Eagle People (22 page)

Two riders rode hard for the stunted cottonwoods, but arrows from Lydia and Mongoose dropped them. The remaining two warriors pulled their horses around and immediately broke toward the hill. Arrows were released and both men fell from their mounts.

Lydia started to move forward, when Eldon stopped her with his arm, “Remain here until they have time to bleed a bit. Right now adrenaline may be keeping them alive, so they're still dangerous.”

“Okay, I wasn't thinking is all.”

“You've both been sick and this trip isn't helping either of you, in my opinion.” Eldon replied.

“I feel fine.” Mongoose said.

“You may feel fine, but I'm willing to bet your body still aches and needs more rest.”

“Well, you're right, I do need rest, but The People come first.”

After ten minutes, Eldon said, “Keep one horse each of the seven out there. Now, use some common sense here. If they move as you approach, put an arrow in their asses. Take no chances, okay?”

Lydia laughed and when she grew sober, she said, “Each of us is a proven warrior, so relax a little. We've all check injured men before.”

Eldon gave her a wink and said, “Let's get this over with.”

The five men near the trees were all dead, so they took what gear they needed from them, especially arrows, and also their food. As Mongoose and Eldon were packing the foods, Lydia said, “I will check the two on the hill.”

“No, not alone. I will ride with you.” Mongoose said.

“While you two are gone, I will cut the throats of the dead here.”

“Come, let's hurry, because we have miles to cover this day.” Lydia replied.

When they approached both men, they looked dead, so Lydia dismounted and walked to the first man, who was still breathing. Squatting beside the man, she pulled her knife and was leaning over to cut his throat when Mongoose yelled, “Behind you!”

Turning, the knife in her hand, she saw the other warrior trying to lift his bow. Her knife flew through the air and the blade stuck in the man's throat. Instantly he fell to to his back and began to choke as blood streamed from his neck. It was then Lydia felt a sharp pain near her kidney.

“He has a knife!” Mongoose yelled once more, pulled her bow back and sent an arrow into the man's chest. He gave a loud sigh, something rattled deep in his chest and he fell back, unmoving.  Slipping from her horse, she made her way to the man, where she cut this throat, but there was no choking.

“Did it go in deeply?” Lydia asked, gritting her teeth against the pain.

“I didn't see well, but deep enough. Can you ride?”

“Of course and I'm not in great pain. Let me wrap my injury first.” She then pulled a long strip of cotton material from her saddlebags and wrapped the wound. Mounting, Lydia said, “Let's get back where you can doctor me properly. I never saw a knife until your arrow struck him and it fell from his hand.”

Giving a weak grin, Mongoose replied, “Well, by God, they're both dead now.”

The ride to the trees was short and when they neared, Eldon asked, “What was all the noise about?”

“Lydia took a knife near her kidney.”

“Come over here and I'll start a fire. Once the fire is burning, I'll ride to the hill and watch our back trail. It's possible some the Northern Plains warriors are still coming, just slower than these men were. Their horses are all fine animals. Lydia, are you feeling weak?”

“Not really, but I got a bandage on the wound quickly. I've not lost much blood.”

“I hope it missed your kidney, or it'll be difficult for you to survive an injury like that. I suspect it missed or your pain level would be out of sight.” Eldon said as he moved toward his horse.

Pulling her flint, steel and a char rag, Mongoose gathered up some dried grasses, small twigs and sticks, and had them ready. Then, holding the flint in her left hand, she struck it hard with her steel and saw a bright sparkle drop to her char rag. As the rag smoked, she gently blew on the rag, until it burst into flames, then she added the dry grasses. Once the grasses were blazing, she added small pieces of wood gradually as the size of her fire increased. Soon, it was burning well.

“I'm moving to the hill now. Keep your weapons at the ready.” Eldon said from his horse. He turned and made his way quickly to the mound.

Mongoose helped Lydia remove her shirt and then had her lay on her belly. Looking the injury over closely she said, “I can't tell if a kidney was cut or not. I think not, or your pain would be great right now, but over the next few days watch to see if you are passing blood when you pee. Not anything we can do if you are passing blood, but it would allow us to keep a closer eye on you. Now, I'm going to cauterize your wound.”

“Give me some whiskey first. Good God, that'll about kill me.”

Handing her a bottle of alcohol, Mongoose said, “Two long chugs and that's it. I don't want you drunk when we ride out of here. We'll have to move too, because sooner or later, someone will come looking for these dead men.”

As Lydia took her drinks, Mongoose placed her knife blade in the fire and waited. When the blade was shimmering red, she picked it up and placed the flat of the blade against Lydia's wound. The woman jerked once, opened her mouth to scream, but passed out before she made a sound.

Mongoose poured alcohol on the burn and then wrapped the injury well. Unless it became infected or a kidney was damaged, she'd recover. The overpowering stench of burnt flesh filled the air and caused her to gag. She stood and then moved upwind.

An hour later, Eldon returned and said, “Mount, we need to be making tracks.”

Lydia groaned as she threw her leg over her horse and said, “It hurts more now than before you fixed me up.”

“It'll be sore as hell for a day or two, but overall it's the best way to treat a deep wound. We'll change the bandages daily and you'll be fine. When you need it, there is whiskey in your saddlebags.”

Three days later, with Lydia feeling almost normal, except for some soreness, they entered Cheyenne Mountain Country. It was mountains, pines and clean running streams, and so far they'd had fresh meat often. Game was plentiful and in a wide variety, too. The temperature was more agreeable, not too hot nor too cold. Mongoose figured the higher they rode into the mountain range the colder it would get, and she was correct.

It was a little after noon, as they rode up a narrow trail, that Eldon, who was riding in front stopped and said, “We're being watched; I feel it.”

