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Escape From Manitou Island: Part 145 |
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(DISCLAIMER: This part, and all parts hereafter, are works in progress (WIPs) and have not been proofread or checked for plot inconsistencies. I've decided to present them "as is" for now, as there is a significant amount of unfinished material; yet this story has been on hiatus for a long while, I've forgotten certain details, and I have no plans to resume work on it any time soon. Please keep in mind while reading that details may change in the future. Should you spot an inconsistency, however, please feel free to point it out to me for possible correction.)
GOING WENDIGO PACING ALONG THE edge of the frozen lake got to be tiring for Manabozho after a while, and he was at last forced to sit down, first digging a small spot out for himself as he didn't want to get too wet. He huddled here and stared silently at the cracked ice until his eyes hurt. The wind picked up now and then, making them sting, but he made sure to blink them now and then so they wouldn't tear up. This feels too familiar... His mind drifted back to when Wendigoes had invaded the Fairy Realm, now so long ago. He, his brothers, Charmian, Moon Wolf, Niskigwun, and Marten had been traveling along the river when Shadow Wolves had overtaken them...and Wabasso had gone plunging down into the river with one, and had not come back up to the surface. Although he'd come back for a short time, as Chibiabos, he'd had to return again, to the place halfway between the Spirit Land and the land of the living, as he had no place in either, having walked the Spirit Road once already. Manabozho tried not to be bitter about this, although his heart still ached now and then; he and Wabasso had always been closest out of the four of his living siblings. It had hardly seemed fair to lose him again so soon after their reunion. Sitting here in the snow, staring out at the ice and hoping to see something soon, reminded him of this too much, and he rubbed at his eyes even though they weren't leaking yet. He scowled to himself; just sitting here wasn't getting anything done. He got up and commenced pacing again, even though his feet were starting to hurt and he really wanted to go back into the wigwam and warm up a little. He grew more peeved as he thought of this, and more determined not to go back in, as that would be admitting that he was cold and tired, and manitous weren't supposed to get cold and tired. He paced even faster now, until he was nearly jogging back and forth, wearing a wide groove into the snowbank. The ice began cracking again, and copper horns broke through the surface. Mishupishu reared his head, shaking chunks of ice from his forehead and snout and blinking the water from his eyes. Manabozho halted, then went stumbling and wallowing down toward the shore. "Well--?" he called, and the Lynx actually jumped a little, not having expected him to be there. "Did you find him?" Manabozho asked, and waved his arms when Mishupishu merely furrowed his brow. "MY WOLF! Did you FIND him?" The Lynx blinked, seeming confused, then his spines lowered a bit. "Oh," he said, and lowered his head; Manabozho's hopes began to sink. "I looked all over," Mishupishu said. "I scoured the entire lakebottom! There's no sign of a wolf anywhere." "What...?" Manabozho stared at him for a moment, then took a step closer. "But...even if he...he has to be down there somewhere! What about the manitou--?" "I spotted him lying near the far side of the lake." Mishupishu gestured with one spine. "He won't be moving again any time soon! But the wolf...I can't see him anywhere. It's...it's as if he's disappeared or something." Manabozho clenched his fists and leapt out into the broken ice lining the shore. He stormed across that which was still intact, halting dangerously close to the opening that Mishupishu had broken and clenching his fists. "What do you MEAN you can't see him anywhere?" he yelled, making the Lynx duck his head meekly. "He HAS to be down there if the manitou still is! Use your head! There's all sorts of mud and stuff on the bottom--dig through it if you have to!" "I did," Mishupishu said in a small voice. "I rooted through the entire lakebottom, all over, just in case. I turned over all the logs I could find--" "You should've looked INSIDE them!" Manabozho shouted. Mishupishu sank even further. "I did," he said, his voice now tiny. And as if to prove his point, he snorted, and mud splattered out of his nostrils. "I'm sorry...but I looked around as much as I could, and I can't find him anywhere." Manabozho pulled on his feathers and let out a frustrated noise, then