Gateway for a Displaced People

I Am A Witch

December 20, 1896

We arrived at the gates of John Beak's encampment at eight in the morning. The wooden fence gates were actually guarded by two men with Winchesters and side irons. There was nothing to indicate that these were Indians except the color of their skins. I suspected we would be refused admission. They had us wait while a man rode back to inform John Beak that my servants and I were here to tour the encampment.

John came up on horseback. He tipped a straw western hat at me. "Miss Green, Gwen told me that you would come and I'd have to admit you." John told me. "We will leave at midnight. I'm afraid there isn't much to see at the moment."

The men opened the gate. We followed John back to a quaint little village that was not much different from Lake Haven. Most of the buildings had been evacuated. There was a pottery shed, black smith, stables, a store of sorts. There was even a jail.

"Our community is not without it's crime." John said. "Men and women get drunk. Men beat their wives. Petty theft. Larceny is known to happen in some cases. Most people in our community abide by our laws. If they do not they are forced out eventually."

"You said the community is moving?" I looked around as the men and women were packing their belongings into buckboards. Heavy draft horses were hitched to the wagon.

"Your United States is a little too crowded. We feel very restricted here. It is our intention to leave before there is another disaster to our people." John said. "Gwen told us what your government has planned. We will leave at midnight tonight."

"Mr. Beak. I noticed that there are a number of different tribes here. Chictow, Sioux, Crow, Navaho. Aren't you Sioux yourself?" Melody asked.

"How observant of you? Especially since we don't wear any identifying clothing." John said. "Yes, I am Sioux."

"There are features in your face, the way you are built, your skin." Melody said.

"We are a mixture of races. We gathered here because in a way we have no tribe to go to." John said. "My parents lived on a reservation. Only it wasn't their own tribe, most of them were killed when the United States attacked old Black Kettle's tribe. We survived because a kind Christian couple hid us from the soldiers. When my parents died I came here. Bought some land so that displaced Indians like myself had a place to live."

"I heard you were re-educated." I said.

"White people came and took me away from my parents before they were sent to the reservation. I was sent to a school with a dormitory. I was not allowed to speak my own language. I was taught white customs, white religion, how to think like a white man. When I tried to refuse I was beaten into submission."

"I'm sorry for what happened to you." I hated what had been done to the man due to the fact that he was simply different from white people.

"Why? You had nothing to do with it. You cannot be blamed for the actions of those among you. You might as well blame yourself that your servants are not treated properly among whites." John said.

"I correct that when I'm able." In some ways I did blame myself when white people treated my friends as inferior. That didn't stop me from correcting the situation.

Everyone was assembling what was left of the camp into a box canyon. I did not see how the group would possibly escape if the soldiers came while they were assembling. I wondered why the community was making what seemed like a critical mistake. John Beak merely gave me a enigmatic smile when I questioned him about it.

All of the wagons and the people all seemed ready to go. They appeared to be waiting for nightfall. It was my opinion that these people were going to try to sneak off during the night. I suspected the camp was surrounded by Federal troops. If that was the case it might still turn into a massacre as these people tried to escape, only to run into a into a Federal patrol.

I saw a few horses and men on horseback, but I didn't see the herds of horses that Maddison had indicated was on the property. There were a few buffalo. I had thought that the large bison were extinct, I was to see that this was not the case as the dozen or so buffalo trotted tamely with the rest of the group.

"Maddison seemed to think you had herds of horses and buffalo." I explained to John.

"We sent those ahead, along with a great deal of the supplies we have obtained." John said. "Now it's nearly eight in the evening. It's time for you and your friends to go."

I was dismissed. By the time I reached the gate again I noticed that the cowboys who had been guarding it were gone. They were apparently joining the rest of the group. Maddison was waiting for me with a dozen soldiers behind him. One of those dozen was an officer of Lieutenant grade. I stopped my carriage.

"Mr. Maddison the community here is harmless. They have a quaint little town here, no great herds of horses or buffalo." I told Maddison. "There is no reason to raid that little community with Federal troops."

"Is that artillery?" I pointed to three cannon being set up outside the encampment. "Gatling guns? You're troops have made this mistake before, Maddison. Have them take those things away. It's madness. Those people are helpless in that compound."

"If they prove harmless they won't be hurt." Said the Lieutenant.

I rode off. I did what I could. I feared that these men were determined to massacre those poor people no matter what I said. As I rode further down I encountered the silver haired woman I had only met once before. A woman who called the witches 'her children'.

"Go to the cliff face, Nia Green. Let the chants take you again. No matter what Gwen says. The last time you opened the gate way before they were ready. Now, you will open a equally large gate at the midnight of the Yule Tide." The woman spoke in a voice that sounded like a rippling stream.

We returned to the house. I took out the robe, cloak, and jewelry I had found that belonged to Aunt Hattie in a trunk in the cellar. I traded the sandals for a pair of sturdy laced up boots. Melody helped me with the girdle that came with the costume. Melody wanted to accompany, I gave her strict order to remain at the house with Andrew. Promising that I would return from this venture.

It was the same chant that I heard last night. I began to turn in circles I felt myself seemingly leave my body. There was rising warmth in my body. I called the power of the Earth into me. I called out to the night.

"Hail to the moon's light, like magic reflected on the water. Hail to the stars so bright at night. Hail darkness of the night that so enhances the light. Hail to the Great Goddess. The Ancient Mother. Open the gateway to go through to the new land."

Strange and unusual lights had begun long before I had gone up the the cliffs. There was the great boom which had snapped me out of the trance before. I heard the great boom, yet I continued to twirl and chant for what seemed a long time. At last, possibly physically unable to continue, I collapsed on to ground. Releasing the energy I had called into my body, that seemed to push myself out of my body. Now, I returned to my body, having room for my soul to return into it.

I had performed witchcraft. I had deliberately called the power of the witches into me. I decided after that moment that it was time that I admitted to what I was. A witch. Priestess and Queen of the Witches. I would begin to learn from Gwen what was necessary to take the position that was my Aunt's before me. Assuming I can even get up off the ground. Which at that moment felt doubtful.