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Escape From Manitou Island: Part 162 |
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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.)
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT LOST SPIRIT! ISHKODE-AANAKWAD'S voice echoed in Chakenapok's head. You'd best have that tunnel sealed--for he's heading straight back for it!! Chakenapok, still dazed from his fall, shook his head to clear it and then hurriedly got to his feet. The tiny crack in the tunnel wall, from which came such an odd sensation, would have to wait. Although he'd sealed off the outside of the entryway beneath the Island as best as he could, he wasn't sure that it could withstand the Mishupishu's attack yet again, judging by how much damage the Lynx had already caused. He hastened back the way he'd come to be prepared in case he was needed again. He looked doubtfully at the fire ringing his hands as he ran. It seemed like such a paltry thing with which to fight off an enormous Lynx, but it was all that he had. You sealed the entrance--? Ishkode asked. As best as I could, Chakenapok replied, but I've never fought a Lynx before, so I hardly know what to expect of its strength! I thought you were going to head it off--? The Dreamspinner has returned to the top of the Island. He already did his best. I think I might have one more shot at the Lynx before he makes it underground again, but it's going to be a close one. I do hope those people all along the bluff know to cover their eyes and run if necessary. Chakenapok was doubtful of this, but didn't protest it; there wasn't anything he could do. He almost tripped when an idea struck him, however, and his eyes went wide. When are you going to strike--? he asked abruptly. He's heading for that odd rock formation right now. I have at most another moment left. Why--? That should be enough, Chakenapok thought, and shut his eyes to concentrate. He was a lost spirit; so surely his ability to communicate with other lost spirits was better than that of most. There were all sorts of benign lost spirits wandering the Island all the time, most of them in oddly distorted forms and known as halfling spirits because of this, usually invisible to the living, but occasionally sighted by those who were more perceptive than others. Chakenapok felt frustration in knowing that Charmian and Winter Born--both of them likely to be able to see lost spirits--were also both absent and unable to help him; and he didn't sense Silver Eagle Feather standing along the bluff, either. Perhaps she'd gone off elsewhere to see to the other Ocryxes. He briefly scanned the presences he did feel in the area before finding one that might offer him a greater chance of success, then hastened to contact any halfling spirits that were drifting around nearby. He was fortunate in that they seemed to like congregating around Arch Rock, which wasn't too far from the camps on the East Bluff; and it was there that he located a few, and told them what to do. As soon as he felt them wandering off he broke the connection and resumed running through the tunnel. Lost spirit--? Ishkode said again. The Lynx is just about at that rock formation. Do I strike him now, or...? Do what you have to, Chakenapok replied, raising his hand in case his fire was needed. Anyone who doesn't know to leave when necessary...gets what they deserve. He sensed the Animiki's puzzlement, then nothing at all. Though even this far beneath the Island, he felt a sort of prickling energy in the air, and readied himself for the attack that must be coming. A crowd had by now gathered all along the East Bluff and was watching the terrific storm raging out over the lake. Seeing as the camp was up high enough to be out of sight of the water, most of them had clambered down among the trees somewhat, and were clinging onto the trunks and rocks, peering out at the flashing clouds and roiling water. Thunderstorms were common, but there was something different about this one. Everyone had gasped in awe when the demon Dreamspinner had plunged out of the water and gone soaring up into the sky almost parallel with the bluff itself, his wet wings beating hard--many of them had never seen him so close before, nor had they ever seen him swim. They'd had barely any chance to discuss what this strange sight must mean when something else had reared its head from the lake, bringing on another gasp and several stifled cries. More than a few Islanders hastened back up the bluff and toward the safety of the camp, but a good number of them remained where they were, just to get a good look at the strange sight. None of them had ever seen a Mishupishu, either, and the snarling hissing one that raised its head was quite a sight to behold. It was bigger than anything they'd ever imagined, and when it feebly tried spitting