Free In Darkest Depths by David Thompson Page A

well. Only Shakespeare spoke more tongues, and then only because he had lived so much longer and been acquainted with various tribes in his travels.
    â€œI am surprised you and my wife didn’t invite the Shoshones and the Flatheads while you were at it,” he now remarked.
    â€œPay him no mind,” Blue Water Woman said. “He is in one of his moods.”
    â€œI blush to think upon this ignomy,” Shakespeare muttered.
    â€œDon’t start.”

    â€œSince most of us speak English, I will use that tongue,” Winona announced. Turning to her Nansusequa guests, she addressed Wakumassee and Degamawaku. “You two speak it the best in your family, but you are still learning. I will talk slowly and use small words so you can translate for the others.”
    â€œI am speaking the white tongue good,” Dega declared, proud of his accomplishment. That he had extra incentive in the form of Evelyn King was not a fact he mentioned.
    â€œYou have improved a lot since we met,” Winona agreed. “But I will still speak slowly so it is easy for you to translate.” She raised her arms to get everyone’s attention. “The first ever meeting of the King Valley Water Devil Society is now in session.”
    Shakespeare sat up. “The what?”
    â€œThe King Valley Water Devil Society. Do you like the name? Blue Water Woman came up with it.”
    â€œI should have known.”
    â€œWhat be society?” Wakumassee asked. “That one I not know.”
    â€œIt was a little jest on my part,” Winona explained.
    â€œA tiny jest is more like it,” Shakespeare said under his breath, but loud enough for everyone to hear. “Why beat around the bush? You called this meeting because you and my wife are worried.”
    â€œWe have reason to be,” Winona said. “We were in the steeple today. We saw what happened.”
    Nate put his cup down. “You never mentioned anything to me.”
    Shakespeare frowned at his wife. “All your squawking about the steeple being a waste of wood and you go up there to spy on us?”
    â€œIf caring for someone and wanting to be surethey are not harmed is spying, then yes, we were spying.”
    â€œI was right about you being up to something,” Shakespeare said.
    â€œYes, you were right. We talked it over in the steeple and decided to call this meeting.”
    â€œSay that again.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œThat part about me being right. In front of witnesses, no less.” Shakespeare made a show of looking at the ceiling and then out the window. “I expect the world to end any moment.”
    â€œWho say world end?” Waku asked in some alarm. “Nansusequa believe world stay as is until moon fall down.”
    Louisa piped up with, “How is that again?”
    â€œYou might as well say the world will end when there are no more buffalo,” Zach threw in.
    Nate came over and put one of his big hands on Winona’s slender shoulder. “It is not like you to keep secrets. Why didn’t you say something?”
    â€œI am now.”
    â€œFine,” Shakespeare said in disgust. “Horatio can stay home from now on. But I am not giving up. I will go out on the lake by myself if I have to. That thing must be dealt with.”
    â€œI agree,” Winona said.
    â€œSo what if I am the only one who—” Shakespeare stopped abruptly. “What did you just say?”
    â€œI agree with you. It could have been anyone out there today. Waku and Dega, fishing. Or my cousin when he pays a visit. Or one of us ladies out for a swim.” Winona shook her head. “Until today the water devil has been no more than a nuisance. Now I fear it could well kill one of us.”

    â€œI think the same,” Blue Water Woman said.
    Shakespeare sat back, unable to hide his astonishment. “Let me get this straight. When I was going on about how we had to do something