words of Gray Eagle and placed the leash and ties down on the desk. The general listened, white-faced. The others glanced from one to the other in surprise and confusion. Powchutu’s face was void of al emotion as he related the terms of withdrawal and truce. He said nothing of his own pleas concerning Alisha. He tried to make the demands sound cold and brutal for Alisha’s sake and honor.
The general exclaimed incredulously, “He what? Surely you misunderstood, or is this some kind of joke? Why would he want the girl back so badly? His pride and honor, you say?” He glanced around as he thought on the perplexing demands. His face brightened with an idea. “Maybe this Brown girl’s right. Maybe she is his squaw and he wants her back. Wel, wel, wel, this puts a different light on things. I’d say she’s managed to fool us al, hasn’t she? The little tramp! Trying to get us al kiled, is she? How the hel did he convince the others to help him get his white squaw back?”
Captain Tracy spoke up, “From what I hear, Sir, those Injuns would cut off their right hand for that Gray Eagle. Half of ‘em love and respect him, and the other half fear and honor him. You’re damn right they would help him do anything! No matter why he wants her back, he’l get her one way or another. You know what shape we’re in. We don’t dare cal his bluff.”
The general paced the floor nervously as he weighed the possibilities. He could either return the girl and take the chance possibilities. He could either return the girl and take the chance Gray Eagle spoke the truth and would leave, or he could keep the girl as hostage. What if she was being innocently, but vilely, used as a taunt to them? No matter, either choice was dangerous and deadly. Without a doubt, Gray Eagle could take the fort apart and kil them al.
Powchutu’s heart flamed in anger at their cowardice. He spoke acidly, “She is not, and was not, his squaw. Not for the reasons you think. She was his slave and prisoner. He only uses her to taunt the white man. He hopes to punish you by forcing you to witness his taking her, and to shame you by forcing you to give her to him wilingly. He cares nothing for her as a man would for a woman. I have seen this hatred of the white man in his eyes. If you return her to him, it wil go worse for her than before. He wil be more brutal to her this time out of anger and spite for the raid on his camp. He holds her responsible for the raid, for it was done to rescue her. It is wrong to treat her as you have, but far worse to return her to him!”
The general retorted, “Don’t moralize to me, half-breed!” But Galt knew he had been forced into a corner. He said, “Powchutu, you fetch the girl. Let’s hear what she has to say about al of this.”
Powchutu went directly to the Philseys’ quarters and rapped loudly on the door. Mrs. Philsey answered it and glared contemptuously at him. He told her what his orders were before she could open her mouth. She backed away from the door and let him pass her to head for Alisha’s room.
He knew he must talk quickly if he was going to have time to tel Alisha everything before he took her to the general’s office. He wanted her to know the truth from him. He knocked on her door and caled her name. Mrs. Philsey informed him she had not shown and caled her name. Mrs. Philsey informed him she had not shown herself since that incident the day before. His malevolent look silenced the spiteful woman.
Alisha slowly opened her door and stepped aside for him to enter. What possible difference could it make now for him to visit her? Things couldn’t be any worse than they were now. Why should she deny entrance to the only friend she had? She realized that something was afoot, for this was the first time he ever visited her during the daytime.
Powchutu guessed from her appearance that she had no idea what was taking place outside. Her red swolen eyes told him she had been weeping.
Anger flooded him. He knew he must relate the dreaded news as hastily as possible. Bluntly and simply, he stated, “He is here, Alisha. He has come for you, just as I warned he might.”
She looked at him blankly. The last person to come to mind at this time was Gray Eagle. She queried, “Who has come, Powchutu?
What are you talking about?”
His tone became soft and gentle. “Wanmdi Hota! He waits outside the fort wals for you to be brought to him as a prisoner. He has come with a large band of warriors. He demands you be returned to him as an apology for the raid on his camp. He demands your life as a peace-offering, or he wil attack us.”
He watched her face blanch and her green eyes widen in disbelief. Her lips parted to speak, but she could utter no words. She had dreamed he might come back for her one day, but not like this. He had not come to rescue her, as she had so often prayed. He had come to shame her, maybe even kil her. It wasn’t supposed to be like this… She began to tremble.
Powchutu went on, “The general wishes to see you and talk Powchutu went on, “The general wishes to see you and talk with you about this.” He lifted her chin to force her to look into his eyes. He placed his hands on her shoulders to steady their quivering. “They wil ask you questions about your life with him. You must get ahold of your wits and emotions. Fear does strange things to a man’s judgment,” he warned.
She desperately asked, “What did he say when you spoke with him, Powchutu? After al this time, why does he want me back now? Does he intend to execute me right before them for revenge?
Surely they would not send me back to him?”
He knew it was cold and brutal, but she had to know what she faced. He reluctantly repeated, word for word, his talk with Gray Eagle and the general. She was totaly stunned by both their words. She wavered slightly and caught Powchutu’s arms to steady herself. She hesitantly asked, “He says he’l kil everyone here, including me, if I am not returned to him, wiling or not? Is this also a matter of his honor and pride, Powchutu? I think not! This is but a matter of hatred and spite. I was wrong…”
Powchutu tried to calm some of her greatest fears and doubts. He spoke of how he would act if he were Gray Eagle. “I believe he wants you back for himself. He uses this trick to save face with the Indian. Also the need for your honor and safety makes this trickery necessary. If it would punish him, the cavalry would turn you over to him dead.”
