Part 21 (1/2)

”Yes Sir,” he replied and nodded. He walked to the gates and waited for the guards to swing the huge wooden doors open. He walked outside. He listened as the gates were pushed shut and relocked. He gazed out at the sight before him and fearlessly walked up to the warrior who sat in the place of the tiospaya itancan. He knew he had nothing to fear at the talk. The Indian was a man of his word and would not attack under the talking lance. Later, maybe...

but not now.

He halted before the warrior and spoke, ”I am Powchutu, scout and speaker for the cavalry. The general wishes to know what you want. Why have so many braves and chiefs come dressed and painted for war?'

and painted for war?'

The n.o.ble warrior answered in a deep, steady voice, ”Iam Wanmdi Hota of the Oglala, son of Chief Suntokca Ki-in-yangkiyapi.” He had alertly noticed the effect of his name on the scout. The scout's face had registered recognition; then had it been hatred and anger?

Powchutu thought and felt exactly that, and more. I guessed who he is from his bearing and courage, he thought. He is indeed al I have heard-a man to melt the heart of a woman, but bring terror to the heart of a man.

Gray Eagle continued, ”I have come to demand an apology for the raid on my vilage and payment for the ruin your bluecoats did there. You wil give me the ska wincinyanna as this payment. I demand insult and shame from you through her, for the disgrace and suffering you brought to me and my people! If you value your lives and this fort, you wil bring her to me, now!

”If you refuse, we wil attack the fort and destroy it and al inside. If she survives the raid, she would stil become my kaskapi. A battle would cost many lives from both sides. But you must be made to suffer as my people did because of the contempt of the one with the yelow hair. I wil teach your people torment and dishonor through the girl. They wil see and know the foolishness of such actions. They wil be made to know humiliation by giving the girl to me wilingly to save their own lives.” He spoke with confidence and boldness as he observed the scout's expressions.

Powchutu fired at him, ”She is innocent of the raid on your camp! Demand the lives of the men who did this thing, not hers!

You have caused her enough pain and dishonor. Why should we give her back to you for more, or worse? Why do you not ask for the life of the other white girl?” Powchutu suddenly wished he had the life of the other white girl?” Powchutu suddenly wished he had told Gray Eagle that Alisha had died from the beating. But he had not thought quickly enough.

Gray Eagle answered calmly, ”The life and sacrifice of a witkowin means nothing to either of us, but the life and sacrifice of the pi-zi ista girl would bring much dishonor and anguish from al of you. The men responsible for the raid would be tortured and kiled quickly and the deed soon forgotten; but living with the knowledge of what they had been forced to sacrifice for this evil deed would go on in their hearts and minds for a very long time. It is far easier to die with honor than to live with shame.”

Powchutu realized how very cunning the warrior was. Just like the angry wolf, he went for the jugular vein of his prey. Powchutu's muscles stiffened uncontrolably. His voice was tinged with both sadness and fury as he accused, ”So, you have realy come for Alisha, just as I believed you would one day. But I wil not alow them to send her back to you and your cruelty.” Powchutu's expression belied his words.

Gray Eagle appeared to ignore his statement. He spoke with an icy, deadly calm in his tone, ”She wil be brought here to me before the sun is straight above my head, or we wil attack at that hour. If we are forced to attack, no life wil be spared.”

Powchutu chalenged ”What if she wil not come?”

Gray Eagle's eyes narrowed and darkened and his jawline tightened. His expression warned Powchutu he had overstepped his bounds in meddling in a warrior's demands. He glared at Powchutu and demanded, ”If she wil not come wilingly, then you wil force her to come.”

Powchutu tried for another opening, ”What if the cavalry holds her as a hostage or refuses your demands?”

her as a hostage or refuses your demands?”

Gray Eagle handed him a rawhide leash and thongs. He vowed, ”In the time given, you wil talk, vote and decide on life or death. If you choose life, lead her here to me, bound and secured with these. If you choose death, then prepare for al inside the fort to perish, including the girl, if need be.” He sounded cold and daring.

Powchutu struggled to suppress his anger and bitterness. He could not resist one last plea for the girl he loved. He asked through gritted teeth, ”Has she not suffered enough at your hands? Why do you hate her so? Is it right to make her pay and suffer for the evil deeds of others? She has done no harm to you or your people. She is as gentle as the morning light and as pure as the snows in the sacred mountains.