several strange, flaming objects toward the Island--all of them falling far short of shore and dying away with a sizzle--their murmuring and awe increased. They started debating over just what it might be. "Grandpapa used to tell stories about things like that..." "Is it an Underwater Lynx? I thought they were just imaginary!" "Don't say such a thing! Don't you know that just brings more of them--?" "Are you sure it's a Lynx? It looks more like a snake with horns..." "Maybe it's one of the demons in some other form...?" White Deer ignored most of the arguing, squinting and shielding her eyes from the flashing lightning. She didn't really care what the strange monstrosity out in the water happened to be, as long as she got a good look. As soon as her father got back, she planned to make a drawing of it in his book if he would let her, and perhaps he would find that interesting...maybe some of the elders had some stories to tell about it, whatever it was... She looked carefully enough to be able to see the gaping wound to its side, and could tell from the way that its strange fireball attacks fizzled out in the water that it was harmless from this distance; so she didn't fear it causing them much trouble, way up on the bluff. Even now it seemed to be tiring, and it stopped its swimming back and forth at last, heading for some of the tumbled rocks just off the shore. Just as it did this, however, the lightning flashes became fewer, but the charge in the air made White Deer's skin prickle. She peered uneasily up at the looming clouds and saw how ominous they had become, the way that they roiled ever closer to the Island. In addition the wind picked up, and the murmuring around her grew louder when the other Islanders had to shield their eyes and cling more tightly to the trees to avoid falling. Her skin prickled again and she shivered. The air seemed far too cold all of a sudden, even taking the wind into account. White Deer peered off to her right for some reason. She thought that she'd seen something from the corner of her eye, but when she looked, there was nothing there but trees and other Islanders above and below. She furrowed her brow and started to turn away, but as soon as she did, she thought that she saw it again. Frowning now in irritation, she faced the lake, but tried looking off to the side from the corner of her eye. At first nothing was there, just as before; but when her stare wavered a little, something finally faded into view. She blinked and her eyes widened as soon as she focused on it, and it grew even easier to see--it was vaguely like a GeeBee in form, except that it was pale white, almost transparent, and had tufts of fur on its ears, wrists, and ankles. It was floating above the ground, and it took her a moment to realize that she could see the trees through it. White Deer's face blanched and her fingers dug into her own tree as she nearly went reeling down the bluff. She managed to swallow hard and keep herself from screaming at the sight, which was just as well, for as soon as the strange apparition noticed that it had her attention, it pointed out at the clouds, made a gesture, then pointed back up at the top of the bluff. White Deer blinked again. What--? she thought, without even thinking; the spirit made the same gesture, but the meaning of it seemed clearer this time. It motioned at the clouds and at the lake...made a striking motion as if at the water...gestured at the people on the bluff...sliced a bony finger across its throat...and then pointed back up the bluff and nodded. White Deer's eyes grew. She glanced at the storm looming ever closer, then back at the spirit--but by now it was gone. When she looked once more, she saw that the sinuous shape of the water monster was gone as well, and the clouds were forming ever thicker close to the shore, and flashing in such a way that made it clear that a massive attack of lightning must be building up inside. Something flicked from the water and she at last saw the tip of the Lynx's tail before it vanished not far from the offshore rocks, and she at last understood what the spirit had been saying. She gasped and pushed herself away from the tree. "Back--BACK UP THE BLUFF!" she yelled as loudly as she could, her voice cracking; when everyone within earshot looked at her she pointed frantically at the clouds. "Animiki! Thunderbirds! They're going to attack that thing in the lake! HARD!" She turned and began stumbling and fighting her way up through the weeds and trees. "Back up the bluff!!" Alarm lit up the other Islanders' features, and they started passing the word as they all turned and began climbing the bluff as well. By now the electric charge in the air was unmistakable, and White Deer shuddered at the tingling she felt in her arms and legs and neck as she cleared the top of the bluff at last and raced panting back