Tormented, he asked himself the dreaded question, “Why do I not remove this temptation from my life and sight? Why do I not kil her this very night?” But his heart answered for him, if you do, you wil be forever parted, for the wasichus do not walk the Mahpiya Ocanku. His mind argued again, why do you not sel her to another? Once more, his heart responded, you cannot alow any man to take what has been yours, or place his seeds of life were you have placed yours. Nor can you alow another to feel and know the love which beats in her heart for… Fool! he scolded himself. After tonight, she wil hate you forever. During the past few months, he recaled, life has been happy with her. Each time I have forced her to admit her love and need for with her. Each time I have forced her to admit her love and need for me has brought happiness and joy to my heart. Each time I have seen her learn something new, my pride has soared like the eagle. She has learned much since coming here. If she is as different from the others as I truly believe, then why do I treat her as the same?
Why do I not accept this one, special wasichu?
Why do my heart and blood pound wildly when she is near?
Why does the very scent of her, or sound of her voice, or sight of her bring this longing to my heart and body? Why does her image appear before me in the stream, or in my mind at night? Why do I wish her close to me at al times? He could not face the answer to his questions, for it would be to admit he loved and needed her. He thought, I knew as soon as I saw her face tonight she would defy me and the death of her people. The others would not have accepted her attack on me again. If she had raged out at me or fought me as before, I would have been forced to kil her to save my honor before them. Why can she not see and know these things?
I have her, and yet, I do not have her. I cannot keep her, and yet, I cannot give her up. “Help me, Wakantanka,” he prayed fervently. “What must I do with this girl? Is her death necessary to free me from her power of love? Must I sacrifice her life for my honor and that of my people? Is there not some way I can save face and keep her also? Can I not have both?
“You have given me great strength and courage. I now ask for wisdom and strength for what must be done. How can our lives and hearts touch when we remain enemies? Why did you let me find and take her if only to lose her now? Do you test my courage and obedience once more?
“I am a great warrior in my people’s eyes. Give me the girl’s
“I am a great warrior in my people’s eyes. Give me the girl’s life and the freedom to take and keep her. You are al powerful and al knowing, Wakantanka. Give the heart and life of Lese to me and the acceptance of my people. This war within my heart brings out only my cruelty to her.”
He sat down cross-legged and stared off into the darkness, waiting for an answer to his prayer. He tried to clear his mind of al thoughts and his heart of al emotions so the Great Spirit could speak to him. Patiently he waited…
The night creatures became stil and silent for a time. Clouds drifted before the ful moon, obscuring its light. The whole land seemed to be hushed and waiting. This quiescence seemed to be Wakantanka’s way of saying, I cannot see or speak to you. It is not the time for my answer. Soon, I wil show you what you must do. Until then, you must wait and be patient.
Perhaps the Great Spirit was testing both of them. Perhaps he waited to see if the white girl deserved to live and belong to him. Perhaps he waited to see just how important she was to him and to see what changes she would bring about in his heart and life. Perhaps she must be taught obedience and respect first. Thankfuly, the Great Spirit left him with hope by not asking for her death. Did he have some plan for them which he did not see or understand yet?
Somehow their destinies were locked together, but he did not know how.
His mind reasoned with him, the eagle soars alone and so must you, Wanmdi Hota. At least, for now. You must be strong and show no weakness. You must take this girl when you desire her, but you must not alow her to touch your heart until Wakantanka says it can be.
Until the Great Spirit tels me what I must do, her defiance Until the Great Spirit tels me what I must do, her defiance must be struck down. If I cannot do this, then she must die. His decision was hard and bitter, but he accepted the truth of it. He arose and began his way back to his teepee with heavy heart. As he walked along, he pondered, how can I force this obedience? I must prevent her turning to Wanhinkpe Ska. What punishment would she fear the most? What would bring this fear to her heart? Would she fear losing me and my protection enough to yield to me completely? If she feared I was going to give her to another, or others, would she come to me and beg me to keep her?
