Spirit of the Lake

by Paty Jager

  “The woman gave birth to a child. There is no proof it is Two Eyes’s child.” Chief Joseph peered at Wewukiye. “We have only the words of this man and the claims the woman made. No proof.”

  “And the woman? What has happened to her?” William stepped up to Wewukiye.

  “That so-yá-po”—he nodded to the still unconscious man on the horse—“shoved her and the baby in the water. She thrust the baby away from her, and I saved the child, but could not get to her—before—”

  William scanned the area. “Who else witnessed this?”

  Crazy One stepped forward.

  “Is that all?”

  “Is that not enough?” Crazy One’s voice rang hard and challenging.

  William faced Joseph. “Let me see this child.”

  Thunder Traveling to Distant Mountains led him inside the lodge.

  Chief Joseph turned troubled eyes on Wewukiye. “My brother, set her down so the women can take care of her.” He stepped forward, his hands motioning to the lodge next to his.

  Take her there but only allow Crazy One to remain with her. Sa-qan’s firm tone helped renew his composure.

  Wewukiye nodded and walked to the lodge. “Come, my niece.” He no longer cared if the band learned who he was. He only wanted Dove to fulfill her gift. Then he would walk into the lake and never set foot among mortals again.

  Crazy One entered the lodge and held the blanket back. He knelt, placing Dove on a bed and kissed her cold forehead. A tear slipped from his eye and slid down into the corner of hers.

  “You will forever hold my heart.”

  “Do you not want to help them find the man who caused this?” Crazy One pulled him to his feet.

  He nodded, gazed once more at the serene face of Dove, and ducked out of the dwelling.

  Thunder Traveling to Distant Mountains met him outside. “My wife will feed the child. Lightning Wolf will remain with our band and Silent Doe will raise the child as hers.”

  Wewukiye nodded. It was best.

  William walked to his side. “When the man wakes, I want to talk to him. Then we’ll find O’Rourke and question him.”

  Wewukiye grabbed a bucket, walked to the lake, filled it, walked up to the so-yá-po, and threw the water in the man’s face.

  The man sputtered to life and skidded back.

  “Where’s the elk?” the man said hysterically in the White man’s words.

  “What elk?” William asked.

  “The elk that tried to kill me!” The so-yá-po stared wild-eyed at all the Nimiipuu gathered around him.

  “Why did you kill the woman?” Wewukiye asked in Nimiipuu looming over the man, opening and closing his fists in an attempt to not grab the man and squeeze the life out of him.

  A hand clasped his shoulder, drawing him away from the so-yá-po. He shook it off and found himself held back by Frog and Thunder Traveling to Distant Mountains. He could easily shake them off, but restrained himself as William stepped between him and the man cowering on the ground.

  “Why did you kill the woman?” William asked in the language the White man understood.

  If any more color could drain from the man’s face it did. “W-woman?”

  “The one kneeling by the lake.” Wewukiye said in Nimiipuu, and William repeated for the sorry lump of man.

  “I-I didn—”

  Wewukiye shook off the brothers and stepped forward, menace drawing his lips back from his teeth.

  The man scrambled backward until his back hit the legs of two warriors standing behind him. He glanced up at their stern faces then at Wewukiye. He gulped visibly and stared at Agent William. “Don’t let them have me. Jasper said to get rid of the troublesome squaw and the kid and I could have all the land I wanted down by the river.”

  Wewukiye leaned down. The man pushed against the warrior’s legs. Wewukiye grabbed him by the shirtfront.

  “The land is not his to give. It belongs to Mother Earth.” He shook the man and dropped him to the ground. Pivoting, he started into the trees.

  “Where are you going?” William called after him.

  “To bring back the man responsible for Dove’s death.” He didn’t miss a stride. He would disappear among the trees, change to elk form, and scour the valley for the man.

  “You must not go alone. We have to do this right or risk consequences on the Nimiipuu.” William’s words stopped him.

  He wanted the man dead, but he could not bring trouble to the Nimiipuu. He sighed.

  “Revenge is an evil partner, my brother,” Thunder Traveling to Distant Mountains said, leading a horse over to him.

