Chapter XI
The Hidatsa
Grey Wolf stood unflinching, the bow string in his hand as taut as it could be. Humming Bird, who stood apart, braced herself, staring deep into the eyes of the Wolf who unwaveringly gazed back.
Suddenly the Wolf leapt forward; Grey Wolf let loose the arrow but to no avail as the wolf caught it in flight and snapped it between sharp ravenous jaws. The creature had landed between them. Its mouth rippled savagely by the deep guttural snarl that emanated from it. Long Tooth was about to pounce when there was a loud shrill whistle. One of the first people stood high on the fallen tree, a broad looking man, long feather garlanded hair flowed down his back, and his dark eyes peered suspiciously at the strangers. He was an imposing figure in his decorated buckskin tunic, breechcloth, and leggings that covered light moccasins.
“I am Hunting Bear,” said the man. “All that you see beyond the river is the land of the Hidatsa. Why are you here?”
“We need to pass through your lands to reach the Dakota,” replied Grey Wolf. “The Hopi have gone there and they are our friends.”
“How do I know you are friends of the Hopi?” said Hunting Bear.
“We are also friends of the Sky People - they have sent us to find the Hopi,” said Humming Bird.
“The Sky People,” cried Hunting Bear, “Black Buffalo said to watch out for two warriors who will come in the name of the Old Ones, a woman and a man. You will not find the Hopi with the Dakota nor will you find the Dakota in their ancestral lands. The Shadow People came upon them and took many of them away. They sought sanctuary with the Hidatsa. I will lead you to a safe place but we need to leave immediately - the enemy has spies to see us and scouts to track us so we must tread carefully. Long Tooth, let them be.”
Hunting Bear gave out another shrill whistle and the large wolf stepped aside and with a mighty leap disappeared within the vast forest.
Humming Bird and Grey Wolf, relieved that their encounter with the beast had not ended in either of them being eaten, jumped up onto the trunk; its dome husk, rotten from the inside, wavered slightly before calming, and ignoring the formal greetings of their people they hurriedly crossed to the other side of the river.
“Can you tell us what happened?” asked Humming Bird.
“The eyes and ears of the enemy are everywhere,” said Hunting Bear, who by his guarded expression looked like he suspected the forest of some evil design, “and this is not the place to talk. Especially since there are signs that a Manitou with a dark nature walks these lands, it can take any shape, be anything.”
They all fell silent as Hunting Bear led them towards a large rocky promontory that stared out over the prairie. It was surrounded by a wooded area that straddled it like the mane of a horse; to the Hidatsa it was called Ancient Rock. It was the herald of what the first people called the Black Hills. As they entered beneath the trees Hunting Bear had one last look back to see if they had been followed or indeed spied upon.
“Tell us,” whispered Grey Wolf, “what were you doing at the Missouri?”
“I have been following the Shadow People for some time until I was sure they were moving away from our lands,” replied Hunting Bear, “I was on my way back when I picked up your trail, and sought you out just in case you were spies of the enemy.”
“How did you know,” asked Humming Bird, “that we weren’t?”
“As I have said your coming was foretold, but still I was not sure until you mentioned the Sky People,” said Hunting Bear. “I thought also you might not be the enemy as Long Tooth did not attack you right away, you see you do not feel or smell like the Shadow People. If you had you would not be here now; you must understand the safety of my people comes first.”
They kept moving deeper within the undergrowth, the path they followed was well hidden and unburdened by tangled knotted bush or thorny nettle, and only one who knew the wood could have found their way to what was a small cove at the base of a place called Ancient Rock. Hunting Bear stopped a moment; he tilted his head as if listening to the quiet; as though it told its own story, after what felt like an age he motioned them forward.
“See that opening?” said Hunting Bear, “We are now very close to my home.”
Only as they entered the cave did they see how vast it was; stalactites hung from the ceiling like some petrified upturned forest. The floor was earthen and cool with protruding rocks that were so tall they gave the impression that guards stood watch. Hunting Bear approached the back of the cave and picking up a rock from the floor struck the wall three times with it. Humming Bird gave Grey Wolf a quick glance - this was something they had not expected, neither did they expect what happened next as there was a hollow rumbling sound, and a small part of the cave wall gave way, revealing a thin access point that led off into the dark. Hesitantly Humming Bird and Grey Wolf took a deep breath and followed Hunting Bear as they accessed the close unforgiving passage way. They twisted and turned in the deep dark, only knowing where they were going by the shuffling of the one who led them; and just when the darkness was becoming unbearable a light came into view; not a blinding stream but more a shallow soft shaft that dispelled their apprehension of the void they had entered.
