by Tapestri
Hearing a gasp behind him, Chief turned to see that the ground had given way beneath Goniff, sending the smaller man down the slope and into the stream. Chief made his way down as quickly as he could without sending himself into the water as well. He managed to stop himself just at the water�s edge by grasping a tree branch. This section of the stream was just deep enough to give Goniff a thorough drenching, and he was standing in the water as Chief reached him. He took the hand Chief held out, trusting more in his companion�s ability to pull him out of the water than in his own.
Although the rain continued to hold off as they made they way up to the cabin, the storm system had also brought a sharp drop in the temperature. By the time their destination was in sight, Goniff was thoroughly chilled. As much as he wanted to get Goniff inside quickly, Chief took the time to carefully check the area and the cabin first. From the outside everything looked fine, and once inside, a quick check of each of the few rooms proved that is was indeed safe. At least for the moment.
Returning to the main room, he saw that Goniff was still standing just inside the door, shivering badly. While laying the fire, Chief kept an eye on his companion. Thinking back to the last time they had been here, he remembered where the blankets had been kept.
"Goniff." The smaller man turned to look at Chief. "Come by the fire."
"Oh. . . right."
Chief frowned. Those were the first words the normally talkative man had spoken in several minutes. Gathering the blankets, as well as some clothes he thought should fit the cold thief, he returned to the other room.
As Goniff changed, Chief continued to explore, looking for things they could use. He found some sausage, cheese and bread that had apparently been left for them. 'Too bad they didn't leave us some coffee,' Chief thought as he looked through the shelves, 'or even tea.' Finding a jar with a bit of honey in it, he decided they could stir that into some hot water. At least it would be sweet, and should help warm them up a bit.
Goniff had changed by this time and was huddled miserably in front of the fireplace, holding onto the blankets he'd wrapped around himself.
There was a cot in the room, but it was attached to the wall and was too far away from the fireplace for any warmth to be reaching it for some time. The thin mattress that was on it however, could be moved. Chief brought it near the fire, placing more of the blankets on top. Goniff moved gratefully onto it and slowly ate the food Chief had brought him. Across from him, Chief leaned against the fireplace, enjoying the warmth as he also ate.
A short while later, Chief stood at the window watching the rain pour down. He hoped the others had found a place to wait out the storm.
"What's it like out there?"
"Rain's coming down real heavy." He turned to look at Goniff who was still huddled by the fire. At least he was shivering less now. "This storm started before they were supposed to leave, so they're probably still back in town."
"Yeah. They're probably all warm and dry."
"We're dry too, Goniff." Chief hid his smile. "Now anyway."
"Well I still ain't warm."
"Go to sleep, Goniff."
Goniff tried to sleep but he was still too cold. He was also worried about the others in spite of what Chief had said, and knew that the other man was concerned as well.
"Hey, Chiefy. Do you know any stories?"
"Stories?"
"Yeah. Stories. On days like this me mum used to tell us stories. You know, like Hansel and Gretel, . . .The Pied Piper . . .Robin Hood?"
Chief just looked at him.
"The Emperors' New Clothes?" Goniff waited hopefully.
"I ain't your 'mum' Goniff."
"I never said you was," he huffed, burrowing deeper into the blankets.
Chief realized the story idea had been as much for his benefit as Goniff�s. It would keep their minds off of both the weather and their friends.
"I know a story." His voice was softer this time, and without realizing it, Chief fell into the rhythm of the storytellers he had listened to earlier in his life.
"By the shores of a great lake, there was a village.
In this village was one wigwam much larger than the others.
This wigwam was set apart from the others.
On its sides were painted the sun, the moon and the stars.
On its sides were painted plants and trees.
On its sides were painted many animals.
It was said that inside this wigwam there lived a great being.
A rich and handsome being.
A very powerful being.
An Invisible Being."
"Wait a minute. If he was invisible, how could he be handsome?"
"Because that is what was said."
"Oh."
"Only his sister could see him.
Now there were many women in this village who wanted to marry the Invisible Being.
His sister told them all, 'Only the one who can see him can marry him'.
There was also in this village a poor man who had three daughters."
"I bet they wanted to marry this guy too, huh?"
"Are you going to listen to the story, Goniff?"
"I'm listening," he retorted. Then, worried that Chief might actually stop the story, he decided it would be better if he didn't ask any more questions.
"The two oldest daughters were hard of heart.
They made the youngest sit by the fire where brands popped and sparks flew. The sparks had fallen on her until her hands, arms and face were scarred.
The sparks had fallen on her until her hair was ragged and charred.
Then they laughed at her.
Then they mocked her.
'Ha! You're ugly, you rough-faced girl!'
They made her life miserable and lonely.
One day these hard-hearted daughters went to their father.
