"I add this to what you say," responded Gray Falcon silently. "By his actions we can predict what he will do, knowing he will cheat and use every deception he knows so he can win. And, I will say this again, so you may know I mean it: we must engage as many Pikuni warriors as we can to accompany us into the fort so the game remains a true game of chance."
"Perhaps," suggested Strikes Fast, "your people might come into the fort to trade one by one. Many of our people remain at the fort even after they have concluded their trade. In this way, it will not be obvious what we intend."
"Áa, your suggestion is good."
"This is a good plan, my friend," spoke Eagle Heart with the silent talk. "I can easily appreciate all the thought you have put into this."
"Indeed," said Gray Falcon silently, "it has been necessary. As I have already said, from the first moment I learned of this man, I have known this time would come. Therefore, it has been on mind and in my prayers every day since I learned of him."
Both Eagle Heart and Strikes Fast nodded.
"And now," Gray Falcon carried on, "I say to you what the Creator has told me not to do when we meet this man, and, also, what we must do so as to engage him in the game. The first is to speak only what is necessary to Maká'pato'si, the evil one. Otherwise, we are to remain silent. In this way, we will keep the evil-spirited man unaware of what we mean to do. Next, I will tell you what the Creator has instructed me to do: I must bring about Maká'pato'si's interest in our game of chance by using gold. I will need to show this man much gold—much silver, also—but gold is better. Without this, he might hesitate to play the game at all, since the rules are strict. I have some gold, very little though."
"I, too, have some gold, but, like you, I have only a little since it is not valuable to me. I will give you what I have," said Eagle Heart. "Perhaps my wife has a trinket or two, also."
"I have gold in coins," said Strikes Fast. "Since we of the Crow Nation are friendly to the white man, I have won some of these coins in games. They have little value to me. I give them to you without you needing to return the favor."
Gray Falcon inclined his head. "I honor you both for your generosity. It is not in my mind to keep this gold, nor to lose it. The Creator has shown me, however, it will be needed to force the game to start."
"Soka'pii,good," Eagle Heart acknowledged.
"My brother," said Gray Falcon to Eagle Heart, "even though I would seek to have you at my side when I confront this man, I think it is required of you to remain here. You possess skills none of the rest of us have. And so, you are needed to stay here with our women, our father-in-law and our mother-in-law. The Creator has told me you are the best man to cure our wives' father of his physical ailments." He glanced at Eagle Heart. "It is known to me this will not be easy to do—to gain his support. Yet, it must be done."
"Yes, it must be done," said Eagle Heart silently. "It has been on my mind to ask to stay behind and tend to our father-in-law. Also, one of us must remain here to guard the women. I am glad you have asked this of me."
Gray Falcon nodded.
"But," asked Eagle Heart, "do you believe the evil trader still has the mystery contract in his possession?"
"I do," answered Gray Falcon. "This white man's paper is his power. He might have made other contracts setting the same words onto other pages—like those our mother-in-law holds—but he would never give away the one paper that carries the imprint of our father-in-law's mark. I have thought about this at length, and I consider there are only two ways to end this power he holds over others: one is by his death; the other is through confronting this man face-to-face, and the game of chance would be the best way to do this. And, although I might lose the game, if we can keep the contest between us honest, I think I will win it."
"I believe this to be so, also," agreed Eagle Heart. "Before you leave, my brother, I must speak to you about how to win this game, for I have a secret that has allowed me to win in this game every time I have played it…except once." He smiled.
In response, Gray Falcon grinned, remembering the story of how Eagle Heart's wife had once bested her husband in this game.
"And now," said Eagle Heart, "I have another question for you: if you do not win, are you prepared to do physical battle with this man?"
"I am," responded Gray Falcon. "But, as a medicine man, I would prefer to simply take back all he has stolen from others. I have prayed about this, and the Creator has shown me that, while I must be careful to take every one of his possessions, I must also take from him the papers he holds, even though I can little understand how these easily torn papers have any power. Yet, we see the results of their influence upon our father-in-law, our mother-in-law and my wife."
Both Strikes Fast and Eagle Heart nodded.
No one spoke for a moment, neither with words nor in the mind-speak. After a pause, however, Eagle Heart went on to say silently, "I, too, do not understand how an object so flimsy can devastate a man. But, while you are gone, I will do what I can to bring our father-in-law back to health, providing he asks, which I fear will greatly depend upon our wives convincing him to allow us to aid him." Eagle Heart smiled. "Also, perhaps we can obtain our mother-in-law's help with this. If anyone ought to be able to gain the old man's attention, I believe it is she."
Gray Falcon nodded, and he spoke one word—"Soka'pii"—aloud before continuing in the silent talk. He said, "I think you are right." Then, looking sideways at Strikes Fast, Gray Falcon asked, "Would you like to add any of your own ideas to this talk?"
"I would," Strikes Fast replied in the silent manner of mind-speak. "You honor me by asking me to come with you so we might ensure Maká'pato'si cannot trick us. Perhaps in this manner, I can at last perform a deed to free me from my obligation to you both."
"You are already free to go where you wish," replied Eagle Heart in the mind-to-mind communication. "Neither my friend nor I have a hold on you. Your friendship has been welcome, and, in these last few years, you have become a brother to us. But, you are a free man and have been so for many snows."
Strikes Fast nodded, then replied, "While my heart is happy to hear your words, it is the Creator who must set me free. None other."
Eagle Heart nodded, and it was Gray Falcon who brought their council to a close, saying, "I understand what you say, my friend. Now, let us bring our women into our council so we might learn as much as possible about what a contract is and why these papers have such power over men."
By turning his pipe over and letting the ashes fall onto the ground, Gray Falcon ended the council.
****
"When are we going to the fort?"