There were two Hidatsa waiting to greet them, both were tall and broad of shoulder, their torches like burnt offerings were raised above their heads, so as to see more clearly who had arrived. One ushered them through what was a tight fitting tunnel entrance, while the other placed his torch to rest within a hole in the wall, by the side of which ran a chain. He then hauled upon it, shutting out the world they had just come from.
“This is where my people come when days are troubled,” said Hunting Bear following on at the rear. “Our legends tell that these tunnels were built by the Sky People to protect us. There are many places to rest in, where we can gather for council meetings, and where our ancestors lie. They run far beneath the ground with holes leading up to the surface for air.”
“Where are you taking us?” asked Humming Bird.
“To meet Black Buffalo; he is a wise man among my people,” replied Hunting Bear, “he knows more about the shadow people and the Old Ones than any I know. He is in council at this very moment that is why we must hurry.”
They ran along the gradually broadening tunnel until they came to its end, where there were three openings. The Hidatsa brave took a torch from the wall lit it and handing it to Hunting Bear waved them forward as to the tunnel they were to take, and quietly hurried back to his kin.
“It is not far now,” said Hunting Bear as he took the lead.
The catacombs were so smooth it was no wonder thought Grey Wolf that it was believed that the Sky People had crafted them. His eyes could barely keep up with the almost mystical sight that befell him as the tunnels branched off in many directions. Torches lit their way and soon barren walls gave way to scenes from life above ground. There was a depiction of a hunt of wild boar and elk. On one entire wall buffalo could be seen wandering the plains; the herd was so great that they were surrounded by what must have been a dust bowl. Also there were pictures of large strange looking cats that had great half curved spears coming out of their mouths. But the strangest picture was the one at the tunnels end; it was one of the first people kneeling before someone or something that hovered just above them in what appeared to be a cloud with wings. As Grey Wolf looked closely at the picture a small rat like creature came scuttling through the tunnel at him; Humming Bird instinctively jumped to one side, while Grey Wolf let the odd little creature run between his legs so it could make its escape; it was followed by a small boy who was calling out its name. The two quickly disappeared down one of the side tunnels.
They moved on deeper and deeper until they felt a rush of wind. Humming Bird gasped as they had entered a large cavern that had been hollowed out of the mountain and was lit by a thousand vibrant torches. In the shadowed light they could see strange shapes running unguarded along recessed walls that held thriving family clusters,
and above a smooth pitted ceiling glowed to reflect the balance of the fires beneath. To the far end was a large pyramid structure with steps running up its centre, the top strangely softly shimmered with a haunting light. The air was filled with the sound of rain fall, and yet no rain could be felt, it was the low murmuring chatter of those that dwelt in the shadow.
Hunting Bear led them down a long path to the foot of the pyramid. The ground was well trodden and smooth, and the murmuring got louder the further they went into the cavern. Grey Wolf wondered at what type of people could have built such a mighty thing if not the Sky People.
“You will find,” said Hunting Bear, “what you are looking for up there.” The flame of his torch came alive as he waved it in front of him.
Grey Wolf’s eyes glistened in the shadowy light as Humming Bird gently brushed past him and began to climb the long stair to the summit. Grey Wolf stared after her for a moment; perhaps some feeling of unease had made him hesitate, but with a shake of his head as if clearing away a cobweb of the mind he quickly followed after her.
The steps disappeared into the dark and yet in the distance there was an eerie glow that became more vivid the closer they got, it was as though they were moths being drawn to the flame of a candle.
“Humming Bird,” said Grey Wolf, “I have no art in such council meetings – you are a Shaman. Will you speak for our peoples?”
“I will,” said Humming Bird, “but I feel there might be a surprise waiting for us when we reach the top. You heard Hunting Bear, the Hidatsa fought with the Shadow people and yet they live; look around us. There is some great power here. It is as if the Old Ones have returned; I think the Hidatsa are ancient even among the first people. And as for this place it is as though we have walked into the vision realm.”