They said to him,
'Father, we are going to marry the Invisible Being.
Give us necklaces,
Give us buckskin dresses,
Give us beaded moccasins.'
He gave them necklaces.
He gave them buckskin dresses.
He gave them beaded moccasins.
They marched through the village towards the home of the Invisible Being.
'Look at those beautiful girls,' they heard the people say,
'Of course they will marry the Invisible Being.'
They became even prouder.
They came to the dwelling of the Invisible Being.
His sister stood outside.
'Why have you come? If you want to marry my brother, you have to have seen him.'
She looked at the sisters.
'Tell me. Have you seen my brother?'
'Of course we have! Anyone can tell that we have seen your brother!'
In a voice as swift as lightning, a voice as strong as thunder she said,
'If you have seen my brother what is it that his bow is made of?'
�What should we say', the girls whispered to each other.
They turned back to the sister,
'His bow is made of the oak tree.'
'No. Tell me. If you have seen my brother, what is it that the runner of his sled is made of.'
Again they whispered before answering.
'The runner of his sled is made of green willow branch.'
'No.'
'Treat us fairly! We've seen him! Stop asking us these silly questions!' The sister of the invisible Being stared at them for a moment.
'All right. Come with me.'
The sister of the Invisible Being led the daughters of the poor man into the wigwam.
She led them to the seats farthest from the entrance.
The guest seats.
The girls sat there waiting.
They heard footsteps.
Something entered.
Bow and arrows appeared...
The girls saw nothing else and went home.
Ashamed."
"Serves �em right!" Goniff exclaimed, then looked quickly over at Chief, who had paid no attention to the interruption.
"The rough-face girl now went to her father.
'Father, will you give me some beads, for I am going to marry the Invisible Being, for wherever I look I see his face.'
'I am sorry daughter, I have no beads left, only these broken shells'. 'Father, will you give me a dress, for I am going to marry the Invisible Being, for wherever I look I see his face.'
'I am sorry daughter. I do not have a dress for you.'
'Father, will you give me new moccasins, for I am going to marry the Invisible Being, for wherever I look I see his face.'
'I am sorry daughter. All I have are these old, cracked moccasins.' 'Father, whatever you can spare I can use.'
She took dried reeds, and strung a necklace with the broken shells.
She stripped birch bark from downed trees and made a cap, a dress and leggings.
On these she carved the sun, the moon and the stars.
On these she carved trees and plants.
On these she carved animals.
She soaked the moccasins at the lakeshore until they were soft and then molded them to her feet. They were still too big and they flapped as she walked.
The people stared at her and laughed,
'You'll never marry the Invisible Being.'
But the rough-faced girl had faith in herself.
She had courage.
She kept on walking.
As she walked she saw the beauty of the earth and the sky.
As she walked she saw the sweet, awesome face of the Invisible Being.
As she reached the lakeshore the sun was sinking behind the hills, and the stars were glittering in the sky.
By the waters edge the sister of the Invisible Being waited.
She was a wise woman.
She could look into the eyes all the way down to the heart.
She could see if you were good and kind.
She could see if you were cold, hard and cruel.
She looked at the rough-faced girl.
'Why have you come? Have you seen my brother?'
'I have seen him.'
�Tell me. What is his bow made of?'
'His bow is the great curve of the rainbow.'
'Tell me what the runner of his sled is made of.'
'The spirit Road of the stars, that spreads across the sky. That is the runner of his sled.'
'You have seen my brother. You have seen the Invisible Being. Come.'
She led the girl to the wigwam and then showed her to the seat next to the entrance.
The wife�s seat.
Footsteps were heard.
The entrance flap lifted.
The Invisible Being entered.
'At last we have been found out. And oh my sister, she is beautiful.'
'Yes,' his sister answered.
To the rough-faced girl he gave the finest buckskin robe.
He gave to her a necklace of perfect shells.
He told her,
'Bathe in the lake and dress in these.'
As she bathed the scars vanished.
As she bathed her skin grew smooth.
As she bathed, her hair became long and beautiful, as black and glossy as a raven's wing.
She was beautiful indeed.
She married the Invisible Being and they lived together in great gladness and were never parted."
"Ya know Chiefy, that was a good story." Goniff was asleep almost before he finished speaking.
With a soft smile, Chief watched his fellow con for a moment and then turned back to the window. It had been a long time since he'd really thought about the stories he'd learned as a child. The storm was passing now. The others should be able to join them in a few hours. Chief walked over to Goniff and checked for any signs of a fever as he adjusted the blankets. He'd been concerned that as cold as Goniff had been he would become ill. It looked like they'd managed to avoid that. In the stillness that followed, Chief looked around him and thought about what he saw . . .
The End
*The Rough-Faced Girl is an Algonquin tale
