"Is this the Iast one?" "I don't know." "There's no ether, either." "Jesus Christ." "You there!" "Is this the Iast one?" "God, what a mess." "At least there's no gangrene." "There will be if it doesn't come off soon." "I can't saw if I can't keep my eyes open." "I'm sorry." "Let's coffee up." "He can wait a few more minutes." "God!" "glass." "Is that Tucker's men?" "Yes, sir." "I think it is." "How long has it been like this?" "We found 'em this morning, sir." "They've been here for two days." "Is that you, Lieutenant?" "Sons of bitches." "Come on." "You better take cover." "I ain't kidding." "These boys are shooters." "Come on." "Go under cover." "There you go." "You went to the hospital?" "It was no good." "What's going on here?" "What's going on here?" "That seems to be the question, all right." "See, you could ask the major but he don't know." "He's busy." "He's busy trying to figure out how come the officers' mess run out of peach ice cream." "Then, of course, you got the general." "He come up to see the show." "AII he knows is there ain't no show which ain't entirely correct 'cause we started a balloon up but they shot her down before we got off the ground." "Nobody's made a run either way." "It's been a standoff all damned day." "Now, the major, he's looking at the general." "He's thinking to himself, "I better do something."" "You know what that means." "I sure as hell don't want to be the first one across this field." "They're supposed to be beat up just like us." "hell, everybody knows Tucker's men are tough as cobs." "So far, the only thing been killed out here is three milking cows." "Course, that's about to change." "You son of a bitch." "You know, some of the boys are saying if we ain't gonna fight we could just settle this whole business with a little high-stakes poker." "WouIdn't that be a sight?" "A bunch of fellas sitting in the middle of this field drawing cards." "What is it, sir?" "Looks like a suicide." "Tucker!" "What's he doing?" "What did you say to him?" "I didn't say nothing." "Come on back, you son of a bitch!" "You won't make it no second time!" "AII right by me." "Forgive me, Father." "He's coming back again!" "Here he comes, boys!" "Ready!" "I got him." "Don't...." "Don't take off my foot." "You rest easy, son." "You'II keep your foot." "With God as my judge, you'II keep it." "Bring up my ambulance." "Sir?" "Bring up my ambulance, and bring my surgeon with it!" "We got an officer who's worth something lying here." """The strangeness of this life cannot be measured." """In trying to produce my own death..." """..." "I was elevated to the status of a living hero." """I was also awarded Cisco..." """...the trusty mount that carried me across the field that day." """And on full recovery, was given transfer to any station I desired." """The bloody slaughter continues in the east as I arrive at Fort Hayes." """A tiny island of men and material surrounded by a never-ending sea ofprairie.""" "Lieutenant." "Where can I find Maj. Fambrough?" "Down at the end of the hall." "Thank you." ""Lt. John J. Dunbar."" "Lt. John J. Dunbar?" "Yes, sir." ""Yes, sir."" "Indian fighter." "Excuse me?" "It says here that you're to be posted on the frontier." "The frontier is Indian country." "I quickly deduced that you're an Indian fighter." "I did not ascend to this position by being stupid." "No, sir." ""No, sir."" "It says here that you've been decorated." "Yes, sir." "And they sent you here to be posted?" "actually, sir, I'm here at my own request." "really?" "Why?" "I've always wanted to see the frontier." "You want to see the frontier?" "Yes, sir." "Before it's gone." "Such a smart lad, coming straight to me." "Sir Knight." "I am sending you on a knight's errand." "You will report to Captain CargiII at the furthermost outpost of the realm Fort Sedgewick." "My personal seal will assure your safety through many miles of wild and hostile country." "I was wondering...." "Yes?" "I was wondering, sir, how will I be getting there?" "You think I don't know?" "No, sir." "You think that." "It's just that I don't know" "hold your tongue." "I am in a generous mood and I will grant your boon." "See that peasant out there?" "He calls himself Timmons." "He's going there this very afternoon." "You can ride with him if you Iike." "He knows the way." "Thank you." "That is all." "Sir Knight?" "I've just pissed in my pants and nobody can do anything about it." "To your journey!" "To my journey!" "Haw!" "Over a little bit, Jim!" "Have this by tomorrow." "Yes, sir." "I'II have my crown now." "Sir?" "I'II have my crown now!" "I'm sorry, sir." "Are you deaf, fool?" "I said I'II have my crown right now!" "Now!" "No." "I'II get your crown." "No." "Sir?" "Major?" "The king is dead." "Long live the king." "Get these kids out of here, come on!" "Haw, Jim and Jake!" "Gee a little bit, Jim!" "The hell was that?" "What is that?" "What the hell is that?" "Why don't you put that in your book?" """Were it not for my companion..." """..." "I believe I would be having the time of my life." """I know he means well..." """...but he is quite possibly the foulest man I have ever met.""" "How far you make the Fort?" "Far." "How far?" "Forty, fifty mile, maybe." "What's the big hurry on Sedgewick?" "It's to be my post." "My home." "You ain't hard to please, I'II give you that much." "Look yonder." "What you got there?" "Somebody back east is saying, "Why don't she write?"" "You stupid bastard." "Get up, Timmons." "Get up." "Get up." "Come on." "Get up." "Get up!" "Someone poked me in my butt." "Was that you?" "Goddamn it!" "I'm gonna have a welt." "cpl." "Guest?" "You don't have to talk to me, just please come out." "It's the end." "assemble the men in front of my quarters." "You hate me." "But I feel none