It seemed only a moment later that she awoke. The rising sun streamed through the doorway of the lodge, and she heard the busy noises of the camp as the People came awake to begin the day. Children called out, dogs barked, a horse whinnied beside its owner’s lodge.
At the sound of the horse, Eagle Woman was wide awake. This was the day of the race, the deciding event of the Challenge. Quickly she rose, pulled the hunting shirt over her head, and stepped into her leggings.
There was meat at the fire, and though she did not feel hungry, she ate a little. She would need strength today. Her parents wished her well, and they all emerged from the lodge to face the day and the contest.
Eagle Woman went to bring her horse, and led at a walk toward the area Standing Bird had designated. A crowd had already gathered, and there was a happy air of excitement as the People discussed, argued, wagered, or called to latecomers to hurry.
Long Walker was already present, his big bay stallion dancing excitedly, recognizing a race or hunt of some sort. The gray mare, too, was prancing and side-stepping in anticipation.
Eagle Woman had decided not to use the bulky grass-filled saddle pad for the race. She had tied a simple rawhide girth around the animal’s chest and withers. This would suffice to hold to, and for practical purposes she would be riding bareback and unencumbered.
Standing Bird was pointing out the course. “You will ride around the tree at the top of the hill, across to the two together there at the edge of the meadow, and back here.”
The riders nodded, mentally studying the terrain. It was good, Eagle Woman saw. The first leg of the course was slightly uphill, the turn fairly level. The two trees at the meadow’s edge presented no problem, but the final stretch of the race would be along the low-lying flat next to the stream. That area, she recalled, had several spots that were soft and boggy. It would be necessary to avoid places with poor footing.
Now Standing Bird was holding a stone at arm’s length. “Are you ready?”
Both riders nodded, and almost immediately the stone dropped.
Gray Cat leaped forward, true to her name, and had taken a lead before the larger horse gathered himself to spring. Eagle Woman clung to the rawhide girth and urged the mare forward with her heels.
Behind her came the shouts of the spectators and the drumming of hooves. She could hear Long Walker’s big bay gaining, drawing closer. Then the stallion’s head came into the corner of her vision, beside her right knee.
The animal’s nostrils were flared, ears flattened, and with every stride the bay drew forward. Now even, now ahead, and Eagle Woman was looking at the massive driving muscles of the stallion’s hind quarters.
The first tree loomed ahead, and the bay stallion swung wide around it, Long Walker fighting to turn the animal. This was what Eagle Woman had hoped for. Quickly she kneed the gray mare close to the tree, turning sharply, pivoting inside the arc of the larger animal’s turn.
The girl drummed heels into the mare’s flanks and sprinted toward the second turn, the two trees. Again the bay stallion came from behind with his longer stride, passing the gray to reach the turning point first. Long Walker had better control now, and the stallion did not lose so much ground on the turn. The two started to press for the final stretch at almost the same instant, neck and neck.
Eagle Woman’s heart sank as the bay started to pull ahead. She saw no way her smaller mare could make up the lost distance.
Then the big stallion began to strike the heavy going in the low area near the stream. Great chunks of mud flew high in the air as the animal lunged forward, fighting the sticky soil with every stride. Eagle Woman had the advantage of seeing where the other horse had struck soft footing, and now she pulled slightly to the left, away from the stream. As the stallion floundered and struggled in the uneven turf, the gray swept past and into the lead.
To Long Walker’s credit, he did assess the situation rapidly and correct his course, but it was too late. There was no way in which he could now overtake the sprinting Gray Cat. The animals swept across the finish line only a stride apart, and Eagle Woman had won.
The crowd was cheering wildly, and the girl turned her sweating horse to trot back toward where Standing Bird waited. Surely, now, the Challenge was over. She had won at three of the four contests. Walker would concede, and they would be friends again.
Smiling, she faced the young man as the two drew up before the Elk-dog leader. To her surprise, Long Walker’s face was dark with anger. His expression said clearly that he was not ready to quit.
“The next contest,” Walker snapped irritably, “is mine!”
11
Standing Bird was becoming uneasy about the progress of this Challenge. At the present stage of events, one of the adversaries should be ready to concede, but there was no sign of weakening on the part of either. Here were two proud and stubborn young people, neither willing to relinquish a principle. Aiee, it was a worrisome thing.
Eagle Woman had bested her challenger in the past three contests, but the next was to be of Long Walker’s choosing—and he was angry now. He was practically shouting at the girl.
“You think it is amusing to do the things warriors do, as a game. I tell you, Eagle Woman, it is not that way. As a warrior, you must prepare for hand combat. Can you do that?” Without waiting for an answer, he hurried on. “The next contest will answer. We will wrestle.”
There was a hoot of derision from somewhere in the rear, and Walker jerked his head around sharply. He was met by silence. There was none in the crowd who dared openly to criticize so able a man as Long Walker. It would be a matter of quiet chuckles and obscene jokes in private.
“It is good,” announced Standing Bird, feeling full well that it was not. “You will use no knives or other weapons. You will fight until one is held helpless.”
