Spirit of the Lake

by Paty Jager

  “Yes. I have spent time at the mission. I do understand the so-yá-po’s tongue.” Pride curved her lips into a smile as he watched her with admiration shining in his eyes.

  “Can you read his words?”

  Her elation drifted away like leaves on the wind. “Some. I have learned only a little of the meaning of their scratches.”

  “When I found his lodge several men rode up. As I continued to watch him they came and went for several suns.” He scanned the trees beyond her and then back. “I have heard there are new White men at the northern border of the Nimiipuu land. I must go see what they are doing.”

  Her heart nearly stopped. “Then I will not see you for several days?”

  “I said I would be here at every high sun.”

  “How? It takes nearly two suns to get there.”

  “Not if I travel day and night.” He bestowed her with such a superior expression Dove could not take him serious.

  “And you will sleep the whole time we are together.” She laughed at his arrogance. He glared at her and stood.

  “It is time to take you back to the village.”

  He reached down to help her up. Dove didn’t hesitate to put her hand in his. Everything he had said and done to this point proved to her he would not hurt her. He pulled her to her feet as if she weighed no more than a summer flower. It pleased her he held her hand walking down the mountain.

  His stiff posture and regal tilt to his head revealed her laughing at his insistence he could go to the edge of the Nimiipuu territory and back in one sun and moon wounded his pride.

  To ease his annoyance, she stopped and faced him. “I can make it back to the village from here. I do not wish to hold you up from your travels.”

  “The short distance to the village will not make a difference.”

  “But it will make me feel better to know I am not keeping you.”

  “I will see you tomorrow.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before letting go. He gazed upon her face a moment before walking away. His slow perusal filled her with warmth and hope.

  “I will be there,” she said to his departing back.

  Dove continued to the village. Her heart floated and sung with goodness. For the first time since that awful day, hope replaced the despair. She did not want to ever relive that day. Two people believed her and would do whatever it took to prove her truths.

  She stepped out of the trees and saw two saddled horses in front of Joseph’s lodge. Curiosity and fear made her wonder which White men had come to visit, but at the same time she wished to get to Crazy One’s lodge and not be seen.

  Staying to the edge of the encampment, she walked swiftly to Crazy One’s tipi. The dwelling sat in the middle of the village. She wove her way through the lodges and the haze of smoke from the fires drying fish. Four steps from Crazy One’s lodge she heard a commotion and stopped.

  The men stepped out of Joseph’s lodge.

  Her feet would not move at the sight of the buckskin coat that had covered her head as her body was tortured. Anger and fear shook her body. How dare he come to her village and act as if he had done nothing wrong?

  She watched with clenched teeth as Evil Eyes shook hands with Joseph and Thunder Traveling to Distant Mountains. The man with him also shook hands with the chief and his son. Evil Eyes glanced around the encampment.

  Her heart pounded in her ears as his strange eyes stared straight at her.

  `Oylá-qc

  (6)

  A lecherous grin spread across Evil Eyes’s round face. Dove’s stomach pitched and twisted. An icy chill ran through her body, and her feet became two heavy boulders.

  He took a step toward her. Her hands shook. The man’s form blurred. Her head buzzed like the nest of wasps in the old pine tree. Her mind screamed to run and hide. Her heart argued to stand and face the man. To prove to the man, the village, and herself, she would not cower to the likes of him.

  An arm slipped around her shoulders, pulling her away from his evil gaze.

  “How is he so welcome?” Crazy One said, pushing Dove through their lodge entrance.

  In the lodge, Dove could no longer see the man, her anger seethed and swelled. How could he come to this village knowing he would see her? Did he think she had not said a word about his attack? Or did the chief tell him of her ranting and they had a good laugh?

  She shook with rage and stared at the blanket covering the opening, half hoping the man would set foot inside so she could shout her accusations at him for all the village to hear.

  “Was he not a coward to take a young woman? How could he think of following?” Crazy One handed her a carved, wooden bowl filled with a foul smelling liquid. “Won’t you drink?” she motioned with her hand to drink it all at once.

