Read Online Whispering Spirits by Rita Karnopp - Free Book Online Page B

“You’re a
fan of duck eggs?” Summer asked.
    “Only in the spring. They remind me of days
spent with my sister, Pale Star, and my nah’ah . I’d give
anything to go back to those days again.”
    “Your grandmother was a very good friend of
mine. Alsoomse and I shared many stories, heartbreaks and
happiness. I felt great sadness when she went to the Sand Hills. We
chuckled many times how the name independent suited her. Your
grandfather, Ponoka-mitta did not mind. Actually we laughed
often how the name ‘Horse’ suited him, too. Sit down by our fire
and join us, Nato’sin . You look as nervous as a horse
standing near a rattler.”
    Running Crane laughed. “Summer invited me to
eat with you. I was waiting for you to invite me.”
    “You do not need to be invited. While we are
here you will share meals with us. I do not expect you to cook for
yourself. Now, once we have finished eating I would like you to
scout around our tipis. I have a strong feeling we are being
watched. That I do expect you to do.”
    “Have you seen anyone?” Running Crane took
the plate of steaming eggs from her and scanned the area.
    “I have been hearing whispers we are all in
danger. But you are not surprised with this. You both feel it
too.”
    Summer stared at Nah’ah . “There are a
lot of bad vibes going on here. I’m afraid instead of going where
I’ll be safe, I’ve taken us to a place we’re vulnerable. I’ve put
you in danger, Nah’ah . If anything happens to you, I’ll
never forgive myself.”
    “Everything in our world is sacred, including
our lives. Each day we thank Ihtsi-pai-tapi-yopa .”
    “What would the creator say about punishment
for crimes?” Summer never tasted eggs so good.
    “There were five crimes which the Blackfeet
considered necessary to deliver punishment. The penalties attached
to them were common knowledge. For murder the rule was a life for a
life. The murderer or his relatives might also make a heavy
payment. Most times this payment took all his property, leaving him
poor.”
    “Nothing has changed. If you have money, you
can get away with anything.” Summer set her empty plate on a rock.
What happened if you were found stealing?” Summer could tell Nah’ah liked being asked about the old times.
    “Theft was simple. The property was returned
and that was the end of it. Adultery on the other hand was not so
simple. The first time a wife cheated on her husband usually
resulted in her nose or an ear being cut off. If there was a second
offense the husband could kill her, have a brother or first cousin
kill her, or he could have the All Comrades do the deed.”
    “The All Comrades, Nah’ah ?” Summer
pulled her knees up and rested her chin against them.
    Running Crane cleared his throat. “The I-kun-uh’-kah-tsi were directly under the authority of the
head chief. They were like the tribal police force and they would
punish others or whatever the chief deemed necessary to keep peace
and order among the people.”
    Summer smiled. “I guess that would have been
your choice if we were in the old days, huh?”
    “No doubt about it. My father and the fathers
before them have always been peace keepers. My grandfather talked
about a warrior who was accused of treachery. There was no
forgiveness for a member of our tribe to give aid to an enemy.
Death at sight was the only law.”
    “What was the fifth crime, Nah’ah ?”
She felt Running Crane staring at her and she wondered what he was
thinking.
    “Cowardice was taken very seriously in the
times when a man had to be brave and protect his people at camp or
in a war party. If a man would not fight he had to wear a woman’s
dress and was not allowed to marry.”
    Summer had her degree in Native American
History and knew the answers, but loved hearing her grandmother
tell it in her own way. Nah’ah managed to always add a bit
of information that wasn’t in the books, but was passed down
through the ages in oral history. “Was that it?