Ashwin's mother nodded. “Of course it's OK. You just be careful.”
Ashwin smiled as he grabbed the keys off the hook just under the wall phone. “I will, A-lu-li. And thank you.”
“What do you want me to tell Kasey if she wakes up before you get back?”
“Just tell her that I've gone into town to check on some new tires and I'll be back soon. If you need me for anything, call my cell.”
His mother nodded and watched him leave, then returned to her enjoyable task of preparing dinner.
Ashwin hadn't been up to the mountain in years, not since he was due to participate in his first-ever peyote ceremony, but the road and the scenery were just as he remembered. Tall evergreens lined both sides of the road, which was terrifyingly steep at times, but somehow he always managed to make it safely to the top of the mountain where his friend lived. The man who lived alone on the mountain was the best-kept secret between himself and the chief, and as Ashwin parked in front of the man's house, he shook his head and smiled when he realized that some things just never changed, and for that he was glad. He got out of the car and stretched, then smiled when he saw the smoke that curled lazily out of the chimney. He slowly walked up onto the porch of the old wooden cabin, then politely knocked three times and waited for his long-time friend to open the door. Moments later he did, and Ashwin was greeted with a firm handshake and a smile. Ashwin smiled back and said, “Osiyo, Fox. How have you been?”
The short, hunched-over aging Cherokee with the long gray braided ponytail smiled up at Ashwin and said, “Ashwin, my boy, come in!,” before he slowly walked across the living room and sat down on the sofa. The small cabin smelled like wood smoke from the fire burning in the fireplace, and as Fox pulled his pipe from his shirt pocket he said, “I'm getting old, Ashwin. How is everyone?”
Ashwin smiled and sat down across from his friend. “Would you believe the chief and my mother are getting married?”
“Married?”
“Yes.”
“Ha! Well I'll be.” He rubbed the gray stubble that dotted his jaw and added, “And when is all of this supposed to take place?”
“January.” Ashwin leaned back in the worn yet comfortable recliner and added, “I'm planning to do the same,” as Fox lit his pipe and took a deep puff. The pleasant aroma of cherry tobacco suddenly filled the air, and after taking another puff Fox replied, “I figured you'd already be married with about ten little Injuns running around.”
Ashwin laughed at his friend's crass humor, then shook his head and said, “No, not yet.”
Fox nodded and took another puff, then slowly blew a smoke ring before he inquired, “So what brings you all the way up to see me?”
Ashwin took a deep breath and replied, “I need some peyote, Fox.”
“You do, eh?”
“Yes, I do. It's for a very important ceremony that we're having tomorrow evening on the reservation.”
Fox waved his hand in the air and said, “You don't have to explain nothin' to me, my boy.” He pointed with his thumb and added, “It's where it's always been. Take as much as you need.”
Ashwin nodded and got to his feet, then slowly walked through Fox's kitchen and into the bedroom that the man had converted into a fascinating indoor desert. He was stunned to see row after row of perfect Lophophora Williamsii plants growing on the floor-to-ceiling shelves, and after filling a large brown paper bag with several mescaline buttons, he walked back into the living room and retrieved a smaller bag from the inside pocket of his jacket. He tossed it onto the coffee table in front of Fox and inquired, “The usual?”
“Is that a year's worth of home-grown tobacco?”
Ashwin nodded. “Yes, sir, it is.”
Fox nodded and took another puff on his pipe. “Pleasure doing business with you, my boy. You're welcome here anytime.”
Ashwin smiled at the old man as he made his way toward the door. “Likewise, my friend. You take care.”
Fox simply nodded and puffed on his pipe. “Always do.”
Kasey woke shortly after Ashwin returned, and as she drowsily shuffled up the hallway, she suddenly stopped and gasped when she heard, “I hope...you little bitch...sweet dreams...last time...Ashwin...”