He alowed his words to sink in before he continued. “I do not know how he convinced the other warriors to go along with this deceit. They must think it is a proper humiliation to the whites for them to be forced to apologize and sacrifice you to their worst enemy. He is awed and loved enough they might permit it anyway, even if they were aware of his true motives. I just do not know.”
even if they were aware of his true motives. I just do not know.”
He could not tel if she understood any of his reasoning. He added, “For his and your pride and honor, he must treat you coldly and cruely before al of them. You must not be harmed.”
“Pride and honor! Face and shame!” she cried. “I have none of those left! Between my people here and his there, they have taken everything from me but my life. What does my life or freedom matter to any of them? It is only a trick! It does not take a whole band of warriors to reclaim war booty! I would not trust him this time.”
She walked over to the window and peeped out at the frantic people moving about outside. In a subdued tone she murmured,
“He wil surely kil me this time. I have been too much trouble to him. He holds me to blame for things I have no control over. How could I have so foolishly forgotten what he did to me before I was rescued … rescued!”
She laughed and cried at the same time. “He knows no mercy or kindness. I could have died that day for al he cared.”
Al the suppressed doubts, fears and hurts resurfaced to fil and frighten her anew. She had unwisel
y alowed herself to forget for a time; to forgive, When forgiveness was not honored; and worst of al, she had foolishly alowed her heart to fal more deeply and strongly in love with him. Her ilusive lover was not the man who sat outside the fort waiting for her to be brought to him in disgrace and sacrifice. She had been ensnared in the trap of blind trust and love, and the hope of his love in return someday. Her shattered ilusions cut into her heart like a white-hot knife.
“Alisha, you have forgotten. He did not kil you. He must not have wished your death, for he was caring for you.” As much as he hated defending his rival, Powchutu hoped his argument would ease hated defending his rival, Powchutu hoped his argument would ease her pain, but it did not.
“Only so he could have the pleasure of hurting me again, Powchutu. Such a powerful warrior wouldn’t let a little thing like death steal his best slave,” she spoke bitterly. She began to cry and he puled her into his embrace to comfort her.
She looked up into his eyes and pleaded, “Please don’t let him take me back, Powchutu. You are the only one who can help me. You are my only hope.”
Powchutu crushed her to his chest and held her tightly and possessively. He answered, “I would give anything to save or help you, my love. If I tried to stop them, they would be happy to kil me and send you to him anyway. You would only feel guilt at my useless death. I cannot fight them, Alisha. There are too many on both sides. But I promise you, I wil find some way to help you. I wil get you away from him and here. Somehow…”
She leaned back and gazed up into his face, knowing he spoke the truth. “I am sorry. This is one time no one can help me, not even you. We can do nothing to stop or alter their decisions. I wil live for you to come and fulfil this promise.” She smiled bravely into his sad eyes and kissed him lightly on his lips. He tenderly cupped her face between his hands and gazed lovingly into her emerald eyes. He spoke to her without words, but she misread his meaning. She had not realized he spoke of love, the love of a man for a woman, not the love of friends. He leaned over and kissed her ful on the mouth. She did not pul away or refuse his kiss. It was a kiss of sharing love and promise, comfort and hope. It was soft and gentle in the giving and taking. He hugged her fiercely once more as he whispered into her ear, “Remember, I wil come for you, little heart. Do al he says and he wil not harm you.”
for you, little heart. Do al he says and he wil not harm you.”
She thought on his words, “al he says,” and trembled. The general would be sending someone to look for them. Alisha seemed to have regained her courage. He stated, “Alisha, come. The general wil have to decide what is to be done. Let the final word be his. It wil be best for you if he orders your return.”
The solution now out of her hands; she went with Powchutu. Gossip had spread the news around the fort. The word was out that Gray Eagle had come for his captive and would attack if she were not promptly returned to him. As she and Powchutu walked toward the general’s office, the people glared at them in open hostility. Their cool, hard stares caused her to falter. This was the first time they had seen her since the episode the day before. Here was the girl who had chosen a half-breed scout over a dashing white lieutenant!
Some of the men hurled insults and threats at her. Soon, others from the crowd joined the derision. “Go back to your Injun lover, slut!” “We don’t want no Injun squaws here!” “We ain’t gonna die for no white whore!” “Harlot! Bloody red harlot!”
She somehow found the strength to get to the general’s office. She felt she was walking into her own grave. Powchutu blazed in fury at the people’s words.
Alisha forced a brave smile to him. She softly said, “It doesnt matter anymore, Powchutu. They only prove this is necessary. I couldn’t stay here now. They’re scared children, and I’m the only one around they can vent their fear and anger on. They don’t dare do it to Gray Eagle so they choose the next best person—me, because he wants me. It doesn’t matter why. Maybe they’re right. Maybe I wil be better off back with him, dead or alive.” Her last rays of hope had dimmed for she knew the outcome of the meeting rays of hope had dimmed for she knew the outcome of the meeting before she went inside the general’s office.