thrust his arm out toward the opening in the water so that Mishupishu flinched back. "Then I'll drain the entire LAKE if I have to!" he threatened, a blue glow surrounding him. Mishupishu gasped and stuck his head out further. "Oh! Manabozho! Don't do that! I swear I looked everywhere! And the lake will just fill right back up again! I'll look for him even further, if I have to!" He turned and got ready to plunge underwater again. "I can look in those tunnels--" "What?" Manabozho exclaimed, then let out a breath, the glow fading away. "What tunnels?" he demanded when Mishupishu peered back at him. "What do you mean by tunnels?" he asked again, forcing his voice to come out more level, as it looked like the Lynx was ready to start bawling if he kept yelling. Mishupishu bit his lip, then turned back around and lowered his head so they were eye to eye. "Well--the other tunnels leading into the lake," he said, and hastened to explain when Manabozho began to scowl. "There are a few of them," he said. "Most were caved in...but I think one or two are still working. I could feel the water moving in and out of them...maybe he drifted into one of them...?" "On his own--?" Manabozho's brow furrowed. "If the manitou is still down there, then how could my wolf have drifted away? Why didn't the current take both of them?" Mishupishu lifted a spine. "I don't know...but it's the only thing I could think of." He looked perplexed. "Wolves don't just disappear!" Manabozho opened his mouth, then a noise made him turn his head. Mishupishu looked as well. Until now, Thomas had been pacing continuously outside of the lodge, oblivious to the snow and wind; now, however, he was standing stock still and staring northward as if he'd seen something. The other two stared at him for a moment until he took off running like a fox after a rabbit, his feet flying impossibly fast over the drifts. Mishupishu's eyes went wide. "Where could he be going in such a hurry--?" he inquired. "I don't know," Manabozho said, frowning. "But something about it doesn't feel right." He turned to the shore and began picking his way back. "Take another look at those tunnels," he called over his shoulder. "But don't go leaving just yet! This entire thing feels all wrong." Mishupishu nodded. "I'll be right nearby if I'm needed!" And he plunged back beneath the water. Manabozho struggled to make his way back up toward the lodge, keeping his eyes on Thomas as he went. He couldn't believe how fast a mere human could run, especially when the snow was giving even him problems. He thought he heard him shout something as he went, and stopped to listen; his confusion grew when he thought it sounded like he was calling out Charmian's name. But when he tried sensing her nearby, he couldn't feel her at all. Why would he be calling for her when she's not even here...? He bit his lip, then grumbled to himself about the disobedience of humans, and made his way to the lodge entryway and flung up the pine bough. Where there had been an untouched drift of snow not too long ago, there was now a deep rut worn through with Thomas's tracks. He walked back and forth, even though he hated pacing, since it was such a mindless pastime. At any other time--say, if Charmian had still been with them--he would have much preferred sitting in the lodge, helping to go over their next plan. But for some reason the wigwam felt constricting, and the company of everyone else was beginning to wear on him. If Charmian were around, he wouldn't be so irritable. He lifted a hand to chew uneasily on his thumbnail. Would I...? Why am I feeling like this? Even back on the river, I didn't feel this...asocial... He hated feeling so irritated. Mani had said that Charmian must be all right, and she'd even gone wandering into enemy territory and had come out with a canoeful of friends. Why was this any different? Sure, he was right to be worried, but there was no point in taking it out on the others. He rubbed at his head and wished that the wind would pick up a little, as he couldn't seem to shake off the stuffiness of the wigwam. Even being in the same room as that fire made him feel queasy and squirmy. "I must've been traveling too long," he murmured, barely able to hear himself when the wind whistled around him. "It's just like Charmian would say, there's no place like the Island." Charmian... Where are you...? He lifted his head now to stare northward, toward the trees. He had no reason to believe that she'd gone that way as opposed to another way, but it was the only thing he could think of. How could somebody disappear so fast? "How can you not want to come back?" he asked aloud, brow furrowing. "Don't you know how worried you're making everybody