Would she promise to never interfere or disobey again? If I could show her how bitter and harsh her life would be without me, would she come to me once more in submission and love? She must be taught this lesson. She must see and know it is Wanmdi Hota she needs and must obey. She must learn I have the power to keep her or to cast her aside. She wil learn that no one, not even Wanhinkpe Ska, can help her if I forbid it. This lesson must be quick, cold and cruel. I must find the one thing which wil reach her…
He sat down by the stream and tossed smal pebbles into the water, watching the ripples spread out into the darkness of the water. He could see her in his mind’s eye as she splashed in the water and ran laughing through the tal grass and flowers with his koda. That’s it! Wanhinkpe Ska… He is the one person she likes and trusts. He wil be the one to bring her the most hurt and sadness. She thinks he is her koda. Cruelty from him would serve both purposes. It wil force a wedge in their closeness and cause her to turn only to me. It wil also force her to see I control her life. But how could Wanhinkpe Ska punish her without realy hurting her? What would cause her to hate him and fear me? It must be a pain to her spirit and not her body. She is very brave and be a pain to her spirit and not her body. She is very brave and suffers too long in silence. What would bring pain to her heart? He searched his thoughts. The wokasketipi… yes, she would meet him there. After that, she would no longer have these mixed feelings for him. She wil fear my sending her there again as punishment if she defies me again. I wil be the only one she can turn to in her sadness and shame. She wil be sure to never provoke me to such anger again. Yes, the wokasketipi is the answer, but it must be done quickly.
But for the first time in his life, his courage and daring seemed to falter.
He returned to the vilage and went to Wanhinkpe Ska’s teepee. He clearly and slowly related his plan to him. He told him exactly what to do and how. He was determined to teach her of her place this very night and have it done with. He said only the Brown girl was in the red teepee.
He stated his plan to White Arrow firmly, “I wil bring her there to you in a short time. You wil handle her very roughly with great desire. You wil kiss her and place your hands on her as if you are about to rape her. You can do what you must to convince her she is about to be attacked by you, but you are not to hurt her. After she is filed with great fear and the truth of her position, you wil let her flee the teepee sa. I wil be close by. She wil run to me, begging for my mercy and help. I wil grant both. She wil be so scared and grateful to me that she wil never defy me again.”
White Arrow stared at him in disbelief as he related this brutal plan. He blurted out, “You cannot be serious, my koda! You cannot truly wish to do this thing to her! Is this lesson so important that you would hurt her this way? Did you not already punish her this night? You wil cause her much sadness and shame. I do not this night? You wil cause her much sadness and shame. I do not wish to be a part of this trick. You must ask another to do this for you. She is white, but I cannot find hate or contempt in my heart for her.”
Gray Eagle exclaimed tersely, “No! It must be you for the plan to work.”
White Arrow paced around nervously and pondered just what it realy was his friend was asking him to do. He was fuly aware that he would be able to embrace, kiss and caress the woman he loved and desired for the first time and with his friend’s consent and knowledge. Many t
imes he had longed to take her into his arms and never let her go. He had hungered to feel her lips pressed next to his, to feel her arms around his neck, and to have her beneath him in love. Surely she would resist my forced attack on her, he assumed. Or would she? Is it possible she wil be too frightened to fight me, or be submissive to provoke Wanmdi Hota? Could this night reveal things Wanmdi Hota wil be forced to face which he does not expect? Perhaps she wil turn to me completely in revenge. She wil know he orders this thing. I must not be brutal to her. I must let her feel my love in my kiss and touch. These thoughts brought a raging fire to his loins.
Suddenly, prickling, cold sensations ran down his arms and spine.
“I cannot do this for you, my koda,” he stated simply. “You ask too much of me, and perhaps of the girl also.”
Gray Eagle demanded, “You must! It wil be quickest and cruelest coming from you. If I chose someone else, she would only turn to you instead of me out of anger and hurt. I cannot alow that. It must be you and tonight.”
