Chapter 17

Lucy stepped out of the truck and went around to the back to get her suitcase. Before she had a chance to pick it up, Ken had grabbed it while looking at her as if she should have known he'd carry it. The van with Linda and Ed pulled up beside the car.

Looking around the parking lot in front of the country hotel, William said, "We'll get checked in and then I need to get on down the road."

"Are you sure that you don't want me to come?"

"Lucy, I'd love for you to come, but you can't. This is something that I have to do alone," answered William as his mother stopped beside him to listen to the exchange. He nudged a small people with the toe of his boot.

Ken shook his head and said, "If your father wasn't here..."

"He is and you won't," said William knowing that Ken didn't feel right about him going to the ranch without an escort.

"I could go with you," said Linda.

"You could, but you shouldn't. I need to face them as Talks With Animals. If I were a little older or a little younger, you could go and no one would think anything of it. However, they are going to be judging me and I need to stand alone," said William. If he were a little older, no one would think twice about his mother going with him. They'd be going as equals to share in an important event. If he were a little younger, no one would think that he was being insecure by coming with his mother since she'd have to take him there.

Earning a dirty look from Lucy and Linda, Ed said, "He speaks the truth, Linda. There's no use complaining about it. Let's check in."

The group entered the hotel with Ken in the lead. The building had a lobby that was far larger than was typical for a hotel. Until the birth of the White Buffalo, the restaurant and providing space for meetings, hosted by various civic clubs, were the primary sources of income for the hotel.

Tables, surrounded by chairs, were scattered about the lobby. A good number of the chairs were occupied and the people paid little attention to William and Linda. While the presence of two more Native Americans in the hotel lobby went unnoticed, all eyes were on Ed since he was wearing his black robe. Few people had seen a Druid up close and none had ever seen a black robed Druid. While people were marveling over Ed, Ken went up to the counter and arranged for three rooms.

They had been in the lobby for five minutes before Kotyit entered the lobby. His arrival drew eyes from Ed. A gasp went up from the handful of Native Americans waiting around the lobby when Kotyit said, "William, it is good to see you again."

As murmurs of 'Talks With Animals' filled the air, William turned to his old friend and said, "I didn't know you were coming. You could have flown with us."

Trying to look grumpy, Kotyit said, "I don't think I could have taken your company that long."

Laughing, William retorted, "That's a two way street, old man."

"You need to learn how to respect your elders, young pup," replied Kotyit with a grin. He put a hand on William's shoulder in a sign of affection. Looking at the young man, he added, "So today is the day you visit the White Buffalo."

"Yes," William answered. With his answer, the majority of people in the lobby decided that it was time to head out to the ranch so that they would be able to watch what happened when William met the White Buffalo.

As the lobby suddenly cleared out, Ken came over with keys to three rooms. Reaching the small cluster of people, he said, "We're all checked in."

Watching as Ken handed William a key to one of the rooms, Kotyit said, "I guess you'll be leaving soon for the ranch. I'm going to change into my good clothes and then I'll see you there."

Looking over at Lucy, William said, "I'll be leaving in about half an hour. We've got to put our luggage in our room."

Smiling wryly, the old man winked at Lucy and asked, "It'll take you half an hour to do that, huh?"

Lucy blushed as she replied, "Maybe longer."

Laughing at the prime and proper tone of voice Lucy used in answering, Linda said, "That's the hope of a young woman in love. I'd count on fifteen minutes, max. If he's at all like Ed, I'd settle for five minutes."

Shaking his head, Ed crossed his hands over his heart as he said, "Ugh. That's cold."

Kotyit laughed at the exchange as he walked away. Over his shoulder, he said, "Us old men take that long to figure out how to get out of our clothes."

The key let them into a basic room with two double beds, a night table between the beds, a low dresser with a television on it, and a table with two chairs. The window was covered with a curtain that didn't quite span the entire width of the window. An air conditioner built through the wall under the window struggled to keep the room cool enough to be considered warm. The carpet had seen better days.

William sat down on one of the double beds holding his head between his hands. He rubbed his temple with the tips of his fingers. Lucy moved to sit behind him and rubbed his shoulders trying to ease the tension within them. The muscles were hard little rocks under her hands. In a soft voice, she said, "You're worried."

"I'm tired," said William. He could tell by the pressure of her hands on his shoulders that she didn't believe him. Wishing he had the time to take a quick swim, he added, "I guess I'm a little nervous about what might happen."

"Life has dealt us a weird hand. Nothing about our lives is normal. We talk and act like adults, but we're still kids. Other kids our age are worried about their prom. You're about to meet the White Buffalo. You have a right to be a little concerned about what happens," Lucy said.

