Chief Lightning Bolt Read online

  Once out of sight and earshot of his fellow hunters, the boy began to sob uncontrollably. Lightning Bolt comforted his brother as Crazy Moose had comforted him. “My precious brother, I know the extent of the heartache you’re feeling so don’t feel embarrassed about showing it. Let the tears flow until you’ve cried yourself dry. Don’t try to stop them. It helps to ease the pain.”

  The devastated boy, tears flowing freely, replied, “Oh Lightning Bolt, I feel so empty and sad. I find it so hard to believe that our precious father and brother are both gone forever. How could it happen so quickly? When they left camp the Sunrise before last they were so full of life. I shall weep forever! Why, oh why, my brother, has the Great Spirit forsaken us?”

  Raging River went on for some time before Lightning Bolt was able to politely intervene to console him. “Excuse me for interrupting my little brother, but when I was alone with Crazy Moose, baring my innermost feelings, I said many of the things you’ve said. In his company I also cried and lamented about the Great Spirit deserting us. But Crazy Moose, in his wisdom, would not long permit me to think that way. He reminded me that being parted from Father and Little Beaver is only a temporary thing that will some Sunrise be ended when we are reunited in the Land of Souls.

  “He also reminded me that during this time of sorrow we have our memories to help console us. This is absolutely true. Our wonderful recollections of the good times we had with Father and Little Beaver will comfort and warm our hearts for the rest of our Sunrises on Mother Earth. And, my brother, there is something else we must remember. Our father would be sad and unhappy if he saw that we did not accept and rejoice in the fact that he is home in the Land of Souls and joyful in the company of our ancestors.”

  “Oh Lightning Bolt, my beloved brother, just hold me tightly for a while until I can begin to deal with my sorrow.” After a short period Raging River continued, “I know at first it will be hard to accept the Great Spirit’s will, but as the Sunrises pass the hurt will fade and life will begin to take on a new meaning for us. But, now we must be strong for the sake of Mother and our sisters, for in the Sunrises ahead they will need our love, strength and support.”

  “See, my little brother, the healing process has already begun for you. In a few Sunrises, with the help of the Great Spirit, we shall begin to recover our zest for life. By doing so we will assure the happiness of our father and brother in the Land of Souls.”

  The brothers talked for a short while longer and then returned to the company of the other men. After respectfully wrapping the remains of their beloved Chief and Little Beaver in furs, the warriors began the trek downriver to camp. As they rounded the last bend in the river, before the campsite came into sight, Lightning Bolt suddenly felt the heavy weight of full responsibility for his family’s welfare that was now his alone to carry. The realization caused him to briefly wonder about his ability to meet the challenge. However, it was overshadowed by the future chore that fate had bequeathed him in this very moment, of telling his mother and sisters the tragic news.

  The thought of telling his mother and sisters caused him the utmost apprehension. His feelings of dread were intensified by his memories of the broken hearts shown by families and friends after the late war. During that difficult return home, he had to tell them the heart-wrenching news of the deaths of loved ones and had the painful task of trying to console them afterwards. It had been the hardest and saddest thing, up to that point, he had done in his life.

  Upon landing at the hunting camp he quickly sought out the Hunt leaders to tell them that he, Crazy Moose and Raging River were leaving for home to deliver the tragic news to his family. After securing their equipment, they got underway. Unhampered by equipment and supplies, the trip home was speedy. Afterwards, Lightning Bolt would tell Crazy Moose that he couldn’t imagine ever making a sadder trip. In his mind, during their walk home, Lightning Bolt recalled the matchless love his parents had enjoyed. The extent of it had been evident to him since he was a little boy. He saw then that the obvious pleasure they took from each other’s company followed them everywhere. Their intense love affair was almost legendary in the community. If there had ever been two people who had loved each other more dearly, they were unknown to him. In view of this, the thought of the impending chore of telling his mother that the man she loved so dearly had died in an accident, filled him with apprehension. It would be like pronouncing a death sentence upon an innocent. The news that her baby boy had also perished would grieve her beyond comparison.

  With this foreboding still troubling his mind they arrived home. When they entered their wigwam, they could tell by the look on their mother’s face that she had already sensed something dreadful had happened. Not knowing any easy way to break such horrific news, Lightning Bolt simply told her and his sisters that Little Bear and Little Beaver had perished in a canoeing accident.

  Early Blossom reacted with serene dignity and almost supernatural control. Her words and actions afterwards reflected her strong character. However, her eyes from that Sunrise forward always betrayed the hurt, grief and loneliness she held within. During the ensuing Seasons she would finish raising her children with loving care, but soon after the youngest had left the nest she asked the Great Spirit to permit her to join her beloved Little Bear in the Land of Souls. He consented. Afterwards, family and friends alike would say that she had died of heartbreak.

