"Runs Like Deer," Speaks His Mind said in greeting, "why do you look so trodden upon?"
"I am Fast as Lightning in the Sky now," the former Runs Like Deer said. "It is the Red God I serve from this day forward, and that is the name he has given me." He tried showing as much respect as possible. Speaks His Mind's father was sachem for all the Montaukett people. That alone was reason enough to show deference.
"Yes, we have heard," Speaks His Mind said, nodding and looking Fast as Lightning up and down as if a change in name meant a change in body as well. When he saw that no physical change was present, he continued. "They say a white man gave you that god. A dead white man."
Speaks His Mind's emphasis on ‘dead' angered Fast as Lightning. He took a step forward, imagined the back of his hand smacking blood from Speaks His Mind's mouth. He thought better of it and held his ground. He smiled. "The people from the future, the up-timers they are called, brought the Red God to our land. He speaks to me like no other god before him. I found him in the pages of the white man's book. He called to me and made me his own."
Speaks His Mind nodded. "And yet, the Red God was not powerful enough to keep the English white man who gave him to you from dying. What does that say about the Red God's power?"
It was an insult, and Fast as Lightning reconsidered his patience. Yet, there was truth in what Speaks His Mind had stated, a truth that perhaps Fast as Lightning had ignored. The Red God had been good to him since they had met. And yet . . .
"The sun is about to set, Speaks His Mind," Fast as Lightning said, ignoring the brash comment. "Your father has asked me to accompany you to Sun Rising's village. The Narragansett people are Montauk enemies and have been so for a long time. Why do we go and speak with him?"
Speaks His Mind turned and walked back towards the tree line. Fast as Lightning followed, lifting his bear fur-wrapped boots high with each step to plod through the drifted snow. "The Mohegans have been raiding both Montaukett and Narragansett villages all winter. They have captured many of our people, children included, and are selling them as slaves to tribes north. This cannot be allowed to continue. We now have a mutual enemy, Sun Rising and I, and so we will go and speak with him and convince him to give us warriors for the negotiations with Sachem Raging Wolf."
Fast as Lightning shook his head. "Raging Wolf of the Mohegans will never negotiate with you or with Sun Rising."
They reached the treeline. There, five Montaukett warriors rose out of the snow. Fast as Lightning was impressed by how well their thick white wolf pelts blended seamlessly with the drift. Speaks His Mind greeted them with kind gestures, then turned to Fast as Lightning, and said, "I am Speaks His Mind, or so I am told. But negotiation is not always conducted with words; your Red God should know this, coming from a white man. Sometimes force is the best argument, and so we will go to Sun Rising in force and see what he has to say. And then . . ." He drew a tomahawk from his belt and waved it through the cold air. ". . . we will meet Raging Wolf for further negotiation."
"You might start a war, Speaks His Mind," Fast as Lightning said. "A war that you might not be able to win. Raging Wolf has English friends. Many English friends."
Speaks His Mind shrugged. "Then Raging Wolf may not be able to hear the truth of my words. But I have to try. My father expects me to. My people expect me to. I have been asked to do this, and I will do it. Will you attend me or not?"
What arrogance! What bravado! How has this boy not been killed yet by an enemy's blade? Yet, there was strength in Speaks His Mind's words and eyes that Fast as Lightning found appealing, and he wondered how the Red God would manifest himself through this impetuous little boy that stood before him, layered in deerskin, bear fur, and snow.
"Very well," Fast as Lightning said. "I will come, if for no other reason but to try to keep you alive."
Speaks His Mind chuckled. He put his hand on Fast as Lightning's shoulder. "Pray to your Red God that he keeps us both alive."
****
Sun Rising was sachem and a highly respected man among the Narragansett people. Therefore, it was an honor to be admitted to his long house and invited to smoke. Speaks His Mind accepted the invitation for himself and for Fast as Lightning. The rest of their men waited outside standing guard, for they were in dangerous territory, despite Sun Rising's warm welcome. Fast as Lightning was not sure how Sun Rising and the Narragansett people would view five Montaukett warriors fully armed outside their sachem's dwelling. But Sun Rising took it in stride, and so they entered, shared greetings, smoked, and talked.
