Chapter 30

Sunday afternoon found William sitting in the backyard enjoying the sun while sipping on a soft drink. It was a beautiful day with very few clouds in the great blue sky. The sun was warm, but the soft breeze blowing from the north was cool. He closed up his light jacket to keep the cool air from chilling him. He sighed in contentment as he took another sip of his soda.

Looking around at the neighboring yards, he noticed Mark step out the back door of one of the houses across from him. Raising an arm, he shouted, "Hello."

Mark looked around before spotting William and headed over towards him with a shout of greeting. "Hello."

Putting one hand on the top of the fence and swinging his body, Mark hopped the fence to the alley and made his way to the gate of the chain link fence at the back of William's yard. He opened the gate and walked over to where William was seated.

Gesturing to one of the chairs, William asked, "What are you up to this afternoon?"

"I was supposed to see Birdie, but she got some call about a bird that got injured." He sat down on the offered chair and looked around.

"Ah," William replied. His cell phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket. There was a text message telling him to call Derrick along with a telephone number. It took William several seconds to realize it was the Derrick from South Dakota. Frowning, he looked at the number for a second and then said, "Excuse me, I had better contact this person. It could be important."

Not really believing that someone his age would receive an important call, Mark shrugged his shoulders with indifference. Lots of kids used their cell phones to look and act more important than they were. He decided that it was nice to know even kids of William's background were the same.

Curious, William dialed the number. When Derrick answered, he said, "Derrick, this is William. I got a message that you called."

"Thank God you've called. I didn't know who else to call," Derrick said as his words tripped over themselves on the way out of his mouth. His voice was excited, but not in a happy way.

The emotion in the voice on the other end of the phone intrigued William. He couldn't figure out what had gotten the man so upset. He asked, "What's the matter?"

"They're going to kill that White Buffalo."

William sat up straight at the announcement. Even Mark picked up the sudden concern on William's face and wondered if it was just possible that he did get important calls. William asked, "What are you talking about?"

"Some of the guys were talking about going out to the ranch where the White Buffalo lives. They were saying that they were going to shoot it before the Indians had a chance to move it."

"When are they planning on doing it?"

"Tonight. I'm sorry for the short notice, but I just learned about it. This was the first chance I've had to let you know," Derrick answered. The regret in Derrick's voice was clear to hear.

"That's okay. You've given us enough warning," William said as he calculated the logistics of getting his mothers to South Dakota in time to react.

"Well, I just couldn't stand by and do nothing."

Knowing the personal price that Derrick was going to pay for making that call, William said, "I really appreciate the warning. I'm sorry that you had to make this call. I know that it puts you in a horrible position with respect to your friends."

Derrick was silent for a moment and then, with real anger in his voice, said, "What kind of friends would put me in a position like this? I've been telling them for two months to leave that animal and the Indians alone, but they won't do it."

"I'm really sorry," William said. He knew that Derrick had to live with those people after this. More than likely they would know that Derrick had informed on them. In a gentle voice, he said, "Look, let me know if you need to leave the area."

Derrick swore, "Shit, if I can't take care of those bastards then I don't deserve to live. They're cowards. At least you stood up to me, straight up and willing to go all out. I respect that. The way they are sneaking around just disgusts me."

William had to suppress a laugh and said, "I'm sure it does. Let me call my mother and get her up there."

The shiver his words induced in Derrick could almost be heard over the phone. Derrick said, "Don't tell me that Ling is coming here."

"Yes. She'll take care of the situation," William said.

Derrick said, "I guess I better buy a suit 'cause those guys aren't going to be around for much longer. God, I hate funerals."

"I'll tell her to use restraint. I'll expressly ask her not to kill too many people."

"Don't bother. They're the one's who picked this fight," Derrick said. He was silent for a minute and then said, "If she wants some help, let me know."

"I will let her know that."

"Thanks. Bye," Derrick said right before hanging up.

William stared at the phone for a minute and then dialed his mother's number. She answered on the third ring. The irritation in her voice was clear when she asked, "Call to brag that I still haven't found you?"

"I got a call from Derrick in South Dakota. He told me some guys are planning on killing the White Buffalo tonight," answered William. He could hear Ling drop something as she turned her entire attention to the phone call. On hearing the topic discussed, Mark stared at William incredulous at the nature of the call.

"I need as many details as you can provide. I need to know when, where, who, and how," said Ling.

"I can't tell you that. I've got Derrick's number. He said that he would be happy to help you," William said.

