War of the Eagles (11 page)

The commander looked at his watch. “I don't sup–pose our friend has arrived yet. I've yet to meet an Indian who's ever been on time.”

From the way he said “friend,” I could tell the com–mander considered George Star to be something else. I did know what he meant, though, about him not being on time. It drove my father crazy when one of my mom's relatives would show up hours, or days late, or simply not come at all after saying they'd be there. The Tsimshian aren't really too interested in clocks and being on time.

I stayed out of sight in the kitchen. I could hear the two of them talking quietly but couldn't make out any of the words. I sat down in front of a mountain of pota–toes needing to be peeled before supper. About fifteen minutes passed before I heard the front door open once again. I was glad George had finally arrived and sneaked over to peek out through the kitchen doorway. To my surprise I couldn't see George. Or the commander. Major Brown sat by himself at the table, his back to me.

He turned and saw me. “You might as well come out, Jed, there's nobody else here.”

I walked out and he turned around. “Well, Jed, that certainly wasn't very helpful.”

“No sir,” I answered, looking away.

“Could you bring me two pieces of that pie, Jed?”

“Two?” I questioned.

“You do want the second piece, don't you?”

“Yeah, definitely,” I said enthusiastically.

“Good. See if your mother also wishes to join us.”

Major Brown was like two different guys. When the men were around he never smiled, or joked or acted friendly. All of the men respected him. Some even feared him. When there was nobody around, though, he was completely different. His face softened, his walk and talk slowed and he smiled. I bet there were people, lots of people, in this camp who figured he didn't even know how to smile. My mother said this was the “real” man and not to take the other side of him too seriously, he was just doing his job.

I returned to the kitchen. My mother plunged a knife into the pastry and a puff of steam escaped into the air. I told her what the major had asked and she cut two pieces, putting them on plates and then onto a tray. She next took a big spoon and scooped out some vanilla ice cream and placed it on the top of the two pieces of pie. She handed me the tray and walked ahead.

“That smells wonderful, Mrs. Blackburn, just won–derful.”“Thanks. You'll find that it tastes even better than it smells,” she responded, taking a seat across from him.

“Coffee, sir?” I asked.

“Please, Jed,” he said motioning to me to sit. “I think I can help myself.” He got up from his seat and walked to the kitchen where my Mom kept the big coffee urn.

He had no sooner left when the door to the mess hall opened. George Star peeked his head in the door. It had been a couple of years since I'd seen him and he was a lot older than I remembered.

“Naomi! Jed! What a surprise to see you two here,” he said as he came into the room. He moved slowly with a limp.

“Good to see you, George. Major Brown told us you were coming,” my mother said. “I'm the cook around here and Jed helps out and does a little hunting.”

“The major … that's the fella I'm looking for.”

“He's in the kitchen, getting himself a coffee. Want one?”

“Sure, that would be nice.”

“What you want in it?” she asked.

“Black, lots of sugar.”

“Hey, Major!” my mother yelled. “Can you bring another coffee … black … plenty of sugar!” She turned to George. “How's the family?”

“Can't complain. Oldest grandson hurt his leg some working over in the cannery, but most are doing good. And how's your family?”

“We're all well. Mom is doing well, busy like always.”

“You make sure you say hello to her for me. Wise woman. I hope you listen to her stories, Jed. You'll learn a lot about our people, a lot about yourself,” he said.

I liked listening to my Naani's stories, but I didn't understand how he figured I could learn anything about myself from them.

“There's some chill in the air this morning. When November starts this way it's going to be a cold winter ahead,” George said.

“That's just what Naani was saying,” I added.

Major Brown came back into the room carrying two coffees. I caught the look of surprise and then saw his face transform. His smile vanished and he put on his “Major” face. His steps became shorter and sharper and he straightened his back.

“Thanks, Major Brown,” my mother said. “That second coffee's for George here. You two haven't met, have you?”

“No, we haven't,” Major Brown replied, extending his hand to shake.

George rose slightly from his chair and shook hands.

“Good to meet you, Major. I'm George Star. Thanks for the coffee,” he said as he raised the mug to his mouth.

“Do you think there might be some space alongside that coffee for a slice of pie?” my mother asked.

“I think there might.”

My mother rose from her seat. I got up as well. I went to the corner to start getting things ready for the supper rush.

“The commander left. You are almost an hour late,”

Major Brown stated formally.

George shrugged his shoulders.

Mom returned with two pieces of pie. She put a gen–erous slice in front of George and a smaller, second one by the major. Both thanked her and she disappeared back into the kitchen.

“Bad scene in Rupert last night,” George commented.

“Definitely. A number of my men, as well as a number of others, including some Tsimshian, were hurt. I think we have to do something before somebody gets more seriously hurt or even killed,” Major Brown said.

“Makes sense. Do you have any ideas?”

“I would like you to talk to the Indians about not drinking. It is against the law.”

“If you don't want ‘em to drink any, you shouldn't sell ‘em any.”

“I cannot control all of the bars and hotels and moonshiners in Prince Rupert, Mr. Star,” the major answered curtly.

George took another long sip from his coffee. “I was just hoping you could control your men. The biggest bootleggers in town all seem to be wearing Canadian army uniforms.”

“My men! That is absurd! Do you have any proof to back up these serious accusations?”

“Just a bunch of drunken Indians, and who believes a bunch of Indians? Nobody talks to ‘em, just takes their money, busts ‘em on the head and throws ‘em in jail.”

There was silence as they drained their coffee cups.

The two men sat, staring at each other. I cleared out of the dining room and through the door to the kitchen.

“Here,” my mother said, pushing a tray into my hands. “Bring them more coffee.”