  The smell was enough to upset her stomach. “Wewukiye helped me keep down some berries, but this”— she visibly gagged—“will make them all come up.”

  Crazy One crossed the small space between them and held Dove’s nose. “How can I help you?”

  Dove tipped back her head and swallowed the liquid. Her body shook with revulsion. The aftertaste finally left her mouth, and she blinked at the woman through teary eyes. “What was that? And what is it to do?”

  “Why do you not sleep well? Is it bad dreams? Why not drink something to give you good dreams?”

  “The sun has not disappeared. Why would I want to sleep now?”

  A smile spread on the One’s face. “Were you not sleeping on a man not long ago?”

  Dove’s face warmed with the memory. “That does not mean I wish to sleep now.”

  “Was that drink to make you sleep now? Will you have pleasant dreams when you sleep as the moon rises?” The old one nodded her head. “What is it you wish for? Revenge? Honor? Respect? Love?”

  Dove stared at Crazy One. How did she always know what was in her heart?

  “Why not dream of all things you wish?”

  “Right now I wish I were strong enough to be with Wewukiye.”

  “Why?”

  “He is headed to the north border of the Lake Nimiipuu land to see what the White men are doing there.”

  “Ah?” Crazy One’s face scrunched up. “Was it not what Two Eyes talked to Joseph about?”

  “What did he say?” Fear stabbed at Dove, wondering if Wewukiye would walk into trouble.

  “Did not Two Eyes tell Joseph these men were passing through?” She shook her head. “What was Frog saying? Why were the men piling rocks? Why were they scratching on paper if just passing through?”

  Making sense of the questions, Dove was pleased to know Frog, Joseph’s youngest son, kept an eye on the White men. That would mean Wewukiye would not be alone if something happened. She could rest easily tonight and anticipate their meeting when the sun rose high in the summer sky. This may be the first night since her attack she would fall asleep with peaceful thoughts.

  «»«»«»

  Wewukiye crept through the trees toward the voices. The invigorating run to the far end of the territory made his senses alert. Dove had questioned how he could go so far and be back for their meeting. As a mortal and unknowing of his status, she had no knowledge he could run forever and never have to stop. He did not require rest or nourishment. For her to learn these things, he would have to tell her he was a spirit. Then he would fall in disfavor with the Creator. In all the many seasons he resided within the lake, he had never done anything to gain the Creator’s disapproval. A reprimand, maybe, he grinned thinking of some of the pranks he had done to irritate the lowly mortals while in elk form, but no one had ever discovered he was a spirit.

  He thought of Dove. Her dark eyes, compact body, and strength. She could very well be his one weakness. Now he knew the power the mortal Wren had had over his brother Himiin. He pushed Dove from his thoughts and peered through a bush, spotting five white men stacking rocks. One man held a stick to one eye and pointed to the next rise. The canyon splitting the two high spots was deep, narrow, and grueling to naviga
te. From the man’s gestures, the group planned to meet on the far rise.

  He smiled. It would take the men at least two days to get to that spot with their slow animals. The poor creatures carrying the supplies plodded slowly with their heads down—the image of weariness. One man pointed the opposite direction of the rise and all spun around to look.

  Wewukiye surveyed the men and beyond. Nimiipuu warriors surrounded a pile of rocks on the far rise. He could see Frog mounted among those studying the mound of rocks.

  Wewukiye grinned. Frog believed in action more than words. Wewukiye was not opposed to violence like Sa-qan. It would give him pleasure to watch Frog and his warriors have a clash with the intruding White men.

  The warriors disappeared, and Wewukiye took up a spot where he would not be seen, yet could watch the encounter. His only regret—Evil Eyes was not here to get a thrashing.

  The yellow-orange of the fading sun topped the rise, throwing long shadows and barely lighting the surroundings. The White men loaded their belongings and led their animals down the slope in the direction the man had looked through the stick.