  Because he had been the Chief of the community, and a much admired and revered man, Little Bear’s funeral would take place amid much ceremony. Little Beaver’s ceremony, because of his age, would be part of his father’s. This was the family’s desire because they felt that it would be fitting to have a father and son, who had died giving comfort to each other, praised and interred together. Within a few Sunrises, the tragic news had been circulated throughout the country. Thus, by the fifth Sunrise after the tragedy, Kespukwitk’s National Chief Big Timber, Village Chiefs from surrounding communities and a multitude of people were gathered in Little Bear’s village to conduct the Feast of the Dead.

  At the feast, Big Timber was the first of a long procession of relatives and friends to recount the accomplishments and feats of the departed. He praised Little Bear’s bravery and courage, his wisdom and knowledge, his dignity and humility, and mentioned the possibilities that might have been, but now would never be, for Little Beaver. Then he humbly beseeched the Creator of the Universe to keep in comfort, in the Land of Souls, His two sons. He closed by calling upon the community to pray to the Great Father for the family, who in their sorrow would need strength to overcome the loss of two dearly beloved family members.

  Then other members of the community, one after the other, stood and respectfully took their turns expressing their admiration and respect for the departed. With sadness, at the end of six Sunrises of mourning, the father and son were, with great dignity, laid to rest.

  After the Feast of the Dead was over and they had some time alone, Lightning Bolt told Crazy Moose, “My brother, I find this strange to say, but after going through the Feast of the Dead I feel as if I know my father and brother better now than I did when they were alive. This feeling comes from the new stories I heard from relatives and friends about Father’s adventures and accomplishments, and my brother’s antics. I had thought that Father had told me everything about himself during our times together, but it appears from what I heard over the past few Sunrises that he still had so much to tell.

  “Hearing them praise and speak of him so well was very pleasing to me. To have half as many people say such kind things about the honourable manner in which one had lived his life would be a major accomplishment. I only hope, my friend, that I can live out my life nearly as well as father lived his. My brother, because of the things I just mentioned, and many other things that happened during the Feast of the Dead, I’ve become more appreciative of the privilege of being part of a loving community like ours. If I live a hundred Springs I’ll always rememb
er and appreciate with a grateful heart the kindness shown by the People to my family and friends during our time of sorrow.”

  “Lightning Bolt, my beloved brother, over the last few Sunrises I’ve wanted to say something to you about your father that I felt needed saying for quite some time, but I was always too timid to say it. Now I’m going rectify this. Little Bear was for me a role model in life. I’ve always felt he was a truly great and honourable man and I strongly believe that if fate had not intervened in a future Sunrise he would have been our Nation’s leader, and probably later on appointed Grand Chief. I should have said this to him, and to you, a long time ago.

  “While on the subject of saying nice things about people whom I deeply admire, love and respect, I want to include your mother. My brother, I’ve never seen anyone carry so much pain with such dignity and poise as she. That she is a strong woman there is no doubt, but, my friend the hurt she carries is almost visible. To see it causes me much pain. I pray that some Sunrise she can partly fill the empty spot left in her life by the loss of Little Bear. However, we must accept that to love another as dearly as she loved your father is not part of her future, for a love like theirs is almost unique. In recognition of this we must support and cherish her, for she suffers a loneliness that will not leave her until she is reunited with Little Bear in the Land of Souls.”

  “My friend Crazy Moose, as always in these matters, you’re right. I know from experience that mother will try her best to be happy with the knowledge that father is at peace in the company of our ancestors. But I also know in my heart that true happiness will not be hers until she is again in his arms. I want you to know that the comments you made about them were deeply appreciated. Without hesitation I can say that your feelings about them were mutual. They always loved you dearly and considered you part of our family. Father, my dear brother, would have been very proud of how you’ve helped us carry our sorrow.

  “Therefore, on the family’s behalf, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the help you’ve given since the accident. I’ll express the extent of my appreciation in this manner. Until the Great Spirit calls me home some Sunrise, I shall love and cherish you as a blood brother and will, whenever humanly possible, be with you when needed. This I swear by my ancestors.

  “Now, my dear brother, I want to say a few words, which are about the future but rooted in the past. We have known each other since we were little more than babies and have derived a great deal of pleasure doing many things together. But, now that we are men, soon we shall seek out and separately share the love of women who meet our fancy, and have children. I’ll pray each Sunrise that our children can establish bonds as strong as ours. To have known your friendship, my dear brother, is something I thank the Great Spirit for. I cannot imagine what my life would have been without it.”

  “Lightning Bolt, my brother, I thank you for the praise and with a humble heart I accept it. But I also want to say that because of you, and your friendship, my life has been enriched beyond measure. I tell you, my friend, that as surely as I’m sitting here this Sunrise, the adventures we’ve shared together will always be a pleasure to my soul. And, I sincerely hope we shall share many more pleasant things together in the future. I also cannot begin to imagine what my life would have been like without your presence. I venture to guess that it probably would have been very dull.”

  “Crazy Moose, my friend, there is another matter I wish to discuss with you before the Hunt resumes. Raging River needs my help in the coming Seasons to finish learning the ways of a warrior. I was wondering if you would mind helping me for the next several Seasons to take up where Father left off in teaching him the skills he still needs to learn by making him part of our team.”

