Rabid:

We heard screams coming from the edge of the camp & we ran. Tommy lay on the ground, shaking so hard we could barely see the pain on his face. I scooped him up & Aiyana & I ran back to the wagon. I put him in the back & climbed in myself. We saw the bite on his wrist & then he started to foam at the mouth.

I grabbed a bottle of liquor from the back, opened it, had Aiyana force Tommy's jaw open & poured the alcohol down his throat, hoping above everything else that this would work. He was rabid. Mr. Lewis came to the back & Aiyana pulled the cover closed.

The rest of the night he was struggling very hard & by morning he tried to kill Aiyana. I taped his mouth shut then taped his hand & feet together. Aiyana grabbed the Revolver, loaded it & then jumped out he back. I was already waiting for her with Tommy in my arms. We went beyond the camp.

Hattie saw the gun in Aiyana's hand & ran to get the men, but they were too late. They heard the gunshot & grabbed shovels. They found us sitting next to our brother, who had a single gunshot to the head. Tall Joe picked up Tommy's body & took it to the edge of camp. Mr. Lewis & Mr. Campbell walked us back to camp.

Everyone's face held the same question. Why?

"Once they go rabid, they can never come back. He tried to kill Aiyana this morning. He's with the rest of our family now. We're sorry."

Nobody spoke. Tall Joe had the grave dug. I grabbed Tommy's blanket & wrapped him in it. Aiyana went back to the wagon, grabbed a piece of wood & knife.

"Here lies Tommy Black Hawk, age 6. 1841-1847. Wakan Tankan Nici Un: May the Great Spirit Walk With You." Aiyana hammered it into the ground at the head of the grave. Aiyana & I leaned down & gave our brother a kiss on the cheek, asking God to deliver him safely to our family. They lowered the body into the ground. An hour later we left.