White Arrow was apprehensive at the approaching deception. White Arrow was apprehensive at the approaching deception.
“But she trusts and accepts me. Is this why you realy chose me?
You know she wil hate me and reject my friendship after this. I feel you wil long regret this night if you go through with this.”
White Arrow’s reasoning was to no avail. Gray Eagle ordered his friend, “Go to the teepee sa and I wil bring her to you. May this night bring an end to her resistance and renew our truce.” He left White Arrow standing there looking after him with a pain-filed heart.
White Arrow gazed up at the ful moon and thought, this wil be a night long remembered. It wil cause great pain for many. I feel a coldness in the night air like death. He shivered again uncontrolably. He went to his appointed place to wait. Gray Eagle returned to his teepee and caled for Alisha to come with him. She had been sitting on the buffalo skins, silently praying for his mercy and understanding. His voice told her nothing. Dispirited and unsuspecting, she rose and folowed him. It was but minutes before she realized they were standing before the entrance to the wokasketipi. She focused horrified, disbelieving eyes on him. Surely, he doesn’t mean … His expression quickly told her that her darkest fear was a reality. Anything but this, her mind screamed.
She began to back away in panic. White-faced and shaking, she shook her head and protested, “No! You can’t put me in there. Please, Wanmdi Hota. I’l do anything you ask. I’l never defy you again, in anything or any way. Please, hiya.”
His granite features never changed. She turned to flee, but he easily overtook her. He captured her arms in a grip of iron and puled her struggling body into the teepee sa.
Instantly, she was humiliated by what was taking place Instantly, she was humiliated by what was taking place between Kathy and a young brave. She turned away, face flaming, to come face to face with White Arrow. She begged help from him. The look on his face made her blood run cold and her body stiffen in alarm. There was no sign of compassion or kindness written there. Instead, she read a look of bold, open desire. He licked his lower lip in anticipation as his burning eyes caressed her. He reminded himself he must play his part in this game to the fulest. She panicked. Had she been brought here as punishment? Or was she here as payment for some deed he had done for Wanmdi Hota? Perhaps she was going to be put here for good to be used by any brave. Was he giving her up? Did he no longer want her?
“No, not you, Wanhinkpe Ska…” she whispered. “You can’t be a party to this new degradation.”
Any doubts vanished. She knew he was and there was nothing she could do about it. “He has chosen my persecutor wisely and carefuly.” She felt crushed and defeated by this new torture and betrayal. She suddenly felt totaly alienated from both of them, and even from life itself. It was more than she could endure. She turned to Gray Eagle and intently searched his face as she had done with White Arrow. She knew immediately she had guessed correctly. Al doubts were dismissed. Her pulse raced wildly as she panted through slightly parted, parched lips. That wintry face told her al she dreaded to believe. His icy eyes bored into hers. She swayed slightly at the ful comprehension of the meaning of her situation. He would never want her back after tonight. He was far too proud to accept a common, used squaw. The ful extent of his hatred and cruelty was like a vicious slap in the face. To find he could do something like this tore savagely at her heart. This was incredible after al they had been to each other. heart. This was incredible after al they had been to each other. Lies! Al of it had only been lies and taunts.
She knew it would be useless to yield defeat this time. It had gone far beyond a battle of wils between them. Yes, he had chosen her attacker wisely, for he had selected the only Indian who was her friend. Tears weled in her eyes and she blinked to clear her vision. She shuddered visibly and struggled to breathe.
She spoke almost inaudibly, “I’l never forgive you if you alow this. I’l hate you and curse you until the day I die. If you feel anything, anything at al, for me, then stop this charade now before it’s too late for both of us. I’l die before I let him or anyone else take me this way. This I swear to you, Wanmdi Hota!” She shivered and trembled as if she were standing in snow. White Arrow puled her around to face him. He entwined his fingers in her soft, silky hair and puled her face to his. Her pupils became suddenly very large and a dul glaze settled over them. Her crying had ceased and her face paled. She did not plead again, nor did she resist when White Arrow puled her into his loving embrace. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her passionately. Only moments before, Gray Eagle had heard her mutter softly,
“I hate you … I hate you both …” This was the last thing she would remember of this treacherous night.
