Thunderstone

by Barbara Pietron

  She climbed the stairs, examining the view, careful not to look down, or to get her hopes too high. At the landing before the final flight to the top, Jeni stopped. Her hand curled around the phone in her pocket. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

  She palmed the phone in front of her and cracked one eye open. “Yes!” she murmured, seeing she had service. Her thumbs flew over the keyboard. Can you talk?

  Familiar voices drifted down from above and Jeni dropped the phone in her pocket as her dad passed by on his way down. She mounted the remaining steps to the top platform, her fingers crossed. What time was Carolyn done at work?

  As she willed her phone to buzz, Jeni gazed out at the park. The view was spectacular—trees blanketed the ground for miles, broken only by the dappled patchwork of lakes. Even if she didn’t get to talk to Carolyn, the stunning panorama was worth the climb, reminding her that she was one small human in a vast world.

  Only two family members remained on the platform when her phone finally buzzed. Just leaving work. Give me ten minutes to get home.

  “I don’t have ten minutes,” Jeni mumbled to herself. Quickly, she switched from the texting screen to her favorite contacts list and pressed Carolyn’s name. Typing the entire conversation would’ve taken too long anyway.

  “Hey, what’s up?” Carolyn answered in a worried voice. “Is everything okay?”

  “I guess it depends how you look at it,” Jeni replied, letting her wry tone speak for itself. “I’ve got problems.”

  “What kind of problems?”

  Jeni spewed out the short, deranged story. “I don’t know what to think Car. Part of me hopes I never see him again, and part of me hopes I do—just so I can tell him off.”

  “Wait, wait. Back-up. For starters, he led you on to get the statue from you?”

  “Yeah, well,” Jeni stammered, “maybe not. It seemed like it to me, but I could’ve misread his intentions—you know I’m not good in that kind of situation.”

  “Well either way, it’s a good thing you didn’t kiss him, now that you know he’s a jerk and a liar.”

  “The thing is, I really believed he was sincere.”

  “So what—he’s just nuts?”

  “That’s my current theory,” Jeni uttered a humorless laugh. She paused to think for a moment, realizing her mind already seemed less muddled simply by relaying her thoughts to her friend. “The one thing I keep coming back to is that I did see something when he touched my hand.”

  “You said he’s an apprentice medicine man. Maybe he can do that?”

  “Yeah. Maybe.”

  “Jeni, do you realize you’ve been defending him this entire conversation? Either somewhere inside you believe him, or you just want to believe him.

  One of Jeni’s aunts approached. “We’re heading down,” she whispered, catching Jeni’s eye to make sure she heard.

  “Okay,” Jeni nodded to her aunt. She had to wrap the phone call up. “I’m so confused, Car. What if he comes back? Should I let him borrow the statue?”

  “After him standing you up? No way. Tell him to hit the road.”

  Jeni started down the steel-grated steps, one hand holding the railing in a white-knuckled grip, the other clutched tightly around her phone. She agreed with Carolyn—it’s what Ice deserved after treating her this way. Except she had a better idea. “You know what? I won’t let him borrow it—he can have it. I don’t need any reminders of this fiasco; I’d rather just forget the whole thing.”

  Carolyn snickered. “Oooo. That’s even better—it’ll certainly let him know where you stand.”

  “Thanks Car. I feel better now.” Jeni continued making her way down the stairs. “I should go so my dad doesn’t give me a hard time for talking on the phone instead of to my relatives.”

  “I hear ya. Good luck. Let me know what happens.”

  “I will.” Jeni ended the call and slipped the phone into her pocket. She felt a bit more stable once she could focus her attention on making it to the bottom without looking through the grate.

  Carolyn was right—she’d been defending Ice. Why? Why couldn’t she apply any of Carolyn’s assumptions to the situation? The answer was obvious. Jeni was there; she looked in his eyes, read his facial expressions. He was either a fantastic actor or—

  Or what?

  Telling the truth?

  Yes—in his mind. Jeni’s intuition told her Ice wasn’t lying. Even if everything he’d told her was fictitious, he absolutely believed it.

