Epilogue
Ten days after his return to Chota, Mingo got dressed in warm winter clothes and left at dawn , with his rifle, his knife, his bandoleer , powder and shot; blanket roll beneath his pack. He was going , on the trail that led to the white men's settlement, to Daniel's cabin; to fulfill the promise of the last fall hunt.
He was looking forward to spending this last hunt of the year, with his friend and his son. His limp was nearly gone, he was still feeling the aftereffect of the weakened state he had been in. Bright Rainbow had fed him well; she had feed his soul, his body, his inner desires.
She had given him many nights of healing and pleasure. He found himself cherishing her , more and more. Perhaps ….
"Mingo, will you tell a story tonight?" pleaded Israel, whose turn it was to stand guard while his father and their friend slept after the first day of hunting.
The weather had turned harsh and Mingo had not yet recovered all his strength, but he, nevertheless, chose to hunt with the Boones. Rebecca was going to spend a week with Jemima, tending to her two grandsons as much as she could. The Cherokee looked at the exuberant face of the young man and taking his time before answering, saw him grow more impatient.
"Would a song do, Israel? After you put more wood on the fire, so your old Indian friend can remain warm tonight?"
Israel did not need to be told twice, he gathered some of the branches around the camp, split them deftly into neat little pieces and added a few to the fire; it would be a small fire but it would provide the Cherokee the warm he needed before sleep. He was wearing his warm winter vest and had a blanket around his shoulders. He took a long satisfied sip from his tin cup of warm coffee, nodded at Daniel, as expectant as his son, and began.
« Tonight, I heard the call
Of the wild bird, in the middle of the path
It felt like he was leaving
But I knew he was calling to me
As does the call of the Great Spirit
So does the call of the wild bird
Fly, Fly, Fly, my heart soars above
I'm the brother of the wild bird
Yesterday, I mixed forever
My blood to the blood of my lover
And under the moon, medicine men
Went wild into the warriors' dance
As does the call of the Great Spirit
So does the call of the wild bird
Fly, Fly, Fly, my heart soars above
I'm the brother of the wild bird
As the drumbeat is bound to stop
Under the tent, they shall go
And in my arms, my sweet bride
Softly will rest
As does the call of the Great Spirit
So does the call of the wild bird
Fly, Fly, Fly, my heart soars above
I'm the brother of the wild bird
As she will wake in the morrow,
She'll find me gone
With the wild bird, I will have left
As the wild bird, I will leave my nest
As does the call of the Great Spirit
So does the call of the wild bird
Fly, Fly, Fly, my heart soars above
I'm the brother of the wild bird »
As the last note left Mingo, the wind began. It was almost as if the air around the three men had decided to let them have a moment of intimacy. But now, it was time for nature to take over. And the fall began to end slowly. Mingo and Daniel heard the call of the land, and rested their heads on the pillow of the earth. They were safe under the stars under the watchful guard of the youngest of them. Trust.
The End.