Chickadee

Chickadee by Louise Erdrich Page A

Book: Chickadee by Louise Erdrich Read Free Book Online
Authors: Louise Erdrich
at his brother. Batiste had opened one eye just a crack, and its gleam told Babiche that he thought Two Strike was magnificent.
    â€œWe have treated the boy like our own son,” cried Babiche. “Because we heard of the beauty of this vision before us. This woman, Two Strike.”
    Two Strike bent over and snarled at him. This snarl completely melted the heart of Babiche. He begged her to marry him—and his brother, too—right on the spot.
    â€œAnd the horses will be our wedding gift!” he said.
    Two Strike’s hand grabbed his throat. “You are lucky to escape with your life,” she said. “If I ever see you or your brother again I’ll slice you to ribbons, I’ll tear you to shreds, I’ll grind you to a pulp. I’ll destroy you!”
    â€œOh, what heaven!” cried Babiche. “My heart is already mashed like a boiled potato!”
    Batiste lifted his head, dizzy with emotion. He quickly added, “And mine is crushed like a rotten turnip!”
    â€œWe are a bouyah of love, boiling for you!” they shouted together.
    But the two were calling after a quickly disappearing Two Strike. She and Animikiins had already started running, following along Babiche’s trail. Left with the two brothers and the mail sack, Fishtail spoke with furious disgust.
    â€œYou can carry your stinking brother,” he said. “I will take the mail.”
    Fishtail soon left Babiche staggering beneath the load of Batiste, and strode into town. He dropped the mail off at the steps of a small wooden church where he saw a priest working. He spoke to the priest for a moment, then continued on until he came to his family. They were just starting out from Quill’s cabin.
    When Omakayas didn’t see either Chickadee or Animikiins, her face fell. She bravely held on to Nokomis, and together the little family listened to Fishtail’s story. When he had finished, they sat right down where they were. It was a pretty spot, on a small hill that sloped down to the roiling river. Mikwam and Fishtail took out their pipes, smoked them, prayed, and together the family looked into their hearts. They needed direction. They knew they had to wait here, as patiently as they could. The question was how long.
    â€œWe don’t know how long,” Fishtail said at last. “That is the problem. But I do know that our son is clever, and we have taught him how to live like an Anishinabe.”
    â€œPerhaps we think over what Quill’s wife told us,” said Omakayas slowly. She was reluctant to live in a town but, more than anything, she wanted the return of her son.
    â€œWe will not stay with Quill or, rather, not with Margaret,” said Yellow Kettle.
    Omakayas and Nokomis silently agreed, flashing a look of assurance at each other.
    â€œIf there is nowhere to live, we’ll make our own cabin,” said Mikwam.
    â€œAnd plant our own garden,” said Nokomis. All along the way from the island they came from, far back in the lake, she had gathered seeds from other gardeners. Now she had a pouch of seeds she guarded day and night. She was eager to plant them.
    â€œI have been wanting to live in a cabin like the one we had so long ago,” said Mikwam. “When they bring back our Chickadee, we’ll have a place ready for us all to live!”
    Nokomis smiled at the memory and patted Yellow Kettle’s hand. Perhaps some of them were not eager to leave the islands of Lake of the Woods, where the fish were plentiful and the berries grew thick. On the other hand, the only way to find Chickadee was to stay where they were, and to wait.
    That very day, the family took their packs of furs to the traders. As they were beautifully prepared and well kept, and as Mikwam and Yellow Kettle were good bargainers, they got the best price possible. Next, the family went to the priest Fishtail had met, Father Belcourt. The first priest, Father Genin, had told Father

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