Hello everyone! It's been another long time-no see. Unfortunately I've had some health issues crop up over the last six months that required attention. While I'm still working through them, I really wanted to get back to writing here and continue this story. Ethan, Anen:taks, Ona:to and Thayendangea are now at school and there is a blast from Ethan's past about to show up. As always, notes/translations are at the bottom. Enjoy!
Chapter 10-Reunion with the Past
Fall 1761
"Ready to go?" Ethan looked up from his Latin book to where Anen:taks stood in the doorway, a brow raised at him. "The market will be opening soon. If we don't hurry, the best will already be gone by the time we get there." "Hen." Ethan said and closed the book, glad to be done with studying for a while. His cousin saw his expression and grinned. "Latin again? I thought you went to a school for that in Boston." Ethan rolled his eyes. "We learned other things there too, you know." He said as pulled on his blanket coat. "Latin wasn't my best subject. Not like you." Anen:taks acknowledged that with a smile. While they had only been at school for two months, Anen:taks was clearly a natural at languages. "I have other studies to focus on." He said modestly. "Don't we all." Ethan said as they left the second floor bedroom of the Wheelock house that they shared. The door to Thayendangea-or Joseph as he preferred to be called here-and Ona:to's bedroom was partially open and they paused to see if they wanted to go with them. Both declined, intent on studying. "There's a tewaaraton game later this afternoon too." Joseph mentioned. "We'll be back in time for it." Ethan promised.
They went down the stairs and Mrs. Wheelock met them with a list in her hands. She handed it to Anen:taks. "There's only a few things and all of them can be delivered." She said, thanking them before picking up a basket filled with her gardening tools and left to finish preparing her garden soil for winter. Ethan and Anen:taks headed outside too, making their way down the street towards the center of Albany where the crowds were already growing thick in anticipation of market day. Ethan looked around at the streets lined with houses and shops in both brick and wood, thinking yet again about how much this reminded him of Boston in many ways. He breathed deeply, letting the crisp autumn air fill his lungs and the growing smells of the market fill his nose. There wasn't the salty scent of the ocean here in Albany, but so much else was the same. "It's good to see all these things again." He said, not realizing that he had said it out loud until he saw Anen:taks looking at him, his expression slightly concerned. "You said that the last time we came here." His cousin said. Ethan shrugged. "Just remembering things." He pointed to the list. "Let's get started."
Just as Mrs. Wheelock had said, the list wasn't very long and after visiting the fishmonger and several other stalls for some dry goods everything had been taken care of. Rather than head back right away, Ethan and Anen:taks had decided to wander around the market for a while. "Look." Anen:taks pointed to a bookshop where the owner had placed a number of books outside on overturned crates to attract customers on market day. "Let's go see what they have." Ethan followed him. Picking up a book, Anen:taks thumbed through it. "The Aeneid. I wonder if Reverend Wheelock has a copy of this one in his library or at school." I'm sure he does." Ethan said, another memory hitting him. The Aeneid had been the last text that his Latin teacher at Boston Latin had introduced to his class before he had been forced to leave. They hadn't been studying the complete text but rather sections of it. Father had been helping him. He looked around at the rest of the market, spying a stall selling sewing notions and hair ribbons. "I think I'll go look at that stall. I want to send my sister something in my next letter to her." He told Anen:taks. Anen:taks nodded, still interested in the book. Ethan made his way over to the stall, and began to look at the selection of ribbons that they had. Olivia's favorite color was pink and there was a pale pink ribbon printed with tiny flowers that he knew she would love. He handed over the few shillings for it to the merchant and placed it carefully in the pocket of his blanket coat. But he didn't feel ready to rejoin Anen:taks. Instead he kept walking, moving on from the street they had been on to the different stalls and shops located on the common green, still thinking. The throngs of people and the clamor coming from all around him made it easy for him to get lost in his thoughts, although the careful training he had received from Rakeni and the other men in Canajoharie didn't allow his mind to fully wander to the point where he wasn't aware of his surroundings and his place within them. He didn't know why memories from his past were popping up more and more. Not that they had ever left him. But they were different than from the past several years when he had been in Canajoharie. Sometimes the pain was stronger as they had been when Anen:taks had picked up the Aeneid. His memories here felt stronger even though he had never been with his parents in Albany before. Was it just from being in an English city again?