  “Well, how’d you like the tower?” her grandma asked. “Was it worth the climb?”

  “Yeah, it was. The view was amazing,” Jeni answered. And so was the cell signal, she wanted to add.

  “Good. It’s good to face your fears. I’m glad you went for it.”

  “Me too.” They walked in companionable silence for a few minutes and then Jeni added, “But if anyone suggests caves, I’m out.”

  ***

  Ice watched the medicine man devour half of his sandwich, amazed that Nik showered and donned a fresh flannel shirt and jeans before eating. “Between you and me,” Nik said, “I hate fasting. Always have.”

  Ice allowed a small smile. Any reminder that his teacher had downfalls and weaknesses like everyone else helped quell the overwhelming thought of filling Nik’s shoes one day. Since he’d relayed Kal’s account of his father’s disappearance on the drive back from the vision quest lodge, Ice waited patiently while his mentor chewed.

  When a quarter of his sandwich remained, Nik finally spoke up. “During my quest, I sought my ancestors for advice but it seemed they were elsewhere. If the monster is already free, I understand why.” He leaned back in his chair and gazed past Ice, recalling his vision. “At first, I followed the sound of thunder into a forest of unearthly quiet. No animals rustled in the undergrowth; no birds called from the branches above. Not even an insect buzzed in my ear.” He crunched a few chips then continued. “I left the woods in pursuit of the storm and came upon an old ground-level well with a shattered top. Shards of wood littered the ground as if the cover had exploded outward.” He met Ice’s gaze. “No mystery there, considering what we know now.”

  Ice nodded. “Escape.” Muted shouts followed by laughter filled the short silence. Seconds later, the clatter of bikes and skateboards on cement came from the sidewalk in front of Nik’s house. The carefree sounds suddenly made Ice long for those days of blissful innocence.

  “As I crossed a field I came upon the dismembered bodies of two Thunderbirds, turkey vultures...” Nik trailed off. He looked at his sandwich, but didn’t pick it up.

  Ice draw in a sharp breath. Vultures? That couldn’t be good.

  Nik resumed. “The storm seemed to stall over a lake. I finally spotted a living creature—a Thunderbird circling beneath the clouds. I couldn’t make out what kind of bird it was. At first I thought it was a hawk—since a hawk brought the omen—then I realized the form appeared more bulky or compact. Perhaps an owl. Lightning struck over the water and then over the beach. After the second flash, the bird had disappeared.” He sighed. “I hope these signs and messages become clear to us soon so we can make use of the knowledge. I would’ve liked more direct spiritual guidance.”

  Nik finished his sandwich while Ice pondered the vision; the ice cubes in his water glass tinkling as he absently rocked it back and forth. “What do turkey vultures symbolize?”

  “Generally, the balance of life and death. They feed on carrion—dead animals. They use death to promote life,” Nik replied.

  “Yeah, I figured it was something like that. You said there were two of them. Do you think…maybe they represented the guardians? You know, of the manitou. They used their own death to keep us safe, right?”

  Nik’s eyebrows flicked upward as he considered Ice’s explanation. “It makes sense,” he said, nodding. “In order to escape, the man
itou needed to get past the guardians. But who or what destroyed them?” Then the older man’s thoughtful expression unexpectedly transformed into a smile. “You’re really starting to think like a medicine man, Ice.”

  A little embarrassed by the compliment, yet immensely pleased, Ice didn’t comment.

  “We need to investigate, see if we can find some clues how the manitou escaped. Did you get the statue from the girl?”

  Ice froze and then dropped his head on his open palms. “Uhh,” he groaned. “I was supposed to see her this morning. Then Kal called. All I could think was that I needed to talk to you. Then the debate with the council about reporting the death to the authorities went on forever. I completely forgot.”

  “Then you need to go get it. I’ll go to the lake and examine the area where the underwater lynx was imprisoned.”

  “I’ll go with you. It’s on the way,” Ice offered.

