The Changing Wind (30 page)

Coyote shrugged.

“They felt it important. There is more, Uncle.”

“More?”

“Yes. It is said that these strangers have with them many dogs of great size.”

“Dogs?”

“Yes, Uncle. They carry burdens, and some of the gods ride on their backs.”

“Nonsense! The Caddo tells tales.”

“Yes, that was my thought. But he seems sincere. He says that some of those who first saw this thought that they were all one—a large body like a dog’s, but with the upper part of a man on the front.”

“Surely that cannot be,” White Buffalo pondered. But his resolve was weakening. He was remembering some of the strange things he had seen on his vision quest long ago.

“Probably that was only talk,” Coyote said, “and this man agrees. It is now known that it is a dog, ridden by these gods with shiny skins.”

“Where were they seen?” asked White Buffalo.

“They come from the southwest. Now they travel nearly straight north.”

“And they still come?
This
way?”

He had not quite understood the immediacy of the problem.

“Yes, Uncle. They are maybe only six or seven sleeps away.”

“Aiee!
Does Hump Ribs know?”

“I sent the Caddo to him.”

Somehow, it seemed that Coyote always knew what was happening more quickly than anyone else. Of all the men in the band, how appropriate that the visitor had encountered Coyote.

“It is good,” White Buffalo stated. “Now, my friend, there are things we must do.”

He rose quickly, almost forgetting the little jab of pain that went through his knees when he moved quickly.

“Come, I will go to Hump Ribs. You wait for me by the stream, there.”

The Caddo visitor had already departed when White Buffalo tapped on the lodgeskin of the chief. He was beckoned inside, and for a little while talked earnestly with Hump Ribs. The story was much the same, that of the advancing party of gods. Hump Ribs was inclined to doubt the story of the traveler, but there was much that seemed convincing. Unless the Caddo was completely crazy, he must have a story of much importance. And the man had not in any way seemed crazy, Hump Ribs admitted.

“So Coyote says also,” White Buffalo commented.

“He talked to Coyote?”

“Yes, Coyote sent him here.”

“Ah, I see. That makes sense.”

“What will you do?”

“Nothing, for now. Send wolves, of course.”

The holy man pondered a moment.

“Yes,” he said slowly. “That is good. But my friend, I am made to think that this is a very unusual occurrence,”

“You have had visions?”

“No, I have not tried yet. I will, of course, but meanwhile, our wolves should leave to begin their journey.”

“Yes, that is true.”

“Now, we must have their discoveries quickly. We may have to move the camp out of the gods’ path.”

“Yes. I will have wolves waiting at places a sleep or two apart, to carry the word.”

“Ah, that is good,” White Buffalo agreed. “One more thing… I would have Coyote go with the wolves.”

“Coyote?”
asked Hump Ribs in astonishment. “He is… well, my friend, he is not one of our ablest warriors.”

“True,” agreed the holy man, “but he
is
one of our ablest
thinkers.”

Hump Ribs considered a moment.

“Yes,” he said. “That is true.”

“Just as you need warrior information, I need things of the spirit, and Coyote can observe those.”

“Yes, it is good,” replied the chief. “Coyote does have that ability. Did you not once consider him as an assistant?”

“Once, long ago,” White Buffalo said sadly. “He refused.”

Hump Ribs laughed.

“He is lazy,” he commented.

“A little, maybe. But he is useful as he is. He does not want to lead but is a keen observer. We both use that to our advantage, my friend.”

Both men chuckled.

“Do you think this mission is too dangerous to send such a man as Coyote?” Hump Ribs asked.

“I do not know. Maybe I will have more thoughts on this later. But for now, my chief, I am made to think that this event of the gods’ advance into our territory is too dangerous
not
to have a man like Coyote with the observers. Now I must go.”

He rose and made his way to the river where Coyote waited. Quickly, he outlined the plan.

“Anything you see, or even
think
, I want to know,” he said. “If it
is
important enough, you come back yourself. If it is only about their location and direction, Hump Ribs’s wolves will tell us.”

White Buffalo felt that he was not expressing well what he wished to say, but Coyote nodded in apparent understanding.

“I will do so, Uncle.”

Coyote moved toward his lodge to gather a few supplies, and White Buffalo watched him go. The little man’s casual gait belied the importance of his mission. The holy man could not have explained it, but he somehow felt that these events were a most important turning point in the history of the People. Whether for good or bad, he did not know.

I
t was much as the Caddo had told it, Coyote reflected, watching the moving column in the distance. There was a very large number of the big dogs the man had described. Some were indeed ridden. Not only that, they could be ridden at great speed, much faster than a man could run. For this reason, the wolves of the People had elected to stay some distance away and watch only the column as a whole.

The gods were very dangerous according to a group of wolves whom they had encountered from another tribe. These warriors told, in sign talk, of capture and torture. None survived capture, it seemed. And the gods moved on, northward, relentlessly, day after day. Their purpose was still not known.

Coyote viewed this entire venture with a confusion of emotion. His curiosity told him to get closer, to learn of these strange beings. His natural reluctance to expose himself to danger, or even much exertion, told him to stay away. He wondered sometimes what he would do if suddenly confronted by one of the gods astride his great dog and carrying the long spear that the wolves had noted. Coyote would prefer to run in such a situation, but he was not very good at running. The thought crossed his mind that he could leave the wolves to return to the band and report his impressions to White Buffalo. He was only two sleeps away. But his natural curiosity won out, and Coyote stayed.

