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Glances Twice
Walking Bear decided to take some time and visit the Blackfeet reservation in Montana. He had been there before when he assisted the local police with fighting the scourge of drugs pouring into the area.
His decision was partly influenced by the quote he had hanging on one of his walls at the University of Warwick, where he held a professorship. No one, but a few, knew he was a Mi6 agent.
“What is life? It is the flash of the firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow, which runs across the grass and loses itself in the Sunset.”
Crowfoot of the Blackfoot Nation
****
Walking Bear was sitting drinking coffee with his friend Wolf Plume when Mick called.
He quietly listened to Mick asking only about remembrance arrangements. He told Mick he’d do a special ceremony in favor of the “old man.”
When he hung up, he stared into the blazing fire-warming Wolf Plumes cabin.
He said nothing.
Wolf said nothing.
There was no fear attached to their silence.
Walking Bear first met Wolf Plume when he returned from London to the reservation to reconnect to his family and heritage. That was a little more than four years ago.
Bear was known as the Queens Indian when he arrived on their land. He was called that until everybody warmed to him and accepted him into the tribe's embrace.
The tribal members loved his accent and tales of his great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother's journey in far-off England. It wasn't long before tribal members used his birth name though many preferred to call him the Queens Indian. He didn't mind.
While Wolf was stoking the fire, Bear spoke up, “You’ll recall all the good stories about Barry while we were at the lake last summer. Well, that was Mick telling me cancer has taken him. He gave up his spirit a couple of days ago.”
“Sorry to hear that,” Wolf replied. “He was well loved by all of you. I could feel it in the stories.”
“I’d like to honor him here. Here in our snowy woods.” His voice trailed off as he got up to step outside into the falling snow.
When he returned, Wolf said he would be more than happy to help build a platform and assist with a ceremony that would join Barry’s spirit on his journey.
“Thanks. I’ve been away so long I could use the help.”
“Green Grass Weasel, Bear’s cousin, had arranged for Bear to have a cabin not far from Wolf’s. Bear could strap on a pair of snowshoes and hike the mile if he wanted to visit.
When Bear first returned to the Rez, his perceived expertise with marketing ideas for BP, and other companies, sparked the tribal elders to ask him to consult on tourism opportunities for the tribe. This acceptance allowed Bear to rejoin his people in an accelerated fashion.
Being invited to share his business knowledge was a great compliment.
After months of living and observing what was going on on the reservation, particularly with the young people, he reached out to Wolf Plume of the tribal police to offer his help with stemming drugs pouring through the reservation.
Wolf was initially surprised by Bear’s depth of knowledge until Bear shared his attachment to the SIS and his ability to muster forces to help the tribe roll back the drug avalanche burying the young.
A successful campaign ensued, with the tribal police breaking the train of meth coming through the tribe.
Bear had then been instrumental in Wolf being accepted into the FBI.
That Wolf, and others, had recently joined forces at Lake Tahoe to rid a community of the same infection brought Wolf and Bear ever closer.
Wolf returned to the subject of honoring Barry.
“I’ll take care of it. I’ll gather who needs to be gathered, and we’ll send him off surrounded by love and grace. We can meet near your cabin the day after tomorrow. Your Boxing Day, if I recall. ”
“Right. That will be good. Should the platform face the backbone of the world? Is that correct?”
“Yes, my friend. That is correct.”
They sat quietly, sipping their coffees and listening to the silence of the falling snow.
Only the call of a solitary wolf trespassed on the crackling of the fire.
****
Late Christmas morning, Bear hiked and skied the rugged four miles west to his aunt's home. She was hosting the gathering of the family this year.
A couple of days prior, Bear had given his second cousin, Frog that Watches, money towards purchasing supplies for the feast that would be shared by all who came to his aunt's home.
When Bear graced the door, he was greeted by Auntie Ruth, Wolf Plume, Green Grass Weasel, Iron Scraping White, James-Day-Rider, Deathly-Woman, Cree-Runs Quietly, Three Calf, Chewing, Red-Bones, William Red Crow, Long Face, Morgan Blacktongue, Double-Victory, Fist of Water, Makes-Cold-Weather and Red Crow, all who had welcomed him when he first returned to the reservation.
Bear felt very welcome.
Aunt Ruth had outdone herself with decorating the home. A huge Christmas tree was in the corner next to the bay window that looked out towards the snow-capped Rockies, the "backbone of the world," as most locals called them. The mountains couldn't be seen through the snowfall increasing by the minute.