  Wewukiye nodded, but he only saw Dove’s sweet smile. He needed to make sure the man who stole her life paid.

  Mita áptit ná·qc

  (31)

  Cold flowed through Dove but did not chill her. The same floating sensation she experienced when Wewukiye made love to her seeped into her arms and legs.

  Wewukiye? Where are you? Where is my child?

  “He is with the others. Your child is well cared for.” Sa-qan’s voice startled her.

  Dove moved her head and spotted a light-haired woman and Crazy One. She sat but her body remained on the blanket. Fear and uncertainty froze her movements. “What is happening?”

  “You drowned in the lake.” The beautiful woman brushed her moonlight hair from her shoulder and smiled. “I am Sa-qan.”

  Dove gazed at Crazy One who smiled and nodded.

  “No, Wewukiye saved me. I had a child. My child, where is she?” Panic ripped through her, spearing her heart. She had to save her child, save her people.

  Sa-qan placed a hand on her arm.

  Calm swirled over her like steam from the sweat lodge.

  “Your child is fed by Springtime. She had a son three suns after you had your daughter. Silent Doe will raise your daughter as her own.” Sa-qan smiled. “The elders and Agent William are with Wewukiye searching for Evil Eyes.”

  “But if I am dead why do you see and talk to me and I talk to you?” She needed Wewukiye, she did not understand.

  “You are now a spirit. Your mating with and capturing the heart of Wewukiye added great strength to your power. You never wavered from your duty to your people. This impressed the Creator. He wishes you to continue your duty alongside Wewukiye.” Sa-qan winked. “I agree you would fulfill your gift to your people as a spirit.” She smiled and shot a glance at Crazy One. “I could use a female to talk to now and again. All these seasons upon seasons with only my brothers has become tiring.”

  Dove stood and walked around her body. “I do not understand. Wewukiye and you have bodies, why do I not have one?”

  “You will once the Nimiipuu have mourned and your body is free from this earth.” Sa-qan narrowed her gaze. “But you must not return to your village or people in this human body.” She glanced at the form peacefully reclining on the blanket.

  “How will I know my child?” Her heart weighed heavy knowing she would not hold or care for her daughter.

  “We will teach you ways of being around without being seen. You will miss little of your child’s years.” Sa-qan tipped her head. “The men return. Crazy One take Wewukiye to the log by the lake. We will meet you there.”

  “Do you not want him to see the body again?” Crazy One gazed at the lifeless body on the bedding.

  “If he wishes. We will not be here.” Sa-qan grasped Dove’s hand. “Think smoke.”

  Dove stared at the women. Both smiled and nodded. How had she become a spirit so easily? Wewukiye had spoken of her powers, but she had thought he spoke of this to make her strong and carry out her gift.

  Think smoke. Sa-qan’s words swirled in her head.

  Dove peered into the fire, watched the smoke drift to the smoke hole. She closed her eyes, breathed in the acrid scent, thought of the undulating gray wisps drifting toward the smoke hole. She warmed, relaxed, and floated out the top of the dwelling.

  «»«»«»

  Wewukiye leaned over the neck
of the horse and read the tracks left by Evil Eyes. The so-yá-po moved fast. Trying to run from his fate.

  “He knows we follow,” Thunder Traveling to Distant Mountains said, peering into the trees.

  “Yes.” Wewukiye wished he could leave these mortals behind and turn into an elk. He would catch the man and… Revenge wrapped around him like wild berry vines, clinging, irritating, and igniting his anger. “I will go ahead and stall him.”

  Frog nudged his horse forward. “I will go with you.”

  “I can move faster alone.” Wewukiye squeezed his knees, urging his mount forward. He would lose Frog and turn into an elk. He must avenge Dove’s death.

  Pounding of hooves and a hand grasping his mount’s rope, stalled his thoughts and brought them both to a halt.

  Frog’s red face and round, angry eyes stalled Wewukiye from yanking his horse from the warrior’s grip.

  “You cannot avenge Dove by starting a war. Your feelings have been noticed by all. If the so-yá-po came to harm before Agent William takes him, we will all suffer.” Frog released his horse. “We do this together.”