White Arrow’s lips traveled across her face and throat with hungry, fiery kisses to return to her unresponsive lips. He took her mouth fuly with great desire. Stil, there was no reaction from her. She stared unseeing beyond him into space. Her skin chiled like ice covering a winter pond. Her body was rigid as the rocks. Her mind had traveled a great distance away. Her spirit had gone to hide in that secret world where one neither sees, hears, feels nor knows any pain or reality.
any pain or reality.
She did not feel his kisses or caresses. She did not see him rip her dress to the waist. She did not see the look of lust or love in his eyes for her and her beautiful body. She did not feel his hand gently caress her breast. She did not hear the words he murmured softly to her. For Alisha, time stood stil…
White Arrow was the first one who was alerted of something wrong. At first, he had thought her reaction as one of shock and fear. But now, he knew better. She neither responded nor resisted him in any way. He leaned back and gazed into her pale, trance-like face. He studied it for a few moments, then looked past her to Gray Eagle with a look of worry and concern on his face. Gray Eagle had not left yet and knew from White Arrow’s expression something was wrong. He had observed her rigid body give neither response nor fight. He came forward and puled her around to face him. He, too, noted the vacant stare and a chil passed over him. He passed his hand before her eyes … nothing. He shook her by the shoulders and caled her name… nothing. Alarmed, he slapped her. Stil nothing, except for the livid red print upon her ashen face. She had not even blinked. From al appearances, she did not even breathe. He recaled her words of death before submission. He panicked. Could a person wish death upon himself? he wondered in dread. He looked troubled and bewildered, not knowing what to do.
White Arrow spoke up, “I told you this would be too much for her. She has fled to the Great Spirit for protection. He has accepted her and wil not alow her to be hurt anymore. She is important to him in some way for he has watched over her many times. He may not let her return to you for I have felt the chil of death in the wind this night. There is evil in this deed, my koda. I death in the wind this night. There is evil in this deed, my koda. I tried to warn you, but you would not listen.”
Gray Eagle ignored his admonishment and told him to go for the shaman’s helper. “Bring him to my teepee. I wil return her spirit to her body this very night. I wil not let her go. She is mine, Wanhinkpe Ska! He wil send her back to me.” But silently and prayerfuly he added, He must!
He wrapped a blanket around Alisha. He gently lifted her body into his quivering arms and carried her toward his teepee. White Arrow quickly went to summon the shaman’s helper in the medicine lodge.
Kathy would never know just how lucky she was that neither of the two men had seen her vengeful smile or heard her pleased, cruel laughter after they left the teepee. If either had, she would have been kiled instantly. She maliciously thought, she has seen what it is like to be a real prisoner for a change. Whatever she did to lose favor with her brave, I bet she does it again. How I would love to see him put her here for good! If she were here, I’d never have to be used again. She would be the one to claim al those red savages’ attention. Perhaps I could choose whom I would like to give my attentions to. Maybe even go to one brave as his own. Perhaps the handsome brave who has her now, or his friend. Both are handsome and powerful and neither appears to be very mean if you don’t cross them. If I plan it just right, I could wind up in his teepee in her place. She laughed to herself thinking how nice life would become as a slave to such a virile warrior. The brave above her grunted and thrusted forcefuly into her. She surprised him by hungrily taking al he gave and begging for more, mentaly pretending it was Gray Eagle who was taking her. She squirmed teasingly and raised her hips to meet each thrust. Her She squirmed teasingly and raised her hips to meet each thrust. Her arms went up around his back and she clung to him in animal lust. Her response inflamed him to greater hunger and passion, believing his lovemaking had such power even a white slave couldn’t resist him. Arrogance and pride swept through him and he worked on her with greater lust.
Savage Ecstasy Page 24
