Crow Woman and White Buffalo looked at each other in stunned silence for a few heartbeats. Then the old woman began to move around, clucking her tongue disapprovingly as she retrieved the black plum stones. The last one was elusive, but she finally found it, in the ashes near the fire.
White Buffalo examined the objects briefly, and returned them to their pouch with the horn cup. He was disturbed. Obviously, the Blood Society intended to go on their hunt, regardless of the medicine man’s approval. It was a very awkward situation. The Elk-dog band should be preparing for departure. Instead, they must either wait for the Bloods to return, or, if need be, leave without them. Neither course was a good one. Once again, the youngsters had caused embarrassment to their band and their families.
White Buffalo hurried over to the chiefs lodge, intending to inform him of the developments. He found Heads Off standing outside, watching the activity. Badger was riding among the lodges, calling to his followers and announcing the hunt.
“I gave them bad omens, Heads Off. They go anyway.”
Coyote joined them and the three watched the rising excitement of the young men as the group of mounted hunters grew.
Coyote spoke. “We will leave tomorrow even if they have not returned?”
Heads Off did not answer. He was still pondering that question in his own mind. Also, the old apprehension was growing as
he watched the Bloods wheeling their horses and shouting to each other. This did not look like the start of a hunting trip. They should be calm and businesslike. Instead, they were working each other into a frenzy of excitement. There appeared to be no doubt about it. This was no hunting trip. This was a war party!
Their numbers grew as they organized, and even from a distance the three could see that the Bloods were being joined by young men from other bands. Aiee, it appeared that there were now more mounted warriors than one has fingers and toes.
A man on foot strode among the lodges and approached the horsemen. Heads Off recognized Sees Far, and in a moment saw the object of that warrior’s attention. The man angrily approached a rider that they now recognized as his errant son, and an argument ensued.
It was too far away to hear the words of the argument, but the situation was plain. Sees Far was forbidding his son to go with the Bloods, and the boy was insisting on his right to do so. The argument was still at an impasse when Badger arrogantly rode up and entered the conversation. Sees Far turned angrily to the young man, and voices rose in argument.
Heads Off realized the danger and sprinted forward. The adversaries were well over a hundred paces away, and before he had covered half the distance, the inevitable had happened. Sees Far, with a shout of anger, rushed at Badger’s horse. The animal shied away, and the young man swung a weapon, which fortunately missed its target. Sees Far snatched at the reins, and pulled the animal’s head around as Badger struck at him a second time.
The older warrior dodged the blow, but grasped the wrist of his assailant, shaking the club loose from his grip. Sees Far was not a big man, but seemed suddenly to acquire superior strength as he gave a mighty heave and pulled Badger bodily from his horse. The young man landed heavily, but sprang up immediately
and grappled with Sees Far, the two falling again to the ground. Struggling and kicking, the pair rolled almost under the trampling feet of the frightened horse.
Heads Off, nearly winded from his run, was approaching as a cluster of people crowded forward to see the struggle. The rolling pair was obscured from his view for a moment, and he elbowed forward, pushing the horse aside.
Badger was just rising, breathing heavily.
“He would have killed me!” The voice was almost pleading.
Heads Off looked at the still figure, face down in the dust. He knelt, and gently rolled Sees Far toward him. A trickle of blood from a gash in the upper belly puddled in the dust. The far-seeing eyes which had earned this warrior the respect of the tribe now gazed sightlessly at the sun.
An angry mutter arose from the gathering crowd. Badger looked from one face to another, desperately seeking support, but meeting only enmity.
“I had no choice! He attacked me!”
“Sees Far was not armed,” a woman stated quietly, and the angry mutter spread.
Coyote came puffing to the scene, squatting beside Heads Off to talk rapidly.
“Heads Off, it is a matter for the Big Council. I have sent for the Real-chief.”
The People were still numb with the shock of the thing. It was the worst of all taboos, that one of the People should kill another. Though violence and death were commonplace, there was this most absolute of laws. One does not kill a member of the tribe.
Badger was still looking helplessly around the circle for nonexistent encouragement when the Real-chief arrived, flanked by two sub-chiefs of the Northern band. The crowd separated to
allow them to approach. The keen old eyes of Many Robes took in the situation at a glance. The wife of Sees Far was now at his side, sobbing quietly. Her son, the cause of the episode, stood staring in shocked silence.
“You, boy,” the Real-chief addressed him crisply. “You have much to answer for. You must be a great help to your mother now.”
Many Robes turned to the hapless Badger. That young man started to speak, then thought better of it and stood silent under the scathing gaze of the Real-chief.
“You will go to your lodge and stay there until the Big Council meets at dark. The men will come for you.”
He turned and spoke more quietly to Heads Off.
“Your warriors will bring him to the Council?”
Heads Off nodded. He was heartsick that his, the Elk-dog band, should be the origin of such disgrace among his adopted people.
The Real-chief turned and the crowd parted again for him. They began to disperse, animated conversations beginning in small groups.
“Heads Off, there is much to do.” It was Coyote, at his elbow, bringing him back to reality.
White Buffalo had arrived, and now attempted to explain the necessary steps. The keening wail of the Mourning Song rose from the family of Sees Far as the medicine man rapidly explained to his young chief.
“It is very bad medicine, Heads Off, for this to happen at the Sun Dance. It may destroy all the good medicine for the season. We must quickly remove the dead man, so the evil deed will not taint the Sun Dance place.”
Heads Off nodded. The body would be ceremonially buried
on an elevated scaffold in the trees, but in an area removed from the Sun Dance lodge.
After the remains were wrapped in robes and carried downstream nearly half a sun’s journey, the spot where the tragedy had taken place was ceremonially cleansed by White Buffalo. Most of the Elk-dog band accompanied the family to the site of the burial scaffold. Sees Far had been a respected warrior.
By the time the band had carried out the required rituals and returned to the Sun Dance site, it was growing late. Sun Boy and his torch were slipping below earth’s rim. It was time for the convening of the Big Council.