by Chuck Buda
He stared his friend down.
Crouching Bear growled and charged James again.
Chapter 46
James saw him coming. Clutching his arm, he spun at the last second and the bear went rushing by him. He turned at the same time as his friend. His mind screamed that he wished he didn’t have to fight his friend. A voice returned the thought in his head. It is too late for wishes.
James’ blood ran cold. Who was that voice from? It wasn’t his, he was damned sure of that. It didn’t even sound like his voice. It sounded more like...Crouching Bear? But how?
We are one. The curse bond has brought us together. But the bond must be broken.
Crouching Bear stared at James with red eyes. His back and shoulders rising and falling with labored breaths. James found himself speechless for a moment as he watched his friend.
“You can’t do this, Crouching Bear. You have to give up.”
It is you who must give up. I am more powerful. I am in control.
James heard the voice in his head but the bear kept panting. Watching.
“I don’t want to kill you but I have no choice. You have hurt too many people.”
One more might be better. And you are a tasty one, James.
James grimaced at the thought-voice. He felt like his friend was toying with him. It made him angry that Crouching Bear was gone. Locked away deep inside all that fur.
“You could have turned yourself in. You could have come with me. Instead you killed more people.”
I am surviving. Your town would have me killed. My own people would have me killed. So I decided to stand and fight.
“It didn’t have to end this way. Look what you have done. Your spirits will never accept you into their realm now.”
The spirits turned their back on me the moment I was cursed. I could never earn back my place in the heavens.
James glanced down at his arm. His shirt sleeve was covered in dark blood. His arm kept throbbing. He hoped he could use the arm to defend himself.
You could use eight arms, James. You still wouldn’t defeat me.
He forgot that Crouching Bear could hear his thoughts. How was he going to kill the Indian if he knew his moves before James made them? Not only was the bear bigger and stronger than James but it could also read his mind. He was trapped.
The thought-voice laughed in his head. Crouching Bear was enjoying this. He was playing with his food. The thought-voice laughed again. This time more heartily. James stared at the glowing red eyes. Drool dripped in long, slow globs. The beast salivated at the meal before it.
“What happened to you? The man I knew was good. Friendly. You’re just a monster now.”
A monster YOU created, James. I alone was cursed until you got involved. You extended the reach of the curse when you went on the vision quest. That blood covers your hands as much as it does mine.
“No. No, I didn’t slaughter those people. You did. You would have done it whether we connected or not. You know that’s the truth. You allowed the evil to take over.”
Evil is everywhere, James. The white man is evil toward the red man. Toward the black man. And the creatures. You have no right to judge.
“I can’t be held responsible for what others have done. We all have a responsibility for our own actions. You can’t blame what happened to you on anyone else. You killed your warrior brother. That’s what started it all.”
It was an accident. I never meant to hurt my own people.
The thought-voice shouted in James’ head. He knew he touched a raw nerve.
“It doesn’t erase what happened. You killed him and that is all that matters. And because of your accident more people have died. What did Minnie or George or those men in the posse have to do with you killing your tribesman?”
The bear growled. Its front paws scratched the dirt as it shifted its stance.
All of that is in the past. What matters now is killing you, James. You are trying to stop me. You are chasing me across the lands. I will not rest until you are gone.
“That’s funny because I won’t rest until YOU are gone.”
Crouching Bear appeared to be losing patience with James. He growled again and more slop dripped from his muzzle. The red eyes flared brighter.
You will have to pay for what you have done to me. After I kill you, I will hunt down your mother and your little friend, Carson. They shall suffer because of you.
James let go of his injured arm. He stepped toward Crouching Bear. No longer afraid. He was furious. James was willing to sacrifice himself but he couldn’t allow harm to come to the people he loved the most. “What did you say?”
You heard what I said. I am going to devour you. And then I am going to feast on your lovely mother. And the little slow one.
James was beside himself. It was all he could do to keep from rushing at Crouching Bear. What had become of his friend? The townspeople called Indians savages. Crouching Bear was behaving like a savage. Although, James knew the bear spirit was dominating the man. James took a few more steps toward Crouching Bear. He was close enough that he could smell the musk of the animal. He couldn’t have been further than four feet from the beast.
Oh, don’t get upset, James. The most merciful thing for Carson would be his death. He is useless to anyone and a burden on his caretakers. Besides, you can be together again in death.
James screamed. The rage pumped through his body. Any pain from the claw marks disappeared. Fear of death or being eaten alive faded. He saw red. Pure aggression and violence. James had never gotten this mad before. His extremities shook. His knees buckled. He felt dizzy. He tasted blood lust.
James threw himself at Crouching Bear. The battle was on.
Chapter 47
When James ran at Crouching Bear, the animal began to raise itself up on its hind legs. James filled his fists with tufts of dark fur. He wrenched the bear’s shoulders to the right in an attempt to knock it off balance. His plan didn’t work but the bear showed signs of being stunned. Its reactions were delayed, indicating James had caught it off guard.