The voice was so vicious and so real that she immediately felt another panic attack looming, but before she could do anything her chest tightened painfully as her throat began to close. She dropped to her knees in the middle of the hallway, her eyes wide with terror as she automatically clutched at her throat with her hand, and that's how Ashwin found her moments later. He effortlessly picked her up and hurried into the bedroom, then settled her against the pillows before he gently placed his cupped palm over her nose and mouth. “Breathe,” he instructed as Kasey automatically curled her hands around his wrist, desperate to get some air into her lungs. She struggled to take a deep, gasping breath, but it seemed to be useless as her chest burned and her vision wavered. Ashwin gently placed his other hand in the center of her chest and leaned forward, then murmured, “Just relax, Kasey...breathe...I'm not going to let anything happen to you...that's it...one more...” His voice trailed off as Kasey finally relaxed and managed to pull a deep breath into her lungs, and even though Ashwin cautiously removed his cupped hand from her nose and mouth, he kept his other hand pressed gently against her chest as she continued to take slow, deep breaths. Once again she was struck with an odd lethargy, and Ashwin's concern was evident as he checked her pulse and inquired, “What's happening to trigger these panic attacks, sweetheart?”
Kasey forced her eyes open as she drowsily mumbled, “Don't know...voices...so real...scary...”
Ashwin sat back and frowned as he mulled over what she'd just told him, and he could only hope that her mind wasn't unraveling due to everything she'd been through. Even though he suddenly had misgivings regarding her participation in the peyote ceremony, he was even more convinced that it was the only option that could truly heal her, and it was the only one he had left.
Kasey sat at the table, hoping against hope that she wouldn't have another panic attack in front of Ashwin's mother and the chief. She remained quiet as she slowly pushed her food around on her plate, but she knew that Ashwin was keeping an eagle eye on her, even if it didn't appear that way. Every so often she'd take a bite of the mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, and celery that Ashwin's mother had made, careful to pick the bits of venison out before putting the rest of the food into her mouth. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't bring herself to eat Bambi, even though the last thing she wanted to do was insult Ashwin's mother. No one seemed to be paying much attention, though, and she sighed as she carefully dipped her biscuit into the gravy and took a small bite. She daintily wiped her mouth and took a sip of the wine that the chief had brought, and upon realizing how delicious it was, she picked up her glass and downed half of it in one swallow. The chief saw what she'd done and remarked, “That's some pretty good stuff, eh?”
Kasey nodded. “Yes, it is. What kind of wine is it?”
“It's homemade muscadine wine.”
Kasey smiled and said, “My father used to have a muscadine vine,” before she took another, smaller sip. She wiped her mouth and added, “It's delicious. Thank you.”
The chief smiled and turned his attention back to Ashwin and his mother, and Kasey felt positively dejected as she sat there playing with her food and getting drunk on homemade wine. She was contemplating taking another bite of her biscuit when she suddenly heard, “Time of death, ten-thirty.” A deep sigh, and then, “Someone had better call Ashwin.” She gasped as her fork slid from her fingers and clattered onto her plate, but she was determined to prevent another panic attack if at all possible. Try as she might, though, she couldn't stop the way her chest began to tighten, and Ashwin was on his feet in a matter of seconds when he realized what was happening. Kasey turned tortured, pleading eyes to him as she wheezed, “Please, make it stop...” before she mercifully went limp in his arms.
“Kasey..
.Kasey, can you hear me, sweetheart?” Ashwin gently inquired as he leaned over to stroke Kasey's cool, pale cheek. She stirred and slowly opened her eyes, then bit her lip when she saw the deep concern on Ashwin's handsome face. He'd been sitting beside the bed ever since she'd fainted, and relief flooded him when he saw that she was finally awake. He gently pushed the hair out of her eyes and said, “Hi there. How are you feeling?”
Tears welled in Kasey's eyes as she desperately whispered, “What's happening to me?”
Ashwin sighed. “I was hoping you could tell me that, sweetheart.”
“Why won't you tell me your big secret?”
“I can't just tell you, Kasey. You need to see it for yourself.”
Kasey frowned in confusion at his words. “What does that mean?”
“It means that just telling you won't exactly be beneficial. There are certain things that you need to see, and do, in order to rid yourself of whatever it is that's happening to you.”
