The group took a break in the middle of the afternoon. The journey had been pleasant so far since it was not too sunny and there was a gentle breeze skittering across the trees. Alice and Uncas hadn't talked since their previous terse exchange though he still held her arm when they encountered steep or slippery areas. Cora had spread a faded tablecloth on the ground and was busy unpacking the food that Marianne had thoughtfully prepared for them: sandwiches, biscuits and lukewarm tea.
Nathaniel eyed his brother and Alice shrewdly – both were not unusually quiet but for they seem to be making a deliberate attempt to stay apart from each other. That was very unusual indeed. When Alice left with Cora to gather some berries, he nudged Uncas, "Had a fight?" Uncas muttered grouchily, "Told her I am supposed to look for a wife." "Hmmm. I guess you had to. Better now than at the camp when the women start crawling onto your lap." Nathaniel said with a wicked grin. Uncas rolled his eyes and fiddled with the coiled gold bangle on his arm. "What did she say?" Nathaniel nagged when his younger brother remained silent. "Nothing much," Uncas mumbled morosely. Nathaniel hid a bemused smile behind his hand. This was the first time he had seen Uncas distinctly ruffled. Alice Munro was something, all right.
Uncas raised his head when he heard the rustle of skirts. But only Cora appeared, carrying a small basket loaded with berries. Uncas frowned. Where was Alice? It was not safe for her to be wandering around the forest alone. "There is a small stream just beyond the bushes of berries. Alice wanted to cool down a little." Cora divulged as she sat down on the blanket. At that, Uncas rolled to his feet and took off without a word.
"They fought." Nathaniel informed Cora and Chingachcook gleefully as he stuffed a handful of berries into his mouth. "And why would that please you?" Cora asked, perplexed, as she drank a sip of tea. "Because Uncas never ever quarrels. Right, Father?" Nathaniel chortled. Chingachcook just shook his head in exasperation. The young were always so foolish.
Uncas pushed through the trees until he came to the stream. Alice sat on her heels by the bank, lost in thought. Uncas crouched down beside her, "Tired?" Alice responded warily, "No. I'm just hot." "Didn't want to hide it from you." He said, scooping some water with his hand and dribbling it over his head. Alice knew what the "it" referred to. "I know."
Silence lingered between them before Uncas reached out to brush a lock of sweat-dampened hair off her forehead, "Hair's a mess." At that, he undid her mangled braid and started to re-plait the honeyed tresses patiently. Alice didn't protest, secretly relishing the touch and pull of his strong fingers through her hair. She knew he was looking for a truce and she was more than relieved to accept one. She discovered she actively detested being in disagreement with him, even if it had only been a couple of hours.
When he was done, she turned to him without guile, " Uncas?" "Hmmm?" "Do you want me to stay?" Alice asked jumpily. Uncas regarded her frankly, surprised that she had asked such a question. He traced her palm with his finger as he replied with solemn sincerity, " I want you to do what you wish. Staying here isn't easy." "Even with you?" she whispered despondently. Uncas' heart beat a little faster at that. He was gratified at her confession that her decision to stay in America depended on him. He cracked a crooked grin, "Might be a little easier with me."
Despite the sober mood, Alice couldn't help smiling a little at that reassurance. "Do you want to stay?" he ventured carefully. Alice shuffled her feet, " I don't know. I need time to think about it." Uncas nodded, "Not an easy decision." Alice sent him a timid sideways glance, " Would you be... happy if I stayed?" Uncas impulsively stretched across and dropped a quick peck on her cheek. "Very." he stated succinctly. Alice blushed. "You can think while you are at the Delaware camp." Uncas leapt up agilely and reached down to pull Alice to her feet. "And what would you be doing?" Alice teased as they began their walk back to the rest. Fending off all the ambitious mamas and their equally enthusiastic daughters. But instead, he shrugged unconcernedly, "You'll see."
Nathaniel noted the relaxed synchronism between the pair when they returned and smirked, "Made up?" Cora groaned beside him. Nathaniel was relentless when it came to Uncas and Alice. "Let them eat in peace." Chingachcook said as Alice and Uncas settled down on the blanket. At his father's reproach, Nathaniel just grinned wider. Cora offered them berries and sandwiches and after their hunger had been sated, the group packed up and resumed their journey.
The camp finally came into view. Alice surveyed it with child-like curiosity. She had never seen something like that before. It resembled a little village of tents, which according to Uncas, were known as "wigwams". Each was supposedly shared by a family, so Uncas was hoping he could secure an empty one for Cora and Alice. Uncas admitted sheepishly he always preferred the family cabin to being squashed into one tight space with his father and brother; he suspected they felt the same way too though they would never mention that fact to their relatives. They were related to Uncas and Chincachgook through Uncas' mother, Lenmana. She had died of a strange illness when Uncas was six. Nathaniel had been eight and equally devastated by her death since Lenmana had adored him like her own child.
"Uncas! Nathaniel!" someone shouted as the group made their way to the centre of the camp, which was the main communal area. Alice yelped in terror when a bare-chested brave with a partially shaven head and ferocious tattoos snaking down both arms bounded up to the men. Uncas gave Alice's hand a quick squeeze, "It's fine. My cousin, Cheveyo." Cheveyo didn't miss Uncas' affectionate gesture towards the pale white woman next to him. He shot Uncas a quizzical look, which Uncas promptly ignored. Chingachcook rumbled authoritatively, "Where's your mother?" Cheveyo lowered his head reverently, "Waiting for you in her wigwam, Uncle."
