by Brian Hodge
In his heart there was a deeper pain, the pain that he also no longer shared the company of Old One; but he would not admit this, even to the wind, who would whisper it all around the world.
Brother Wolf stared at the full-bellied moon, riding high in the sky. Unable to resist the urge any longer, he stretched back his neck, narrowed his eyes, and howled at the cold beauty of its light, as Old One had said he must. His voice echoed in the canyons and was carried away by the wind.
For a long time, he sat thus, baying loudly as his nose pointed up at the moon as it followed its slow, silent journey across the sky. But after a while, Brother Wolf became aware of another sound—a rough scratching noise coming from behind him, from the far corner of his den. His voice cut off abruptly as he stood, turned, and cautiously sniffed the air.
"Who dares enter my den?" Brother Wolf asked, his voice rumbling gruffly in the depths of his chest as he tried to pierce the pressing darkness.
For an answer, there came again—louder this time—a scratching sound like that of Brother Mole digging in the earth. Brother Wolf lowered his head. The muscles in his shoulders tensed as he bared his fangs, prepared to destroy whomever this was invading his home.
The den filled with a rough scratching sound of dirt and loose stones being pushed aside. Then, faintly in the bright glow of moonlight filtering into the darkness, Brother Wolf saw the intruder crawl up through a hole in the den floor.
"Well, well, if it isn't Little Brother, my old friend," Brother Wolf said when he saw two rounded eyes glaring at him from the far corner of his den. "And why have you come to visit me?"
Little Brother made no reply as he hunched his shoulders and squatted flat on his feet, his bony knees nearly touching his ears. For a long moment, he just sat there, crouching on the den floor and staring at Brother Wolf.
"Ah-hah, that's right," Brother Wolf said, "I just remembered. When Old One created you, he did not give you the gift of speech."
Brother Wolf cast a wary glance out at the night, down to the winking orange campfire in the distance, and then said, "But I will do for you something even Old One would not do, Little Brother. I will give you the ability to speak. I, too, would like someone to talk to on these cold winter nights. Come—come here, and I will teach you."
As the moon made her slow journey across the sky, Brother Wolf instructed Little Brother in the gift of speech. It didn't take him long to realize that Little Brother would never master the art. No matter how many words Brother Wolf tried to teach him, Little Brother could only remember half of them, and time after time, he interrupted his lesson by saying to Brother Wolf, "Little Brother … hungry."
At first, Brother Wolf asked Little Brother to be patient, that after he had learned to speak, he would have time to eat; but Little Brother grew insistent, and eventually Brother Wolf gave in to his demands.
"You may leave my den now and go eat," Brother Wolf said. "But before you go, tell me. What do you eat down there in the darkness where Old One has placed you?"
"Little Brother eat … many things," he replied in a shrill, chittering voice that sounded most like Brother Bat's high-pitched squeal. "Whatever I find... Some, large and furry...others, small and smooth."
"It's a pity that you can never enjoy the world as Old One created it," Brother Wolf said. His heart filled with hurt and envy that he, too, no longer enjoyed the world, not since Old One told him his company was not enough to satisfy him. A memory came to him of the night when Old One created Little Brother. He recalled that Old One had been about to say something to Little Brother but had been interrupted when he, Brother Wolf, had come to him after returning the sun to the sky.
"I know, Little Brother, that the sun hurts your eyes and burns your skin, but there is something Old One asked me to tell you the next time I saw you." He lowered his head, cringing at the lie he was about to speak. "On the day he created you, he intended to tell you that all of his creation has been made for you, Little Brother, to devour, as the night where you live devours the day that hurts you."
"Little Brother...hungry," was the shrieking reply.
In that instant, Brother Wolf realized his mistake. Hissing loudly as he bared his fangs, Little Brother reached out to him with his long, clawed hands.
With a frightened yelp, Brother Wolf turned and ran from his den just as Little Brother grabbed for him. A spark of pain, like a flying ember from Old One's campfire, hit the tip of his tail. Howling loudly, Brother Wolf raced down the mountainside and ran straight to where Old One sat, smoking his pipe in front of his wigwam.
