by W. R. Benton
“Yes, of course, child, so boil me some willow bark tea and be quick about it.”
“I will start your drink now, Quag.”
She's fairly useless, but if I were younger, I'd have her warm my robes; surely she's good for something, the old shaman thought and then said, “As it boils, come and we will meet with our chief.”
As they left his lodge, which looked more like a sod house made on the open plains in the 1800's, he noticed the sun was bright and the temperature mild. However, his aching bones and soreness indicated rain to come. From his left was heard yells, screams of joy, and shouts of victory, so he slowly made his way in the direction of the uproar.
Nearing, he saw Dryrc with a captive warrior of the Grizzly Bear people, and smiled. He knew the man would be tortured severely and then burned to death to test his strength, and to see if he was a true warrior, able to bear all pain without screaming. Few, very few, were able to die without crying out in anguish, especially when the fires were lighted.
Dryrc was a big man, over six feet tall and around two hundred pounds of pure muscle. He was a cruel man too, often maiming his captives before bringing them to the village for the women to play with until death. His blond hair and beard, along with his blue eyes, gave him a gentle look, but his appearance was deceiving.
His captive stood tall with a defiant look on his face, which made Quag smile. Moless neared and said, “This one will die well, I think. For a Grizzly Bear warrior, he looks strong and determined.”
“The Grizzly Bear warriors are no different that any other man, and this one will die screaming too.” Then walking to the captive, the shaman asked, “What are you called?”
Raising his chin, the man looked into the old shaman's eyes and replied, “I am Nolerst. I am a mighty warrior and war chief of the Grizzly Bear Clan.”
“You are to die this night.”
“Every warrior is born to die, is this not so? To die is nothing, but how a man dies means much. I do not fear death. My only regret is that I did not kill more of your warriors.”
“How many Snake warriors died at this man's hand?” Quag turned and asked Dryrc.
“One hand of warriors fell to his bow and sword. He is a worthy enemy, and to capture him brings my heart much joy, but seeing him burn will keep our people safer and bring me much honor.”
You're more interested in personal honor than our safety, the shaman thought and then said, “You words are true for one so young.” Then, looking at the guards, Quag ordered, “Take him and guard him well until tonight when he will be our guest of honor.”
“I will be in my lodge.” Dryrc said as he moved toward his home.
“Come, Moless, we have things we must do on this day.”
* * *
Nolerst was taken to a lodge, shoved to the floor and tied securely. The guards were men his age and he'd hoped he'd be guarded by younger men. While in his late twenties, he knew a young man would be easier to overpower and kill if he made an escape attempt, and he would at some point. There is no way in hell I'll let them burn me to death, he thought as the last guard left.
He looked the lodge over closely, but saw nothing to help him escape, or did he? There was no fire, so burning the bonds was out. But, he thought as he wiggled toward the rocks circling the dead fire, maybe there is some broken pottery or bones in the fire. I don't need much, just a way to cut this rawhide.
He blew hard on the ashes and dust, then saw a shard of bone, about two inches long. He lowered his head and picked the bone up with his teeth. He moved from the fireplace and dropped the bone from his mouth, then twisted his torso, taking the fragment in his hand. He immediately started sawing on the leather.
An hour later, while still working on the leather, a warrior entered, pulled his knife and said, “I have been sent to teach you that the Snake People can protect our people. The council asked me to return with your ears and nose, so the people will know we are strong warriors.”
“Untie me, you piece of dog dung, and then try to take my nose and ears. Is this the way a brave warrior of the Snake People protects their village, by maiming courageous warriors who are tied up? You are no man, but a woman, afraid of a real man.” Nolerst spat out and then rubbed the bone harder against the leather. Just a bit more and I'll be safe, but I must stall him until I am free. It will not be hard for him to cut my flesh if I cannot resist him, he thought.
The warrior squatted beside the warrior of the Grizzly Bear People, grabbed his long hair, and raised his knife.
Damn me, Nolerst thought, and just when I'm almost through this leather.
“I will hold your body parts high in the air as I leave this lodge, so my people will know the Grizzly Bear Clan's warriors are weak and no threat to the Snake Clan!”
As the knife blade moved for his left ear, the struggling warrior jerked his secured hands hard and felt the leather break. With all of his power behind him, Nolerst struck the Snake warrior on his Adams apple and felt something snap.
The warrior dropped the knife, fell to the ground, and began to twitch and jerk violently. Blood ran from his mouth, so the Grizzly Bear picked up the knife and cut the man's throat. Warm coppery scented crimson shot high into the air as the warrior began to choke on his own blood. Minutes later, the warrior grew still and his open eyes, now unfocused, were on Nolerst.
I must move and quickly, he thought, or killing him will have done me no good. Let me cut a small hole in the back of this lodge and escape. Most of the important warriors will be meeting with the elders at the council he spoke of. Now is the time to leave.
Minutes later, a hole through the soft sod of the structure, the Grizzly Bear warrior took the dead man's gear, all of it, including his buckskin shirt and breech cloth. His tomahawk, pistol, cartridge belt, and other knife were also taken. He then armed himself and slipped through the hole in the dirt wall. His tribe, the Grizzly Bear Clan, had guns that they traded for from the Cheyenne Mountain People, who were now called the Eagle People. He was very capable of using any firearm he found.
