A Bird Calling

Chapter 8

"No!" Tommy screamed in tears. He continued as he ran across the field avoiding other coffins. "No, no, no, no, NO!" A man stepped forward. He tried to pull Tommy back, but failed at his attempt.
"How could they! How could they do this!" He yelled.
"Tommy! Relax. Come with me and I shall explain." The man said. His voice was calm and innocent. He can be trusted, Missy thought. Tommy looked at Peter and Missy. He aIted in silence for their approval.
"Go," Peter whispered.
"I'll go with you. But I am Chief now, you listen to me. When I ask a question, you answer."
"Very well, let us go... Sir."
"Wait! Only if they can come with me." Tommy gestured to Peter and Missy.
"Of course... Sir."

They walked into the small Chief's house. As they came to the doorway, Missy noticed how beautiful the tribe's houses where. Small brown buildings, light enough as bamboo, but a little darker, Missy thought. Houses each had a different center lining. Around the house, there was a design. This house's was a marine blue zig-zag. Not fancy for a chief's house, Tommy thought.
"I have never been in this house." Tommy stated.
"I though you said the chief was your father?"Missy questioned.
"The chief always lived alone. It was tradition. I never saw him much."
"I can relate." Missy said. Peter wrapped his arm around Missy's shoulder.
"It's okay." Peter said. He knew it wasn't, but he cared about Missy, he wanted her to be comforted.
They walked into the small house. The marine blue lines stopped at the deerskin door. The new man pushed open the cloth used as a door.
"After you, chief." Tommy walked into his new house and stared in awe. Missy stepped in front of Peter. He dropped his arm down to his side. Missy pulled up the tips of her purple nightgown almost two centimeters, so she wouldn't step on it.
     Missy opened her mouth in awe. Tommy is so luck to stay here, Missy thought. A tropical couch was about four meters away from the left wall. Made completely of leaves and wood, by the looks of it, Missy thought. If you sat on the couch, you would face the right wall. Two chairs sat parallel to the couch, less than two centimeters away from each other. About two meters away from the left of the couch, there was a fire that lit up the small house in the dark night.
"Please, Missy and Peter, have a seat." Tommy said. He made a gesture in the direction of the couch. Peter rolled up his sleeves and sat down. Missy went over to the couch. She continued to stand for a moment and noticed how dirty she was. In your face Jeremy! Missy thought. Jeremy was her adopted fathers name.
Tommy looked at Missy with a questioning look. She noticed and sat down.
"Well then," Tommy started. He sat down in the chair closest to the fire. "I am wondering. How did my brother die, Craig? He didn't even fight in the-fight."
"Call it what it is, Tommy." Said Missy.
"War." Tommy answered. "He didn't even fight in the...war. And, why was my dad always so busy?"
"One question at a time, sir. Well, your brother, James, was protecting the camp that night. When tribe Noreen attacked muran, your brother ran. But the Noreen shot him with an arrow, just as he reached your cabin." Craig answered. Craig was the man's name, Missy assumed. He had sat in the empty chair.
"As for that second question," Craig started. "Your dad was almost never busy."
"Then why was he never around me and James?"
"James and I." Craig corrected. He shook his head, and dismi-ssed the situation. "Your mother died right after you were born. Your father, was always mourning. But, things will be different now that you are the chief."
"Of course, Craig."
"I know it isn't the fit time," Missy interrupted, "but where will me and Peter be staying?" Missy stood.
"No need for that question, Missy. You will be staying here tonight." Tommy answered. "And Craig, I assume you have a place to stay?"
"Of course, Chief."
"Tommy."
"Of course, Tommy."

Missy pushed the two chairs together. Earlier, she and Peter had decided who was sleeping where. She was smaller, so she would sleep on the chairs. She would push the two shorter sides together so the back of each chair was far away from each other.
Peter would sleep on the couch, after he pushed it up against the wall. The couch's back would be up against the wall, so Peter could keep an eye on Missy.
Tommy came out of a door on the back wall.
"Are you all settled in?" Tommy asked.
"Tommy," Missy started,"we really can't stay long." Peter nodded to back Missy up. She was right.
     "Why not?" Tommy said. He walked over and slammed down on the couch next to Peter. Missy and Peter exchanged a desperate look. Missy slouched over and tilted her head.
     "We're gonna find..." Missy started, "my family."
     Tommy froze. His eyes got wide. He glanced up at peter. Peter looked back. He looked at how his old friend had changed. Taller, at least three centimeters. His hair had gotten darker, along with his dark tan skin. He wore no shirt, like the rest of his tribe-or his people. Around his neck, he wore the small necklace his brother wore before him.

     Tommy knelt down to his knees. To his brother, he prayed. Not prayed. Talked to. Tommy talked to his brother. The words he spoke, thin and useless. His tribe had tradition to believe those who died in war or battle, went to Nushka. Muran heaven. Those who died of other costs, went to Sneeshku. Muran underworld.
     If they wished to talk to Nushka, they kneel and bow heads by the window that you could see the moon out of. If they wished to talk to Sneeshku, they sit, legs crossed, and put palms on the ground flat out.

     "If you have to leave, then I am coming with you!" Tommy demanded for the third time.
     "Then pack your bags, Tommy. Let's go." Missy calmly said. She was just finished stuffing a pillow into the bags Craig gave them.
     "But, Tommy, you have to be careful. As soon as we find Missy's family, you come back here, with me." Peter spoke with thin demanding words. Missy could tell, Peter cared about this boy. Peter cared. And now, Missy cared.

      They went outside and found complete darkness.