The horses were led away, and an area of smooth, level ground was chosen, swiftly ringed by the crowd. Betting was slow. There were few who believed that the slim girl would be skilled enough to prevail against the strength of Long Walker.
The contestants circled, warily looking for an opening. There were several feints and quick withdrawals, neither combatant attaining a grasp. The onlookers began to cry for action.
Long Walker, seeing an opportunity, rushed forward to grapple, but the girl was quick. She pivoted, seized an outstretched arm, and used the momentum of the young man’s rush to effect the ancient hip throw. Walker landed heavily flat on his back, stunned and out of breath.
Eagle Woman circled, waiting, while the crowd howled with laughter. She was attempting, at all costs, to avoid the grappling that would depend on sheer strength. Her only chance was to use skill and finesse.
Long Walker rose slowly, burning with anger, and rushed again. Once more the girl avoided him, this time by skipping nimbly aside.
By the third rush Walker’s mood had steadied, and he was thinking more sensibly. He feinted, then grasped, and the two grappled to roll on the ground.
It seemed only a heartbeat’s time to Eagle Woman until she found herself pinned on her back. Her opponent held both her wrists firmly, and she felt his weight on her outstretched body. Both were breathing heavily. Her vision was blurred, and she heard only dimly the shouts of the crowd. In her left ear she could feel the hot panting breath of Long Walker. She stopped struggling for a moment.
Here was a new and exciting sensation, something foreign to her experience. The pressure of Walker’s muscular chest, flattening her breasts against her ribs, was not completely unpleasant. She was acutely aware of the weight of his body on her hips and thighs. Aiee, she felt, rather than thought, why not give it up? She longed to simply relax and wished to think more about this new sensation which had startled her.
The next moment Eagle Woman was furious with herself—furious, ashamed, and embarrassed that she should even have such thoughts before a crowd of gawking spectators.
She sank her teeth into Long Walker’s neck near the shoulder and kneed him i
n the groin. As Walker grunted in pain and surprise, she took advantage of his loosened grip to pull her arms loose. They rolled over and over, the girl biting, kicking, gouging, scratching, ultimately pulling free to spring to her feet. The crowd shouted with delight.
Eagle Woman had no delusions. There would appear to be no way she could pinion the stronger warrior to win this contest. Eventually Long Walker would break free.
He was rising, now, to hands and knees, breathing heavily, hurting. Blood trickled from his neck and from scratches on his face. The girl circled, panting and exhausted, fighting the impulse to run to him and minister to his injuries. Long Walker rose to his feet, swaying, teeth clenched against the pain in his belly, to make another rush.
This time Eagle Woman was unable to evade his grasp. He seized a wrist, whirled her around to grasp her hair, and they tumbled again into the dust.
The girl fought ineffectively as her strength ebbed, and he pushed her, face down, against the ground. He sat astride her and held her tightly until her struggles ceased.
Somehow there was little triumph in the face of Long Walker as he rose. Eagle Woman rolled over and sat up, spitting dirt and grass from her mouth. She was completely exhausted and would gladly have concluded the entire Challenge then and there except that it was now impossible.
Because, she recalled wearily, she was still ahead. She could not concede while she was winning, even if she wished. The contests must go on. How long would it be until Long Walker conceded her right to warrior status? Or, she thought gloomily, until she was beaten badly enough to be able to concede with dignity? She looked for Long Walker to see if he appeared ready to give up.
The young man had gone down to the stream’s edge, followed by some of his supporters and young admirers. He was on his knees in the shallows, pouring water over his head and shoulders.
“Eagle Woman,” called Standing Bird, “the next choice is yours. What shall it be?”
The girl had been looking at the stream, longing to immerse her tired, hot, dirty, and sore body in its cooling waters. Without even looking around she answered immediately. “Swimming!”
12
The People straggled upstream, the distance of a long bow shot, to the swimming place. By tradition the tribe loved water when it was available. Swimming, for skill as well as enjoyment, was a major activity of the Rabbit Society. Whenever possible the People camped near a stream usable for swimming.
The streams that meander across the rolling prairie twist and turn to form loops and arcs and deep, clear pools beneath rocky ledges. It was to one of these favorite swimming places that the group now moved.
Standing Bird sent two youngsters splashing across the stream to a ledge a stone’s throw from where they stood. They placed two willow sticks, as thick as one’s finger and a hand’s span in length, on the flat stone shelf. The competitors would race to retrieve a stick and return it to the hand of Standing Bird.
Eagle Woman, now breathing more easily, was gaining in confidence. As a child she had been easily the best swimmer in the Rabbit Society. It was said that the girl could swim like an otter. Many times during their early years she had defeated Long Walker.
Bobcat placed his hand affectionately on his sister’s arm. “This contest is yours, Eagle Woman. You are like a fish in the water. Show them!”
Heavy betting had resumed, for the People knew quite well that this was an area of skill for Eagle Woman. Larger bets were made now on the total outcome of the Challenge. The girl was still ahead in the contests, and this was conceded by most to be her best opportunity.
