|
|||
|
Back to Wesoomi's Archives The Legend of Wesoomi: Six, The Quiet Folk: April 8, 2002: The Quiet Folk were a community of men residing in a small village in Fertileland. This community was dedicated to simple toil and appreciation of the beauty of the Great Spirit's works. It all began with a single man, Strong Oak the Elder. Unsatisfied with his life, Strong Oak went into the forest to search for his own spirit. He wished to commune, as best he could, with the Great Spirit and gain what wisdom he could. He found a small fertile meadow on the shores of Little Lake and built a hut near a stream at the edge of the forest. There he settled and began to till the earth. He neither hunted nor fished, but accepted whatever sustenance the Great Spirit provided for him. He was contented to open his heart to the Great Spirit and drink of the beauty he found around him. One day, a wandering man, Long Strider, happened by and stopped to visit. Strong Oak shared his food and his hut with the man as was his custom. They spoke and Strong Oak shared of his thoughts and feelings about his life. After a time, Long Strider asked if he might stay. He wished to learn of this quiet life and share in it. He was weary of his wandering life. It brought him no grief, but little joy either. "Would you think to find joy in the simple things I do?" queried Strong Oak. "It is what I believe," answered Long Strider. "I see it in your eyes. There is a quiet joy in your life with the Great Spirit." "Perhaps," said Strong Oak, "but my joy may be another man's misery." "Indeed," agreed Long Strider. "I wish to risk that misery, by your leave." "Will you also risk hunger, for I hunt and fish not? I live by what the great spirit freely provides. Should I fail, he may decide to not provide." "With two of us though, both would needs fail for hunger to stalk us." "You speak wisdom, my friend. I will help you build your own hut. We will work together and share what we gain. In other times, we may look on and admirer the wondrous works of the Great Spirit." So they built another hut and expanded the small garden. Gradually they worked and gained power over their own selves. They came to understand their relationship to all of the spirits of the world. They then simplified their lives even more. From time to time, travelers came by and carried forth the word of these two strange men. Then other men came to join them. They came because of what these men were doing. They wanted to participate in the communion with the Great Spirit. They wanted to share in the simple life and bask in the beauty of the Great Spirit's works. In habit, these men refrained from eating the flesh of the Great Spirit's lesser creatures. They partook of those things which grew from the earth. As to the creatures, the men did keep goats for milk, goat hair, and the making of cheese. Since they killed no creatures, they had no hides nor furs. The cloth and clothing which they used came also from the earth or the goats. For some things, they used woven goat hair. They also took the reeds from a nearby marsh. These they dried and soaked to separate the fibers and make them soft. Then they wove them into rough fabrics which they made into whatever was needed. For coloring, they used berries, barks, earth, and nuts. They also used bark for rope and string. The word of this village began to travel afar. It was said that these men had powers unlike normal men; that they had visions and could work magic deeds. Then others began to arrive, but many came for the wrong reasons. They thirsted after the power for its own sake. They did not understand that the power was power over the self. They thought it was some form of magic. They were sent away. Some also came who were accepted into the village, but the number never grew large. Few have the spiritual strength to seek true communion. When Snowflower was found there were but twenty men in the village. Gentlehand was the youngest and the strongest. Though he was normally very quiet, he felt the need to shout as he came near with Snowflower. Strong Oak the Elder heard as did the entire village. He came from his hut where he had been in communion with the Great Spirit. He knew Gentlehand's demeanor and was sure that something quite unusual had occurred. Then he saw the woman in Gentlehand's arms. He rushed forward. "What is it," he enquired. "A very ill woman Elder," replied Gentlehand. "A wolf led me to her." "A wolf?" "A wolf Elder. Look yonder." Gentlehand tipped his head toward the east. At the edge of the garden sat the grey wolf, watching. Strong Oak looked with large eyes. Even he could be surprised at times. Still, he gave the wolf but a few breaths time. "Bring her into my hut," he said. Gentlehand complied and laid Snowflower on the Elder's mat. "I will go for Spirit Healer," he said. "Go!" said Strong Oak as he knelt beside the woman. He saw that she was with child. He put his hand on her head and felt the fever. His