now?" The wind rose to a growl and whipped snow against him. He squinted and brushed at his hair, which flew in his eyes. The blizzard rendered the distant trees invisible for a moment, and he lowered his hand to press it to his chest. My heart hurts... He stood watching the snow as it began to lessen a bit, the trees fading back into view. Then his eyes widened when he saw something else standing out in the snow. The wind whipped around it, and at first he thought it was just a tree stump that he hadn't noticed before; but when it turned around and faced him, his eyes grew even more, and all of his breath left him. Ch...Charmian...? He blinked, once, twice, but she didn't disappear. She stood some distance away in a drift of her own, the snow piling up around her ankles, her hair whipping in every direction. She lifted a hand to brush it from her eyes and stared back at him, seeming almost surprised to see him there. Her mouth opened and she said something, but he couldn't hear it. His own mouth moved but he couldn't think of what to say. "Charmian...?" he murmured tentatively after a moment; then, as if his senses suddenly came back to him, he bolted straight for her, shouting as loudly as he could. "Charmian!" Why is she just STANDING there--? What's wrong with her--? "Charmian!" he shouted again as he drew near, but when he reached where he could have sworn she was, she was no longer there. He could still see her, though, her figure fading as the blizzard grew heavier, playing tricks on his eyes; he picked up his pace, but couldn't seem to get closer no matter how hard he tried. He never saw her running away from him. She just kept mouthing something at him, as if she'd lost her voice. "Charmian?" he shouted a third time, and put a hand to his mouth, stumbling in the snow. "Does Mishosha have you--? CHARMIAN! Stay put!" She just moved her mouth, speaking mutely. Thomas's lungs felt like they were burning. It has to be Mishosha! he thought feverishly. He has to have her and she's sending me a signal! No wonder she can't speak, if he's got her captive! I'm the only one who's seen her--I have to set her free! He lifted his head to yell at her fading image. "Charmian! Hold on! I'm coming!!" She said something again, then began to fade even more. Thomas didn't care. He kept running as fast as he could, even though he barely had any breath left and his legs were throbbing. He stumbled and nearly fell, but only once; then put on a fresh burst of speed, determined to follow her no matter how long it took. Francois, Moon Wolf, and several of the others crowded into the wigwam's entryway. Their eyes went wide and their mouths fell open when they saw Thomas dashing off through the snow, racing toward the distant trees. He'd apparently just set off, according to what Manabozho had said, but already he was so far away as to be merely a little dark blip fading away into the distance. "What's he doing?" Francois exclaimed. "I can't be sure," Manabozho panted, "but I could have sworn he was calling Charmian's name! But I can't sense her anywhere around here!" "This doesn't sound good!" Stick-In-The-Dirt cried, wringing his hands. Red Land One is not nearby! Mani added, obviously flustered. Would know if she is! "Then--he's seeing things--?" Francois asked, giving them a perplexed look. Moon Wolf's brow furrowed. "Wendigoes see things as they aren't," he thought aloud. "They will set foot in a camp full of people, and see nothing but beavers." He stood up straight. "What if he is seeing things--? This could be the first sign of Mishosha acting on him." "That's more than enough for me," Francois said, unshouldering his gun and pushing his way out the entry. Stick-In-The-Dirt's and Manabozho's eyes went wide; they both started after him as he jogged through the rut recently vacated by Thomas, checking his gun. "What are you going to do--?" Stick-In-The-Dirt asked. "You're not going to SHOOT him!" Manabozho exclaimed. He waved his arms wildly. "Have you any idea how--how--PISSED OFF that'll make her--?!" "I won't shoot him if I absolutely don't have to," Francois replied, which didn't really comfort them much. Baptiste came running up behind them, also wielding his gun, though not with nearly as much conviction. "Are--are we going to tie him up and sit on him now?!" The voyageur didn't reply to this comment, just finished making certain that his gun was properly loaded. He glanced to the side with a bit of surprise when Moon Wolf appeared, blue flames already glowing around his hand. Their eyes met. "If he really is going Wendigo," the wabano said, "then a mere gun won't take him down. I fought him when he was like this before--I might be able to help again." Francois