  Where were Frog and his men? Wewukiye found it hard to understand why the Nimiipuu had not contested the men being in Nimiipuu country.

  He walked out to the pile of stones. The narrower top came to his chin while the base was the breadth of his chest. He stood in the gray light of the evening wondering why so-yá-po would pile rocks in such a manner. Standing in one spot wondering would tell him nothing. He followed the path of the White men down into the canyon.

  The skitter of rocks behind him set his senses on alert. The so-yá-po and their animals plodded ahead of him. Who could be coming up behind?

  The steep canyon, dotted with rocks and boulders had few trees to hide his massive elk form. He had to become smaller. He pointed his nose to the sky and shifted into man form.

  “I told you there wouldn’t be any trouble from that squaw.” Two men rode into view as Wewukiye ducked behind a boulder. The horses breathed heavily and their earthy scent of horse sweat met his nostrils.

  “How do you know she didn’t go to Joseph and tell him what you did?” The smaller of the two men spoke. His voice crackled with contempt.

  “I made it clear she wasn’t to tell no one. Or I’d take her again and any other squaw I found out in the woods.” The man laughed, lifting his face to the quarter moon. Wewukiye saw the light hair and different colored eyes.

  Evil Eyes.

  Why was he coming to the men piling rocks? Evil Eyes’s callous talk of violating Dove flushed Wewukiye’s body with rage. He clenched his fists and held the impulse to attack as the men rode by close enough for him to pounce.

  “Joseph asked too many questions.” The other White man’s voice shook with uncertainty. “I think the squaw told him.”

  “These Injuns aren’t going to do a thing. They’re too scared of the government taking their land to let a little fun with one squaw make them try anything.” Evil Eyes stopped his horse on the opposite side of the boulder Wewukiye hid behind.

  The nearness of the man made it hard to stay hidden. He loathed the man. An emotion he’d only felt toward evil spirits until now. The vileness of the feeling only deepened his conviction to help Dove show this man for his true self. To do the most damage to Evil Eyes and save Dove’s honor, he would gather information and keep his rage under control.

  “If I can keep Joseph and his sons happy until I gain the Indian Agent position and get rid of that Injun-loving agent, there isn’t anything they can do once I’m appointed.” He rolled tobacco in a paper, lit it, and blew smoke toward the darkening sky. “I’ve got several families willin’ to pay good money for a section of the valley.” Evil Eyes leaned toward his companion. “And I plan to make a killin’.” He laughed, jabbing his horse in the ribs and heading down into the canyon.

  Wewukiye waited until he could no longer hear the clank of horseshoes on rock before stepping out from behind the boulder. His fists clenched in anger. The man used his friendship with the Nimiipuu to feed his greed. No one but Dove would believe the words he heard. They would find proof of this man’s dishonesty. He gazed at the quarter moon nearing its highest point. To make his meeting with Dove, he must head back.

  Changing into elk form, he charged up the canyon wall, leaving the trail and moving in a straight line for the lake. His heart raced with anticipation to see Dove. Together they would find a way to stop Evil Eyes.

  «»«»«»

  Dove woke feeling rested for the first time since the attack. She peered through the smoke hole in the top of the dwelling. The sky gradually brightened as she thought about Wewukiye and his easy acceptance of her truth. Her heart ached for her family’s trust, but Wewukiye’s friendship lightened the pain.

  She pondered her emotions as she combed her fingers through her hair and added rabbit fur adornments. Crazy One smiled, making Dove conscience she made too much of herself, knowing she would meet Wewukiye this day.

  Frustrated with her confusing feelings toward the man, she pulled the fur from her braids and helped Crazy One prepare their morning meal.

  Seeing Evil Eyes the day before made her more determined to find out what he planned and make the leaders see his evil. How dare the man come to her village and act as if he did nothing. What angered her even more was Joseph still honoring the man at his fire. It stung like a slap to her face.