The way was clear behind him, if he could only reach the horses. It was late afternoon, close to dusk, so he moved slowly, knowing movement attracted attention. Near the mounts, he saw a young man of about fifteen keeping watch over the herd.
I need his gear, especially his bow and arrows, Nolerst thought and then moved toward the guard, with his new knife in hand. The youngster never realized he was being hunted, until the Grizzly Bear warrior's arm went around his neck, and the six inches of hard steel pierced his kidney. Talks Much tried to scream to warn his people, but was unable to make a sound. The big warrior's arm was around his throat and cutting off all his air.
To make sure the young man stayed dead, Nolerst cut the boy's throat as he dropped him to the ground. He quickly gathered up two rope bridles and prepared two animals to ride. Then, mounting one horse as he led another, he scattered the rest of the horses with two loud gunshots. The animals scattered in all directions, and quickly too.
As he moved at a gallop on horseback, he heard screams and yells as he rode bent over, to offer less of a target to the Snakes. He heard three or four gunshots, which were all fired close to the same time, felt a bullet take his left arm high, only he felt no pain.
Pain will come, he thought, but now kicked his horse into a full run. I hope the noise made by me and the warriors will scare their horses far from camp. I have a chance if they don't get on my trail too soon.
As he rode, he wrapped his bleeding arm in the breech cloth from the man he'd killed in the lodge. From what he'd seen of the injury, the bullet had been small caliber, maybe a .22, and the slug had passed clean through the meaty portion of his arm. It was starting to ache now, so he moved quickly, knowing within twelve hours he'd be burning up with fever. So, distance and speed was all he had going for him now.
* * *
“How in the hell,” Dryrc screamed from near the dead man in the lodge, “could Thorn have been so stupid as to get kil
led by a secured captive! He did something dumb! By God, he had to be really stupid!”
“My son, he was a proven warrior.” Quag the chief said and then added, “Obviously the captive got loose and surprised our man.”
“My chief, no disrespect, but the key word you have spoken is 'was' a proven warrior. That Grizzly Bear Clan sonofabitch has personally killed seven of our men, seven! I will kill him as soon as the horses are gathered up.” Dryrc said, his voice filled with anger.
“Yes, you will kill him, or he will kill you. As soon as a dozen horses have been collected, take eleven men with you and bring back the hair of this one. Do not fail me, Dryrc, because the cost of failure is death.”
“I hear you, my chief, and I will do as instructed. I want the hair of this man as much as you do. He is making the mighty Snake People look weak and I cannot allow that to happen. He will pay for his actions and he will pay in blood.” The big warrior bowed his head while speaking to the chief.
“Go, and return only when you have his hair.”
Dryrc left the lodge, called out for his warriors and then asked Larn, the best tracker in the tribe, “How many horses been recovered?”
“Near eighteen or so, why?”
“Pull twelve animals and I want you to quickly prepare to go after the Grizzly Bear man. I have need of your special skills.”
Nodding, the tracker said, “This I will do.”
Hours later, as they moved at a slow walk on their horses, Dryrc called out to the woman he had riding point, “Use care now, because he's been loose a few hours and we can expect an ambush or traps any minute, if his mind has cleared. He is walking his animal slowly, so he knows we will come.”
Chi, a woman warrior, raised her hand and nodded to show she understood her orders. While small and looking Asian, she was actually full blooded Apache. However, she was as vicious as any man in the group. The blood of her ancestors flowed through her veins and she seemed to come alive once in the woods. Dryrc considered her one of his best warriors.
“The one we seek is smart and cares for his animals.” Larn said, as he rode to the side of Dryrc's horse.
The big warrior met the smaller man's eyes and asked, “How do you know this?”
“He is no longer pushing his horses. He has two and twice in the last two hours he has changed horses. This is a man who expects to run at any second and neither of his mounts will be tired.”
“I will still kill him like the dog he is.”
Knowing better than to argue, Larn replied, “Oh, of that I am certain, but he will run.” Then he thought, Maybe you will kill him, but this is no normal man we track.
Suddenly, Chi yelled out in warning, “Move, and do it now!”
“Why?” called out Dryrc.
“Did she say move?” Zarst asked.
“I see no reason to move.” Jelp said, and scanned the area.
From the rocks above them, off the right side, a low rumbling was heard and then small rocks began to bounce and roll down the incline.
“Rock slide!” someone screamed.
Huge boulders were now bouncing down the hill and everyone kicked their horses in the flanks, hoping to be long gone by the time the rocks hit the trail, all except the youngest warrior called Cobalt, who remained in place, terrified by the situation.
Larn rode from the dust and started counting warriors as they rode to him. Dust and debris from the rocks falling filled the air. Most of the survivors were wiping their eyes or coughing from the thick dust.
“Looks like Cobalt and Wink didn't make it.” Jelp said.
“We will check for them once the dust has cleared. They may just be injured.” Dryrc replied.
