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| The Talking Tongue by � coondogk9 The thunder peeled and the sun was blocked as the herd raged onward to their death. Yelling screaming warriors waved blankets in the air as the buffalo closed the gap to the cliffs edge. Exhausted and weak they no longer cared, but just kept running to escape the nightmarish pursuit. Closing in on the sides to prevent the herd from turning came the women and children beating drums and sticks creating a fearful noise unseen through the thick dust. At last to the edge they came. Not a moments hesitation as they dove headlong to their death. Bodies piled on bodies and carcasses rolled off one another. Some, few, but still the few survived after landing on other buffalo already dead. The few survivors crippled off, some to die later on. Now there would be meat to replenish several tribes through the winter. The tribes made their way down the step incline and prepared to butcher the buffalo. Knives sharp and more help arriving all the time they set to work. A heavy voice boomed over the proceedings. All stopped to listen. No more words came. As they started back to the grizzly task the voice appeared again. This time someone shouted: OVER HERE. THE VOICE. OVER HERE. Soon all were gathered at the site where the voice came from. There on the ground a dead buffalo spoke. The buffalo was surely dead there was no doubt but his tongue wagged in their own language. They watched as the tongue moved and words appeared from it. Fear not my children. We have sacrificed our lives that you might live another day. But I fear the time has come that we shall perish and the earth will no longer bind us here. We are a dying breed as the long knives slaughter for sport and also to starve the natives into submission. There is no recourse and it is sad but soon this will come to be. Take what you can and nourish your bodies so strength will prevail. This strength you will need on your long journey. What journey is that brother asked one of the Chiefs? I can not say my brother warrior, but it will be. This I know. Take meat and hides to the mountains and store them for future use. Some may use them while others will be taken away and have no more access to them or any of this land. What!!!!!!!! They exclaimed. What do you speak of, this taken away and our land no more we ask? I have spoken said the buffalo tongue. Now take your bounty and go. The others questioned and asked but the tongue was silent. Hurriedly they gathered all they could and spread it among themselves and sent word of left over kill at the cliff to those in need as well as the story of the buffalo tongue. After a large feast commemorating the hunt dancers assembled to honor the buffalo for giving his life that they might live prosperous and healthy. It did come to pass the buffalo were nearly exterminated and the Indian starved. They were rounded up and shipped to distant lands far from their own homelands. The buffalo tongue spoke truths and the believers were prepared. It was not easy even knowing and there was little they could do but still all in all, many more survived because of the prewarning. The Redman believed in his spirits and his creator making all things possible "if you truly believed". Today both the buffalo and the Indian are making a comeback in numbers. Their cultures and lands are not the same as they once were but it is a new beginning. It was very possible neither would survive the dual massacre. If not for sympathizers and brave men and women none of this would be possible today. (The major part of this story is entirely fictional <"the talking tongue">as far as I know because I just made it my creation) Vision Quest � 2002 T Lovett |