CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The soul of Ilesh the Mescalero was dark, his grief scalding him as though he’d drank molten metal. The screams of the two Mexican sheepherders being tortured by the women would have pleased him yesterday or the day before, but not today.

The news of the death of his youngest and much-loved brother at the hands of white men had just arrived, brought by a sorrowful messenger on a fast pony.

“Men riding in a stagecoach killed Yuma,” the messenger said. “His body will be brought to you.”

“Where is this stagecoach?” Ilesh said.

The messenger waved a hand. “To the west of this place.”

“Then we will find it and kill every one of the white men, but before they die they will beg us for death,” Ilesh said.

Woe to the bringer of bad news, and the messenger was so afraid he trembled. But Ilesh gave him a fine blanket and sent him away.

Many of the lodges were dark as the people mourned for their dead, and Ilesh spent a day and a night by himself, grieving for Yuma, a brave warrior and a singer of songs. Then, on the second day he emerged from his wickiup and spoke to the young men. Ilesh reminded them of Yuma’s prowess in battle, how the as yet unwed woman smiled at him as he passed and crowded around him when he sang his songs or played his flute.

The young warriors smiled and slapped each other on the shoulder, pleased that they remembered Yuma so well and had held him in such high esteem.

Then Ilesh told them of the white men in the stagecoach and he said that they must wreak a terrible revenge. He told them that the attack on Fort Concho must wait until Yuma’s death was avenged, and with this the warriors agreed.

Ilesh was greatly pleased with his young men and how they’d loved Yuma, and he ordered a mule be slaughtered and for the woman to prepare a great feast. Then Ilesh said that only the deaths of a hundred white men would atone for the death of Yuma, and the warriors must kill without mercy.

All this the young men heard, and their hearts were light that they were going to war against the white beasts in the stagecoach and they sang the Mescalero war song and Ilesh listened and planned . . .

The death of Yuma would soon be avenged.