by Danny Jewell
They were whisked away and in a moment found themselves at Apache Pass and were looking down at where it all started. Butterfield Stage Depot had long since closed and there was nothing much left other than the stone walls that was once a thriving depot.
Zeke said “Wow; what a view. No wonder it was so well loved by the Apache”. He looked over to Bascom and said “You killed so many good men and sacrificed many more for this. You have cast a shadow of pain upon the land that may never heal. All because you could not act like a true leader”.
The site faded from view and the two found themselves back at the camp looking at Kushiel.
Bascom was nowhere to be seen and Kushiel told them “You know what it is that will help heal the land and bring peace to the spirit of Cochise. You must look deep within your past Billy Two Trees to find the answer”.
“What about Bascom?” Billy asked.
“His day of Judgment is drawing near. We felt it would be good for the two of you to see what it is like when you are blinded by hate”.
There was a flash of light and then nothing but the dying embers of the fire.
For two hours the two of them talked and Billy done his best to recall what it was that the Angel spoke of that would bring their journey to an end.
Zeke asked one simple question that even surprised Billy. “Doesn’t the Apache people have a way through dance to communicate with the Spirits. If so can’t we, in this realm try to ask for their assistance?”
27
AMONG THE LIVING
Billy jumped up and told Zeke to get a big fire going.
The fire was raging and Billy told Zeke; “I am going to try and do “The Mountain Spirit Dance” and I will be the one in it they call the “clown” or conveyor of messages to those who ask questions of me. Trouble is, I am here without anyone other than you to do the asking, so if anything happens, just sit back and watch. There is nothing you will be able to do to help”.
Billy started slowly at first and then as his pace picked up, a slight breeze blew across the campsite.
To Zeke he could tell the energy Billy was exuding was taking its toll on him and yelled at him to stop or he would fade away to nothing and at that moment he could see them.
Elaborate were their costumes. Apache Crown Dancers and there were four of them. Somewhere were drums sounding and chants in Apache blending in with the dancers.
Billy could not stop and Zeke was beside himself in fear of Billy losing his life for this quest. Zeke jumped up and as he approached the dancers they enveloped Billy and they disappeared as if they never existed. Billy was gone!
Zeke searched frantically and yelled for Cochise. He then ran over to the horses and pleaded with them to help.
Mangas looked at him and said “You wished for help; you got it. All I can say is; if they return Billy, you will need to be ready because he will need energy”.
He went back and got the supplies out. Worry crossed his brow as he wondered what Billy would like when he got back. If he got back.
Billy found himself in his grandfather’s living room. The old man was sitting there looking straight at him.
“Are you the spirit of “Two Trees” my grandson or have the spirit gods come to play games with the mind of an old man?”
Billy waved a customary greeting and said “It is I, grandfather and am visiting from another realm. I have come to ask for your help”.
“James “White Fox” Matson was a wise man and knew the history of his people better than most. He had passed all he could onto his grandson and now he stood before him seeking his help in spirit form.
The old man got up from his chair and asked to see the hand that waved at him.
Billy showed it to him and the old man showed a toothless grin and said “Mark of the joining of spirits; took mighty strong magic to give you this”.
“It was Cochise” Billy stated proudly.
The old man sat back down and told Billy that the feds were all over the place trying to find him and that they had went through everything they could at all his friends and family’s places to find him. He also told him of how worried his sister was then it dawned on the old man “Who you join spirits with?”
“His name is Zeke and he is a black man with me on a journey to help Cochise. In order for me to come back I must find out something from the past that means a great deal to Cochise and is missing in his life”.
White Fox was a wise old medicine man and he told Billy that he understood what he had done and although he wished it could be undone, he would help all he could. He also asked if there was any kind of message he should give his sister to make her not worry.
Billy thought for a moment and said “Tell her that when she was watching me in the big game where I made that winning shot; well; tell her that I too wished that Laura and I could have been a couple”.
“I do not know the true meaning of it, but the other night I had a dream and in my dream Cochise was holding you and your sister as babies and he said how good it was to be an Apache family”.
The old man was about to ask more questions when Billy faded from his sight.
Zeke was ready and caught Billy before he could hit the ground. He dragged him over to where he had made a liquid of peaches and beef. Zeke poured it into Billy’s mouth a little at a time while making him swallow by holding his nose and closing his jaw. Soon, Billy was coming back around and was able to speak.
“Zeke; I was home. I saw my grandfather and asked for his help”.
“What did he say?’
“He said much about the feds and reservation police going door to door and trying to find me. He then spoke of a dream he had when my sister and I were babies. He said Cochise was holding us and telling us how proud he was to be a family”.
Zeke let out a whistle and said “You almost lost your life only to be told a dream”.
“I must remember things from my early childhood that will get us what we need to go back home”.
They were sitting together and before Billy could try and refresh his memory they found themselves in the middle of chaos. People were screaming and falling everywhere in the midst of gunshots.
