Chapter Twelve

Desperate Days

Jonas and Joshua’s captors dragged the two men through the village until they reached a dilapidated hut. The two brawny braves that held Joshua’s bound arms shoved him inside, and he fell heavily to the ground. He could hear his father talking to the Indians outside the hut.

“Have you seen my wife? I haven’t been able to find her. And my daughters are gone.”

Joshua could hear the grunts of the captors and then the sound of a blow. His father fell through the door backwards and lay as one dead. Joshua crawled over to the inert form. His arms were tied in front of him so he was able to lift Jonas onto his lap. He sat that way for a long time until Jonas finally opened his eyes.

His voice was a hoarse whisper. “Joshua, are you still with me, lad?”

Joshua was surprised at the clarity of his father’s question. He looked at Jonas’ eyes, and for the first time since the massacre, Jonas appeared almost to be himself. Joshua held his father closer. “Father! I thought I had lost you.”

Jonas smiled at his son. “Despite the clout from that big one, I do feel better today. I must admit, though, that I have felt my mind slipping away from me these past few days.”

Then Joshua had an idea. “Listen, Father. I’ve heard that the natives fear and respect insane people and treat them less harshly. Maybe it would be best if they continue to believe that about you. Then they might treat you less harshly. Perhaps you will even find an opportunity to help us escape.”

Jonas nodded in agreement. “But I fear for you, son.”

Joshua smiled down at his father. “I will manage, Father. Though I will not strike back at them, I think I am strong enough to keep them from bothering me too much. They seemed to be impressed when I bowled that stout lad over in the gauntlet, though I tried my best not to hurt him.”

Jonas sat up and looked around. “Where is your brother?”

“Jonathan has submitted to adoption, but I think that he, too, is deceiving these savages. The only thing in his heart is revenge, and he means to bide his time and find a way to slaughter as many of the Indians that killed Mother as he can.”

Jonas shook his head sadly. “My son has renounced the ways of his people. I am afraid for his immortal soul.”

“I’m not sure, Father. We follow the ordnung because it is what we believe Christ truly taught. But there are many settlers, God-fearing Christians, who are in the militia and the army and take up arms in the defense of others. So I wonder if it is the ordnung that ensure us a place in heaven. Rather, would it not be believing in the work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf, as the Bible tells us?”

Jonas stared at his son as he considered the unorthodox idea Joshua proposed. “I do not know if you are right, my son. It is something that only God knows for sure. But I do know this. I believe with all my heart that Jesus commands us to harm no man. And He said, ‘If you love me, keep my commandments.’ So that is how I will live my life.”

Just then two Indians entered the hut and, with signs and grunts, demanded that the two stand up. One pulled out a knife and threatened Jonas with it. Jonas jumped back and the two savages laughed. Then the one with the knife cut the thongs binding their wrists and motioned for them to come outside. Scar was standing there waiting for them.

“You my slaves now; you do slave’s work. You come, my men show you what do.”

Jonas looked at Scar. The madness was back on his face. “Have you seen my wife? I haven’t seen her for days. I am very worried. She needs to take care of the girls.”

Scar turned to the other braves. “Kepecheonkel! ” He made a motion near his head. Joshua could see that Scar thought his father was insane. The other Indians nodded. “Kepecheonkel! ”

Scar pushed Jonas back toward the hut. “You stay; this one work.” He grabbed Joshua’s arm.

Joshua pulled away. He pointed toward his father. “You give him food. He is weak. You would not want to harm him for he has lost his mind. Kepecheonkel! ”

Scar looked at Jonas who was staring off into the woods as though he were waiting for someone. He nodded and said something to the others. One left and returned in a moment with a bag. Joshua took it and looked inside. There was some dried meat and fish as well as some vegetables and other food. Joshua handed it to his father and pointed to the hut. “Go inside, Father, and eat. Do not wait for Mother for she has gone to visit friends at Fort Pitt and will not return for many days.”

Jonas nodded in agreement and went inside the hut. Scar motioned to Joshua and started away. Joshua followed. Soon they came to a clearing in the forest. Indian men were cutting trees and clearing the land. Scar handed Joshua an axe. As Joshua took it, Scar held on to it. He pulled Joshua close and smiled an evil smile. “You want kill me?”

Joshua felt a rush of anger as the savage leered at him. He wanted to pull the axe away from the brawny savage and strike Scar’s head from his shoulders. Instead, he released the axe and pointed to the trees. “I will not lift my hand against you. Show me what I must do.”

Scar grunted and said something to the other Indians. “Xkwewtët! Little woman.” The Indians laughed. Scar pointed to where the trees and brush were the thickest on the edge of the clearing and handed the tool to Joshua. “You clear land for garden. Not try run away, me kill father.”

“I won’t run.” Joshua took the axe and headed toward the brush.

