John had expected to find vaguely shaped granite, not a perfectly formed head and hand with distinct scales! What the hell?
He cleared away firewood covering a massive shoulder and this time paid more attention to the wood as he removed it. Pieces in direct contact with Hairless Bear were clearly being eaten away. The wood didn't look singed; it simply seemed to have disappeared where it had been touching the surface of the Stone-Coat. Curious, John pressed his leather gloved hand against Hairless Bear for a few seconds and then examined the glove closely. "Damn!" we muttered when he realized that half of the thickness of the glove was simply gone! If he had kept his hand pressed against Hairless Bear a few seconds longer, he had no doubt that it would have also eaten away the surface of his hand! He put the partly eaten-away glove and a wood sample into a pocket and snapped more photos of the head before noticing that something was different about the eye.
The eye wasn't black anymore, but was glowing bright red, and it seemed to be staring directly at him! Dred and fear that he hadn't felt since he was a small child rushed through him and after reflexively snapping one more photo he half ran, half tumbled down the wood pile! He ended up lying on his back on the ground near the campfire and staring up at Hairless Bear, half expecting it to come fully alive and reach for him with its huge clawed hands! Hairless Bear didn't move, and as he watched the eye faded from glowing red back to dull black.
Ed heard the commotion and emerged from the tent to find the usually stoic Mohican lying on the ground and staring wide-eyed up at Hairless Bear. Ed could easily sense the fear in John's chaotic thoughts, even though the Mohican wasn't strongly telepathic. "What happened? Are you alright?"
John took a deep breath, sat up, and wiped his face off with his coat sleeve before responding. "I'll be alright. Nothing's broken physically, I think. It's getting dark soon; let's start our fire and then I'll tell you what I think just happened."
It took a quiet twenty minutes, a warm fire, and a shot of brandy before John would describe to Ed what had happened. He kept glancing up at Hairless Bear, Ed noticed, as he told his story.
"You aren't just making all that up to scare the hell out of me are you?" Ed responded.
"Not likely, but you can check it out for yourself. He handed his camera to Ed. Why don't you study my photos in the comfort of the tent while I fix our MRE stew?"
Fifteen minutes later Ed emerged from the tent with a haunted look and John Running Bear handed him the brandy flask and a cup of hot chunky stew. They each sat down in in front of the campfire on their little folding camping chairs and ate their stew and passed the brandy flask back and forth until it was all gone while they stared up at Hairless Bear.
"Holy crap, Running Bear!" Ed said at last. "What the hell!"
"I take it that my photos match up with my story."
"Glowing red eye and everything! Just as significant, Hairless Bear used to be only a vaguely shaped figure in stone, without a perfect head and arm and so forth with gemstone scales! Now after a few cold days it's a slimmed-down statue with pebbly looking scales that look like they might be made of ice or diamonds! Just like the Bear Claw!"
"Things will get even more dramatic if it starts moving," said Running Bear. "At that point this bear plans to run from that one."
"Let's not jump the gun, John. You have to admit that nothing that we've seen so far couldn't have been done using human technology. Think about it. The Tribe pulled a switch on us somehow and brought in an animated statue and put it on top of the Hairless Bear rock. The mechanical eye is driven by some sort of motion detector. I've got a little glow in the dark garden gnome back in storage at the Lodge that gets charged up by sunlight and says "keep off the grass" when it detects motion. The Bear Claw and what you saw could have been manufactured by the Tribe as an elaborate hoax set up to creep us both out.
"It did that. I'm very glad that Talking Owl packed us some brandy. And she's beautiful and smart too, all the way through, and that's not just the brandy and hormones talking, that's keen Native American senses and wisdom."
Ed was glad to see that his gnome argument, the brandy, and thoughts of Talking Owl had calmed and cheered John considerably. Ed refused more brandy for himself. "Drinking is a young man's game, John, and it mostly just makes me dizzy and tired as hell. It's early but I'm going to try to get some sleep. Too bad walkie-talkie radios don't work this near the Mountain. We'll have to wait until tomorrow to tell the others what happened."
