Excerpt



When I could see again, I sat expertly trussed to a tree...looking at an apparition. Who are you? I said.

Facing me at a distance of about thirty paces was a startling figure. A Natural girl with flaming red hair gazed at me. She appeared to be very tall, taller than most Natural men, wore only an apron and carried a bow. A quiver of arrows hung at her side.

She said something I couldnt understand. Holding a copper knife she came over to grab my hair and pull my head up. She was going to scalp me! I jerked my head out of her hand. I twisted to free myself. Nothing doing. Her bonds held.

She waved her hand at me, put the knife aside, and smiling, said something I couldn't understand. She examined the cause of my head ache. Pulling up my shirt she looked at my body. Something puzzled her. She scrapped a fingernail across my stomach. After tugging my beard, she shrugged and then stepped back.

Gazing at me, beside her sat the smiling dog. Must be her pet. Trying to suggest she free me, I struggled gently against my bonds. She just chuckled. I wondered where Moyock was. Sure could use his sign language now.

Moyock! Moyock, I hollered.

Then in the distance I heard him. Squire, Squire, where are you?

In the thicket! Im prisoner of a huge girl! Be careful. She has a companion. I havent seen him.

I heard Moyock again. Squire. The big dog is out here. I think he wants me to follow him. I think he is very odd. I do not like this.

"Moyock, he was in here with me and the girl. I dont know where my flintlock is. Arm yourself with my pistol and saber."

The Amazon laughed. Since we were at an impasse I studied my captor. I guessed she was in her twenties, had a comely face with high cheekbones. Her skin was slightly darker than Moyocks but nowhere as red as most Naturals. She was very fit and muscular for a female and very pretty. She utterly fascinated me: A Red-Indian Athena. Could she be a remnant of the Welsh? Certainly her hair and skin color differed from most Naturals. Was she the girl of my dreamsand why?

A while later I heard Moyock again. I not afraid of girl. I follow dog.

The Amazon laughed. After hearing the dog yip she got up and dashed behind me into the thicket.

Be Careful! Be wary! Someone struck me from behind!

Im coming Squire, cautiously.

Then I heard him shout, "No you don't, Back off!"

The Amazon ran back in front of me. Grabbing up her bow she notched an arrow and shot at me. I jerked my head. My reflexes saved my life. Her arrow quivered beside my throat. She notched another arrow. Before she could loose it, Moyock ran into the clearing. He charged into herknocked her flat! Knocked her breathless. The bow and arrow flew out of her hands. He held the saber poised over her. Looking up at his enraged mien, her face broke, she closed her eyes and began a keening wail.

"Her death song." Moyock said.

"She thinks she is doomed, Moyock. Back away. Lower the saber. Cut me loose."

As Moyock moved away from her, the girl turned to watch us. She reduced the volume of her dirge. She didnt interfere with Moyock. I stood, stretched and took the saber from him. I pointed it at the ground. "Tell her we mean her no harm. Tell her we are friends."

Moyock placed his hand over his heart and said "friend." Then he gestured with sign language. Calm now, and sitting up, the girl replied in kind. At first they werent on the same page. Back and forth they talked until they got close enough to exchange words.

"She wants to know who we are? What are we doing here? What will happen to her?"

I placed my hand over my heart." First of all, tell her again that we want to be friends, that we will not harm her in any way."

When Moyock finished assuring her that she was safe, she smiled and placed her hand over her bare left breast. She probably had no idea how provocative that movement was.

Moyock told her our names, introducing me as the 'White Chief Squire.' He asked with signs, "How do we call you?"

She said her name was "Le-ah-na." She repeated "Le-ah-na."

Moyock explained that we searched for other White Men like Squire Allen. "Naturals up the river told us White Men used to be at this place."

"Maybe long, long time ago." Leahna said. "My grandmother say some of our ancestors had white skin. They married into Natural tribe."

"Where are they now?"

"They all gone. Many killed by murderous neighbors. Only my clan stay. Others flee to west. Now they called Mandan."

D?V Allen



Mandan Moon