”I see why she hates and fears you. But I tel you this, Wanmdi Hota, if you harm her again, I wil hunt you down and kil you with my bare hands!” Gray Eagle could not miss the look of anguish which touched his eyes as Powchutu continued. ”You have judged the ista skas wel and true. I am sure they wil return her to you to save themselves. But I tel you this, it wil be by force!”

Gray Eagle stared as he walked away, wondering at his strange words and pleas. How could a hanke-wasichun know her so wel and in such a short time? Had she dared to befriend an Indian? Would she not fear and hate al of us? he thought. Once more I have underestimated her gentleness and strength. Wil I ever fuly know this woman I love and want?

Perhaps this scout secretly wishes and desires her for his own. Their friends.h.i.+p is too close I fear. I wil know more of this man and Alisha. I do not trust the look of love which filed his eyes when he spoke of her, nor the look of hatred and revenge at my coming for spoke of her, nor the look of hatred and revenge at my coming for her.

The white men and the scout are convinced I hate Alisha and only want her back for vengeance. This is good for now, but you must soon know the truth, Cinstinna. I fear they would kil you if they guessed the real truth. The scout's love for you is very strong if he would risk a chalenge to me to save you. He dares much in his speech and manner.

Bird of my heart, fly to me quickly and safely ... It has been too lonely and long without you. Great Spirit help me if they reject my bluff and we are forced to attack ...

Powchutu walked back toward the fort with a heavy heart. He knew what the outcome of this day was going to cost him. Why hadn't he taken her away from here before now? The fort wil easily give her up, he thought, but wil she go wilingly? What choice wil they give her? d.a.m.n them al! he fumed angrily.

Could he possibly let Gray Eagle have her back without a fight? There was no way he could stop him from taking her, or the others from sending her to him. He hides his feelings wel, for I am not sure if he desires her, or if he might love her. Wil he truly attack and kil us al, including Alisha, if we do not turn her over to him?

Gray Eagle does not make idle threats. There is no doubt he would attack, but kil Alisha? Powchutu could not venture the answer to this haunting query.

I wil find a way to save her from al of them, Powchutu vowed. I wil take her far away from this place and al of those who would harm her. She wil one day be mine. I wil give her back the happiness and love they have denied her for so long. A wishful thought suddenly touched him. What if this was only a bluff? What if he wished to protect her from disgrace and harm?

a bluff? What if he wished to protect her from disgrace and harm?

The wooden gates opened to let him re-enter. He quickly walked over to the general's office, ignoring the many questions from those around. He tapped lightly on the door and was let inside. He went to stand before the general's desk. He disregarded al the other officers and Jeffery as he gave his report. He repeated the words of Gray Eagle and placed the leash and ties down on the desk. The general listened, white-faced. The others glanced from one to the other in surprise and confusion. Powchutu's face was void of al emotion as he related the terms of withdrawal and truce. He said nothing of his own pleas concerning Alisha. He tried to make the demands sound cold and brutal for Alisha's sake and honor.

The general exclaimed incredulously, ”He what? Surely you misunderstood, or is this some kind of joke? Why would he want the girl back so badly? His pride and honor, you say?” He glanced around as he thought on the perplexing demands. His face brightened with an idea. ”Maybe this Brown girl's right. Maybe she is his squaw and he wants her back. Wel, wel, wel, this puts a different light on things. I'd say she's managed to fool us al, hasn't she? The little tramp! Trying to get us al kiled, is she? How the hel did he convince the others to help him get his white squaw back?”

Captain Tracy spoke up, ”From what I hear, Sir, those Injuns would cut off their right hand for that Gray Eagle. Half of 'em love and respect him, and the other half fear and honor him. You're d.a.m.n right they would help him do anything! No matter why he wants her back, he'l get her one way or another. You know what shape we're in. We don't dare cal his bluff.”

The general paced the floor nervously as he weighed the possibilities. He could either return the girl and take the chance possibilities. He could either return the girl and take the chance Gray Eagle spoke the truth and would leave, or he could keep the girl as hostage. What if she was being innocently, but vilely, used as a taunt to them? No matter, either choice was dangerous and deadly. Without a doubt, Gray Eagle could take the fort apart and kil them al.

