THEO
SOLOMON’S BLEAK CABIN had gone cold, his incense out, the water kettle dried. The heavy sounds of his breathing had ceased, and the resounding silence drifted in and out of the space where he’d been. I sensed it—his mighty spirit had withdrawn.
He was ash grey, and his eyes were wide open, looking to the ceiling as if he’d seen something while taking his last breath. I bet it was Ruby—they’d waited a long time to be reunited. I was happy for him. And happy that he and his weary Wolf had completed their final journey and could finally go home. But in that happiness was a sinkhole of sorrow. I placed my hand over his open eyes and said, “Bless you . . . ” I choked on my words, blinking away tears. “With every breath you’ve taken, you’ve proved real love never dies, but manifests in other ways. Go home now, Ruby waits.”
Next to him was a small wooden box with Imogene’s name burned into the top. I set it aside to give to her later. Bud came through the door and said, “Well?”
I swallowed past the lump in my throat and said, “He’s gone.”
Bud took off his hat and dropped into a chair. An ivory light shone through Solomon’s window and illuminated his strong profile. I cleared my throat and said, “His final journey was to escort the evil spirits off Neahkahnie.” I stood, opened the door, and looked at his packed canoe. “I’ve got a promise to keep.”
“Right,” Bud said. “Tell me what to do and let’s do it.”
We opened all of the windows in Solomon’s cabin, letting out any part of his spirit that may have been confused or left behind.
“Spirit of Solomon Katata,” I said. “You are free. Go from this place to the next world. Ruby waits.” I lit a bundle of his herbs, and we wrapped his body in elk skins, then put him in his canoe with the things he’d set aside to help him find his way during his journey to the spirit world.
I took Kiernan’s soldier from my pocket, tucked it inside Solomon’s Medicine Bundle and whispered, “Return this to my brother, would you? Tell him I fought the best fight I could, but now, there’s a little boy who bears our names; I’m ready to live . . . for both of us.”