Man & Monster (The Savage Land: Book 2) by Michael Jensen

Author:Michael Jensen [Jensen, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Buddha Kitty Books
Published: 2017-01-04T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Gwennie and Pakim embraced for a long moment. He held her tightly, whispering something in her ear that caused her to smack him on the back in mock indignation. He was grinning mischievously when he finally let go of her. John stepped forward, taking both of Pakim’s hands in his.

“When Palmer and I arrived here, you befriended and helped us,” said John. “We can’t ever repay our debt to you.”

“Please tell Friend Palmer how sorry I am to not have said goodbye myself.”

“I will. And promise you’ll come visit us when you can.”

“I will try, Friend John. I will try.”

Pakim turned to me, and I handed him his medicine bag. I went to shake his hand, but he pulled me into an embrace instead. “Perhaps if our circumstances change someday, Gokhotit, we can both be trappers together,” he said hoarsely. Then he turned and instructed his people to start their journey.

John, Gwennie, and I watched until the last of the Delaware had disappeared into the forest. In my mind’s eye, I saw another figure vanishing along with the Indians: the strange, new person I had been becoming in the presence of Pakim. Given my new responsibilities, perhaps the departure of that self wasn’t a bad thing.

After they vanished from sight, weariness settled across me as heavily as a bearskin blanket. How badly I wanted to sleep, but there was much to be done and it would be many hours before I could rest.

The three of us agreed that first we should go into town to let the settlers know the Indians had departed. John and I rode on Elizabeth, Gwennie on a sturdy little Indian pony I hadn’t even known she owned. She said its name was Maboawikcham, which translated as Hiccup — a reference to the pony’s odd gait, which made whoever rode it bob up and down repeatedly.

Once we reached the edge of town, Gwennie, like Pakim, had to remain in the woods while we actually delivered the news to the settlers. As John and I continued into Hugh’s Lick, the first thing I noticed was a dead grizzly sprawled on the ground. It seemed someone had already laid claim to Murdock’s bounty despite the incredible risk of killing a bear in its den.

A sad-looking young boy poked the dead animal with a stick as he solemnly informed us that Owen Stern had killed the bear — a sow — as well as its two cubs. It was then that I noticed the two smaller black mounds nearby. The boy reported Owen had also earlier wounded another bigger bear that had escaped. I hoped the next time Owen went to take a piss, he encountered the animal who could return the favor.

We found the settlers themselves to be exhibiting an odd amalgam of relief and anxiety. Word had arrived of the Delaware’s departure, hence the relief and the large crowd already gathered. But rumor of the Wendigo’s existence circulated as well, and more than a few people seemed fearful of this new threat.

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