Full Circle by Rosanne Bittner

Author:Rosanne Bittner [Bittner, Rosanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: FICTION/Romance/General
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2015-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

For three days Little Fox lay near death, but inexplicably, on the third night, his fever broke and the vomiting stopped. Late on the fourth day the boy was able to sit up and eat bread and soup.

“Your father’s connection with the spirits must be very powerful,” Evelyn told him. “Look how strong you are getting.”

“Father’s prayers are strong because Wakantanka knows he is brave and has not forgotten the Sioux way.” The boy’s voice was still weak. “His inner circle of life has not been broken.”

Evelyn smiled. It was obvious Black Hawk had spoken often with his son about the importance of keeping to Sioux customs.

“Father said that when I am better, we will go and see Night Hunter and we will celebrate inikaqapi to become stronger again.”

“The sweat lodge?”

“Yes. It will be the first time for me. Some would say I am too young, but Father has already taught me much.” The boy breathed deeply for strength. “Allowing me to take part in inikaqapi shows that he believes I am close to being a man. Do you know the seven rites of the Sioux?”

Evelyn sat down on the edge of his bed. “Well, there is the sweat lodge and the vision quest.”

“My father has had many visions. He has made the Sun Dance sacrifice three times.” Little Fox spoke with great pride.

“Yes, I have heard,” Evelyn answered, thinking about the one vision that still had not been realized. She touched Little Fox’s hair, smoothing it back from his face, aching at the circles around his eyes and the way his cheekbones protruded from loss of weight. “The Sun Dance is another rite,” she added.

Little Fox nodded. “See if you can name them all,” he said softly, too weak to speak in a normal voice. “That is three. If you can name them all, I will give you a present for helping me get well.”

Evelyn thought how easy this sweet, intelligent child would be to love. “All right. Let’s see… another is, I think, something about keeping around a dead relative’s spirit for a while… Wanaqi… Wanaqi yuhapi, I think it’s called.”

Little Fox’s grin widened. “You are right! If a family wants to keep the spirit of a loved around, they must give away everything they own in sacrifice. There are many steps that must be taken to preserve a ghost spirit.” He sat up a little straighter. “Now you must name three more rituals.”

Evelyn could not help wondering if it was her prayers that had let the boy live… or if it was because of Black Hawk’s bloody sacrifice. Sioux customs were not something to be taken lightly. There was much merit to many of them, and she thought it very foolish for most whites to laugh them off.

“Well, there is the Hunka ritual, in which two unrelated people decide to create a bond between them that is stronger than kinship. After a special ceremony, they are forever obliged to die for each other if necessary.”

“It is also sometimes called Hunkalowanpi.

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