  Wewukiye turned from the man’s watchful eyes. Frog spoke the truth. He wanted to harm the so-yá-po. He wished only for revenge. He swallowed the hatred and thought of Dove. To kill the man would not help Dove fulfill her gift.

  He nodded and urged his horse up the canyon wall to get ahead of Evil Eyes by taking a shorter route. “We must travel quickly.”

  Frog grunted assent. Wewukiye led the warrior swiftly along a path he knew well from his travels as an elk. He slowed and pointed down. Evil Eyes moved through the brush below peering over his shoulder.

  “We will get ahead of him and scare him back toward the others.” Wewukiye urged his horse forward, working his way lower to get in Evil Eyes’s path.

  Wewukiye stopped his horse and spoke loudly. “Have you seen Two Eyes?”

  The sound of an approaching animal stopped.

  “He is said to be heading this way.” Frog stated also with much volume.

  “We will find him.”

  Crashing brush resounded in front of them as Evil Eyes turned around.

  Wewukiye followed at a pace that kept them within hearing distance of Evil Eyes.

  Shouting in the White man’s words and Nimiipuu drifted to them on the wind.

  Wewukiye smiled. Evil Eyes was caught.

  He continued forward at a sedate pace even though his heart raced to capture the man who caused torment to Dove and her eventual death. Frog watched him. The warrior moved his horse ahead right before they overtook the party of Nimiipuu and White men surrounding Evil Eyes.

  Wewukiye pushed his mount between Thunder Traveling to Distant Mountains and Agent William. Evil Eyes’s mouth clacked shut, and his eyes widened at the sight of him.

  “You will pay for the pain and death of a great Nimiipuu maiden.” Wewukiye glared at Evil Eyes wishing him all forms of extended torture.

  “We will get to the truth.” Agent William waved a hand toward Evil Eyes. “Ollokot, lead Mr. O’Rourke’s horse.”

  A weighted gaze drew Wewukiye from glaring at Evil Eyes. He turned his head and witnessed empathy and guilt in Thunder Traveling to Distant Mountains’s gaze.

  The realization Dove gave her life to save many more, didn’t help the loss he felt. Her child would never grow up knowing the wonderful woman who sacrificed much to give her life.

  He followed solemnly behind the procession moving at a trot back to the lake village. He wanted to feel empty, unable to go on, but the fire to prove Dove right and fulfill her weyekin kept him from charging through the others and taking the life of the evil so-yá-po.

  Evil Eyes fought the rope securing him to his horse and shouted words Wewukiye had never heard. He believed them to be White man words, but they made no sense to him.

  “O’Rourke, cork your mouth or I’ll do it for you,” Agent William said in a tone that meant business. But Evil Eyes responded in louder, surlier tones.

  Agent William yanked a cloth from his pocket, knotted it, and shoved it in the man’s mouth to staunch his angry threats. This show of authority made not only Wewukiye snicker but also several of the warriors.

  They entered the village by the light of the half moon. Everyone gathered around as Agent William called for Dove’s child to be brought forth. He took the infant from Springtime. Dove’s daughter cried. Wewukiye stepped forward to comfort the baby, but Agent William nodded him away.

  Wewukiye experienced the child’s fear and unease. She needed her mother. He needed her mother.

  Agent William blew softly in the child’s face. Her small eyelids popped open. William made a show of looking from her eyes to the bound man’s face. Evil Eyes stopped squirming. His brow scrunched as his narrowed eyes stared at the child.

  Springtime relieved the agent of the baby, cuddling the child to her breasts. Dove’s daughter would be cared for.

  William walked over to Evil Eyes and yanked the cloth from his mouth. “Do you still deny the child is yours?”

  “Where is that worthless squaw? Why isn’t she out here accusing me?” He looked around. “Could it be because she didn’t want you to know it was all her idea?”

  Wewukiye growled and stepped forward his hands reaching for the man’s throat. Frog and Thunder Rolling to Distant Mountains grabbed him.

  Agent William raised his hand stopping the words flaming on Wewukiye’s tongue.

  “She’s dead. And according to the man who did it, by your orders.”

  A wicked smile showed Evil Eyes’s tobacco-stained teeth. “You can’t believe every sodgrabber. Who has dealt with the army for you and helped you stay in this valley?”