Uncas' mother older sister, Maka, peered at the group as they filed into the wigwam, "How is my brother-in-law and my unmarried nephews?" Nathaniel and Uncas winced in unison. Maka certainly wasn't wasting any time. Chingachgook grunted while Nathaniel replied politely, "Still unmarried, Aunt." His father added, "Not for long. Nathaniel will marry the dark-haired girl in winter." Maka's eagle eyes zeroed in on Uncas and Alice - her younger nephew was obviously guarding the moon-haired child by his side. Her gaze snapped up to her brother-in-law, who met her accusing eyes with inscrutable calmness. Her brother-in-law had always been a unique character and lived by his own ways. It was evident he had passed that trait to his blood son.
Cora and Alice bowed their heads in greeting while Chingachgook explained their situation with brevity. "Give them their own wigwam. If there is nothing available, my sons can build them one over the next few days." Mara knew better than to turn her brother-in-law down so she proposed, "Huyana and her mother just moved into a new wigwam. Their old one is still standing. The white women can stay there." The Mohican brothers visibly flinched at the mention of the suggestion and Alice wondered why. She had no clue what was being said but they definitely looked a little ill at ease. Nathaniel whipped around to face the sisters, " I'll show you your wigwam." Then he waved Uncas away, "Grab some furs and blankets." Uncas nodded and disappeared in the opposite direction.
Their allocated wigwam was a little worn but sturdy-looking. Nathaniel promised to reinforce it the next day and spelled out what should go where in a wigwam. Uncas stepped into the wigwam minutes later armed with furs, hides and blankets. He dropped them in a pile on the ground and Nathaniel began arranging them around the perimeter of the cosy space.
Uncas dipped into his pack, extracted a small parcel, and passed it to Alice. "What is it?" she eyed it skeptically. "Soap. Marianne said you liked hers." Uncas said as he hunkered down to help Nathaniel. He thinks of everything. She could imagine him making a beeline for the soap shop and stocking up a few bars for her future use. Deep down Alice knew he just was trying his best to make her as comfortable as he could. He didn't have to - his presence alone was her biggest comfort.
Alice scooted next to Uncas and tugged his sleeve, "Thank you." He brushed off her gratitude with a brief smile and continued to tidy the wigwam. "Keep the fire going throughout the night. Gets cold near dawn. I'll leave extra wood outside." Nathaniel advised as he stacked wood in the middle. The flap lifted and Chingachcook entered. "Supper is almost ready. Distribute the supplies we bought for them later." He instructed his sons.
Then he turned to the women, "All fine?" Cora bobbed her head gratefully, " Yes, thank you for getting us our own wigwam." Chingachcook answered ambivalently, " Thank Huyana and her mother later." Again, Alice noticed the uncomfortable exchange of glances between the brothers. "Who is Huyana?" Cora beat Alice to the question. Chingachcook looked at his sons expectantly. Finally, Nathaniel furnished awkwardly, " Someone we grew up with." Eager to change the subject, Uncas hiked up the flap, "Let's go."
Everyone in the camp had congregated in the communal area. The Mohicans and the Delaware people greeted each other warmly while the Munro sisters stood quietly in the corner, feeling horribly out of place since they were now surrounded by tens of Indians rather than just three. Three English-speaking ones, to be exact. The females worn buckskin dresses or skirt-blouse ensembles, some barefoot, some wearing moccasins. The men were mostly shirtless. The Munro sisters' porcelain complexions were outstanding among the sea of burnished copper. Even more so Alice with her light hair. The English girls never felt so outcast in their life.
Chingachcook shushed everyone after awhile. He delivered a short speech and all heads swung in the sisters' direction. "Father just requested they treat the both of you with respect because you are his guests and thus, under his protection." Nathaniel translated and both women heaved a sigh of relief at the elder's kindness and consideration. Uncas handed a wooden bowl to Alice, " Get some food." He steered her towards a huge cauldron in the centre. The short distance to the cauldron should have taken seconds, but took minutes instead. Their path to supper kept getting interrupted by women coming up to Uncas, cooing greetings - very coyly and flirtatiously. Some even touched his arms and shoulders. Alice was as good as invisible.
To his credit, Uncas didn't react to the women's overwhelming attentions and kept moving forward. His arm remained firmly around Alice's waist throughout, guiding her through the melee of fawning fans. But Alice still felt smarted by the way they were totally disregarding her. She heard Cora mutter behind her, "One would think Uncas is a prince!" Nathaniel gurgled with laughter, " He is in their eyes."
Uncas and Alice finally reached the cauldron. Uncas was reaching for the ladle when a female voice resounded, "Uncas! Uncas!" Uncas' muscles went taut and he heard Nathaniel suck in his breath. Before he could brace himself, a tall, lithe young woman flung herself into his arms and hugged him tightly. Alice's eyes narrowed automatically - the embrace didn't look ...innocent. Suspicion started to creep in when she saw that Uncas looked a little flustered. He was never flustered. Uncas quickly pushed the woman away and took a step back. His gaze flew to Alice worriedly but Alice was too busy staring at the woman who hugged Uncas like a long-lost lover.
The woman spun around to face Alice. She looked slightly older than Alice and was gloriously pretty. She gave Alice a dismissive once-over before enunciating coolly in perfect English, "I'm Huyana." Alice instantly understood the men's chancy behaviour earlier. Huyana. "You'll see." he had said. Well, she now did see. And Alice didn't like what she was seeing one bit.