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They waited there on the riverbank for Miller's other sons。 They came with bloody hands David； Calm； Wastenot； Wantnot。 David held his hands in front of him and wept。 〃I wish that I had died with Vigor in the Hatrack River！〃
〃No you don't；〃 said Calm。
〃I'd be dead； but I'd be clean。〃
The twins said nothing； but held each other's cold and slimy hands。
〃We need to go home；〃 said Measure。
〃No；〃 said Miller。
〃They'll be worried；〃 said Measure。 〃Ma； the girls； Cally。〃
Miller remembered his parting from Faith。 〃She said that if I if this〃
〃I know how Ma talks； but I also know your children need their pa； and she won't keep you out。〃
〃I'll have to tell her。 What we did。〃
〃Yes； and the girls and Cally； too。 We each have to tell them； and Calm and David have their wives to tell。 Best do it now； and clean our hands； and get on with our lives。 All of us at once； all of us together。 And I have a story to tell you； too； about me and Alvin。 When we've done with this tale； I'll tell mine； is that good？ Will you stay for that？〃
Armor met them at the Wobbish。 The ferry was already on the other side； still unloading； and other men had took all the boats they used for crossing last night。 So they stood and waited。
Measure stripped off his bloody coat and trousers； but Armor wouldn't put them on。 Armor didn't make no accusations； but none of the others would look at their brother…in…law。 Measure took him aside and told him about the curse while the ferry was slowly drawn back across the river。 Armor listened； then walked to Miller； whose back was to him； looking at the far shore。
〃Father；〃 said Armor…of…God。
〃You were right； Armor；〃 said Miller； still not looking at him。 He held up his hands。 〃Here it is； the proof that you were right。〃
〃Measure tells me that I have to hear the story once from all of you；〃 said Armor； turning to include them all in his speech。 〃But then you'll never hear another word of it from me。 I'm still your son and brother； if you'll have me； my wife is your daughter and your sister； and you're the only kin I have out here。〃
〃To your shame；〃 whispered David。
〃Don't punish me because my hands are clean；〃 said Armor。
Calm held out a bloody hand。 Armor took it without hesitation； shook firmly； then let go。
〃Look at that；〃 said Calm。 〃You touch us； it es off on you。〃
In answer； Armor held out that same stained hand to Miller。 After a while； Miller took it。 The handshake lasted till the ferry came。 Then they headed on home。
Chapter 15 Two…Soul Man
Taleswapper woke at dawn； instantly aware that something was wrong。 It was Ta…Kumsaw； sitting on the grass； his face toward the west； rocking back and forth and breathing heavily； as if he was enduring a dull and heavy ache。 Was he ill？
No。 Alvin had failed。 The slaughter had begun。 Ta…Kumsaw's pain was not from his own body。 It was Ta…Kumsaw's people dying； somewhere afar off； and what he felt was not grief or pity； it was the pain of their deaths。 Even for a Red man as gifted as Ta…Kumsaw； to feel death from so far away meant that many； many souls had gone on to their reward。
As he had so many times before； Taleswapper addressed a few silent words to God； which always came down to this question： Why do you put us to so much trouble； when it all es to nought in the end？ Taleswapper couldn't bear the futility of it。 Ta…Kumsaw and Alvin racing across country in their way； Taleswapper making the best time a White man can make； and Alvin going onto Eight…Face Mound； and what does it e to？ Does it save a life？ So many are dying now that Ta…Kumsaw can feel it from clear away by the Wobbish。
And； as usual； God had nothing much to say to Taleswapper when his questioning was done。
Taleswapper had no wish to interrupt Ta…Kumsaw。 Or rather he guessed that Ta…Kumsaw had no particular wish to get into conversation with a White man at this particular moment。 Yet he felt a vision growing within him。 Not a vision such as prophets were rumored to see； not a vision of inward eyes。 To Taleswapper visions came as words； and he did not know what the vision was until his own words told him。 Even then； he knew that he was not a prophet； his visions were never such as would change the world； only the sort of thing that records it； that understands the world。 Now； however； he took no thought of whether his visions were worthy or not。 It came； and he must record it。 Yet because the writing of words had been taken from him in this place； he could not write it down。 What was there； then； but； to speak the words aloud？
So Taleswapper spoke； forming the words into couplets as he said them because that was how visions ought to be expressed； in poetry。 It was a confusing tale at first； and Taleswapper could not decide whether it was God or Satan whose terrible light blinded him as the words tumbled forth。 He only knew that whichever one it was； whichever one had brought such slaughter to the world； he richly deserved Taleswapper's anger； and so he wasn't bashful about lashing him with language。
It all came down to these words rushing forth in a stream so intense that Taleswapper hardly breathed； certainly made no sensible break in the rhythms of his speech； his voice growing louder and louder as the lines were wrung from him and dashed out against the harsh wall of air around him； as if he dared God to hear him and resent his resentment：
When I had my defiance given
The sun stood trembling in heaven
The moon that glowed remote below
Became leprous and white as snow
And every soul of men on the earth
Felt affliction and sorrow and sickness and dearth
God flamed in my path and the Sun was hot
With the bows of my mind and the arrows of thought
My bowstring fierce with ardor breathes
My arrows glow in their golden sheaves
My brothers and father march before
The heavens drop with human gore
〃Stop！〃
It was Ta…Kumsaw。 Taleswapper waited with his mouth open； more words； more anguish waiting to pour from him。 But Ta…Kumsaw was not to be disobeyed。
〃It's finished；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。
〃All dead？〃 whispered Taleswapper。
〃I can't feel life from here；〃 said Ta…Kumsaw。 〃I can feel death the world is torn like an old cloth； it can never be mended。〃 Despair gave way immediately to cold hate。 〃But it can be cleaned。〃
〃If I could have prevented it； Ta…Kumsaw〃
〃Yes； you're a good man； Taleswapper。 There are others； too； among your kind。 Armor…of…God Weaver is such a man。 And if all White men came like you； to learn this land； then there'd be no war between us。〃
〃There is no war between you and me； Ta…Kumsaw。〃
〃Can you change the color of your skin？ Can I change mine？〃
〃It isn't our skin； but our hearts〃
〃When we stand with all the Red men on one side of the field； and all the White men on the other side of the field； where will you stand？〃
〃In the middle； pleading with both sides to〃
〃You will stand with your people； and I will stand with mine。〃
How could Taleswapper argue with him？ Perhaps he would have the courage to refuse such a choice。