The setting sun hung heavy in the darkening sky as Tanaka made his swift way through the forest. His slender, hard-muscled body was naked, save for a breechclout made of softened deerskin. His long black hair swung across his back in rhythm with the movements of his body. Slung across his shoulder was the carcass of a young doe, several days’ feasting for him and his younger sister and brother. Despite his haste, he was cautious. There was no telling what enemy lay ahead of him. Only two days before, in this very stretch of forest through which he now traveled, a member of his tribe had been murdered and his woman taken into slavery by white men.

The white settlers were everywhere these days, more and more of them laying waste to the land, cutting down trees, building stockades, fouling Mother Earth with their filth.

In the beginning, they had seemed friendly enough, trading with Tanaka’s people, inviting the children to their schools, encouraging them to attend church. Tanaka had even learned to speak their language, ugly and awkward though it was. But things had soured when it became obvious that the settlers intended to possess the land of his people’s forefathers. At first, they had offered to buy it. The village elder, old and venerable Gray Eyes, had laughed at them. “The earth cannot be bought or sold,” he had told the settler’s leaders. “The earth belongs to no man. The earth is our Mother, providing us with life. How could I sell her?”

The settlers had thought him mad but used his philosophy against him. If the land belonged to no one, then it was theirs to take—and take it they did. Now, the forests and hillsides were no longer a haven for Tanaka’s people. With each passing day, they had to be more vigilant, aware that death or slavery might follow them into the forest glades, ready to snatch them from their loved ones forever.

Even the gentlest people can be pushed only so far, and so it was that Gray Eyes had declared war on the settlers for the atrocities they had committed and, after several raids against the stockades had proved successful, the white settlers had appealed to the English militia to protect them from the ‘savages’.

The result had been all-out war, with no side the victor. Tanaka’s people had resisted many onslaughts, but now they remained at bay, ever watchful for the next aggressive move the settlers might make.

As Tanaka neared his village, his nostrils flared at the smell that invaded them―smoke—too strong to be from just the small cooking fires. This was a fire that could consume the forest! He quickened his pace and soon burst into the clearing that housed the lodges of his people.

His heart jumped into his throat as he surveyed the ruins of what had once been a vibrant and happy place. Almost every lodge was in flames or already burned to ashes. Strewn among the debris were bodies, twisted grotesquely in death. Old, young, women and children—no one had been spared. His mind and body numbed by the destruction that surrounded him, he stood before the smoking ruin of his home. Of his sister and brother, there was no sign. Keening, he sank to his knees and poured the ashes of his home upon his head.

“Oh, Great Spirit,” he prayed. “Help me find my sister and brother, and Great Spirit, help me wreak revenge upon those who did this to my people.” He stood and looked around for someone, anyone, who might still be alive and able to tell him of what had taken place here.

He found Gray Eyes, partially hidden beneath the ruins of his lodge. The old man’s eyes were slow to focus on him as Tanaka cradled his head in the crook of his arm.

“Amafo, grandfather, who did this?”

“White soldiers with many guns and swords.” The old man struggled for breath as he spoke. “They came upon us without warning, without parley. They killed and killed…”

“What of my sister and brother?”

“They were the first to fall to the soldiers’ swords,” Gray Eyes gasped through his pain. “The Great Spirit has spared you.”

“To avenge them and all my people!” Tanaka cried, hot tears spilling down his face.

“No, my son.” Gray Eyes touched Tanaka’s wet face with his fingertips. “Grieve for us for just a little while, but follow the path your destiny lays before you. Do not seek to destroy our enemies out of vengeance, for you will surely fail. You must choose the way of the shaman. Let the Spirit wisdom guide you in this and protect you.” His hand fell away and he sagged in Tanaka’s arms as he slipped into darkness.

“Go to the Great Spirit, Amafo,” Tanaka murmured, holding the old man in his arms and rocking him gently. “Find my little sister and brother and take them with you, for they will be afraid…”

He bowed his head in grief, knowing now that he would never see his little brother and sister again, that they had gone beyond his reach to where he could no longer protect them. He released Gray Eyes from his embrace, his tear-filled eyes surveying the carnage and desolation all around him.