  The fish soup Crazy One boiled filled the dwelling with sweltering warmth and nauseating smells.

  “I am not hungry.” Dove picked up a basket woven of dogbane and headed to the flap and fresh air.

  A gnarled hand caught her arm. “Why are you not eating? Did not my uncle make you better?”

  Dove smiled at the strange endearment Crazy One gave the man younger than herself. She shook her head. “I am not ready for food right now. Maybe after my walk.” She smiled and patted the hand still clutching her arm and ducked out the opening.

  The village bustled with life. Women bent over fires, cooking the morning meal. Girls replenished wood by the fires, and boys hurried off to check on the herds. The men strolled up from the lake and their morning bath. Dove fought a twinge of envy as she watched a cousin help her husband ready his hunting gear for a trip.

  At nineteen summers, she was beyond the age to have a husband and a child. No one had asked for her hand out of respect to her father and his need to have her care for her mother. Now her aunts dealt with their chores and those of her father and mother.

  Dove glanced at the dwelling of her father. He had not said a word when she told of Evil Eyes’s treachery. Sadness settled in her stomach adding to her nausea. Her family had never been overly affectionate. It surprised her that her father had not added another wife to his dwelling since her mother could not handle the everyday chores and would never give him another child.

  Others of the band looked upon their family with guarded eyes. To not bring more children to The People did not add to the strength of the band. Was that why they did not believe her accusations? They already believed her to be against The People because of her father’s behavior?

  She left the village, cautiously scanning the trees and underbrush. Her first trip alone in the forest after the attack, she had jumped at every crackle and whisper. The fear lessened with each walk.

  One step into the canopy of pines, the cheerful songs of the birds let her know all was safe. Thinking back, she acknowledged what she had not that dreadful day. The forest had known evil lurked. She had not heeded the warnings. In her desire to gather more berries than the others, she had wandered farther from the group and not listened to the silence of the forest around her.

  The lesson had been hard taught, but she would heed the earth and listen from now on.

  She bent to pluck ripe red berries from the plants hugging mother earth. Her hand froze and her heart thundered. Panic squeezed her chest.

  Someone approached on hurrying feet.

  `Uyne’-pt

&n
bsp; (7)

  Wewukiye witnessed Dove entering the forest as he topped the hill on the north side of the lake. Evil Eyes had not headed back this way, but he couldn’t shake the need to keep her out of danger.

  He pushed his body through the brush and veered around the lake, heading in the general area he believed Dove had disappeared. He sniffed and caught a scent. His hooves moved faster over the forest floor. Fear hung in the air.

  Voices slowed his pace. He heard Dove’s soft voice. Her shaky words explained the fear he caught in the wind.

  Uncertain whether to proceed as an elk or slip into man form, he cautiously moved closer to hear the conversation.

  “Why do you not believe me?” Dove questioned the man standing in front of her. Her hands clutched her basket, turning her knuckles white.

  “Why do you wish to spread rumors and shame our family?” The man grasped her arm, jerking her closer to him.

  “I have done nothing wrong.” Her words did not come out as forcefully as they should to show this man she spoke the truth.

  Wewukiye stared at the man. Who was he that he questioned her so?

  “Your mother will not be of this earth much longer. I see it in her eyes. Do not send her to the earth believing her daughter tells stories.”

  Dove glared at the man. “Do not use my mother’s sickness to make me tell lies. I have told you, my mother, and those who lead us the truth. You will all perish at the hands of the so-yá-po if you do not heed my warnings.” She pivoted to walk away.

  “Do not walk away from me, daughter!” The man’s voice wavered in the wake of his command.

  Dove spun around, the hurt on her face revealed more to Wewukiye than her words. “I am no longer your daughter. I could not have come from someone who believes the words of the so-yá-po over a child of his loins. Go back to my mother and tell her I miss her, but I will not live with people who say my tongue is tainted.”

  The man stood still as Dove ran into the trees not far from where Wewukiye stood. He followed keeping enough distance between them she would not become concerned.