Page 46 of The Last Warrior

He frowned at her. “It is not an easy matter to explain, and a man should not talk about such things. But I see you do not truly understand. Therefore, I will try to help. In the past, before the white man came to this country, a man would seek out a spiritual helper to aid him in war or because of some other matter of importance.”

“Ah, does this mean you worship this animal or spirit?”

“Hiya, no. It is well known that in a war, the Creator will not choose sides, for He is neutral, and loves all His creatures. Besides, one’s enemies could very well speak to the Creator, as well as you. And so, to compensate for this, a man will endeavor to find a helper from the animal or spirit world. Someone or some spirit who will give a man the secret of its power, thus giving this man the protector’s medicine.”

“Medicine?”

“Medicine to the Indian heart means the great mystery of all things. It is a mystical strength.”

“Oh, I think I understand. Mystical. Is your need to seek out this medicine because of me? Have I upset you so greatly?”

“Hiya, it is not because of you, and you have not upset me.”

“Are you going to war, then?”

He moved forward an inch. “I am already at war.”

“But you are with the show, and so you surely are not still fighting the white man, are you?”

“I do not fight the white man.” He sighed. “It is a long story.”

“Well…” She shrugged. “I seem to have time at present to listen.”

“And yet,” he responded, hesitating, “even if I bare my soul to you, you will not believe me, I think.”

“And it is necessary for you to consider I will believe before you tell me?”

“Hiya, no.”

“Then come.” She sank gracefully onto the ground, which was made soft by pine needles and only a little snow, and she patted the earth beside her. “Sit beside me. Tell me what it is you fight.”

Chapter

Thirteen

He didn’t move to join her. However, he did say, “I do not know if I can speak to you of it, for I have never told another living soul about the full burden I carry. There is one who knows, but he does not know the full story.”

“But you will tell me?”

“Hau, yes. And this is odd, for men and women are often antagonistic to each other, even in marriage. It is often to be seen that a man amongst the Lakota might try to count coup on a woman and steal her virtue, and a woman might often feel put-upon by men. But with you, I feel…it is different.”

“Yes, I too believe this to be. But, let us go back to what you said only a moment ago, for I do not understand it. What do you mean by counting coup?”

“It is what we call a deed which is either hard to do or involves danger,” he explained. “It is a deed of honor against an enemy.”

“So by counting coup on a woman, you mean the men look upon a woman—any woman—as an enemy?”

“It is often so.”

She shook her head. “This is a very strange viewpoint to me.”

He didn’t say a word to defend the practice; he merely shrugged.

“So tell me what it is which plagues you.”

“Again, I hesitate, for you will think the sun has gotten into my mind. I have never confided the full extent of this to anyone.”

“Then let it be me whom you trust to tell. After all, I am your wife.”