He looked around; the darkness was lifting in front of him? How can this be? There’s the sun, it wasn’t night after all? Now he was terrified, and he ran!
Chapter 44
Carol and Barry Adler sat in their Acura, and waited outside the new Estrella Restaurant in ‘Burnswood By the Quay’ that Wednesday. It was the latest in fine dining and recently opened.
“What if they don’t come?” fretted Carol. Her husband had thoughts of his own. Maybe it would be better if they didn’t. It would be a lot less trouble. But that wouldn’t help Rikki and Harry. If it isn’t going to be Richard doing the legal work, it will have to be someone else. Someone really cheap.
“What do you think Rikki should do about that letter she got yesterday, you know, the one from the Xaali’pp band that said she didn’t own the land the cabin was on, and she had to remove the cabin or they would charge her rent? She gave me the letter to show Richard when we see him. I hope he’ll be able to help us. Actually, help Rikki.”
“Don’t get too deep into other peoples troubles;” said Barry, “maybe they’re right. I know she was looking for the Land Title papers last night and her lights were still on when we went to bed.
“I know she had them, do you think that break-in last month has anything to do with this?”
“Never mind, here they come.”
“Hi Milly, hi Ralph, good to see you. Let’s go and get a table. I’ve been watching a lot of folks go in; looks like a popular place.”
“Hi yourself Barry, we had a heck of a time finding this out-of-the-way restaurant. What’s wrong with your road signs out here in the suburbs? Our GPS doesn’t even have this street in its system.”
The men, kidding each other, headed for the restaurant leaving the women to bring up the rear.
“Hi Milly, I don’t know where chivalry went, but it sure doesn’t live in Langley,” complained Carol as they walked behind the men.
“Never mind, I’m planning on having the most expensive steak in the place!” laughed Milly. She knew her husband was a frugal man and it would annoy him no end, but he wouldn’t say anything with company there. He enjoyed playing the tight-fisted husband, the truth was, he was a big softy and she usually got her own way.
Now that their only son finished university and doing so well, there was no need to pinch the pennies so hard. But he still did it, because it amused him.
Their son, on the other hand, lived the high life, and it was okay, he had the job that could pay for it. His success was remarkable for such a young man with so little experience.
Chapter 45
The Hospital in Burnswood was having a bad day.
Seems they couldn’t find a patient. It wasn’t as though they lost him, they just misplaced him.
The Head Nurse had a heated discussion with Dr. Iverson from Admissions. He felt her staff should have been more attentive to the Quiet Man.
Usually, the staff didn’t give nick names to their patients, but this one had no formal name and hadn’t said one word since he was transported by ambulance from the hospital at Hope.
He was no trouble, he just lay there, when they told him to sit up, he did. When they told him to lie down, he did. When they told him to eat, he didn’t.
Good Practice said, if he won’t or can’t eat, hook him up to an IV. So they did. But as soon as they left the room, it was out of his vein and on the floor.
The Head Nurse wanted to get Mrs. McKinnon in again to see if she had any ideas about how to treat their patient. If he was her husband, she should know why he was reacting this way.
Dr. Iverson, remembering her collapse at his feet, wasn’t that sure it was a good idea. Mrs. McKinnon was very fragile.
But he knew they had to do something, but the first thing was... find him!
Chapter 46
Bill Majors sat at his desk in Carling, trying to read the small print on the forms in front of him. Try as he might, none of it made any sense. It seemed to be talking in circles. To much lawyer babble, he thought.
He put the papers down and looked out his window.
Now what?
Chief George of the Xaali’pp band was standing in the parking lot looking towards the building.
A lot had changed in the last seven years; Chief George was Chief in name only. All the power seemed to rest with the shaman called Archie J. or Running Wolf, and he had broadened his base of influence to include many of the neighboring bands.
Once the self-styled uprising in Merriweather and Carling was deflated by the expanded RCMP presence loaned to them by Headquarters, the Indians became peaceful, passive... almost meek.
