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Chapter 51 Warmth filled Ajijaak. His son had a name, and by the grace of the Great Spirit he had arrived in time to witness it. He saw the small drum that hung from his child’s cradleboard, then his eyes returned to Mikinak. The older man, saw him. His face paled. He closed his mouth and stared in stunned silence. Moving toward him was his noko. Her nostril’s flared as she sniffed the air. They both knew he was present. Another also knew. He had felt Ziibi’s spirit the instant he stepped into the house. He had not expected her to be here and yet she was. The movement of his noko toward him, would bring him attention, he did not want. He started to slip out of the dooflap but before he could, his noko proclaimed, “Ajijaak has returned to us from the Land of Souls. It is not often that a man returns. Many will hear my grandson’s story, and many will remember his valor.” All eyes were on him now. Their eyes widened in fear. They did not think he was living they thought he was a

Finally the harvesting was all done. The rice had been parched. Ziibi helped her mother, Wabisi, Miinan and the nokos scoop the rice into bags woven of cedar and basswood. Ziibi preferred rice from basswood bags because she did not like the slight tang the cedar bags left on the rice. When all the rice was bagged up there was much to rejoice over. Barring a destructive winter storm, surviving another winter looked possible. That night they built a fire. They sang and told stories. Miinan’s baby freed from her cradle board toddled around. She was very fascinated with Ajijaak’s baby. He held out her hands to her. A shadow passed in Ziibi’s mind. A vision wavered in her mind. Ajijaak’s son would love Miinan’s daughter. It was a long time from now, but it must not be so. Ziibi tried to dislodge the premonition but it would not go. Was it for good or bad? At least it meant these two children would grow old enough to test their hearts. For now Ziibi decided, it was for good. When there

A group of Sioux and Ojibeway passed by him. They had died in battle and were now on their way to the Land of Souls. Some were poorly dressed and poorly provided for, others carried the finest of bows and knives and were dressed well. Some had no food, and others carried bags such as Ajijaak did. The food in Ajijaak’s pouch was running out. His mother or his noko must fill it soon or he would starve. At midday he reached the great red berry. A heaviness had settled into his body. His arms and legs had become stiff and cold. When he passed the berry it transformed itself into a hideous creature, but Ajijaak did not look at it. Too much curiosity on this path. could more than kill him it could destroy his soul. He journeyed on ward to the forest. He looked from one path to the next. His mind felt so thick he could not remember which trail was his own. He had been in such a hurry to get to Wiinizik he had not paid proper attention. He looked for traces of his own footprints. The

Since she was not family, Ziibi was not allowed to help with the preparation of Ajijaak’s body. Instead she was left to attend his unnamed child. She had taken him to Ajijaak’s corn patch. The long stalks caught the wind and whispered of a bountiful harvest. Others would pick this corn, others would eat it, not Ajijaak. Her heart ached and she felt so powerless. For many seasons she had been learning the arts of healing power and yet she had failed Ajijaak. The baby squirmed in her arms. One chubby fist grabbed her hair. He tugged hard. She looked down into his dimpled face. His eyes, were Ajijaak’s eyes. Would this little boy fair any better than his father or grandfather, or was he too destined for an early grave? Ziibi did not know. What she did know was that she would do all in her power to make sure this baby became a man. The sisters came to the corn patch. They squatted down beside her for along while before Mitigokin asked, “So you are returning to your village?” “Yes.”

Ajijaak continued along the westward trail and followed it into the forest. Many paths from all the different villages converged and criss-crossed. All journeyed to the Land of Souls, a place where death and pain did not exist. Steadily Ajijaak walked, searching for signs of Wiinizik’s footprints. From time to time he would call out her name, and just hearing his own voice brought a sense of awe to him. To no longer be silent was a gift. When he found Wiinzik and they entered the Land of Souls, they would have all eternity to speak to one another. Late in the day he passed the trail that came from the land of the Sioux. In the land of Souls he would live among his enemies, only they would no longer be enemies, for war did not exist in the land of Souls. Excitement fought with his apprehension. He felt sure of his journey.He would find Wiinizik and he would help her cross over. Deep down, he had a knowing that he would. When night fell, he stopped and by a stream. He was hungry and