He lifted his arms to the heavens and a hoarse scream of defiance was ripped from his very soul. The sound echoed through the woods and hills, causing flocks of birds to wheel and scatter in the skies. Startled by the savagery in that scream, the inhabitants of the forest cowered in fear, and on the edge of the white settlement, some men jumped to their feet and reached for their rifles, their faces etched with surprise and bewilderment. The silence that followed reassured them that it must only have been some wild animal seeking its prey—and, in a way, they were right.

* * * *

Tanaka stood on a ridge overlooking a swift-flowing river in the valley below him. In the gray light of dawn, before the sun cast its welcome light and warmth on the land, he could just make out the shapes of the lodges in the village that sprawled along the riverbank.

This was the home of his cousin, Black Eagle, chief of the Choctaws. He had traveled all day and night to reach this place, to warn them of the white man’s treachery and brutality, for he feared it would not stop at the massacre of his village. The white man would never be content until he owned all the land of Tanaka’s people. Their greed is like a sickness, he thought, as he descended the hillside.

He awoke the dozing lookout with a rough shake. “Okchali…wake up! The village is not safe if you sleep, Little Fox,” he admonished him, receiving a scowl from the young man. “The white soldiers have destroyed my village and may be on their way here!”

“We must let Black Eagle know of this,” the young man muttered.

“I will tell my cousin. You alert the other guards—if they are awake.” Tanaka gave Little Fox a keen look. “I could have killed you with ease. Remember that, the next the time you are asked to protect your people from your enemies!”

Little Fox muttered something under his breath then moved swiftly off to warn the other guards.

“Black Eagle!” Tanaka called out as he approached his cousin’s lodge. “It is I, Tanaka, come to warn you of great danger!”

The animal hide covering the entrance to the lodge parted and Black Eagle stepped out. A tall, imposing man with the bearing of a chosen leader, his strong features were now creased by a frown.

“Halito, Tanaka,” he grumbled, pulling a deerskin robe around him to cover his nakedness. “What brings you here, disturbing the peace of our village this early?”

“Better I than the white soldiers who have destroyed my home and massacred my people!” Tanaka found it hard to contain his anger. “If I had been the enemy, I would have found this an easy place to destroy! Little Fox and your sentries were asleep as I approached.”

Black Eagle gaped at him. “Gray Eyes… Your family?”

“Dead. All of them, dead…all of them.”

His cousin stepped forward and embraced him. “We will avenge them, Tanaka. We will wipe out the white man’s settlement.”

“And what then?” Tanaka pushed his cousin away, even though the other man’s strong body had given him momentary comfort. “They will only send more. They are like the trees of the forest, too numerous to count. Gray Eyes told me to seek the Spirit guidance.”

“What good would that do?” Black Eagle asked. “Should we pray for the white man to go away? You know that will never happen. All they know is the power of force. I will ready the warriors, and we will drive the white settlers off our land once and for all!”

Despite Gray Eyes’ warning, the fire started in Tanaka’s blood at his cousin’s words. Yes, they should avenge his people. How could he let these murderers go unpunished? Black Eagle was right. They could not be removed by anything other than force.

“I would be proud to fight by your side, my cousin,” he said.

Black Eagle’s face was grim. “Come, arm yourself. We will tell the people what has happened, and what we must do to protect ourselves.”

It seemed as though the people had already heard the news, no doubt from the guards returning to the village. Black Eagle regarded them with anger.

“Your laziness might have cost us our lives. Be thankful Tanaka brought us this news before the white soldiers struck again.” He fixed Little Fox with a cold stare. “Your punishment will be that you stay here with the women, children and old ones. You are not fit to join us in battle.”

Little Fox started forward, his look of hatred meant for Tanaka alone. “He lies,” he blurted. “He seeks to humiliate me. I was not asleep.”