It had been decided not to move the camp. The path of the gods would bypass the area if they continued on their present course. That was the situation as told to the Southern band by word of mouth. Coyote, however, hearing the news from the messengers who shuttled back and forth,
read a deeper meaning into such a decision. He knew that White Buffalo and Hump Ribs would be in constant communication. They would know from the messengers that an attempt to move would be useless. The Southern band, with lodges and baggage, would be more conspicuous, and more vulnerable, on the move. With the speed of travel that the gods possessed, the People could not escape anyway. Coyote knew this, but it was reassuring to most of the People if their leaders merely announced that they would not move. It would be a narrow miss at best, Coyote realized, if the column continued as it was, and he was concerned for the safety of his wife and family. Well, another day, and he could go to them. And, of course, to the holy man, to tell him of the amazing things he had seen.

White Buffalo waited, restless and impatient. He had not heard from Coyote. The chief’s messengers had reported daily on the progress of the gods, and the holy man had talked in turn with Hump Ribs about their observations. The approaching column of gods was traveling rapidly, now only two days away. It had become apparent that it would be futile to break camp and run. The People would be even more vulnerable while traveling. Besides, they might remain unnoticed if they remained quietly where they were now camped. Hump Ribs and White Buffalo discussed the situation, and the chief announced that they would stay, remain alert, and avoid all contact if possible.

“Could your medicine be used to stop them?” asked Hump Ribs.

“I do not know,” White Buffalo answered thoughtfully. “Maybe. I must think on this.”

It was a truly important decision that White Buffalo found thrust upon him. At first he had been startled that Hump Ribs would even suggest such a thing. Then he realized that the chief did not fully understand what he was asking. In the scheme of things, a holy man was given powers of the spirit to use as he saw fit. Sometimes his ceremonies and visions were successful, sometimes not. But one basic premise remained true. The medicine of the holy man must be used only to help, not harm. Medicine used for evil, even against an enemy, was very dangerous, possibly fatal, to the holy man who invoked it.

In the present situation, if White Buffalo attempted
spells to harm the invading column, even to save the People…
aiee
, he had no desire to die, unless that seemed the only way. To complicate his narrowing choices further, the nature of the invading gods was quite unclear. They tortured and killed, it was said, so maybe they were bad gods. Still, the torture was, so far, merely rumor. If these were indeed gods and
not
evil, any attempt to injure them would surely be fatal.

If only he had more information! Why did Coyote not return? Coyote’s keen insight might easily provide the information he needed.

Meanwhile, White Buffalo sought solitude to commune with his spirit-guide. In anticipation of such a need, he had begun his fast earlier. Now he prayed and chanted, and waited for his guide to join him. He had great difficulty falling asleep, and even then, he woke several times, having had no visions.

It was nearly morning before he reached the strange mystical state between sleep and awakening and found himself approaching his spirit-guide.

Ah-koh,
Grandfather
, he greeted.

The great bull rolled an inquisitive eye at him, but there was no answering thought.

Grandfather, I have come for help. I am in great need
.

Yes?

Ah, at least there was an acknowledgement of his presence.

There is a large number of godlike persons approaching my people. It seems that they mean us harm
.

This may be true
, came the answer.

Ah, so the gods
are
dangerous, White Buffalo thought.

It has been suggested that I use my medicine to try to stop them
.

There was no response for a little while, and White Buffalo began to be afraid that he would get no answer. Finally the bull rolled an eye at him, and the mind-talk continued.

That is yours to decide
.

The vision started to fade, and White Buffalo felt the grip of panic.

Wait! Don’t go… Grandfather, I need you!

The bull was moving away now, but paused to look back.

It is yours to decide
, came the spirit-message.
Maybe they will turn back
.

White Buffalo awoke, shaking and in a cold sweat. He had never before totally lost his composure in the presence of his spirit-guide. And he felt that he had never received less help in time of need. This was probably the greatest danger to the People in White Buffalo’s lifetime. He had been able to serve them well, but now he had grave doubts. He was angry that he had received little help. Yes, angry at his spirit-guide.

In desperation, he was ready to use his gift to do harm to the approaching gods. If, of course, it was possible. But what else could he do? There was so little time. Tomorrow might be too late. He hurried back to the village, already planning his ceremony to invoke harm to the gods.

Crow’s face was anxious and drawn.

“How is it, my husband?” she asked.

“Not good, Crow,” he said as he began to search among his herbs and medicine things.

“You did not find your spirit-guide?” she asked in astonishment.

“Yes, but it was no help.”

“No help? How can this be?”

“Crow, I have no time to explain. I will perform a ceremony to try to stop these strange god-beings.”

Crow’s eyes were wide with wonder.

“But, Elk, is that not dangerous?”

He hesitated, wondering if his wife knew how dangerous this could become.

“Elk,” she persisted, “is this good use of your gift? You have said that if a holy man uses his power for evil, it will kill him.”

“That is true,” White Buffalo agreed, “but is this evil, to try to save the People? Maybe these gods are bad gods.”

“And maybe not,” retorted Crow. “My husband, you could be in great danger. I wish you to think carefully about this.”

“I know. I have thought, Crow. I must try to use my medicine to stop them.”

“As you must,” Crow Woman said sadly. “Ido not understand, though, why your spirit-guide would not help.”

“Nor do I. The only message was that maybe the gods will turn back.”

They looked at each other, and a great light began to dawn on both.

“Elk!” gasped Crow Woman excitedly, “that is it! They do not
have
to be defeated!”