Grail Quest (13 page)

If he came in, I was trapped. He hesitated.
 
I didn’t. Screaming like a wounded hyena, I ran right at him. He stood up. I stopped out of his reach…picked up a burning stick…threw it at his eyes!
 
Stooping, I grabbed another brand. Screeching, I waved it at his face. Two burns must have been enough.
 
He backed off and sat down. Then he got up and turned. Wagging his tail end at me, he took his time strolling out of the clearing. I grabbed some of the broken rack poles and put ends in the fire. If he came back I wanted to be ready. I watched him as his size shrunk until he became a raven and flew off.

When Moyock and Leahna returned they approached warily. I waved them forward. Moyock said. “From the edge of the thicket we followed bear tracks in here. We feared for you, Squire.”

“I’m all right. Not hurt. I scared him off with fire brands. He ruined our racks.
 
Leaving the clearing he turned into a raven and flew away.”

Leahna gasped, “Coyote!”

“Yes. The bear had a notched left ear. I don’t know what his game is.”

“He want to kill you, I think,” Moyock said.

“Perhaps, but he didn’t try very hard. Maybe just testing me. If he’d been a real bear and hungry, I probably couldn’t scare him with a little fire. The wooden cross didn’t bother him. He seemed more intent on ruining our meat supply.”

“Hah. We can save most of it.” Leahna said and set about doing it.

During the next few days, while my shoulder healed, and I regained my arm strength, time dragged for me. I wasn’t satisfied with my recovery until I could shoot an arrow almost as far as Moyock, and I could carry and maneuver my flintlock with ease. I practiced paddling a canoe until I was satisfied I could manage one again. It was time for us to move on.

Time to face the rapids.

“Leahna, now I am strong enough to paddle. We want to move west to hunt for your
 
people. We don’t where or how far we need to travel. Also…we are searching for the ‘Holy Grail’…among your family. You might think of
 
that as the White Mans totem.”

“Why you want Holy Grail?”

“A very big chief sent me here to find it…to return it to my home. It has very strong medicine for White Men. It has magic powers for good.”

“Why you tell me?”

“We want you to come with us. Just so you know, not just to find your family, but to get the Holy Grail…from them.”

“I not care why you go. Take me with you…away from Coyote.”

While busy around the cave or forest, Leahna usually wore her hair in two whorls, one on each side of her head. Before we embarked I asked her to let her hair down. “Comb it out to flow around your shoulders.
 
“When we are among other Naturals, hold your head high. Do not do any of the work. You must make them think you are the mate of a big chief. Can you do that?”

“Am I mate of a big chief?”

Moyock chuckled. Gadzooks! My face burned. Having stepped in my own mouth, I coughed to delay answering. “You will be the mate of a big chief. Now you must play the daughter of a big chief.”

Leahna ‘humphed’ and Moyock chuckled again. Smart-alec kid.

“Why I must play mate or daughter of chief?”

“Some people think you are a witch. We know you’re not!” Would appearing to be a witch give her greater protection? I didn’t know “If people think you are powerful they will fear to hurt you. If you act aloof and above the crowd, they will know you are powerful.”

“How I do?”

“Wear your dress and let your charm hang in front of it.
 
When we come in sight of the Unilah, drape a piece of that colorful cloth around your shoulders. The Unilah haven’t seen it. Perhaps it will make you look more regal. I know it will be hot over your dress. After everyone has good look at it, set it aside in the canoe.”

Now that my foot was back out of my mouth, I told Moyock and Leahna how to pack the remainder of my trade goods. We took as much food as we dared carry without overloading our flimsy crafts. We couldn’t load them where they were hidden. While we worked Moyock said, “I think we must be careful with the Unilah. Because we need them to help us carry our things, they may think we weak. Maybe want much. Maybe want everything.”

“Yes…we must be alert. Keep your ears open among them. If they think Leahna is a witch they may be hostile. We’ll travel with our weapons loaded.”

