Free Devil Moon by David Thompson Page B

world?”
    “Yes, it would.”
    Tihikanima smiled sweetly. Now she must feed the fire of doubt she had planted so it became a raging bonfire. “Think about it, my son. We are the last of our kind. I keep saying that because it is important for you to fully understand. After we are gone, the Nansusequa will be no more.” She paused and gently squeezed his arm. “Unless you and your sisterscarry on the beliefs and customs of our people. On your shoulders rests whether the Nansusequa die out or are reborn.”
    “Reborn?” Dega repeated.
    “Your children, my son, and Tenikawaku’s and Mikikawaku’s, are our future. They will in turn have children of their own, and their children after them. Hopefully, large families. If each of you has five children and each of them has five children and so on, in a hundred summers there will be a hundred Nansusequa where now there are only five.”
    “I had not thought of that, either.”
    “Do you see how important it is? In your hands rests the rebuilding of our people. In your hands is the future of all that we are.”
    Dega gazed off toward the lake, and a troubled look came over him. “In our hands,” he said softly.
    Tihi pressed her argument. “They must be raised as Nansusequa. Not in any other way. Certainly not as whites. They will not be Nansusequa then. Do you see that?”
    “Yes.”
    Tihi patted his shoulder. “Good. I was worried that perhaps you did not, which is why I brought all this up.”
    “Have you talked to my sisters about it?”
    “I have talked to Teni. She is of the age where she might take a husband if she finds one who suits her. Miki is young yet. I will wait until she is a little older.”
    “You have given me much to think about.”
    Tihi decided to give him more. “Think of how different we are from the whites. We believe in living in harmony with all that is. The whites believe they must control all that is and bend it to their will. Webelieve in That Which Is In All Things and respect the right of all living things to the gift of life the Manitoa has bestowed. To us, our fellow creatures are our brothers and sisters. The deer in the woods. The elk in the thick brush. The birds in the trees. To the whites they are nothing but animals. Beasts, they call them, and slaughter them for furs and for food. Is this not true?”
    Dega said reluctantly, “With most whites it is.”
    “I ask you. Does Evelyn King believe in the Manitoa as we do?”
    “No.”
    “Does she regard the deer and the elk as her brothers and sisters, or does she regard them as animals?”
    “To her they are animals,” Dega said, with an odd rasping to his voice.
    “Does she give thanks each day to That Which Is In All Things for the breath of life in her, or does she take that breath for granted?”
    Dega sadly stared at the ground.
    “I have spoken enough for now.” Tihi stood and caressed his head. “Ponder my words and you will agree. You must take for your wife a woman who will live the Nansusequa way. No other will do. Do you agree?”
    Barely audible, Dega said, “Yes, Mother.”
    “Good. I am sorry if this has upset you.”
    “No. You did right.”
    “Thank you.” Tihi smiled and walked off. When she was out of his hearing she declared, “So much for Evelyn King.”
    Tihikanima laughed.

Chapter Nine
    The bright afternoon sun bathed the deep blue of King Lake.
    Evelyn slowed her horse from a trot to a walk as she neared the east end. She was always so eager to see Degamawaku that she yearned to rush into his arms. But that would be unseemly. So she walked Buttercup up to the Great Lodge in the shade of the tall trees and dismounted. No one was about. She walked toward the opening and stopped short when Dega’s father emerged. “Hello, Wakumassee,” she said.
    Waku was dressed all in green. He had a broad chest and a high forehead and always carried himself straight and tall. Smiling warmly, he clasped her hand. “Evelyn King.” His English was thickly