The poleboy looked at him with adoration in his eighteen…year…old eyes。 〃Can I help you？ Can I e with you？〃
〃You ever been in a fight？〃
〃A lot of fights！〃
〃You ever bit off an ear？〃
〃No； but I gouged out a man's eye once。〃
〃Eyes are easy。 Eyes are soft。〃
〃And I butted a man's head so he lost five teeth。〃
Fink considered that for a few seconds。 Then he grinned and nodded。 〃Sure； you e along with me； boy。 By the time I'm through； there ain't a man； woman or child within a hundred mile of this river who won't know my name。 Do you doubt that； boy？〃
The boy didn't doubt it。
In the morning； Mike Fink and his crew pushed off for the south bank of the Hio； loaded with a wagon； some mules； and eight kegs of whisky。 Bound to do a little trading with the Reds。
In the afternoon； Governor William Harrison buried the charred remains of his second wife and their little boy； who had the misfortune of being in the nursery together； dressing the boy in his little parade uniform； when the room burst into flames。
A fire in his own house； set by no hand； which cut off what he loved the most； and no power on earth could bring them back。
Chapter 7 Captives
Alvin Junior never felt small except when he was setting on the back of a big old horse。 Not to say he wasn't a good rider he and horses got along pretty good； they never throwing him and he never whipping them。 It's just that his legs stuck way out on both sides； and since he was riding with a saddle on this trip； the stirrup had to be hiked up so far they punched new holes in the leather so he could ride。 Al was looking forward to the day he growed up to be man…size。 Other folks might tell him he was right big for his age； but that didn't amount to nothing in Alvin's opinion。 When your age is ten； big for your age ain't nothing like being big。
〃I don't like it；〃 said Faith Miller。 〃Don't like sending my boys off in the middle of all these Red troubles。〃
Mother always worried； but she had good cause。 All his life Al was kind of clumsy； always having accidents。 Things turned out fine in the end； but it was nip and tuck a lot of the time。 Worst was a few months ago； when the new millstone fell on his leg and gave it a real ugly break。 It looked like he was going to die； and he pretty much expected to himself。 Would have； too。 Surely would have。 Even though he knew he had the power to heal himself。
Ever since the Shining Man came to him in his room that night when he was six； Al had never used his knack to help himself。 Cutting stone for his father； that he could do； cause it would help everybody。 He'd run his fingers on the stone； get the feel of it； find the hidden places in the stone where it could break； and then set it all in order； just make it go that way； and the stone would e out； just right； just the way he asked。 But never for his own good。
Then with his leg broke and the skin tore up； everybody knowed he was bound to die。 And Al never would've used his knack for fixing things to heal himself； never would've tried； except old Taleswapper was there。 Taleswapper asked him； why don't you fix your leg yourself？ And so Al told him what he never told a soul before； about the Shining Man。 Taleswapper believed him； too； didn't think he was crazy or dreaming。 He made Al think back； think real hard； and remember what the Shining Man said。 And when Al remembered； it e to him that it was Al himself who said that about never doing it for himself。 The Shining Man just said； 〃Make all things whole。〃
Make all things whole。 Well； wasn't his leg part of 〃all things〃？ So he fixed it； best he could。 There was a lot more to it than that； but all in all he used his own power； with the help of his family； to heal himself。 That's why he was alive。
But during those days he looked death in the face and he wasn't as scared of it as he thought he'd be。 Lying there with death seeping through his bone； he began to feel like his body was just a kind of lean…to； a shelter he lived in during bad weather till his house was built。 Like them shanty cabins new folks built till they could get a log house set up proper。 And if he died； it wouldn't be awful at all。 Just different； and maybe better。
So when his ma went on and on about the Reds and how dangerous it was and how they ought get killed； he didn't give no heed。 Not because he thought that she was wrong； but because he didn't much care whether he died or not。
Well； no； that wasn't quite so。 He had a lot of things to do； though he didn't know yet what they were； and so he'd be annoyed about dying。 He sure didn't plan to die。 It just didn't fill him up with fear like it did some folks。
Al's big brother Measure was trying to get Ma to ease off and not get herself all worked up。 〃We'll be all right； Mama；〃 said Measure。 〃All the trouble's down south； and we'll be on good roads all the way。〃
〃Folks disappear every week on those good roads；〃 she said。 〃Those French up in Detroit are buying scalps； they don't never let up on that； don't matter one bit what Ta…Kumsaw and his savages are doing； it only takes one arrow to kill you〃
〃Ma；〃 said Measure。 〃If you're a…scared of Reds getting us； you ought to want us to go。 I mean there's ten thousand Reds at least living in Prophetstown right across the river。 It's the biggest city west of Philadelphia right now； and every one of them is a Red。 We're getting away from Reds by going east〃
〃That one…eyed Prophet don't worry me；〃 she said。 〃He never talks about killing。 I just think you shouldn't〃
〃It don't matter what you think；〃 said Pa。
Ma turned to face him。 He'd been slopping the hogs out back； but now he was e around to say good…bye。
'Don't you tell me it don't matter what I〃
〃It don't matter what I think； neither；〃 said Pa。 〃It don't matter what anybody thinks； and you know it。〃
〃Then I don't see why the good Lord gave us brains； then； if that's how things are； Alvin Miller！〃
〃Al's going east to Hatrack River to。 be an apprentice blacksmith；〃 said Pa。 〃I'll miss him； you'll miss him； everybody except maybe Reverend Thrower is going to miss the boy； but the papers are signed and Al Junior is going。 So instead of jawing how you don't want them to go； kiss the boys good…bye and wave them off。〃
If Pa'd been milk she would've curdled him on the spot； she gave him such a look。 〃I'll kiss my boys； and I'll wave them off；〃 she said。 〃I don't need you to tell me that。 I don't need you to tell me anything。〃
〃I reckon not；〃 said Pa。 〃But I'll tell you anyway； and I reckon you'll return the favor； just like you always done。〃 He reached up a hand to shake with Measure； saying good…bye like a man does。 〃You get him there safe and e right back；〃 he told Measure。
〃You know I will；〃 said Measure。
〃Your ma's right； it's dangerous every step of the way； so keep your eyes open。 We named you right； you got such keen eyes； boy； so use them。〃
〃I will； Pa。〃
Ma said her good…bye to Measure while Pa came on over to Al。 He gave Al a good stinging slap on the leg and shook his hand； too； and that felt good； Pa treating him like a man； just like Measure。 Maybe if Al wasn't sitting up on a horse； Pa would've roughed his hair like a little boy； but then maybe he wouldn't have； either； and it still felt grown…up； all the same。
〃I ain't scared of the Reds；〃 said Al。 He spoke real soft； so Ma wouldn't hear。 〃But I sure wish I didn't have to go。〃
〃I know it； Al；〃 said Pa。 〃But you got to。 For your own good。〃
Then Pa got that faraway sad look on his face； which Al Junior had seen before more than once； and never understood。 Pa was a strange man。 It took Al a long time to realize that； since for the longest time while Al was just little； Pa was Pa； and he didn't try to understand him。
Now Al was getting older； and he began to pare his father to the other men around。 To Armor…of…God Weaver； for instance； the most important man in town； always talking about peace with the Red man； sharing the land with him； mapping out Red lands and White lands everybody listened to him with respect。 Nobody listened to Pa that way； considering his words real serious