The Christmas tree decorations had been handed down from generation to generation. The kids had made many dream catchers that hung on the tree.
Tiny white lights bounced off the few bits of glass hanging on limbs.
Pine boughs, berries, and candles were placed at the center of the large dining table. The sideboards, which would soon be groaning under the weight of the Christmas meal, also had pine branches laid across them.
The smells of roasting turkey, elk, or some other meat and chocolate drifted from the kitchen.
The smells wrapped everyone in one blanket, simultaneously making them all feel welcome and safe.
Red Crow stepped up to Bear, whispering how sad they all were at the loss of his friend in Australia. He told Bear they would all gather to send Barry off on his journey.
Bear, for the first time, felt like he was truly home. For a split second, he considered staying here rather than returning to London at the end of the week.
Several people introduced themselves to Bear, asking the standard questions about living in England, fitting into British society, what did he teach about Indians to British students, whether he was married, etc., etc.?
Bear was accustomed to the questions answering each with patience and pride.
Most of the young kids had grown accustomed to his accent, though they loved to mimic some of his phrases. Bear went along with the laughter ramping up his accent for their pleasure.
While playing with the kids and snatching parts of conversations, he noticed a new arrival dusting the snow from her coat. Aunt Ruth greeted her, saying something that got her to glance at Bear. He held her glance, feeling what he thought had abandoned him years ago.
She said hello to a few people as she worked through the crowd to Bear. When she got close, she put out her hand, saying, “You have got to be the Queen’s Indian! Here I am, Glances Twice. Out there,” She said, pointing to the window, “I am Nancy.”
She had a soft laugh in her voice that invited Bear in immediately.
“True, I am often called the Queen’s Indian, though I prefer Daylon or Daniel. Bear is also totally acceptable though you might have way too many offer a reply if you called out to Bear. Walking Bear is good.”
She laughed at his introduction.
Bear had not had these bubbling feelings in years.
She was staring into his eyes as she took in the complete picture.
She was thin, his height somewhat regal, though that might have been his imagination, full-lipped beneath a nose that would have been perfect had it not been broken and reset some time in the past. Her eyes were just off deep black, reflecting a touch of copper.
Her smile offered a myriad of thoughts and potentials. Her skin was flawless.
“I’ve heard a great deal about you, Mr. Walking Bear. My uncle, Quiet Runner, told me about your help when you were last here.”
Bear didn’t know what to make of what she was saying as very few people knew his real job or how he had been involved with Wolf during his last visit.
“I don’t think I know your uncle,” Bear replied.
“You wouldn’t. You’ve never met him. He lives up in Alberta.” She said.
“What did he say?” Bear asked.
“Oh, that you were a great help with setting up a new marketing and tourism plan.”
The way she replied made Bear think there was more to her answer than she was willing to share. Something about how she cruised his face while he spoke made him slightly apprehensive. He liked it.
They were interrupted by several people coming over to say hello.
After asking her what she would like, Bear went into the kitchen to get her a Pepsi.
Bear chatted with the three ladies working over pots of incredible-smelling goodies before returning to Glances Twice. When he handed her drink to her, she said. "I've heard of your loss. I've brought you a small packet to offer at the ceremony."
Before Bear could react to what she said, she asked him to tell her about his lost friend.
They moved out of the room's flow to give them a little space.
Bear thanked her for her thoughts and generous spirit before telling her about his days with Barry, far away in the lands of the Mapoon and Lamalama peoples. While telling her about his initial meeting with Barry, Aunt Ruth announced that dinner would be ready in thirty minutes.
Bear continued his impressions, thoughts, conversations, and growing respect for Barry. “If he were here right now, all these kids would be circling him, pulling on him for more and more. Down there, they called him “old man,” a term of respect. Different from our use of the term.”
He told her about how Barry would set up his easel, paints, and canvasses to lure kids over to him to see what he was up to. Once the kids started to hang out with him, the older ones were just a little behind.
"He told me that that had worked in every place he had visited, no matter how bleak.
As mentioned, kids were the first to approach, driven by curiosity. Barry would set up paints and canvasses for them to work with, allowing them to paint to their heart's content."
He stopped to take a sip of his drink and swim in her eyes. "He told me a gallery in Geelong, where Barry lives, ah, lived, displayed many paintings Barry had gathered over the years."
