Bittersweet Ecstasy (25 page)

Far away, on a ship, Stede Gaston caught the railing and inhaled sharply. When his nephew Allen Clarion asked what was wrong, Stede stared into the distance and replied, “My father is dead, and rests now.”

Gray Eagle lifted his eyes skyward and prayed.
Bring victory and peace to my people, Great Spirit. Watch over my loved ones, my beloved Alisha. Guide and protect Sun Cloud as he receives the chiefs bonnet, for the days ahead will be filled with dangers and pitfalls.

Gray Eagle began to sing the Death Chant weakly for himself and Powchutu. When he was done, he said, “Your sons come to join you, Father. Meet us on the ghost trail and guide us to the Great Spirit. Together we will watch my son lead our people.” He closed his eyes, envisioned Alisha “Shalee” Williams, then ceased to breathe forever.

The warriors around Gray Eagle began to sing the Death Chant together for their fallen chief and brothers, and the soldiers wondered what was taking place until a Crow scout explained. Then a cheer arose at four o’clock on April 24 of 1820 to alert the soldiers on the other side of the canyon of their victory. Clint turned away to retch, sick over his part in this tragic episode.

In the Oglala camp, Tashina was leaning over her
grandmother and trying to discover the problem. “I will seek out the shaman’s helper, and he will make you well again, Grandmother,” she stated frantically.

“It is too late, Granddaughter. The Great Spirit calls to me. I go to join your grandfather,” Shalee murmured as her strength failed her.

“But grandfather is away. He will return soon,” the girl reasoned.

“No, little one, your grandfather is dead. I can see him waiting for me. Do not be sad, Tashina; it is the way of all things to complete their Life-circles. Care for your father, for he faces a great test. Seek out your love and be happy. I am coming, my love,” she whispered, reaching out her arms to the warrior only she could see…

It was dusk when Bright Arrow charged into the camp and shouted a signal for the warriors to gather quickly about him. Failing to notice the items that Bright Arrow was carrying which told a gruesome tale, Tashina rushed forward to meet her father before another could reveal Shalee’s death to him. She told him sadly, “Grandmother walks with the Great Spirit. She said grandfather summoned her.”

Bright Arrow lifted his head, cried out in anguish, then-drew his knife to slice across his right forearm and then his left to reveal his double sorrow. Holding up the possessions of Gray Eagle, he announced, “Our chief and many of our council are dead. We were attacked by the bluecoats, two canyons away. My father commanded me to warn our people to watch for an attack here. I must return to help them battle our foes. He sent his weapons and
wanapin
home so the bluecoats could not take them and count
coup
on Gray Eagle.”

Many warriors surged forward and demanded to
ride with him, but he repeated the partings words of his father. “I must return, for I have sworn vengeance, but you must guard our camp and people. I will take ten warriors with me.” He yielded slightly, then selected them. He appointed the shaman’s helper as the guardian of Gray Eagle’s shield, medallion, and other belongings.

Tashina wept as she watched her father ride into danger once more. She wondered how love could be so powerful as to go beyond death, for her grandmother’s last words kept racing through her mind.

Sun Cloud rode for hours with a heavy heart. In the distance, he saw dust rising from the hooves of numerous horses. His eyes widened and his heart thudded in dread, wondering if it was more soldiers heading for the canyon. If so, those remaining alive had no chance of survival or escape. If his father still lived, which he doubted, his body was in peril of theft. He was a Sacred Bow carrier and his duty was clear: he must try to slow them until help could arrive.

The large party from the war council approached Sun Cloud and halted. Sun Cloud explained the trouble and asked for their help, already knowing they would respond.

Before riding off, as their horses rested for a short time, a Sisseton chief Fire Brand revealed, “A band of soldiers tried to attack the camp of the war council. We killed many and drove the others away. When the Oglala band did not arrive, we suspected your peril.”

Chief Flaming Bow of the Red Shield Band of the Cheyenne asked, “Do you think any still live? It has been a long time since the attack.”

It was like driving a hot knife into Sun Cloud’s body to reply, “In my heart, I know my father and his brother are dead. But others might breathe longer if we return swiftly and slay the bluecoats.”