The door opened and they quietly slipped inside. General Galt tried to avoid the eyes of the girl standing before his desk. He got up and moved about nervously. He tried to decide how to begin this sour, unpleasant task.
“I suppose Powchutu has filed you in on our crisis here?”
She nodded yes, but did not speak. He looked into the ashen face with the somber green eyes which were filed with anguish. Damn! He realized she was going to make it hard for him. He tried to ignore the shame of what he was about to do.
He asked her bluntly, “What do you think we should do, Miss Wiliams? You’ve lived with him. Wil he do as he says? Could he want you back so badly?” His words carried double meanings, and she caught both.
She swalowed hard and spoke softly, “Why do you ask me, Sir? You’re in command here. The final decision is yours. I have only seen and known one side of him—the brutal, vindictive warrior. He never made promises to me, only threats. If he knew of your abuse of me, he probably would ask you to keep me. Al of our lives would be more miserable that way, and that is what he hopes to accomplish with this demand. He has his revenge on us al now, regardless of your decision. You know the truth, Sir, but refuse to look it in the face.”
General Gait spit the tip of his cigar into the bowl on his desk and turned to face her. “I have hopes this Gray Eagle won’t be as cruel to you this time. Maybe Powchutu can plead with him to go easy on you. He can tel him you had nothing to do with the raid on his camp. One thing I’m sure of, those people out there won’t stand for my giving you sanction here at the fort at the cost of their lives. I for my giving you sanction here at the fort at the cost of their lives. I have no doubts he wil carry out his threat if you remain here. I’m afraid I have no choice but to turn you over to him.”
There, it was said and done! He waited for any of his officers to plead her case, but none did. The reality and finality of it hit Alisha instantly. She bravely accepted the inevitable. The men sat stunned.
Alisha chalenged, “Are you al sitting there and waiting for me to offer myself as a martyr for you and this fort? You should know I would never wilingly agree to return to him and his brutality. I have seen and felt his hatred for the white man. I carry the scars to prove it. If you order me to go, then I wil not refuse. But never wil I volunteer! I place my safety and life in your ‘capable’ hands, Sir.”
General Galt nervously cleared his throat and voiced his decision. “I think it best for al concerned that you be sent back to him. The safety of this fort and its people depends upon it. There is no other choice possible.”
“Then you are ordering me to go?” He nodded yes. “The safety and best you speak of does not include mine?” she mockingly queried. His black, angry scowl answered for him.
“No, I guess I am not that important,” Alisha spat at him.
“You certainly can’t alow such a dangerous, despicable person to live among decent, honest folk, now can you, Sir?”
Powchutu was leaning against the door, silently cheering her on. He wore a smug, pleased grin on his face. General Galt reddened in guilt and fury. “If I had more men and supplies, Miss Wiliams, I would gladly offer you sanctuary here with us, and to hel with what anyone thought or said!”
Alisha turned to Jeffery with a sweet, innocent smile and asked, “Does this decision also include your approval, Jeffery?”
asked, “Does this decision also include your approval, Jeffery?”
Jeffery boldly locked gazes with her and replied, “Go with your brave, Alisha. That is where you belong now.”
Alisha walked to the lieutenant and spoke softly. She had no need to shame him publicly. Her refusal of him had already accomplished that. She said, “One thing I know for certain, Jeffery. You are less than half the man he is, in every possible way.”
; She turned to Powchutu and stated, “Since I have no personal belongings, I’m ready to go.”
As she reached the door, she turned and spoke to them for the last time, “Tel yourselves each night for the rest of your lives that you are sorry that this could not have been prevented. But you al know it is a lie. I would have been better off if you had never rescued me, for then I would never have known the evil and hate which lives here in the hearts of al of you. I hope you always remember you held my life and fate in your hands for a brief moment before you cast it upon a pagan altar in sacrifice for your own. May my death be upon your heads, and my blood upon your hands! There is only one real man in this entire fort, and he stands here at my side!”
She walked out, leaving the men shamefuly avoiding each other’s glances. She and Powchutu made their way through the sulen crowd to the gate. The crowd had instantly known the outcome of the meeting in the general’s office. A hushed, embarrassed quiet settled in the fort as Alisha walked to her fate with head held high.
But Alisha felt strangely detached from the whole scene. Her thoughts were on what awaited her outside the gates. She and Powchutu halted by the heavy gates to alow the guards to open them just enough for them to pass through. Her eyes touched them just enough for them to pass through. Her eyes touched Kathy’s who stood smiling triumphantly. She gazed at the pathetic girl and said, “I hope this vengeance tastes sweet, Kathy. You surely worked for it. You might have won the victory here, but what have you realy gained? Al you have left is your hatred and bitterness. And now, you wil have no Alisha to vent them upon. Be certain that you wash my blood from your hands tonight. And remember: while you sleep with every bit of scum in this fort, I wil be sleeping with only one man—the brave and handsome Gray Eagle.”
Savage Ecstasy Page 44