of the same for you." "You men stayed." "You stayed after they took all our horses." "You stayed after all the others deserted." "You stayed after the army failed to resupply us." "I have looked for that wagon from Fort Hayes just as you have day after miserable day." "And all I can say is that I'm proud of you." "Now get your things, men." "We're leaving this place." "The army can go to hell." "Go." "Get your things." "How come we haven't seen any buffalo?" "You can't figure the stinking buffalo." "You can't." "Sometimes you won't see any for days." "Other times, they'II be thick, Iike curls on a whore." "What about Indians?" "Indians?" "Goddamn Indians!" "You just as soon not see 'em unless the bastards are dead." "They're nothing but thieves and beggars." "Ho, up there!" "Not what you would call much of a going concern now, is it?" "Go down there." "Why?" "There ain't nothing down there." "Because I said." "Go down there." "There, son of a bitch!" "There ain't nothing here, Lieutenant." "There ain't nothing here, Lieutenant." "Lieutenant!" "Everybody's run off or got killed." "AII right." "Let's unload the wagon." "What?" "What, and leave it all here?" "I'm staying, too." "There ain't nothing here." "No, not at the moment." "We don't know what's happened." "Things being as they are we might as well just turn around and get headed back." "This is my post." ""This is my post?"" "This is my post." ""This is my post?"" "Jesus H. Christ." "What, are you crazy, boy?" "Fast son of a bitch." "Jesus H. Christ." "This is my post." "AII right, put it down." "And these are the post provisions, all right?" "Now get your ass off the wagon" "Put it down!" "And help me unload." "We're just havin' a conversation, now put it down." "I'II let them know where you are." "Good." "Good luck." "Thank you." "Jake and Jim!" "Good mule!" "Haw up there now!" "Good mules!" """Have arrived to find Fort Sedgewick deserted." """Am now waiting for garrison"s return or word from headquarters." """The postis in exceedingly poor condition..." """...and I have decided to assign myself clean-up duty beginning tomorrow." """Supplies are abundant..." """...and the country is everything I dreamed it would be." """There can be no place like this on Earth.""" "Bad horse." "Bad horse." """The animals in the pond had not been poisoned." """They had all been shot." """But why?" "Was it forsport?" """Could it have been out ofspite?" """My first guess would have been that the men here were starving." """But this rotting waste speaks to the contrary." """The caves are an even bigger mystery." """What could have driven men to live in caves?" """Perhaps they were frightened." """Maybe there had been some sort of revolt." """I can make no sense of the clues left me here." """Perhaps my relief will provide the answers.""" "Come on, Cisco." "One more time." "Git up!" "Come on!" "Git up, Cisco." "Git up!" "Git up!" "There you go!" "Easy." "only a white man would make a fire for everyone to see." "Maybe there's more than one." "There might be three or four." "I know three or four who will not be making the trip back home." "We have nothing to show for this trail." "We have no rifles." "White men are sure to have rifles." "It's hard to say how many might be down there." "We should forget this and go home." "Then go." "I would rather die than argue about a single line of smoke in my own country." "He will not quit until we are all dead." ""And if I...."" "Look at me." "Don't hurt my mules." "Stop." "Stop it." "please don't hurt my mules." """I am pleased with my efforts thus far." """For all my improvements, though, there remains an ugliness here I cannot dispel." """An injury that goes beyond neglect and like a bruise, it will be slow to heal." """It"s been almost 30 days." """I have come to enjoy the patterns of my life at Fort Sedgewick." """Especially my daily reconnaissance rides with Cisco." """Each day, we go furtherinto the prairie and every discovery..." """...big orsmall, becomes etched in my mind forever." """It would seem I"ve been marooned, as no one has yet come for me." """I can only assume that there is a problem, which the army will solve shortly." """Maybe I am being foolish in my optimism..." """...but when I look to the eastern horizon..." """..." "I never fail to hope that a column might be out there.""" """Still no sign of Capt. Cargill"s command." """Though well-supplied, I"ve decided to ration my goods..." """...as if I were part of a postinstead of the whole affair." """There"s a wolf who seems intent on the goings-on here." """He does notseem inclined to be a nuisance, however." """And aside from Cisco, has been my only company." """He"s appeared each afternoon for the past two days." """He has two milky white paws." """If he comes calling tomorrow..." """..." "I will name him Two-Socks.""" """Almost a month and no one has come." """The longer this condition persists..." """...the less inclined I am to believe that anyone will." """Rain has forced me indoors for most of two days now..." """...and I have begun work on an awning." """Itis the loneliest of times for me now..." """...but I can say honestly that I am not unhappy.""" ""How can I marry a pretty little girl" ""When I got no coat to put on?" ""soldier, soldier" ""Won't you marry me" ""Before the fight comes home?" ""How can I marry a pretty little girl" ""When I got no shoes to put on?" ""How can I marry a pretty little girl" ""When I got no hat to put on?" ""soldier, soldier, won't you marry me" ""Before the fight comes home?" ""How can I marry an ugly little girl" ""When I got a pretty wife back home?"" "You there!" """Have made first contact with a wild Indian." """One came to the fort and tried to steal my horse." """When I appeared, he