Chapter Forty Four
Harry
I knew Johnny H was here by the atmosphere in the village although I wasn't going to see or speak to him. I'd been sent to Emily's cabin in the trees out of the way, my place taken by Sue while Leah still followed Bella looking for a chance to kill her. I hoped Charlie had been able to speak to our leader but as a non native that was only a possibility, Johnny H had no reason to allow him an audience. I had hoped that Seth might be left to guard me at least I could speak to him, try to explain how the pack had lost its way but I guess that was expecting far too much. Instead Sam got a couple of friends from the other side of Seattle to come over as a favour and it was the two of them who sat in the cabin with me their faces impassive but although I'd tried to make conversation they made it quite clear they weren't interested in our problems, this was purely a favour for a friend. I could see the smoke from the bonfires curl above the trees and knew the meeting had started. I walked to the door standing on the porch and looking over in the direction of the village then one of the men, Miles I think, called me back
"We don't want any trouble Harry please come back inside"
I sighed and walked back to my chair picking up the lukewarm coffee and sipping it wishing I could hear what was being said and knowing a lot of lies would be told today.
Sam
Old Quil introduced Johnny H to the elders and then me and I was surprised, I'd expected someone much older, like our elders but this was a young man, not much older than me although his two companions were somewhat older. They deferred to him though so there was no possibility of mistaking the true leader. We all sat down and Quil told the story we had worked out calling on me for a first hand account of the fight itself. When we finished there was a short pause then Johnny H got up to address us,
"Thank you for the introductions Quil Ateara and for your version of the events that resulted in the death of the Quileute pack. I see the other survivor Leah Clearwater is absent. Where is she?"
"As a female Leah felt the deaths more deeply and she went off to grieve alone."
"So she's not with her father, your husband Mrs Clearwater?"
"No."
"I understand Harry is sick. Nothing serious I hope."
"He has heart problems and sometimes it lays him low but I'm sure he'll recover."
"Good."
He looked around at the circle of elders and the two new wolves standing with me.
"It is very sad when a pack loses any members, almost unheard of in recent times. We have enjoyed many years of peace with the vampires. Your treaty with the Cullens was a wise move on behalf of your ancestors and it grieves me that such a treaty should come to nothing so completely so quickly. Did anyone speak to the Cullens and find out why they suddenly changed their habits?"
"No, we didn't have time for a cosy chat, we were busy trying to save lives".
"Yes so you said. Humour me please Samuel Uley but why did the action that resulted in the death of your pack, your brothers, take place so far from the reservation? I don't remember anyone asking for special dispensation to act so far from tribal lands, or am I mistaken?"
This was our first hurdle and I saw Old Quil stiffen then speak,
"We did not have time to seek permission, we were aware that the Cullens friend was a danger to a friend's daughter and perhaps we acted rashly but I gave the permission for the pack to act off the reservation."
"To save a friend's daughter? The Chief of Police I understand?"
"Yes Chief Swan is a friend of the Blacks. His daughter was moving up here and had been targeted by the Cullens friend."
"How did you know all this?"
"We watch our enemies, its wise to know what they are doing at all times."
"Yet you didn't stop the accident or prevent the vampire from retreating to a cave with this human girl you tell me you were trying to save? Excuse me for all the questions, I'm just trying to get things clear in my mind."
"We weren't in time to stop him but we did attack the cave to try to draw him out."
"Which I understand you successfully did but then another vampire arrived. Another of the Cullens?"
"No, a stranger, a nomad."
"A nomad yes but hardly a stranger surely, not to you Quil or even you Sam. Surely you have heard of The Major? Even in Denali we are aware of that particular vampire. I think perhaps you were lucky not to lose your own life too Samuel. But I digress, The Major killed some of the pack while the girl ran? Perhaps you could explain to me why she ran if you were trying to protect her."
"She was confused and scared surely that explains her fleeing."
"True it does but what it doesn't explain is how she came to be bitten by one of the vampires in the woods. The Major was killing wolves, the Cullens friend was by your own account badly injured and the Cullens live on animal blood so who exactly attacked Bella Swan?"
He waited, his eyes settling on one after another of us until they came to a halt on my face and in those deep intelligent eyes I saw the truth, he already knew exactly what had happened there the night Bella Swan was attacked and bitten, he was seeing how much rope we needed to hang ourselves but I couldn't speak, it was as if his stare had turned me to a block of stone.
Johnny H turned to Sue,
"I think I'd like to speak to your husband, just for a second. Where is he?"
"At the clinic"
Quil jumped in quickly and I hoped that would suffice but then Johnny turned to one of his companions.
"Could you ring the clinic and ask if Mr Clearwater is well enough to speak on the phone for a couple of minutes. We'll wait"
His eyes left my face and I felt myself gasp in deep draughts of the cold night air as he turned that basilisk stare on Sue,
"Do you have the telephone number or should I ask Matthew here to drive over there and check on your husband?"
Sue shook her head, her face white with the shock of being caught in a lie.
"I thought not, Matthew if you would be so good as to find Harry Clearwater and ask him to join us unless he feels too unwell of course. In the meantime perhaps someone would like to tell me the truth of what happened here because what I have heard so far is so unbelievable as to be in the realms of fantasy. Quil you had your chance, Sam you also told your story, lets see...yes Billy Black, you lost a son perhaps you could tell me what really happened while we wait"
He sat looking at Billy who stared into the flames but didn't speak,
"I see, then lets hope Harry can clear things up because at this moment I am feeling that you take me for a fool which is actually very insulting."
