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 Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man

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Phil Whitley
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Phil Whitley


Number of posts : 907
Registration date : 2008-04-01
Age : 81
Location : Riverdale, GA

Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man Empty
PostSubject: Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man   Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man EmptyTue May 27, 2008 4:16 pm

This is from the first chapter of the backstory from Granny Boo - The Legacy of the Puma Man (the sequel/prequel to Keechie. (the formatting sucks)

*******

The dream had come again during the night. The spirit being, Owl,
entered his sleep and showed him the path his people must take, but
Stands Alone had no idea what the vision meant. Owl had indicated a
northward journey, directly into the land of his enemies. They were not
enemies of his choosing, but enemies nonetheless. A hunting party
was attacked again the day before by a small group of young Alabama
warriors. All but one of them was killed with no losses to his
experienced warriors. They had twice before encountered small bands of
these warlike “Alabamas” and defeated them each time.

The lone captive warrior from yesterday had earned himself a quick
and honorable death that was to occur at sunrise tomorrow morning. The
0captive had displayed courage under torture, and his final but most
likely untruthful admission of the location and size of his Nation was
more a threat than a sign of weakness. It had been fortunate that Still
Water, the widow of one of Stands Alone’s fallen warriors, spoke his
strange language.

Panther Above, Stands Alone thought, if they had known
that they outnumbered us tens of tens to one, we would have ended our
journey here in this desert. But he also knew that they had been afraid
of having to share their hunting grounds with outsiders. If they had
only sent emissaries for a meeting, they would have known we were only
passing through their lands. We would have paid them for our safe
passage, but their young warriors had seen an opportunity to gain
status. They had made their attack foolishly and without plan against
my own seasoned warriors, and they had died because of it. Now these
Alabamas will be seeking to revenge their young warriors.

He looked down from the small mesa that overlooked his people’s
temporary camp. Fires were being kindled and the women were preparing
the morning meals. They had grown accustomed to the hardships of travel
over these last few moons, and they were very efficient in the feeding
of many people in a short time. His warriors had been well prepared for
the attempted attack the day before.

Since their journey had begun, he had maintained scouting parties
within a day’s run to the north and east of the main body of his
people. They had spotted the enemy several hands of time earlier and
had prepared an ambush for them. Since leaving their homeland, they had
been on full alert and were on duty night and day.

Ten moons ago his people, the Muskogee, had left northwestern Mexico en
masse and four hundred strong, seeking a new home where the Sun God
rose each day. His first and most powerful vision had come just after
the foolhardy Aztec – Montezuma - had attacked the army of the invading
Spaniard - Cortez. Montezuma lost not only his own life, but most of
his warriors. Stands Alone had even sent many of his own finest
warriors to join Montezuma’s army as a sign of unity towards the Aztec
Nation, and they died with the rest.

Stands Alone’s people had listened as he retold his vision in
council. The white-skinned invaders had superior weapons, and a method
of waging war not understood by the people. They did not speak with
truth, but used trickery and cunning in their dealings. The Aztec were
still willing to suffer at the hands of these white invaders, treating
them as gods, but Stands Alone’s vision told a different story—one of
suffering, slave labor and eventual total destruction.

Some began to think of him as the ‘Child of the Sun’, who had been
foretold for tens of tens of generations by the shamans of their
ancient homeland from across the Great Water. When he told his people
of his encounter with Owl, who told him to seek the land where the sun
rose each day, they listened. Then they followed him.

They
were carrying a most precious treasure with them. Two summers after
their arrival in the land of the Aztec, one of their hunting parties
had encountered a village. They were met peacefully and were given
food. They shared some of their fresh venison with the villagers, and
in exchange received several baskets of a grain they had never
seen.

The Aztec people called it a-chee, or maize, and considered it sacred.
To the hunters it was obvious why—it made the most delicious bread they
had ever tasted. There was also a kind of gruel made from it that the
villagers called “Sofkee”. Every family they saw kept a pot of it
simmering over their fires all day long. When anyone was hungry, they
just went to the sofkee pot and filled a bowl. Sometimes they added
bits of whatever meat they had for extra flavor.

They remained
in the village for two days, gathering all the information they could
about this wonderful new grain. They knew they had made an important
discovery, but the full impact would not be evident for several years.
Little did they know that this grain was the turning point of
civilization in this land. It was the foundation of the first communal
lifestyle. People began settling in one location, raising this crop and
domesticating livestock, no longer having to depend solely on hunting,
fishing or gathering wild foods.