Ling was quiet for a moment and then asked, "Can I trust him?"

"Yes."

"Give me his number. I'll call him while Claire and I are on route there."

William gave her the number. As soon as she had repeated it to him, she hung up without saying goodbye. William smiled as he folded up the cell phone and said, "I love you too, Momma Ling."

Mark had listened only to the one end of the conversation with eyes that were the size of saucers. When William put the phone away, he asked, "What was that about?"

"Some men are planning on killing the sacred White Buffalo. I sent two of my mothers to take care of it," answered William.

"Aren't you worried?" Mark asked wondering how someone could send his mother into what had to be a dangerous situation.

"Not at all. I knew this was going to happen. I just didn't know when."

"What do you mean, you knew this was going to happen?"

William sighed and then took a sip of his soft drink. Looking over at Mark, he said, "I knew this day was coming for two months. Now it is here. Today, a man just earned his redemption by turning his back on forces that were dragging him down. Tomorrow, he'll be a new man with a new future."

"A new future?" Mark asked in confusion. As far as he knew, there was only one future and no one knew what it was.

Smiling, William added, "My mother will see to that."

"What about your mother?"

"She'll take care of him and see that he comes out of this situation in good shape."

"No, I meant aren't you worried about your mother going into a dangerous situation?"

William answered, "I know a dozen of the most lethal people in the world. These are people who can and will kill if necessary. Most of them have already killed hundreds of people. My two mothers are among the most dangerous of them all."

"Who do you know that's so dangerous?" Mark asked wondering if the guy was making up stories just to impress him.

"Momma Ling, Momma Claire, Oscar Meyers, Oliver Brown, Jimmy Lee, Penny Vinter, and my little sister Betsy."

Mark didn't recognize any of the names except Oliver Brown. He remembered that the guy had spent some time in South America fighting drug lords before becoming the Grand Druid. He asked, "So who's the most dangerous?"

William was silent for a moment as he considered the answer. Shrugging his shoulder, he answered, "I guess that would probably have to be me."

"Oh."

"So why didn't you go see Birdie?" William asked in an attempt to change the subject.

"She's busy with some injured bird."

"You could help her."

"Are you trying to set me up with her?"

The laughter that came from William was easy and heartfelt. He asked, "What? I send you over to help an attractive young woman and you complain?"

Shaking his head, Mark said, "Hey, we're talking about Birdie."

"Yes and she needs you almost as much as you need her," William said.

The suggestion that they needed each other caused Mark to burst out in laughter. Shaking his head, he asked, "Why do you say that?"

"She needs you so that she can gain acceptance amongst her peers," William answered in a very serious tone of voice. There was no hint of a smile on his face.

The answer surprised Mark. He could see how he could open doors amongst her peers just by inviting her to join him in his normal activities. He asked, "Why do you say that I need her more than she needs me?"

"You are adrift. She will point you in the direction that you need to go. You definitely need to find a direction for your life more than she needs acceptance."

"What do you mean?" Mark asked defensively. William was beginning to sound a lot like his father.

"You are a senior in high school. You haven't applied to any colleges. You haven't even thought of applying to any colleges. You don't have a job and you don't have any plans to get one. You don't even have any major hobbies. Still, you are content to just relax and hang out with your friends."

It was amazing how closely William echoed what his father had been telling him for the past two years. Mark stared at the young man wondering how he knew so much about his life. This was only the second time they had met and the topic of his lack of plans for the future had never arisen. Stuttering, he asked, "How did you know that?"

"I just know things," William answered with a tired sigh.

Mark leaned forward in his chair and asked, "So what is seeing Birdie going to accomplish?"

"I have no idea. I just know that she will point you in the direction that you will follow for the rest of your life," William answered. He paused, took a sip of his soft drink, and then added, "I wouldn't wait around too much longer."

Slowly standing, Mark said, "I guess I'll go now."

"Take Joe with you."

"Joe?"

"Yes. He needs to learn a little gentleness," William said. His can was empty and he crumpled it in his hand. Mark stared at the can for several seconds as if mesmerized by the simple act of destruction.

"Okay," Mark finally said.

It was after dark when Joe and Mark sat down on the couch in William's living room. Joe gave the impression of excitement while Mark appeared to be introspective. Grinning, Joe said, "You should have seen that sucker. It was huge. I'm sitting there wrestling with it and then Birdie talks to it in this real soft and gentle voice. Then she put this little hood over its head. It quieted down and just stayed there. I couldn't believe it."

"What kind of bird was it?" William asked.