In the Sergeants’ experience, this was never a good sign. Now, watching the old Chief walk across the parking lot, he knew there was trouble again.
“Hi Chief,” Bill Majors said greeting him, as he opened his office door and offered him a chair. The old man sat down and sighed. It had finally come to this. What would The People say if they knew their Chief went to the RCMP for help?
Chief George knew in his heart, he should have confided in Sergeant Majors sooner; when it was just a small irritation, now it was a huge problem of enormous proportions.
And... worst of all, it was all his own fault.
Sergeant Majors listened to the story the Chief of the Xaali’pp band was telling him. The hair on the back of his neck started to rise when he got to the part where he spoke of the ‘tame’ white man, the medicine man Running Wolf, kept.
He was about to interrupt when the Chief stopped talking and looked at the floor.
It was going to get worse?
The truth dawned, and the Sergeant knew.
The man that passed out in the cafe last week really was Jack McKinnon.
The Mountie looked at the forlorn old man sitting on the other side of his desk, and didn’t know what to say. Questions and more questions popped into his mind. The biggest one being, how could this man who was supposed to be the leader of his band, allow this to happen.
He also knew what brought it all to a climax!
Money!
Money in the form of a gaming casino!
The failed uprising seven years ago was still a sore point with the medicine man. But he regrouped when the band was offered concessions from the Provincial Government for the use of the ancient burial grounds at the head of Andover Lake.
Rather than just concessions, Running Wolf wanted more. He was telling everyone he was going to build the End Destination Casino and Hotel himself. Now he would have money as well as prestige in the White Man’s world.
“Just a moment here,” Sergeant Majors said, “Indians don’t own or run casinos in Canada in 1999. Just what does Running Wolf think he’s going to do, change the law?”
“Yes. Now he’s got a ‘tame’ lawyer, and he’s really smart. He’s making the company he works for so much money they let him do anything he wants, actually, anything Running Wolf wants.”
“What’s this lawyer’s name?”
“Richard Kullman.”
Chapter 47
“Hi mom, Hi dad,” said Richard Kullman, “what brings you all the way to downtown Vancouver? I’m coming to dinner on Friday, what’s so important that it couldn’t wait?”
“Well, son, do you remember our old friends from Langley? The Adler’s? And that first case you almost had? You went up to Carling with them. It fizzled out; I remember you were disappointed, you thought it was going to be the legal case of the year. Well, things have come up again and they need some advice. We thought when you come over for dinner Friday we could ask the Adler’s over too and you could talk to them. I’m sure you could give them some direction. I know they don’t have enough money for a big legal bill.
“What do you say?”
“Sure, dad, I look forward to seeing them. I’m still interested in the problem Mrs. McKinnon had. I remember it was the first day home after I graduated from university in Victoria and we went over to their
place. What a problem that never was! Anyway, I’m busy now, so I’ll see you Friday. Looking forward to some lemon pie, mom,” Richard Kullman said as he ushered his folks out the door.
Chapter 48
Bill Majors processed the new information Chief George offered with a sinking feeling in his stomach.
“You’re in luck,” he said; new resolve taking hold, “I know someone who can help us. But we have to hurry, we don’t have much time.”
Bill and the Chief got into the RCMP cruiser and headed for Highway 97 and Vancouver. There was a three-car accident in Manning Park and traffic piled up.
It was after 4:00 o’clock when they finally made the University of BC, Endowment lands, and the Sergeant was afraid they were too late. Better go check anyway, he thought, and was pleased he remembered the way. It was only a few minutes later and they were at the big glass and steel building. Bill Majors parked and they entered in time to see a short, blond, rotund man coming out of the elevator.
“Dr. Little Bow, do you remember me, Sergeant Bill Majors, Carling RCMP? I brought a man to you several years ago for help; we went to see your grandfather?”
