Within Ziibi’s pouch the little drum she always carried shivered out a single sound. She looked up and saw Ajijaak, him whose form was embedded in her memory and her heart. She felt her spirit leap within her as she watched him near the canoe. He did not know who she was, and she would not tell him. How beautiful he was, with his bare broad chest and unbraided cascade of dark hair. His face was plucked of all whiskers. His long fingers reached the canoe and grabbed hold of it. Ziibi raised her eyes to his. In a single instant, he recognized her, his face registered shock in his recognition. At this Ziibi laughed. She could not help herself. He found her pretty and he hand not expected to. Men were so foolish. She said, “Ajijaak, it has been a long time. You look well.”
Ajijaak dropped his eyes. His face turned red. His reaction to her confused her. What was he thinking? Her spirit reached out to his, willing him to look at her so she could read his eyes. As her spirit reached out, she became aware of a great sadness in him. Something in his life was amiss. He helped the sisters and then Ziibi to shore. At the touch of his hand on hers, Ziibi felt the old jolt, that his touch had always given her, only it was much stronger now that she was a woman. It stirred her deep inside as no caress of Wabooz had ever done. Not that she wanted Wabooz, but she realized that she did still very much want Ajijaak. He belonged to another, she was sure of it. But who? Mitigokaa asked him, “How is Wiinizik?”
Wiinizik! That was the name of the pregnant girl, the girl who had given her the drum that quivered in her pouch, the drum she always kept with her. The drum was the work of Ajijaak’s hands and spirit. It seemed at once as if strange vapors swirled inside of her lifting her up into a realm that was frightening and forbidden. She must not love another woman’s man, but she did. She did not notice the signs that Ajijaak made. She tried to keep her eyes on the path ahead of her.
Mitigamin dropped her voice low, so low Ziibi, almost did not hear, “We have medicine that may help. Take us to her.” This was against code. Mitigamin knew she should consult with the village Midewiwin. Why were these sisters constantly going against tradition? A bad feeling spread inside of Ziibi. Something dark was lurking waiting to consume and destroy. Her father had taught her to follow tradition. Her father had taught her to honor another Midewiwin’s jurisdiction. Did her father know how often these sisters applied their own wills? Surely he did not. Ajijaak should protest this action, but he did not. He nodded and headed out through the thicket to the backside of his house. As she followed behind, Ziibi realized she did not want to see the house where Ajijaak lived, look upon the place where he slept with his woman. She did not want to see his woman, or help his woman. This was bad, an evil worse than the one the sisters were about to commit. She must cast it out and be rid of it, before it took hold of her. It was too late, already it had her.
The house was on the outer edge of the village. It was secluded from the other houses. A garden of squash and corn grew behind it. Beside the house was a smaller building where Ajijaak kept his drums and drum making tools. He pulled back the door flap of the house so the sisters could enter. Ziibi accidently brushed against him as she passed into the narrow opening. Once again her senses keened. She felt sick. It was dark in the house. She was aware of a baby. A baby. As the sister’s spoke in low words to Wiinizik, Ziibi’s eyes were drawn to the baby happily grasping trinkets attached to his cradleboard. He was a handsome little boy, with eyes like his father’s.
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Ziibi did not go to Wiinzik until the sister’s commanded her to. She did not want to look this woman in the face. When she did however, her jealously evaporated as did the evil that had held her. This was not the same girl she had met on the island. This girl, had lost all her joy and all her light. Her spirit was weary and wanted to travel beyond her body. Ziibi did not know if the sisters were aware of this, but she was. No one could save Wiinizik, but Wiinizik. She would have to choose to fight for life and fight hard. Did she have the strength to do so? Ziibi glanced back at Ajijaak. His eyes were on his woman and they were frightened.
Mitigokaa bent over Wiinizik. She looked deep into her eyes, then pulled her eyelids up. After a careful examination she poked the girl were her kidneys were and Wiinzik winced. She asked, “Have you had pain in your back?” Wiinzik nodded. In the next moment Ziibi saw Mitigokaa pull the bear claw pouch from her medicine bag. Only Midewiwin of high degree who were male were allowed to carry this medicine. This was bad. Inside the pouch was bear root. Ziibi looked away. She would not witness the application of this remedy. It would be bad for her spirit if she did. She would not stay with these women who had so little respect for the Midewiwin way. They were bad.
The sisters set about preparing the medicine. They did not ask Ziibi to help. They told her to take the baby outside. Ziibi did this.
Out in the sunlight she could see this precious child. He smiled at her, with a smile that was familiar, like she had seen it before. Then she remembered the dream she had of the small boy in the canoe with her. He had been this child. This child and her spirit were somehow bound together. Knowing this did not bring her joy. Dark spirits seemed to be gathering in the shadows, waiting to pounce.
*
Night had fallen and fires had been lit outside. Get smudges of smoke drifted through the village to deter insects from pestering the people. The forest was full of night sounds, and small eyes seemed to be watching from beyond the ring of firelight. The drums had begun to beat and the pipes to play. Ajijaak, dressed in his best breechcloth stood still with arms outspread. The stillness of his body called all in the crowd to quiet their chatter and focus only on him. Ziibi could feel him drawing power into himself, power that would flow through his dance.
Beside her was Waabooz. He was sitting so close their bare arms touched. She did not know he was staring at her. In a harsh voice he whispered, “So, you love another woman’s man?”
Midewiwin did not lie. It was true that she did, but she would not speak this truth. It was none of his business who she did or did not love.
Waabooz said, “I thought so.” There was something in his tone that should have alarmed Ziibi, but her entire being was present with Ajijaak, waiting for him to begin. She wished his family was here to see him dance, but so far no one from his family or her family’s village had arrived.