Pointing toward them, First Rider said, "Arctic birds. They live here, stay here always, never come down mountain."
She said, "Live on the top of a mountain? And, here I be, not knowin' anythin' could be livin' up there."
He merely nodded, then said, "Way not far now."
And so, he kept shoveling the snow out of their way as they climbed. Once, the snow was falling down so greatly upon them,First Rider became buried in it up to his chest, and, the good Lord be praised, he looked like a giant snowman. Laughing so hard, she could barely make her way up to where he was to brush the snow away. But, before she set his arms free completely, she said, "I think I be wantin' to take advantage of thee before freeing thine arms."
Looking stoically at her, he said, "I await your touch." Then he added, "I hope it will be a kiss…or more!"
When at last she dug down far enough to free his arms, he used them to reach out toward her, and, dragging her in toward him, he kissed her lips, her nose, her cheeks, then said, "I burn much for you. So much, even this ice not cool my need…of you."
"Oh my! I cannot wait until tonight."
"I, too," he said. "I, too."
The rest of the way up the mountain was easier. And, with the ledge extending out so closely to them, they crawled upon it and sat still for a moment, both breathing deeply.
"I love thee very much," she said. "Never have I loved a man as I do thee."
He nodded. "I, too," he said. "You bring joy and…pleasure to me." He turned, then, toward her and hugged her. Then he whispered, "What happens in Flathead camp, not matter. Always…I will love you."
Turning forward once more, he pointed down to the ledge below them, one which extended well out from the wall of the mountain. And then, for the first time in her life, she saw the white mountain goats.
They looked so odd, she laughed. Long white hair hung to the bends of their legs and rose up high over their shoulders, while a long beard hung from their chins. Their faces were concave. And, while she smiled at the sight of them, First Rider was setting his arrows into his hand, fitting one of those arrows to his bow.
Then, practically faster than she could count—whoosh, whoosh—he sent one arrow after another at the goats—his aim, despite the frozen appearance of his hands, accurate and deadly, taking down one goat after another, until he set his arrows and his bow back into his quiver.
Glancing down at her, he said, "This enough meat and plenty skins to make warm bed. Come, we dress them quickly…slide them down mountain, I think."
The work was quick, and before long they had fastened the goats—four of them—together and began their slide down the slope of the mountain, First Rider in the lead and she in the rear. The deep snow kept the goats both in a line and from sliding too quickly down the steep slope. Indeed, she was about to praise First Rider, when suddenly she didn't see him. He should be in sight ahead of her. Where was he?
"First Rider!" she called, stepping carefully forward. No reply. "First Rider! Please answer!"
Where was he? He had been there, up ahead of her, only seconds before. Scooting forward as quickly as she dared, she saw it: a hole in the snow—a deep hole—and as tears came to her eyes, she knewhewas down there.
"First Rider! Can thou hear me?"
Again there was no answer.
Beside her was one of the snowshoes, and, grabbing hold of it, she began digging frantically, being careful, herself, to stay on solid ground, knowing it would not help him if she were to disappear into a hole, also.
"Dear Lord, help me!" she cried out. "Please hear my plea; please let him be alive and let me dig him out fast! Help me!"
And, she dug and dug until, at last, she saw the top of his head.
She cried out, "Don't thou dare die! Does thou hear me? Don't thou dare!" And, she dug and she dug, crying out all thewhile, "Help us! Help me! Help me to be fast enough! Please, God, help me!"
And, then it happened: she heard a sound around her and looked up to see the biggest and hairiest creature she had ever seen. But, it shocked her further when it said not a word but told her mind-to-mind, "Stand back! You must not also fall!"
Liliann did as the creature bid and watched as the big and extremely-strong-looking being reached down, and as easy as though she picked up a child, she brought First Rider up out of the snow. But, was he alive?
"Dear God, please let him be alive!" Liliann cried.
Then, this big hairy human-like life form came to quickly sit down next to where Liliann was standing. The creature was a female, Liliann was quick to note, for there were breasts upon her chest. Then, the creature placed First Rider in her lap, and Liliann began to cry because he looked so blue. She asked, "Is he alive?"
In mind-speak, the female creature said, "He is, but barely. I need you to blow breath into him."
Liliann didn't hesitate, and flung herself down beside the big hairy person, kissing her husband with her breath. Over and over, on and on, she blew breath into his mouth until, at last, she saw his chest rise and fall. Filled with the hope of success, Liliann didn't stop blowing air into his mouth until she saw his chest rise and fall on its own.
It was at this moment when the Big Person began to sing, and, listening to it, Liliann became stunned, for she recognized the song.
Slightly similar to the words and the melody First Rider used to heal others, it was still a song Liliann knew, though it was a little different.
Liliann added her voice then to this big female creature's song, singing along with it and adding her own clicking soundsand noises in the right places. And, sitting alongside this big and hairy human-like creature, they two, on a deserted slope of a mountain, sang and sang and sang…