to the camp. Everyone else who hadn't already run for cover was heading for their wigwams, or fleeing the camp to head even further inland; White Deer hurriedly climbed into her family wigwam, where Morning Star was already waiting, and the two of them parted the covering mats a little to peek out at what little they could see of the sky from here. The flashing clouds were still visible through the thick tree cover, and a loud grumble of thunder at last joined them. This grew in intensity until dying abruptly in a muted crack, and the clouds lit up so brilliantly that the two women's eyes grew wide and they forgot to cover them even as they knew what must be coming next. A monstrous bolt of lighting erupted from the clouds, plunging down into the lake and up again, searing its image on their eyes, numerous little tendrils of light shooting out from it and arcing every which way. A crash as of hideous waves slamming into the shore came from below, followed by a horrific shriek which split the air and made them wince and duck their heads. This was quickly drowned out by the booming and roaring which came from the clouds overhead, and White Deer couldn't be sure but for an instant she thought she saw vague birdlike shapes form and break apart here and there through the breaks in the trees. She rubbed her eyes and all that she saw was clouds, but already the storm seemed to be lessening, the charge in the air fading, and the echoes of the catlike scream were dying away as well. Rain began pelting against the wigwams and the two of them drew away from the wall. Morning Star cast White Deer a curious look. "What sort of thing was that--?" White Deer was already lifting the doorflap and crawling back outside. She jogged to the bluff's edge and tried seeing downward, but the cedars were too thick; irritated, she started clambering back down the way she'd come. When the lake came back into sight she gasped and halted, having to grab onto a tree to keep from falling. With the darkness overhead it was difficult to see much, but lightning still flashed faintly, and every time it did she could make out the dark color spreading out across the water, as well as the vague shape of something drifting within it. There was also somebody standing on the shore. She made sure to creep along carefully now so as not to make any noise, and at last halted behind a twisty cedar to try to listen in, as the person on the shore appeared to be talking to themselves. It was a man wearing long silver feathers, and he was staring at the blossoming stain upon the water as he shielded his eyes from the rain. "That was only one," he said. "But if he's serious enough to send along one, he will send along more. After all, he used them to destroy the first Island. I doubt he would change his methods now." He paused as if waiting for a reply, and White Deer listened hard for one; she was doubly puzzled when he seemed to receive one that she couldn't hear. "These are the least of your worries. We can easily fend them off, but the Pearl Feather is another matter entirely. You'd better hope that your friends can convince Kabeyun to assist them again, otherwise..." He trailed off, and looked at the water just as the drifting shape was pushed up onto the shore by the waves. It was revealed now as part of a giant head, black and scaly and sporting twisted copper horns, and that sight was enough to send White Deer scrambling back up the bluff in a panic. Ishkode-Aanakwad heard the noise of her ascent and looked back over his shoulder, but didn't bother speaking again. He just nudged the dead Lynx's head with his foot, sending it back into the lake where the waves took it away. "No," Moon Wolf said. "I think he wants to make sure we succeed." Charmian and the rest of them in the group--save Winter Born, who was stuck on the other side of the wall of whirlwinds, separated from them--looked at him, perplexed. "Huh...?" Charmian said, brow furrowing. "What do you mean, Kabebonikka wants us to succeed? If we succeed he loses Winter Born--" "Yet he has the satisfaction of knowing that Megissogwun has been defeated at last," Moon Wolf cut in. Charmian rubbed her suddenly aching head. "But if he wants us to succeed so much--then why is he holding Winter Born back--?" Moon Wolf looked at her so intensely that she took a step back. "Did the North Wind give any reasons as for why he wants her in the first place?" Charmian shook her head. "Not to me, at least! But I did make him promise that he wouldn't marry her." When that resulted in quite odd looks from everyone she threw up her arms. "Oh, come on! Like you guys wouldn't've thought of it!" "Everything we've learned of him so far says that Kabebonikka is not interested in humans," Moon Wolf said. "And so if he suddenly does have an interest in a human, there must be a good reason." He looked through