Bear stopped for a moment to collect his thoughts. Nancy put her hand on his arm long enough to tell him it was okay to share his feelings. Bear's reaction was instantaneous to her touch, though he gave away nothing to her. He had a feeling she knew anyway.
"My friends Mick and Jack were in Geelong when Barry received notice from the Queen that he was being honored for his lifetime of work with those needing a hand up."
A young girl asking him if he knew the Queen interrupted them. After a playful response to her, he continued. “Most of his work was in the south Pacific. He was very knowledgeable about many indigenous peoples in many places he had visited. He told me about going to some beyond the black stump spot in New Guinea to people who had been headhunters a generation before Barry arrived to work on the construction of a water sanitation facility.”
She gently laughed at his use of colloquialisms.
She asked lots of questions making Bear wonder if he would get the opportunity to learn more about her. That opportunity arrived when Wolf joined them, asking her how she liked living in the Big Apple. She told him she enjoyed her work as an attorney with a music-publishing house but that she was considering moving back to Montana. While listening to the two of them talk, Bear knew he wanted to know her much better. His concern was that he was leaving in days with no plans on a return trip.
Ruth called everyone to the table. Nancy took Bear's hand to avoid him escaping from sitting next to her for the meal. He liked that-
Somebody put turkey, ham, boiled buffalo, dried antelope, venison, moose, chicken, mountain sheep, and duck on the sideboard.
Bowls of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, corn squash, sweet feed, cranberries, blueberries, Saskatoon berries, and pinon nuts were placed on the main table.
The feast was honored by applause and some blessings before everyone fell to enjoying the meal.
Bear and Glances Twice carried on with cross-table conversations as they danced, exchanging what might be vital for the other to know to keep the game afoot.
The meal was capped with three pies, homemade vanilla ice cream, and chicory coffee.
It was a great feast approaching its end way too fast for Bear. He wanted to sit with Nancy until spring.
A curious thought.
People began to leave with respect to the falling snow and the not-too-distant sundown. Many had arrived by snowmobile and needed to get on the trail before it became dangerous. Nancy was invited to join her cousins riding back to town in Three Horses giant Humvee.
Nancy asked Bear to wait for a moment as she went into one of the bedrooms to fetch her coat and bag. When she returned, she handed him a leather packet with an eagle’s feather held to it by the thinnest of strings. “Burn the bag as you say goodbye to your friend. Lay the feather on the platform last. It will help reach his spirit out on the trail.”
She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as she pressed her business card into his hand. Bear was too slow to react to what he was feeling. He knew she was returning to New York tomorrow and that he had left a world unsaid. The best he could do was a quiet “thank you” as she headed out the door. When he turned away from the now empty door to re-enter the room, he caught Wolf looking at him with a welcoming all, knowing smile.
It wasn't long after Nancy had left when Wolf said to Bear that they'd better hit the trail, or they might wind up spending the night where they were. Bear went around the room, thanking everyone for a wonderful Christmas. When he and Wolf had made the rounds, they headed to his truck for the trip back to Wolf's cabin. Bear could easily hike back to his place from there.
When they pulled out of the driveway, Wolf looked at him, saying, “I think I see an arrow sticking out of your heart.” They both laughed, saying nothing until they got back to Wolfs.
Bear occasionally brought the packet Nancy had given him up closer to his nose to take in the faint smell of lavender wafting from it.
When they pulled into Wolf’s driveway, Wolf offered, “You’re welcome to stay here if you want.”
"Thanks. I need some alone time to dig this arrow out." They both laughed at his recognition.
"She's a good woman Bear. Should you want, I'll tell you all."
"Maybe, we'll see. I'll come back here tomorrow morning, late, if that's okay."
"Sure, a number of people will join us to say goodbye. Anytime after eight is fine.
He turned his head to focus on a distant Wolf calling out.
"I'm going to find a good place for the platform somewhere between our two places. It will be ready when we all get there.
Bear put on his skis, said goodbye, and headed into the woods.
****
When Bear arrived at Wolf's cabin, a dozen or more people were already awaiting his arrival.
Bear greeted each one thanking them for coming to assist him.
Wolf informed him more would be arriving within an hour.
Bear told them he had found the ideal spot west of Wolf's cabin. Bear said he had gathered enough branches to construct a decent-sized platform in a clump of old-growth trees that could honor Barry's spirit for centuries.