Edmund Little Bow looked the RCMP Sergeant over and nodded his head, “How could I forget you, Bill?” as he shook hands all around.
“You’re Chief George, you know my grandfather,” he said to the other man standing there. “What can I do for you?”
Chief George blinked when he saw who Bill Majors was talking to, it was bad enough he had to deal with Running Wolf, but now he knew there’d be real trouble. Talk about bringing out ‘the Big Guns’, you didn’t get much bigger or influential in the ‘Indian Family’ than the Little Bow clan.
The professor looked from man to man, turned to the elevator and pushed the ‘UP’ button.
Knowing what was going on, he’d been waiting for this visit.
Chapter 49
The following week, Rikki and Harry were in the back seat of the Adler’s Acura. They were on their way to Merriweather to meet everyone and plan what to do next.
Rikki thought about the phone call from the hospital in Burnswood. It was terrible news. She ran over the events of the past week and wondered if there was anything she should have done differently. Maybe she should have gone to the hospital more. But the nurses said her visits were making their patient anxious. After she left, he would squirm, and once he fell out of bed. The last time she was there, when she left it was even worse. That was when they said, don’t come until we call. He has to wake up, or regain his senses, they didn’t care which.
She was anxious, shifting in her seat, and squirming until Harry asked if she was all right?
No! She wasn’t all right! How could she tell him, and everyone else, Jack disappeared... again!
The call from the hospital wanted to know if he went home?
What was wrong with those nurses that they couldn’t hang on to Jack McKinnon? How could she tell everyone, especially Harry that his dad was gone.
In the end, she thought, might as well get it over with and sat up straight, “Barry, Carol, Harry, I have some new news. I couldn’t tell you sooner, I didn’t know about it until early this morning, just before we left.
“Grace Hospital has lost your dad again, Harry. He’s gone and they don’t know where, and they’re not sure when. I don’t think I can stand this. What’s wrong with them... wasn’t anyone watching?”
The trip continued with everyone lost in their own thoughts. How could this continue to happen? Were they no further ahead than seven years ago?
Rikki knew the media would find out about his disappearance, and the police up and down the Fraser River would look for him. But it didn’t help last time, why would it help now?
* * * *
Everyone was gathered around the table in ‘Betty’s’ cafe. They were all on time and prepared.
Bill Majors was chairing the meeting and harrumphed, all eyes turned to him.
He started the meeting by welcoming everyone and reminding them to not all talk at the same time. He told Rikki to start. She couldn’t bring herself to tell the latest news. So she spoke of not finding the deed to the property on Andover Lake, but remembered vividly when Jack paid it off, and the dinner they had to celebrate.
Next came Carol and Barry Adler, they reviewed their conversation with the Kullmans and said they were going to dinner at Milly and Ralph’s home this Friday and there would be more news as Richard would be there too. Barry said it was good to have a lawyer on their side. They too didn’t want to tell Jack was gone again, it was up to Rikki to mention it, and she didn’t look ready.
Sergeant Bill Majors said he better go next as he had bad news. Everyone looked at him. He began by giving a shortened version of seven years ago when the Xaali’pp band got a new medicine man. He also covered Jack McKinnon’s disappearance at the same time, and brought everyone up-to-date with the information about the new casino from Chief George.
‘Betty’ interrupted and told of his experience when he tried to go up to the McKinnon cabin. He described the weather that came up and the cabin with the hanging door and the train tracks, and his walk back to Merriweather. But he didn’t say anything about the upside down ‘soul catcher’.
Rikki put her hand up again, and all eyes turned to her. “I’ve some more news that you need to hear,” she said, “I can’t stand this! Grace Hospital called early this morning to let me know they lost Jack again. They looked everywhere, and wanted to know if he came home. I told them, no.”
“Okay everyone, this is terrible,” Bill Majors said, “we have to figure out what to do next, and told them who the lawyer the Indians had that was doing such a good job of changing the law.
