She had tried to keep her thoughts away from herself and the others, but now she turned to look at the men beside her. Ben, Jed and Horace were al sagging with fatigue and minor injuries against the posts. They looked dirty and exhausted. Alisha was wondering if there had been a way that al of this could have been avoided. A frantic, piercing cry rent the air as Alice Cooper ran from one of the teepees which was set out of line with the others near the second circle. It had a red circle at the top and base, with red, geometric designs in the white center and long, red strips of rawhide hanging from the entrance. She was immediately pursued and dragged back, screaming and pleading, into the teepee by a young brave wearing only a breechcloth. The brave had laughed as she struggled with him. Her clothes were torn and dirty, her face streaked with tears and dirt, her hair a tangled mess and a petrified look in her wild eyes and ashen face.
Ben strained against his bonds trying to free himself, shouting curses and taunts to the brave. He finaly ceased the useless struggles and lowered his head. In an angry voice, he explained the purpose of the redfringed teepee. The scout had told him once that it was caled a wokasketipi. Joe had said that al female prisoners were held there until sold or traded, to be used by the braves as often as they wished or by the women as a slave. When they tired of her, she would be sold or traded to others for the same purpose of her, she would be sold or traded to others for the same purpose or kept on as a slave. That was the purpose of the red teepee. Jed asked if anyone other than Alice Cooper, Kathy Brown and Elizabeth Tinsley had been taken into the teepee. The others al shook their heads no as Alisha stared at the teepee in panic and fear.
Horace could not resist a cruel stab at Alisha, “Where is our food, water and aid, Miss Injun Helper? You remember what I said, but you didn’t believe me. I told you they wasn’t nothing but bloodthirsty savages. He don’t look so good now, does he?”
Her stricken look tore at his conscience as she answered,
“Yes, I remember everything you said. I do regret the day I ever saw him and helped him! You were right! You were al right and I was wrong! Is that what you want to hear? Do you also want me to take the blame for us being here and the others being dead? Al right! I’l accept that, too! Who’s to say or know what difference his life or death would have made now?” She turned her face away and tears roled freely and silently down her cheeks to drop unchecked onto her dress and the gold sash. She had never felt so wretched and miserable, so frightened and intimidated. Her tears were for the dead souls lying unburied at the fortress, for the women in the teepee whose fates were worse than death, for the men beside her whose blood and lives were yet to be taken and for herself and the death of al her ilusions of life and love. What cruel lessons life teaches in this God-forsaken land, she thought helplessly. Why? What wil it accomplish? There is no help or rescue for us. We are al alone now…
The cries and pleas went on in the teepee for a time and Alisha cringed in pity and terror with each one. Jed was the first to make the observation. “That Injun must have something special in mind for the observation. “That Injun must have something special in mind for you, Alisha or you’d be in there, too! Could be he plans to thank you personaly for your help! We coulda taken care of him before if you hadna…”
Her eyes had widened in alarm and her face had gone colorless. For a minute, he thought she had swooned. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest.
Surely, he wouldn’t… not… the gravity of her position hit her hard and deep. What did he have in mind for them, for her? How would she be able to live if he… if they… no, her mind screamed, let me die first!
The three men had watched her closely for the last few minutes, recaling their resentment at her interference and attention to the brave. Of them al, Ben had known her the longest and was the closest to her. He had very special feelings for this slip of a girl who had befriended and helped him many times. Jed had been much too aware of her as a woman and disliked the cool, lofty way she treated him. Then, he would smile and recal that he had a way of making ladies nervous and quiet. To Horace, she represented desire, beauty and hopes of many nights of… but, of course, that could never be now. Al three men had to admire her hard work and courage, even when her loyalties were misplaced. Each recaled how she was always watching, learning, listening and questioning everyone about everything.
She had a mind that quested for knowledge of life and people. She radiated a happiness and charisma to those near her, at least those who did not fear or envy her beauty and naturalness. To most men she met, she either represented the image of a perfect wife, desirable lover or dutiful daughter.