"Raging Wolf is powerful," Sun Rising said, his elder voice coarse and broken with occasional fits of coughing. "The Mohegan are powerful. You do not have enough men to defeat them."
"That is why I have come to you, Sun Rising," Speaks His Mind said, drawing smoke from a pipe. He let the smoke drift from his mouth like a snake, then he said, "I propose that we confront him together, you and I and any warriors you may wish to add to my party. If we go together, united, and he sees that the Narragansett and Montaukett people stand against him, how can he not relent?"
Sun Rising grunted and puffed on his pipe. "Raging Wolf is younger than me, but he is still old like me, and age can make men stubborn. Raging Wolf believes that he is destined to be chief of all Algonquin lands. It is a foolish dream, of course, but dreams can sometimes make men do foolish things. He has the support of the English colonists too, most of them anyway, despite my personal relationship with William Bradford of the Plymouth colony. Raging Wolf is strong, and no amount of Narragansett and Montaukett warriors will stay his hand in this long, bitter winter."
Speaks His Mind drew smoke from his pipe, then handed it to Fast as Lightning, who took it humbly and smoked. Speaks His Mind cleared his throat, then said, "I do not propose that we go and fight him, Sachem Sun Rising. I propose that we go and make peace with him, and that we propose an alliance to stand against the coming Ring of Fire."
From the blank expression on his face, it was clear that Sun Rising did not understand this term. Fast as Lightning wasn't sure that he understood it either. All he had heard about it was rumor and hearsay from French, English, and Dutch colonists. Indeed, the Red God he worshipped had come through the Ring of Fire, but he did not know if anything else from it would come all the way over from Europe.
"Tell him, Fast as Lightning," Speaks His Mind said, gesturing him forward. "Tell Sachem Sun Rising about your Red God, and how he seized you as a worshipper without your consent. Tell him about the dead Englishman who brought the Red God to you and how he sacrificed himself to the snake so that his spirit would carry the Red God's message to you. Tell him about the people that have come through the Ring of Fire from the future, descended they say, from the English, and how they intend on riding boats powered by boiling water and dragon fire across the great sea, to bring death and desolation to us all. Tell him!"
Speaks His Mind raised his voice, and Fast as Lightning had to admit that it was a good show. But that's all it was: a show. And lies . . . all lies. None of it was true, or, at least, none of it could be proven. There were rumors, whispers among colonists about the Ring of Fire. But it was all speculation, and it certainly was not the case that the Red God had coerced Fast as Lightning in any way. He had accepted him with open arms and open heart.
Fast as Lightning stared back at Speaks His Mind, trying to figure out how to refute everything the little cretin had just said. His hatred for the boy rose, but he swallowed his anger, breathed deeply, and nodded. "There is some truth in what Speaks His Mind says, Sachem Sun Rising." It was difficult for Fast as Lightning to lie about his god, but he sensed that that was what Speaks His Mind wished him to do. "I am burdened by the Red God's will, though I struggle against it every day. And the colonists speak of ships that belch fire, and muskets that can put a warrior down at nearly a mile. These are truths, and that is the future that awaits us when the Ring of Fire comes." Fast as Lightning wondered if he had gone too far but Speaks His Mind's sudden glanc
e at him told him that he done exactly what had needed to be done.
"And so you see, Sachem Sun Rising," Speaks His Mind said, in his most earnest voice, "it is very likely that the English are supporting Raging Wolf's raids against us, so that our two peoples are weak for the coming spring . . . and for the coming Ring of Fire. The English are not Raging Wolf's allies. None of the white colonists are and never have been, but this is different, more sinister, more evil. Raging Wolf is being deceived by the English thralls of the people of the future, and I believe that once he sees how Fast as Lightning has been seized by their infernal Red God, he will know the truth of it, and ally with us, so that we may stand together, as one nation, against the coming Ring of Fire.
"So, I ask you again, Sachem Sun Rising, come with me to meet Raging Wolf and make him see the truth."
