Grail Quest by D. Sallen Page B

I hide in brush. Take another way home. Make sure no one follows. Sometimes I do funny thing on mound. On nice day, wind blowing, my hair long, I stand on mound. When people in canoes see me, I make moaning noise, wave my arms. Want to scare them. Want them to think mound is haunted. Many times they paddle faster. Sometimes cross to other side.”
    Our communication is improving. That was the longest single talk we’d heard from her. I could see where living alone here could be quite a chore for a woman. She didn’t seem to get much help from her relationship with Coyote. When here, maybe he was a good watch dog, but he’s been gone so long he hasn’t been any use as a hunter, if ever.
    “How long have you been alone?” I asked Leahna.
    She sighed and thought about my question. She counted on her fingers and raised both hands. “Ten moons, my Uncle die.” She sniffled and tried to hold back tears. “I not honor him. I not put him to rest in trees. Put him in small cave, river side of mound.”
    “Moyock and I came across some bundles in trees today. Was that the rest of your family?”
    “I think so. My aunt, my sister gone many moons.”
    She was sobbing now, so I stood and put my arms around her. “When you were all alone, you did all you could,” I said.   “Couldn’t Coyote-Man help you?”
    “No. Coyote-Man not here. Never come Uncle alive. He fear dead. Me too. Maybe Uncle is ghost. Maybe mad at Leahna.”
    With her head on my shoulder and her bare breasts pressed against me, male that I am, I struggled to keep my mind on her problems. “You have charm thing. Your cross. If Coyote-Man afraid, I think it protect you against ghosts too.”
    This thought at least stopped her tears. “Why don’t you carry your charm all the time? Then you will be protected against any ghosts.”
    I didn’t add, also against Coyote-Man. All along I had considered this quest more a great adventure than a real treasure hunt. Her crucifix hampered a supernatural pagan, and made me think about my own attitude toward religion. If her charm had that power, perhaps this mysterious Holy Grail really had magical properties.
    Leahna had a couple of strings of bead that I gave her which she seldom wore. Now I rummaged around in my trade goods until I found one of the few more expensive items I carried, a pewter necklace chain.   I then bent one of the chain loops open with my fingers. Taking her crucifix down, I fastened it to the chain and then squeezed the loop shut. While I did this, she glared at me. As I approached her with the dangling crucifix she trembled. “It’s all right,” I said. “You can wear it around your neck.” Demonstrating I held it up to myself. Now she smiled. After I hooked the chain behind her neck she seemed quite pleased “This is a good chain. You don’t have to take it off, if you don’t want too.”
    I placed my hand on the crucifix, raised my other arm and my face upward, and with my eyes closed, recited the Lord’s Prayer, the only one I knew.
    “Why you do that, Squire.”
    “The figure on your charm is the son of the White Man’s God. I asked the White Man’s God to protect you from evil.”
    “That good. You think he protect Natural girl?”
    “Since you carry his charm I think he will.”  
    I wanted to reassure her that the crucifix was proof against ghosts, but what did I know? Hadn’t I kissed the ring on the finger of a spooky archbishop? And among these people, if they had Coyote witches, might they not have other supernatural beings? I didn’t know, and thought it wiser to say as little as possible about the subject.
    With a little smile, Moyock watched the two of us. “This place not good for her now. When we go, I think you must take her with.”
    “I could not in good conscience leave her here. How long could she survive here alone?”
    “Hah. You want take her anyway.”
    Smart-alec kid.   Mentally I tried to assure myself that it wasn’t only my stallion who