The World Above the Sky by Kent Stetson

Author:Kent Stetson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: McArthur & Company Publishing Limited
Published: 2010-03-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

• • •

A cleft in the rock face the height of the man and as wide as his shoulders offered Mimkɨtawo’qu’sk entrance to the World Below the Earth. He stepped inside without considering Eugainia. There was no need. Though still some distance behind, when he entered the darkened cave he knew he’d find her waiting.

Mimkɨtawo’qu’sk passed his hand over the tip of Tooth of Wolverine. Warm light filled the cavern. It cast no shadow. Eugainia eyes adjusted quickly. Lying in their great bulk before her, seven sleeping bears, arranged heads inward in a well-spaced circle, snored gently.

“Who are they?”

“In the time of my grandmother’s mother, seven of The People went on a spirit quest, seeking to know why so many of the first white-as-ghost-persons—the ones who came many years before you and Henry—died such swift and painful deaths.”

“The poor beleaguered Templars on their first flight to the New World. The beginning of their time of plague and woe.”

“Keswalqw tells they dug the great well by the sea.”

“They came to hide the Holy Grail.”

“Then built the Stone House of Death where my grandfather’s father found Tooth of Wolverine. The white-as-a-ghost-persons’ skin erupted in black sores. Those few People who came to know them—slept in their scratchy beds, wore their stiff clothes—became ill and died with them. The People left their camps and started over, far away. But still the questions lingered. Why had these kind and good red-cross men come among them? Surely not to suffer such terrible deaths. A council was called. It was decided to send two clan mothers and five brave young warriors on a spirit quest to find the answers. They set out. After a time, lost and starving, the seven seekers found this cave and fell asleep.”

“They’ve been asleep for a hundred years, these gigantic bear Persons?”

“Two lifetime winters. The seven seekers woke as Spirit bears. They had no need of water. No need of meat or nuts, honey, grass or berry. Of tagawan, the young salmon when it first returns from the sea. They lay here, not awake or sleeping. Somewhere in-between. Dreaming dreams of strength and courage. Bear dreams.”

“They all dream the same dreams?”

“In their sleep, bear totem People travel great distances to the bears. All seek the answer he or she requires.”

“The bears dream for them.”

“Yes. For all the bear totem People. Medicine dreams. Answer their questions. Where to hunt. Where to fish. How to deal with cranky wives or husbands. Willful children. Envious neighbours. All things of life.” He propped Tooth of Wolverine against the cave wall. “In this same way, dolphins dream medicine dreams for dolphin totem People. Trees dream for tree totem People. As moose and trees dream together for moose/wood Persons like me, Persons with blended totems.”

Mimkɨtawo’qu’sk stood before a brown mass of rumbling fur. A grunt preceded a throaty rumble. “This great she-bear calls me,” he said.

Mimkɨtawo’qu’sk wavered, turned from mist to vapour. Eugainia clapped her hands with delight when the she-bear inhaled. Feet first, he disappeared up the great bear’s nostrils.

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