by Bobby Dennis
“She just gave birth to a son, I delivered him. I will have this woman.” said Lao.
“Good for you, but you know if someone else lays claim, you will have to fight for her.” said Standing Bear.
“I would die for this one.” said Lao.
“I must see this one for myself if she has so much inflamed you.” Standing Bear said.
“She is beautiful,” said Lao.
Standing Bear looked at him, then said. “I’ll see.” Lao left the Teepee and walked silently into the dark night.
* * * * * The next morning Lao Tzu went to the Teepee where Amanda was the night before. He brought her a buckskin dress and moccasins for her feet, and a bowl of food. He ducked thru the entrance as she lay there asleep with the baby in her arms.
The baby was wide awake and quiet, his eyes followed Lao as he came across the room. Lao had never seen such awareness in one so young, or the eye control. He knew this would be a great one with the proper training and he planned to be the one to train him. He took the baby and held him in his arms, and moved one of his hands from side to side in the baby’s face; then up and down. He watched the baby’s eyes as he moved his hand, the eyes moved in sync with his hand. The baby never once turned his head, or made a sound. So Lao grabbed him in both hands and tossed him into the air time and time again and the baby just smiled. Lao tickled him and he laughed, so he held him to his chest and said aloud. “You will be my son.”
“It looks that way to me.” Amanda said. Lao turned to her and looked into her eyes and they smiled at him.
She had awaken when she felt him take the baby from her arms. At first, she didn’t know that it was him. She cracked her eyes, saw that it was him, the man with the funny name and pretty eyes. She watched every thing he did and saw that her son never uttered a sound. She had been around many babies and most of them cried through the night, but her Raven was a quiet one. The only sounds she heard from him was when he sucked her swollen breast, the next time was when pretty eyes tickled him.
She didn’t know where she would go from here, or what she would do. She was ill prepared to travel, now that the baby was born. She could leave him with pretty eyes who she knew would take care of him, but what would she do after that? She would take a few days to regain her strength, then plan her next move.
Lao had looked in her eyes the entire time she was lost in thought and she was unaware of his intense stare until he spoke.
“You will stay with me, you and the boy. He will be my son and you my wife.”
“What if I don’t want to be your wife?” she asked.
“In time you will, you have no place to go nowhere to turn. It’s obvious you’re running from something, I’m simply offering you something to run to. Take your time, regain your strength, today you will move in my Teepee. Sparrow will be your sister, Little Bird your son.”
“I don’t know pretty eyes, let me think about it.”
“There is no time to think about it. When the Braves see you, one of them will make the choice for you as I have.” he said.
“I have never seen a man like you before, you look kind of like an Indian, but your eyes and skin are different. What kind of man are you?”
“I’m from the land of chin, or china as these in this country say. I come from a land far away, as do your ancestors here.” He said. “Put these on.” He gave her the dress and shoes he had brought.
“Eat this.” he passed her the bowl of food he had brought.
She stood and held the dress against her. He saw the lush swell of her breast, the roundness of her stomach, the plumpness of her sparsely covered pubic mound and the generous curves of her hips.
She pulled the dress over head and again he drank in the loveliness of her naked body. The soft buckskin dress fit tight on her. He knew that over the coming months as she matured all of the excess weight would melt away from her. She would really be a sight to see. Then she sat and hungrily devoured the food.
When she was done he passed her the baby, then said. “Come on, I’m taking you to your new home.” She took the baby and followed him.
Standing Bear’s tribe numbered about 400 people, mostly women, children and the elderly. About 150 were warriors. The tribe had nearly 500 horses and that’s how a man measured his wealth. Lao had twenty horses and by their standards he was wealthy.
As they walked across the camp, the people watched. The Brave’s watched the sway of Amanda’s buttocks and the full round swells of her breast and made obscene gestures. Lao Tzu walked with his head held high, Amanda a few paces behind. As they came to the Teepee, Sparrow floated out with Little Bird riding her hip. Lao had told her of his plans and she was glad to be getting a sister and mother for her son.
The women did all of the camp work and skinned the kills the men made, so she was glad for the extra help. She was like a princess in the tribe, but did the same work as the other women.
Sparrow was a beautiful woman, shapely but small. She stood about 5’ 1” and weighed about 100 pounds. She had a boyishly slim body with curves at the breast, hips and buttocks. Amanda on the other hand was at least 5’ 9” or 10” and weighed 150 pounds. She was tall as most of the men in the tribe. Very few women were her size, though many were heavier and wider.
Sparrow hugged her, then said. “Welcome sister, we will do well together.”
Amanda hugged her as the crowd stood and watched.
A big Brave with bow in hand, and a quiver of arrows slung over his back. A knife and Tomahawk at his waist, dressed in breechcloth and leggings stepped from the crowd and grabbed Amanda’s arm and pulled her away from Sparrow’s embrace.
“Night Bird you come with me.” he said.
Amanda snatched her arm free and he reared his arm back, and shot a wicked slap towards her face. Before the blow landed Lao blocked it and turned it away.
“Brother you would discipline my woman?” asked Lao.
The man who’s name was Coyote looked at him, then said. “The woman is not yours, I stake claim to her!”