James drove his legs forward so hard that his face smashed into Crouching Bear’s chest. He opened his mouth wide and bit flabby meat through the dense patch of fur. Crouching Bear shrieked and clawed at James’ back. The nails sliced through James’ back and dug trenches of bloody scratches. The pain just made James gnash his teeth harder. He shook his head left and right, tearing the bear’s skin. His mouth filled with the coppery taste of blood. He started to gag from all the hair.
Crouching Bear pawed James’ head and threw him off forcefully. James landed on his wounded arm. Waves of pain shot up to his shoulder. He felt something hard under his hip. His hands traced the outline of a pistol. He grabbed it by the barrel just before Crouching Bear reached him. James raised his arm to fend off the monster’s bite. He shoved his forearm into the bear’s open jaws. Crouching Bear chomped down as he tried to pin James to the ground. James screamed as the teeth sunk into his skin.
He swung the gun across the head of the bear, stunning it. He repeated the pistol whipping. Crouching Bear wobbled, dazed from the strikes. His jaw didn’t release James’ forearm though. He swung the pistol a third time but the bear slammed its paw down on James’ arm. With both arms restrained, James found himself in a jam. He needed to get out from under Crouching Bear but the creature was too big. Its weight was enormous. James wrenched his arm, trying to free it from the bear’s mouth. It only caused more pain. The bear’s jaws were much too powerful for him to free his arm. With no options left, James lowered his arm closer to his face. The bear’s head moved closer as it held his arm in its teeth.
James threw his forehead forward. It smashed Crouching Bear’s snout with a deafening crunch. Blood poured out of the nostrils right into James’ mouth. Crouching Bear squealed and released the arm from his jaws. Instinctively, the bear brought both paws to its nose as the pain pierced its brain. James spun the pistol around in his left hand and squeezed the trigger.
A loud report echoed over the fields. The bullet penetrated the bear’s stomach with a spray of blood.
Crouching Bear fell over, clutching at its belly. The point blank shot caused a lot of damage. The bear was wounded badly. James didn’t want to waste time while he had the beast down. He jumped to his feet and approached the bear with the gun held out. As he neared the writhing animal, James stopped in his tracks. The pained wails of the beast upset James. He had never killed in anger or revenge before. He pitied his friend. James suffered internally for hurting someone he cared about, even though he understood the necessity of it.
Do it. Finish me. You win, James. Do it now.
James’ eyes filled with tears. He felt sorry for Crouching Bear. James regretted getting involved with his friend, and the events which followed. He fired another round. This shot penetrated the bear’s chest. A plume of blood shot into the air. Droplets of bright red blood tipped the coarse dark fur. James felt the hot tears running down his face.
It is okay, James. You had to do it. Do not worry about me.
The huge beast lie sprawled on the grass. A pool of blood stretched out beneath it. The pink tongue started to hang outside its jaws in a pathetic display. The glowing red eyes returned to a dark brown hue. They appeared to shrink in size too. James cried, gun still pointed at the bear.
As James stared at his dying friend, Crouching Bear began to transform back into human form. The fur disintegrated. Claws retracted and bones shifted. His skin returned to a reddish brown without hair. James saw the bullet wounds which leaked vast amounts of blood. One was square in the middle of Crouching Bear’s abdomen. The other was inches from his heart, near the center of his chest. James stepped closer and lowered his gun.
Tell Carson I am sorry. I never meant to hurt him.
James cried harder at Crouching Bear’s apology. His thoughts ran back to his little friend. He was happy that he would see him again. But saddened with how he had to return to town. Crouching Bear was choking on blood. His teeth were red and James couldn’t tell how much of it was his own. He placed the gun on the ground and lie down next to Crouching Bear. James held his friend in his arms, listening to the wheezing from the hole in his chest. James squeezed his friend to his body.
“I’m so sorry, Crouching Bear. You are still my friend. Please forgive me.”
Crouching Bear couldn’t respond. The gurgling blood in his throat prevented him from talking. James could feel the life fading out of his friend’s body. He reached down and unsheathed his knife. He grasped the handle tightly and then stuck it into Crouching Bear’s heart. “I’m sorry.” James whispered into his dead friend’s ear. A sigh of air escaped Crouching Bear as he went limp. His eyes stared up at the heavens. A place his spirit warrior could not go. A single tear slid from one of his eyes.
James stayed with Crouching Bear for a long time. He cried and wished he had never been in this position. He didn’t want to leave because that would mean that he wouldn’t see Crouching Bear anymore. James wept and prayed that his friend’s soul would be welcomed into white man heaven. That way he could see his friend again in the afterlife.
Chapter 48
James walked right into the hackle-berry grove. He was so tired he didn’t even bother signaling to Soaring Eagle that he was coming in. Part of him hoped the old man would jump out and finish him off. James regretted killing Crouching Bear and felt like he deserved to be killed himself.
Soaring Eagle must have known it was James coming because he sat comfortably next to the fire. He wore a smile as a greeting to the weary traveler. James nodded imperceptibly, afraid his head would roll off his neck if he exerted himself too much. James dropped to the floor and stared up at the opening above. He could make out the faint glow of a few stars.
“You have returned.”
