Chapter Twenty-Five

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy – myself. – Native American Prayer

The Aha macave men gathered around the cold fire pit, drinking and eating a light meal, discussing their observations at the mine.

“Homar huwhen, did you see your brother?”

“No. Though there were many white men coming and going through the mouth of the mine, I did not see him. I do not know why he would not be with the other men. How do you know he is in this mine?”

“The wagons come only to this mine. The mouth is high on the mountain; no one can escape. They move Aha macave to other mines when wagon brings more white men.”

Another man spoke, “Empote quatacheech, the Army guards watched the mountains. They did not do this before.”

“They know. I do not know how. They wait for us to come.”

Everyone turned toward a commotion on the outskirts of the camp. An Aha macave man came into camp holding a knife at the neck of a soldier whose jacket was opened showing a white shirt streaked with blood. “We have been found. We must move.” A murmur grew in the camp. Empote quatacheech breathed deeply. “Homar huwhen, we must wait to free your brother.”

“He could die if we wait,” answered Adam.

“We will die if we do not. We will move and watch for a good time.”

“What will you do with him?” Adam asked, pointing to the soldier.

Empote quatacheech turned to the Aha macave holding the soldier. “Did he speak?”

“No, he would not speak.” Empote quatacheech made a cutting motion with his hand and the Aha macave slowly cut the man’s throat.

Adam could see the terror in the man’s eyes as the blade slowly sliced his neck, thick red blood flowing down his chest. Adam jerked his head away and down, his anger turning to fury at the cruelness of it.

“Homar huwhen, you look away in shame. He would not spare your life. The soldiers take pleasure in killing the Indian.”

“How do you know he was not following orders? When you give orders, do you not expect them to be followed?” asked Adam, angrily looking Empote quatacheech squarely in the eyes.

“All men choose good or bad. He chose to follow bad orders.”

“All soldiers are not bad. If you go in to kill, you will be killed.”

Empote quatacheech rose from the circle. “We are at war with the soldiers. We did not bring the war. We did not take their lands. We did not force them away. We will fight the white man’s Army to keep what is ours. We move.”  Everyone began to dismantle the camp.

Adam sat staring at the ground in front of him. Mike slowly moved to his side. “This is the way of my people. They would not kill if the soldiers did not kill them or take them from their lands.”

“This is why the white man believes the Aha macave are savages. Did you see that man’s shirt? That man was tortured,” Adam said furiously.

“It is no less than what they do to us. Because of this, they fear us yet they do these things. The soldiers are cowards.” She moved in front of him, squatting as close to him as she could get. “Adam, you must understand. When the Aha macave go to free your brother, there will be killing. The Aha macave will kill as many of the soldiers as they can. We may go in like a mouse, but we will leave like the big cat once we have your brother.”

“I won’t kill a soldier unless I have no other choice,” he said. She turned away. “Wait. We? You’re not going.”

“I will be the one to enter the cave to free your brother and the Aha macave there. I will be taking knives for them. If I am found, I will die before I let them take me. They will…do things…before they take me to the reservation.”

“This isn’t the kind of help I wanted.”

“It is the only help you will get.”