  “No, it’s imperative that you get the statue. I’m just going to poke around the shore—I’ll stay well away from the water.”

  Ice checked the clock on Nik’s microwave. The resort was a good half hour away and he hadn’t had a chance to shower yet today. He should get going if he wanted to see Jeni today. He got up and took his glass to the sink, breathing deeply to alleviate the tightness in his chest. He wondered if Jeni would be angry. She had every right to be.

  As usual, the medicine man sensed Ice’s tension. “I know it may not be easy getting the statue, but we must get the monster under control before he takes another victim.”

  Ice met his mentor’s gaze and nodded as he let out a shaky laugh. “Yeah, no pressure.”

  ***

  Jeni’s heart lurched when she saw the wash of headlights on the cabin next door. She shook her head; mentally admonishing herself for still thinking Ice would show up. A glance to her right, where her mom was washing a pan, confirmed that the dishes were almost done. Thank goodness. She could get away from the window and distract herself with TV or a book.

  A car door slammed confirming someone had arrived at this cottage or the one next door. Then a second door slammed. Most likely Tyler and Jake, back from the casino. Jeni frowned at the twinge of disappointment she felt. Did she not have any control over her own emotions? Why should she care if Ice showed up or not?

  She shouldn’t.

  Except she did. Because she had questions. Questions that would haunt her perpetually if left unanswered. Like how come Ice acted as if the “situation” was dire last night and then completely blew it off today?

  Though she had no way of knowing it, some answers had just walked through the door.

  “Daddy!” Molly scampered into the room and threw herself at Jake.

  “Hey,” Jeni’s mom said. “I hope you won big because you missed dinner.”

  “I always win big,” Tyler grinned and sauntered into the living room.

  Jake rolled his eyes. “I guess it depends on your definition of big,” he laughed.

  Jeni finished rinsing the last pan and balanced it carefully on the stack of clean dishes in the dish drainer. She could hear Tyler launch into a story in the other room as she dried her hands. On her way to the bedrooms at the back of the cottage Jake stopped her.

  “Jeni.”

  “Yeah?” She looked over her shoulder.

  “You might want to hear this.” He jerked his thumb in the direction of the living room.

  “Really?” Jeni had no reason to think Jake might be playing some kind of trick on her, so when he nodded, she stepped into the living room doorway.

  “…was pretty wasted and talking way louder than he thought. His buddy kept trying to hush him up, which of course made everyone at the table want to hear the story.” Tyler scanned his audience, reveling in the attention. “So it sounded like what happened is a father and son went fishing this morning on Lake Itasca. The son hooked a fish and when his dad tried to net it, he fell out of the boat. The son never saw him again.”

  Tyler paused for effect, assuring all eyes were on him. “But he did see something in the water. Something big—way bigger than the canoe they were in.”

  “What kind of something?” someone asked.

  Blood rushed in Jeni’s ears, obliterating whatever answer Tyler gave. She stood stock still as dread spread throughout her abdomen and formed a heavy mass.

  “…Ice?”

  The name permeated her numb brain bringing her back to the conversation.

  “He was first on the scene,” Tyler said. “I guess the guy was his friend or something.”

  Jeni backed from the doorway and slipped down the hall to the bathroom. She shut the door behind her, locked it, then just stood there for a moment, eyes closed, hands pressed to her chest. Her heart beat at a marathon pace. What if it was true? Oh God, what if everything Ice told her was true?

  She’d been feeling sorry for herself all day when a man had actually died. She should’ve given Ice the statue yesterday. If he could’ve stopped this—that man’s blood was on her hands! It was her fault for being stubborn and selfish.

  Having trouble forcing air into her lungs, Jeni leaned over the sink and splashed water on her face, causing her to draw in a sharp breath. Then she let the cold water run over her wrists. Her head began to clear and she breathed deeply. “Overreact much?” she asked her reflection and then uttered a weak laugh.