became frightened and ran off." """Have decided to bury excess ordnance lestit fall into enemy hands." """Keeping only the barest necessities for myself." """My afternoon rides have been pared down to short circularpatrols..." """...always keeping the posting sight." """Am taking steps to prepare for another visitation." """Do not know how many more might be in the vicinity..." """...but am assuming that where there is one there"s sure to be another." """Most of my work has been geared toward creating the illusion..." """...ofstrength and stability." """I"m still alone, however, and unless troops arrive soon..." """...all may be lost.""" "Kicking Bird has been keeping to himself these last few days." "I do not Iike to see our medicine man walking so alone." "What does his wife say?" "She says that he is keeping to himself." "That's not what I asked you." "well, what did you ask me?" "What did she say?" "She said that he is keeping to himself these days." "That's what she says." "Make sure that my meat is soft." "My teeth hurt." "May I come in?" "No, Iet him sit with me." "Our country seems good this summer but I have not been out to see it." "But the buffalo are late." "And I always worry about the bellies of our children." "I was thinking of a dance." "Yes." "A dance is always a good idea." "It would be good to have a strong sign." "There's a funny thing about signs." "We know when they are bad or good." "Sometimes they are strange and it's hard to understand them." "A smart man will think on these things." "If he is still confused, he will tell somebody." "For instance, he might tell you or me." "A smart man always does this." "I have seen such a sign." "really?" "I saw a man." "A naked, white man." "Are you sure it was a man?" "I saw his sex." "Did you speak to him?" "No." """It"s been two days now, and nothing." """My presence here must have been reported by now." """Have made all the preparations I can think of." """Cannot mount an adequate defense as I am still alone." """But will try to make a big impression when they come." """Waiting." """Post-script...." """The man I encountered was a magnificent-looking fellow.""" "He might be a god." "Or a white chief with special abilities." "That is why we should talk with him." "I do not care for this talk about this white man." "Whatever he is, he is not a Sioux, and that makes him less." "When I hear that more whites are coming, I want to laugh." "We took a hundred horses from these people." "There was no honor in it." "They don't ride well." "They don't shoot well." "They're dirty." "Those soldiers could not even make it through one winter here." "And these people are said to flourish?" "I think they will all be dead soon." "I think this fool is probably lost." "Wind In His Hair's words are strong and I have heard them." "It's true the whites are a poor race and hard to understand." "But make no mistake." "The whites are coming." "Even our enemies agree on this." "So when I see one man alone without fear in our country I do not think he is lost." "I think he may have medicine." "I see someone who might speak for all the white people who are coming." "I think this is a person with which treaties might be struck." "Kicking Bird is always looking ahead and that is good." "But this man cannot cover our lodges or feed our children." "He is nothing to us." "I will take some men." "We will shoot some arrows into this white man." "If he truly has medicine, he will not be hurt." "If he has no medicine, he will be dead." "No man can tell another what to do." "But killing a white man is a delicate matter." "If you kill one, more are sure to come." "It's easy to become confused by these questions." "It's hard to know what to do." "We should talk about this some more." "That is all I have to say." "What's the matter, now?" "We don't think this is such a good idea." "If we take the horse of a white god they will make up songs about us." "Maybe." "They will ask us to go on raids." "Who gets the horse?" "I do." "I do, but we share." "Now who can say this is not a great plan?" "It's always the same." "Every time." "Yes, sir, I have." "No, I'II ask, sir." "We'II be heroes." "They'II write songs about us." "What happened?" "I don't know." "My arm doesn't work." "You shouldn't have fallen off." "Now we'II get in trouble." "It was your idea." "My idea was only to take the horse, not fall down." "Otter hurt himself." "What are you looking at?" "I'm the one who's hurt." "I will be when my father finds out." "His bow will be across my back." "I am Wind In His Hair." "I am Wind In His Hair." "Do you see that I am not afraid of you?" "Do you see?" "The party that went against the Utes is coming back." "There are many hearts on the ground." """I realize now that I have been wrong." """All this time, I"ve been waiting." """Waiting for what?" """Forsomeone to find me?" """For Indians to take my horse?" """To see a buffalo?" """Since I have arrived at this post I have been walking on eggs." """It has become a bad habit and I am sick ofit." """Tomorrow morning, I will ride out to the Indians." """I do not know the outcome or wisdom of this thinking..." """...but I"ve become a target and a target makes a poorimpression." """I am through waiting.""" "What are you looking at?" "Son of a bitch!" "No." "Wait." "Wait." "Wait." "You need help." "You're hurt." "You need" "No!" "Let me...." "You need help." "You need help." "You're hurt." "Let me help you." "You're hurt." "Don't." "She's hurt." "She's hurt." "You are not welcome here." "No." "She's hurt." "Go away from us." "You are not welcome." "Go away from us." "Stop." "The soldier did not come to fight." "He is going away and we will let him." "I am in agreement with Kicking Bird." "We will go down and talk