Sun Rising puffed on his pipe for a very long time, staring into the fire between them. Fast as Lightning could hear the bitter wind pick up outside the longhouse. He drew his bearskin robe up tighter around him and shivered despite the warm fire. He was angry, furious in fact, for allowing Speaks His Mind to put him in such a spot with Sun Rising. He wanted to reach out and smack the boy's smug little face. He imagined doing so by the spirit of the Red God that now coursed through his veins. But he waited until the Narragansett chief finally spoke.
"My people are concerned about my health, Speaks His Mind," Sun Rising said, followed by a fit of coughing. "This winter is very cold, and I am coughing more than usual. Thus, I will respect my people's concern and refuse your offer to go see Raging Wolf for myself. However, I will give you five of my warriors to match your five. And I will also ask my nephew, Good Hawk, to represent me in these negotiations. He will be sachem one day. The experience will be to his benefit. They will go with you and support you in this effort."
Hearing all this, Speaks His Mind smiled and nodded. "I thank you, Sachem Sun Rising. Today, I hope we have forged a lasting peace between our peoples."
Sun Rising stood with help, but his back was curved and he leaned forward in his thick wrappings. "Go now," he said, waving them away. "I must rest. But listen to me, Speaks His Mind. Take caution with Raging Wolf. He is unlike any sachem you have ever faced. He is brave, wise, and deceitful. Go in peace, and let us pray that your skills as a speaker, as a negotiator, will bear fruit."
****
When they were far away from Sun Rising's longhouse and men, Fast as Lightning grabbed Speaks His Mind by the scruff and pushed him against a tree. "You have dishonored me. You lied to Sun Rising about me. I was not taken by the Red God. I accepted him willingly, and I have benefited from him. Nor are the rumors about the up-timers and their Ring of Fire correct. The English despise them, and so do the French. Only the Dutch seem to accept them, and that, too, is suspect. So why did you lie? Why?"
Speaks His Mind's men came up and crowded Fast as Lightning, and suddenly he realized that he had let his anger get the better of him. He let go. Speaks His Mind adjusted himself, waited until Fast as Lightning stepped back a few paces, then he said, "I will do what I have to do to save our people. If it means lying to an old man to ensure that he gives me what I need, I will do so. And come good weather, if my lie turns against me and I suffer for it, so be it. What matters to me is now. We have to stop Raging Wolf from attacking our villages . . . now!
"Besides, what I said was only half false. All the colonists who know or have heard of these people from the Ring of Fire agree. They are coming, and they are, for the most part, descended from English colonies that do not even exist yet, and maybe they will never exist now. We know nothing about these people, but we do know one thing: the white man has never dealt with our people honorably. Individual white men, yes; one can always find a flower among the weeds. But they are coming, Fast as Lightning. The people who created your Red God will come, and their ships and weapons are better than ours, better than the English and French colonists that we know. But is their heart better? Are they better human beings? We cannot afford to wait and see. We must unite now and be ready when they come.
"So yes, I lied to Sun Rising. And I will do it all over again if I have to."
Fast as Lightning did not speak. He just stood there, staring into this young boy's eyes. How was it possible that such a young man had so much wisdom? It didn't seem real. He was still furious for being forced to lie, to deceive Sun Rising. The Narragansett leader was an enemy true, and perhaps it was fine to deceive an enemy to get what you wanted, as Speaks His Mind had just said. But deception was a dangerous path. He knew that. Once a man travelled that path, it was difficult to stop, for one lie always led into another, until a man could not tell the difference between a lie and a truth.
Fast as Lightning sighed deeply, nodded, and said, "Very well, Speaks His Mind. This is your mission. Your father has given you command of it. Now that you have your men, what is our next move?"
Speaks His Mind stepped away from the tree, smiling ear to ear. It was clear that he had no doubt about their next move, and that scared Fast as Lightning the most.
****
"Raging Wolf has refused to let us enter his home," Fast as Lightning's growl of discontent was faint in the growing wind.
Speaks His Mind nodded. "But nonetheless, he did agree to meet with us. I will see that as… hope."
"It is an insult." Fast as Lightning spat into the snow. "We should refuse the meeting immediately."
"We have no time for such petty concerns, follower of the Red God. Raging Wolf has agreed to meet and that is enough."