Their hate and fear of the Indians had caused them to lose Their hate and fear of the Indians had caused them to lose sight of reason and her good qualities and blame her for their predicament. If she hadn’t stopped them that day, he would be dead and none of this would have happened. But they realized his people would have avenged his death and their situation would be the same.
Each man, in his own way, was trying to show bravery and courage in front of the others and her. We may al die, Ben thought, but I’l be damned if I beg for mercy! They respect courage more, and death wil be quicker. What he and the other two did not know, was that the Indians knew who they were and what they had done. Their deaths were for justice and vengeance, not for hate of the wasichu.
Al the men had heard tales and rumors of gruesome tortures and inwardly cringed. They did not know that many, in fact, most of those stories were untrue or misrepresented. “Hel, we didn’t even stand a chance against them. Damn guns! They can shoot twenty arrows before we kin load powder, bal and prime! Civilized man with modern weapons defeated by savages with archaic arms!”
Alisha leaned her head back against the post and gazed up into the starry sky, wondering if they were destined to die a gory death here tonight while al of heaven watched. God help us, she prayed. She felt as though her mouth was filed with cotton. Her lips were dry and parched and her head ached. She was so very weary and uncomfortable. She felt as nasty and il-kept as the street urchins back in Liverpool. If only she could sit down and wash her face and arms with some cool water. Her arms were nearly numb and her legs wobbly and weak.
As the Indians appeared to be preparing for something, her thoughts of thirst and discomfort quickly disappeared. A sense of thoughts of thirst and discomfort quickly disappeared. A sense of expectation filed the night air. Death and pain loomed on their horizon like shadowy specters. The drums began to sound as the men built a large, bright campfire before them.
She noticed that the children had al been taken inside their teepees while the women stayed in the background to watch whatever was about to take place. The men ruled the scene. They sat cross-legged before the large fire or stood behind it, talking and smoking.
Gray Eagle and White Arrow came out of the teepee that they had entered earlier. He looked truculent and forbidding. His eyes darkened as he took in the captives, but gleamed in anticipation when they came to rest on her. She could not tear her gaze from him. It was as though his eyes were dark pools of water and she was submerged in them, engulfed by their power and puled ever deeper into their depths. She had no wil to protect her from the feelings flaming within her. He studied her for a moment, then dismissed her with a smug sneer.
The two came forward and sat down on a buffalo skin in the center of the group. There were nine men sitting together like leaders of a council. She noted the different colors, designs and positions of the feathers in their hair. It appeared that age or ferocity determined status, as most of the leaders were elderly or fiercelooking braves. She had heard that the chief wore a ful, flowing bonnet of feathers, but no one was present wearing one, not even the young brave who captured them.
Would their chief have the power and kindness to stop al this as her Uncle Thad had done for the brave? Where was this leader and chief? If only she could speak with him… beg for the lives of the others … would his heart also be turned against the whit
es?
the others … would his heart also be turned against the whites?
She studied the men sitting there. Most of them were tal, lean and muscular, not the bodies of lazy, spoiled men. Most had weldefined noses, ful lips and strong jawlines. As with al the Indians she had seen, these too had hairless faces and chests, making their muscles more predominant. The stoical, expressionless faces now revealed relaxation and joviality. They sat conversing and smoking a long, elaborate pipe in a prayerlike manner, passing it one to the other as in some ceremony or ritual or perhaps just a custom of friendship.
Alisha’s eyes moved to the women and studied them. Here, there was a wide variety of looks and shapes that ranged from tal and slender to short and plump. The black hair and dark eyes seemed to be a racial characteristic, for al had them. The skin colors varied from red to reddish-brown to dark brown, with the young woman and the handsome brave a coppery, bronze color. Her eyes fel on the girl caled Chela who stared malevolently at her. The others, except for a few curious stares from young maidens, ignored her for the time being. She seemed to hold no interest for the men in the group.
