Free Across the Spectrum by Pati Nagle, editors Deborah J. Ross Page A

floor where I positioned myself. Raven’s beak rose over my
head, and his wings—encrusted with the most sacred objects and punctuated here
and there with glass—enfolded me in their embrace. I was honored to know that
only I would see this marvelous work, and I knew Raven would be pleased by it and
keep me safe. I continued the awakening chant as I fastened the clasps of the
many necklaces and belts that would protect my spirit. The chant concluded with
the words “Mighty Raven, hear my voice: guide me well and bring me success in
the great hunt!”
    Next after the awakening chant came the Bear chant. Through
the glass in Raven’s feathers I could see the people gathered, far in the
distance, while I touched each bead and carving as prescribed by the chant.
Bear began to stir below me as he responded to the demanding rhythms of the
chant. He shrugged and rumbled louder and louder, and I chanted harder just to
hear my own voice. Finally, touching the amulet of Bear fastened beneath my
left hand, I firmly chanted “Noble Bear, hear my voice: awaken and carry me to
the great hunt!”
    Bear responded with a mighty shout. The sound of his voice
was a thousand thunders, so great it shook the world and turned the sky from
blue to black. I felt the spirit of Bear standing upon my chest as he roared in
my ears, but I did not omit one syllable of the chant.
    Now began the Badger chant. This was the most critical chant
of all: the slightest deviation in timing would bring down Badger’s immediate
wrath, and not even Bear and Raven together could keep me safe. I do not understand
how Bear and Badger could hear me, so loud was Bear’s voice. But just as I
spoke the words “Brave Badger, hear my voice: bend your back and carry me on in
the great hunt” and touched the Badger amulet under my right hand, Bear stepped
off my chest and Badger began to roar instead.
    Badger is not so large or fierce as Bear, but he is
powerful. The mere sound of Badger’s growl rattled my bones and drummed on my
belly, making my whole body tremble. Badger’s spirit walked from one end of my
body to the other, but as I chanted I felt him tread more and more lightly.
Finally he leapt away from the totem with a great jolt, leaving me alone with
silent Raven and Hare.
    A great lightness came upon my soul then. Some may tell you
that Raven and the other spirit beings do not exist, that they are only tales
we tell ourselves to help the world make sense. I know this is not true, for I
have heard their voices. If that mere sound was enough to make my head spin and
my stomach tumble for days, imagine what would happen to you if you actually
saw mighty Raven in the flesh! Surely your poor body could not withstand it.
    I thanked Bear and Badger for their help, then began the
great hunt chant. Like the caribou chant, it politely asks the ice boulders to
come and give themselves, and promises that we will remember them in our songs
and stories. We must always show respect for those we hunt.
    As my mind settled into the rhythms of the chant the whole
world, red and ochre, seemed to spread out below me. Twinkling lights in the
distance were my fellow hunters; I knew that they were chanting with me in
their own totems. The sun rose and set, but it seemed to me that each day
passed in just a few breaths. And whether or not the sun was shining, the sky
was as black as when the world was new.
    Finally the ice boulders heard the hunters’ chants and came
in view. At first they were just tiny lights, smaller than the stars, but they
grew until I could see them clearly, slowly tumbling against the black of the
sky and the red of the ground.
    I selected carefully, as the elders had taught me; I knew I
would have only one chance. I wanted to pick a boulder that was large, but not
too large, and not tumbling too quickly. I also needed to observe my fellow
hunters to be sure we all chose different prey.
    After careful consideration I set my eye on a fine large
boulder that