Chapter 22I left at dawn without disturbing the two exhausted sleepers. I had not gone far before an armed warrior blocked my way. Given that word of the murders would have spread far and wide, I did not know what reception to expect, even though I recognized the man as a Pipe Stem. He gave the empty-hand salute, and we nudged our ponies forward.
“Carcajou would speak to you,” he said quietly. “We are preparing to move to winter quarters, so he was unable to come himself. It is not far.” He wheeled his horse, and I followed him.
My friend sat on the ground before the skeleton of his tipi and invited me to join him while his wives completed the task of taking down the lodge. He waved his warriors away after our medicine smoke.
“Teacher,” he asked when we were alone, “are you well?”
“No,
