Page 39 of The Last Warrior

“Ha! Ha, ha!”

“Who is there?” Black Lion addressed his words to the low-ranging and ever-moving black puffs of vapor.

“Ha! You dare to come this close to me? You, who are no more than a human being?” It was the Thunderer, his enemy. There could be no mistaking the identity of the voice.

“Human being I may be,” called out Black Lion, “but I would best you if you would dare to come to earth to fight me. Because of you, my people are enslaved. Because of you, my people weep. Because of you, my heart is filled with the desire for revenge, so do not taunt me, Thunder Being. Either meet me in a hand-to-hand fight, or leave this place.”

“Ha! Ha, ha, ha!”

The dark clouds rolled, gathering force, and Black Lion thought that at any moment a lightning bolt might strike him down. Still, he did not retreat. Instead, he bared his breast to the god of thunder, physically issuing a challenge.

But there was to be no fight this day. Still laughing, the Thunderer moved along in the sky, forcing the clouds to speed elsewhere, perhaps to torment some other unfortunate soul. Gradually, the Thunderer’s laughter faded into the distance. But not so Black Lion’s resentment.

In protest, Black Lion raised his arms to the sky and shouted, “Come back again and challenge me, if you dare, Thunderer. I will best you!” Lowering his arms, he repeated, this time more softly, “I will best you.”

But the Thunderer was gone, taking the blackened clouds with him.

Black Lion paused, if only to clear his heart, for it would do no good to address the Great Spirit and his protector with anger. At last he was ready to continue his prayer, and he sang:

“Mountain lioness, spirit protector

Can you tell me if my wife is the one who owns the song?

May I sing to her?

Help me discover the truth of this,

For I am lost in this land of the whites.

Protector, I would give my life in service to my people,

For I am not afraid.

But to wait when she, who may know the song, is close,

Is torture.

Help me, Spirit Protector. For if you do, I promise

That I and my people will sing songs of your praise so

Long as we exist.”

Again, Black Lion raised his arms to the heavens. This time, his exposed face was lifted toward the sky. Hope burned deep within him, and he waited for a reply.

But it seemed his spirit protector was not here this day. Lowering his arms, Black Lion squatted next to the fire, warming himself but a moment. Though the fire’s heat called to him, he could not linger here. Need drove him to find the mountain lioness, for time was growing short.

Standing, Black Lion made a decision. He would leave the safety of his camp to go in search of his namesake, his protector. Though Black Lion was naked, he would endure the cold, the sleet and the snow. Somehow, in some way, he would find the guidance he desperately sought.

After damping down the fire, he set out upon his journey. He traipsed in a circle around the mountain, and all the while he called out, “Mountain lioness, protector, come. I have need of counsel.”

But there was nothing.

Almost delirious from hunger, cold and disappointment, Black Lion trod back toward his camp. Reaching it, he noticed that the fire was still alive but almost out. Quickly he rekindled it. He would remain here one more night, but he feared he could devote no more time than this. Already he had been on this mountain two days and nights, and the white man’s show would not allow him more than this.

One more night.

“Human!”