People of the Earth Read Online Free PDF Page A

cried out as
he lifted trembling hands to the handsome young man. "What can I do? Look
at her. Feel her grief. She says she'll die—that she can't live knowing all of
her children are dead."
                   And the handsome man had smiled. "And
what would you give for another child?''
                   "Anything!"
                   "Then journey south, far beyond where
you've been before. Cross the Dangerous River , cross the mountains. Continue south until
you see my Spirit Helper, the Black Wolf There you’ll find a camp of people.
There you’ll find a young girl who needs to be loved. She’ll be afraid at
first. Her family will kill you if they catch you; but if you're strong, and if
you 're cunning and take good care of her, she’ll come to love you. If you 're
worthy, she’ll be a great and powerful Dreamer for the People. "
                   "On my honor before Thunderbird, who
might not take my soul to the World of the Dead, and on my honor before you, I
will be worthy. I'll do anything to see my Bright Moon's face light up
again."
                   The young man had smiled then, and flames had
appeared to swirl around him as he rose like fire into the sky.
                   The next morning Sage Ghost had returned the
Mouse fetish to Old Falcon. He'd put together his pack and hugged his beloved
Bright Moon, telling her that he was going to fetch her a new daughter, one
given to him by Spirit Power.
                   "And I am here," he grunted under
his breath as he slipped into a screening mat of sagebrush.
                   An ebbing redness outlined the mountains to
the west, and indigo shadows draped the camp, softening the outlines of the
dome-shaped dwellings. Someone threw more sagebrush on the fire where the
elders sat smoking and talking.
                   Sage Ghost crawled closer, careful to make no
sound. Now he could smell the camp: scents of sage smoke, dogs, and humans. The
odor of rich dust hung in his nostrils.
                   One of the old men called something, waving
his hand to emphasize his order. The girl jumped to her feet, wary eyes on the
elder. She looked to be about ten winters old, maybe a little younger. She
answered neutrally and plucked a skin bag from the tripod by the fire. Slinging
it over a skinny shoulder, she started down toward the river.
                  Sage Ghost's heart hammered as he rose and
drifted silently after her in the deepening gloom. She walked with a grace and
balance unusual in a girl her age. Thick black hair hung down to her waist. She
hummed some Earth People song under her breath as she wound through the
sagebrush, moccasins patting on the worn trail.
                   Sage Ghost hovered like a falcon over an
unsuspecting rabbit, gliding on bobcat-silent feet. She hopped lightly down to
the riverbank, unslinging the hide bag. For a moment
she looked up, eyes searching the heavens. Then she sighed and bent over the
water, a mere shadow among shadows. He could hear her feet splashing.
                   The east had darkened, the first faint
flickers of stars penetrating the veil of the sky. Finches and sage thrashers
chirped to the growing darkness; evening settled like velvet soot on the land.
                   Sage Ghost eased one foot after another as he
closed on the child. Years of hunting had trained him for this moment; skill
flowed through him like a special kind of Power. Water gurgled as it filled the
pouch she held to the current.
                   Careful, Sage Ghost, One false move now and
you ' 11 fail. If she screams, all will be lost.
                   She stood, water dripping musically from the
sides of the bag and covering the sound of his movement. His hand clapped over
her mouth as he pulled her backward.
                   He mumbled a curse under his breath as