to the white man." "And find out why he is here." "If this council decides to talk to the white man then it will be so." "But in my mind it's not right that a chief as great as Ten Bears goes to ask the business of a puny, trespassing white man who has only a smart horse and a few white man's clothes." "I will not go." "You will go." "And you will go." "That is all I have to say." "Welcome." "Welcome." "Hi!" "Come." "Please, sit down." "Sit down." "Wait just a...." "Just a minute." "His mind is gone." "Tatanka." "Buffalo." "Buffalo." "Tatanka." "Buffalo." "Tatanka." """The fierce one, as I call him, seems a very tough fellow." """I hope I never have to fight him." """From the little I know, he seems to be honest and very direct." """I Iike the quiet one immensely." """He"s been patient and inquisitive." """He seems eager to communicate." """I would conclude that he is a man ofsome weight among his people.""" "Buffalo." """I believe I made an even greaterimpression on their next visit." """I produced a coffee grinder, something none of them had seen before.""" "is the coffee not good?" "It's too strong, maybe." "Sugar." "Put in." "Taste it." "Sugar." "You want some?" "You want some?" "That's a lot." "Okay." "Yeah." """It"s good to finally have some company." """So much goes unsaid and I have the feeling that these people..." """...the quiet one in particular, wantsomething from me." """Made presents of coffee and most of the sugar." """It didn"t figure to last anyway." """Don"t believe I go too faring saying..." """...that a foundation for good relations is being laid.""" "Stands With A Fist." "We will talk awhile." "Your wounds are healing well?" "Yes, they are." "You are happy here, with my family?" "I am glad to be here." "I am missing my husband." "Perhaps you will marry again when the time is right?" "Perhaps." "We have word from many places that the whites are coming." "They are coming into everyone's country." "I think they will soon be in ours." "This white man who lives at the old soldier fort...." "l have visited him and I believe his heart is a good one." "I am afraid of the white man at the fort." "I am afraid he will tell others that I am here." "I am afraid they will try to take me away." "I've heard they take people away." "Every warrior in camp would fight them if they tried." "I cannot make the white man language." "He cannot speak Sioux." "It has been a long time since I made the talk." "I want you to try." "I don't know how." "Yes, you do." "I can't." "I can't. lt's dead in me." "I don't ask this for myself." "I ask this for all the people." "He knows things about the whites which we do not." "Now, you must remember." "I can't." "Will she make the white words?" "She won't try." "She is being difficult." "Well, she's the one who's crying." "Perhaps the difficulty is yours." "ChristineI" "Get 'em, Joe!" "Get them chickens!" "Billy, you get away from those puppies!" "Damn!" "Get the kids, and get them in the house." "Go on!" "Christine!" "Christine!" "Where are you?" "I'm up here, mother." "Get down now." "Why?" "Just do it." "Stay right where you are." "Get back." "Do you hear me?" "Joe, get in the house right now!" "Willie!" "Who is it, Willie?" "They look like Pawnee." "My father and your father are talking to them." "What do they want?" "l don't know." "Go on." "You heard him." "Get out of here." "Run, Christine!" "I said run!" "Joe!" "Christine!" "MommyI" "Come on, Two Socks." "Bacon." """Two Socks, Iike Cisco, has become a trusted friend." """He still won"t eat from my hand..." """...but his keen eyes and ears never fail to alert me when something is wrong.""" "Tatanka." "No." "No, I haven't seen any buffalo." "Sorry." "Are you hungry?" "Are you hungry?" "I have food. I have a lot of food." """Nothing I"ve been told about these people is correct." """They are not beggars and thieves." """They are not the bogeymen they"ve been made out to be." """On the contrary, they are polite guests and have a familiar humor I enjoy." """real communication is slow, however..." """...and the quiet one is as frustrated as I am." """Most of ourprogress has been built on the basis of failure..." """...rather than success." """I"ve thought to inquire if the woman I found lived or not..." """...butitseems far too complicated a subject, given ourIimitations." """One thing is clear, however." "There are no buffalo." """And it weighs heavy on their minds." """Yesterday"s meeting was the bestyet." """Itseems I"ve been invited to the village and I"m looking forward to going.""" "We were waiting for you." "We were waiting for you." "Now tell him we are glad that he is here." "Hello." "You...." "Here...." "Good." "Thank you. I feel good." "I feel good." "Ask him why he is at the soldier fort." "The soldier fort." "Wait." "What is your names?" "Our names?" "What is his name?" "He's right. Introductions should come first." "He...." "He...." "Kick." "Kick?" "More." "More kick?" "More kicking?" "Kicking." "Bird?" "Bird, kicking bird." "Kicking Bird." "What is he.... ls he chief?" "No." "A holy man." "Holy man." "Your name?" "l don't" "How are you called?" "Get up?" "Stand up?" "Stands?" "Stands." "Your name's "Stands"?" "Stands." "With." "With?" "With." "Stands with?" "Fist?" "Yes." "Stands With A Fist?" "Stands With A Fist." "I'm John Dunbar." "John Dunbar." "Dumb Bear." "No, not Dumb Bear." "Dunbar." "Dun...." "Bar." "Not Dumb Bear." "Dunbar." """There"s been an exciting breakthrough with the Indians." """The woman I found on the prairie speaks english..." """...and today, cIearprogress was made." """She is white, and though I cannot be sure how she came to be with these people..." """..." "I can tell she is not a captive." """while I"m not afraid..." """..." "I don"t feel completely