When he said that, Sitting Man, a revered shaman, reminded everyone that they had followed the buffalo and practiced their faith before the great pyramids were built. "When we honor the spirit father today, all our spirits will join together to make your friend's journey easier."
Bear knew he was at the right place at precisely the right time.
Blue Face's 8-year-old asked Sitting Man why people had to die. Sitting Man sat silently for a few minutes before answering.
"When Old Man made the first people, he gave them powerful bodies, and for a long time, no one was sick. At last, a little child fell ill. Each day, it grew weaker, and, at last, it fainted. Then the mother went to Old Man and prayed for him to do something for it.
"This," said Old Man, "will be the first time it has happened to the people. When struck with an arrow, you have seen the buffalo fall to the ground. Their hearts stop beating, they do not breathe, and soon their bodies become cold. They are then dead. Now, woman, it shall be for you to decide whether death shall come to the people and the other animals or whether they shall live forever. Come now with me to the river."
"When they reached the water's edge, Old Man picked a dry buffalo chip and a stone from the ground. "Now, woman," he said, "you will tell me which one of these to throw into the water. If what I throw floats, your child shall live; the people shall live forever. If it sinks, then your child shall die, and all the people shall die, each one when his time comes."
The woman stood still a long time, looking from the stone to the buffalo chip and from the chip to the stone. At last, she said, "Throw the stone." Then Old Man tossed it into the river, and it sank to the bottom. "Woman," he cried, "go home; your child is dead." Thus, because of a wise woman, we all must die."
Bear wondered what Glances Twice would think of that tale.
He thought of Gilgamesh and the deal he struck with the Gods for mortality. Perhaps this lady was as insightful?
Neither the time nor place to make comments about long-held beliefs…
Within an hour, a half dozen more had arrived at Wolf's cabin. After greetings, they headed out to find the spot Bear had chosen.
The older men climbed on snowmobiles. The trek through the snow would have been too much for them at this time of their lives.
The day had started with the threat of more snow.
When the party set off into the woods, the sky cleared, welcoming them into a shower of light.
Other than the noise put out by the snowmobiles, they moved through the woods without a sound.
When they arrived at the spot Bear had chosen, and the machines were quieted, the silence was overwhelming.
No one said a word.
They all stood looking at the giant trees reaching up into the late morning sun. In the near distance, a wolf could be heard howling for attention.
Sitting Man interrupted the silence, "The wolves are the people's great friends; we travel with the wolves. If, when we are traveling along, we pass close to some wolves, they will bark at the people, talking to them. This one is offering his woods and spirit to us. Honor him, for he is here to guide the spirit." With that said, he turned in four directions offering thanks.
With some help, Bear climbed up where several branches crisscrossed each other. Once he sat securely on a large limb, the branches he had collected were handed up so he could lay out the platform. Wolf climbed up an adjacent tree to reach over and bind the branches with the rope he had brought from his cabin.
Once the branches were laid out and bound, Bear called for boughs to be handed up to cushion the imaginary body.
He stretched a piece of buckskin the length of the branches to substitute for a body. Walking Bear and Wolf placed seeds, suet, corn, tobacco, sage, dried flowers, and a mix of herbs on the buckskin. They weighted down the eagle feather with small stones tossed up to them by the kids below.
While Wolf and Bear spread the offerings on the buckskin, a small fire was being coaxed into life directly beneath the platform. When Bear and Wolf were finished and happy with the construction, they climbed down to join those circling the fire, platform, and trees.
Sitting Man asked Walking Bear to say a few words about his friend before putting the pouch Glances Twice had given him into the fire.
Bear told his friends about Barry's kindness, generosity, empathy, dedication, volunteering, humor, and the love of his family. They all stood quietly until Sitting Man instructed Bear to lay the pouch on the fire. Bear brought it up in front of his face to catch the last scent of lavender and sage Glances Twice had gathered for him.
As he placed the pouch on the struggling flames Sitting Man led them all in a series of chants and prayers. As the fire began to engulf Bear's offering, Sitting Man cried loudly, "The Sun, the Light of the world. I hear him coming. I see his face as he comes. He makes the beings on earth happy, and they rejoice. O, Holy One, I offer You this world of Light to show our friend the way."
Bear whispered, "Ya follow?" as the smoke rose to bathe the platform."
© 2023 M. Barrett Miller
All rights Reserved.
All rights Reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
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ISBN 9798859156849
Printed in the United States of America.
This is a novel.
