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22 “They are almost here,” the boys shouted. “The boat with many guns
is almost here.”
23 All other things were forgotten. Everyone rushed to the river. Men
and women, children and elders, even former captives such as myself and
Otter Woman.

24 “Hurry up,” Otter Woman said to me as we ran. “Are you too fat now
to run?”

25 It was true. You were with me, Firstborn Son. Do you remember how
I always talked to you, while you were growing and waiting till the day

when you would take your first breath? I did so then.
26 People were lined up all along the river. They were shouting and waving
at the men on the boats. The big boat was not as huge as some had said.
Some had made it sound as if it was as big as a whole village, so large its

sides would scrape the riverbanks on both sides. But it was still very big.

27 While some of the men pushed with big poles and others paddled, still
more men stood holding rifles in their arms. Their faces were serious.

28 Even from the place on the bluff where we stood, we thought we could
see who the most important ones were. There were three men who stood
out from all the others because of their height and the way they carried
themselves. One of them was painted black, or so we thought then, to
show that he was their greatest warrior. The other two had hair that was a

strange color, as red as paint. We could see by their hand gestures and the
way they watched everything that they were the ones all the others listened
to. Clearly, those two were the leaders.

29 Otter Woman and I raised our arms and called out to them, making
those high ululating cries that our women make to call attention or
give honor.

30 One of those two leaders did not look up. His face was serious, and he
looked worried. Yes, that one was Captain Lewis. But the other man seemed

to find it harder to be serious. His head lifted up and he saw us and his face
opened into a smile that seemed to have as much light in it as the rising sun.

31 Do you remember what I said to you then, Firstborn Son? I spoke it in
a low voice so that Otter Woman could not hear. “That is the one,” I said to

you. “That laughing man with the sun in his hair is the one we will follow.”

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