"YOU ALREADY TOLD ME," said Mouse in his head. "I'LL PASS IT ON TO THE OTHERS TONIGHT. DREAM WITH THE TURTLES, RACCOON."
"RODGER THAT," Ed responded, as he helped John add some last wood to the fire and walked a bit away from camp to make some yellow snow before bedding down in the tent in his freezing cold sleeping bag. He shivered violently for at least ten minutes before the bag was heated by his body enough for him to be reasonably comfortable. He was putting earplugs into his ears when Running Bear entered the tent. "Want some earplugs, John?"
"No thanks; if that thing out there starts moving I want to hear it coming. I placed an empty MRE can on the woodpile that will cause a ruckus if the monster bear makes a move. You just relax and ask those turtles what the hell is going on."
Still feeling the effects of the brandy, Ed felt very relaxed. Even with the earplugs in it wasn't totally quiet though, even with no sound it was never quiet for him anymore. There was a constant murmuring of thoughts from everywhere, animal and human. He was getting better at tuning them out though, and he did so now, humans, mice, birds, and so forth: everything that he had come to recognize through his training.
Something still remained though; slow and quiet thoughts on the edge of his perception. In his alcohol slowed mind he began to think of the Mohawk word for turtle: "A'NO:WARA, A' - NO: - WA - RA, A' --- NO: ---WA ---RA. He gradually slowed his thoughts to the pace of the throbbing background, and as he repeated the word, he pictured the wood-turtle photo that Doc had discovered in the library.
After thinking the word slowly over a dozen limes he paused and started to doze off, but all the while he 'listened' to the slow background murmurings. Gradually a word began to form in his mind, vague and uncertain at first, but over a period of several minutes it became "STONE-COATS," followed in a few minutes by the words "HUNGRY" and "WAKE" and then finally a frightful visual image of Hairless Bear. The creature's eyes glowed red!
The vision caused Ed to fully wake and find himself in a totally dark tent. He sat up, located his flashlight and turned it on to discover Running Bear already sitting up with his sleeping bag wrapped around his broad shoulders and staring back at him.
"What finely woke you?" John asked. "You were murmuring in your sleep. I thought that you were having a nightmare."
"Or a vision," Ed told him. "Maybe it was all only a dream." He told John what he 'heard' and saw.
"The Mohawk take their dreams very seriously, but I do not believe this was only a dream, I think it was turtles. Tell me more about what the Hairless Bear of your vision looked like."
"It looked as much like a mole, prairie dog, or groundhog as a bear, though I guess that because it was whitish it looked as much like a polar bear as anything. But it had big long fingers and toes nothing like a bear. They were more like clawed hands than bear paws, but hands with two fingers plus a thumb, as though they were made to grab things. Big things, I bet."
"You could have noticed all that from my photos of the hand and then dreamed about it," said Running Bear. "But it could also be a message from the turtles. Do you want more brandy?"
"Not if it causes nightmares," Ed said. "Oh, and it had teeth like a beaver," he remarked, as he turned off the flashlight and he and Running Bear lay back down for more sleep.
"Teeth weren't showing in any of my photos," said John. "They weren't pointy teeth like those of a bear?"
"No, it had giant incisors like a beaver. Maybe the Tribe should have named it Hairless Beaver or Hairless Gopher instead of Hairless Bear. A
t least that wouldn't sound as scary."
Running Bear laughed. "A giant man-eating beaver or gopher would be scary enough!"
Both men slept, but for Ed strange dreams returned, again in the form of a slow constant message of warning. But Ed also sensed something else deeper in the background; a subtle but immensely powerful murmuring of a multitude similar to that of the jants, but it was clearly not the jants. There seemed to be countess thousands of hungry beings close by, beginning to stir from a long sleep and calling out like waking babies that demanded to be fed. Their thought was powerful but almost beyond the range of his perception, like a sound too deep to be heard. From it a single concept formed in Ed's mind: HUNGER!
Ed again woke in the darkness but this time he didn't wake Running Bear. Instead he simply broadcast thoughts about his dreams as strongly as he could in the hope that Mouse would receive them.