  She went over the story in her mind again, trying to see all the angles. Just because Ice was mentioned didn’t necessarily mean this had anything to do with her. The guy simply called Ice because he was his friend. Maybe the man hit his head on the boat or had a heart attack—there could be many reasons he didn’t rise to the surface—it didn’t mean a monster got him. And who knows what the guy thought he saw in the water? With the amount of trees surrounding Lake Itasca, dead wood and rotting logs must be plentiful in the lake.

  No wonder Ice didn’t show up if this happened just this morning. A fragment of guilt crept into Jeni’s chest to mingle with the waning panic. She’d been so angry, but maybe Ice still planned to come.

  She took a deep breath and released it slowly. Okay. She was okay. She should be able to face the family. Once she was settled in front of the TV or possibly playing cards, the fear burning in the pit of her stomach would fade.

  She was wrong about that.

  Knowledge can be learned but until it is truly experienced, it does not become wisdom.

  —Selo Black Crow, Lakota

  Chapter 7

  Knowing it was rather late, Ice hesitated before knocking on the door outside the dark kitchen. It seemed all the events of the day conspired to keep him from getting here. What would the new roadblock be? Peering around the edge of the cottage he could see lights from the living room spilling through the sliding glass door. Back at the side door, he held his breath and knocked.

  Moments later the kitchen flooded with light and Jeni’s dad approached the door.

  “Great,” Ice mumbled under his breath.

  “Jeni,” her dad called as he turned the knob. He didn’t sound too pleased. But he held the door open so Ice could come inside. “Little late don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, sorry about that, sir. There’s been a lot going on.”

  “Jeni’ll be out in a minute.”

  The aroma of popcorn hung in the air. Ice fidgeted with the zipper on his hoodie, praying no one else came in the room. As soon as Jeni entered he spoke. “I’m sorry I didn’t come this morning,” he stammered. “My friend—”

  “It’s okay,” Jeni cut him off with a wave. Her brow furrowed but her eyes were unreadable. “I heard about the…the accident.” She gestured to the table. “Do you want to sit down…something to drink?”

  He was about to decline then realized all the moisture had left his mouth as soon as Jeni entered the room. “Water?” The table had long benches instead of chairs
and Ice sat down, his back to the table. “It was my friend, Kal’s, dad. Drowned, we assume. The body’s still missing. Kal’s really busted up about it.” Ice leaned forward, forearms on knees.

  Jeni pulled a bottle of water from the refrigerator and handed it to him as she joined him on the bench. He heard her draw in a breath as if to say something and then stopped. He expected her to have questions so he took a long drink of water, giving her plenty of time to get her thoughts together. Finally she spoke. “What happened?”

  “What did you hear?”

  “They were fishing on Lake Itasca. His dad fell in and never came up—” Jeni examined her nails for a long moment while a commercial droned in the other room. “The son—your friend—said he saw something in the water. Is that what he told you?” She turned and met his eyes.

  Ice nodded then went back to studying the floor. He’d resolved to tell her only what she wanted to know.

  Then she asked. “What…what did he see?”

  “Something huge. Snakelike.”

  He watched her reaction. Her eyes widened and she looked away, but not before Ice saw the raw fear within. “You think…” she stammered.

  He didn’t make her say it. “No, we don’t think. We have no doubt. That wasn’t the only accident today.” Ice waited for her to look at him. “I was on my way over here and Nik went looking for the cave, you know, the prison. He was attacked.”

  “Attacked? Is he okay?”

  “He was hit on the head from behind.” Ice felt his throat closing up and forced himself to swallow before he continued. “He’s in the hospital in Bemidji. I don’t know what’ll happen…he’s old…”

  He took a deep breath and curled his fingers around the stone in his pocket. Here goes nothing. “When the bank loans someone money, they expect that person to have collateral—things with enough value to cover the loan, right?”

  Jeni drew back in surprise and looked sideways at him. “What are you talking about?”

  “Collateral.” Ice withdrew a blue stone and held it out on his palm. “It’s not shaped like anything, but it is a real medicine stone like I told you about. This one’s a dream stone. I’ll leave this if you’ll let me take your statue. As collateral.” He allowed a tiny smile.