“Rid myself? You make it sound like I'm possessed or something.”
Ashwin shook his head. “No, sweetheart, you aren't possessed. There are just some unresolved issues you have that must be dealt with.”
“And how do I do that?”
“As I've told you before, everything will be made clear to you tomorrow evening.”
“I don't know if I can stand another day of having these panic attacks.”
“I'll be right here with you, sweetheart. I won't let anything happen to you. Do you trust me?”
Kasey nodded. “With my life.”
Ashwin gently linked his fingers with hers and pressed his thumb against her wrist to check her pulse, then said, “Then it's settled. I'll take care of you, and tomorrow evening, I will help you finally get rid of whatever it is that's tormenting you.”
“How?”
Ashwin's mouth quirked as he shook his head. “Patience is NOT one of your virtues, is it?”
“I suppose not.”
Ashwin smiled as he leaned over and dropped a gentle kiss to Kasey's lips. “That's OK, sweetheart, I love you anyway.” He turned when there was a knock at the bedroom door, and after calling out, “Come in,” he got to his feet when the chief walked into the room, his mother close behind. He glanced down at Kasey in concern and inquired, “Is she alright, son?”
Ashwin nodded. “She's better.”
The chief nodded. “Good.” He pulled Ashwin into the hallway and quietly inquired, “Are you still planning to have the ceremony tomorrow evening?”
Ashwin nodded. “Yes, sir. Without it, I fear she will only get worse and end up self-destructing.”
The chief sighed deeply and said, “I understand. Whatever you feel is necessary, I will see to it that it's done.”
“Thank you, Chief.”
Ashwin's mother stepped into the hallway then, her face lined with worry as she said, “The poor dear. The child isn't well. Is there anything I can do?”
“I will need your help tomorrow afternoon, A-lu-li,” Ashwin replied as he glanced into the open door of the bedroom to check on Kasey. “I will explain in more detail later, after she has gone to sleep for the night.”
Ashwin's mother nodded and said, “Very well, then. If there's anything you need before then, just let me know.”
Ashwin nodded and hugged his mother. “I will, A-lu-li. Thank you.”
CHAPTER 18
Cold...she was so cold...why was it so cold in here? Kasey wondered as tried to reach out to Ashwin. To her horror, she couldn't move, and as she lay in her cold, dark prison, she distinctly heard a woman say, “I hope you're having sweet dreams about Ashwin, you little bitch, because that's the last time you'll ever have the chance to see his face again!”
Kasey managed to suck in a short, ragged gasp, and when she did, she felt as if she were choking on a thick, powdery substance that had suddenly lodged in her nose and throat. The dry, bitter powder made her gag, and she was finally able to open her eyes as she was besieged by a vicious coughing fit that woke Ashwin. He sat up and switched on the lamp, then gently rubbed her back as he inquired, “Kasey, sweetheart, what's wrong?”
Kasey shook her head and got out of bed, then stumbled to the bathroom and became violently ill over the toilet as Ashwin hurried into the bathroom and soaked a wash cloth with cold water. By then Kasey was sitting on the floor beside the toilet, her eyes closed, her face chalk-white as she breathed heavily. Ashwin crouched in front of her, then gently wiped her face with the cloth as he murmured, “Kasey, sweetheart, talk to me. Tell me what's happening.”
Kasey bit her lip and slowly opened her eyes, then blinked up at him and said, “It was...horrible...I was so cold...and I couldn't move...and I heard a woman saying mean things to me...then I was choking on some kind of bitter powder...”
Ashwin frowned and sat back on his heels as he finally realized what was happening to Kasey. She was suffering from flashbacks of what Silver Moon had done to her, as well as what she'd gone through when she'd been mistakenly pronounced dead. Ashwin shook his head and helped Kasey to her feet, then helped her over to the sink and insisted that she rinse her mouth with water before taking a few sips. Afterwards he helped her into her robe and quietly led her into the kitchen, then sat her down at the table while he started a pot of coffee. He sat down across from her and studied her pale face in the warm, yellow light of the lamp that hung over the table, then sighed and said, “We need to talk, sweetheart.”
