Free White Thunder by Aimée Thurlo Page A

they come in, there’ll be no peace or harmony for anyone, and it could goon for weeks. This has happened before.”
    John nodded, then considered it carefully, sipping his tea. “I know nothing about the bilagáana, but my patient’s name is Melvin Rainwater,” he said in a hushed tone, respecting the use of a proper name. “His family has used that particular hogan before, I was told, but I don’t think it really belongs to them,” he added, shrugging. He looked down and noticeda spider crawling across
the dirt floor. Finally he looked up again. “I suppose I’m partly to blame for this trouble. I should have stopped the Sing after the men spotted the intruder. Everyone was really angry about that and I knew it was dangerous to continue. But my patient insisted. It would be improper for me to interpret the effectiveness of the Sing, but my patient will know soon enough.”
    Ella knew that Sings were sometimes repeated, or other ceremonies performed if the problem persisted. “What else can you tell me about your patient? I’d like to find him so I can talk to him.”
    “His clan is Red Running into Water—Táchii’nii, and he was born for the Cove of the Mountain clan—Dziltl’ ahnii. The man is in his twenties, with short hair and a wide nose that looks like he got it brokena few times. His Navajo is better than most young people speak today, and his English is very good.”
    Ella wrote it all down in her memo pad, then looked up. “Is there anything else you remember?”
    He shook his head. “He wouldn’t tell me much about himself, only that he really wanted the Sing done. After the ceremony was over, he apologized for the Anglo government man. He said he’d known thatthe man wanted to talk to him, but never expected him to show up at the Sing.”
    “Did your patient tell you why the agent was looking for him?”
    “He didn’t say and I didn’t ask,” John answered.
    “Who else attended the Sing?”
    He shrugged. “I assumed they were all members of his family and friends, but I didn’t know any of them. They wouldn’t have introduced themselves to me using their Anglo names,so I can’t really answer your question. But there’s just no excusing what that Anglo agent did. We need to be free to carry on the traditions of our people without interference from an ignorant bilagáana who thinks a gold badge is all the authorization he needs.”
    “Thank you, Uncle, for taking time to talk to me.”
    A few minutes later, Ella was on the way back to the station. She hadn’t had morethan a bite to eat since early that morning, and she was starving. She didn’t remember if there was a fastfood place in Beclabito, but Ella consoled herself with the thought
that she’d be back in Shiprock within the hour and she’d be able to grab something then. From the looks of it, she’d be working nonstop through the night unless they got an unexpected break.
    That, of course, brought up anotherproblem. Ella reached for her cell phone with one hand and called home. A moment later Rose answered. Over her mother’s hello she could hear Dawn chattering in the background.
    “I already know why you’re calling,” Rose said softly. “You won’t be home until late, right? Your brother said you were looking for someone. I promised not to mention it to anyone, so don’t worry about any gossip, daughter.”
    “I won’t have anything resembling regular hours until this man’s found. His life is on the line.”
    “I understand, and so will your daughter. Would you like to speak to her?”
    “Yes, please.” Ella heard footsteps on the kitchen floor as Dawn ran to the phone. A moment later her daughter’s excited voice greeted her.
    “Mommy! Guess what? I got to ride bareback today. Boots led Wind around the corraland I was able to stay on even when we trotted! Then she let me go around on my own three times.”
    “Good for you!” Ella said, wishing she could have been the one to give Dawn her first