"Brother Wolf," said Old One, letting a billow of smoke rise from his mouth until it hid the moon. "It's been a long time since I have seen you, but why are you running so fast and howling in pain? What has happened?"
Panting, Brother Wolf lowered his head to the ground, knowing that Old One need not have asked; he could see clearly into his heart and know what he had done.
"What you have done was not wise," Old One said solemnly.
Brother Wolf looked at him, silently pleading for mercy. He was surprised to see that Old One's face was creased with laughter, not anger. His eyes sparkled like sunlight reflecting off the river. A long, loud roll of laughter came like thunder from his chest as he looked at Brother Wolf in the light of his campfire.
"I know why you laugh at me," Brother Wolf said humbly. "I have been foolish, trying to do the work of creation that is only in your power to do."
"No, no," Old One said. His voice sounded like boulders, tumbling down the mountainside in the night. "That is not at all why I laugh. I can see that what you have told that poor, miserable creature has come back to haunt you no sooner than the words were out of your mouth. I cannot unsay those words, so from this night on, my creation and everything in it is indeed at the mercy of Little Brother. From now on, when he returns to the upper world every five years, he will devour whatever he meets."
"Then why do you laugh, Old One," Brother Wolf asked, still trembling with fear.
"Why, just look at yourself," Old One said, shaking like an earthquake with laughter. "You are so frightened that your fur, once so sleek and black, has turned gray and wiry. It stands up as though you are in fear. And this is the mark you and your kind must bear from now on for what you have done."
REDMAN
A Micmac Indian tale told around the campfire
1
It was midsummer. Hot, heavy breezes blew lazily along the deep forest trails. Overhead, the leaves rippled like green water, turning up their undersides, presaging rain. Far off in the distance, thunder rolled like boulders tumbling downhill. Oppressed by the heat, Brother Wolf trod slowly along the path that led to Old One's campsite, which was beside the river with no opposite shore. While still some distance from the camp, Brother Wolf's sensitive nose detected something new, something he had never smelled before. As he got closer to the Old One's camp, he also heard a sound...a steady click-click-click that both puzzled him and filled him with apprehension.
At the edge of the forest, he halted. Dropping down onto his belly, he stared in wonder at Old One, who sat cross-legged on the ground in front of his wigwam, and the strange-looking thing that sat beside him. This new creature was the one making the click-click-click sound. After watching them in silence, Brother Wolf guessed that this must be a Human Being, the creature Old One had created so there would be someone who could enjoy his creation as much as he did.
In form, the Human Being looked exactly like Old One, only much smaller. Brother Wolf guessed that he would barely measure up to Old One's knee when they both stood. The creature's skin was the color of red clay and as polished as a smooth stone found on a riverbed. Whereas Old One's hair was white, the Human Being had long, sleek, black hair that reminded Brother Wolf of what his own coat once looked like before it turned gray and wiry. The longer Brother Wolf watched this Human Being, the stronger his spite became until, before very long, he began to think how wonderful, how absolutely exhilarating i
t would be to feel his sharp claws and teeth tear and shred that smooth, red skin. But Brother Wolf knew he could never destroy Old One's prized creation because Old One could see into his heart and would know that he had done it.
"Don't hide out there in the forest like a culprit," Old One called out. "Come and join me and Redman."
Brother Wolf stood up slowly and, puffing out his chest proudly, strode into the circle of Old One's campsite. All the while, Redman sat hunched over, rapidly striking one piece of stone against another. Small sparks flew to the ground with each click, making Brother Wolf shy away.
"Is his magic as powerful as yours, Old One, that he can create stars to sprinkle in the sky?" he asked.
"Watch," Old One said, nodding.
Before long, one bright spark dropped into the small nest of dried leaves underneath the rock. Leaning forward and puffing his cheeks in and out, Redman blew on it gently until a tongue of flame leaped into the air.
Brother Wolf watched in amazement as the flames rose higher. Here, indeed, was a wonder! Old One had taught this creature how to bring down to earth the fire that lights the sky. Brother Wolf's heart grew sour with envy as he looked from the fire to Old One and said, "Why do you do this? You never taught me how to make fire."