"RECEIVED," he sensed her immediate reply. Satisfied, he went back to sleep again, and this time though he could more easily sense the turtle warnings and Stone-Coat bleating he slept well.
****
Ed woke to the smell of soup and a soft kiss on his lips. Opening his eyes he was surprised and greatly relieved to find Mary instead of Running Bear at his side, and Jack sitting near her holding a cup of steaming soup. Morning sunlight shone through the fabric of the tent and Running Bear was nowhere in sight. Somehow they had survived the night!
"The good news is: you did it!" said Jack.
"I knew that you could!" said Mary. "I'm so proud of you!"
"The bad news is, the Ice Giants are real, and are waking up and hungry," said Ed. "But Turtle Man must be overjoyed that I can at last hear both turtle and Stone-Coat thoughts!" Ed said, grinning. "I suppose that Mouse told him already but I want to tell him about it in person myself."
The faces of Ed's visitors suddenly turned glum. "There is some really bad news, Ed. Turtle Man is dead."
"What?" Ed felt as though the breath had been physically knocked out of him.
"He died late last night very shortly after Mouse told him about your success," Mary explained. "Talking Owl thinks that he was hanging on to life in order to hear that piece of good news. She says that he died contented."
"Contented? Crap!" said Ed. "I should have waited until morning to tell anyone!"
"He was a hundred and fifteen years old, Ed," said Jack. "You helped him die happy. You can't do much better than dying happy at a hundred-fifteen."
"I suppose not," conceded Ed. "Who would want to live forever anyway?"
"The Tribe is of course in shock, especially Talking Owl."
"Mouse wants you and Running Bear to report back to the Lodge in person for the funeral and for Tribe leadership meetings that will follow," said Jack, as he handed Ed his cup of soup. "We don't know what the political fallout will be, but it might be messy."
"Messy political fallout?" Ed responded. "The damn Stone-Coats are real and they are hungry and they are waking up! Isn't that messy enough?"
"Rumor has it that Singing Moon wants to become the new Religious Chief," said Jack. "Drink your soup."
"Singing Moon?" said Ed. "That's absurd! She doesn't believe in Stone-Coats and she isn't even psychic! Worst of all she's a nasty piece of work personality-wise. Her daughter was Turtle Man's apprentice and should become Chief!"
"But Talking Owl hasn't talked to turtles," said Jack. "Singing Moon argues that since she hasn't, her daughter is no more qualified for the job than she is. Actually in theory you are now the only highly qualified Tribe member available."
Ed almost choked on his soup. "What?"
"Technically you are a member of the Turtle Clan and you are the only person alive to have talked with turtles and Stone-Coats," said Jack. "You should be a shoe-in for the title of Turtle Man and the job of Religious Chief."
"That's totally crazy!" Ed objected.
Jack shrugged. "It is what it is! But first things first: you and Running Bear need to report to the Great Lodge. Mary and I will keep an eye out here at the campsite while you are gone."
"Mary staying here?" objected Ed. "No way! What if the big stone beaver fully wakes up? I won't have it!"
"You aren't chief yet, Mr. Raccoon," said Mary. "I'm staying right here with Jack until you get back. I'll be fine; after all, I can run faster than Jack."
Ed and Jack both gave her a blank look in response.
"You both surely know that old joke about only having to run faster than the other guy when a bear attacks," she explained. "I'm quick as a squirrel but Jack is an old fart and slow as a turtle. Finish your soup, Ed, and get going."
"Swell," said Jack.
They carefully studied Hairless Bear and Running Bear took more photos before they set off for the Lodge. They satisfied themselves that Hairless hadn't moved since yesterday, but to Ed he looked slightly taller.
"Yes, his entire neck and shoulders are exposed today," said Running Bear. "Perhaps he is not getting taller but instead the woodpile is getting shorter. Or maybe both."
"Of course! He absorbs the wood!" said Ed. "Nevertheless we better get to the Turtle Man Lodge and then come back here pronto."