“I can't go back in there.”

“Do what you're told,” she said, quietly, but with a cold look of authority in her eyes.

I walked into the room, carrying the cups of steaming coffee, careful not to stumble. I was afraid to breathe. Both men looked in my direction as I stopped beside them.

“Coffee?” I asked as I stood before them.

“Thank you, Jed,” Major Brown answered.

“Thanks, Jed,” George said.

I put the coffee down on the table and each man took one.

“Good coffee,” George noted. “Your mother's put a little bit of seasoning in here, hasn't she?”

“I think so. Something Naani picks from the forest.”

“So you've been doing some hunting.”

I nodded my head.

“We're very grateful to have both Jed and his mother here at the camp.”

I smiled and felt my face get a little flushed. My mother entered the mess hall and started setting out the trays and plates for dinner. I went over to help.

“Mr. Star, I give you my word, my personal word, I will look into this accusation. If liquor is being spread through my camp, it will be dealt with. I am going to talk to my men. You have my word.”

“That would be good,” George replied.

“I will also talk to the men in general, and my MPs specifically, to discuss the way they handle the Indians.

I'm going to make sure they realize they are here to protect the people, all the people, and that includes the Indians.”

“Ahh … protect us from what?”

“From invasion, of course.”

“A little late to help us there.”

“What do you mean?”

There was silence. I knew George was taking his time before answering. This might have been because he was thinking, or more likely, to show respect for the ques–tion and the seriousness of the answer. My grandfather had explained to me once that natives think a quick answer to a question shows disrespect for the person who asked the question.

“You got to understand, Major, for us the invasion happened a hundred years ago. We were our own na–tions for thousands of years before any whites came to this continent. So Japanese or Canadian army doesn't make much difference.”

“Surely you cannot compare the two. Have you not read or heard of the things the Japanese are doing as they've swept across Asia?”

“I've read some. It may be different, kinder here, but the same in the end,” George answered. He got up from his seat and slowly walked over to the window facing the parade grounds. He pulled back the curtain and stared out.

“Don't think I've ever seen an eagle like that, all tied up,” George said. “Where'd it come from?”

“It was wounded by gunfire,” Major Brown explained.

“It was found on the outskirts of camp two weeks ago, hungry and dying. The men brought it in. We feed it. It's become the unofficial mascot of the camp.” The major got up from the table and moved over to the window.

“And I bet you people treat it pretty good. Feed it, protect it, things like that,” George continued.

“Yes, it is treated well. Jed here, along with his mother, is mainly in charge of it.”

“I'm sure Jed's doing a fine job. Still, I bet it snaps at people, doesn't want them too close.”

“Well, yes, it is a wild creature,” Major Brown conceded.

“That's right, a wild creature. Meant to be flying around these mountains, not tied down to any pole.

Treat it good or bad, it don't matter none, it still wants to be free. I got to go now,” George said.

“But we're not through talking,” the major objected.

“I am. Talked more today than I like. Thanks for the coffee and pie. Jed, Naomi, take care of yourselves and say hi to your family.”

“Mr. Star, we have things that need to be discussed, decisions to be made.”

“Tell ya what. Tomorrow or the next day, you come and see me and we'll talk.” He turned and left. Major Brown remained at the window. My mother and I looked at each other. She walked over and stood beside him.

“I just don't understand these people,” he said.

“Do you want to understand?” she asked.

“Of course, I do!”

“Major, you've always treated Jed and me good. With respect. It's important to show people respect.”

Major Brown smiled at her. “So you're saying I didn't give George any respect. Is that right?”

“Of course,” my mother explained. “You hardly gave him any respect. Since he's an elder of our tribe, he should be shown complete respect. Like you'd show to a general.”

“Can you tell me what I did that was so disrespectful?”

“Well, you wanted to meet with George and then you ordered him up here.”

“I didn't order him to come!” Major Brown objected.

“Of course, you did. You sent some soldiers in their jeep to tell him to come here. Even if they did say please, and they probably didn't, it was still an order.

Then when he does come here, the first words out of your mouth are to scold him for being late, and then you call him a liar when he tells you that your men are selling booze to the locals.”

Major Brown nodded. “That all wasn't too bright, I agree, but that wasn't all of it, was it?”

“No. I knew there'd be trouble when he saw that eagle.”

“What about the eagle? We're just trying to nurse it back to health. We couldn't just leave it or it would have died.”

“You're probably right. But, sometimes it's better to die free than live all chained up like that. Isn't that what this whole war over in Europe is all about?”

“Why … why … yes it is,” Major Brown frowned.

“Eagles are important to our people and especially to our clan. Jed and me and all our family are part of the eagle clan. Our ancestors can take on the form of eagles when they pass over. You may not believe it, but we do. We see an eagle up there and we think good things. Not just that it's powerful or free or beautiful, but maybe that it's watching over us. We honor them, we don't go shooting them down out of the sky.”

Major Brown looked away.

“You got to remember my people feel like that eagle chained out to your flagpole. We've had so much taken away; so much that belonged to us is gone, forever.” There was a pause, a long pause. “Now, all that seems left to some of them is to snap and claw and fight. Like the eagle.”

He shook his head slowly. “I wish we'd had this con–versation before I had the meeting. Things might have had a better chance to come out all right.”

“It's not too late. He likes you,” she replied.

“He likes me! You must be joking.”

“Nope. He didn't end the meeting forever, just for today. He gave you an invite to come and see him. That's important.”

The major smiled, just a little, but he smiled.

“And Major, you'll do better.”

“Do you really think so?”

“For sure,” she answered. I could see a smile flowing from her eyes. “It has to be better than this meeting.”

.8.