An Indian came forward dressed in a cape and skirtlike covering of long black and white feathers that must have been taken from a bird with a wide wingspread. On his head, he wore an unusualy shaped headdress of matching feathers and leather streamers. He wore wristlets and armlets of smaler, matching feathers attached to leather bands.
He danced and chanted as he shook a gourd-like rattler in front of the three captives. He moved around in smal circles, stepping lightly from foot to foot, raising and lowering his head, legs and arms in time to the beat. Then, he moved up close to the three and arms in time to the beat. Then, he moved up close to the three men, dancing before each one as he shook the gourd over their hearts and heads, keeping exact timing to the beat of the drum, never faltering or hesitating. What was the ceremony and chant about?
Wakantanka, see us your children:
We give lives and hearts of the ista skas.
We offer their blood in payment of the blood of our kodas. Wakantanka, see us your children:
We send the spirits of the ista skas; judge them for their harm. Wakantanka, hear us your children:
These ista skas are kilers of our people, your children. These ista skas are kilers of Makakin and your creatures. Wakantanka, hear us your children:
Hear the cries of Okiliea and Chenuhula.
Hear the cries of the ista skas.
Hear the cries of death and vengeance.
Wakantanka, hear and see us, your children.
They did not know the dance and chant spoke of the coming death and sacrifice. Had they known, it stil would not have mattered.
The ceremonial chief stopped and so did the kettle drum. He walked over to a buffalo skin and sat down with great dignity and bearing. The drums almost immediately began to beat again with a different cadence. Some of the warriors from the raiding party rose and danced the Victory Dance, chanting the victory chant and their waditaka. The chant and dance expressed gratitude for safety during the raid and for victory over their enemies. They chanted: The sun looks on our victory.
The wind hears our victory.
The rain touches our victory.
The Mother Earth drinks from our victory.
We are safe.
We are avenged.
We have victory.
We have victory for warriors.
We have victory for Wakantanka, who guides and protects us. The chant was spoken four times, then the specific coups were chanted. The drumming, chanting and waiting began to wear thin on the three prisoners. Patience was a trait of the Indian not shared by the white men. Alisha, however, watched it al, completely engrossed and fascinated by their movements, the music and the garb. It was as if she witnessed primeval man performing rituals before pagan gods in ancient days. It was an exciting, breathtaking scene and, for a time, she forgot reality.
White Arrow had many new waditakas; the highest of al was the rescue of his koda, Gray Eagle. He had also captured many weapons and horses, which were important deeds of bravery and honor. After al the coups were chanted, the ceremonial smoking finished, and the Victory Dance completed, they turned their attention to the captives.
Ben spoke softly, “Here they come. I guess it’s time. Damn
‘em! If I could only get just one hand free, I’d show ‘em a thing or two about real fighting! At least I’d die like a man.”
Two braves picked up sticks with sharp points and came Two braves picked up sticks with sharp points and came forward. They slowly circled Jed, jabbing at his body until the many wounds ran blood down his chest and arms onto his pants. Jed, with loathing showing in his face, tried vainly not to cry out and to curse them.
Those braves returned to be seated and others came forward. They held smal items in their hands which Alisha could not make out. One of them stepped forward holding a war club. The other one held out smal slivers of wood. They began to pound the slivers of wood between Jed’s ribs, careful to stay clear of his heart. Alisha’s stomach churned and she swalowed hard several times to overcome her feelings of nausea.
Jed, no longer able to suppress it, screamed in agony and begged for mercy and death from them. No one listened or cared. Alisha winced with each scream. Another brave came forward holding hot coals from the fire. She stared in horror as they forced his mouth open, placed the coals inside and tied it shut with a gag. The coals spit and sizzled and smoke came out of his nostrils. He writhed in pain, eyes roling wildly, until he slowly choked to death before her eyes.