Ed and John half walked, half jogged to the Great Lodge of Turtle Man. Despite temperatures well below freezing, they found the amphitheater packed full of mournful Tribe members that stepped aside to allow the two newcomers to pass. Most were chanting or wailing as they shuffled their feet to help stay warm and/or commemorate Turtle Man. Many of the mourners were telepathic, but Ed could not distinguish many words or clear thoughts; it was as if the pain of the mourners was beyond the reach of mere language.
The Tribe Elders were all crowded into the Elder's Great Dome, close to a hundred of them, all facing towards the back of the Dome where the body of Turtle Man lay. Ed and John weaved their way through the other mourners, arriving at last at the bed of Turtle Man. The remaining Tribe leaders formed an inner circle around the bed, including the tearful Talking Owl. Even the always scowling Singing Moon participated.
The body itself evidently lay out of sight on the bed below a growing covering of parting gifts from the Tribe, including colorful robes, necklaces, and scarves. Ed was actually greatly relieved not to see a body; he hated funerals and in particular dead bodies at funerals. John Running Bear reached inside his coat and pulled out a huge hunting knife, which he reverently placed atop the pile of gifts.
Ed was aware of eyes turning towards him as he suddenly realized that he was expected to also provide a gift! What? He had nothing of value! Finally he fumbled with his wallet and produced a highly valued photo of himself and Mary, which he placed next to John Running Bear's knife. In case that wasn't enough he added his social security card, which was all worn out and he hadn't used in decades anyway.
Mouse mumbled something unintelligible amid the seething din of voices and thoughts that filled the Dome, and as one the two dozen people surrounding the bed reached down and lifted the entire bed shoulder high: frame, body, and gifts. Then as they wordlessly chanted, they slowly carried it away, around the glowing eternal flame and out the front door. The amphitheater crowd greatly increased the volume of their chanting and wailing. Ed had one hand on the bedframe, and struggled mightily to contribute to the carrying of it, and to avoid tripping his fellow bed-bearers. At one particularly icy spot he slipped and would have fallen, but was immediately supported by the immense strength of John Running Bear, who steadily walked beside him, along with hundreds of others.
Ed had no idea where the precession was going, but merely followed along with the others. At last at the far side of the amphitheater they sat the bed down upon a large woodpile and stepped back. Others added more and more wood around the bed, until it was surrounded and covered by a ten-foot high wood pile. A dozen flaming torches were abruptly thrown onto the woodpile by the chanting crowd, and it burst into bright flame.
In the woods around them a mournful chorus of howling grey wolves and coyotes erupted, and Ed thought that he hea
rd bears growling deeply and raptors shrieking high above. He extended his thoughts and confirmed that dozens of the creatures were nearby, and echoing the distress broadcast by their human brethren; friends of the Tribe that shared their sorrows as well as they shared the forests and mountains.
Ed and the Elders stood silently and watched the flame grow to a great height as it engulfed the bed and Turtle Man. The burning wood was mostly small, dry branches and it burned away very fast and hot; in twenty minutes most of it crumbled away and was gone, along with the bed, the parting gifts, and Turtle Man. Coals glowed red then slowly faded to darkness. For too short a time the funeral fire warmed Turtle Man's people, then like the great man's life it was gone forever, consumed into smoke and ash.
"He joins our ancestors, as we will someday join him," pronounced Talking Bear, officially ending the gathering.
When all flame was gone most of the crowd quietly dispersed and Mouse led Ed, John, and a dozen Tribe Leaders and Elders back to the Dome of Elders. There Doc joined them. The Leaders and Elders sat on the rug-covered floor in a circle near the Eternal Flame, and John, Ed, and Doc sat together behind them.
Mouse spoke first. "It is in such times as these that the Tribe needs to rally its true strength. We must pause in our mourning to address urgent matters. Before we discuss Tribe leadership I want us to hear and see what Raccoon and Running Bear have found. I gave everyone only brief verbal reports last night. Also we will get a report on the study of the artifact from Doc and White Cloud."
"I object," said Singing Moon. "Nothing is more important than Tribe leadership; that should be settled first."
Ice Giants Wake! Page 12