paused, then nodded. They picked up their pace, following the tracks through the snow. The wind was blowing harder now and starting to obscure them, but they were still clear enough, leading off toward the trees. By now they couldn't see the tracks of the others who had gone out looking for Charmian, Lieutenant Barrington, and Winter Born. The snow got deeper, and the ground more difficult to navigate, the closer they got to the trees. They hadn't been running as quickly as Thomas at first, so now he seemed to be tiring out somewhat, stumbling a little as he made his way toward the pines. He was shouting, but they couldn't hear what he was saying at first; when the wind changed direction, his voice came back to them, echoing and occasionally breaking apart. "Charmian! Hold on!" Francois and Moon Wolf frowned at each other, confused. "I still don't feel her!" Manabozho shouted, and Francois jerked a hand at Moon Wolf. "Go around that way! I'll keep heading this way! If he gets into the trees, we might never get hold of him!" Moon Wolf gave a curt nod and dashed off to the northeast. Francois had to shield his eyes from a gust of icy wind and almost keeled over. Manabozho ran in front of him, yelling over his shoulder. "I'll head him off!" Francois lifted his head to reply, but Manabozho was already far ahead of him, and then far ahead of Thomas, making great bounds through the snow. Stick-In-The-Dirt came up panting at Francois's side. "I...I realize...they don't call him Great Rabbit...for nothing," he panted, having to lean on his knees. Francois paused only briefly before readying his gun and gesturing at the medicine man to stay put. "Stay here! He might end up hurt and we'll definitely need help bringing him back. If you get back to the lodge first, instruct them to make that fire as big and strong as they can, and to have ropes or some such ready." Stick-In-The-Dirt gnawed on his lip but nodded and remained where he was as Francois continued on his way. The trees loomed ever closer, and Manabozho and Moon Wolf were no longer in sight; Francois cursed under his breath when Thomas went running into the woods. He took aim and tried to shoot at the ground just near his foot to knock him off balance, but Thomas plunged into the shadows before he could, and he had to keep running to avoid losing sight of him completely. He got to the top of the slope and ran into the woods himself, glancing left and right before taking note of Thomas's tracks and running along in them. Thomas came into view again, still yelling Charmian's name; the voyageur squinted and tried to see if she was there or not, but could see nothing else but trees. Then one of the trees suddenly had a bough where one hadn't been before, and this reached out and smacked Thomas straight across the chest, making him fall flat to the ground with a noisy thud. Francois blinked, then decided not to even question it. He jogged toward Thomas, who was already starting to push himself up, wincing and rubbing at his chest. "What the--?" he started to say, looking up at the pine tree, but it was no longer there. Manabozho leapt aside, meeting Francois's eyes and pointing at Thomas as if he weren't obvious enough. "His eyes!" he exclaimed, and as soon as Thomas turned his head to look back at them, Francois saw them himself and raised the gun to point it at him. Thomas blinked a few times, looking bewildered. Everything about him seemed normal, except for the fact that his face was pale rather than flushed from his run, and his eyes were no longer blue. They were a strange glowing yellow, the pupils constricted into pinpricks. Footfalls came up behind Francois as several of the others caught up. Augwak skidded to a halt as soon as he saw Thomas and threw up his arms before his face. "Yaagh!!" He bolted behind Mani and vanished from sight. Thomas rolled over a little to better face Francois. "What--what are you doing?" he exclaimed, staring at the barrel of the gun pointed between his eyes. "Have you gone completely MAD?" "I said that we remain back at the camp," Francois said in a level voice. Thomas gawked at him, then began to scowl. "Ever think that plans change? I was following Charmian! Whom none of YOU have found just yet! Mishosha or Megissogwun could have her already and there'll be NO getting her back--!" "She's not here," Francois said. Thomas waved angrily further into the woods. "I saw her myself! As plain as day, standing right there in the snow! Of course none of YOU saw her because you were too busy hiding out!" "I don't sense her anywhere," Manabozho protested. "That doesn't mean anything!" Thomas started to push himself to his feet, but another glance at Francois's gun made him