“You have no right to stake claim to her, I delivered her son who is now my son. She is my woman and that is not a claim that’s a fact.” Lao said.
Coyote pulled an arrow out of his quiver, held it in front of Lao’s face and snapped it. “At noon, to the death,”
“As you wish,” said Lao.
“That’s what you meant when you said a Brave would make the choice for me?” asked Amanda.
“Yes that’s it,” Lao replied.
“What will happen now?”
“One of us will die during the fight.” he replied. “Whoever wins, you’re the prize.”
If you were the daughter of a Brave I would have paid the bride price of two or three horses, but since you’re not then there will be a contest. He made the challenge so he sets the rules. Rarely is it ever to the death. One fall or first blood, but this runs deeper than you I’m afraid. I’m an outsider here Mandy and some of the Braves resent my status. I’m considered a Shaman, or Medicine Man by them. If I had been Cherokee he never would have made the challenge because they usually hold the Shaman up to high esteem. It borders on worship. The Shaman they had before I arrived, left after I did some things he couldn’t. He thought his medicine had failed him and that the spirits favored me.
It had nothing to do with spirits, but my knowledge of medicine and medical techniques was greater than his. I tried to explain it to them, but I was not as skilled in their language as I am now. That was almost five years ago.”
“What will you do, he’s so much bigger than you?” asked Amanda.
“I will kill him and take my prize.” he said.
He looked at her, touched her face and smiled. She looked so uncertain.
“You will get to know me and I will tell you of my past, but from this day forth I want you to know that the truth will be our bond. Trust me, never doubt me, or you may plant the seed of doubt in my heart and a moments indecision could cost me my life. I’m confide
nt in my abilities and after today you will be too.”
“Alright pretty eyes,”
They all went into the Teepee where they sat and talked. Sparrow explained to her their duties and acted as if she knew Lao would win. Her confidence lifted Mandy’s spirits. What Sparrow knew and had seen, was that no man had ever bested Yellow Bird in a physical contest no matter which.
They sat and Sparrow taught Mandy how to build a carrier for her son, so she could strap him on her back and work. She also showed her how to rig a sling so she could carry him in the front and let him suckle while she worked.
Lao Tzu went and checked the sun, came back, and said. “It is time.” He grabbed his weapons and the women followed.
* * * * They came to an area that was marked off around a Buffalo wallow, almost the entire tribe was there. Standing Bear stood at the edge of the wallow and waited as Lao Tzu and Mandy approached. She would stand there at the edge and watch.
Coyote stepped from the crowd with a 10 foot leather strap that had loops at both ends. He and Lao Tzu stood before the Chief.
“Coyote you made the challenge. What is it to be?” asked Standing Bear.
“A death match!” said Coyote as he snapped the leather strap. “Let him choose the weapon!”
“You should choose the weapon that will make your death more merciful and swift, great warrior.” said Lao. He turned to the assembled tribe then said. “Who will father this Brave’s future children? Let those men now take his wives. His words have brought death upon his head as you will see. He has had time to think clearly about the type of contest, he chooses death. Any two men who stand in front of me will be cut down like standing grain at harvest. Coyote I give you this time to do your death dance, for the spirits on the wind whisper your name.”
Coyote looked at Lao Tzu then spat in the dust to show his contempt, and said. “Big talk for a little yellow bird.”
Standing Bear grabbed the leather strap, tested it, then made a loop over each man’s left wrist and drew it tight.
Coyote pulled a foot long knife, then jumped in the shallow depression in the earth. It was about 10 feet around.
Lao Tzu jumped in and pulled his big knife. No sooner had he done so than Coyote attacked. Blade held in an underhand stabbing motion, sharp end up.
Lao Tzu had expected such a move and used his strapped arm to block the strike. He spun and was behind him, and said. “You should be dying now.”
Coyote spun and whipped the leather low in an attempt to tangle up Lao’s legs, and throw him to the ground.
Lao leaped over the strap and raised his left hand in the air in a rapid motion, then quickly snapped it down. The leather strap moved swiftly like an ocean wave and with a snap like a pistol shot, slapped Coyote in the face. The strap lashed across his lips, nose and his right eye, raising a welt and bursting his lips. It tossed sand in his eye and momentarily blinded him, he screamed. “AHHHHH!”
Lao moved in close and shouted. “I will show you mercy once again, throw down your weapon and concede!”
The tribe roared. They knew that if he threw down his weapon he would be exiled from the tribe. Coyote wiped at his eyes, then charged Lao who calmly stood there. As their bodies met Lao let Coyotes momentum drive him backwards. He rolled, placed both feet in Coyote’s stomach and flipped him thru the air. Coyote landed on his neck and shoulders with a jarring thud, the wind knocked out of him.
Lao Tzu continued his roll. He used his hands to propel himself skyward, then he landed astraddle Coyote and plunged his knife down into his heart. He stood, pulled his knife from Coyote’s chest and plunged it into the ground. Then he removed the strap from his wrist and began to do the death dance.