"Ethan? Ethan Webster?"
Ethan heard his name being called from behind and quickly turned around. He didn't recognize the voice. An English boy his age with dark brown hair pulled back into a queue and brown eyes was standing at a distance and waved at him, the sleeve of his dark green greatcoat creating a blur. "Is it you?" He came closer to Ethan, looking incredulous. Ethan tried to place his face and suddenly, a name popped into his mind, the name of one of his friends from Boston Latin. "Issac? Issac Harrison?" He said to which the boy his age nodded. "It is you!" Issac said and reached out to grab his hand, shaking it eagerly. "I hardly recognize you. But where is your family? And why…?" He took a step back and looked over Ethan from his scalplock to his boot-clad feet, gesturing at him. Ethan gave a wry smile. No doubt he looked very different. Not only was he older but the combination of deerskin breeches and English boots worn with his loose hunting shirt and blanket coat were worlds away from how he had dressed in Boston.
"My family-my mother and father and our cousins-were killed in an Abenaki raid shortly after we moved out to the New Hampshire frontier. Olivia and I were taken captive by them and shortly after, we were traded to a Mohawk man named Ongewasgone. He took us back with him to Canajoharie and we were adopted by his wife and him as their son and daughter. We've been living there ever since." Issac shook his head, his eyes sympathetic. "I had no idea. We heard sometime later after it happened about you leaving Boston and the reasons why but I never knew that all of this had happened to you. I'm so sorry Ethan." Issac and his family had moved to Newport several months before Father's business had been lost and so hadn't been in Boston when Ethan had left with his family. Ethan hadn't known if he would have even heard about it, although the gossip mill from visitors back and forth between Boston and Newport made it likely that the news would've reached them eventually. He tried to smile now at Issac though, accepting his condolences. "But you are a captive of the Mohawk then?" "No I'm-"
"Issac! There you are!" An older woman with the same hair color and eyes as her son walked up to them, touching her son on the shoulder. She looked over at Ethan and blanched a bit. "Mother, you remember Ethan Webster from Boston." Issac said, motioning to Ethan. Mrs. Harrison looked over at Ethan from under her broad-brimmed hat and her expression turned concerned mixed with something Ethan couldn't place. "It's good to see you again." She said, although the words felt a bit forced. She started to put her hand out but almost immediately took it back. Ethan grabbed it before she could and quickly bowed over it. I have not forgotten my English manners.
"Here now, who is this?" An elegantly dressed older man wearing a powdered wig joined them. Mr. Harrison. "Father, this is Ethan Webster from Boston." Issac said, giving his father a hopeful smile. "He was in my class at Boston Latin, you'll remember, before we moved to Newport." Mr. Harrison stared at Ethan intently for a few moments before recognition hit his face although confusion remained. "Ah yes, William and Anna's son. We heard about their…loss of fortune and move to New Hampshire. But why are you dressed like…like this? You haven't turned into one of the wild Indians while out on the frontier have you?" He waved at Ethan's clothing, a disdainful look coming into his eyes. Ethan bristled a bit at it.
"His parents were killed Father, along with their cousins they were living with. Ethan and Olivia were taken by the Abenaki and then sold to the Mohawks three years ago. He's their captive." Issac said, looking at Ethan apologetically. Ethan started to correct this only to hear Mrs. Harrison make a choking noise and turn her head away. Her husband patted her shoulder. "Now, now my dear." He said, his voice noticeably softer before turning back to Ethan, resuming his normal tone. "A captive of the Mohawk? But we are their allies. Of course, though, they have their savage ways still… Did you escape?" Ethan couldn't hold back any longer. He had to correct them.