James didn’t answer right away. He was still so sad and tried to gather his thoughts without breaking into tears. A man didn’t cry, especially in front of other men. And he knew he was a man now that he had undertaken such a huge responsibility. Killing a friend was not something a boy could do.
“Your friend has returned.” Soaring Eagle spoke to George. James realized who he was speaking to and he sprung up on all fours. James saw George reclined on the other side of the fire. His eyes were open but he still looked so weak. His cheeks sunken.
“George. How are you doing?” James felt re-energized immediately upon finding his friend to be living.
George nodded. He spat from his reclined position but most of the juice landed on his bandaged chest. James laughed and slapped the dirt.
“I am not cleaning that up, man.”
George smiled. Soaring Eagle laughed too. He explained to James that George came around slowly. Apparently the only two things he said since awakening were, how is James and can you get me my tobacco? They both laughed at George who just kept smiling. He was too weak to speak or laugh at himself. But it appeared he understood the humor in the men’s ribbing.
Soaring Eagle made tea and a strange broth to give James some energy back. He worked on James’ wounds, chastising him for shoddy first aid skills. James ate and drank as Soaring Eagle applied ointments and herbal medicines to the scratches on his back and the holes in his bicep.
James told the men the story of how he encountered the defeated posse and chose to go on alone. He recounted the epic battle with the evil beast. He cried as he related the details of his friend’s death. James knew real men didn’t cry but his emotions were too strong to contain. He gave in and let it out. Both Soaring Eagle and George respectfully diverted their eyes to allow James some dignity while he cried. Neither man commenting on the emotions.
When he finished getting the men up to speed, James sighed and sat back. He stared at the flames as they danced and crackled along the wood. The silence filled the air. It was comforting to James to be able to sit in silence and lose himself in the fire light. George closed his eyes to get more rest. Soaring Eagle busied with kindling and preparing more medicinal bandages.
James closed his own eyes. The exhaustion settled in his bones. He felt aches and pains all over his body. The scratches on his back burned. His head throbbed endlessly from smashing Crouching Bear’s nose. His mind replayed the battle and the aftermath. Each image stirring different emotions which crested and plunged in James heart. He already missed Crouching Bear.
His thoughts started to return to his mother and Carson. He wondered how his mother was doing. He knew she was probably so worried about him. She was a great mother. Sometimes over-protective. But she did everything for James. She worked so hard to take care of him. But now that he was a man, he wanted to switch things around. He wanted to provide for his mother so that she wouldn’t have to work in Filler’s brothel anymore. He wanted her to relax and enjoy life. She deserved a chance to live like a normal woman.
He imagined Carson tagging along and pulling at the tail of his shirt. As much as he hated playing cards with Carson, he couldn’t wait to sit across from the boy and lose hand after hand to him. He missed the little face always looking at him, admiring his every move. The gleam in his eyes when James told him stories of the great Wyatt Earp. The excitement in his posture when James dreamed aloud of going on adventures and bringing Carson along. Every bit of those moments were more precious to James now.
James drifted off to sleep. It felt like minutes went by as his mind dreamed of getting back to town. But it turned out to be merely seconds.
James awoke the next morning to the smell of meat cooking on the fire. He opened his eyes to find Soaring Eagle roasting a prairie dog on a spit. George was still asleep. His body taking advantage of every minute of rest to recuperate.
Soaring Eagle made breakfast for the men. They ate mostly in silence as they were all tired from the long days and nights. James fed George a broth and joked that he could be George’s mommy now. George just glowered at James.
Soaring Eagle packed some basic supplies for the men including some dried meats and f
ruits. He stuffed some herbal tinctures and moist poultices into James’ saddle bag for the trip home. He helped James load George onto his horse. James was amazed at how strong the old man was. He looked to be over seventy years old yet James felt that his strength outweighed James’ own.
James thanked the old man for all his help and for taking care of George. Soaring Eagle graciously accepted the thanks and told them it was all his pleasure. He wished them well and they said goodbye.
As they rode slowly along the plains, James kept turning to wave to Soaring Eagle. The little old man never moved from his spot, keeping a vigilant eye on the riders. James saw him standing there until he was so far away that they could no longer make out his figure.
Chapter 49
“James.” Carson called out to James as the men arrived in town. Carson sprung off the saloon porch and sprinted to the middle of the street. Filler heard Carson’s cry and passed through the swinging doors to see for himself. James’ mother also heard the cry and leaned out the bedroom window upstairs. She saw James and disappeared inside to run down the stairs to meet her son.
A small crowd gathered as they heard the commotion. Word quickly spread through town and minutes later everybody had dropped what they were doing to greet the two men. So many shouts and questions overwhelmed the men. George was still too weak to talk. Several large men helped George off his horse and carried him to Doc’s room for continued treatment. James slid off his horse. Before he hit the ground Carson was wrapped around his waist, squeezing the life out of him.
“Hey buddy. How are you doing?”
“Don’t ever leave me. You can’t ever leave me again.” Carson squeezed and begged James.
“I won’t, buddy. I won’t.” He hugged Carson back and then ruffled his sandy hair. Carson appeared taller to James. He knew he couldn’t have grown that much in a few days. But the absence altered James’ perception at least.
