“About that…why were you waiting for me?”
“To help you, of course,” Reeve said, smiling.
Shaking his head, Smokey said, “You’re not making any sense…what are you supposed to help me with?”
Frowning, Reeve was perplexed. Smokey acted as if…fuck! He doesn’t really know.“I was sent to help your spirits restore the earth’s balance, to bring peace and harmony to the people of our world. For many years, evil has been allowed to grow unchecked because the number of good spirits has slowly been outnumbered by evil ones.
“That began long before you were born. As the number of Manetus declined, the downward slide of our world picked up speed until the evil spirits outnumbered the good ones. The proof of it can be seen in every corner of our world…hunger, disease, poverty…all are on the upswing, caused by the dwindling number of good spirits. And the most important consequence of an overabundance of evil spirits is that it has attracted some paranormals into the human world, putting everything we have at risk—including the future of all, regardless of who they may be, because no one is immune from greed.”
“You’re saying I’m to blame?” Smokey asked, angrily.
“No,” Reeve said, shaking his head. “If blame is to be placed, then it lies at the feet of the few who sought to enrich themselves without thinking about what it would do to our world.”
Smokey knew how extremely bad their world had become; his work at the agency had proved that time and time again. No matter how many evil perpetrators he arrested or killed, there were always more who would take their place. Whenever he and Ghost had a moment of free time, the subject invariably cameup, but neither could agree on the cause. During those many discussions, an imbalance between good and evil spirits never crossed Smokey’s mind as a possibility. What they did agree on, though, was how thoroughly exhausted they’d become fighting the spread of evil. Burnt out, they’d tendered their resignations five years ago.
Looking back, Smokey wondered how he could be so naïve; there just wasn’t any excuse for it. The years he’d spent learning the importance of good versus evil spirits and the absolute need for balance in the world seemed like a distant memory. Disgusted with himself, he said, “It is my fault…I knew better, yet I did nothing.”
“Don’t blame yourself,” Reeve warned. “It only feeds the evil spirits. Everything happens for a reason, but knowing why is not important. Back when we first met, you were in a different place in your mind, but by accepting your power, that place no longer exists. You are ready to don the mantle the Great Spirit has gifted you with…and with me at your side, we can start to heal our world.”
“I don’t understand how you can help me. Do you also possess good spirits?”
“No, but as the white buffalo, guardian of our earth, I’m able to add my power to yours, making your good spirits more powerful, so we can speed up the demise of the evil ones.”
“What about the other Manetus? Will you be able to boost theirs?”
“I could…if they were still around…unfortunately, Smokey, you are the last Manetu.”
“The last one? Are you sure?”
“Very…the others were hunted down and killed by humans when they refused to help them take control of our world.”
“That’s crazy! Manetus don’t have that kind of power.”
“I know that,” Reeve agreed, “and you know it, too. But humans discovered that Manetus were responsible for the abundance of food and game and concluded if Manetus could do that, they must have other powers that humans could exploit to control the world.”
“Unfuckingbelieveable,” Smokey muttered. “My father was right.”
“About what?”
“I heard him tell my grandfather that once the world finds out about me, I would be hunted by those who seek to use me for their own gain.”
“Your father was wise.”
“Yeah…that he was,” mused Smokey. “After that, my grandfather told me not to tell anyone who I really was.”
“Ahh…that explains your behavior when we first met.”
“Maybe…but what it doesn’t explain is why you were such an asshole to me and only me. All the other trainees thought the sun rose and set with you.” Shaking his head, Smokey added, “You have no idea what that did to me. I was ready to quit…certain that I was a fucking fool for thinking I could become an agent. The only thing that stopped me was my friend’s father who helped me regain belief in myself.”
Appalled at the impact of what he’d done, Reeve was overcome by a wave of contrition. “I’m sorry Smokey…that wasn’t my intention. All I wanted…well, my animal wanted, was for us tofulfill the purpose the Great Spirit had created us for, so I tried to force you to acknowledge who you were.”
Waving his hand in dismissal, Smokey said, “Thanks, but it doesn’t matter anymore. I survived and probably ended up better for the shit you put me through. Look at it this way, I was better prepared for the field than anyone else in my class and that kept me alive many times over.”
Chuckling, Reeve said, “Then you should be thanking me.”
“You’re an asshole,” Smokey muttered.
“But an asshole who saved your life,” Reeve replied, smirking.