"Maybe you're right," said William, although he didn't sound convinced.

Lucy wrapped her arms around him and kissed his neck. After more than a year spent with him, she knew his moods. She said, "I know you, William. What's really the matter?"

"I never foresaw any of this," William said touching upon his real fear. There were huge blank spots in his ability to see the future. Those blank spots revolved around events in which he was a critical player. He was afraid of doing the wrong thing at a critical point.

"And that worries you?" Lucy asked knowing his answer.

"Yes, it does."

"Well, join the club. Everyone else goes through life not knowing what is going to happen from one minute to the next. It forces us to make contingency plans. We deal with the unexpected the best we can. I'll admit that sometimes that means we lie awake at night worrying about things falling apart. Most of the time; our fears never come true. Occasionally they do. That's life."

"You're right," said William with a sigh.

"Of course I am. I'm smarter than you are," Lucy said with a smile knowing that she was about the only person in his life that could get away with saying that. As William turned to look at her, she attempted a vacuous expression while posing like a supermodel. She couldn't carry off the vacuous look, but did manage to look like a supermodel.

William laughed at her attempt to look vacuous while appreciating her supermodel pose. He said, "You're extremely smart, devastatingly pretty, and sexy beyond belief."

"You had better keep that in mind when you're visiting that White Buffalo, buster."

"Why?" William asked.

"So you keep the visit short and come back here for a little lovin' from me!" For a second, she managed to pull off the vacuous look.

The August sun, hot even in South Dakota, beat down on the corral. The odors of manure, hay, and plants growing drifted in the gentle breeze. The sounds of summer filled the air. The bright sun washed out the colors and hurt the eyes.

A crowd of people was gathered around a corral; their attention focused on a three-month-old buffalo calf frolicking beside its mother. The young buffalo behaved like every other calf in the herd. It would move a little ways from its mother while kicking its hooves into the air and then return after a time to suckle. The only thing that distinguished it from the others was its white color.

A short distance away, a small crowd was watching the road leading up to the ranch. The rattle of a pickup truck moving down the dirt road carried for a mile. More people moved away from the corral and joined the group watching the road. A sense of expectation hung in the air although no one present was willing to put into words what they expected to happen.

The truck rattled its way up the road and finally came to a halt in front of the crowd. The driver stepped out and stretched before turning to the crowd. Seeing the attention being given him, Kotyit said, "He'll be here in about ten minutes."

A groan of disappointment rose from the crowd. The people milled around the field talking in little groups. It was much later when William pulled up driving a rental truck. He was alone. Despite her protests, Linda had stayed behind with the rest of the family.

Turning off the motor, William looked around the crowd gathered by the road and shook his head. They were there for him and not the White Buffalo. Shaking his head, he corrected himself - they were there to watch Talks With Animals meet the White Buffalo. The fact that he had no idea what was going to happen next scared him as much as facing the black pit.

William stepped out of the truck to find himself the center of quiet attention. No one said a word; they just watched him. He looked at the people trying to guess their emotions, but the expressions on their faces were so diverse that it was impossible to give a mood for the crowd. The handful of people who were hostile did not surprise William. He knew that his relationship with the Gods and Goddesses was a sore point among many. It was felt that he would sell their beliefs to new age con-artists. The looks of adoration scared him even more than the hostile looks.

There was no reason to postpone his visit to the White Buffalo any longer. Walking towards the corral, he tried to keep a relaxed step while a small crowd of people gathered behind him. They kept their distance as if they were afraid to be too close to him when he finally reached the corral. By the time he had reached his destination, it was lined with people wanting to see what would happen.

There was a section around the corral where no one else stood and it was to that section that William made his way. On reaching the fence, he climbed between the wooden slats. He felt alone and vulnerable, facing a calf with its mother nearby. The mother could stomp him into the ground and no one would be able to save him. Not having seen this moment in any of his visions, he felt afraid.

The sense of expectation was so high, that he didn't know if it would be better if something happened or if nothing happened. If something happened, he would be viewed with even greater awe. If nothing happened, a lot of people would be disappointed. Not for the first time he wondered if this visit was a good idea. Kotyit, noticing his hesitation, winked at him in support.

The calf left its mother and trotted to stand in front of William. Their eyes locked and, for William, the rest of the world disappeared. He saw only the eyes of the White Buffalo. Heart pounding, he did not see it bow to him. Without knowing that he was speaking, William shouted, "Talks with Animals, it is good and fitting that you have come to give my words to the people. I have waited long for this day."

The crowd stared wide-eyed at the scene before them. Chills ran up and down their spines as William spoke in a voice that had an odd echoing quality to it. There was a blank expression on his face. It looked as though his spirit had fled his body. His normally dark body had turned pale.

