In the front rank walked Owl Carver himself. The sacred necklace of megis shells swung on his chest. In one hand he held his medicine stick, a cedar staff decorated with feathers and beads, topped with the carved head of an owl. His long white hair spread out over his shoulders.
She could hear a murmuring of voices, and above them, the shaman, her father, singing:
"Let the people welcome him.
He has walked the spirit trail.
He comes back
From the sky,
From the water,
From under the earth.
He comes back from the seven directions.
Let the people welcome him."
Owl Carver was dancing as he approached them, a slow, heavy shuffle alternating with sidesteps, his upper body rising and falling. His hands, one holding his medicine stick, the other a yellow and red gourd rattle, were lifted high over his head. The necklace of small black and white shells bounced on his chest.
Iron Knife, carrying Gray Cloud, came to a stop before Owl Carver. Redbird, not wanting people to know how she cared for Gray Cloud, drew away from Iron Knife and tried to melt into the crowd.
Taking a few more steps, Owl Carver placed himself facing east, with Iron Knife and Gray Cloud on his right. He danced in a sunwise circle around them, from east to south to west to north, bobbing his head and singing.
"The Great Wise One has sent him.
He has walked the spirit trail.
He brings wisdom
From the sky,
From the water,
From under the earth.
He comes back from the seven directions.
The Great Wise One has sent him."
Nine times Owl Carver danced around Gray Cloud and Iron Knife in the circle that represented the sun, the horizon and the cycles of life and the seasons.
Then in his normal voice, not breaking step, he said, "Bring him to my medicine wickiup."
He turned abruptly and danced through the crowd that had gathered. The people parted to let him through and they stared at Gray Cloud's body in Iron Knife's arms.