Kasey bit her lip as tears suddenly sprang to her eyes. Usually when a man said that to a woman, it was never good, and she was convinced that Ashwin was getting ready to deliver the old “Let's just be friends/I need my space” speech. Instead he gently placed his hand over hers and said, “The reason you're having these panic attacks is because you're having flashbacks, sweetheart. That's perfectly normal. Under the circumstances, I'd be surprised if you WEREN'T having them.”
“Flashbacks of what?” Kasey softly inquired as she continued to nervously chew on her lip.
Ashwin sighed and got to his feet to pour the coffee, and after setting the mugs on the table, he stirred milk and sugar into his coffee before he took a tentative sip. Moments later he said, “You're having flashbacks of what you went through in the hospital.”
Kasey mulled this over for a few moments before she inquired, “But who is that woman I always hear? And why was I in the hospital to begin with?”
Ashwin set his mouth in a straight line and took another sip of his coffee, then said, “A lot has happened in the past month, sweetheart.”
“I'm listening.”
“Tonight, Kasey. I promise you will have all of your answers tonight.”
Knowing that she wasn't going to get any more information out of him, Kasey sighed and took a sip of her coffee, then glanced up when Ashwin's mother walked into the kitchen. She gave them both a concerned look and inquired, “Is everything alright?”
Ashwin nodded. “Yes, A-lu-li. Kasey just had a nightmare, so we got up and decided to have some coffee. Would you like some?”
Ashwin's mother nodded and helped herself to a cup of coffee, then sat down at the table and took a sip before she looked at Ashwin and said, “The tire place called. You need to call them back when they open this morning.”
“Thank you, A-lu-li.”
“What time are you leaving this evening?” his mother casually inquired as she blew on her coffee.
Kasey's eyes widened in surprise as she glanced at Ashwin. “We're going somewhere?”
Ashwin cleared his throat and said to his mother, “We have to be there by seven.” To Kasey he simply smiled and replied, “Yes.”
Kasey sighed and sipped her coffee, then turned to Ashwin's mother and said, “Thank you for dinner last night. It was delicious.”
Ashwin's mother smiled and replied, “Thank you, dear. I noticed that you're not very fond of venison, though.”
Kasey blushed and said, “My father ate it, but I never developed a taste for it. The last time I
had it, I was tricked into eating it.”
Ashwin's mother nodded. “Ah, I see.” She studied Kasey's face for a few moments and added, “There is Cherokee in your blood, correct?”
Kasey's eyes widened in surprise as she said, “Yes. How did you know?”
Ashwin's mother simply smiled and glanced at Ashwin before she replied, “I can tell, child.” She took a sip of her coffee before she added, “Who was the full Cherokee in your family?”
“My paternal great-grandfather.”
Ashwin's mother simply nodded at this bit of news as her smile widened, but neither Ashwin nor Kasey said anything else as they sipped their coffee in silence. Kasey suddenly had the feeling that there were forces at work that she would never understand, and at the moment she wasn't sure if she even WANTED to understand them. All she knew was that she loved Ashwin with all of her heart and soul, and she could only wonder what he had planned for them that evening.
At five p.m. Ashwin and Kasey rode in a tow truck to the shop where Ashwin's car was located, and as soon as they were gone, Ashwin's mother began performing the task that he had asked her to do the previous night. She carefully ground up five mescaline buttons and pureed them until they had a pudding-like consistency, then added a small amount of sugar and water to make it more palatable for Kasey to ingest. Its green color, as well as its consistency, lent itself to Watergate salad or pistachio pudding, and Ashwin's mother chuckled to herself as she set the covered bowl on the counter and put the remainder of the peyote buttons away. That done, she had a simple dinner of leftover venison stew, then took the peyote buttons and Kasey's special bowl to the chief's house. There she busied herself getting things ready for the ceremony that evening, as well as the traditional offering of food that she would present the next morning. Like Ashwin, she was hoping that this ceremony would help restore the girl's health, both mentally and physically, as well as her faith in humanity.
The Medicine Man, Book 2 Page 13