"I have three messages to deliver. Every three moons, I shall talk through a representative of the people. Many shall come to me, but I shall select the person who will carry my message to others through words and deeds.

"The first shall be a warrior who has fought well for the people and has done so without taking a life. My message is one of strength and peace. The second shall be a woman who has worked with great diligence for the health and welfare of the people. My message is one of loving and healing. The last shall be a child, for children are the future of the people. My message is of growth and the future.

"Talks With Animals, I give you my thanks for all that you have done, and will do, on behalf of your peoples, both red and white."

A second after speaking the last word, William collapsed to the ground like a rock. No one rushed to help him as something miraculous was occurring only a few feet from his unconscious body. When William had fallen, the White Buffalo had rolled on the ground. Its coat changed to a light red color. A murmur of awe spread through the crowd at the sight.

Upon rising, the calf returned to its mother and started to suckle. The action broke the spell that held people in place. Several men ran to where William was lying on the ground. William looked young, weak and vulnerable. Kotyit directed one of the men to pick up William and carry him from the corral.

As the man carried William to the ranch house, the crowd parted and watched with respect. The few who had been angry were angry no more. How could they be angry when the White Buffalo had thanked William for his service? All stood quiet as William was taken into the house.

"Where am I?" William asked when he finally regained consciousness.

Seated in a wood chair next to the couch on which William was recovering, Kotyit answered, "You are in the ranch house."

"Ah," said William as his memory of what had occurred in the corral returned.

"Do you remember what happened?"

"Yes, but it seems as if it happened to someone else," answered William. His memory of the meeting was as if he was outside his body looking down upon the scene.

Kotyit nodded and patted William on the shoulder. In a teasing voice, he said, "Talks With Animals, you must enjoy being the center of attention. You were the youngest graduate of the college, you destroy an ancient curse, and now you serve as voice for the White Buffalo. I fear that you are going to have to screw up big time to get your life back."

Smiling at the obvious teasing by the older man, William asked, "So what can I screw up without really screwing up?"

The deep chuckling laughter from Kotyit filled the room. Shaking his head, he said, "I wouldn't hazard a guess, my friend."

William slowly sat up feeling dizzy from the effort. He rolled his head trying to work out the tension in his neck. In a soft voice, he asked, "How long was I out?"

"Three hours."

"I take it my family and Lucy are here."

"Yes. Ed is outside playing with the warriors. Linda and Lucy are in the kitchen waiting for me to call them here."

"Playing with the warriors?" William asked. The idea of his father playing with the warriors was as surprising as the events in the corral.

"Yes. Your father is out there telling lawyer jokes," Kotyit answered with a grin. Since many of the warriors were studying law and political science, telling lawyer jokes made about as much sense as tugging on a tiger's tail.

William chuckled at the image of his father teasing the lawyers. Smiling, he said, "I'm sure that he's making lots of friends."

Kotyit said, "I guess that's the Druid version of counting coup. It definitely takes courage to do that."

"Speaking of courage, I suppose it is time for me to face the women. I'm sure they're worried about me," William said.

"Not all that worried. They took one look at you and said that you were fine," Kotyit said looking across the room trying to keep his face under control.

"Really?" William asked. He didn't believe the old man for a single minute.

"What do you think? They're worried sick," said Kotyit. He turned and shouted, "Linda! Lucy! He's awake!"

The pair of women rushed into the room. Linda paused to allow Lucy to go to William first while Lucy paused to allow Linda to go first. They looked at each other and then laughed. William stood and held out his arms for both women. Linda came over and hugged him for a few seconds before stepping back. Lucy stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

"I thought I told you to return to the hotel as quick as you could. I sat there for hours trying to look sexy for your return," Lucy teased.

"I'm sorry I missed that," William said with real regret in his voice.

Concerned at his serious response to her tease, Lucy asked, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," William answered.

His mother asked, "Are you sure, you're alright?"

"I'm positive that I'm alright," William answered. Grinning, he said, "With four mothers and a fiancee, I can see that I'm going to be repeating myself five times over. It would probably be easier to say that I'm not okay. At least then I won't get any argument."

Lucy smiled at the complaint and said, "He's alright."

"You're right," Linda said looking relieved.

Looking at William, Lucy understood that he wanted to talk with Kotyit about what had happened earlier. She knew the men would smoke a couple of cigarettes while discussing the matter. As much as she hated the smell of tobacco on his breath, she knew it wasn't her place to demand that he not smoke in these circumstances. She'd watched the way in which the men treated tobacco and recognized it as an important ritual.

Gesturing to Linda, she said, "I suggest we go back in the kitchen now and leave the men to discuss what happened."