28
CRIES OF THE FALLEN
Billy was still trying to recover from the loss of energy and get his bearings when he noticed they were in a cave. Billy looked around to hear the screams of children and their mothers who were desperately trying to shield them from bullets ricocheting off the walls and falling rocks being pushed down from above.
At first he could not see Zeke and then he caught a glimpse of him trying to get as many as he could to safety.
It was over in minutes and the men, women and children were scattered all over the cave.
There was a shout from outside and someone yelled “Tell Colonel Cook that we have secured the cave”.
Billy was heartbroken and when Zeke rushed to his aid, he said “We are in Salt River Canyon; a place called Skeleton Cave. These are Yavapai Indians and this was the senseless slaughter of Seventy-Six men, women and children that did not have a chance”.
As they were led from the cave a man in a Captains uniform came up to them and said “Well; look what we have here, two Apache’s”. Billy walked over and slapped him in the face. The Capt. grabbed his pistol and as he was bringing it upwards he saw the two of them disappear.
Billy was looking straight ahead and found himself in darkness. He could not believe things could change so rapidly. He whispered to Zeke and was relieved to find him only a few feet away.
The sun was coming up over the horizon and Billy could make out other bodies in the area. He looked closer and noticed their markings. He moaned and said to Zeke “I think we have gone and moved to Turret Peak in the Tonto Basin. If this is true; then in any moment this cave will be assaulted by U.S. Tro
ops and Apache Scouts”.
“What! Your people will help in another senseless slaughter of innocents”.
“They will be demoralized and come to their senses when this is all over. The white man will always try and take away the dignity of the Indian”.
At that moment all heck broke loose and there were the sounds of screaming and startled Yavapai Indians everywhere trying to escape the falling rocks and the flying bullets.
Zeke instinctively grabbed Billy and dove for cover. In the process he could feel the energy leaving Billy because of what was taking place was draining him to due to the spiritual connection they had. Billy said “Fifty-Seven men, women and children will lose their lives here today. Some civilians will be found dead here too. Zeke; the children are crying and I can’t get it out of my head”.
Zeke found an escape route with a few others and took it. There he came across their horses that took them away.
Zeke was too tired to make a fire and done the best he could for Billy. As the dawn approached Zeke went over to see how Billy was doing and how he fared during the night. To his amazement he saw Cochise bending over and talking to Billy. The Great War Chief stood up and disappeared.
The words of Cochise seemed to echo in Zeke’s mind “It will get much harder from here on out” and Zeke knew that his spirit mate could not endure much more of this. As he approached Billy he asked what was said and Billy only replied. “I cannot take much more of this and it seems Cochise has plans for me when this is all over. You will know soon enough my friend”.
As they looked out over the terrain they could see smoke rising from a village in the distance. Zeke helped Billy on his horse and they headed that way. As they hid behind a large boulder they saw a procession of fifty-three women and children being taken hostage. Billy stumbled and realized what it all meant. The Seventh Calvary Flag and Lt. Col. George Custer paraded by in triumph. Billy waited until they passed and told Zeke. “They did not have a chance. They are Cheyenne and this is The Battle of Washita River and we are in Oklahoma near Cheyenne. They have just caught over two hundred men, women and children while they were asleep and massacred them. Only fifty-three women and children were taken hostage. What you see in the distance is the Village on fire and several hundred ponies killed in the process”. It was a night of nightmares and when Zeke asked Billy what he dreamed of he surprised his friend by saying “The answer as to why we are here, “When I was very young my grandfather told me of how Cochise as well as all Indians were more like a British Dynasty in that we passed our heritage and rite of passage on to our young. Cochise had two sons; Taza and Naiche. Upon the death of Cochise, Taza took the position as Chief and later went to Washington with a delegation of Apaches on behalf of the Nation. He fell ill and rumors being what they were he was said to have been poisoned for his stand against the loss of land and confinements to a reservation. All in all, it was reported that he died from pneumonia. He is buried in Congressional Cemetery in Washington. I feel Cochise has asked that when we return to where we were then we are to mount a movement that will return Taza to his rightful place with his people. I understand how he would feel after all the conflicts with the government and love of his family”.
Zeke was looking at Billy funny and asked “How is that even possible?”
Billy had tears in his eyes when he spoke again “Zeke; I do not know how or when but when you saw Cochise speaking to me, he told me that I would not be going back with you. I will always be with you as your spirit guide. What we have done on this journey is that we at first and in what seemed like forever thought that it was all about how the Indians and the Blacks of this great nation were treated. Now I have figured it out. The past is what it is and we cannot change it. What matters most, to you, to me and to Cochise, is family. That is the one thing that no Empire or Government can truly take from us as long as we love and remember them. Zeke; you are my spirit brother and you will always be my family”.
Zeke was stunned to silence and sat down beside his friend. “Are you sure that is what he said? I mean; here’ look Billy at what I wrote while you were out of it. He had to choke back the tears in thought of losing his friend.