At first light we carried our packs down to the river. Then we shoved the canoes out from their hiding place. Down at the shoreline we stowed our belongings in them. I decided Leahna should ride in the front of my canoe.
 
I
 
devised a small seat that allowed me to sit rather than kneel while rowing. She was used to sitting with her feet straight out in front of her. Not knowing what kind of reception she would receive among the Unilah, I wanted her to sit regally on top of the cargo. Because of her precarious balance in the tipsy canoe, I had to abandon that idea. Moyock in the second canoe carried a proportionate larger share of cargo. With my craft being the most unwieldy, Leahna and I got in. Moyock shoved us into the stream before getting in his own canoe. Because I expected to be delayed at the falls we couldn’t start too early.

As we approached Otisco’s village, Moyock said, “Let me land first. I will jump out and rush over to hand out the Chief’s daughter.”

The kid had a head on him. “Good idea.”

Aware of our coming, Chief Otisco, the Sachem, and other dignitaries waited for us far up on the shore. I didn’t see any smiles. As Leahna stepped out of the canoe on Moyock’s hand, we heard angry muttering. I could see hostile arms shaking at the front of the crowd. Leahna played her part and calmly studied the crowd.

I walked up to Otisco and performed my flintlock salute. He stared at me. “Squire, why you bring witch to my village?”

I stared back at him. “Chief Otisco, I would not bring a witch to my friends the Unilah.” I had a story in mind. “Leahna is the daughter of Chief Onalaska. Now I take her to Chief Omaha far away.”

With more muttering from the crowd, Otisco continued to stare at me. “We have seen red-haired girl on mound. Look crazy. Make crazy noises. Maybe witch noises. We see her before Squire come. We think she witch.”

“Leahna’s party came down river from far. People sick at mound, all die. Leahna alone. Afraid of other people. Act crazy to scare.”

Otisco’s face relaxed until the Sachem said, “You say Coyote witch at mound. Make canoes sick. Maybe make her people sick. Why not make red-haired girl sick?”

“Coyote want her for mate. We stop him. We give Leahna White Mans charm.”
 
I took my time to look back at her. “Token around her neck scare Coyote.” Now the crowd focused on her.
 
“He can not come near her. He gone long time. Not come back. Leahna no witch!”

“I think Chief Squire speak truth. If girl is witch you not safe with her. We have smoke.”

While we smoked in front of his wikkiup, Moyock remained with Leahna and the canoes.
 
Some of the women lost their fear of her, and out of curiosity, moved closer to inspect her. They were fascinated by her crucifix and colorful cloth. Leahna unwrapped one side of her robe to let the ladies fondle it.

After more general conversation with Otisco I said, “If we are to find Chief Omaha, we needed to press on. We don’t know how far away he is.”

Otisco said, “Canoes can not float down river here. Many bad rocks, swift water, long way. Canoes break up. You must carry canoes. I think maybe one day.”

Bad news indeed. “Chief Otisco knows way around falls. Many strong Unilah men here. Maybe we give gifts to men who carry canoes, carry goods to smooth water.”

“Maybe so,” he said. “Long way to carry. Many men. Take many gifts from rich man.”

Oh oh. I could have guessed that, but without their help we couldn’t get downstream. I suggested we survey the canoes and contents to see how many men were needed. Besides the two canoes, we had eleven packs of various sizes. Moyock would carry one package. I hefted a couple of the larger ones and handed them to the men who accompanied us to the shore.
 
Then Chief Otisco hefted a pack. He and two of his men then palavered with a lot of head shaking.

“They think two man each canoe. Packs hard to carry, long way. Think maybe fifteen men. Take turns. What gifts you give many men?”

“When we reach smooth water, I give each man tobacco for him, knife for wife.”

Otisco relayed my offer. Ominous grunts and head shakes accompanied their replies. “They say Squire is not generous. They say hatchet for each man too.”

“Chief Otisco. I do not have fifteen hatchets. I gave many away on our trip to here.” The three of us each had a hatchet but I didn’t want to part with them. “I have five left in the packs. I will give them to five of the men, but the men must say which five of them get hatchets.”