The hunters carried enough of
the maize for their leaders to taste, and their wives to experiment
with in cooking, but the majority of it they planted according to the
information the men had gathered. Within two harvests, they became well
adapted to this new crop. All the families now had a stone metaste,
used for grinding the grain into meal. They learned to use the ashes
from oak fires to leach the kernels and make hominy. Sofkee was an
offshoot of this process.

During the first season of their journey, they had traded some of
their maize with the other tribes they encountered. But nearly every
time, the other tribes ate all the maize instead of saving some for
re-planting. Unfortunately, one of their affectionate names for their
treasure was “The Golden God”. This was the message that spread through
their chance encounters with others. Within one season, traders carried
the message far and wide that the Muskogees were carrying gold, and
gold was what the Spanish invaders wanted.

The Spaniards had
goods that all the tribes wanted that could be attained nowhere else.
Although the Muskogees had never seen a Spaniard, the invaders desired
to possess this wonderful gold treasure that they were said to be
carrying.

As the first rays of the sun illuminated the barren landscape, Stands
Alone offered his prayers of thanksgiving for his warriors’ victory and
for the continued guidance of his people. He gathered his atlatl, darts
and medicine bundle and headed downhill to his people. They must leave
this land soon, before the enemy had time to react. But northward? Why
would Owl want us to go northward, into the land of these Alabamas,
that he so badly wanted to avoid? Did he not first tell me to go to
the rising sun? Owl is of the night and of darkness. The Great Sun
rules the day. The Twins of Light and Dark must be playing with my souls
, he thought with a chill of foreboding.

Butterfly
was alternating between preparing flatbread cakes and watching her
husband as he stood high on the mesa above them. She turned to the
other women around the fire and said, “That is how he got the name
‘Stands Alone’ when he became a man. Even before he could talk, he
would go away from the others and stand, just like that, and look at
Father Sun. His mother worried about his eyes being damaged by the sun
because he would stare at it until he could not see. When he went on
his spirit quest, Owl came to him and became his spirit guide. Imagine
that! A creature of the night for a man dedicated to Father Sun.”

The
other women shook their heads in amazement and joined her in watching
their leader as he made his way down the mesa. They all knew the story
well, but to hear it from his wife of three tens of seasons made it all
the more meaningful.

Butterfly’s mother, Thorn, had been a Spirit Singer and a great
healer among the people. This psychic “Gift” appeared in every other
generation among her clan since First Woman, but only in the female
lineage. Butterfly had learned all the woman skills from her mother,
but the “Gift” was not hers.

She and Stands Alone had only one daughter, Raven, who had spent
most of her time with her grandmother Thorn, learning the rituals and
ways of the spirit world. She had demonstrated her Gift many times, and
even once during this journey had used her gift of Spirit Singing to
call game to the hunters.

Raven’s only son, Mushroom, had one
older sister, Wekiwa-Chee - Little Spring of Water, who was now
pregnant. It was hoped that she would have a girl child so that the
Gift could continue among their Clan. Wekiwa-Chee was approaching the
age when women could no longer bear children, and until now, had only
had boys, who were all men now.

As Stands Alone approached the fire, Butterfly scooped a ladle of
sofkee into a flatbread cake and handed it to him. He looked at her
affectionately and tasted it. The sofkee was hot and he almost spat it
out, but grabbed a water gourd and cooled his mouth instead. “A warning
would have been appreciated, woman,” he said with mock anger. “How can
I speak with my tongue burned from my head?” The women giggled as he
stuck his tongue out and asked them, “Is it still there?” He called to
a young boy playing nearby, “Mushroom, go fetch the war leader Tall
Bones. Tell him to be quick about it. We have much to decide in the
next few hands of time.”

His grandson Mushroom was filled with pride as he went to do his
grandfather’s bidding. He grabbed a flatbread cake and ran off towards
the war leader’s hide shelter. He was too young to be a warrior, and
they had to restrain him the previous day when the men went to do
battle with the enemy. He had been one of the first in the encampment
to see the hostage that they brought back, and he had watched as the
man was tied, beaten and tortured. He felt pity for the man’s
suffering, but had also understood the reasoning behind it. Some of the
other children kicked and prodded the man with sharpened sticks and
firebrands, but he had not taken part in it. He had stood silently by
and watched. The captive made eye contact with him at one point, and
Mushroom admired his courage. He gave the man a solemn nod and walked
away.