the tittering whirlwinds at Winter Born, who by now was digging a hole in the snow at the base of them as if to crawl her way under; Charmian was surprised that she hadn't thought of that. "Look at her," Moon Wolf said in agreement. "Most others of her age would have burst into tears by now. And all of us already know of what power she wields." Charmian frowned. "You think Kabebonikka has some kind of purpose in mind for her himself...?" She turned to look at him. "But--he's the North Wind. He's already shown that he's stronger than any of us. Why would he need her to do anything--?" "He doesn't," Moon Wolf said. "All he needs is for her to prove herself." "Prove herself--?" Charmian rubbed her arms. "You've totally lost me!" She turned away again when Stick-In-The-Dirt edged toward the whirlwinds and peered through, his eyes wide. Winter Born was tossing snow out between her legs, every so often poking at the whirlwinds as if to test them, before resuming her digging. The look on the medicine man's face made Charmian's brow furrow even further. When he turned to look at them, she blinked at the strange expression he got. He pointed at Winter Born. "He's testing her!" "Testing--?" Charmian echoed, feeling quite stupid. "Oohhh! I get it!" Marten said, hopping forward and poking at the whirlwinds himself. "He wants to see if she really is as powerful as everybody says!" "Did Winter Born do anything when you visited Kabebonikka--anything to reveal what sort of power she might have?" Moon Wolf asked. Charmian felt like pulling on her hair. "Well--yeah! She saw the entryway into his cave when the rest of us couldn't--and she broke down his door, pretty much--and Kabebonikka said that he's been watching our progress so I'm betting he's seen her throw her fits--what the hell does this have to do with anything? What sort of test--?" "What other sort of test?" Manabozho said peevishly, and when she looked at him he crossed his arms and rolled his eyes with a great sigh. "Did I not spend an entire winter training you to talk to manitous and fight off evil spirits--?" "You mean he's training her to--" She cut herself off when Moon Wolf shook his head, then looked back through at the little girl. Apparently her tunneling efforts hadn't worked, so now she was staring at the whirlwinds and darting at them every time an opening appeared, seeming quite frustrated. She ran at them and once more was carried to the bottom of the hill, where she promptly began kicking at the snow and yelling and waving her arms before coming right back, throwing snowballs at them. Charmian stared at her. "If we lose then he owns her," she murmured, then turned to look at Moon Wolf. "If we win--then she owns him?" Her eyes grew wide. "He's seeing if she's good enough to have him as a patron manitou--?" "She's about the right age to go seeking her vision soon," Moon Wolf said. "Why else do you think the North Wind would suddenly be so interested in a human--much less a little girl?" "But--hold on!" Charmian cupped her hands against the whirlwinds and Winter Born stopped her snowball-throwing to mimic the gesture. "If that's what he's doing then that means he WANTS her to throw one of her fits!" She grimaced. "That's the LAST thing we need right now!!" "She only ever seems to blow her top whenever Charmian's in trouble," Thomas interjected. "Or else somebody else she really cares about. If Kabebonikka wants a show, then he's hardly going to get one now." He peered at Charmian. "Unless..." She smacked his arm hard enough to make him yell. "Don't EVEN!" She whirled back toward Moon Wolf. "Whatever the case is, this means we're NEVER going to get anywhere unless she finds her own way through those things!" She looked through them again. "Kabebonikka has to know that she won't throw her fit if I'm safe--right? Is this part of the test? He wants to see if she can control that power?" Moon Wolf frowned. "That does sound like something he would do..." "Well..." Charmian chewed on her fingernail. "If that's so, then he's going to be waiting a long time! I haven't had time yet to train her to figure that out!" She winced. "No wonder Geezhigo-Quae wanted me to teach her..." "Some things she'll have to find out on her own," Stick-In-The-Dirt said, though he sounded unhappy saying it. He bit his lip as he looked at Charmian. "You're certain there isn't something you can do from here...?" "From here--?" Charmian exclaimed. Thomas looked at her now. "She can still hear you, you know," he said. Charmian ground her teeth. "Well, YEAH, but--!" She looked helplessly at Winter Born, who was still staring back at her as if waiting to be told what to do. Charmian blinked again. Now that she thought of it, that was exactly what Winter Born was doing. Every time she noticed that Charmian was looking at her, she would stop what she was doing and wait. They