She glanced over at Long Walker. He had discarded his hunting shirt, and she could plainly see the injury she had inflicted on his neck. Her fury had cooled now, and she felt a sympathy for her friend and a slight regret for having hurt him. Aiee, how had they become involved in this stupid contest? She would be so happy when it was over and they could return to a normal relationship. If, indeed, that could ever be.
Eagle Woman was almost preoccupied with her thoughts when Standing Bird dropped the stone to signal the start. She managed to gather her muscles and spring forward to strike the water at the same moment as Long Walker.
Quickly she began to outdistance him, sliding through the water with smooth efficiency. She reached the ledge, grasped one of the sticks, and turned. She thrust the twig between her teeth and pushed away from the rock shelf.
Eagle Woman had hardly started her next stroke before she collided forcibly with the rapidly approaching Long Walker. Half stunned, she floundered for a moment, then surfaced, disoriented. At arm’s length Walker was just picking up his willow twig from the rock ledge.
The girl resumed her swim for a moment before she realized that her mouth was empty. The willow cutting was gone. She must have lost it when she collided with Walker and choked. Frantically she stopped, treading water while she searched for the stick.
By the time she located the object, floating gently with the current, Long Walker had completed his turn and was churning toward the other shore. Eagle Woman quickly retrieved her stick and resumed the race, but she knew she had lost. All the way to the starting point the girl swam with the splashing thrust of her opponent’s feet kicking water to foam ahead of her.
She could think only one thought—that she had lost this contest, the one of her own choice. Now the contestants were even again. It was distressing to realize that the past two days of exhausting, frustrating conflict had led exactly nowhere. The situation was exactly as it had been when she first attempted to join the Elk-dog Society.
Even worse, she realized, as she dragged herself from the water, it was now Walker’s choice for the next contest. Unless, of course, he chose to discontinue the Challenge. But he would not do that, of course. He had now won the last two contests.
People were crowding around the winner, shouting congratulations and collecting bets from disgruntled losers. Eagle Woman staggered up the bank and stood, dripping water in puddles around her bare feet.
Standing Bird was beckoning to the two principals. They stumbled forward, facing each other in tired frustration. They were battered, sore, almost staggering. Their eyes met. Walker’s left eye was partially swollen shut, corresponding to the dull ache in Eagle Woman’s elbow. The collision in the water had been a forceful thing. The girl’s lip was bruised, apparently from the force which had torn the willow twig from her teeth. She tasted the slight salty flavor of blood in her mouth.
More important to her was the stubborn expression on Long Walker’s face. It said once again that he would never give up in his effort to prevent her attaining warrior status. Why must he be so?
The Elk-dog chieftain was speaking now, and Eagle Woman attempted to gather her wandering thoughts.
“—and I will not allow you to continue until you kill each other!”
He paused to frown at a ripple of laughter from the crowd, then continued, as quiet resumed. “There will be only one more contest, and I will choose that. Then, whoever wins, it is over. Do you both understand this?”
The two young people nodded, too exhausted to question.
“Go, now,” Standing Bird continued. “Tonight you must rest. The contest will be tomorrow.”
He turned away, then paused for a moment as one of the onlookers called a question. The warrior turned with dignity and smiled a thin smile.
“What will the contest be?” he repeated. “A race! On foot, at a distance I shall choose.”
Once again he turned and strode purposefully toward his lodge. Behind him the two young people stared dully at each other, neither ready to speak.
Around them excited talk was erupting, arguments beginning, wagers being placed. Eagle Woman and Long Walker turned wordlessly and shuffled toward their respective dwellings.
Bobcat fell into step beside his sister, chortling delightedly.
“Aiee, Eagle Woman, this is good! Running has always been one of your best efforts. You can defeat Long Walker!”
; Numbly, the girl nodded halfhearted agreement.
13
Standing Bird stood before the two contestants and the excited gathering of the People to mark the course for the race. Practically everyone in the Elk-dog band was assembled for the event. Wagering was good-natured and heavy.
Many of the members of the band thought the entire Challenge quite amusing, so there was much laughter and merriment. Also there was the excitement of this, the deciding race.
“Now, you understand,” Standing Bird was saying to the two before him, “this is the final contest. There will be no more Challenge!”
Both nodded. The two young people had avoided contact, not even looking at each other this morning. Several among the band had noticed that both seemed only too anxious to finish the contest, to have it done. There were many who felt similarly, especially those who had no great love for wagering. It was all quite well to have a pleasant, amusing diversion such as this, but it was occupying the entire time and energies of the band. It was time to move on to other things.
Eagle Woman had startled many by appearing this morning in a dress. There was a murmur of apprehension on the part of her supporters, who felt that she might be ready to concede the race. Or was this a means to try to shame Long Walker? There was much quiet discussion as to her reasons.
Actually there was no deep mystery, no symbolism. It was a matter of practicality. Eagle Woman had worn men’s garments for the past two days. The unfamiliar feel of the breechclout and leggings had begun to chafe her inner thighs and her groin. In planning for a running race, probably a long one, she felt she must dress as comfortably as possible. If she continued to wear the leggings, her skin would surely be rubbed raw and bleeding by the race’s end.
Daughter of the Eagle Page 5