At least not today…

The weeks that passed were both a curse and a blessing for Joshua.  If he did not do exactly what the Indians wanted, they would try to strike him or knock him down, but he was too big and strong. Often he would catch their arm in mid-swing, and his powerful grip would force them to drop the stick or the club they were aiming at him. One day while he was working in the garden, an Indian tried to sneak up from behind him to assault him. Before he could strike, Joshua leaped quickly to the side and tripped the brave so that he fell heavily to the ground. The man leaped up and rushed at Joshua, but Joshua grabbed him by both wrists and held him.  He shook his head at the Indian. “Leave off! I do not wish to hurt you, brother.”

Joshua’s grip was like a vise. The man pulled with all his strength, but he could not free himself. All the while Joshua kept asking the Indian to stop, but the brave did not understand. He tried to kick at Joshua, but Joshua blocked him with his legs, doing everything he could to neutralize the man’s attack. Suddenly, the brave jerked convulsively trying to free himself. The bone in the man’s arm snapped with a crack, the Indian’s face contorted hideously and he passed out.

Several other Indians had gathered around, grunting and pointing at Joshua in admiration. Joshua could see the horrible bend in the man’s arm where the bone had broken. He knelt down and took the man’s arm in his hands. Just then, the man’s eyes opened and he saw Joshua bending over him. He tried to pull away but groaned again as the bones ground together. Joshua put both hands on the man’s chest and shook his head to tell him not to move. Then he took the arm in gentle hands. Carefully, he moved the arm until he felt the bones slip back together. The Indian groaned and passed out again. There was a pile of branches lying nearby that were being prepared to patch the roofs of the long houses. Joshua selected two that were straight. An Indian standing by had a leather thong tied around his head, and Joshua motioned to the man to give it to him. Then he placed the two sticks on either side of the broken arm and wrapped them tightly with the thong so that the bone would set. He pulled a large handkerchief from out of his pocket and improvised a sling for the man’s arm. Slowly the man came to. He looked at his bandaged arm and then up at Joshua. He nodded his head and spoke in his own language. “Wanishi.”

“He say, thank you,” a voice behind Joshua said. Joshua turned to see Scar looking at him with a strange look. “Why you help him? He try kill you.”

Joshua nodded. “Yes, he did, but my God tells me that all men are brothers, and we should help each other, not hurt.”

Scar shook his head. “Me not understand. We kill your mother. You strong, brave, but you do not fight. Why?”

“Our God says that love is more powerful than hate.”

“Your brother hate. He have big hate for Scar.”

“Yes, but Jonathan has turned his back on the words of my God. He will be unhappy all his life unless he repents.”

“Repents?”

“Yes, Scar, repents. It means to turn from bad things and do only good for others.”

Scar stared at Joshua. “You strange, me no understand this God. Our god tell us kill enemies, protect family.”

Joshua shrugged. “Yes, and your face is set in hatred toward all white men because of it. But if you followed the words of my God and helped others to find the way of peace, you would not have to fight many wars. All Indians would live in peace.”

Scar scowled. “Never will Indians live in peace–with white man or other Indians. We must be strong, fierce. Hate keeps us strong.”

“Yes, Scar, but you are not free.”

Scar grunted and turned away. Joshua had an inspiration.

“Scar?”

The big man turned.

“Would you ask this brave if I can say words and ask my God to heal his arm quickly?”

Scar paused and then said something in Lenape to the brave. The man looked at Joshua and then to his arm and nodded.

Joshua placed both hands on the man’s arm. “Lieber Vater im Himmel, bitte dieses Mannes Arm zu heilen. Bitte machen Sie es, als ob es nie gebrochen hatte.”

Scar stared at Joshua with a puzzled look on his face. “What you say?”

“I asked my God to heal this man’s arm quickly and to make it like new.”

“We see if your God answer.” Scar turned and stalked away.

The man with the broken arm got up carefully. He looked at Joshua. “Wanishi.” Then he turned and left, holding his arm gingerly. A group of his friends walked with him pointing to the man’s arm and talking excitedly.

Joshua turned to pick up his hoe and stopped. Standing a few feet away was the lovely princess, White Deer. She had a very strange look on her face. Her eyes met Joshua’s for a moment and then she looked away. Without a word she turned and walked back to the village. 

White Deer sat alone in her tent. She did not know what to make of the events she had witnessed. The yellow-haired twin had tried to keep from fighting and after he hurt the brave, he had helped him. A Lenape warrior would have killed his fallen foe so there would never be a question about who was the greater man. It puzzled her. She remembered her father telling her the words he had spoken over her on the day of her birth:

“It is said that the men with pale skin will offer two paths to the Lenape—the way of peace and great prosperity, or the way of death. If the Lenape will not listen to the way of life, then the Lenape will be uprooted and sent to a far land by the pale skinned people. It is your daughter who will see both faces of the white man—the way of life and the way of death, and it is she who will offer this choice to our people.”

White Deer had often thought about these words and what they could mean to her people. From time to time she had asked her father but he only smiled as he looked at his beloved daughter. “You will know the meaning of the words on the day appointed.”

Now, with the coming of the Kahpèsàk to her village the answer was made clear. For in the face of the dark-haired twin was only hate and death, and in the face of the yellow-haired one was peace and life. A terrible anguish came into her heart and White Deer collapsed weeping on her bed; for she had given her heart to the way of death.