Chapter Twenty

A great council was called that very night. All the important clan members were present, including Grey Coyote’s own father. Within that circle sat White Claw, the tribal medicine man and Grey Coyote’s grandfather. Grey Coyote reposed next to this man, and though it was not often allowed, Marietta was positioned next to Grey Coyote.

A pipe was lit, White Claw offering the smoke to the four directions and to the Above Ones. Then it was passed to each member of the counsel, including Marietta.

She, too, would smoke. For without her, the curse might never have been broken.

At last, when the necessities of council were dispensed with according to ritual, White Claw spoke. “We honor you, Spirit Raven, or as you are known to your adopted people, Grey Coyote. You have done what others before you failed to do. You have broken the curse that enslaved your clan. Your people will now be free to live the lives they were meant to live.”

Grey Coyote nodded.

“We honor also the woman you have brought to us,” continued White Claw. “We will sing songs praising her and you, so long as we exist.”

Grey Coyote acknowledged only by lowering his eyes.

“And now,” continued White Claw, “I feel, grandson, that you have questions. I will answer them to the best of my ability, but know I cannot stay here long, for there are others who are still entrapped within the mist. And while this is so, I cannot rest. However, I am here now, and I will help you as best I can, to help you understand what has happened.”

“Thank you, Grandfather,” said Grey Coyote. “There is something I would like to know. I heard the spirit coyote’s song, I heard his words, but I do not understand how it was I broke the curse. I thought I would need to guess the riddle correctly. Was this not true?”

“But, grandson,” White Claw voiced sagely, “you did guess correctly. That you said not the words has no significance.”

“But how, Grandfather? What did I do? In my own mind, I thought I was sacrificing myself and the tribe, for I acted against what I have been led to believe I must do to end our plight.”

Again, White Claw inclined his head. “Sometimes, grandson, the best within us is shown, not with the head, but with the heart. You did discover what this man possessed, your wife, and you did act on it, despite what you thought was the right thing to do. Your sacrifice, grandson, was completely selfless.”

Grey Coyote lowered his gaze, as was customary when understanding had been reached.

“And now,” began White Claw, “you must answer a question for me.”

“Hau, I will do my best.”

“Tell me, grandson, why did you commit such a selfless act?”

Grey Coyote took a moment to collect his thoughts before he answered. “Because, Grandfather, I loved someone else more than I loved myself, even more than my duty to my people.”

“Exactly,” said White Claw. “There was love and only love in your heart. Not revenge. Not duty. Only love. Perhaps that is the answer we all look for. To love someone so greatly we do not even have to think to act. Remember that had our clan loved so well in the past, we would not now be enslaved.”

Grey Coyote bobbed his head in understanding. “I think, Grandfather, that you are right.”

“Perhaps so,” said White Claw. “Perhaps. And now, may I speak with your wife, Little Sunset? For I would answer any questions she might ask of me.”

“Of course,” said Grey Coyote.

White Claw, addressing Marietta, asked, “Have you something you would like to ask me, wife of Grey Coyote?”

Marietta cleared her throat. “Yes, sir, there is. Will these people, who have only now arrived here—will they continue to be real? Will they live their lives out here? Now?”

“Aaah, yes,” confirmed White Claw. “They are now very real. And yes, they will live their lives here, in this time and in this place. And you, granddaughter, will be a part of them, since these are your husband’s people. But he will also be a part of your world, too, for know this. There is still time to accomplish those things in your world that are most dear to your heart.”

Marietta sat momentarily stunned. “You mean I still might be able to claim my inheritance? I might yet be able to restore Rosemead?”

White Claw nodded.

Pressing her lips together, Marietta turned away. There was a tear in her eye.

“Go now,” said White Claw. “Go, knowing that happiness will be forever yours.” With this said, White Claw emptied the ashes from his pipe. “This council is now over.”

All rose, but White Claw alone stepped away from the others. Without looking back, he trod out of the circle and into the light of the morning sun.

Grey Coyote and Marietta watched him until he was no more than a tiny, misty shape. And then all at once, he was gone.

Grey Coyote turned to Marietta and kissed her on the lips, whispering, “I will love you forever.”

Marietta smiled. “And I will always love you too.”

So it was that the two passed into legend. But it is also a part of the legend that, as predicted, they did indeed live a happy life, both in England and in the American West.