Every jaw at the table dropped! How could such a nice kid as Richard Kullman be doing this? And him so young and inexperienced?
“Never mind,” said the Sergeant, “we have some extra help too. I’m sure I’ll have some better information for the next meeting.”
There was an uneasy silence in the car on the way home as Barry kept his eyes on the road back to Langley and tried to think how this information was going to affect what was going on.
Harry closed his eyes and everything he read on line the last few days came back. He was older now and learning a lot on his new computer, especially about the internet. There was a lot to read on Canadian Indian history and specifically the Xaali’pp band.
He knew First Nations were coming into the 20th century and life was changing fast. Aboriginal Peoples were in every aspect of Canadian life now with doctors, lawyers, and politicians, the list went on.
What Harry didn’t find, was much on the West Coast Indian medicine man, or shaman. What he did find was conflicting stories, some information said they were evil, some said not.
He had questions, but they were different from the ones plaguing his mother and her friends. He knew there was an answer to all this, they just had to keep looking.
Chapter 50
The next evening Bill Majors was sitting in his police car, waiting for the short overweight professor from UBC. Arrangements were to meet at the Esso station just outside Carling around 8:00 pm.
While he waited, he made a mental note to remind himself about lunch with Rikki and everyone else.
He also checked his other paper list, he had a variety of things he wanted cleared up and knew the old man knew most of the answers. The incident from seven years ago came unbidden to his mind, and he saw once again the tall Indian brave with the black hair and the hunting bow across his back. And he knew whether you were tall or short, white or Indian, it’s what’s inside that counted.
A new black Volvo pulled into the parking slot beside him. Two men got out and stood in the parking lot. The old man had an uneasy look on his face, and continually touched the medicine bag hanging from his neck.
“Hello, Mr. Little Bow, Edmund,” said Bill Majors, “thank you for coming,” and turned to lead the way to the local cafe in
the next block, but when he looked back, they were still standing by their car.
He walked back and said, “I’m sorry, I understood we would have coffee and talk.”
“Young man, I’m too old for this. This place is not good. Follow me.”
With that, he got back in the car. Edmund quickly motioned the Sergeant out of earshot.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with him,” said Edmund Little Bow, “he’s been anxious ever since I picked him up, and that makes me very nervous. He said we were going down to the bend in the river; you know where that is, park by the tall fir trees. Try to look like you’re not going with us. Go the other way and double back.”
What kind of shit is this, thought Bill Majors? Why shouldn’t I talk to them? I’m the law around here, who should I be afraid of?
But because he wanted the old man to give some answers, he did as asked.
When he pulled on to the sandy river bank and parked, he saw the other car. There was only the young man in it now. Where was the old one? Then he saw him on the other side of the car, closer to the river.
He had a small fire going.
The Mountie walked up to the car, the professor inside didn’t see him, he was chanting and shaking an old, old rattle.
Bill Majors realized he wasn’t going to catch his eye so he went over to the old man.
“Hello again, sir,” he said to Edmund’s grandfather, “nice fire.”
“Young man, nice doesn’t cover it. This fire will tell you all you need to know. Bring that log end over here,” he said, “I’m too old to sit on damp sand anymore.”
Grandfather sat down and drew three small, smooth, very white stones from the Medicine Bag around his neck. He began to chant and placed them on the wet sand by his feet.
The professor got out of the car and stood waiting. The old man, still tending the fire, nodded to him and told both of them where to sit.
Now they formed a triangle, the old man sat in the north, the other two at equal distance, the fire in the middle, the stones beside the old man.
As the old Shaman sat and stared into the fire, evening crept in and sat with them. The stars began to appear and a full moon the white man called Harvest, pulled itself up over the watching mountain. Yellow light bathed the three men below, but they were not aware.
Business people were moving around in the fire, but the talk wasn’t clear. The old man chose a particular black root from his medicine bag and threw it into the centre of the fire, it flared and sparks flew skyward.