Mongoose, riding second, said, “Keep riding. When they want us to stop, they'll make themselves known quick enough.”

“This is good, because it means they keep scouts out, like our Dog Soldiers.”

“Yep, but keep in mind, these men carry guns and not bows and arrows.” Mongoose said.

About a mile further, a man dressed in the faded remains of a camouflage uniform stepped from the woods. Mongoose saw he held a long gun in his hands and wore a pistol on his hip. He didn't point the gun at them as he asked, “State who you are and what you want. You are on the lands of the Cheyenne Mountain People.”

“I was here before with others and visited. I am Lydia of the Eagle People. We have come to speak to Colonel about many things. We were asked to return.”

The man gave a slight smile and said, “I remember you, because of your eyes. They speak of truth and honesty. Come, and we will visit Colonel.”

As they waited, ten men walked from the trees, all armed with long guns and pistols.

The men surrounded them as they moved toward the village. None of the Eagle People were concerned or apprehensive, because it was normal when escorting strangers. If the Cheyenne Mountain warriors wanted them dead, they'd be dead already. Bows and arrows were no match for guns in a fight.

Finally, after riding down a winding path for some distance, they entered a village unlike any Mongoose had ever seen before. The structures were made of logs and each had shutters, with firing ports cut in them, and doors made of heavy wood. The chimneys were made of clay and sticks, with the sticks stacked on each other to form a box that ran up about five feet above the roof. The clay, according to the leader of their escorts, was on both the inside and outside of the sticks to prevent fires.  Fireplaces were used in the buildings, instead of fire pits. He further explained the firing ports allowed them to close the shutters and then fire at attackers, or the shutters were closed in bad weather.  “Overall,” he said, “the buildings meet our needs.”

In the center of the village was a much larger building with two levels and a front porch. When they entered, a short man, just a bit over five feet tall, met them. He was of average weight, full head of hair and cleanly shaven face. His eyes were the same color as his auburn hair.

He met Lydia's eyes and said, “I remember you. Where are your friends?”

“Dead. When we returned small pox hit the village.” She then introduced Mongoose and Eldon.

“I'm sorry to hear this. Please, come in and let us eat and talk.”

The meal was excellent and about half way through, Eldon asked, “Colonel, what is this green plant?”

“It is called lettuce and we grow it in our garden. We grow most of our vegetables and even some of our meats. It makes it more enjoyable to pass a winter eating fresh foods and not being stuck with jerky or pemmican all the time. While jerky and pemmican can keep you alive, they get old real fast.”

When the meal was complete, the Colonel said, “Now, Mongoose, what can we, the Cheyenne Mountain People, do for the Eagle Clan?”

“The last time our people were here, you invited us to join you, correct?”

“That is true. Surely you have more than the three of you.”

Mongoose laughed and replied, “Yes, a couple hundred, or there were when we left. In these troubled times, one never knows what may happen when one is gone from home.”

“So, what is the real purpose of your visit?”

“See your facilities, hear what you can offer us, and explain what we can offer you. Then, I think, it'd be good to write down some laws and social rules. Both of our tribes have customs and traditions, some of which will be different.”

The Colonel laughed and said, “We're more or less a military unit. Than means our soldiers, or warriors as you call them, operated in squads of ten men or one hundred in a company. We have guns, likely the last in this part of the world, and a hillside of ammunition. See, before the fall, our facility had many tasks, most of which have been lost to us over the years. The men and women living here when our country collapsed, eventually married and raised families. All of the men and women here can trace their family name back to one of the original military members.”

Eldon thought and then asked, “What does military mean?”

“Essentially, the military is a number of armed units consisting of both men and women soldiers, who protect a nation or government. We live by almost the exact same standards as our ancestors did, but there are exceptions, like everything in life.”

Mongoose asked, “What is this flag that you worship?”

Laughing once again, the Colonel grew sober and said, “We do not worship our flag, but we do deeply respect it. It is a symbol of our nation, The Cheyenne Mountain People, and of the previous country that used to govern all of these lands—America. We hold the flag sacred, and raise and lower it each day. There is much more, but that should answer your question. To us, the flag symbolizes our motto; God, Country, and Duty.”

“You have no country now.”

“Of course we do, but it's smaller and has a different name. We all dream that one day this nation will come together as one people and be called America again.”

Eldon said, “That's an ambitious dream, Colonel.”

Smiling he said, “It costs no more to dream big than it does to dream small. Come and let me show you our supplies and the mountain complex. Keep in mind, some sections you will not see and will only be allowed to visit if you have a need to be there. We have many things that we do not tell people and some things must be kept secret. Once part of our tribe, if you have the need to know, you'll be allowed to go where you are required.”

Mongoose nodded and said, “It makes sense to me. However, understand right now, we'll have to blend our tribes together over time and allow for our customs and traditions to change as we grow as a single people. We cannot, nor can you, be expected to know all the laws and rules. So, I'd suggest, once my people are here, someone from your village give us a copy of your written laws and rules, and we'll do the same for you. Then, after reviewing the laws of both, we can all gather and vote on any changes.”

“That sounds fair to me and for both of us. Now, how do we establish a ruler? Who will be the leader?”

“I suggest, for a few years anyway, we share the responsibility between us. Later, after we're accustomed to each other, we can all vote for only one leader. Say, oh, four years down the line.”

“Agreed. We, you and I, can iron out the minor details later. Come, let me show you around.  Then, on your way back to your people, I will send one squad, ten soldiers, as an escort with you. They will be armed with weapons and whatever they'll need to assist you in reaching home safely. However, we will not issue any of you guns until we have a chance to properly train you here. Now, follow me.”  He stood and made his way out of the door, with the rest following.