pause. "If you don't believe me then go after her yourself!" he insisted. "Since you don't seem to want ME to find her!" "There are no tracks," Francois said, and that at last made Thomas cut himself off, confusion flitting across his face. "What...?" he asked, his voice dying. In response Francois shifted the barrel of the gun to point somewhat behind Thomas. "There are no tracks besides your own," he said. Thomas turned his head to look at the unblemished snow that lay ahead of him. "She wasn't here," Francois finished, and the woods fell silent as Thomas stared uncomprehending at the snow. "But..." His brow furrowed and he leaned forward a bit, scouring the ground. "But I...saw her right there...she couldn't have been more than ten paces away!" He turned back to look at Francois. "I know I saw her! She was trying to tell me something--but I couldn't hear her--" "This is because she wasn't real," Francois said. "Come back to the lodge with us, or we'll take you there." "Wasn't real--?" Thomas echoed in disbelief. "What do you mean she wasn't REAL? You think I'm seeing things now--?" He at last clumsily pushed himself upright, now ignoring the gun pointing at his chest. "Is that what this is all about? What would ever make you think that I'm hallucinating--? Have I ever gone off the deep end before?" "There's a first time for everything," Francois said. "You recall that little doll Mishosha had? And how none of us knew exactly what it was for?" Thomas's brow furrowed, then his mouth fell open. "What makes you think that thing was for me?" he cried. "I never gave that man ANYTHING! You think I'd do something so stupid--?" "You didn't have to give him anything," Moon Wolf said. He stood nearby with his hand raised, fire flaring around his fingers. Thomas looked at him, and his scowl began to return. "What, are you planning to use that on me?" he demanded. "I saw what happened back at the bay. I think I know better than to give a part of myself away! There's no way that doll could have anything to do with me!" "Mani?" Francois called; the manitou tilted his head. "Can you call up water?" the voyageur asked. "And make a reflective surface with it." He gestured in the air beside himself. "Right about here would be fine." The manitou whistled and lowered his head to sweep at the snow. The snow particles began drifting upward, forming into a vaguely opaque shape which first solidified and then liquified. The water floated through the air in droplets, only to slow to a stop beside Francois and begin merging into a whole. It rippled slightly and everyone looked at it, perplexed. "What sort of trick is this?" Thomas asked, still confused. "Take a look in it," Francois said, "and tell me if you still think you're in your right mind." Thomas frowned at him, then took a step forward to look into the water. Everyone was silent as he stared at himself, his eyes growing slightly; he reached up a hand and gingerly pulled at the skin beneath one as if unable to believe that they'd really turned yellow. He blinked a few times, then rubbed them, then took a step back. "What...what does that mean?" he asked, a tinge of fear entering his voice. "Recall when we fought near the demon's lake upon the Island?" Moon Wolf said, drawing his attention. "Your eyes went yellow just then," the wabano added. "You were ready to kill Charmian and the rest of us. If I hadn't decided to attack you, and if Niskigwun hadn't helped, you would have done so." "But--but that was when Chakenapok had control of me!" Thomas insisted. "He's not even HERE now! I don't have any part of a Wendigo spirit stone inside me!" "It doesn't matter," Francois said, and he gestured southward again. "Come back to the camp, or we'll take you." Thomas clenched his fists. "So my eyes are yellow! I still know exactly what I'm doing! Even if that wasn't Charmian, she's still missing, and I don't care about any of you but I have a damned bad feeling about all this!" "She's already being looked for," Francois said. "Come back to the camp, or we'll take you with us." Thomas bared his teeth--they were fangs--and lashed out at the floating water so that it broke apart and spattered to the ground. Ice crystals formed over his fingers. "I'm NOT going back until Charmian is found!!" Mani bristled while Manabozho started shifting uneasily from foot to foot. "Come back to the camp," the voyageur said slowly, "or we'll make you." Thomas clenched his fists so hard that blood dripped down his fingers. "TRY it!" In response Francois lifted the gun and aimed it at him again. "I gave you a chance." No one got the chance to say anything else. Thomas flung his arm out, a snarl on his face, and a gust of icy wind lashed out at Francois. |