“I understand what you mean,” replied Grey Wolf, “but if the Sky People built this place as a sanctuary, which only by seeing it do I believe that it is real, then that must mean the Hidatsa must have been chosen for some purpose as yet unknown.”
“It is not for us,” said Humming Bird, “to question the Sky People. They are the highest of spirits.”
“So,” replied Grey Wolf sadly, “are those that we war against.”
There was now a long silence; their ascent only punctuated by slow footfalls, the sound of distant murmuring and the many small insects that buzzed around them as if they were seeking reassuring company in the shadowed light. As they reached the top Grey Wolf gasped with amazement. Sitting round the fire was Eagle Feather and Black Elk of the Hopi, they were smoking the sacred pipe with the Hidatsa. Black Elk, unsurprised by their sudden appearance, motioned for them to be seated round the fire; its flames gave off a soft light as Eagle Feather who had waited for the new arrivals to settle continued with what he had been saying.
“The Shadow people,” said Eagle Feather, “have like locusts devoured all before them. Most First People have had to flee from their old lands. We are now hiding in the caverns of the ancient ones. White Eagle of the Hidatsa has been very kind to us but we cannot go on hiding forever.”
“The Hidatsa,” replied White Eagle, “do not call this hiding, we have in the past when threatened come to this place where we have a connection to the earth and can practice strong medicine. We have a Sage of great power who understands more than any I have met the workings of Great Spirit.”
“You cannot remain here,” cried Grey Wolf already impatient from his long travels, “the Shadow people are heading west toward the Ute. We passed them on the plains. We must take the path and head down the Missouri and warn the Ute. We may be all that’s left to help them; some days ago the Sky People fought with the Wendigo in the Great Forest, they had help from the Longfoot but we as yet do not know their fate.”
“The Longfoot,” said White Eagle, “the Wendigo and the Dark Spirit of the Manitou; it is no wonder that the Sky People are here.”
“The Sky People are here for a Codex that is of value to Great Spirit,” replied Humming Bird slowly, “It is in the keep of the Ute, the Enemies of the Sky People we believe are also here for such a reason; that is why there is war, and their enemy is our enemy.”
“A Codex - what is that?” asked Black Elk.
“I was once told in a Vision Quest by my ancestors to remain vigilant for such things. Before the First People came to Turtle Island and long before the many Nations of our peoples came to be, there were the Blessed Codexes and the Sacred Seals; they are mighty Manitou, and that is why they are so important,” replied Black Buffalo.
There was a hushed silence as Humming Bird began again, “This is why we must fight. Our ancestors would have done the same. This is not a battle for just one nation but for all nations: this is a war to safeguard the future of all our brothers and sisters wherever they may be. This war does not just concern the Hopi or the Hidatsa or the Pawnee but all the first peoples, even the ones that are under the sway of the Dark Manitou. The ones we call the Shadow People. And those same Shadow people that passed you by when you sought sanctuary deep beneath the ground, did so not because you were strong but because they have more than enough people for their task, which is the conquest of the Ute. And do not believe that they are gone for good, they will be back, and when they come all the nations that stood against them will be burnt to ash. The Grey Beards wish to destroy all memory of us and our way of life. For now they will attack the Ute in the Great Basin and without our help - even maybe with our help they will succeed. But help we must. By night we must use trails that they are unwilling to take, so that we reach the Ute before our enemy. They look upon us the way we look upon those that speak like serpents. They will break treaties with us - and why? Because they prey upon things that are very sacred to Great Spirit. I have seen this done with my own eyes. Now you can sit in your holes deep in the earth and watch your people slowly die and fade into memory, and in years to come, those that are no more than slaves will ask why the free nations of Turtle Island, when they were called upon, did nothing and instead sat idly by and watched while their world died all around them. And our children’s children will ask why, when they had the chance, did they not stand together against the shadow that had risen?”
When Humming Bird had ceased, the silence was only broken by the crackle of burning embers. Black Buffalo, who sat opposite Humming Bird, held the sacred pipe, his powerful silhouetted form glowed in the fire light as he inhaled, and breathed out a long stream of smoke. All watched it spiral into the air as it disappeared off into the dark.
“We rest tonight,” said Black Buffalo slowly. “Tomorrow we leave for the great basin, and to war.”