"I am not a captive of the Mohawk and neither is my sister. Our adopted father traded for us and brought us back to his town with him. We were adopted there and have been for the last three years. As for this," he gestured to himself, "I am a son of the Wolf clan and am wearing the clothes that my mother made for me." Ethan kept his words firm but even, remembering the advice that Hawkeye had given to him shortly after his adoption. Do not try to understand them. But there was a part of him that wanted at least Issac to understand too. "I am in Albany to attend Reverend Wheelock's school by the arrangement of Sir William Johnson and my parent's agreement." He finished, hoping that the mention of the school and the British Superintendent of Indian Affairs would dispel any doubt that he was a captive. A captive. How long has it been since I thought of myself like that?
Mr. Harrison's eyes widened a bit at the mention of Sir William Johnson before narrowing slightly. "Be that as it may-" He paused in the middle of his sentence and looked beside Ethan, his face neutral though it looked a bit unnerved. Ethan didn't say anything but had noticed Anen:taks' approach out of the corner of his eye. "Hello." His cousin said, giving a general nod to the three Harrisons, none of whom seemed to know what to say. Mr. Harrison recovered the quickest. "And you are?" He said, looking Anen:taks up and down. "I am Anen:taks, also called Paul." Anen:taks replied, meeting Mr. Harrison's gaze coolly. "My cousin." Ethan explained. Before he could say anything else, Anen:taks turned to him. "Hanio." He said to him, his voice firm. "Wait just a moment." Etan said back. Anen:taks shook his head. "Hanio. Now." Ethan wasn't ready to leave yet but he didn't want to argue further with Anen:taks. He turned back to the Harrisons who were looking shocked at him speaking Mohawk. "Goodbye." He said and turned to follow Anen:taks who had already started walking out of the common green. Once they were up the street a ways, Anen:taks started to talk. "You shouldn't be talking with them Tekariho:ken. It is not good for you." Ethan looked over at his cousin, a bit stunned. He'd never said anything like this before. "Their son was a friend of mine when I lived in Boston." He said, trying to explain but Anen:taks shook his head again. He didn't seem to want to hear about it.
"Ethan! Ethan-wait!" He spun around to see Issac half-walking, half-running up the street to catch up with them. Anen:taks tried to turn him around but he jerked his shoulder back. Anen:taks frowned at him but let him be. Issac stopped in front of them, panting a little bit. He looked over at Anen:taks, still seeming intimidated but he put out a hand. "I didn't get to tell you my name. I'm Issac-Issac Harrison." Anen:taks was still frowning but he shook his hand briefly before dropping it. "I will wait for you." He told Ethan before crossing to the other side of the street. Once he was gone, Issac looked at Ethan. "I'm sorry about what happened. But it's a shock is all-it's…" His voice trailed off and he shook his head. "Mother and Father said that you could come for dinner on Tuesday evening. Can you come?" "I will ask Reverend Wheelock if I can." Ethan said. Issac quickly came him directions to his home in Albany. "We've only newly arrived ourselves since Father acquired some new business interests here." He explained. He turned to go. "I hope to see you on Tuesday." Ethan waved back at him as he went and went to rejoin Anen:taks who said nothing as they continued up the street.
Late on Tuesday afternoon, Ethan shrugged on the blue greatcoat that his mother and Molly had sewn for him in preparation for him coming to school. All of the mothers had, with Molly's help, sewn similar coats for their sons. He made sure his linen shirt was tucked in neatly to his leather breeches before picking up the red ribbon for his scalplock and tying it back neatly. Just as he was pulling on his boots, Anen:taks entered the bedroom. Ethan paused in pulling on his second boot as his cousin glowered at him. "You are going to have dinner with him." He said bluntly. "Hen." Ethan said and finished pulling on his boot. He winced inwardly. He had known how Anen:taks felt about this and had been hoping to avoid him before he left for dinner. Anen:taks said nothing as Ethan stood up from the stool he'd been sitting on. But when Ethan looked at him, he demanded, "Why do you want to spend time with your English friend?"