"You are afraid of fire, as any sensible creature should be," Old One replied after taking a long puff on his pipe. Redman sprinkled more dried leaves onto his fire, then gently placed small twigs in a wigwam shape over the blaze.
Brother Wolf's heart twisted with jealousy. "I have also heard from my brother animals that you have taught Redman how to carve rocks into sharp points and fasten them to sticks that fly silently through the air and kill," he said. "Why do you do these things for him and not for me, who was your friend long before this Human Being was created.
Old One leaned back on one elbow, looked up at the scarlet glow of the sunset, and solemnly shook his head.
"Your senses are keen, Brother Wolf, and your muscles are strong," he replied. "Your claws are sharper than any arrowhead, and your teeth cut deeper. You have no need for any other weapons."
"But I am curious, Old One," Brother Wolf said, suspiciously eying Redman and his fire, which now blazed high into the sky. "Why do you teach him these things?"
"Just look at him. He is naked and weak, and he needs all the help I can give him," Old One said with a trace of sadness in his voice. He drew long on his pipe and blew out smoke until it filled the sky, covering the dark red of the sunset.
"Who is to say that I, too, do not need protection," Brother Wolf said, his voice barely above a low growl. Green jealousy filled his heart and glowed in his eyes. His strong shoulders tensed as he looked at Redman whose long, black hair was as sleek as Brother Wolf's own fur once was.
"In the wintertime, I too am cold," Brother Wolf continued. "If I did not fear fire, I would love to bask in its warmth in my den. And there are many creatures who want to kill me...some for my flesh, and some for my fur. True, my senses are keen, and I am a swift runner. My claws and teeth are strong and sharp, but have you considered that I might also need more protection?"
Old One laughed so loud the trees around his campsite swayed and almost toppled to the ground. The water in the river rippled and rose high upon the riverbank. Trembling, Brother Wolf flattened himself to the ground, prepared to feel the crushing weight of Old One's anger fall upon him.
"Who—?" Old One shouted between rising gales of laughter. "Who in the world do you need protection from, Brother Wolf?"
"From Little Brother, for one," Brother Wolf said, still trembling with the fear of Old One's wrath. "Every five years, he and his children come out of the caves and feed on me and my children."
"This may be more your fault than mine," Old One said. His eyes glowed brighter than the sunset as he leaned forward and glared at Brother Wolf.
"Be content with what you have," Old One said, "for I have given you much, and I will give you nothing more."
Cowering, Brother Wolf backed away from Old One's campsite and, without another word, disappeared into the night-drenched forest.
2
"There he is. That is a Human Being sitting there beside the fire."
"Fire... feel hot."
"His name is Redman. He is what you were supposed to look like, Little Brother, until Old One decided to punish you and send you deep underground."
"He look... strong."
"But not as strong as you, Little Brother," Brother Wolf said. "No half as strong as you!"
Brother Wolf snorted with anticipation as he glared at Redman, then swung his gaze over to Little Brother, who crouched beside him at the edge of the forest. Brother Wolf could smell the fresh blood of a recent kill still dripping from Little Brother's mouth onto his chest and arms.
"Imagine it," Brother Wolf whispered to the creature beside him. "You should be enjoying the warmth of that fire instead of crouching out here in the cold darkness with me."
"Imagine... No imagine," Little Brother said, shaking his head. "Hungry."
"Redman is under your power," Brother Wolf said with a tensed and taunting voice. "Old One made all of creation—except for me—for you to devour."
"Yes... hungry... Now!"
"But—"
Deep in his heart, Brother Wolf knew that he wanted Little Brother to kill Redman, but something also told him that Old One could see clearly into his heart and would know that he had put Little Brother up to the deed. Finally, he admitted to himself that he could not withstand the wrath of Old One, so he said, "But we must leave now. Redman has weapons that will kill us before either you or I could get near him."
"Hungry!" Little Brother said with a sniffing growl that filled the night.