welcome by everyone in the village." """My being here must be Kicking Bird"s idea." """He is very enthusiastic and like two children..." """...we are both anxious to know more about each other." """But I find myself holding back." """Forsome reason, I am reluctant to answer all his questions." """Maybe it"s my sense of duty..." """...butsomething tells me not to say too much." """It was good to see Fort Sedgewick again..." """...and yet I Iook forward to another visit with my new neighbors." """This is still my home, however..." """...and I remain watchful for my relief and can only hope..." """...that my negotiations with the wild people of the plains will bear fruit.""" "Buffalo!" "Buffalo!" "I've seen buffalo!" "Buffaloes!" "Tatanka." "Tatanka?" "Yeah." """Riders were sent out to pick up the trail." """In the time it took to gather my things at Sedgewick..." """...the entire tribe was well on its way." """Their efficiency and speed with which they moved..." """...was enough to impress any military commander." """Spirits are high, and overnight I"ve gone from a person ofsuspicion..." """...to one of genuine standing." """I am greeted with open smiles and looks of appreciation." """In short, I have become a celebrity.""" "Loo ten tant!" "Loo ten tant!" "Loo ten tant!" """Scouts picked up the trail exactly where I said it wouId be." """It was not hard to find..." """...a gigantic swath of torn-up ground extending to the horizon." """The numbers it took to create this impossible image..." """...was hard to imagine.""" "Loo ten tant!" "Loo ten tant!" """Who would do such a thing?" """The field was proof enough..." """...thatit was a people without value and withoutsouI." """With no regard for Sioux rights." """The wagon tracks leading away IeftIittIe doubt..." """...and my heartsank, as I knew it could only be white hunters." """Voices that had been joyous all morning..." """...were now as silent as the dead buffalo left to rotin this valley..." """...killed only for their tongues and the price of their hides.""" "Loo ten tant." """It was suddenly clear now what had happened..." """...and my heartsank as I tried to convince myself..." """...that the white men who"d been killed were bad people and deserved to die." """Butit was no use." """I tried to believe that Wind In His Hair and Kicking Bird..." """...and the others who shared in the killing were notso happy for having done it." """But they were." """As I Iooked at familiar faces, I realized that the gap between us..." """...was greater than I couId ever have imagined.""" """As they celebrated into the night the coming hunt..." """...it was hard to know where to be." """I don"t know if they understood, but I couId notsIeep among them." """There had been no looks, and there was no blame." """There was only the confusion of a people not able to predict a future.""" "Are you all right?" "I can't." "No, I'm full." "I'm full, and I can't tell the story anymore." "No." "You want to try it?" "You want to try it?" "Here." "I can't." "This is too much." "Good trade." "This is a good trade." "No, no, I can't. I'm full, I'm tired." "No!" "Loo ten tant!" "Loo ten tant!" "Tatanka." "Big tatanka." "Big tatanka." "That's my hat!" "You're wearing my hat." "It's my hat." "I found it on the prairie. lt's mine." "No, you...." "My hat." "That hat belongs to the Lieutenant." "He left it on the prairie." "He didn't want it." "Well, you can see he wants it now." "We all know that it's a soldier's hat." "We all know who wears it." "If you want to keep it, that's all right." "But give something for it." "Good trade." "There you are." "Come here, Cisco." """Itseems every day ends with a miracle here." """And whatever God may be, I thank God for this day." """To stay any longer would have been useless." """We had all the meat we could possibly carry." """We had hunted for three days, losing a half a dozen ponies..." """...and only three men injured." """I"d never known a people so eager to laugh..." """...so devoted to family, so dedicated to each other." """And the only word that came to mind was "harmony."" """Many times I"ve felt alone..." """...but until this afternoon..." """..." "I"d never felt completely lonely.""" """Made a Iong patrol today." """There"s nothing to report." """Time seems irrelevant except for the fact that I am bored..." """...and these hours alone are endless." """Itis difficult for me to muster any enthusiasm..." """...for my regular duties here." """And the fortis showing serious signs of neglect." """The truth is, I am missing the company of my friends." """I can see all of their faces, butsomehow itis not enough." """Tomorrow I will pay them a visit." """It may be forward of me, but what can it hurt?" """After all, they are my neighbors.""" """The nightsounds have become so familiar as to be comforting." """My life on the prairie"s a good one and for the mostpart, I am content." """The Indians have a greatpuII for me that goes beyond curiosity." """There"s something wise about them and I"m drawn to them..." """...in ways much stronger than my obligations to the military.""" "Go home!" "Damn him." "God!" "Go home!" "Go!" "Go home, Two Socks!" "Bad wolf!" "You were right." "He is a special white man." "He should have a real name." """Itis autumn now and I am spending more time than ever with my friends." """They have given me my own lodge and I feel comfortable there." """We talk every day, but I know Kicking Bird is frustrated with me." """He always wants to know how many more white people are coming." """I tell him they will mostlikely pass through this country and nothing more." """But I am speaking in haIf-truths." """One day there will be too many, but I cannot bring myself to tell him that." """I am sure that