Chi rode to the group and said, “My horse tripped a vine, which is why I yelled a warning. I had no idea what would happen.” She was scared the big leader of all warriors would have her put to death for failing to warn them in time.
“No, you had little time. I would have suspected an injury for you or maybe even death, but a rock slide I'd never considered. This one is wise and wanted to kill more than one of us. The dust has settled some; let us look for our men.”
The men entered the rocks and boulders on foot, because it was too rough to ride a horse. Boulders, some the size of small cars, lay on the trail. Here and there even larger stones were found, but they were few.
“Wink is here, but dead.” Jelp called out.
“Are you sure?” Larn asked.
“Oh, yeah, he's dead as hell. I see his legs sticking out from a rock as big as my lodge. No one could survive that.”
Dryrc said, “Keep looking for Cobalt.”
Soon, Klaklz, the second in command, said, “He's over here, and alive. I see a real problem though, because his left arm is pinned under a boulder.”
“Everyone meet at Klaklz, and do it now.”
Once they were all there, Chi asked, “How do we get the boulder off his arm?”
“We can't, and his arm is crushed to hell and back. We'll have to remove his arm at the shoulder.”
Zarst, the medic for the group said, “I can remove his arm, but he ain't going to like it much. All I have to kill his pain is whiskey.”
“Feed him the drink and when you're ready to remove the arm, we'll hold him down.” Dryrc stated in frustration, knowing the hunted man was covering miles.
“Get a fire burning near him, because I'll have to cauterize the wound once I remove the arm. He'll go ape shit when I do that.”
“Aye,” said Klaklz, “few take a hot knife well.”
“Look, I'll take half of the warriors and go after the man while half stay with you as you work on Cobalt. I don't want this man to get away, or all of us are dead.” Dryrc said and then added, “Du, Steel, Patch, Jelp and Larn, all of you will ride with me. Klaklz, catch up to us when you can. Now, even if Cobalt has a fever, once he's been treated, follow us. Flyst was serious when he threatened us with death if we failed him.”
“Go, we'll catch up by tomorrow morning, I'm sure, and good hunting.”
The big man grunted in reply and then said, “Move to the horses and let's ride. I need to kill this fool and return to my woman.”
“Oh,” asked Du, “do you have need of a woman? I am a woman, Dryrc, and would be happy to bring you joy.”
Du was known as an easy woman and most of the warriors had used her skills at one time or the other. While she was attractive, few men cared for her because she was loose and would do almost anything with anyone, male or female. She blinked her big blue eyes, waiting for the leader's reply.
He didn't keep her waiting and said, “No, not with you, Du. I do not need what you have.”
“You have never tried what I offer you. I can make you feel like a real man, my leader.”
Striking his round shield hard, Dryrc replied, “I am a man and a war chief of the Snakes. I need no woman to make me feel like a man, especially one that may carry the wet disease between her legs.”
“I am clean.”
The big man laughed and said, “My answer is no. I have no use for a woman who lives to please any man or woman, and at anytime. I do not need a plaything, but desire my wife.”
“I have heard your word. If you change your mind later, let me know.”
“I will not change my mind, but your words were clear. Now, no more talk, and let's take care of the reason we are out here.”
* * *
Back at the village, a trader entered and was brought before Flyst. Traders were safe in all villages, because they carried things all Peoples needed. He was brought before the chief so the old man would get first chance at the valuable goods the man carried in his packs, which were on his horses.
“So, trader, what new goods do you carry?”
“Very little, my chief, but I do have a few things that may interest you.”
“Show me what is new.” the chief said and gave a false smile, which showed most of his brown teeth.
“I have three bottles of the fin
est whiskey from the hill country of what used to be Tennessee, but is now controlled by the Hill Clan.” He placed a bottle on a cow hide the old man used to cover and warm his floor.
“How do I know your words of this drink are true?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
“No, you are an honest trader.”
“And, what if I told you that you are not really here with me at this moment, but in a dream?”
“I am not asleep.”
“I have used the wrong words. You are trapped in a dream world, part of someone's dream.”
“You are joking, because how can this be?” The chief was surprised and deeply shocked.
“Call your shaman and let the three of us talk. I am sure I can call you back from this world of dreams, but it will not be easy, nor cheap.”
Turning to Drunt, his wife, the chief said, “Bring Quag to me now. I have need of him.”
“I will do this now.”
After she left, Tytban Nelovon, the trader, said, “My chief, you are in much danger. If this person who is dreaming dreams of your death, it will happen to you. Or if they dream of maiming or harming you, that will happen also.”
“You are sure of this? If this is a game, I will remove your privates with my own dull bladed knife.”
“I give you my word, this is not only very real, but potentially deadly to you. Cannot you see the danger in this?”
“Yes, but what is your cost to save me?”
“Two women of my choice from any of this tribe. I also want ten horses, one young boy to train as my helper, and a pistol.”
“Your price seems reasonable for such a hard task. However, we may have trouble taking a good woman from her husband.”
“That will be your problem, not mine. I will have enough trouble trying to return your soul to this side from the dream world.”
