〃I'm sorry； I didn't mean〃
〃White man never means anything； just couldn't help himself； it was all a mistake。 That's what you think； isn't it； White Liar！ Alvin's people killed my people because of a mistake； because they thought two White boys were dead。 For the sake of two White boys they lashed out； just like you did； and they killed nine thousand of my people； babies and mothers； old men and stripling boys； their cannon〃
〃I heard what Alvin said。〃
〃Don't you like my story？ Don't you want to hear it？ You are White； Taleswapper。 You are like all White men； quick to ask forgiveness； slow to give it； always expecting patience； but flaring up like a spark when the wind rises you burn down a forest because you tripped on a root！〃 Ta…Kumsaw turned and began to walk quickly back the way they came。
〃How can you leave without me！〃 cried Taleswapper after him。 〃We have to leave here together！〃
Ta…Kumsaw stopped； turned around； tipped back his head； and laughed without mirth。 〃I don't need a path to get down； White Liar！〃 Then he was off again； running。
Alvin was awake； of course。
〃I'm sorry； Alvin；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃I didn't mean〃
〃No；〃 said Alvin。 〃Let me guess what he did。 He touched you like this。〃 Alvin touched Taleswapper's lips； just as Ta…Kumsaw had。
〃Yes。〃
〃That's what a Shaw…Nee mama does to shut up a little baby who's making too much noise。 But I'll bet if one Red man did that to another he was provoking you。〃
〃I shouldn't have hit him。〃
〃Then he would've done something else till you did。〃
Taleswapper had nothing to answer to that。 Seemed to him the boy was probably right。 Certainly right。 The one thing Ta…Kumsaw could not bear today was being a White man's panion in peace。
Alvin slept again。 Taleswapper explored； but found nothing strange。 Just stillness and peace。 He couldn't even tell now which tree it was the fruit came from。 They all looked silvery green to him now； and no matter how far he walked in any direction； he ended up no farther from Alvin than a few minutes' walk。 A strange place； not a place a man could map in his mind； not a place that a man could master。 Here the land gives you what it wants to give； and no more。
It was near sunset when Alvin roused again； and Taleswapper helped him to his feet。
〃I'm walking like a newborn colt；〃 said Alvin。 〃I feel so weak。〃
〃You only did half the labors of Hercules in the last twenty…four hours；〃 said Taleswapper。
〃Her what？〃
〃Hercules。 A Greek。〃
〃I got to find Ta…Kumsaw；〃 said Alvin。 〃I shouldn't have let him go； but I was so tired。〃
〃You're White； too；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃Think he'll want you with him？〃
〃Tenskwa…Tawa prophesied；〃 said Alvin。 〃As long as I'm with him； Ta…Kumsaw won't die。〃
Taleswapper supported Alvin as they walked to the one place that let them approach； they climbed the gentle grassy rise between Mounds and crested the hill。 They stopped and looked down。 Taleswapper saw no path just thorns； vines； bushes； brambles。 〃I can't get down through that。 〃
Alvin looked up at him； puzzled。 〃There's a path as plain as day。〃
〃For you； maybe；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃Not for me。〃
〃You got in here；〃 said Alvin。
〃With Ta…Kumsaw；〃 said Taleswapper。
〃He got out。〃
〃I'm no Red man。〃
〃I'll lead。〃
Alvin started out with a few bold steps； as easy as if he was on a Sunday jaunt on the mons。 But to Taleswapper it looked like the briars opened wide for him and closed up tight right after。 〃Alvin！〃 he called。 〃Stay with me！〃
Alvin came and took him by the hand。 〃Follow tight behind；〃 he said。
Taleswapper tried； but still the brambles snapped back and tore at his face； cut him sore。 With Alvin going before； Taleswapper could make his way； but he felt like he was being flayed from behind。 Even deerskin was no match for thorns like daggers； limbs that snapped back at him like a bo'sun's lash。 He could feel blood running down his arms； his back； his legs。 〃I can't go any more； Alvin！〃 said Taleswapper。
〃I see him；〃 said Alvin。
〃Who？〃
〃Ta…Kumsaw。 Wait here。〃
