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All around them； the meadow was strewn with bodies by far the majority of those who had stood there as living families only an hour before。 Now； at the Prophet's words； these bodies seemed to shudder； to crumble； they collapsed and sank into the grass of the meadow。 It took perhaps a minute； and they were gone； the grass springing up lush and green。 The last of the blood skittered down the slope like beads of water on a hot griddle and became part of the bright red creek。
〃e to me； my friend Measure。〃 The Prophet spoke quietly； and held out his hand。
Measure turned his back on his father and walked down the grassy slope to the water's edge。
〃Walk to me；〃 said the Prophet。
〃I can't walk on the blood of your people；〃 he said。
〃They gave their blood to lift you up；〃 said the Prophet。 〃e to me； or take the curse that will fall on every White man in that meadow。〃
〃I reckon I'll stay here； then；〃 said Measure。 〃If I'd've been in their place； I don't figure I'd've done a thing different than what they did。 If they're guilty； so am I。〃
The Prophet nodded。
Every White man there felt something warm and wet and sticky on his hands。 Some of them cried out when they saw。 From elbow to hands； they dripped with blood。 Some tried to wipe it off on their shirts。 Some searched for wounds that might be bleeding； but there were no wounds。 Just bloody hands。
〃Do you want your hands to be clean of the blood of my people？〃 asked the Prophet。 He wasn't shouting anymore； but they all heard him； every word。 And yes； yes； they wanted their hands to be clean。
〃Then go home and tell this story to your wives and children； to your neighbors； to your friends。 Tell the whole story。 Leave nothing out。 Don't say that someone fooled you you all knew when you fired on people who had no weapons that what you did was murder。 No matter whether you thought some of us might have mitted some crime。 When you shot at babies in their mothers' arms； little children； old men and women； you were murdering us because we were Red。 So tell the story as it happened； and if you tell it true； your hands will be clean。〃
There wasn't a man； on that meadow who wasn't weeping or trembling or faint with shame。 To tell of this day's work to their wives and children； their parents； their brothers and sisters； that seemed unbearable。 But if they didn't； these bloody hands would tell the story for them。 It was more than they could bear to think of。
But the Prophet wasn't through。 〃If some stranger es along； and you don't tell him the whole story before you sleep； then the blood will e back on your hands； and stay there until you do tell him。 That's how it will be for the rest of your lives every man and woman that you meet will have to hear the true story from your lips； or your hands will be filthy again。 And if you ever； for any reason； kill another human being； then your hands and face will drip with blood forever； even in the grave。〃
They nodded； they agreed。 It was justice； simple justice。 They couldn't give back the lives of those they killed； but they could make sure no lie was ever told about the way that they were killed。 No one could ever claim that Tippy…Canoe was a victory； or even a battle。 It was a massacre； and White men mitted it； and not one Red raised a hand in violence or defense。 No excuse； no softening； it would be known。
Only one thing remained the guilt of the man on the prancing stallion。
〃White Murderer Harrison！〃 called the Prophet。 〃e to me！〃
Harrison shook his head； tried to turn his horse； the reins slipped from his bloody hands； and the horse walked briskly down the hill。 All the White men watched him silently； hating him for how he lied to them； stirred them up； found the murder in their hearts and called it forth。 The horse brought him to the water's edge。 He looked downward at the one…eyed Red who had once sat under his table and begged for drops of whiskey from his cup。
〃Your curse is the same；〃 said the Prophet； 〃except that your story is much longer and uglier to tell。 And you won't wait for strangers to e along before you speak every day of your life you'll have to find someone who has never heard the story from your lips before； and tell it to him every day！ or your hands will drip with blood。 And if you decide to hide； and live with blood…soaked hands rather than find new people to tell； you'll feel the pain of my people's wounds； one new wound each day； until you tell the story again； once for every day you missed。 Don't try to kill yourself； either you can't do it。 You'll wander from one end of this White man's land to the other。 People will see you ing and hide； dreading the sound of your voice； you'll beg them to stop and listen to you。 They'll even forget your old name； and call you by the name you earned today。 Tippy…Canoe。 That's your new name； White Murderer Harrison。 Your true name； till you die a natural death as an old； old man。〃
Harrison bent onto the mane of the horse and wept into his bloody hands。 But his were tears of fury； not grief or shame。 Tears of rage that all his plans had gone awry。 He would kill the Prophet even now； if he could。 He would search far and wide for some witch or wizard who could break this curse。 He couldn't bear to let this miserable one…eyed Red defeat him。
Measure spoke to the Prophet from the shore。 〃Where will you go now； Tenskwa…Tawa？〃
〃West；〃 said Tenskwa…Tawa。 〃My people； all who still believe in me； we'll go west of the Mizzipy。 When you tell your story； tell White men this that west of the Mizzipy is Red man's land。 Don't e there。 The land can't bear the touch of a White man's foot。 You breathe out death； your touch is poison； your words are lies； the living land won't have you。〃
He turned his back； walked to the Reds waiting for him on the other shore； and helped an injured child walk up the far slope into the trees。 Behind him； the water of the Tippy…Canoe began to flow again。
Miller walked down the slope to where his son stood on the bank of the creek。 〃Measure；〃 he said； 〃Measure； Measure。〃
Measure turned and reached out his hands to embrace his father。 〃Alvin's alive； Father； far to the east of us。 He's with Ta…Kumsaw； and he〃
But Miller hushed him； held his son's hands out。 They dripped blood； just like Miller's own。 Miller shook his head。 〃It's my fault；〃 he said。 〃All my fault。〃
〃Not all； Father；〃 said Measure。 〃There's fault enough for everyone to share。〃
〃But not for you； Son。 That's my shame on your hands。〃
〃Well； then； maybe you'll feel it less； for having two of us to carry it。〃 Measure reached out and took his father by the shoulders； held him close。 〃We've seen the worst that men can do； Pa； and been the worst that men can be。 But that don't mean that someday we won't see the best； too。 And if we can never be perfect after this； well； we can still be pretty good； can't we？〃
Maybe； thought Miller。 But he doubted it。 Or maybe he just doubted that he'd ever believe it； even if it were true。 He'd never look into his own heart again and like what he found there。
They waited there on the riverbank for Miller's other sons。 They came with bloody