Billy took the paper Zeke handed to him and read it aloud:
APACHE BROTHERS
I AM BROTHER TO THE ROCKS, THE WIND, THE WATER AND ALL THAT FLY’S OR WALKS THE EARTH. MY SPIRIT WALKS THE EARTH WITH THOSE WHO RESPECT IT. I SHARE IT WITH MY BROTHER WHO SEES LIFE THROUGH MY EYES AND FEELS LOVE THROUGH MY SOUL. ONE WHO KNOWS THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF MAN REST ON THE UNSPOKEN WORD. THE GREAT SPIRIT HAS MADE ME A MAN AND MY JOURNEY HAS MADE ME WHO I AM.
I AM APACHE
29
IT’S NEVER EASY
Billy read what Zeke had written. Tears filled his eyes and he said “Thanks my friend; now let me tell you what I know about being raised an Indian and the stories my grandfather told to me as a child.
Billy went through all the old legends and the telling of them seemed to put life back into him.
Zeke did not miss a word and wrote down every bit of what Billy told him. He had to stop Billy on more than one occasion to catch up. He did not know where all the paper came from or why he never ran out of ink; he just mumbled thanks to whoever was listening for the chance to copy it all down.
It was deep into the night when they both fell asleep
A noise startled Zeke and he woke to find himself in a place that looked altogether too familiar.
It was the Tee Pee at Wounded Knee.
The gunshots and screams from the outside sent him rushing through the opening.
Soldiers were firing at Indians indiscriminately.
Zeke turned and say Billy come out of the Tee Pee; accept it wasn’t Billy; it was Kicking Bird and Zeke yelled “NO, GO BACK INSIDE”.
Billy was shoving Little Flower behind him for protection when, in horror Zeke saw the bullet pierce Kicking Bird’s chest just above the breastbone. In an instant Zeke was by his side offering comfort, “No Billy, not this way”.
Through the gunfire and screaming Zeke heard a voice say “Zeke; I will protect Little Flower and comfort Billy; It is time for you to go”. It was Sacagawea and as Zeke watched the life force drain from Billy’s wound looking like small orbs of light, his anger mounted.
As Zeke stood up he grabbed the knife from Billy’s waistband and growled “Not yet; I saw who fired that shot”.
With his life force draining from him Billy could get up just enough energy to say “Zeke; NO!”
Zeke headed towards the soldier with the intent of taking his life and the soldier seen him bearing down on him. He pulled back the hammer on his pistol and fired.
To the Soldiers horror and amazement, the Indian he had just shot at faded away, the knife he was carrying fell to the ground and stuck in the earth and the bullet went through the Tee Pee and pierced the lodge pole.
Zeke stumbled forward and found himself face down in the dirt. He shook off the dust and looked forward to get his bearings. The silence was deafening and Zeke turned around and called out for Billy.
“He is not here” was the answer that came to Zeke’s ears and as he looked around he saw Cochise appear before him.
“We will talk and ride Zeke Henley”.
“Where do I fit in all of this and will I get to see Billy again?”
Cochise replied “You have had your eyes opened and seen many truths about your people and mine. You know now that family is important to my people and to have my son buried so far from his homeland is not right. You will become a man of importance Zeke and I wish for you to take what you have learned and use it to help your people to return my son Taza to his homeland so his spirit will be at peace. As far as Billy is concerned, he is being judged by the Great Spirit and you may get to see him once more”.
Zeke was humble when he said “I am sorry for what the white man has done to
your people”.
Cochise grunted and said “Don’t be, all people of all nations have good and bad in them. Ignorance, greed and fear can turn brother against brother and friends into enemies. It is what we learn from our mistakes that makes us who we are meant to be. For all that the white man done to me and my family I still became blood brother to a man named Tom Jeffords who accompanied my body to its final resting place”. Cochise laughed “and they haven’t found it yet”.
They reached the Valley of Lost Souls and Cochise said “This is where I leave you Zeke. Mangas will take you the rest of the way and when you reach the other side you will dismount and be back to the place where we first met”.
Zeke reached out his hand and Cochise took his hand in his. “Thank you my friend” and as he went forward shouted “GOODBYE” to which Cochise only raised his hand in a customary gesture of parting.
30
LIFE GOES ON
Zeke started across the valley and as he did so Mangas looked back and said “As before; don’t look down”.
They reached the other side and Zeke paused before he got off and said “Mangas; I just want you to know that it has been a pleasure knowing you”.
“Even though you have been a pain in this horse’s butt; the feeling is mutual. Good luck Zeke”.
Zeke dismounted and found himself being kicked in the foot. He opened his eyes to see the clearing where he and Billy had bedded down for the night. He looked up at the sound of someone telling him “Wake up boy!” to see someone in a sheriff’s uniform holding a gun on him.
Well, I am Sheriff Jim Davis and want to know what you and that murdering Indian are doing in my jurisdiction.
Zeke was irritated; “Billy did what he did in self-defense. We are here because my truck would not start back up and we were trying to make it to the nearest town we could get to”.