Alisha could not believe what she witnessed. Could this realy be happening? Could no one stop or prevent it? She felt as if she could hardly breathe, as if there was a heavy weight on her chest. Her dry lips stuck together and salty tears stung her pinkened face. How could they?
Horace and Ben looked on in pity and dread, knowing they, in turn, would be next. Ben was more determined than ever to show no fear, only contempt and hatred, when he saw their sneers and laughter at Jed’s pleas. He taunted them, trying to show his greater bravery and superiority, hoping they would tire of his taunts and kil bravery and superiority, hoping they would tire of his taunts and kil him quickly. They refused his ploy.
Horace silently prayed for his death to be quick and merciful. Alisha also prayed for some type of courage in the face of death. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as fear knotted her stomach. She sagged against the post weakly. She glared at the brave whose eyes never left the scene. He looked on as though he were completely unmoved by it al. How? Why? The sights and sounds of this night were enough to bring insanity!
She looked away from the grisly details of Horace’s torture. His courage was short-lived and he cried out in pain. He begged for death and pity as Jed had done. How futile al their deaths were. What hold did this land have over men to demand and receive their blood and lives in payment? She tried to close her eyes and ears to the sights and cries before her. At last, no more pleas came, just silence. He can suffer no more, she thought. She would never have believed that she could have been relieved or glad for a man’s death. What has happened to me? she cried to herself. I despise these thoughts and feelings and I hate the reasons for them. Never had she thought of death as a blessing longed for above life. I’m not ready to die, she thought. There is too much that I have not seen or done or learned. I have not known love from a man. I have not had children. I have not walked in the sunlight enough, picked wildflowers in summer, tasted rain upon my lips, seen the beauty and happiness that life and love bring. There is too much unfinished, undone, to die now …
Alisha became aware of someone caling her name and turned to find Ben speaking to her. He saw the tears sliding down her cheeks and knew her vulnerability. He bit his lip in anger to think of her impending danger. What wil he do with her? he asked himself. her impending danger. What wil he do with her? he asked himself. She’l never endure what he’s got in mind, unless…
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br /> “Miss Alisha, you gotta try to get that Injun’s attention. You gotta try to get him to keep you as his squaw!” Alisha stared at him, horrified that he would suggest such a vile thing and shook her head violently.
“No! Never! I’l die first!” she shrieked at him.
“Dying’s the easy part, Miss Alisha. It’s what comes before that you’l not be able to endure,” he warned her. “I been thinking that maybe he hasn’t decided what to do with you yet. He knows that you tried to help him and he ain’t put you in that red teepee. You better try to reach him before your turn at this. You got no idea what them Injuns can do to a girl.”
Confusion flickered in Alisha’s face and eyes. “If he wasn’t going to torture and kil me also, then why am I here with you? No, Ben, I’m sure that he means to punish and kil me also. Nothing I could do or say would matter to him now.” She spoke, remembering the scene in the smokehouse in vivid detail. Begging had meant nothing then and would mean nothing tonight. No, it would be useless to plead.
Stil, Ben persisted, “I always believed a woman should die before giving in to one of these savages, but I’l be damned if I hadn’t rather see you as his squaw than see you go through these tortures or worse!”
“I can’t, Ben. I just can’t!”
Ben tried a new angle. “Alisha, you’l only have to endure his attentions if he takes you. That’d be better than the whole tribe’s taking you, and God knows what they’d do to you,” he warned. These thoughts and words raced through her mind. Ben said,
“You haveta smile and be friendly to him. You don’t need to say
“You haveta smile and be friendly to him. You don’t need to say nothing. He’l understand your meaning clear ‘nuff.”
“No, Ben! He’d only laugh and think me a strumpet, or whatever their word for a low woman is. I can’t! No matter what he does, I couldn’t beg from him again!” Ben did not notice the word “again.”
Savage Ecstasy Page 11