  “I’m glad you brought it up because it saves me the trouble. It’ll be a pleasure. I’m already looking forward to the fun of having a young guy like him on our team and teaching him. Also, it will be good practice for the Sunrises ahead when we have to do the same for our own.”

  With the sad task over, and with Winter fast approaching, the need to get the Hunt back into full swing had taken on an air of urgency. Already, on several occasions, heavy frosts and a few dustings of snow had covered the ground. From experience the men knew that a Hunt conducted under severe Winter weather conditions was, if possible, something to avoid. The added workload was enormous.

  Lightning Bolt and Raging River, who were aware that the needs of the community had to come before their grief, also returned to the Hunt. They soon discovered that the concentration the Hunt required diminished the hurt and helped renew their fond memories of Hunts past, in the company of their father. They came to fully appreciate that their father’s comforting presence would always be with them in their memories. With this in mind, they rejoined with renewed vigour. The Hunt was a tremendous success and completed in record time. It seemed as if the Great Spirit was compensating the community for the loss of its loved ones.

  Lightning Bolt would always remember this Hunt, with its sad and joyful memories. Both he and Crazy Moose thoroughly enjoyed taking Raging River under their wings and watching him, filled with the enthusiasm of the very young, learning and growing before their eyes. Under their tutelage, Raging River very quickly displayed the stuff that would one Sunrise, with his skills fine-tuned by experience, see him recognized by the People as one of the great hunters of the Nation.

  However, during this Hunt, it was Lightning Bolt who surpassed the best efforts of his peers. He brought down the most animals and bagged the biggest. The young Junior War Chief showed his peers that in addition to the skills already displayed in war, he had the potential to become one of the greatest hunters in the memory of the Nation. When commended for his skills, he replied, “With men on my team such as Crazy Moose and Raging River, how can I be anything but successful?”

  Blinded by his humble views, Lightning Bolt didn’t realize that the extraordinary abilities he had shown during the Hunt, and his outstanding record in war, combined with his passionate pursuit of peace, were already generating a desire among the People to launch him upon a lifetime career as their leader.

  DICTATORS AND DEMOCRACY

  With the end of a very successful Hunt, and the first heavy snow of the Winter Season covering the ground, the village leaders turned their attention to the chore of administering the community’s routine political and social affairs. At their first meeting without Little Bear presiding, tears of remembrance came to many eyes. They had one important item on the agenda that was not at all routine. They needed to set aside a Sunrise for a village meeting to nominate and select a new Village Chief. They settled on a Sunrise that allowed everyone enough time to engage in the social processes involved in electing a new Chief, and sought the People’s agreement during the next Sunrise.

  With the nomination and selection meeting agreed upon, excitement began to build in the village. Who would replace the beloved Little Bear? Who could carry this honour and responsibility? These were the questions on most people’s minds. As if they were of one mind, the People began preparations for the election with enthusiasm. They were excited because such events also included celebrations, which gave them a welcome opportunity to get together again with beloved relatives and friends for lots of reminiscing, dancing and games.

  However, this didn’t diminish the seriousness with which they approached the responsibility of selecting a new Village Chief. The exercise would be carried out with the greatest dignity and respect. Such care was demanded by the Nation’s laws that required citizens, before selecting a Chief for any office, whether for National, Village or War purposes, to engage in debate and reflect deeply upon the character and other qualifications of the men proposed or offering for office. Extensive discussions occurred before electing someone to their term of service. Such was meant to assure that they picked the most qualified man for the position. Such vetting of candidates made it a rare occasion when they had the distas
teful exercise of removing a Chief from office because he had failed to live up to expectations.

  As ancient custom dictated, before the Sunrise for Village Chief selection arrived, an important chore demanded immediate attention. As a precaution against a food supply shortage arising because of contamination or spoilage, the hunters had to repair or replace broken equipment for a possible emergency Hunt. The root for this diligence was an ancient disaster, caused by neglect that had befallen their ancestors of a far off time.

  These customs reminded the People of the Legend of the Lazy Warriors, a story used to teach young people important lessons during their formative Sunrises. At the core was the message that they must never permit men without honour to come to power. The Legend depicts in horrendous detail how the People in those ancient Sunrises had almost perished from the effects of famine, caused by the brutality and laziness of their hunters. The teller, usually an Elder, always began by describing the shortcomings of the warriors

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  The men of the village, which was then part of a cruel dictatorship, avoided their community responsibilities with the diligence that only the truly lazy can muster. Just how completely the evil had taken over their souls was demonstrated fully by the fact that they forced their women and children, in order to give them more time for their lives of leisure, to do much of the work that was traditionally done by men. With very few exceptions, they were only interested in enjoying the pleasures of life and providing for personal comfort.

  As a result of their laziness, hunting equipment and other gear was not kept in good condition. This meant that the community continually lived on the edge of disaster. Even when necessity demanded that they prepare for a Hunt, they did just the bare minimum. As a result, even in good Seasons, they barely brought in enough meat to last a Winter. No preparations whatsoever were made to guard against an unforeseen emergency.