Lakota Dawn by Janelle Taylor Read Free Book Online

he learned the dark truth of their false words.”
    “You speak in his favor, my firstborn son? You believe his claims?”
    “I do not know yet if he can be trusted, but I believe he is my brother. I am to follow you as chief, my father. For that rank and duty, you and Grandfather have taught me to study any important matter from all sides. It is true it is dangerous to accept him if he is not Cloud Chaser or his heart is now evil. But it is wrong to reject him if he is a son and brotherand he is good, for we do not know if he was summoned by Wakantanka or sent by an evil force.”
    “Your thoughts and words are wise, Wind Dancer; you have learned well from our teachings and the guidance of the Great Spirit. Still, the question remains: Do we accept him back into our lives and band?”
    “For many suns to come, we must only watch and listen, and wait for the Great Spirit to guide us along the right and safe path,” he advised his father. “Do you not agree, Grandfather?” Wind Dancer asked the shaman, who had remained silent during the serious talk between father and son.
    Nahemana smiled. “You have learned well, my grandson; you are both wise and cunning. It must be as you say.”
    “Go to him, Wise One, and see what you can learn,” the chief urged.
    Nahemana looked at Rising Bear, nodded, and left the tepee.
    Chase took a last swallow of water to finish washing down the roasted venison and bread which War Eagle had brought to him earlier. He screwed the top onto his canteen and put it aside as he watched the shaman heading toward him. He wondered if the old man was displeased or worried about his return and would speak against his remaining there. He knew how revered and trusted the shaman was. Nahemana had great influence over his people’s thoughts and actions, and he had proven many times he was in communion with the Great Spirit. All things which had been revealed to him in dreams and visions had come to pass. So where and how did this powerful and mystical man fit into his destiny?
    Chase greeted him and invited him to come and sit on the log and talk. “Hau, Nahemana. U wo. Cankaga akan yanka. Ia.” As the shaman sat down, he added, “Tanyan yahi yelo. Ake iyuskinyan wancinyankelo,” telling the elderly man he was glad he came and was glad to see him again.
    After remarking that he spoke good Lakota, Nahemana asked, “Taku ca yacin hwo? Takunocin yahipi?”
    He wasted no time getting to the point of what I want here, Chase thought and urged him not to be afraid of his return home. “Kopegla sni yo; wakuyelo.” He continued in their language. “Can you not see or feel what is in my heart, Wise One? You knew what came to me in my dream, so do you not also know I speak the truth?”
    “The Great Spirit put that thought inside my head and those words in my mouth, for I did not know them before they came forth not from my will but from His. He has not shown me what lives within you or the true reason why you have come to us. If you are not Yutokeca Mahpiya and your purpose here is a bad one, you will be punished by Him and the Red Shields.”
    “I am He Who Chases Clouds, Grandfather. But the only clouds I chase are those created by fleeing enemies or game I am pursuing. I do not and will not ride in the dust clouds kicked up by our enemies or an evil spirit.”
    “What help can you, one man, be to my people?”
    “I do not know, Grandfather,” Chase admitted, surprised the older man did not seem to take offense at the name he called him, the same one he had used so long ago as a child. “I hoped you could tell me, Wise One. Will you ask the Great Spirit to reveal such things to you?”
    “My heart asked Him to do so as soon as you spoke your name to us. But He will not answer until He knows the time is right. When He sends His message, be gone if you spoke falsely, or prepare to die.”
    “I hear your warning, Grandfather, but it will not drive me away, for I spoke the truth. Only the Great