face saddened. It seemed too late. The girl, he feared, was beyond hope of recovery. He felt the womb and knew there was still life there. He took water from his bowl and began to bathe the girls face. She groaned. Spirit Healer came and knelt opposite him. He touched Snowflower and ran his hands over her. He looked at Strong Oak with solemn eyes. "Is it too late?" asked Strong Oak. "I fear so, Elder." "What then?" "We can try to save the cub." "I will help as I can," offered Strong Oak. "We must needs have her wake. It needs her help," said Spirit Healer. They brought water and rubbed her and bathed her to no avail. They spoke to her and shouted at her. Still she lay in fevered sleep. The end was indeed near. Strong Oak shook his head in sadness. "It seems no use," he whispered. Then, to his surprise, Snowflower opened her eyes. She looked around in wonder. "The wolf found you," she whispered. "Indeed," said Strong Oak. "When they drove me out, I expected to perish," she whispered. "I only begged the great Spirit to save my cub. My song has been answered." "They drove you out?" "Aye, the Bandar. They used me. Then I came of child and they drove me out." "I have heard of this thing," grieved Strong Oak. "Now, I must believe it. It is against all that the Great Spirit teaches us." He put a gentle hand on her brow. You will save the cub?" she begged. "We will need your help," replied Spirit Healer. "You must push." Snowflower tried and shook her head quickly. "It is of no use," she said. "You see I have not the strength for it." "Yo must try harder," insisted Spirit Healer. "No," said Snowflower. She lifted a weak hand and touched the knife in Strong Oak's belt. She tried to pull it out, but had not the strength. She looked into the eyes of Strong Oak. "You know what you must do," she said. "You must do it before I perish and take the cub with me. You must do it now." "No," cried Strong Oak, pushing her hand away. "She is right," said Spirit Healer. "It must be done." "Not by my hand!" cried Strong Oak. "It is against all I have come to be. Not by my hand!" "By mine then," sighed Spirit Healer. "It must be. Forgive m e Great spirit. I do what I must. You have brought this to me." He took the knife from Strong Oak's belt. Snowflower turned her head. "Do it quickly," she whispered. Thanks to the Great spirit, Strong Oak's knife was sharp. It was of the very best flint. Spirit Healer drew it quickly over her stomach. Snowflower drew a sharp breath, but made no other sound. Spirit Healer made another cut and water spewed forth. He searched and found the cubs arm. Still there was no sound from Snowflower. Spirit Healer drew the boy cub forth and laid it on the breast of the mother. Weakly, she lifted an arm and embraced the cub. It was squalling and thrashing, very much alive. Tears flowed from Snowflower's eyes. Thank you she whispered. Thank you all. Blood flowed from the wounds and her eyes closed for the last time. It was over quickly. Spirit Healer searched in his pouch and found a string. Quickly he tied the cord and cut it. He removed his own tunic and lifted the cub from Snowflower's dead embrace. He wrapped it quickly and stood. Then he turned and carried it from the hut. He stood in the sun and looked about. At the edge of the garden sat the wolf. When it saw him it came toward him and sat a few paces outside the village; waiting. Later, Spirit Healer would only say that he had been possessed; that some madness had seized him. Others said he was directed by the Great Spirit. Whatever the cause, Spirit Healer carried the still blood drenched cub to the wolf. He held it down for inspection. The wolf sniffed the cub then licked it. Finally, the wolf turned and trotted back to the edge of the forest. There it sat and watched. Spirit Healer took the cub to his own hut. Strong Oak remained with the dead Snowflower. He took his clean tunic from his store box and laid it over her gently. Then he stood and raised his face to the Great Spirit. Oh, Great Spirt, hear my plea," he sang. "Let us serve you. Let us offer the spirit of this brave woman to your hearth. Accept her to you, oh, Great spirit." Strong Oak went outside where his brothers were gathered about. He looked at the sun. "I beg you," he said. "Go take the fatwood and build a bier for this brave woman. The time is short. We must act now." Just as all of those of The Nation of People, the Quiet Folk would never allow the sun to set on an expired person. That they did not know Snowflower mattered not. Her spirt must be sent home, lest it be trapped in the village forever. That would bode bad medicine indeed. Since death was usually unexpected, the village always kept a supply of fatwood ready. It would be used for Snowflower and replenished the next day. As Strong Oak requested the men turned and hurried away. Though Strong Oak had no official authority, the others always did as he requested. He was, after all, the Elder. Back to Wesoomi's Archives
|