Obed stood up and thrust his fist into the air. “All right!” He sat again, grinning.
The chief lifted his head slightly so he could look at Obed through his glasses, which had slipped down again.
Victoria moved her chair back so she could see Obed better. “Congratulations!” She offered her hand, and he shook it, still grinning.
“Was it Dojan who got the grant approved?” Obed asked.
“Dojan has been working hard in Washington.” The chief nodded toward Dojan, who stared out at the rain as if he hadn’t heard.
“Now for the next order of business.” The chief shifted more papers. “I have in front of me the results of the survey we sent to all Aquinnah residents. We had an eighty-five percent response, almost unheard of. We asked how residents felt about a gambling casino. Only five people out of almost three hundred said they wanted a casino.” The chief moved a paper to one side. “That, too, will have to be voted on. But we know now, for a certainty, the sentiments of the tribe.”
“Thank the good Lord,” Obed murmured.
“Lastly,” the chief went on, “all of us, with the exception of Victoria Trumbull, know why I asked her to this meeting.”
Obed and Dojan turned to face Victoria.
“It is my pleasure to give you this certificate, appointing you an honorary member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head/Aquinnah.” The chief faced Victoria.
Obed and Dojan stood. Obed reached into his pocket, brought out a package wrapped in tissue paper, and presented it to Victoria. She opened it to find a wampum necklace of sea-smoothed quahog shell teardrops set in swirls of antiqued green copper, wrapped like a vine around a leather thong. Obed fastened it around her neck. Her lavender turtleneck matched the purple wampum.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “Shouldn’t we smoke ceremonial pipes now to commemorate this?”
“Indian pipes, Mrs. Trumbull?” Chief Hawkbill laughed. “As I said a moment ago, times change. This is a smoke-free campus.”
Table of Contents
Cover Page
Title
Copyright
Dedication
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
INDIAN PIPES Page 26