*******

(More in next post)
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Phil Whitley
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Phil Whitley


Number of posts : 907
Registration date : 2008-04-01
Age : 81
Location : Riverdale, GA

Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man Empty
PostSubject: Re: Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man   Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man EmptyTue May 27, 2008 4:24 pm

It was apparent how Tall Bones earned his name. As he walked toward
Stands Alone with Mushroom at his side, he was still adjusting his
breechcloth as he ambled along with the loping, yet graceful gait that
was typical of one so tall. He was extremely lean, his muscles long and
rock hard. Every bit of exposed flesh was covered with tattoos,
signifying his success in warfare. “You wished to see me, Mikko?” he
asked as he eyed the flatbread cakes Butterfly was piling in
stacks.

“Yes, Tall Bones. But first have some of Butterfly’s cakes and sofkee.
Don’t burn your tongue as I did, though. Did our prisoner survive the
night?” He indicated by looking toward the staked man near Tall Bones’
tent. “He still lives, Mikko, and I promised him a quick death this
morning. He is a brave one. Even his admission of the size of his
Nation was more a warning than a confession.” “Good. I want
to set him free. I want him to carry a message to his leaders that we
do not intend to make our home here; and that we will pay for our
passage through their land. We do not wish to make war with them, but
if that is their decision, we will kill many of their warriors
whether we are victorious or are defeated. We will ask him to arrange a
meeting between his leaders and ours. I think this is why Owl told me
last night that we are to go north for a time. I pray that it is a
temporary diversion, and that we will soon resume our eastward
journey.”

Tall Bones gave a nod of assent, and with a clenched fist, struck his
chest in a sign of obedience. “I will see that he is fed well before he
is escorted beyond our sentries, Mikko. Alone, they would kill him
before he could get past them.” Tall Bones saw Mushroom hovering near
Butterfly’s fire and called him over. “Mushroom, tell Still Water that
we will once again need her services. Have her come to my tent. Oh, and
tell Bright Star to bring her healing supplies to my tent as well.”

Bright Star, the old Medicine Woman, was outside her clan’s tent
dropping heated stones into a large clay pot when Mushroom and Still
Water arrived. With an air of importance Mushroom announced to her,
“Grandmother, Tall Bones needs you right away. He said for you to bring
your healing bag with you.”

The old woman looked up and nodded. She placed a bark lid over her pot
and gathered up her bag. “Is Tall Bones sick?” she asked, with a
concerned look on her face.

“No, Elder, I think it is for the prisoner. They are going to free him
so he can carry a message back to his people.” Mushroom was about to
say something more, but realized that he had just told more than he
should have, since he had overheard the two men’s conversation, but had
not been a part of it.

The three of them walked to where Tall Bones was standing in front of
the bound captive. The man was alert and staring defiantly at the war
chief, as if he expected to be killed at any moment. When he saw Still
Water he spoke to her in his strange language, looked over at Mushroom,
then he resumed his determined stare into the war chief’s eyes.

He asked if the boy wanted to watch to see how a man dies, War Leader, ”Still Water translated.

Tall Bones gave the man an evil smile as he drew his shiny metal
knife from its rawhide sheath. It had been acquired at a great
price—the lives of many of his warriors who were killed in the battle
with the Spanish. The prisoner’s eyes widened a bit, but he regained
his composure quickly.

“Tell him, Still Water, that not only will the boy watch, but he will
be the one to use my knife.” Tall Bones handed the gleaming blade to
Mushroom. Mushroom took the knife, which was nearly half
his height with a troubled look on his face—a face that he saw
reflected in the shiny metal blade as he held it out in front of
him.

“War Chief … I can’t …” he stammered, just as Stands Alone arrived with two of his warriors.

Tall Bones gave the Mikko a carefully concealed wink, then told
Mushroom, “Go behind him, little warrior, as if you are going to slit
his throat. Take your time, and then cut only his ropes.”

Mushroom laughed insanely out of relief, which the prisoner misinterpreted and thought, I was ready to face my death as a warrior, but to have it taken by a mere child is too much. What kind of people are these Muskogee?
For the first time since his capture, fear showed on his face, as he
wondered if his souls could ever rest if it was a child who took his
life.

Mushroom was so relieved that he would not have to kill the man that he
played his part almost too well. Standing behind the captive he could
see the expressions on the faces of his Chief and War Leader, and they
were having difficulty concealing their laughter. He took the man’s
hair and pulled his head back until it touched the stake. He passed the
knife in front of the captive’s face, then, waiting a few heartbeats,
Mushroom gave a great shout and with one slash cut the ropes. The man
fell face down at the feet of the two leaders. As he tried to get to
his feet, his arms failed him from being tied behind him all night. He
managed to pull himself into a sitting position, then turned his head
toward Mushroom and said something to him.
Still Water interpreted, “He said that the young warrior needs more
practice with the knife if he was aiming at his throat.”