Powchutu's heart flamed in anger at their cowardice. He spoke acidly, ”She is not, and was not, his squaw. Not for the reasons you think. She was his slave and prisoner. He only uses her to taunt the white man. He hopes to punish you by forcing you to witness his taking her, and to shame you by forcing you to give her to him wilingly. He cares nothing for her as a man would for a woman. I have seen this hatred of the white man in his eyes. If you return her to him, it wil go worse for her than before. He wil be more brutal to her this time out of anger and spite for the raid on his camp. He holds her responsible for the raid, for it was done to rescue her. It is wrong to treat her as you have, but far worse to return her to him!”

The general retorted, ”Don't moralize to me, half-breed!” But Galt knew he had been forced into a corner. He said, ”Powchutu, you fetch the girl. Let's hear what she has to say about al of this.”

Powchutu went directly to the Philseys' quarters and rapped loudly on the door. Mrs. Philsey answered it and glared contemptuously at him. He told her what his orders were before she could open her mouth. She backed away from the door and let him pa.s.s her to head for Alisha's room.

He knew he must talk quickly if he was going to have time to tel Alisha everything before he took her to the general's office. He wanted her to know the truth from him. He knocked on her door and caled her name. Mrs. Philsey informed him she had not shown and caled her name. Mrs. Philsey informed him she had not shown herself since that incident the day before. His malevolent look silenced the spiteful woman.

Alisha slowly opened her door and stepped aside for him to enter. What possible difference could it make now for him to visit her? Things couldn't be any worse than they were now. Why should she deny entrance to the only friend she had? She realized that something was afoot, for this was the first time he ever visited her during the daytime.

Powchutu guessed from her appearance that she had no idea what was taking place outside. Her red swolen eyes told him she had been weeping.

Anger flooded him. He knew he must relate the dreaded news as hastily as possible. Bluntly and simply, he stated, ”He is here, Alisha. He has come for you, just as I warned he might.”

She looked at him blankly. The last person to come to mind at this time was Gray Eagle. She queried, ”Who has come, Powchutu?

What are you talking about?”

His tone became soft and gentle. ”Wanmdi Hota! He waits outside the fort wals for you to be brought to him as a prisoner. He has come with a large band of warriors. He demands you be returned to him as an apology for the raid on his camp. He demands your life as a peace-offering, or he wil attack us.”

He watched her face blanch and her green eyes widen in disbelief. Her lips parted to speak, but she could utter no words. She had dreamed he might come back for her one day, but not like this. He had not come to rescue her, as she had so often prayed. He had come to shame her, maybe even kil her. It wasn't supposed to be like this... She began to tremble.

Powchutu went on, ”The general wishes to see you and talk Powchutu went on, ”The general wishes to see you and talk with you about this.” He lifted her chin to force her to look into his eyes. He placed his hands on her shoulders to steady their quivering. ”They wil ask you questions about your life with him. You must get ahold of your wits and emotions. Fear does strange things to a man's judgment,” he warned.

She desperately asked, ”What did he say when you spoke with him, Powchutu? After al this time, why does he want me back now? Does he intend to execute me right before them for revenge?

Surely they would not send me back to him?”

He knew it was cold and brutal, but she had to know what she faced. He reluctantly repeated, word for word, his talk with Gray Eagle and the general. She was totaly stunned by both their words. She wavered slightly and caught Powchutu's arms to steady herself. She hesitantly asked, ”He says he'l kil everyone here, including me, if I am not returned to him, wiling or not? Is this also a matter of his honor and pride, Powchutu? I think not! This is but a matter of hatred and spite. I was wrong...”

Powchutu tried to calm some of her greatest fears and doubts. He spoke of how he would act if he were Gray Eagle. ”I believe he wants you back for himself. He uses this trick to save face with the Indian. Also the need for your honor and safety makes this trickery necessary. If it would punish him, the cavalry would turn you over to him dead.”

He alowed his words to sink in before he continued. ”I do not know how he convinced the other warriors to go along with this deceit. They must think it is a proper humiliation to the whites for them to be forced to apologize and sacrifice you to their worst enemy. He is awed and loved enough they might permit it anyway, even if they were aware of his true motives. I just do not know.”

even if they were aware of his true motives. I just do not know.”