Page 14 of God’s Country

Stephen fell silent. The fire crackled. Luke’s eyes were wide in the wavering light of the flames. In the dark, from somewhere on the lake not far from the point, came the mournful cry of a loon.

“What happened?” Luke asked. “Did the prophecies come true?”

“Every one. The Anishinaabeg left their homes and came west. They found the island shaped like a turtle. On maps of Lake Superior, you’ll see it called Madeline.”

“We’ve been there,” Luke said and looked to his father.

“We have,” Mal said.

“And we found the food that grows on water,” Stephen continued.

“What food?”

“Wild rice.”

“What about the light-skinned people with the faces of brotherhood and death?”

“Like I told you, both came, the first in friendship, the second in war. And in that war, our people were nearly destroyed. After that, our children were taken from us and sent to boarding schools, and many of our elders lost hope.”

“Tell him about the seventh fire,” Waaboo said.

“In the seventh fire, a new people will emerge. They will call upon the elders who’ve been asleep or in hiding, and the old knowledge will be brought back. The Anishinaabe people will be strong again. The light-skinned people will have a choice of two roads to follow. If they choose the right road, an eighth fire will be lit, a fire of eternal peace. But if they choose the wrong road, all the destruction they brought with them in their coming will be turned on them and they will risk being destroyed.”

Luke looked down at his bare arm. “I’m light-skinned.”

Mal said, “Then the choices you make are going to be important.”

Luke stared into the fire, silent and thoughtful. Then my satphone rang.

CHAPTER 9

“I have some information, Cork,” Marsha Dross said at the other end of the line.

“About Cordell’s people?” I asked.

“Yes, and it’s concerning.”

Looking back, I know now that I should have stepped away from the fire and the others, but I was more interested in what Marsha had to share.

“Go ahead,” I said.

“I spoke to Babs Bishop. She gave me the names and information of the men Cordell took into the Boundary Waters.”

“And?”

“None of it panned out. All false. We have no idea who these guys are or why they wanted Cordell to guide them in.”

“I’d say that’s pretty concerning,” I agreed.

“They stayed at the Four Seasons the night before they left with Cordell. We’re checking on their stay and anything there that might help us.”

“Vehicles?” I asked.

“Rented, and the information they gave to the rental company is false. They used fraudulent credit cards and phony IDs. Whoever they are, they’re not the good guys and they have resources.”

I saw that the others around the fire were all watching me, listening. I should have walked away. But that would have seemed even more an indication that we might be in trouble, and I tried to keep my voice normal.

“So why did these guys insist on Cordell?” I said, as much to myself as to Marsha.