In front of Ziibi was a vast sea and on its bank stood Ajijaak. He was croaking out the only sound he possessed. She knew he was crying out for Wiinizik. His croaks echoed across the water. A slight ripple appeared on its surface. Fear leapt inside of Ziibi. She started to run to Ajijaak, but Mikwam jumped into her path. It had been so long since she had last seen her guardian. He would help her. She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him. She told him, “Please, help me.” Mikwam shook his ruff. His eyes gazed out toward the water. Following her guardian’s gaze, Ziibi realized where she was. She was on the Path of Souls. She let go of Mikwam and stood. The instant she did she saw the Snake King rise from the water and wrap his long slender body around Ajijaak. Ajijaak fought against him. The Snake King hissed, “Be still man, I have what you seek. Your woman is with me now. Come, and I will take you to her.” Ziibi shouted, “Do not listen to him.” But Ajijaak did

Light followed darkness. Ajijaak’s mother came, his noko came. He saw Ziibi’s father Mikinak. In an out of his feverish dreams Ziibi moved and breathed. He was vaguely aware of his son. An infection raged in his body. He had strange dreams and battled huge bears. The Snake King came to him, and Ziibi slashed the king to bits with her awl. Ajijaak felt like he was already walking the Path of Souls and he prayed he was. He needed to get to Wiinizik, he needed to find her to make sure she had made it safely to eternity, but he could not find her. Waabooz was often there taunting him, telling him intimate details about his woman, the woman they had shared. When he dreamed these dreams he often croaked his awful croak. It was an ugly sound and he was immediately ashamed of the noise he had made. Sometimes when it was very dark, and the house was silent, a man would come to him. The man had a familiar voice, a voice he had heard in a dream or a memory long since passed. He encouraged Ajijaak

The drum began to pound like the beat of a heart. With a very slow motion, Ajijaak took his first step. His body moved as if it were liquid dancing in the wavering light. He drew his hands before his face and when they fluttered away, his face was covered in white ash. He looked far into the distance, his feet ever moving. He held up many fingers and made them undulate and march, speaking of an approaching people whose faces were as pale as the ashes. The dance continued as he circled around and around. His hands fluttered before his face again and he smeared one side with red paint. It dripped down upon his bare chest like drops of blood, and still his feet moved around and around in sacred step with the beating drum. He threw open his arms as if in welcome and then he crumbled as something unseen but deadly hit his body. With arm splayed he fell to the ground and lay very still. Then all at once he leapt to his feet, and on his face was the earth. The paint and dust were gone. He

Within Ziibi’s pouch the little drum she always carried shivered out a single sound. She looked up and saw Ajijaak, him whose form was embedded in her memory and her heart. She felt her spirit leap within her as she watched him near the canoe. He did not know who she was, and she would not tell him. How beautiful he was, with his bare broad chest and unbraided cascade of dark hair. His face was plucked of all whiskers. His long fingers reached the canoe and grabbed hold of it. Ziibi raised her eyes to his. In a single instant, he recognized her, his face registered shock in his recognition. At this Ziibi laughed. She could not help herself. He found her pretty and he hand not expected to. Men were so foolish. She said, “Ajijaak, it has been a long time. You look well.” Ajijaak dropped his eyes. His face turned red. His reaction to her confused her. What was he thinking? Her spirit reached out to his, willing him to look at her so she could read his eyes. As her spirit reached out, she

At first the move to the sugar bush had seemed like the right choice. As the days passed and sugar time faded into Spring Ajijaak began to regret this choice. With her family Wiinizik hid her sadness, but at home alone she did not. When Ajijaak tried to engage her in conversation she often pretended not to see Ajijaak’s signals. A distance had formed between them and grew wider with the passing of each night.She did not want his affection. She did not even seem to want his presence. He knew he should have taken her to his noko, but here, entrenched in her family, he knew she would not go with him, now.The Spring with all its bright flowers, flowers that Wiinizik usually rejoiced in turned to Summer. She did not get better, but she did not get worse. If only the sisters would come to the village, like they came to the island. The sisters would help her, but the village had its own Midewiwin and they would not trespass on his territory. Ajijaak had gone to him and gotten various