Stands With A Fist knows that I am holding back..." """...but to her credit, she says nothing.""" """A warparty is going against the Pawnee soon and I have asked to go." """I sense I made a mistake in doing so..." """...but I couId not bring myself to take it back." """They are my friends, and from whatIittIe I gather..." """...the Pawnee have been very hard on these people." """I hope I have not overstepped my bounds.""" "Come in, please." "Sit down?" "Kicking Bird want to know why you want to make war on the Pawnee." "They have done nothing to you." "They are Sioux enemies." "Only Sioux warriors to go." "Tell him that I have been a warrior longer than many of the young men who will go on this war party." "Tell him." "He said that the Sioux way of being a warrior is not the white way." "You are not ready." "l know, I understand." "Tell him I cannot learn these ways in camp." "He also asks that you watch over his family while he is gone." "This thing he asks is a great honor for you." "Tell him that I would be happy to watch over his family." "He thanks Dances With Wolves for coming." "Who is Dances With Wolves?" "It is the name which all the people are calling you now." "Dances With...." "That's right." "That day." "Dances With Wolves." "How do you say it?" "Keep on with the white man talk if it pleases you." "I like to make the talk." "I'm here." "We walk." "I cut this off." "I shaved it off." "More." "Grass grows on the prairie." ""Grass grows on the prairie"?" "Wrong." "Wrong?" "You said, "Fire lives on the prairie."" "I did?" "No laughing, though." "That man is a fighter." "Again." "That man is a fighter." "Okay, I have it." "Yes." "Hoo hoo, right?" "No?" "Try this." "What's the word for beautiful?" "What are you doing?" "It's hot, and we are sitting in the shade." "I'm hungry." "How is Dances With Wolves?" "What do you mean?" "How is he learning?" "He is a fast learner." "What did you think I meant?" "You go for water, today?" "Then let us take you." "How did you get your name?" "I was not very old when I came to be with the people." "And I was made to work." "I worked every day, very hard." "There was a woman who didn't like me much." "She used to call me bad names, and sometimes she...." "Beat me?" "And one day, she was calling me these bad names with her face in my face and I hit her." "I was not very big, but she fell down." "She fell hard and didn't move." "And then I stood over her with my fist and I asked if there was any other woman who wanted to call me bad names." "No one bothered me after that day." "No, I wouldn't think so." "Show me." "Show me where you hit her." "Why are you not married?" "l'm sorry." "l have to go." "I'm sorry." "Can I help you?" "You are not talking today?" "No, I am not." "Some of your words are wrong but you are learning fast." "So what can I tell you today?" "I want to know about Stands With A Fist." "Why is there no man with her?" "She is in mourning." "I don't...." "l do not understand "mourning."" "She cries for someone." "Cries for who?" "It is not polite to speak of the dead." "But you are new, so I will tell you." "She cries for her husband." "He was killed not long ago." "That is how you came to find her on the prairie." "How long will she cry?" "It is Kicking Bird's place to say when she is finished." "He's the one that found her when she was very little." "People are talking about you." "What are they saying?" "They are proud of the medicine you are making with Dances With Wolves." "I have hurt him, and I should go talk to him." "You can't." "He is gone." "He left this morning." "Bet you were thinking:" ""Now, why don't he write?"" "Hello, Two Socks." "Come on." "I won't hurt you." "Come on." "You can do this." "You can do this." "Come on." "This is easy." "This is easy, Two Socks." "I am in mourning." "No, we cannot." "Yes." "We must be careful." "We must be careful." "Okay." "Wait!" "What?" "Trouble." "The Pawnee are coming." "A big party of 40 or 50 men this time." "Hunters found them not far to the north." "Soon be here." "Stone Calf, wait. I will follow you." "The Pawnee do not come for horses." "They come for blood." "Get your weapons and come to my lodge." "I will get them." "Stone Calf, wait." "I have guns." "I have many rifles." "At the fort?" "Yes." "No." "The ride is long and we can spare no men." "Guns would make one warrior like two." "Take one man and go quickly." "I will take Smiles A Lot." "Okay!" "Shoot the gun!" """It was hard to know how to feel." """I"d never been in a battle like this one." """There was no dark political objective." """This was not a fight for territory or riches or to make men free." """It was fought to preserve the food stores that would see us through the winter." """To protect the lives of women and children and loved ones only a few feet away." """Stone calf was a greatIoss, but even the old men could not remember..." """...such a one-sided victory." """And I gradually began to look atitin a new way." """I felt a pride I"d never felt before." """I"d never really known who John Dunbar was." """Perhaps the name itself had no meaning." """But as I heard my Sioux name being called over and over..." """..." "I knew for the first time who I really was.""" "When we were younger, he always bragged about how brave he was." "And what a great chief he would make." "He thought I was impressed." "While walking on the prairie, we surprised a small herd of buffalo." "And the first thing this brave warrior did is run for a tree." "He would have forgotten all about me if he hadn"t needed my help to climb it." "And we sat there all day as this old cow circled below." "Making loud noises and hitting her head against the trunk." "Where are you going?" "There is gambling tonight." "Horseback"s games are