“You mean to fight also with your eyes closed?” Tanaka asked him with contempt.

Little Fox drew his knife and lunged at Tanaka but was stopped in his tracks by a mighty blow from Black Eagle’s fist. He lay on the ground, nursing his jaw and glaring up at the two men. The titters and guffaws that came from the onlookers as they witnessed his humiliation fueled his rage.

Black Eagle grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to his feet. “Be glad your punishment is not more severe.” He pushed Little Fox away. “Guard the people with your life, or I may put aside my forgiving nature.” He turned and addressed the assembled warriors. “Arm yourselves well. The soldiers have guns and swords and know how to use them. Make every arrow count, every spear thrust find its mark!”

The war chants and drums started as the men scattered to gather their weapons. The ululating of the women as they joined hands and began the slow shuffling step of the war dance filled the air, firing up the resolve of the warriors to destroy the enemy and protect their homes.

Tanaka took the bow and quiver of arrows Black Eagle handed him. Black Eagle’s wife, Small Woman, looked at the two men anxiously. Her husband embraced her, burying his face in her long, luxuriant hair. They had been man and wife for a short time, and she trembled in her husband’s arms.

“Fear not, my love,” he whispered. “We shall return, singing the song of victory!” She clung to him till he gently removed her arms from around his neck. “Embrace your cousin.” He smiled at her. “Wish him safe return.” She did as he asked, and Tanaka gave her a reassuring smile as they left.

“I will bring him back safe to you,” he said. “He still has to make many sons!”

The war chant reached a crescendo as the warriors prepared to leave. At a signal from Black Eagle, a great shout went up and they started forward at a run, splashing their way across the shallows of the river, then racing up the hillside until they disappeared from view.

They stopped a short distance from the stockade, the stout wooden timbers of which had been built to protect the soldiers and settlers from surprise attacks. The red uniforms of the soldiers that manned the walls were clearly visible.

Black Eagle grinned. “They make pretty targets, eh, cousin?”

“We need to make them come out,” Tanaka said. “If we kill only the ones we can see, the others will be alerted and take cover. If we draw them out here into the open, they will make even prettier targets.”

“But how can we get them to come out?” Black Eagle asked him. “They know they have the advantage hiding behind the logs.”

Tanaka stood up. “Watch me.” Throwing down his bow, he strode toward the stockade, ignoring Black Eagle’s cry of warning. “Hey, white soldiers!” he shouted as he walked, “Hey, look at me. I am alone. I have come to avenge my people. I challenge all of you to fight me. Come out and fight me!”

A great shout of laughter went up from the soldiers on the stockade walls. They jeered as Tanaka jumped up and down like a madman, shouting insults and more challenges at them.

“Cowards!” he yelled, still jumping about. “The white-eyes are all cowards. Come out and fight.”

One of the soldiers took a pot shot at Tanaka, but it went wide, causing more laughter from the soldiers. “Go out and fight ’im,” a soldier yelled, pushing the failed marksman over the wall. The man’s compatriots laughed as he clung to the ramparts for dear life. Tanaka prayed that none of Black Eagle’s men would put an arrow into the unlucky soldier. His ruse depended on the redcoats thinking he was alone. He blew a whistle of relief as the soldier dropped to the ground and turned to face him as he continued his mad dance.

The soldier pulled his sword from its scabbard and approached Tanaka, who scampered away, dodging, weaving and evading all the man’s attempts to catch him. Great guffaws from his fellow soldiers greeted every failed attempt the man made to trap Tanaka. The gates to the stockade opened suddenly and several soldiers spilled out to get a better look at what the rest of the men could see from the walls. They watched with interest as Tanaka now stopped his capering and, pulling a knife from his belt, advanced toward his would-be captor.