William watched the pair leave the living room thankful that Lucy understood his need to talk with his mentor. Turning to Kotyit, he asked, "Where can we smoke without being disturbed?"

"Manny Gray Cloud is out back waiting for us," answered the old man rising from his seat.

William recognized the name as belonging to the owner of the ranch. He followed his friend out to the backyard of the house. A man with a long braid down his back was leaning against a post that supported a patio cover. Wearing blue jeans, plaid shirt, and cowboy boots, the man was the very image of a Native American rancher. He turned to look at William and Kotyit. In a rough voice, he said, "Talks With Animals, it is a pleasure to meet you."

William examined the weathered face of his host. There were laugh lines at the corners of his eyes. His neck and hands sported the crossed wrinkles that accompanied long exposure to the sun. The hands were callused from years of hard physical labor. He said, "Manny Gray Cloud, the pleasure is mine."

Manny went over to one of the chairs and took a seat. He gestured to the other chairs. Before taking a seat, William pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket and handed it over to his host as a gift. Manny accepted the pack and opened it. After pulling out a cigarette, he handed the pack over to Kotyit. Consistent with sharing tobacco, Kotyit took a cigarette and then handed the pack to William. William took out a cigarette and gave the pack back to Manny. The men lit up and settled into their chairs.

Almost a minute passed before Manny said, "It really is the White Buffalo."

"You had doubts?" asked Kotyit looking at the other man.

"I was worried that I'd go down in our history as the man who gave false hope to his people," answered Manny with real relief in his voice. He'd spent nights lying in bed worried that the calf would turn out not to be the White Buffalo.

"Now they will blame me if something bad happens to the calf," William said shaking his head.

Kotyit took a long drag off his cigarette while staring off at the distant horizon. He exhaled, blowing the smoke up to the sky as he considered William's words. In a measured voice, he said, "It is time to move the calf to a more isolated location where it can be guarded."

"People want to see the calf," Manny said fully aware that hiding the calf would create an uproar of protest amongst the Native American population.

Nodding his head in agreement with that assessment, Kotyit said, "We'll have to find an open place where no one can sneak up and harm the calf. Our people can still see the calf, but they'll have to go a ways and pass through a lot more security to get there."

William took a drag off his cigarette and thought about it. In a soft voice, he said, "I will pay for the security if we can allow two of my mothers to design and install it."

"You'll pay?" asked Kotyit.

"How much could it cost? We put a couple of guards out," Manny said wondering what William meant about it costing money. He could get a dozen Native Americans to serve as guards.

Shaking his head to signal his disagreement, William said, "I figure an adequate security arrangement will cost around twenty million. We'll need motion sensors, infrared cameras, metal detectors, and guard stations. By the time Ling and Claire are done, a mouse won't be able to fart without setting off alarms."

"Are your mothers Native Americans?" Manny asked smiling at the image of a mouse farting in the field.

"Ling is of Chinese descent and Claire is Black," William answered realizing that there could be a problem with his suggestion. Looking over at Kotyit, he asked, "Will that be a problem?"

"Might be. It would be more of a problem if they were White," answered the old man thinking about the matter. Sighing, he added, "It's good they aren't Druids."

William understood what Kotyit was saying. A sizable proportion of the Sioux had very mixed feelings about the Druids. They perceived the Druids as being in league with the new age con men who were selling Native American beliefs for a profit. William knew that a lot of the problem was that the beliefs they were selling were falsified. The only thing that kept those who were most negative from acting against the Druids was the fact that John Carter, the first Grand Druid, had funded the Native American College.

Manny asked, "What happens now that the White Buffalo has spoken through William?"

Kotyit answered, "I will talk to Eskieah about calling for a Powwow of the five hundred tribes for the purpose of discussing how to protect the White Buffalo and about arranging for the warriors to present themselves. I will see that your mothers are invited to present a case for handling security."

Nodding his agreement, William put out his cigarette after taking a last drag from it and slipped the butt into the back pocket of his jeans. Looking at the other two men, he said, "I'll see that Linda teaches them how to address the council."

"Good."

"I think it would be best if I wasn't present at the Powwow."

"You're probably right," Kotyit said feeling sorry for William. There was a lot of pressure on the young man to deal with the politics of all the tribes.

"Now that this matter is settled, I'd like to join my family and go back to the hotel," William said slapping his thigh. Grinning at Kotyit, he said, "You suggested that I screw up. How about I leave my father here so that he can tell more lawyer jokes?"

"That would definitely ruin your popularity around here," Kotyit said with a smile.

"I'll risk it," said William feeling much better. Standing up, he said, "I'll head out now."

Knowing that William wouldn't like what he was about to say, Kotyit frowned before he said, "First, you must talk to the people gathered around the corral."