CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Strikes Fast hadn't been spared a moment in which to paint himself or his horse for the coming battle. In truth, he hadn't been aware of the close proximity of the Cree war party until only moments ago. Perhaps this was due to his physical exhaustion. Indeed, he was beginning to realize he should have paid more attention to his wife's plea for him to rest a little. But, then again, there hadn't been time for him to ever let down his guard.
As the leader of the Cree war party emerged from the woods on the opposite side of the clearing, Strikes Fast saw his enemy had painted himself in all his fearsome glory; his entire face was covered in black paint with white streaks of lightning slashed down his cheeks. Even his horse was depicted in a similar manner.
Oddly, the fearsome look of the other fellow caused Strikes Fast's courage to soar. He had never been a coward, and, as it had always been in the face of danger, every part of him—physical, mental and spiritual—swung into high alert. Indeed, the Cree warrior's look caused any previous fatigue to flee from him; it also served to quicken his sense of the timing needed to survive in battle. All at once, he felt strong and ready to fight.
Mutually, he and the other fellow dismounted, and, with both men keeping hold of their pony's reins, they paced toward one another. Utilizing only one hand, Strikes Fast signed, "I ask for the coming battle to be waged between you and me only. It would be a test of our skills; one man fighting another man, the best one to win."
At once, the Cree leader signed, "I cannot agree to this. My warriors are anxious for a fight."
Strikes Fast nodded, but only once. Then he signed, "Very well. I have only one more request to make of you: control your warriors so that we might both return unharmed to our former positions before the fight begins."
Snake signed his agreement. "Honor would have me allow this."
"Good. Then, let us both return to our opposite sides of this meadow without a shot being fired. But, once there, the fight shall commence. Is it so agreed?"
Again Snake signed, "Agreed."
Both men quickly jumped onto their mounts, reseating themselves, and Strikes Fast was in the act of turning his pony around when, from out of nowhere, a crash resounded through the air. Looking up and across the clearing, Strikes Fast was surprised to see the tiny lightning bolt flash through the air toward the enemy's camp.
Was the tiny bolt of lightning the signature of his friend Gray Falcon? It could be. However, when the raw power of nature's deadliest weapon struck the Cree warrior's bow, for a moment Strikes Fast was disconcerted. The arrow the Cree had held against his bow had been aimed straight at him.
So, the Cree cannot be trusted to their honor.
Alerted to the danger, Strikes Fast raced back across the meadow and silently in the mind-to-mind speak said, "Thank you, my friend, Gray Falcon. It is good to know you are here in spirit and on my side. I must go. The fight is about to begin."
****
When Snake returned to his warriors, he saw it was his own brother, Coyote, who had fallen to the ground. His entire body was shaking as though there were still lightning coursing through him.
Luckily, Coyote was alive. But, Snake realized his best warrior was down and the fight hadn't yet begun.
Dismounting, Snake knelt beside his brother and asked, "Why did you try to kill the man? Hadn't we agreed only I would go out to meet with him?"
As if in answer to the question, Coyote stopped shaking. He sat up, placed his head in his hands and muttered, "I sought to be the one to make the kill."
Snake understood. To be the man to kill a warrior as great as this Crow combatant would have brought Coyote great honor, and he would have become elevated in the eyes of their people. However, his brother's action was also dishonorable, and the Creator might not look well upon this. When Snake had agreed to the peace talks, he had also consented to an ancient custom: after the talks ended, an enemy was always allowed to return to his position unharmed.
Indeed, Snake's own sense of honor, as well as his reverence for the Creator, demanded he forbid Coyote to partake in this fight. Snake, however, was reluctant to do it; Coyote was the best warrior he had.
Uncertain what action to take, the decision was resolved for him by Coyote, who declared, "Though injured, I can still fight. I want to kill that Crow even though I might not now be your best warrior."
"Are you certain of this, my brother? Look at your hands. They are still shaking."
"Of course I am sure of it," replied Coyote. "I am trembling only because of the surprise. I want to kill that man."
Snake nodded. "Good. I am glad," he acknowledged as he stood up to watch the Crow warrior race his horse back into the woods on the other side of the meadow. But, to himself, he muttered, "What kind of magic is this? A tiny lightning bolt strikes my brother's weapon when there is not a cloud in the sky?"
But, when there was no answer forthcoming, Snake gestured toward his three other warriors, bringing them to his side, and he said, "As soon as the Crow warrior reaches the trees on the other side of this clearing, our war begins. Are you each one ready?"
After all the strange occurrences their war party had encountered, it was only Wolf Ears who still seemed to be enthusiastic about the coming fight. Yet, Coyote, as well as Gives Plenty and Runs-with-bulls, nodded.
"Good. We fight! Spread out," ordered Snake. "We will come at the Crow warrior from different directions."
****
Strikes Fast quickly barricaded himself on all sides with the limbs from the many deadfall within the forest. He lowered himself into a ready position and, lying down on his stomach and pushing his muzzle loading rifle through one of the gaps between the branches, took aim.