"My English friend?" Ethan said, not sure how to respond. Anen:taks nodded vigorously. "Hen, your English friend. I told you that I don't think it's good for you." "One of your closest friends is Gunter, and he's Palatine." Ethan shot back. Anen:taks never seemed to treat people like this. In their community, he had accepted both their fellow Mohawk and Palatine neighbors as much the same. Anen:taks bristled. "That's different. I do not forget who I am and neither does Gunter." He said angrily. "I'm not forgetting anything." Ethan said hotly. Why was Anen:taks acting this way? He was glad that Reverend and Mrs. Wheelock were out visiting friends and weren't there to hear this, even though they wouldn't have understood it anyway. Walking past his cousin, Ethan started for the door only to have Anen:taks stand in his way. "You are not English anymore and you need to remember it!" His eyes blazed and for a moment, Ethan almost decided not to go. This was his cousin, his elder clan brother and his mentor after all. The one who had stood by him even in his early days of confusion and adjustment. He didn't want to hurt him. But I am my own man too, Ethan though, remembering something else Hawkeye had told him the last visit the Mohicans had made to Canajoharie. "Every man is his own nation. And only he can have dominion over himself."
Straightening himself up, he looked Anen:taks in the eye. "I am not forgetting anything. I know who I am." Moving around him, he picked up his gustoweh from the top of the dresser where is sat and placed it on his head. "I am Tekariho:ken, Between Two Worlds. I am not forgetting either of them." Anen:taks gaze met his stonily and Ethan knew he needed to leave before his resolve left him. Opening the door, he left the room and made his way out the door and down the stairs into Albany.
First of all, extra special thanks to EmoryRose for letting me pick her brain about so many details for this chapter (especially the argument between Anen:taks and Ethan)! I couldn't have done it without her.
I was excited about bringing someone from Ethan's past into the mix here and have him come face to face with him. I know I said previously that no one from Boston offered to help Ethan's family but seeing as the Harrison family wasn't living in Boston at the time when their family lost their money they didn't know about it until after. Although I think I will leave it to everyone to decide on their own if they would have helped them or not…we'll find out more about them and Issac in the next chapter (including the reason for Mrs. Harrison's reaction to Ethan).
I hope that Anen:taks doesn't seem out of character here, I know that I've portrayed him as being pretty open and patient but everyone has to have a breaking point. He's been concerned about Ethan and how going to school/being in an English environment is affecting him and now comes a friend from Ethan's past whose family (and maybe himself) definitely don't think much good at all of his adopted family and culture. While he would probably (unfortunately) be used to negative reactions like this about himself, he hasn't really seen it with Ethan (at least not in a personal context and/or without their extended family and community members around). This chapter was mainly meant to focus on Ethan but In the next chapter we will see more about this from Anen:taks' perspective and how he feels about things (including for himself and his own adjustments to school). On another quick note, Paul is his baptismal name and it was common at this time period for natives who had accepted Christianity to hold both baptismal and traditional names (as many members of their Mohawk and other Six Nations communities at this time held both).
Some historical/movie script notes: For those who've read Finding A Way Home, in my notes for the chapters there, I mentioned how Reverend Wheelock's school was a real school (and the forerunner of Dartmouth College) but was located in Connecticut not New York. For the purposes of both stories, I decided to take creative license and place it in Albany instead. Both native and colonial students studied there and his policy towards native students was progressive for his time (his surviving writings state clearly that he didn't want his native students to forget their own languages) and he had native students board with his family (which is why Ethan, Anen:taks, Thayendangea and Ona:to are living with them while at school). I do want to acknowledge that I recognize that this wasn't the case at many schools however and it's not my intention at all to make light of those cases.
For those who've read the script, you will notice that I used some of Nathaniel's dialogue regarding every man being his own nation and only him having dominion over himself that was deleted from the final cut of the burial ground scene between him and Cora. As a role model for Ethan I could definitely see him passing on that to him as advice at some point (especially on the verge of Ethan leaving for school and him growing up). Besides, it's a great bit of foreshadowing that could easily play into the Revolution…
Thank you so much to everyone (silent and active alike) who reads this story; it really keeps me motivated!
Hen: Yes
Tewaaraton: literally little brother of war; traditional name for lacrosse
Rakeni: Father
kia:se: cousin
Hanio: Come on