“So. What you give other men?”

Since there was quite a crowd around us, I removed Leahna’s colorful robe. I swung it around open for all to see. “For each man with no hatchet, I give robe like this.”

I watched faces for a reaction. Some of the women smiled and one of them nudged her man. Moyock muttered, “Good idea. I hope you have enough cloth. Others will want it too.”

I looked at Otisco. He turned away from me and spoke to some of the men. When he turned back he said, “Gifts good. You give them now.”

While facing the Chief I became aware of agitated movement among the people. “Chief Otisco!
 
Do your men think I am a fool? I say I give gifts at end of falls. That is my offer.”

Out of the corner of my eye I detected movement in the crowd and heard loud muttering. Our troubles weren’t over yet. Something was wrong. Momentary fear shivered across my back. I was alert…on guard.

“
HAH! White Squire is skunk! We take all your things!
”

Some men ran at me. They screamed their war cries. Berserk Beaver led them. He brandished
 
a wicked looking club. I didn’t have time to aim…swiveled my gun
 
stock into him. Knocked him aside but not down. Enraged, Beaver swung his club. Easily dodged. I jammed the stock into him. He was down on his back. My swinging flintlock scythed away two warriors. Beaver sprang up with a knife. No more playing.
 
I pulled the trigger. He was so close his stomach exploded. His companions turned and ran. Most of the spectators screamed and ran back into the village. To his credit, Chief Otisco backed a short way away from me, but did not turn and run. I reloaded my flintlock. Moyock didn’t draw the pistol.
 
He kept his eyes on the wailing people at the edge of the village.

“I have settled my trouble with Berserk Beaver.” I said to the Chief. “I did not want to use my thunder stick, my badge of office as a White Chief. I mean no harm to other people. We only wish to go in peace and friendship with the Unilah.”

“You have big medicine, Squire. Berserk Beaver was foolish. I do not wish you any harm. I think we must help you now.”
 

While he waved and shouted to his people I rejoined Leahna and Moyock. “I don’t think we’ll have too many problems with them now. Otisco has guts. He is smart enough to know he wants someone with powerful medicine to go away from him.”

With assurances that my thunder stick would not speak against anyone who helped me, Chief Otisco calmed his people down. We managed to get everyone in line and moving. Leahna marched behind the biggest brave who carried the largest load and led the way. My canoe was next, then the remaining porters and lastly Moyock’s canoe with him at the back. I followed all, where I could keep an eye on everyone and everything. Because we followed a well used trail, the trip wasn’t as difficult as I expected. Even so, I studied the current for a safe place to enter the river. I mistook a calm place to do that. The lead man came back to make us understand that the calm was deceiving and more rapids followed.

His was good advice. Within a half mile we would have crashed on the rocks. When he finally stopped, I reckoned we had walked over two miles to safe water. Now it was my time to come across. I hated to give up the hatchets but I had promised. After distributing the gifts, we loaded the canoes and set out down river. It wasn’t dark yet and I wanted to get as far away from the Unilah as possible. While they were tractable when we left, who knows when greed will overcome fear? On the other hand, if they knew my trade goods were so depleted, would they bother?

After we landed to make camp for the night, Moyock out of earshot of Leahna said, “I think raven follows us. I see single black bird fly up and back along river. Never far away, never far ahead of us.”

“That’s all we need…that slimy witch…I can’t wait until I can lay a shot on him.”

During the next several days the river seemed to run slower, and followed a zigzag path around close loops. Ever since leaving the village of the Cinsy, I knew we traveled in a southwesterly direction. From what Leahna told of her ancestor’s route, I thought we should
 
head northwesterly. Several times we passed small villages of Naturals on either shore. By keeping to the middle of the stream we avoided direct contact with any of them. A few Naturals in canoes approached us, until they had a better look at this strange white person and girl with flaming red hair. Then they decided they had more important things to do elsewhere.