Free Ancient Forces Collection by Bill Myers

Chinese, Africans, Latin Americans, and people all over the world. The God of the Bible is not the God of the white man. He is the God of all people.”
    A loud crack of thunder jolted the group. Instinctively, Swift Arrow turned toward Dark Bear’s holy place. In the distance, he could see the reflection of a fire as it burned. Against the cliffs, he could make out the flickering of a shadow . . . the shadow of a man dancing.
    Swift Arrow forced himself to continue. “It is not my fault that the rain has not come. It is not a punishment from the gods. Dark Bear has misled you.”
    A handful of people nodded their heads in agreement. A few coughed lightly. Soft at first, the coughing grew until it was obvious someone was starting to choke.

    Becka tensed. It was the same choking Scott had experienced earlier. Now others were starting to cough and gasp for breath.
    Becka threw a look to Scott. This was not good. Not good at all. One, two, a handful of people dropped to their knees, coughing, choking, and struggling to breathe. And to make matters worse, they were the very ones who had been nodding their heads in agreement. “Dark Bear,” Becka whispered.
    “We’d better do something fast.”
    “Like what? What can we do?”
    “Satan,” Scott spoke softly, “in the name of Jesus Christ, we command you to stop this coughing.”
    “That’s right,” Becka whispered in agreement. “In the name of Christ, we demand that you stop this attack.”
    Scott nodded. “Whatever evil is at work here, we remind you that the name of Jesus is stronger than any other name, and it is by his name that we order you to leave and command that peace and health be restored back to these people. Now. We command you to leave now!”
    Immediately, the coughing subsided. While a few people remained on the ground, trying to recover their wits, others rose and began to breathe normally. Most, however, were simply anxious to leave. They knew what had happened, and they wanted no more of it. They started moving, shoving, and trying to get as far away from Swift Arrow’s council as possible.

    Swift Arrow watched helplessly as his people left the clearing and headed for their homes. He looked broken and defeated. His council was over. And if anything had been proven, it was that Dark Bear’s strength and influence were more powerful than his own.

8
    B efore going to bed that night, Becka and Scott offered to pray with Swift Arrow. He clearly felt defeated, and they wanted to encourage him.
    “Listen,” Becka told him, “when things get the toughest, that’s when God works his greatest miracles.”
    “That’s right,” Scott agreed. “When we’re our weakest, that’s when he’s the strongest.”
    Swift Arrow nodded, but it was obvious his heart was anything but encouraged. He had finally worked up the courage to face Dark Bear, and all he had been met with was defeat.
    “Dear Lord,” Becka prayed as they bowed their heads together, “we know you shine brightest in the darkest places. And right now, at least on the surface, everything looks bad. We ask — we pray in Jesus’ name — that you step in now. That you take what our enemy has chosen for evil and turn it around for good. We ask this because of your great love for us and for this whole village. We ask this in your Son’s precious and holy name. Amen.”
    Scott and Swift Arrow joined in saying amen. Then, before they headed off to bed, all three agreed to pray again first thing in the morning. Becka could see that that gave Swift Arrow some assurance, but she was still concerned. About Ryan.
    She hadn’t seen him all day, and her worries had only increased. She chose to wait up for him. It was nearly ten o’clock when he finally lumbered into camp. He looked very tired, and there was a strangely distant look in his eyes.
    “We missed you tonight,” Becka said as he approached, heading for his tent.
    He slowed to a stop but said nothing.
    She tried again. “You would