osc.am2.redprophet-第50部分
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〃True Reds do。 The Irrakwa don't。 They've used White man's machines so long now that they're dead to the land； just like White men。 Or they'd go and get the pelts they want for themselves。〃
〃There's something else they want。 Besides pelts；〃 said Napoleon。
〃We don't have anything they want。〃
〃Iron；〃 said Napoleon。
〃We don't have iron。〃
〃No。 But they know where it is。 In the upper reaches of the Mizzipy； and along the Mizota。 Up near the west end of High Water Lake。 All they want is your promise that you won't harm their boats bringing iron ore back to Irrakwa； or their miners as they dig it out of the earth。〃
〃Peace for the future； in exchange for guns now？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Napoleon。
〃Aren't they afraid that I'll turn the guns against them？〃
〃They ask you to promise that you won't。〃
Ta…Kumsaw considered this。 〃Tell them this。 I promise that if they give us guns； not one of the guns will ever be used against any Irrakwa。 All my men will take this oath。 And we will never attack any of their boats on the water； or their miners as they dig in the earth。〃
〃You mean that？〃 asked Napoleon。
〃If I said it； I meant it；〃 said Ta…Kurnsaw。
〃As much as you hate them？〃
〃I hate them because the land hates them。 When the White man is gone； and the land is strong again； not sick； then earthquakes can swallow up miners； and storms can sink boats； and the Irrakwa will bee true Red men again or they will die。 Once the White man is gone； the land will be stern with its children who remain。〃
The meeting was soon finished after that。 Ta…Kumsaw got up and shook hands with the general。 Alvin surprised them both by also stepping forward and offering his hand。
Napoleon shook hands with him； amused。 〃Tell the boy he keeps dangerous pany；〃 he said。
Ta…Kumsaw translated。 Alvin looked at him with wide eyes。 〃Does he mean you？〃 he asked。
〃I think so；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。
〃But he's the most dangerous man in the world；〃 said Alvin。
Napoleon laughed when Ta…Kumsaw translated the boy's words。 〃How can I be dangerous？ A little man stuck away out here in the middle of the wilderness； when the center of the world is Europe； great wars are fought there and I have no part in them！〃
Ta…Kumsaw didn't need to translate the boy understood from Napoleon's tone and expression。 〃He's so dangerous because he makes people love him without deserving it。〃
Ta…Kurnsaw felt the truth in the boy's words。 That was what Napoleon did to White men； and it was dangerous； dangerous and evil and dark。 Is this the man I rely on to help me？ To be my ally？ Yes； he is； because I have no choice。 Ta…Kumsaw didn't translate what the boy said； even though Napoleon insisted。 So far the French general had not attempted to cast his spell on the boy。 If he knew the boy's words； he might try； and it just might capture Alvin。 Ta…Kurnsaw was ing to appreciate what the boy was。 Perhaps the boy was too strong for Napoleon to charm him。 Or perhaps the boy would bee an adoring slave like de Maurepas。 Better not to find out。 Better to take the boy away。
Alvin insisted on seeing the cathedral。 One priest looked horrified to see men in loincloths e into the place； but another rebuked him and weled them inside。 Ta…Kumsaw was always amused by the statues of the saints。 Whenever possible； the statues were shown being tortured in the most gruesome ways。 White could talk all day about how barbaric it was； the Red practice of torturing captives so they could show courage。 Yet whose statues did they kneel at to pray？ People who showed courage under torture。 There was no making sense of White men。
He and Alvin talked about this on their way out of the city； not hurrying at all now。 He also explained to the boy something of how they were able to run so far； so quickly。 And how remarkable it was for a White boy to keep up with them。
Alvin seemed to understand how Red men lived within the land； at least he tried。 〃I think I felt that。 While I was running。 It's like I'm not in myself。 My thoughts are wandering all over。 Like dreaming。 And while I'm gone； something else is telling my body what to do。 Feeding it； using it； taking it wherever it wants to go。 Is that what you feel？〃
That wasn't at all what Ta…Kumsaw felt。 When the land came into him； it was like he was more alive than ever； not absent from his body； but more strongly present in it than at any other time。 But he didn't explain this to the boy。 Instead he turned the question back to Alvin。 〃You say it's like dreaming。 What did you dream last night？〃
〃I dreamed again about a lot of the visions I saw when I was in the crystal tower with the Shining with the Prophet。〃
〃The Shining Man。 I know you call him that he told me why。〃
〃I dreamed those things again。 Only it was different。 I could see some things more clearly now； and other things I forgot。〃
〃Did you dream anything you hadn't seen before？〃
〃This place。 The statues in the cathedral。 And that man we visited； the general。 And something even stranger。 A big hill； almost round no； with eight sides。 I remember that； it was real clear。 A hill with eight straight sides to it； sloping down。 Inside it there was a whole city； lots of little rooms； like in anthills； only people…sized。 Or anyway bigger than ants。 And I was on top of it； wandering around in all these strange trees they had silver leaves； not green and I was looking for my brother。 For Measure。〃
Ta…Kumsaw said nothing for a long time。 But he thought many things。 No White man had ever seen that place the land was still strong enough to keep them from finding that。 Yet this boy had dreamed of it。 And a dream of Eight…Face Mound never came by chance。 It always meant something。 It always meant the same thing。
〃We have to go there；〃 Ta…Kumsaw said。
〃Where？〃
〃To the hill you dreamed of；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。
〃There is such a place？〃
〃No White man has ever seen it。 For a White man to stand there would be filthy。〃 Alvin didn't answer that。 What could he say？ Ta…Kumsaw swallowed hard。 〃But if you dream of it； you have to go。〃
〃What is it？〃
Ta…Kumsaw shook his head。 〃The place you dreamed of。 That's all。 If you want to know more； dream again。〃
It was near night when they reached the camp； wigwams had been erected； because it looked like more rain tonight。 The others insisted that Ta…Kumsaw share a hut with Alvin； for his safety's sake。 But Ta…Kumsaw didn't want to。 The boy made him afraid。 The land was doing things with this boy； and not giving Ta…Kumsaw any idea what was happening。
But when you saw yourself at the Eight…Face Mound in your dreams； you had no choice but to go。 And since Alvin could never find the way alone； Ta…Kumsaw had to take him。
He could never explain it to the others； and even if he could； he wouldn't do it。 Word would get out that Ta…Kumsaw had taken a White to the ancient holy place； and then many Reds would refuse to listen to Ta…Kumsaw anymore。
So in the morning he told the others he was taking the boy off to teach him； as the Prophet had told him he must。 〃Meet me in five days where the Pickawee flows into the Hio；〃 he told them。 〃From there we'll go south to talk to the Chok…Taw and the Chicky…Saw。〃
Take us with you； they said。 You won't be safe alone。 But he didn't answer them； and soon enough they gave up。 He set off at a run； and once again Alvin fell in step behind him； matching him stride for stride。 It was almost as far again as the journey from Mizogan to Detroit。 By nightfall they would be at the edge of the Land of Flints。 Ta…Kumsaw planned to sleep there； and find dreams of his own； before daring to lead a White boy to Eight…Face Mound。
Chapter 12 Cannons
Measure heard them ing only seconds before the door swung open and light flooded the root cellar。 Time enough to dump out the dirt and tuck his loincloth into the deerhide belt； then scramble forward onto the potatoes。 The breechclout was so filthy it was like wearing dirt； but this wasn't a time to get finicky。
They didn't waste no time on prison inspection； so they didn't see the hole that was now reaching a good two feet under the back wa