"No!" Brother Wolf said sternly. "You must leave the Human Being alone. He was made in Old One's image, and we cannot hurt him."
"Not hurt... Eat!" Little Brother said.
Brother Wolf bared his teeth and let loose a wild bark that startled Little Brother, who scuttled off into the darkness, squealing. Brother Wolf contentedly watched him disappear into the night shadows, unaware that the sounds he had made had alerted the Human Being, who now stood up and was watching Brother Wolf with an arrow notched on his bowstring. Redman steadily pulled the arrow back to his ear and took aim. When Brother Wolf turned and saw this, his heart went cold.
"No, don't kill me, Redman," he said. "I am here to protect you. Little Brother wanted to kill and eat you, but I have driven him off."
"You lie," said Redman. "You are jealous of me. I saw it today at Old One's campsite, and I see your envy even now, glowing bright green in your eyes."
"No. That is not true," Brother Wolf said.
"How can I trust you when you have such a lean, hungry look in your eyes?" Redman said just before releasing the bowstring. In one instant, there came the slick whistle of feathers slicing the air; in the next, the stone-tipped arrow pierced Brother Wolf's left eye and buried nearly half of the arrow shaft deep inside his brain. Without a sound, Brother Wolf dropped to the ground, dead.
3
"You may come out of the shadows," Old One called out late that night when a stirring of brush awoke him. He crawled out of his wigwam and sat by the door, straining to see in the lingering glow of his campfire.
"Come and speak to me, Redman," Old One said more sternly. Although he could see into the Human Being's heart, he could only see imperfectly. He knew that Redman was trembling with fear in the dark, but he didn't know why.
There was another, louder rustle of brush, and something silvery slipped out of the forest and into the clearing of Old One's campsite. For a moment, Old One was startled. The earth trembled beneath him as he stirred, unable to believe the testimony of his own eyes.
"Is it you, Brother Wolf?" he asked.
Filling his lungs with the night air, he blew a gust of breath onto his fire, making the flames roar back to life. In the sudden glare of light, he saw what had deceived him. Redman stood there with the bloo
dy skin of Brother Wolf draped over his shoulders. Brother Wolf's lower jaw had been removed, and his face leered sightlessly at Old One from the top of Redman's head.
"This was not a wise thing to do," Old One said, realizing immediately what Redman had done. "I gave you gifts so you could protect yourself. Brother Wolf was never your enemy."
"He came to my campsite. He sneaked up on me in the dark," Redman said. "When I saw him, he lied to me and said he had saved me from Little Brother, who wanted to eat my flesh."
Old One sighed heavily and shook his head.
"Come to me, Redman," Old One said, as he eased himself back into a sitting position. "One thing about you that still amazes me is that I cannot see as clearly into your heart as I can into the hearts of all the others of my creation. I don't always know what you think and feel." He sighed heavily. "Perhaps it is because we are so alike, you and I."
Redman was silent as he stood at the edge of the firelight, watching Old One cautiously as he patted the ground beside him, beckoning Redman to come and sit.
"Or perhaps I cannot see clearly into your heart because I am old and tired," Old One said sadly. "Come and sit here with me. Now that you have Brother Wolf's skin, you have taken on his powers and abilities. You are Shaman."
Old One sighed so deeply a moist wind blew over the land. Rain-laden clouds gathered in the night sky.
"I had hoped that my gifts would also make you kind and wise, but I see now that I was wrong. Suspicion, not compassion, appears to be the stronger force in the heart of a Human Being."
He leaned forward and, smudging his forefinger with ashes from his fire, he beckoned again to Redman, who lowered his gaze as he approached and sat cross-legged on the ground in front of Old One. He wrapped the heavy gray wolf pelt tightly around him as though he feared Old One would take it from him.
"This bothers me that I can't see clearly into your heart, Redman," he said as he poked his forefinger first into one of Redman's ears, then into the other. "Among my gifts, I gave you the gift of speech, but from this day forward, you and your children will no longer be able to speak with your brothers, the animals. You will hear them, but you will not understand what they say. And this is because you did not believe what Brother Wolf said to you when he spoke the truth."