stared at each other in silence. "I already told her I don't know if there's anything that I can teach her," Charmian murmured half to herself. "Evidently she doesn't agree," Moon Wolf said. "Are you going to stand here forever, or do what the Sky Mother wanted you to do...?" Charmian winced a little, then turned to face the whirlwinds. The others glanced at each other before backing away a little as if to give them privacy; as soon as Winter Born saw this, she cupped her hands right against the other side of the whirlwinds to see through better. "Charmian?" she yelled above their whining and tittering. "What do I do?" Charmian chewed on her lip, then took a breath and let it out. Hear me? she thought, at which Winter Born nodded. Good. You're going to have to make your own way through these because that's the only way we're going to get going west again. Remember all Kabebonikka said? This is part of his game. To win it, you have to pass through. But... Winter Born looked from left to right. How? I mean...I've already tried everything I know... You have to try what you don't know yet, Charmian said, earning a confused look. You already know the beginnings of how to talk to manitous, right? The Red Swan helped me talk to some, Winter Born thought, then looked crestfallen. But I think she's kind of mad at me right now... Kabebonikka will only let you through if you do this on your own, Charmian thought back, earning a look. That means no help. You have to find a way to get these whirlwinds to disperse and let you through. But...! Winter Born shifted from foot to foot. I don't know how to do that! These are really powerful manitous! That's the point, Charmian replied. I really wish I could help you, but... She cupped her own hands against the whirling winds. Come on, Winter Born! I know you can get through. Think of everything you've done so far. This should be nothing compared to all that! Stop saying you don't know how, and try harder! Winter Born gnawed on her lip. After a moment or two she took a step back and looked at several of the whirlwinds as they sped by, then took a deep breath. "WHIRLWINDS! PLEASE LET ME THROUGH!" She tried sticking her arm through, but the wind gently nudged her back, and did so again when she sought another entrance. She began walking back and forth, yelling, "PLEASE LET ME THROUGH!! PLEASE--?" every few steps, until Charmian was cringing and Moon Wolf was looking more than a little irked. "I think you can tell her now that this isn't what Kabebonikka intended," he said after another round of fruitless yelling. Charmian nodded and waved him off. "Yeah, yeah! At least she tried!" She waved at Winter Born now to get her attention. "WINTER BORN!" When the girl halted and peeked through she took another breath to steady herself. That isn't quite what I meant! Kabebonikka wants you to use your POWER! But Mother always taught me that if you want manitous to do something, you ask them! Winter Born protested. Charmian ran a hand down her face. "Why must she always be right...?" she grumbled before taking a breath. Think about what you know of Kabebonikka! she thought. Would HE just ask a manitou to do something for him--? I guess not, Winter Born thought skeptically. Try to put yourself in Kabebonikka's shoes--moccasins--for a moment and think of what he would expect you to do, Charmian told her. You were with him in the mountains--you know him better. He wants you to show off for him. Well--show off! She cut herself off in surprise when Manabozho stepped up to the whirlwinds and took a deep breath. "THROW ONE OF YOUR FITS!!" he suddenly bellowed, so loudly that everybody grimaced and even the whirlwinds seemed to shudder a bit. He waved his arms. "YOU'RE GOOD AT THOSE!!" A stricken look came over Winter Born's face. I don't know HOW to do that! she exclaimed, and looked to Charmian as if for advice. Charmian could only shake her head and shrug. Kabebonikka wants a show, she thought. And you're going to have to give it to him. She paused, then thought, Our way west depends on you now, Winter Born. I know you can do something. Winter Born's lip quivered and her eyes welled up, but she appeared to sniffle and rubbed at them a bit with her sleeve. She took a step back to survey the whirlwinds from left to right, as if trying to judge their strength and numbers; she shifted from foot to foot a little, then took a breath and let it out. She gave Charmian an anxious look. Okay, she thought. I'm...I'm going to try something now! That's it! Charmian encouraged her. You might want to step back! Winter Born thought, and shut her eyes, held up her hands toward the whirlwinds, and appeared to concentrate. Thomas took Charmian's arm and pulled her back a little, the others following suit, and Charmian took in a breath to see the aura of colors around Winter Born flare to brilliant life. |