People of the Owl by W. Michael Gear

Author:W. Michael Gear [Gear, W. Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Native American & Aboriginal
ISBN: 0312877412
Google: qwVjLBOCf-UC
Amazon: B008S0E7XU
Publisher: Macmillan
Published: 2004-06-13T13:00:00+00:00

Twenty-eight

Shouts of disbelief drowned the questions being called by others. Aware that he had trapped himself, but unsure how, Jaguar Hide reached into the sack of smoked fish and began handing it out. The boy, first in line, stared into his eyes, taking an oily chunk and thrusting it into his mouth as if in defiance.

Those eyes! Jaguar Hide shook his head. He had seen eyes like that, but never before in a child’s face. A child’s? The boy—the young man—was Speaker for Owl Clan? Had that been a joke? It was only later, in the milling swelter of people, that he had learned about White Bird’s death and the dissolution of Elder Wing Heart’s souls.

White Bird died over three moons ago! Elder Wing Heart discredited and soul sick? Why haven’t we heard? The question shifted back and forth between his souls.

At times the remoteness of their swamp, safe as it was, left them far removed from the activities of other peoples. Nor, obviously, would the young Owl Clan man he had contacted have admitted to these scandalous happenings within his clan.

Jaguar Hide returned his attention to the present, listening as he handed out gifts of smoked fish. He kept an eye on his niece, watching her as she stood, half in shock, at the youth’s side.

“How can Salamander just up and marry her?” a woman was asking her companion. “He didn’t even ask his clan!”

“He’s the Speaker, that’s how.”

“But his mother, she should have been consulted,” another declared hotly.

“Who? Wing Heart? She’s lost her souls: all she does is sit at her loom and Dream of the past.”

“You think Wing Heart retains enough of her wits to tell him no?” another asked.

“I’ll tell you what,” a man insisted, “when Mud Stalker insisted that Salamander follow his brother, he dealt a deathblow to Owl Clan.”

So it went, people passing him, collecting pieces of the rapidly vanishing fish, and through it all, he had no time to discuss this unsettling turn of affairs with Anhinga. She looked as if her own souls were floating, white-faced, back stiff, while the skinny manboy who stood beside her accepted the well-wishing of individuals.

“So, you have your peace,” the gruff voice interrupted Jaguar Hide’s reeling thoughts.

He centered himself on the threat hidden in that deep voice. Turning, he met Deep Hunter’s narrow stare with his own. “We have our peace. You and me, old enemy.”

Deep Hunter shot a look over his broad shoulder to where Anhinga and Salamander stood in the center of a knot of people. “It didn’t quite turn out the way you expected, did it?”

How could he know? Old reflexes from countless Council sessions and clan meetings came to his rescue. “You tell me. Is that boy really the Owl Clan Speaker?”

Deep Hunter nodded, amusement in his eyes. “He is indeed, confirmed by the Council after his brother was stuck dead by the Sky Beings.”

“Then, being only somewhat familiar with your laws, his action carries a great weight with your Council.”

Deep Hunter sensed the trap.

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