Chapter Nine
Buck was lying in the middle of the lodge. He was shaking and seemed to be fighting with some unseen demon. Ike glanced at the other men sitting around the edge of the structure seemingly unconcerned. He offered up a prayer that he wasn’t about to do something that would get him killed and then he knelt next to Buck and rested a hand on his shoulder.

At Ike’s touch, Buck stopped shaking. He took a few shallow breaths and then fell into what seemed like a state of sleep. Ike settled in next to him and glanced at Red Bear.

White Buffalo sat next to Red Bear. When he saw Ike’s glance, he handed him a cup. *Drink,* he instructed.

*Why?*

*If you are to share his journey, you must drink. We have all had some so we can see what he sees.* He paused before adding, *Maybe now he will show us what troubles him. He has been resisting; that is why it has taken so long.*

Ike did not move to take the cup. *What is it he is supposed to show us?* he asked not sure he wanted to hear the answer.

Red Bear glared at Ike his anger at the white man’s rudeness and his brother’s stubbornness beginning to wear thin. He was about to insist that Ike leave since it was obvious he had no respect for the ways of the Kiowa, when White Buffalo spoke quietly, *How he sees himself fitting into his worlds.*

*Why would he need to show you that?* asked Ike, the fear of Buck’s deciding to remain with the Kiowa once more invading his thoughts.

*He is not healing as well as expected,* White Buffalo explained. *I feel it is because he does not rest as deeply as he should. He does not feel safe here and I need to know why so I can assure him that I can protect him. Then he can rest and begin to heal.*

Ike glanced around the small enclosure. He could understand the presence of White Buffalo, Red Bear, even himself, but he couldn’t figure out why the other men there were included. He knew very little about Buck’s life in the village, but the one thing he did know was that the other boys – now men – had done nothing to make it easier. He thought about asking when White Buffalo once more tried to hand him the bowl.*Drink,* he repeated. *All will be answered when he takes us on the journey of his life; he will do so more readily now that he knows you are here.* He nodded as Ike took the bowl. *It will be better for you to journey with us since he may need your strength to get through some of its paths.*

Ike drank deeply from the bowl and handed it back to White Buffalo. He then made himself as comfortable as possible sitting so he could lay Buck’s head in his lap. This done, he once more placed his hand on Buck’s shoulder and turned to study the steam that filled the room as Red Bear poured water over the smoldering rocks.

The walls of the dwelling blurred. Buck shifted his weight so he lay on his side instead of his back, he put his hand on top of Ike’s, took a deep breath, the room shifted and Ike was surprised to find himself standing beside a river with a group of boys around the ages of four to six. He glanced at the faces and soon located Buck – he was the child in the middle; the one that was being tormented by all the others.

Ike felt more than saw the men in the back of the room tense; he sensed that Red Bear’s anger was shifting from Ike to them. Ike shook his head to clear away the dream of Buck’s torment, but White Buffalo stopped him. *You must stay in the vision,* he instructed, *or Running Buck may not show us what we need to see.*

Ike nodded his understanding and turned his gaze back to the steam rising off the rocks. Soon, he was once more at the river watching as the others picked on Buck. He wanted to help, but they didn’t respond to him. As quickly as it started, the vision passed and was replaced by another one that took place a few years later.

This kept happening until Buck reached the place where he and Ike crossed paths. Things weren’t much better there until after the fateful day in town when Ike had jumped into the middle of the group from town.

When the scene shifted once more, Buck again began to fight what he was seeing. He struggled against Ike’s hand and soon was shaking violently. White Buffalo handed Ike a different bowl. *Have him drink,* he instructed. *It will allow him to wake.*

Ike did as he was told. Instead of opening his eyes, Buck took a deep shuddering breath and collapsed back into Ike’s arms. Ike looked at White Buffalo in confusion.

*He is tired,* the older man said. *He will sleep and then wake.* He nodded and the other men left the lodge. Ike sat holding Buck, rocking him gently.

White Buffalo waited until the others had left before moving to face Ike. *Do you think you can carry him to the river?*

Ike nodded.

*Good. I will tell Sky Chaser to assist you. I think it would do him good to be washed. I am not strong enough to stand in the water and hold him.* He sighed. *In truth, the cold of the water causes me pain so I would not be of much help if I went with you. Sky Chaser knows how to perform the cleansing wash, so…*

Ike smiled at the older man. *Thank you,* he said.

White Buffalo nodded. *Let him rest a little longer. When the heat is gone, take him to the secluded area in the river. I will instruct Sky Chaser to wait for you there.*

Ike nodded to show he understood. He sat quietly holding Buck, praying that this strange experience would help his friend to heal.

A few minutes later, he was carefully carrying Buck to the place White Buffalo had told him to go. None of the men were still near the lodge. The clearing had been deserted except for the girl who had shown Ike to its location.

*I will have food ready for you when you return,* she had told him. *Then you will all go back inside to finish his journey. I pray that it is successful; he has been through much already.* She had spoken with such a sense of longing that Ike had wished he could respond. Since he couldn’t, he’d simply smiled.