Stands Alone was still laughing as he helped the man to his feet. He
turned to Still Water, “Tell him that all my warriors, even the young
ones like Mushroom here, are well-trained with all their weapons. He
lives because I wish him to.” He turned to Bright Star, “Tend to his
wounds, and see that he is well fed. I will meet with him later and we
will talk.” As he turned to walk away he said to Tall Bones, “Guard him
well, war leader. I do not want him escaping before we give him our
message for his leaders.”

Mushroom stayed with the two women as they tended to the man. He asked Still Water to ask him his name.

After a brief exchange of words, she said, “His name is Lusa-Oka. In
his language it means Black Water. He thanks you for not tormenting him
along with the other boys yesterday, and for not cutting his throat
today.”

Mushroom looked at him and smiled sheepishly, then lightly touched the
raw flesh on the man’s wrists where the rope had been. He took some of
the greasy salve from Bright Star’s bowl and rubbed it into the wounds.
“I am Ekana-Cale,” he told Black Water. “I do not yet have my man
name.”

Black Water looked at him and said with Still Water’s help, “In my
language your name means Earth Fruit. Like the ones that have no
roots.” The similarity of meanings between the languages was apparent.
A mushroom was certainly an earth fruit that had no roots.

As Stands Alone and Tall Bones approached them, Black Water once again
tried to stand. With the help of Mushroom, he got to his feet and faced
them.

With Still Water interpreting, he said, “I thank you for sparing my
life, Mikko Thlaco, but I think there is more to that than kindness. I
will not be your slave, so if that is your plan, you may as well kill
me now.”

“I have no need for a slave who would kill me in my sleep, Black
Water. What I do need is for you to deliver a message and an offer to
your leaders. First, tell them that we spared your life because of your
courage under torture. The offer I wish to convey is this … I request a
peaceful meeting with your chief and war leader. We will meet on
neutral ground, and we will come with open hands. Will you do this
thing for the sake of both our tribes?” Stands Alone waited for the
message to be relayed, and watched the man’s expression as he listened
to Still Water’s interpretation.

Black Water, although still unable to fully use his arms, made the
universal signal of agreement. He struck his fist to his chest and
said, “I will do as you request, wise Mikko of the Muskogee, but I
cannot guarantee how my people will respond. We may have to face each
other again in battle. I am but a warrior, but a warrior who follows
his leader first, and his heart second.”

“Then get some rest, young warrior Black Water, for tomorrow you will
be escorted beyond my sentries. We will not want to wait long for your
leader’s reply.” Stands Alone turned and walked away.
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Phil Whitley
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Phil Whitley


Number of posts : 907
Registration date : 2008-04-01
Age : 81
Location : Riverdale, GA

Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man Empty
PostSubject: Re: Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man   Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man EmptyWed May 28, 2008 6:15 pm

I wish I knew the trick of removing formatting codes from Word
documents so they can be copy/pasted here without doing what I had to
do just to do those few pages - and still there are some oopsies left.

Close enough for government work...
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Pam
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Location : Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man Empty
PostSubject: Re: Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man   Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man EmptyThu May 29, 2008 5:07 am

Lol Brew...yes, I have had the same trouble. Maybe Shelagh can help.

Thanks for sharing this here. I enjoy your writing Phil; particularly where you weave in a bit of mischief like where the young Mushroom is going to cut the ropes and the big serious warriors are stifling laughter. :pirat:
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Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man Empty
PostSubject: Re: Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man   Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man EmptyThu May 29, 2008 5:47 am

There are a couple of things you could try. You could save a word document as an rtf file and see if that works or save as an html doc.

Btw, you can use this to change the editor mode: Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man Switchmode
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Phil Whitley
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Phil Whitley


Number of posts : 907
Registration date : 2008-04-01
Age : 81
Location : Riverdale, GA

Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man Empty
PostSubject: Re: Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man   Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man EmptyThu May 29, 2008 8:42 pm

Pam said,
Quote :
Thanks for sharing this here. I enjoy your
writing Phil; particularly where you weave in a bit of mischief like
where the young Mushroom is going to cut the ropes and the big serious
warriors are stifling laughter.

Thanks, Pam. I had fun writing that part. I try to follow intense
scenes with something a little lighter - just before the next build-up.
My idea for keeping a reader turning the pages.

Thanks, Shelagh. I will try rtf next time. I even found in Word where
to "remove all formatting", but it removed too much. That's what took
me so long to re-format in this box. I think I coulda re-typed it just
as easily... LOL
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PostSubject: Re: Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man   Granny Boo ~ The Legacy of the Puma Man Empty

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