Page 1 of The Last Warrior

Prologue

In a time long ago, a Northwest Indian tribe betrayed the god of thunder. When the men of the tribe sought to kill more game than was needed, the children of the Thunder god thought to intercede on the animals’ behalf. Because the tribe’s greed had turned to lust, the men—who were cheered on by the women—killed the Thunderer’s children, every one.

In retaliation, the Thunderer sought to destroy every member of the clan, all bands. It would have been accomplished, too, if not for the Creator, who intervened.

“Nay, these people shall not die,” the Creator decreed. Instead He sent the people into the mist. There, they would live a half existence, neither alive nor dead.

But once a generation, each tribal band would be charged with the responsibility to summon a boy to become their champion. Armed only with the knowledge that he must show kindness to an enemy, this boy would become real and go out into the world, entrusted with the duty to break the spell.

In 1875, there is but one tribal band left imprisoned in the mist. Black Lion, a lad of twelve, has been chosen by the medicine man, White Claw, to represent this last band, the Black Fire band.

Venturing forth into the world, Black Lion has grown to full manhood within the Hunkpapa band of the Lakota Sioux. Many times he has confronted the enemy, and in each instance, he has shown kindness and understanding. Yet the spell remains intact. Because of this, Black Lion has become desperate.

Meanwhile, the Thunderer’s heart has become harsher, blacker. In his possession now are four stone nuggets, each containing the image of one of his children. However owning these stones has not healed the Thunderer’s thirst for revenge. In fact, it is the opposite. Because of the images in the stones, he can see his children, but never can he be with them.

Thus, he has sworn eternal revenge, making it his task to prevent this last of the tribes from ever going free. To this end, the Thunderer follows Black Lion, not intruding on him, at least not yet, but always is the Thunderer awaiting the right time and the right place to work his evil deed.

Chapter

One

Aboriginal people in the United States have been closely involved with circuses, staged buffalo hunts, Wild West performances, and other forms of public entertainment for more than 150 years. As early as 1843, PT Barnum included Native dancers as part of his “Grand Buffalo Hunt.”

— MORGAN BAILLARGEON & LESLIE TEPPER, LEGENDS OF OUR TIMES: NATIVE COWBOY LIFE

The Hunkpapa Reservation

South Dakota

Autumn, 1890

“You must go in my place.” Two Bears clutched at Black Lion’s hand. Two Bears lay on the floor atop a bed of soft buffalo robes. His one-room shack was shabby, dark and decorated with scarce furniture. In a corner of the room, Two Bears’s wife, Rabbit Leggings, lingered. But she made no attempt at conversation. Perhaps she was too worried.

Black Lion squatted next to Two Bears. He held a cloth to wipe the sweat from Two Bears’s face. Said Black Lion, “Ho, I cannot go. Though I would do most anything for you, in this, I must stand firm. Surely you realize this.”

Two Bears groaned.

“Wait and see,” continued Black Lion. “You will get well. You will be able to travel with the Long-haired Show Man.”

“Hiya! No! My brother, the white man’s disease has me in its grip—it eats at me. I need rest if I am to recover. And if I go, I fear I will not get well, for I have heard rumors about how the ride across the great water is treacherous.”

Black Lion hesitated for a long moment. At last, choosing his words with care, he voiced, “My brother, can you not ask me for some other favor? I will give you most anything else, if it be within my power to command it. But I cannot travel with the Long-haired Show Man in your place. Though you are my kola, my brother, you know I come from another tribe and you must remember how I am sworn with a trust to help my people. If I go to this England, a land which is far from here, it would be as to give up all hope for what I must accomplish. And if I fail in my task, as others before me have done, forever will I have to live with the knowledge that I let my people down in their time of need.”

Two Bears shut his eyes, pressing his lips together. He drew in a shaky breath. “Waste. I understand. You are right. It is not my place to ask you to do this.”

Black Lion remained silent.

“But,” said Two Bears, “you would only be gone for one full journey of the sun, for this is what it says in my contract with the Long-haired Show Man. Only a year in this village called England. When you return here, I would probably be well enough to finish the rest of my contract without your aid. You then could go your own way and would still have time to end the curse which I know plagues you. Perhaps I might even be able to aid you in doing so once I have recovered.”

Black Lion swallowed hard, his throat constricted with anguish. In the distance, Two Bears’s wife dropped a pot over the fire, the flames rising to sizzle around its bottom. Though she never intervened in their conversation, Black Lion was more than aware of how she, too, pinned her hopes on Black Lion taking her husband’s place.

Black Lion said, “Tell the Long-haired Show Man you cannot go.”

“It is impossible.”

“It is not impossible,” countered Black Lion. “He is still in our camp. Simply tell him of your problem and promise to become a part of the show in the next full season.”

“Hiya, you don’t understand. The Long-haired Show Man has already paid me a portion of the money I will make, for I have needed to buy supplies for my wife and family before I go. He and I made a pact, one he calls an advance on my work.”