  Wewukiye didn’t like the way Evil Eyes changed the subject. “If the maiden liked your treatment why was she bruised all over and wishing to end her life when I found her?”

  Gasps and whispers filled the air around him. Wewukiye didn’t want to give up Dove’s secrets but he saw no other way to trick this man into telling the truth.

  “I told you she liked it rough. Couldn’t get enough.”

  The lecherous leer on the man’s face broke Wewukiye’s calm. He lunged forward, breaking free of the brothers and grabbing Evil Eyes by the hair. “Cut him loose. I want to settle this between us.” He loomed over the man. Wewukiye witnessed the fear in Evil Eyes the instant the so-yá-po recognized him as the one who threw his rifle a great distance.

  Evil Eyes’s face paled. “Don’t let him get a hold of me!”

  Agent William stepped beside Wewukiye and peered at the so-yá-po. “Did you take Dove forcibly?”

  Wewukiye yanked on Evil Eyes’s hair, raising him off the ground.

  “Yes. The damn squaw scratched like a wild cat.” He stared straight at Wewukiye. “I’m glad she’s dead.”

  Wewukiye grasped the man’s neck in his hands.

  No brother. That will not help the Nimiipuu. Sa-qan’s calm voice stilled his actions but didn’t lessen the rage eating his gut and searing his heart.

  A wail rose from the group gathered round. Wewukiye spun to the sound and witnessed Dove’s father helping her mother stay on her feet.

  “You may give this man the Nimiipuu punishment for violating a woman. I will have him punished by his own people for the murder of Dove.” Agent William handed Evil Eyes over to Frog.

  Wewukiye stared at Thunder Traveling to Distant Mountains. Why would he allow William to take Evil Eyes to a White man’s justice? He violated Dove and sent a man to kill her. He also told the Nimiipuu untruths and pretended to be their friend. All those reasons to Wewukiye meant Evil Eyes should be punished completely by the Nimiipuu, the people he injured.

  “He has violated our people. How can you believe the so-yá-po’s laws will bring justice?” Wewukiye held Thunder Traveling to Distant Mountains’s arm.

  “We must live in peace with the so-yá-po. Agent William will make sure Two Eyes is punished. If we were to punish him, the White army would force us t
o leave.” Thunder Traveling to Distant Mountains’s eyes held sadness. “We must learn to follow the White man’s rules. It is not easy, but it is necessary.” He followed the procession escorting Evil Eyes to the whipping tree.

  Evil Eyes’s cries rang across the moonlit village. Wewukiye wished the man pain and eventual death for taking Dove’s life, but he would not watch. He left the punishment to others. His aching heart wished only to cast his gaze once more upon Dove before he vanished into the lake and never sought another mortal.

  Wewukiye entered the lodge where Dove lay. The sight of her motionless body and serene face dropped him to his knees.

  “Would she want you to cry for her?” Crazy One placed a hand on his shoulder. “Should you not speak to your sister?” She drew him to his feet and tugged him out into the glow of the half moon.

  His feet followed, but his heart remained in the lodge.

  “Is this not what you need?” Crazy One motioned in front of her.

  He glanced at the downed tree where he, Himiin, and Sa-qan spent many hours talking. Two women sat upon the log.

  “Why are you taking me to see women? Where is Sa-qan?” Moonlight danced silver across the hair of one of the women. His sister. How many seasons had it been since he saw her in woman form?

  But who sat with her?

  His steps faltered. He did not care to converse with any other than his sister. She would not understand his loss, but she would honor it.

  The woman beside Sa-qan shifted, and his chest constricted in shock.

  Dove slipped off the log and ran to him. He wrapped his arms around her but she wasn’t there.

  She laughed and his heart bounced around in his chest like a bird caught in a dwelling.

  “How?”

  He could see her but his hands slipped through her.

  “The Creator has made me a spirit like you. Only I cannot regain my human form until they put me in the earth.” She laughed again. “We will now be together forever.”

  If he could kiss her he would and never stop. “Without you, I thought my world would never be full of life again.”

  The flap of wings drew his attention. “Keep her well, brother.” Sa-qan leaped in the air and soared toward the moon.