“Go on, George, get ’im,” someone yelled, and there was cheering and laughter as the soldier charged at Tanaka, sword at the ready. Tanaka avoided the clumsy maneuver and the soldier grunted with frustration as he turned to face Tanaka again. The two men circled each other, the redcoat slicing the air with his sword. Then, perhaps goaded by the laughter of his comrades and the mocking smile on Tanaka’s lips, he charged in again. Once again, Tanaka was too fast and agile for him. With lightning speed, he closed on the hapless soldier, hooked his arm around the man’s neck and plunged his knife deep into his chest.

The laughter died as the soldiers saw their comrade drop to the ground.

“Now!” Tanaka yelled at the top of his voice, and Black Eagle let loose with a blood-curdling war cry. The air was filled with the whirring sound of arrows unleashed from taut bows, and with screams of pain as the deadly missiles hit their marks. Black Eagle’s men surged forward, mowing down the soldiers that had ventured out then racing through the gates before they could be swung shut against them.

All around him, Tanaka could see Black Eagle’s men locked in combat with the soldiers. He crouched low as one rushed at him, attempting to impale him with his bayonet. Tanaka twisted nimbly to one side, grabbing the soldier’s rifle by the stock as he did so. They wrestled for possession of the gun, then crashed to the ground, stumbling over a fallen settler. The soldier straddled Tanaka’s chest, pushing his rifle down against Tanaka’s throat, trying to crush his windpipe. With all his strength, Tanaka threw the man backward, wrenching the rifle from his grip. With a whoop of victory, Tanaka smashed the rifle butt against the soldier’s head.

He turned in time to see another soldier about to plunge his sword into Black Eagle’s back as his cousin wrestled with one of the settlers. Still holding the soldier’s rifle, Tanaka leaped forward, burying the bayonet in the soldier’s side. The man screamed and went down, plowing into Black Eagle’s opponent. The three men fell in a tangle of arms and legs, then Black Eagle’s knife rose and fell, and it was over.

Inside the stockade they were met with pandemonium, as panicked men and women rushed away in all directions, screaming for help from their god and for mercy from the savages. A few men turned to fight but were soon subdued.

“Victory!” Black Eagle’s shout resonated throughout the stockade and his warriors gathered around him singing their victory chant. He drew Tanaka to his side. “Cousin, I owe you my life. This day is yours. Your people are avenged!”

Tanaka looked around him, at the dead and dying soldiers, at the cowering women and children, and felt his previous elation melt away. What they had done here would not bring back Gray Eyes or his brother and sister. The flush of battle and victory fled from him as he remembered Gray Eyes’ words… ‘Do not seek to destroy our enemies out of vengeance, for you will surely fail.’

“Let the settlers go,” he said.

“What?” Black Eagle cried in amazement. “You would let these murderers go?”

“We must be better than they are,” Tanaka replied. “Burn this place so they can never return here, but let those who survive, live.”

“You speak like a shaman, my cousin.” Black Eagle shrugged with impatience but gave the order to set the settlers free. “I hope you will not regret this decision one day.”

“I think I will regret many things in my life to come, but one thing I know, I will never regret sparing the lives of women and children. Their deaths would be meaningless in our greater struggle for survival. We win today, but more white men and more soldiers will come and we will have to fight again and again. That we spare these few lives means nothing.”

He watched as the weeping settlers were pushed through the gates to begin their long march to the next nearest settlement. He felt no pity for them. Because of them, he was without a family and without a home, yet he could not see them butchered.

He felt Black Eagle’s hand on his shoulder. “Come,” his cousin said. “Let us return and celebrate our victory.” They watched as the fire consumed the stockade. Black Eagle nodded with satisfaction. “The fire-god cleanses the white man’s filth from the earth. Today, they learned we will not stand idly by and see them take everything from us.”

Tanaka looked back at the burning stockade. He shivered as an icy finger rippled down his spine and a feeling of presentiment settled on him like a black cloud. Where would all this end? As he followed Black Eagle and his men back through the forest, his mind was consumed with the certain knowledge that the white men would come again and again, bringing more soldiers, more wars, more death—and next time, could they defeat them as easily?

They would have to be even more vigilant from this day forward, but just as importantly, he would seek the Spirit guidance of which Gray Eyes had told him.