Sun Rising's nephew, Good Hawk, appeared to be watching them intently as they argued back and forth, as if gathering his thoughts before entering the conversation. Then he walked over to them and said, "Speaks His Mind is right. But so are you, Fast as Lightning. Raging Wolf looks down upon us just as sure as we know that the sun will rise in the morning. I do not trust him. But even should he agree to join us, could we fully rely on his word? He is as a white man now. They even say that his eyes have turned as white as an Englishman's."
"It would seem we have little choice," Speaks His Mind said. "We can but hope he will listen to reason and see the truth of things."
The five Montauk and five Narragansett warriors who joined with them had spread out around the clearing, waiting as patiently as they could for Raging Wolf to arrive. The Narragansett warriors, however, appeared to be keeping close to Good Hawk. Fast as Lightning did not doubt that Sun Rising had instructed them to make sure that his nephew returned to him alive.
"Someone comes!" One of the Montauk warriors said, pointing to the clearing's northern edge.
A man, alone and with a stride that bespoke the fearlessness of his heart and his name, entered the clearing.
"Raging Wolf!" Speaks His Mind said upon recognizing the man. "We welcome you."
Fast as Lightning stared at Raging Wolf. There was no doubt the man was a hardened warrior, but it was disturbing that the Mohegan had come alone to this meeting. The man was either braver than Fast as Lightning imagined him being or very foolish. Perhaps both.
"Speaks His Mind," Raging Wolf said, appraising the smaller man. "I am told that you would speak with me." He lifted his fur-covered arms and turned to acknowledge everyone else in attendance. "And you brought a party. Do you fear me?"
Speaks His Mind shook his head. "A man would be foolish not to, Raging Wolf, Sachem of the Mohegans. I am told that there is much to fear in your stare, though looking upon your face now, it does not seem so untrustworthy. Perhaps they were wrong. Perhaps you are a man that can be spoken to in a rational manner."
Raging Wolf already seemed to grow weary of the banter. Fast as Lightning could see the Mohegan's jaw clench as he gnashed his teeth in rapid succession. "Very well. Speak to me then. Why do you come to me?"
Speaks His Mind nodded and cleared his throat. "I would speak with you about the coming ring."
"Ring? What ring?"
"The Ring of Fire," Speaks His Mind said. "I know that yo
u are aware of it. You hear the rumors like we do, from your English friends. Your relationship with the white man is well known. Surely you must see the danger that comes with them."
Raging Wolf shook his head, his strong, prominent nose wiggling in the cold air as if sniffing for meat. "My friendship to the white man is strong. They are of no threat to me, nor is this ‘ring of fire' that you speak of."
"They use you, Raging Wolf," Speaks His Mind said bluntly. "They turn our tribes against one another. Already you raid us, taking our women and children as slaves for them. I ask you: where will it end, Raging Wolf? When they have destroyed the Montaukett and the Narragansett, will they not turn upon the Mohegan?"
"You speak as if you would have me go to war with the white man." Raging Wolf frowned, his earlier arrogance and solid stance lessened in his tone. "There has always been war among the tribes. That is nothing new. I raid your villages for slaves because I choose to do so, not at the white man's bidding."
"But they are the ones who buy them from you and sell them further north to tribes that they wish to influence even more," Speaks His Mind argued. "Should you not stand with your own? You ask if I would have you go to war with the white man. I would ask you to do this, but not alone. Our tribes would stand with you to protect this land and our way of life." Speaks His Mind gestured at the Narragansett man standing beside him. "This is Good Hawk, nephew of Sun Rising and soon to be Sachem of the Narragansett. Let him tell you that his people also see the dangers of the up-time white men from the Ring of Fire."
Fast as Lightning saw Good Hawk flinch as he was put on the spot, like he himself had been just a day ago in a lie against his god. But Good Hawk straightened, breathed deeply, and spoke with the authority of his uncle.
"We do stand with Speaks His Mind's people," Good Hawk nodded. "If we do not unite, then hope will be lost. None of us alone can stand against the weapons of those from this Ring of Fire. I have never seen any of them, but what I have heard is true. They are devils conceived from a blinding flash of light, and they are coming, Raging Wolf. None of us are safe."
Grantville Gazette, Volume 73 Page 5