Fire Brand declared confidently, “We will defeat them as in the sun past when we rode against Fort Dakota and destroyed it.” He recalled that episode in his life clearly. He had pretended to be a scout for the fort, while learning their secrets. He had met Bright Arrow’s woman when she had come to aid his escape, and she had suffered at the hands of Lieutenant Moore
for doing so. He had heard of her disappearance last spring, and had mourned for the valiant female. In the past, he had ridden many times with Gray Eagle and Bright Arrow; now, one great leader was dead, but another would replace him, for few warriors could match the prowess and
coups
of Bright Arrow.

Silver Hawk spoke coldly, “We must slay every bluecoat in our lands. Gray Eagle will be avenged; this I swear, for he was my second father.” He was furious with Red Band for betraying him, and almost getting him killed. Red Band had given his word and the Army’s word that only the Oglala band would be attacked! He decided it was perilous to trust or to depend on anyone but himself for his future moves.

“There is more, Sun Cloud,” Fire Brand hinted. “Races-the-Buffalo was slain in our battle. His warriors take his body home.”

Sun Cloud could not help but think of his friend and Sacred Bow carrier Thunder Spirit, who was pinned down in the canyon with his brother Flaming Star and their father White Arrow. It would be cruel if the Great Spirit allowed Little Feet’s husband and true love both to die on the same day. Since the wounded and aged could not flee, the other warriors would remain with them, defending them, until death.

Flaming Bow said, “You are brave, Sun Cloud, for you were willing to stand against a large band to fulfill your duty. We must tell others of this great deed. Come, darkness is near; we will use it wisely, for the whites foolishly believe Indians do not ride or attack when the moon replaces the sun.” Flaming Bow oddly reflected on the day when he had ridden into the Oglala camp twenty-four winters past to slay two warriors of his own tribe who had gone there to challenge Bright Arrow to the death for his white captive and to “avenge” the blood of Standing Bear who had
committed that fatal error moons earlier. If not for Bright Arrow and Rebecca Kenny, the treachery of Standing Bear and White Elk might have remained concealed long enough to destroy his Cheyenne band. That season, he had taken Silver Star’s place as chief, just as Bright Arrow would take Gray Eagle’s. It was good that Bright Arrow had a brother worthy of riding beside him.

Windrider spoke with Sun Cloud for a moment, and told him he had sent his son back to camp to warn and to protect their people.

Then the Oglalas galloped toward the canyon from one direction, while the war party of united tribes approached from another, with Bright Arrow’s band arriving first. Both groups reached the canyon within thirty minutes of each other, near two in the morning. They began to inch their way toward the hiding places of the soldiers and toward the Oglalas who were trapped between them. No signal was given which might alert the Crow scouts to their presence, for both groups had left their horses at a safe distance to approach stealthily on foot.

Captain Clarence Smith had left earlier, to report their victory to Major Gerald Butler, and to tell him the men would be along after sunrise, when they finished off the few remaining warriors and retrieved the body of Gray Eagle. He knew two warriors had escaped, but never imagined they would return with help before his troops could leave in the morning. Actually, he believed they had gone to warn and defend their camps and would probably think more soldiers were on the way. He wondered why Red Band had not recognized Gray Eagle at the fort and why the scout had denied the fallen man was the great Sioux leader, as others claimed. Red Band had suggested that Gray Eagle must have a brother who favored him, but no one had
ever heard of such a brother. No matter, Smith assumed every Indian would be dead before dawn. He had taken Clint with him, for the man was violently ill and needed to see the doctor: they would become the only survivors of the grim raid which had slain one legend and would birth another…

By the time the sun gave light and warmth to the land once more, all the other soldiers were dead. Silver Hawk took sinister pleasure in removing a scalplock from the slain Crow scout Red Band. When the Oglala dead were laid in a row on blankets, Sun Cloud and Bright Arrow stood beside the grim sight: Gray Eagle, Powchutu, Strong Heart, Badger, River Snake, Snow Warrior, Calls Loud, Wolf’s Head, and White Owl.

Several others were wounded, but they would recover. Many horses had been slain, so several warriors offered to ride double while their mounts transported the nine bodies home. Their task done, the war council separated to return to their camps, to reveal this new treachery and to stand guard against attacks on their villages.

Windrider and his warriors were the last to depart. He talked with Bright Arrow, feeling empathy for his best friend. He said he would come to visit when all was safe, then galloped away swiftly.

Sun Cloud looked at the cuts on his brother’s arms and said, “Mother taught us the danger of such cuts, Bright Arrow. If you do not tend them, you will not live to avenge our father and people. When we reach our camp, let Mother tend them.”