always good." "I"m tired." "Horseback already has a good rifle of mine." "Good night." "How long will Stands With A Fist mourn?" "I don"t know." "I hope it will not be too long." "Has something happened?" "What?" "She has found love again." "With who?" "Who do you think?" "Tell me." "Dances With Wolves." "Are you certain of this?" "When you see them together, you will know." "What are people saying?" "They like the match." "No one is angry?" "It makes sense." "They are both white." "I suppose I will be the one to say something." "She"s your daughter now." "I know." "Relax." "You can"t see everything coming." "Stop it." "Quit your playing." "Stands With A Fist." "You will mourn no more." "Sit, sit." "There"s talk that you want to get married." "To who?" "To Stands With A Fist." "That"s the one, isn"t it?" "She"s in mourning." "Not today." "Kicking Bird has released her." "He did?" "What are you doing here?" "Kicking Bird told me to wait." "You might have to wait a long time." "Smiles A Lot says he saw Kicking Bird riding on the prairie." "He says he was talking to himself." "A medicine man takes it pretty hard when he is the last to know something." "What do I do?" "You are pretty poor and a Sioux girl is not for free." "I don"t know if you can get married." "I have the buckskin...." "No, that"s too much medicine." "Do you think my horse is too much medicine?" "For a girl." "Wait here." "Maybe we can help you." "Wait." "That"s all I do is wait!" """The whole village was eager to take up a collection on my behalf." """The generosity of the people was astonishing." """The more valued the gift, the more easily it was given." """Even the poorer families wanted to give up animals they could not afford." """It was hard to turn them away." """black shawl was a mystery." """I couldn"t guess whatshe was thinking and she offered no advice..." """...no words of encouragement." """I may have been the brunt of an insidejoke..." """...thatincIuded the entire village..." """...but I was determined." """Wind In His Hair told me if all the gifts were gone in the morning..." """...my offer had been accepted." """I spent a sleepless night wondering what misstep, if any, I had made." """I had no idea what Kicking Bird"s decision would be.""" "Turn around." "You look good." "You know, the man she mourned for...." "He was my best friend." "I didn"t know that." "He was a good man." "It has been hard for me to like you." "I am not the thinker Kicking Bird is." "I always feel anger first." "There were no answers to my questions." "But now I think he went away because you were coming." "That is how I see it." "This is a good day for me." "And for me." "If you want this man, take his hand in yours." """I had never been married before." """I don"t know if all grooms have the same experience..." """...but as Kicking Bird began to speak about what was expected of a Sioux husband..." """...my mind began to swim in a way thatshut out everything but her..." """...the tiny details of her costume..." """...the contours of hershape..." """...the Iightin her eyes..." """...the smallness of her feet." """I knew that the love between us would be served.""" "Have you heard all that I have said?" "Yes." "Good, then take her inside." "She is your wife." "Good." "Thank you." "Bye." "Bye." "Dances With Wolves" door is closed a lot these days." "I think they"re having trouble making a baby." "I don"t think they"re having trouble at all." "If we pull the smoke flap shut, they will come out for sure." "Dances With Wolves, are you in there?" "Today I am riding away to a far away place." "I would like you to ride with me." "It"s good to be out." "Yes, it must be." "We are trying for a baby." "No waiting?" "No waiting." "I was just thinking that of all the trails in this life there is one that matters most." "It is the trail of a true human being." "I think you are on this trail, and it is good to see." "We call you the Busy Bee." "It is said that all the animals were born here." "That from here they spread over the prairies to feed all the people." "Even our enemies agree that this is a sacred place." "It"s quiet here." "We must wait for these people." "No, they"ve been gone a week." "Maybe more." "We will water the horses and go home." "You always ask about the white people." "You always want to know how many more are coming." "There will be a lot, my friend." "More than can be counted." "How many?" "Like the stars." "It makes me afraid for all the Sioux." "We should tell this to Ten Bears." "The men who wore this came in the time of my grandfather"s grandfather." "Eventually we drove them out." "Then the Mexicans came." "They do not come here anymore." "In my own time, the Texans." "They have been like all the others." "They take without asking." "I don"t know if we are ready for these people." "But I think you are right." "I think they will keep coming." "When I think of that, I look at this helmet." "Our country is all that we have, and we will fight to keep it." "Tomorrow we will strike the village and go to the winter camp." "You have everything from the soldier fort?" "Yes." "There"s nothing for me there." "That"s good." "The journal." "Stands With...." "Wait!" "Words are important!" "The words in the book are like a trail for people to follow." "Now, it tells everything about my life here." "I must get it." "Enough." "We cannot wait for you." "I"ll catch up." "Injun!" "Get him!" "Injun!" "No!" "Stay down." "Stay." "My God." "God." "It"s okay." "Something has happened." "Dances With Wolves is not coming." "He must have trouble." "Pick two good men and send them back to the soldier fort." "Spivey." "Spivey!" "Yeah, Sergeant." "Tell the major he"s waking up." "Move your worthless ass." "You got yourself a hell of a