him； though； because suddenly the boy was invisible。 But Lolla…Wossiky had no care for what he saw； for what he felt was the most impossible thing of all：
Silence。 Green silence。 The black noise was utterly； pletely gone。 His land…sense had returned； and the ancient injury was healed。
Lolla…Wossiky knelt there； gasping for breath； as the land returned to him the way that it had been before。 All these years had passed； he had forgotten how strong it was； to see in all directions； hear the breath of every animal； smell the scent of every plant。 A man who has been dry and thirsty until he was at the point of death； and suddenly cold water pours down his throat so fast he can't swallow； can't breathe； it's what he longed for； but much too strong； much too sudden； can't contain it； can't endure it
〃It didn't work；〃 the boy whispered。 〃I'm sorry。〃
Lolla…Wossiky opened his good eye； and now for the first time saw the boy as a natural man。 Alvin was staring at his bad eye。 Lolla…Wossiky wondered why； he reached up； touched his missing eye。 The lid still hung over an empty socket。 Then he understood。 The boy thought that was what he was supposed to heal。 No； no； don't be disappointed； child； you healed me from the deep injury； what do I care about this tiny wound？ I never lost my sight； it was my land…sense that was gone； and you gave it back to me。
He meant to shout all this to the boy； cry out and sing for the joy of it。 But it was all too strong for him。 The words never came to his lips。 He couldn't even send him visions now because both of them were now awake。 The dream was over。 They had each been dream beast for the other。
Lolla…Wossiky seized the boy with both hands； pulled him close； kissed him on the forehead； hard and strong； like a father to a son； like brothers； like true friends the day before they die。 Then he ran to the window； swung out and dropped to the ground。 The earth yielded to his feet as it did to other Red men； as it hadn't done for him in so many years； the grass rose up stronger where he stepped； the bushes parted for him； the leaves softened and yielded as he ran among the trees； and now he did cry out； shouted； sang； caring not at all who heard him。 Animals didn't run from him； as they used to； now they came to hear his song； songbirds awoke to sing with him； a deer leapt from the wood and ran beside him through a meadow； and he rested his hand upon her flank。
He ran until he had no breath； and in all that time he met no enemy； he felt no pain； he was whole again； in every way that mattered。 He stood on the bank of the Wobbish River； across from the mouth of the Tippy…Canoe； panting； laughing； gasping for air。
Only then did he realize that his hand was still dripping blood from where he had cut himself to give pain to the White boy。 His pants and shirt were thick with it。 White man's clothing！ I never needed it。 He stripped it off and flung it into the river。
A funny thing happened。 The clothing didn't move。 It sat on the surface of the water； not sinking； not sliding leftward with the current。
How could this be？ Wasn't the dream over？ Wasn't he fully awake yet？
Lolla…Wossiky closed his eye。
Immediately he saw a terrible thing and shouted in fear。 As soon as he closed his eye； he saw the black noise again； a great sheet of it； hard and frozen。 It was the river。 It was the water。 It was made of death。
He opened his eye； and it was water again； but still his clothing didn't move。
He closed his eye； and saw that where the clothing was； light sparkled on the surface of the black。 It pooled； it shone； it dazzled。 It was his own blood shining。
Now he could see that the black noise wasn't a thing。 It was nothing。 Emptiness。 The place where the land ended； and emptiness began； it was the edge of the world。 But where his own blood sparkled； it was like a bridge across nothingness。 Lolla…Wossiky knelt； his eye still closed； and reached out with his cut and still…bleeding hand； touched the water。
It was solid； warm and solid。 He smeared his blood across the surface； and it made a platform。 He crawled out onto the platform。 It was smooth and hard as ice； only warm； weling。
He opened his eye。 It was a river again； except that under him it was solid。 Wherever his blood had touched； the water was hard and smooth。
He crawled out to where the clothing was； slid it ahead of him。 All the way out to the middle of the river he crawled； and beyond the middle； making a thin； glowing bridge of blood to the other side。
What he was doing was impossible。 The boy had done much more than heal him。 He had changed the order of things。 It was frightening and wonderful。 Lolla…Wossiky looked down into the water between his hands。 His own one…eyed reflection looked back up at him。 Then he closed his eye； and a whole new vision leapt to view。
He saw himself standing in a clearing； speaking to a hundred Red men； a thousand； from every tribe。 He saw them build a city of lodges； a thousand； five thousand； ten thousand Reds； all of them strong and whole； free of the White man's likker； the White man's hate。 In his vision they called him the Prophet； but he insisted that he was not that at all。 He was only the door； the open door。 Step through； he said； and be strong； one people； one land。
The door。 Tenskwa…Tawa。
In his vision； his mother's face appeared； and she said that word to him。 Tenskwa…Tawa。 It is your name now； for the dreamer is awake。
And more； he saw much more that night； staring downward into the solid water of the Wobbish River； he saw so much that he could never tell it all； in that hour on the water he saw the whole history of the land； the life of every man and woman； White or Red or Black； who ever set foot on it。 He saw the beginning and he saw the end。 Great wars and petty cruelties； all the murderings of men； all the sins； but also all the goodness； all the beauty。
And above all； a vision of the Crystal City。 The city made of water as solid and as clear as glass； water that would never melt； formed into crystal towers so high that they should have cast shadows seven miles across the land。 But because they were so pure and clear they cast no shadow at all； the sunlight passed unblocked through every inch and yard and mile of it。 Wherever a man or woman stood； they could look deep into the crystal and see all the visions that Lolla…Wossiky saw now。 Perfect understanding； that was what they had； seeing with eyes of pure sunlight and speaking with the voice of lightning。
Lolla…Wossiky； who from now on would be named Tenskwa…Tawa； did not know if he would build the Crystal City； or live in it； or even see it before he died。 It was enough to do the first things that he saw in the solid water of the Wobbish River。 He looked and looked until his mind couldn't see more。 Then he crawled across to the far shore； climbed onto the bank； and walked until he came to the meadow he had seen in the vision。
This was where he would call the Reds together； teach them what he saw in his vision； and help them to be； not the strongest； but strong； not the largest； but large； not the freest； but free。
***
A certain keg in the crotch of a certain tree。 All summer it was hidden from view。 But the rain still found it； and the heat of high summer； and the insects； and the teeth of salt…hungry squirrels。 Wetting； drying； heating； cooling； no keg can last forever in such conditions。 It split； just a little； but enough； the liquid inside seeped out； drop by drop； in a few hours the keg was empty。
It didn't matter。 No one ever looked for it。 No one ever missed it。 No one mourned when it broke apart from ice in the winter； the fragments tumbling down the tree into the snow。
Chapter 5 A Sign
When word started spreading about a one…eyed Red man who was called the Prophet； Governor Bill Harrison laughed and said； 〃Why； that ain't nobody but my old friend Lolla…Wossiky。 When he runs out of that likker keg he stole from me； he'll quit seeing visions。〃
After a little while； though； Governor Harrison took note of how much store was set by the Prophet's words； and how the Reds spoke his n