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Back to Wesoomi's Archives The Legend of Wesoomi: Thirty-Four: Promise Renewed: October 21, 2002: In the shrine of the Golden Earth Mother Wesoomi sat upon the offering stone and closed his eyes to entreat his mother and the Great Spirit. Little Warrior left that to him. He took ten of his warriors and began a search of the high ground around the village. They were not long in the search. They found the spear and the trampled brush around it above the shrine. Little Warrior, who was still a hunter in his heart, went over the ground carefully. "There were five here who looked down on us," he said. "Let us find where they be now." With his men following, he easily found the trail of the wild men and followed the circled it made around the village. Then he went a short way along the trail as it straightened out and went directly northward. He paused for thought. "They travel swiftly," he mussed. "We will not overtake them easily." "Aye," said Cat Foot, who was with him. "I must needs believe they go to the wild country. They were wild men by their track. None walked erect," said Little Warrior. "Was not Crazy Wolf among them?" "If so, he has become a wild man himself." "This could be. I have a sense that it be so," agreed Cat Foot. "Aye, madness can do that to a man." "It would be dangerous to pursue them into the wild country." "Aye, and my duty be to Wesoomi and this village." "I could follow to see where they go, Little Warrior." "That be a wise thought. Go not alone. Take three with you and be at the ready. Do not come upon them by surprise." "Aye, Chief. I will take care." "Go then and return in one day. Follow them no further than that. We need only know that they do not return to do more evil." "Aye, Chief." Cat Foot selected three Bandar warriors and set out in pursuit. Little Warrior then returned to his vigil outside the shrine. In the shrine, Wesoomi continued to sit upon the offering stone. As the sun moved lower in the sky, the light shone through the rear portal and fell upon Wesoomi and the stone. Then, in that light the Golden Earth Mother took form. Wesoomi sensed her presence and opened his eyes. "You have come," he said. "As I must when you entreat the Great Spirit and myself." "I give thanks and praise. I am humbled." "As befits the chosen messenger of the Great Spirit." "Indeed. What words have you for me, Mother?" "First of your chosen father, he abides even now in the domain of the great Spirit." "He was slain. Did it cause him great pain?" "Nay, my son. The blow was quick and true. His passage was swift with little pain." "That be good to hear. It is as I believed. I thank you, Mother." "The Great Spirit will ever receive those who live in his service." "As do all of the Quiet Folk," said Wesoomi. "Was the deed done by Crazy Wolf?" "Aye. It was as you believed." "And the tree too?" "Aye, my son. He did defile the tree ere he slew your father." "What now, Mother. Be the Quiet Folk without your protection?" "Nay. The tree was but a symbol. My protection be true so long as the Quiet Folk remain true to their path." "I must needs believe that be forever." "It is not given us to know this thing. It be in the power of the Great Spirit." "I must always trust the Great Spirit." "Indeed." Will there be another symbol, Mother?" "There will be. I will set the Quiet Folk that task." "They will create the symbol of your protection?" "Aye. You will so instruct them." "What shall I tell them?" "First, I will show you. Stand beside the stone now and you will see." Wesoomi stood quickly and moved to a place beside the stone. "I do as you command, Mother." "Now observe the stone." Wesoomi watched the surface of the stone as an intense light shone upon it. Then, before his eyes, a shape took form on the flat surface. It was in the form of a scratching, but with a shape. The shape was of the Golden Earth Mother with her hands pressed together and arms raised above her head. "I am humbled," whispered Wesoomi. "It be a thing of beauty." "It be a guide for the quiet folk." "A guide, Mother?" Aye, the quiet Folk must needs use this guide to shape the tree into the symbol. The tree of life will not perish, it will only change form. They must use the earth, tree resins, and plant juices to make it a gold symbol. Thus it will signal my protection of this village for all to see." "I will so tell them. They will hasten to the task." "As befits their spirit, my son. The Quiet Folk be good in the service of the Great Spirit." "Now, what of Crazy Wolf and Little Warrior?" "Crazy Wolf be not finished yet. He will seek more evil ere long." "It is as I feared." "Indeed. His reckoning will come. That task will fall to Little Warrior." "Be it Little Warrior's time?" "Indeed. It be his time for greatness. He will take command of all of the people." "Will I so tell him." "Nay. He will know. Even as we speak the knowledge comes to him." "What shall I do, Mother?" "He be chief of all of the Nation of the People. You must heed to his commands as he must heed to your teachings. While you go forth and guide with the teachings, so he must guide the people in order and unity of purpose." "Then we be of the same purpose, to the good of the Nation of People." "Indeed. Trust in Little Warrior." "I will, Mother. Indeed, I will." "It is good. I go now." With those words, the light began to fade and the image of the Golden Earth Mother faded with it. Then she was gone and Wesoomi was alone in the shrine. He gave praise and went out into the failing light to find Little Warrior awaiting him. Little Warrior sat nearby on a log. Wesoomi went to join him. "Did you find counsel?" queried Little Warrior. "Indeed. It was as we thought. The evil deeds were done by Crazy Wolf." "That fits with my discoveries. We found his watching place above the shine. I must needs believe he lay in wait to slay you, Wesoomi." "Aye, he knew I would come." "It be good, you sent for me." "It be good that you came." "I be your brother." "Aye, and more, Little Warrior." "You speak true. I know now that I be brother and chief of all the people." "The Great Spirit has put wisdom in your heart," said Wesoomi "It be as you apprised me." "Aye, now the task of treating with Crazy Wolf falls to you. We are warned that he intends more evil. So my mother told me." "I must needs believe that. Even now, he travels northward with four wild men. I sent four men to pursue them. They will return in one day to tell us where they go." "Perhaps to find wild man warriors." "Aye, Wesoomi. he is ruled by evil spirits. It be a fearsome thing. We must be watchful." "You speak true. Evil spirits are ever around us. They will invade those of us who invite them. Those who are so invaded will always be with us. We must be ever watchful for them, but we must live ourselves as the Great Spirit directs us. We cannot direct our lives entirely to fear of evil beings. We must needs direct ourselves to living in the glory and appreciation of the Great Spirit. The least of our work, when done with good intent, is thus directed," said Wesoomi. You speak wisdom, my brother." agreed little Warrior. "What be your plan, now that you know your mission?" "My first plan be to guard against the wild men. We made a danger for the Nation when we awoke the interest of these." "Aye, and now Crazy Wolf will be among them." "Indeed, and he be a fierce leader, even when mad. He has a will and power about him." "I have seen it in him, Little Warrior. What will be your first act?" "I must needs call a counsel of elders." "That be a good thought. When and where?" "I think in the village of the Husbandmen. I must needs send runners to all of the villages." "I will help as I can. What would you have me do?" "Let us journey to the village of the Husbandmen. Let us leave on the morrow. There we can send runners with our message. The elders will come if you so say." "I will so say," agreed Wesoomi. "It be good my brother. Let us begin a new age." "Indeed, we will begin a new age of wisdom and peace. Come first light, I must instruct the Quiet Folk in their task. Then we can begin." Once again the two stood and clasped hands, chest to chest and eye to eye. Back to Wesoomi's Archives
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