shiner didn"t you?" "Major"s coming through." "Does he speak English?" "I don"t know, sir." "Speak English?" "Talk English?" "Talk!" "I speak English." "Who are you?" "Lt. John J. Dunbar." "This is my post." "Why are you dressed like this?" "I came out from Fort Hayes last April, but there was nobody here." "Do you have proof of that?" "My journal"s on the bunk in my quarters." "My orders are in the journal." "It will tell you everything." "Spivey, you and Edwards were the first ones here." "Did you find anything?" "A journal?" "No, we didn"t find nothing, sir." "Where"s Edwards?" "He"s outside." "He didn"t find nothing either." "Somebody find me Edwards." "You turned lnjun, didn"t you?" "Didn"t you?" "What did you say your name was?" "Dunbar." "D-u-n-b-a-r." "John." "You say you"re an officer?" "God." "Did you read my orders?" "No." "They"re in my journal." "There are no orders." "There"s no journal." "Why are you out of uniform?" "I have to relieve myself." "Sergeant, take care of him." "Yes, sir." "Let"s go." "He"s a white man." "Doesn"t look white to me." "They say he"s a soldier." "He"s an officer." "Do you salute him or shoot him?" "Here, you." "Eyes front." "I said eyes front!" "Don"t shoot him!" "Hit him!" "Get him!" "Get him!" "Why are you out of uniform?" "What"s the army doing out here?" "Lieutenant"s asking the questions." "Bauer." "We"re charged with apprehending...." "We"re charged with apprehending hostiles and recovering stolen property retrieving white captives taken in hostile raidings." "There are no hostiles." "We will ascertain that for ourselves." "If you"ll guide us to these camps and serve as an interpreter your conduct will be re-evaluated." "What conduct?" "With all due respect" "Your status as a traitor might improve should you choose to cooperate with the United States Army." "There"s nothing for you to do out here." "Are you willing to cooperate or not?" "Speak up!" "I am Dances With Wolves." "What"s that?" "I have nothing to say to you." "You are not worth talking to." "Sergeant, form a detail and take this man down to the river." "Let him clean up his face." "Yes, sir." "Not you, Spivey." "Lieutenant." "Major wants to see you." "Spivey." "Spivey." "You got paper?" "What"s it to you?" "Give me some, shit-bird." "Can you read?" "No, I can"t read." "What the hell"s the difference?" "You can"t read either." "Now just give me some." "Quick, give me some!" "All right." "Hold your horses." "Bauer!" "Let go of me!" "Lap it up, lnjun." "Go ahead." "Lap it up." "You son of a bitch!" "It"s all right." "It"s all right." "He"s going to get hungrier, that"s all." "But maybe that don"t matter." "Word is they"re going to ship you back to Hayes." "And once you get there, they gonna hang you." "Come on." "Forget about him." "Go on." "Get out of here." "Get up in there!" "Spivey, what is that?" "Looks like he"s following us." "Hell, I"m going to shoot him." "Dang." "You missed him." "Don"t shoot, damn it. lt"s my shot." "Wait. I seen him first." "Get down!" "Look at that stupid bastard." "He ain"t even moving." "Wait a minute!" "That"s my shot." "Shoot him!" "Shoot him, Edwards." "He"s standing there." "Shoot him!" "Jesus Christ!" "Holy shit!" "Bauer, get him off him!" "He might have killed you." "I"ll get that son of a bitch." "Sit down, goddamn it!" "That"s it. I got him!" "Dead shot, boys." "Come on." "Son of a bitch!" "Get up!" "Get up!" "I mean it!" "Get up!" "Get up!" "Come on, get up!" "What?" "You bash that prisoner one more time, I"ll put those shackles on you." "You men get back here!" "Goddamn it!" "Boo." "Clear behind that stand of trees?" "All right." "Let"s go." "I don"t see nobody." "Indians!" "No." "Dances With Wolves is quiet these days." "is his heart bad?" "Killing the soldiers at the river was a good thing." "I did not mind killing those men." "I was glad to do it." "But the soldiers hate me now, like they hate no other." "They think I am a traitor." "And they will hunt for me." "And when they find me, they find you." "I think it would be wise to move the village now." "I will be leaving." "I must go and talk with those who would listen." "Quiet." "You are hurting my ears." "Leave us alone." "You are the only white man I have ever known." "I have thought about you a lot." "More than you know." "But I think you are wrong." "The man the soldiers are looking for no longer exists." "Now there is only a Sioux named Dances With Wolves." "Let"s smoke awhile." """With Ten Bears, it was always more than a while." """There was purpose in everything he did and I knew he wanted me to stay." """But I was sure of myself." """I would be an excuse and that"s all the army would need to find this place." """I pushed him as far as I couId to move the camp..." """...butin the end he only smiled and talked ofsimpIe pleasures." """He reminded me that at his age a good fire is better than anything." """Ten Bears was an extraordinary man.""" "You have nothing to say?" "What can I tell you?" "What"s ever on your mind." "You"ve made the decision." "My place is with you." "I go where you go." "You"re not afraid?" "No." "I told Ten Bears we"d leave when the snow breaks." "Did you tell everyone?" "Not everyone." "It"s all right." "You finish your pipe?" "Good pipe." "How does it smoke?" "I've never smoked it." "We come far you and me." "I will not forget you." "Dances With Wolves." "I am Wind ln His Hair." "Do you see that I am your friend?" "Can you see that you will always be my friend?" "Sergeant!" "Over here!" "Now!" "Thirteen years later, their homes destroyed, their buffalo gone, the last band of free Sioux submitted to white authority at Fort Robinson, Nebraska." "The great horse culture of the plains was gone and the American frontier was soon to pass into history."