“There are tunnels,” declared White Eagle, “that we can take, they will lead us to where the water falls from a great height. From there we can take the long river that leads to the flatlands, and trek across the long grasses to the Great Basin. We shall send scouts ahead to make sure the way is clear - they will warn us of any danger that approaches.”
“I have here,” uttered Black Buffalo slowly, “in this home of our ancestors, a way to contact the Sky People; I can reach them wherever they are on Turtle Island. It was the Sky People, after all, that taught us how to go on a Vision Quest. It is why they call us the Spirit People; they showed us that everything has its own spirit, and is connected to everything else, even the mountains that to us seem ageless are alive as the world around us is alive and have their own Manitou. The Hopi already told us of the arrival of the Sky People before you came and we have waited here expecting them to come to us, since they have great wisdom we hoped to receive their council and now you’ve brought news that they may have been lost in this war. We must find out what has happened to them, so I will try to contact them and see if the path we are following is the right one.”
“Well,” cried Grey Wolf, “you had better be quick - there is no time to waste.”
Black Buffalo who appeared ageless though there was a streak of grey in his dark hair, “I see your heart is heavy. You have lost much a
lready, I will be as quick as the Great Spirit allows.”
In turn all the members of the council retired until the only ones remaining were Humming Bird, Grey Wolf, Black Buffalo and White Eagle, who pensively watched the new comers.
“Well,” said White Eagle softly, “you still have many questions that you wish answered.”
“Yes” replied Grey Wolf, “the Hidatsa have great power, you are wise among the First People and even the Hopi come to you for guidance. How is it you have such power?”
“There is a legend among us,” said White Eagle, “that the Sky People came to us before all others. They taught us much that we have forgotten, but also other things that are well remembered; the Vision Quest, the Medicine pouch and its purpose, the sacred pipe, the sweat lodge, the Dream Catcher, and more besides. All this was done when there was great hardship for our people. It was at that time as was told by our ancestors that they built these dwellings of stone beneath the ground, and only when it was once more safe to go out of this place, did they tell us to leave, and ever since, in times of trouble, our people have sought refuge here in the catacombs of the Sky People. As soon as the Shadow people came we thought they were a portent of hardships to come and felt that the Sky People would once more walk among us.”
“Your beliefs are strong,” replied Grey Wolf, “I did not realise who the Sky People were even when I first met them; we have a different name for them. To us they are High Spirits, those of the twilight that come in our dreams to help guide us. It is just…” Grey Wolf’s voice faltered.
“You mean,” said White Eagle, “why did they let your people suffer? This war is not over and even though they were not here at its beginning, I feel they will be here at its end.”
“There are many foes to face: one nation I came upon in my vision quest is called the Mages,” murmurred Humming Bird, “they are a powerful and warlike tribe.”
“The Mages?” repeated Black Buffalo as his teeth ground together.
“They are terrible and great,” responded Humming Bird.
Black Buffalo stared distantly into the flames. “These are dark times indeed if the Mages are here. They are serpents of a different kind, we have a saying - you will only know the Mages after they have struck, so cunning are they. Let us hope that the Vision realm is where you left them.”
“The Sky people believe they may also be here with the one called Lothos and someone who is also an Old One by the name of Malachi,” replied Humming Bird hesitantly, “and there is one that might be here but they are unsure whether he is. He is a powerful Manitou who has the name of Moloch.”
“You have not listened or understood them when they spoke of this Moloch,” said Black Buffalo, “He is no Manitou as we see them - in fact he is not a spirit like any other, he is the great father of the Mages. Once long ago in a Vision Quest I was told that when the father of the Mages came it would mean my time on Turtle Island would end.”
Humming Bird stared at Black Buffalo, mouth half opened as if to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Grey Wolf first looked at White Eagle and then back at Black Buffalo. Both sat impassively as if the statement he had just voiced meant nothing. Black Buffalo removed a branch from the fire to use as a torch, rose and disappeared down into a sharp slope and was lost in the heart of the pyramid.
White Eagle saw Grey Wolf’s eyes narrow as Black Buffalo departed. “He will try now to contact the Sky People. While he does we should prepare ourselves for the journey ahead. I will show you where you are to rest. Eat something and when the time comes I will send for you.”
“The Hidatsa have been very good to us,” said Humming Bird, “I hope we can return their kindness someday.”
White Eagle gazed at her with a smile, “You know, so do I,” he repeated the words softly as if to himself, “So do I.”