He let go of Taleswapper's hand； he was gone for a moment； and Taleswapper was alone with the brambles。 He tried not to move； but even his breathing seemed to provoke more stings and stabs。
Alvin was back。 He took Taleswapper by the hand。 〃Follow me tight。 One more step。〃
Taleswapper steeled himself and took the step。
〃Down；〃 said Alvin。
Taleswapper obeyed Alvin's tugging and knelt； though he feared that he'd never be able to rise again through the briars that closed over his head。
Then Alvin led his hand until it touched another hand； and suddenly the brambles cleared a little； and Taleswapper could see Ta…Kumsaw lying there； blood seeping from hundreds of wounds on his nearly naked body。 〃He got this far alone；〃 said Alvin。
Ta…Kumsaw opened his eyes； rage burning。 〃Leave me here；〃 he whispered。
In answer； Taleswapper cradled Ta…Kumsaw's head in his other arm。 As more of their bodies touched； the briars seemed to sag and fall away； now Taleswapper could see a kind of path where he hadn't seen one before。
〃No；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。
〃We can't get down from here without each other's help；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃Like it or not； if you're going to get your vengeance against the White man； you need a White man's help。〃
〃Then leave me here；〃 whispered Ta…Kumsaw。 〃Save your people by leaving me to die。〃
〃I can't get down without you；〃 said Taleswapper。
〃Good；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。
Taleswapper noticed that Ta…Kumsaw's wounds looked much fewer。 And those that were left were scabbed over； nearly healed。 Then he realized that his own injuries didn't hurt anymore。 He looked around。 Alvin sat nearby； leaning against a tree trunk； his eyes closed； looking like somebody just flogged him； he was so spent and dreary。
〃Look what we cost him； healing us；〃 said Taleswapper。
Ta…Kumsaw's face showed his surprise； for once； surprise； then anger。 〃I didn't ask you to heal me！〃 he cried。 He tore himself out of Taleswapper's grasp and tried to reach toward Alvin。 But suddenly there were brambles twining around his arm； and Ta…Kumsaw cried out； not in pain； but in fury。 〃I won't be forced！〃 he cried。
〃Why should you be the only man who isn't？〃 said Taleswapper。
〃I'll do what I set out to do； and nothing else； whatever the land says！〃
〃The words of the blacksmith in his forge；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃The farmer cutting down the trees； he says that。〃
〃Don't you dare pare me to a White man！〃
But the brambles bound him tight； till Taleswapper again made his painful way to Ta…Kumsaw； and embraced him。 Again Taleswapper felt his own wounds heal； saw Ta…Kumsaw's vanish as quickly as the vines themselves had let go and dropped away。 Alvin was looking at them with such pleading； as if to say； How much more strength will you steal from me； before you do what you know you have to do？
With a final anguished cry； Ta…Kumsaw turned and embraced Taleswapper as fully as before。 Together they made their way down a wide path to the bottom of the Mound。 Alvin stumbled after them。
They slept that night where they had the night before； but it was a troubled sleep。 In the morning； Taleswapper wordlessly packed up his few goods； including the book whose letters made no sense。 Then he kissed Alvin on the head and walked away。 He said nought to Ta…Kumsaw； and Ta…Kumsaw said no more to him。 They both knew what the land had said； and they both knew that for the first time in his life； Ta…Kumsaw was going against what was good for the land and satisfying a different need。 Taleswapper didn't even try to argue against him anymore。 He knew that Ta…Kumsaw would follow his path no matter what； no matter if it left him pierced with a thousand bleeding wounds。 He only hoped that Alvin had the strength to stay with him all the way； and keep him alive when all hope was gone。
About noon； after walking almost due west all morning； Taleswapper stopped and pulled his book out of his pack。 To his relief； he could read the words again。 He unsealed the back two…thirds of the book； the pages where he did his own writing； and