He danced around Coyote’s body and sang to the spirits, soon after the tribe joined in. He stopped the dance, walked to Amanda, and said. “Let’s go.” They walked thru the crowd, and Sparrow fell in beside them as they walked to their Teepee.
* * * * Inside the Teepee, Lao sat on his bed of Beaver pelts. There were three beds and Amanda sat and watched Lao, cause she had never seen a man move as graceful as he. It seemed as if he was doing a elaborate dance as he fought, and now she understood his words and trusted his ability to defend them.
He watched as she held Raven to her breast to feed and the boy wrapped his lips around the big nipple. His hands clasped to the side of the swollen breast. He saw him suck, as the milk squirted into his mouth.
“He will be a great man. He is going to be big, I can tell by his bone structure.” said Lao.
“Pretty eyes you’re a strange man , you seem to see things far away as if they were close.” said Mandy.
“In my short life I’ve been many things and I’ve tried to absorb as much as I could about nature and people. In the watching I’ve learned I come from a superstitious people, who believe in many spirits and gods. Much like the people I live with now. That is basically my reason for staying with them , because they seem so much like my people except they are more primitive. My people are more advanced in areas, but their customs and traditions are similar. Even some of the words are the same. I’ve found myself wondering if they are perhaps a branch of my people that migrated here centuries ago. We are similar in appearance, except where the skin and the eye’s are concerned. These are a great people, nomadic and very warlike, but honest and true to each member. You will see as time passes.”
“You’re assuming I’ll stay and are making plans for my future. I was a slave pretty eyes and I ran away. Not just from slavery, but from people controlling me, my thoughts and actions.” she said.
“We are all slaves to something. The difference being, some things we chose to be slave to, some things we are obligated to be slave to and some things we are forced to be slave to by nature or circumstances. Take for instance Raven, you are a slave to his needs. You will serve him, defend him and nurture him, because as his mother you’re obligated to do so. As for staying here, you will be slave to me because you choose to and also because circumstances will prevent you from doing any thing else. You are black and if you left here and were to get captured, you know what your fate would be. Being wise you would choose the lesser of the two evils and in the end you will be a willing slave to me. Your love for me will dictate that.”
“But I don’t love you.” she replied.
“Not to worry, because in time you will.” he said with a smile.
“You seem mighty confident in that.”
“Never forget the words I told you. I have confidence in my ability no matter what it is I face. I attack it with the thought, I can be successful. You and Sparrow will help to reinforce my confidence and I will grow stronger for it. I’m highly respected in the tribe and as my woman you will be too. You will be expected to lead by example and you will never fail to be first to fulfill your duty. In everything, you will be representing us as a clan and I expect you to do us proud. In the days to come Sparrow will teach you your duties. We will be in this camp until the next full moon, then we will leave because hunting season has begun and there will be much work to do. Build your strength and prepare yourself, for you will play a large role in the future of the tribe, as will Sparrow. I don’t want any division in our clan, we will work together as one. Sparrow will help to raise your son and you will help to raise hers. In two years time their training will begin.”
“Their,” she asked questioningly.
“Raven and Little Bird. In time they will be the greatest warriors this tribe has ever had. Each family group is attached to a clan. By virtue of Sparrow being my wife, we’re a branch of the Bear clan. So we represent the head of the clan, the others will follow our lead. Do you understand?”
“I think so.” she replied.
“Let’s eat.” he said, and Sparrow and Mandy left the Teepee and went to the cooking fire.
* * * * Throughout the day Sparrow took Mandy thru the camp, introducing her to the females who were the head of their clan. It was then that she found out the name they
had given her. She had heard the Brave Coyote call her Night Bird, but paid little attention to it. The women called her Night Bird, Sparrow alone called her Mandy.
”Why do they call me Night Bird?” she asked Sparrow.
“Because you came in the night, and you are
affiliated with Yellow Bird. You even named your son after a
bird, so Night Bird you are to the people.” said Sparrow
smiling.
“Yours’ are a strange people, I don’t know if I will be
able to fit in.” said Mandy.
“Be yourself, there is no need to try and fit in. Do
your duty as the woman of Yellow Bird and the people will
mold themselves to you. You have come into the tribe as a
wife of the elders of our people, so you will be expected to
lead. The people will look to you for inspiration. Never must
you seem undecided or unsure, but be confident. It is human
to err. If you make a mistake, it will not be held against you.
The people will assume the spirits didn’t favor you in the
action and go on. I have been Yellow Bird’s wife for three
winters, and he has taught me much. The use of herbs,
weapons and the usual style of fighting; not to mention his
way with a woman. He will teach you these things too. Most
is done in secret. I follow the traditions of the people, but my
heart is far from them. We must lead by example and his
teachings will help us to do this. I will teach you what I know,
trust me there is much to learn. We have a lifetime together,
we will be sisters so there is much time.”
As night fell they went to the Teepee. After they had
bathed in a cool stream that flowed behind the camp, they
came in with bowls of food. A fire burned in the middle of the
floor. Lao Tzu sat, eyes closed in a lotus position, hands
upturned resting on his knees, deep in meditation.
Sparrow raised a finger to her lips telling her to
remain silent. Mandy listened to the strange words that Lao
