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to be in charge。 He just wanted his boys back。
In the church； Armor…of…God sat on the front pew； despondent。 〃We're making the most terrible mistake；〃 he said to Reverend Thrower。
〃That's what men do；〃 said Thrower； 〃when they make their decisions without the help of the Lord。〃
〃It wasn't Ta…Kumsaw； I know it。 Nor the Prophet either。〃
〃He's no Prophet； not of God； anyway；〃 said Thrower。
〃He's no killer； either；〃 said Armor。 〃Maybe Tack was right； maybe somehow Ta…Kumsaw's got something to do with this。 But I know one thing。 Ta…Kumsaw's no killer。 Even when he was a young man； during General Wayne's war； there was a bunch of Reds all set to burn a bunch of captives to death； the way they did in those days Chippy…Wa； I think they were。 And along es Ta…Kumsaw； all by himself； just this one lone Shaw…Nee； and he makes them stop。 We want the White man to respect us； to treat us as a nation； he says to them。 White man won't respect us if we act like this！ We got to be civilized。 No scalps； no torture； no burning； no killing captives。 That's what he says to them。 He's stuck to that ever since。 He kills in battle； yes； but in all his raids down south he didn't kill one soul； do you realize that？ If Ta…Kumsaw's got them boys； then they're as safe as if their mama had them home in bed。〃
Thrower sighed。 〃I suppose you know these Reds better than I do。〃
〃I know them better than anybody。〃 He laughed bitterly。 〃So they call me a Red…lover and don't listen to a word I say。 Now they're calling for that whisky…dealing tyrant from Carthage City to e up here and take over。 No matter what he does he'll be a hero。 They'll make him governor for real； then。 Heck； they'll probably make him President； if Wobbish ever joins the U。S。A。〃
〃I don't know this Harrison。 He can't be the devil you make him out to be。〃
Armor laughed。 〃Sometimes； Reverend； I think you are as trusting as a little child。〃
〃Which is how the Lord told us to be。 Armor…of…God； be patient。 All things will work out as the Lord intends。〃
Armor buried his face in his hands。 〃I sure hope so； Reverend。 I sure do。 But I keep thinking about Measure； as good a man as you can hope to find； and that boy Alvin； that sweet…faced boy； and how much store his papa sets by him； and〃
Thrower's face went grim。 〃Alvin Junior；〃 he muttered。 〃Who would have imagined that the Lord would do his work through the hands of heathens？〃
〃What are you talking about？〃 asked Armor。
〃Nothing； Armor； nothing。 Just that everything about this may be exactly； exactly what the Lord intends。〃
Up the hill at the Miller house； Al still sat at the breakfast table。 He didn't eat no supper the night before； and when he tried to eat breakfast he like to gagged on the food。 Faith cleared it all away； and now she stood behind him； rubbing his shoulders。 She never once said to him； I told you not to send them。 But they both knew it。 It hung between them like a sword； and neither dared reach out to the other for fear of it。
The silence broke when Wastenot came in； a rifle over his shoulder。 He set it beside the front door； swung a chair between his legs； and sat and looked at his parents。 〃They're gone； down to fetch the army。〃
To his surprise； his father only lowered his head and rested it on his arms； which were crossed on the table。
Mother looked at him； her face haggard with worry and grief。 〃Since when did you learn how to use that thing？〃
〃Me and Wantnot been practicing；〃 he said。
〃And you're going to kill Reds with it？〃
Wastenot was surprised at the loathing in her voice。 〃I sure hope so；〃 he said。
〃And when all the Reds are dead； and you pile all their bodies together； will Measure and Alvin somehow wriggle out of that pile and e on home to me？〃
Wastenot shook his head。
〃Last night some Red went home to his family； all proud because he killed him some White boys yesterday。〃 Her voice caught when she said it； but she went on all the same； cause when Faith Miller had aught to say； it got said。 〃And maybe his wife or his mama patted him and kissed him and made him supper。 But don't you ever walk through that door and tell me you killed a Red man。 Cause you won't get no supper； boy； and you won't get no kiss； and you won't get no pat； and no word； and no home； and no mama； you hear me？〃
He heard； all right； but he didn't like it。 He stood up and walked back to the door and picked up the gun。 〃You think what you like； Mama；〃 he said； 〃but this is a war； and I am going to kill me some Reds； and I'm going to e back home； and I'm going to own up to it proud as can be。 And if that means you don't want to be my mama no more； then you might as well stop being my mama now； and not wait till I e back。〃 He opened the door； but stopped before slamming it shut behind him。 〃Cheer up； Mama。 Maybe I won't e back at all。〃
He never talked that way to his mother in his life； and he wasn't real sure that it felt good to do it now。 But she was being crazy； not understanding that it was war now； that them Reds had declared it open season on White folks and so there wasn't no more choice about it。
What bothered him most； though； as he got on his horse and rode out to David's place； was that he couldn't exactly be sure but he thought； he just suspected anyway； that Papa was crying。 If that didn't beat all。 Yesterday Papa was so hot against the Reds； and now Mama talked against fighting； and Papa just sat there and cried。 Maybe it was getting old that made Papa like that。 But that wasn't Wastenot's business； not now。 Maybe Papa and Mama didn't want to kill them as took their sons but Wastenot knew what he was going to do to them as took his brothers。 Their blood was his blood； and whoever shed his blood was going to shed some of their own； too； a gallon for every drop。
Chapter 9 Lake Mizogan
In his whole life Alvin never saw so much water all in one place。 He stood on the top of a sand dune； looking out over the lake。 Measure stood beside him； a hand resting on Al's shoulder。
〃Pa told me to keep you away from water；〃 said Measure； 〃and now look where they bring you。〃
The wind was hot and hard； gusting sometimes and shooting sand around like tiny arrows。 〃Brought you； too；〃 said Al。
〃Look； there's a real storm ing。〃
Off in the southwest； the clouds got black and ugly。 Not one of them summer…shower storms。 Lightning crackled along the face of the clouds。 The thunder came much later； muffled by distance。 While Alvin was watching； he felt suddenly like he could see much wider； much farther than before； like he could see the twisting and churning in the clouds； feel the hot and cold of it； the icy air swooping down； the hot air shooting upward； all writhing in a vast circle of the sky。
〃Tornado；〃 said Al。 〃There's a tornado in that storm。〃
〃I don't see one；〃 said Measure。
〃It's ing。 Look how。 the air is spinning there。 Look at that。〃
〃I believe you； Al。 But it's not like there's any place to hide around here。〃
〃Look at all these people；〃 said Alvin。 〃If it hits us here〃
〃When did you learn how to tell the weather？〃 asked Measure。 〃You never done that