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Back to Wesoomi's Archives The Legend of Wesoomi: Thirty-Three: Wesoomi's Grief: October 14, 2002: In the village of the Husbandmen, Wesoomi sat on a log with his brother, Soft Hand. "I have done all I can here my brother," he said. "Now I must leave. It be time to begin my ministry." "Aye," replied Soft Hand, "and I will be with you. I will go where you go to serve you as I can." "I must needs remind you of your duty as healer to these Husbandmen." "Indeed, Wesoomi," agreed Soft Hand. "I do not abandon the Husbandmen. I have trained young healers to serve them. This I have done as you were teaching and preparing us for the Bandar Raiders." "It be good. We must ever share what we learn that all may benefit." "Aye. When shall we leave and where will we travel first, Wesoomi? I must prepare." "I wish first to visit the village of the Fishermen on the shore of the Big Water. These are eager to learn I have discovered. We can leave when you are ready." "What shall I bring, my brother?" "I would travel with little burden, simply our garments and a bit of food," replied Wesoomi. "I will trust the Great Spirit to provide. He has never failed me." "Then I be ready now. We may leave at first light." At that time a man came and stood respectfully before Wesoomi. He looked troubled. "Who be you, my friend?" Queried Wesoomi. "I be Happy Frog of the Quiet Folk." "My home," smiled Wesoomi. "How come you here?" "I bring a woeful message from Eagle Eye," he replied. "What message? Speak." "Gentlehand, your chosen father has perished. He was slain," blurted Happy Frog, "and the Tree of Life is destroyed." Wesoomi's eyes grew large with shock. "My father, slain?" "Aye, blessed one." "The tree is destroyed? Who has done this thing?" begged a pale faced Wesoomi. "We know not. We only know what we found." "Tell it to me then," demanded Wesoomi. "Tell me all you know." Sadly, Happy Frog related the events as the Quiet Folk discovered them, including the looting of the village. "Who could do this thing?" wondered Soft Hand. "There could be but one," replied a grieving Wesoomi. "It be the acts of Crazy Wolf. This be his vengeance on me." "To slay your father and destroy the tree? It be the acts of a mad man." "Aye, my brother, the acts of a man mad with hatred for me." "He must indeed be mad to invoke the wrath of the Great Spirit. Surely he has done that," whispered Soft Hand. "I must go there," said Wesoomi standing. He placed a hand on the shoulder of the woeful Happy Frog and looked into his eye. "I thank you my friend. The bearing of this message was a painful thing for you. Rest now and sup here. We will return with you at first light. You have done well." "Thank you, blessed one. It did grieve me to bring these tidings to you." Wesoomi smiled wanly. "Your heart be true, Happy Frog. Go now and sup." Happy Frog, with a look of relief, turned toward the long house where food and rest awaited. Though his heart was heavy with the grief he bore, Wesoomi knew he had duty. He must needs go to the village of the Quiet Folk, but not heedlessly. "I must needs plan, my brother," he said to Soft Hand. "I must speak with Elder Quiet Stalker." "I be with you, Wesoomi." "Let us go then." They found Quiet Stalker in his lodge. Wesoomi told him all that he knew of his father's death and the events in the village of the Quiet Folk. "My heart grieves for you, Wesoomi. All I have is at your call. What would you have me do?" "I must needs travel to my home," said Wesoomi, "but I fear a trap. If Crazy Wolf be the cause of this, he may not be done with me. It may be that he awaits me there." "Aye," mussed Quiet Stalker. "Then the looting be no chance thing." "Indeed, Elder. Crazy Wolf left our fields in haste with little. He would have need of supplies to await me." "Then, you must have bowmen and spear men with you. I will see to it. How many do you think?" "Not many, Elder" replied Wesoomi. "Crazy Wolf could have no more that a few wild men." "Indeed. few escaped our shafts," said Quiet Stalker. "What else need you?" "I would need a runner, to send to little Warrior." "What need have you of little Warrior? He be Bandar." "He be my brother whom I trust," replied Wesoomi. It be he who warned us of the raid." "Aye, It be so." "Also, It be he who must become the chief of the Nation of the People. That Crazy Wolf still be a menace be his concern. Reign and justice be his domain." "Then we will send the swiftest runner, Wesoomi. What will he say to Little Warrior." "Tell him, I fear Crazy Wolf has struck again. I need your Warriors. You will find me at my shelter on the trail to the Quiet Folk village where the streams join. I will have ten Husbandmen Warriors." A short time later a runner left the husbandmen's village bound for the village of the Bandar. Then ten of the best Husbandmen's bowmen were selected to accompany Wesoomi on his mission. Come first light on the day following, the band left the village and followed the trail northward. Lightly burdened, they traveled swiftly. In two days, they arrived at the shelter where the streams joined. There they settled to await Little Warrior. Their wait was short. Little Warrior had set out shortly after the runner arrived. He arrived with 40 warriors. Some were Bandar and some were wild men. All looked fit for battle. It took Wesoomi but a few minutes to tell Little Warrior all he knew of the events at the village of the Quiet Folk, including the slaying of his father. "It be a heavy burden, my brother," offered Little Warrior. "My heart grieves for you." "My thanks, Little Warrior. I feel that my father will quickly find his place in the domain of the Great Spirit. That knowledge eases my pain." "Indeed. The one you chose to call father must needs be a special man." "Aye, and now my thoughts be of the Quiet Folk and the Tree of Life." "Destroying the tree be an evil act, the act of a mad man as we know Crazy Wolf to be," said Little Warrior. "Aye, and Now I must go there." "I and my warriors will go with you. Should Crazy Wolf be there, I will not fail this time." "I be sure of that, Little Warrior. This be in your hands. The Great Spirit required me to be a leader of warriors only one time. Now the burden passes to you. As I foretold, it is a time for greatness and you are chosen. You will soon become chief of the Nation of People." "I will do what I must, Wesoomi." "Let us go then." The following day, they arrived at the village of the Quiet Folk. Little Warrior took charge. He put the Husbandmen warriors in a group around Wesoomi. They were to be always ready. Then, he set his warriors in a ring around the village to defend it. No one would come into the village without warning. In the brush above the village, Crazy wolf saw and knew his scheme was undone. There would be no chance to slay Wesoomi. He growled and snarled with eyes glowing fiercely. Finally, he drove a spear into the ground and left it there. He motioned his men to follow and he circled the village. Then he traveled quickly northward. Indeed, Crazy Wolf was completely possessed by fierce evil spirits. He leered and giggled often. His body was stooped and bent to one side. He scampered and shambled with body askew and one hand dragging in the dust as he traveled away from the village of the Quiet Folk. He babbled, grinned, and drooled as he went. Still the wild men stayed with him. They had never known such a leader. They looked at him strangely and feared him. They feared to be with him but they feared even more to run from him. They saw what he had done to the elder of the Quiet Folk. They feared, if they ran, he would pursue them and slay them. They knew not how to flee him. The land they were in was strange to them. Wesoomi was unaware of Crazy Wolf and his men. H saw only the Tree of Life. He went to it and knelt before it. He examined the ring and knew the tree was doomed. The leaves were curled and shriveled. A sadness took him and tears flowed over his cheek. Eagle Eye came and knelt beside him. Then they wept together. Finally, Wesoomi stood. "I must needs consult my mother," he said. "This thing cannot stand. I will ask her what to do." Wesoomi turned and entered the shrine. Back to Wesoomi's Archives
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