#36 – Human
"No!"
The native chief was able to arch the club just in time from hitting his daughter's head. Much to his surprise and shock he had watched as she had hurled herself on top of the young captive that he was about to kill.
"If you kill him," she began speaking after catching her breath, "You'll have to kill me to."
Anger flashed in his eyes as he firmly spoke, "Daughter, stand back!"
Her toan had come back just as strong only filled with conviction, "I won't!"
In a softer voice she continued, "I love him father. Look around you; this is where the path of hatred has brought us. This is the path I choose father, what will yours be?"
Eyes wide in shock and disbelief, Powhatan listened to the words his daughter had spoken from her heart. He gazed on as she placed her head on top of the man's head again and the father stood still for a few tense moments.
The chief knew what it was like to kill. He knew what it was like to love a woman more than life itself. He knew he would never murder his own daughter.
'What to do then?' a voice said in his mind as the wind blew making him feel his wife's spirit. He always felt her in the breeze, yet this time it was different. It felt like an embrace, a whisper in his ear from her beautiful voice. The chief inhaled, and in doing so he swore he could smell a faint scent of the flowers that she had worn in her hair.
It made him feel alive, joy and simply human.
Perhaps this young captive had not meant to kill Kocoum? Perhaps he loved his daughter in return? The chief knew he would never find out until he raised his club in the air and spoke.
"My daughter speaks with the wisdom beyond her years. We have all come here with anger in our hearts but she has come with courage and understanding. From this day forward, if there is to be more killing, it will not start with me; release him!"