Bright Arrow stared at his brother for his soft scolding and curious words, then realized Sun Cloud did not know about Shalee’s death. “It is our way, Sun Cloud. One is for Father, and one is for Mother.” He revealed the heartrending news to his brother, who was shaken visibly.

The younger man’s voice was hoarse as he responded, “I will place my cuts upon the bodies of those who killed my father, for two escaped. I will track them and make them suffer as we do, then I will return home to mourn our parents on their death scaffolds. When our parents and people have been avenged, I will take their bodies to the sacred hills where no enemy can find them and disturb them.”

Bright Arrow nodded in agreement. “It will be as you say, for they must not be dishonored by those seeking treasures from our dead.”

Sun Cloud walked away to speak with his friend Thunder Spirit, to reveal the news which concerned his mother and Little Feet. His heart was aching and he wished he could release his pain with tears and screams. He could not; he must be strong, for soon he would be voted chief and take his father’s place. He was no longer a child who could reveal his emotions before others. His first thoughts and duties must be for his people, for his parent’s deaths were in the past. How he wished his parents could have lived to see him become chief and to guide him during this adjustment period, but it was not to be. He must remember all they had taught him and told him, especially lately. It was shortly after dawn and, if he rode swiftly, he could avenge his people and return home sometime tomorrow.

Walks Tall and Talking Rock joined Bright Arrow. Talking Rock remarked, “It is not right for Sun Cloud to reject our way of sorrow.”

Bright Arrow said, “My brother is young and is filled with pain. In time, he will learn his duty, as I have. I will see to our parents and people while he does what he must.”

Talking Rock said, “You returned quickly and saved our lives, just as you saved the body of our chief. You
have gained many
coups
this day, Bright Arrow. The vote will go easily for you.”

Walks Tall remarked, “Chief Flaming Bow and Chief Fire Brand said they will attend the celebration when you are made chief. It is good we have a warrior of such prowess to lead us after Gray Eagle.”

Bright Arrow smiled sadly as he recalled his “vision” for a time.

Sun Cloud left with Thunder Spirit, Star Gazer, and Night Rider. The three warriors trailed the two. survivors, knowing the tracks were old, but hoping the soldiers would ride slowly with conceit or halt to rest before reaching the fort which would allow them to be overtaken.

The Oglala party reached their camp an hour after the sun passed overhead. The people were shocked and distressed over the white man’s victory, but the shaman Mind-who-Roams had foreseen this grim event, and he had spoken of great victory afterward. For now, they must bury and mourn their dead. It required three hours for a selected band to cut, haul, and construct the ten burial scaffolds.

The slain warriors, their chief, and his beloved wife were prepared by washing them, dressing them in their finest garments, and then wrapping their bodies in thick buffalo hides; then, the bodies were placed atop their scaffolds which were built at a height to place them in view of the Great Spirit and out of the reach of animals. It was believed that the fallen one’s spirit was claimed by the sun, wind, and rain elements and taken to the
Mahpiya Ocanku,
the Ghost Trail, where it could make its way to the Great Spirit and a happy afterlife. On the Ghost Trail, a soul walked in peace until received by
Wakantanka.
A warrior’s weapons,
and sometimes his slain horse’s head, were placed on the scaffold to aid him on his journey to his new life. Once the warrior and his belongings were placed on the sacred scaffold, no one was to touch him or his possessions: it was the stealing of such “treasures” and the disturbing of these spirits by the white man which enraged the Indians.

Bright Arrow hung his father’s bow, quiver with arrows, horse-dance stick, and shield on the four corners of his scaffold. Gray Eagle’s lance was laid on one side of his body and his feathered tomahawk was placed on the other side. His sacred pipe rested over his heart, as did his medicine bundle, beneath the burial wrappings. The horse-dance stick had been made in honor of Chula, his beloved and loyal steed for numerous years. During special ceremonies, a warrior carried his horse-dance stick in remembrance of the animal who had served him well in life. Since his ghostly white horse had been slain yesterday during the battle, he could not accompany Gray Eagle on his long journey to the Great Spirit. The horse-dance stick was placed there to summon Chula from the spirit world to bear his master skyward. Gray Eagle’s
wanapin,
an intricately carved eagle medallion, had been placed around his neck and he was wearing his best buckskins and moccasins, which had been beaded beautifully and with much love by his wife Shalee, who was resting beside him.