Enter a name, company, place or keywords to search across this item. Then click "Search" (or hit Enter).
Go to the Archive Home
Go to Thumbnail View of this Item
Go to Single Page View of this Item
Download the Page Image
Copy the Page Text to the Clipboard
Don't highlight the search terms on the Image
Show the Page Image
Show the Image Page Text
Reset View and Center Image
Zoom Out
Zoom In
Rotate Left
Rotate Right
Toggle Full Page View
Flip Image Horizontally
More Information About this Image
Get a Citation for Page or Image - Copy to the Clipboard
Go to the Previous Page (or Left Arrow key)
Go to the Next Page (or Right Arrow key)
Page: of 436
JANUARY—FEBRUARY 1845
wolesem are dangerous neighbors. Our gray-haired uncle speaks the
truth when he calls them devils, for that is what they surely seem to be.
That’s why we must be cautious.”
Wema wondered whether Walupa was merely stalling for time. He
appeared to have nothing new to say. Wema listened as the subchief
continued:
“If you recall what we have been taught since childhood, you will
remember that devils are not the same as ordinary people, for the reason
that they are not human. It takes both skill and magic to outwit a devil—
powerful magic. With a devil, nothing is what it seems to be, so one
must always be suspicious, always on guard. Although there may seem
to be times when the devil is weak and vulnerable, we must take care
that it is not an illusion. A devil may pretend to be at a disadvantage in
order to fool us.”
Wema knew at once that Walupa had found the key which would
unlock the puzzle. He felt a surge of affection and respect for his friend
and ally, who once more had demonstrated his great value. Walupa’s
words had made an impression on the council and now it was up to
Wema to persuade them. Although he had never once betrayed his inner
turmoil, the cool presence which the others observed was now matched
by the total confidence he sensed within. Wema began to explain to the
council how they must act:
“We are dealing with a dangerous opponent who will try to provoke
us to haste and carelessness. He’ll try to confuse our thinking, to divide
us, turn us against one another. He may wear many faces, assume many
forms. But we have our own weapons and our own magic. At times like
these we must trust our spirit friends to help us. We have in our village
the finest magician alive—our jom undoubtedly understands the white
devil and will advise us how to proceed. I’ll consult with him this very
night and tomorrow we shall meet again. In the meantime, it’s useless for
us to talk until we hear his advice.”
Although the youngest councilman was not pleased to realize that he
had been dismissed, he had no choice but to accept. Much as he disagreed
with the proposal, he was not anxious to appear to oppose the jom. No
one wished to be at odds with the shaman.
By the time Walupa had found the jom and brought him to the chief’s
house, Wema’s wives were ready to serve them supper. There was plenty
of choja, the thick, rich soup made from black oak acorns. The soup was
cold, but the freshly baked bread was hot to the touch and tantalizingly
aromatic. Walupa took his place beside Wema, taking care not to brush
against the jom. To touch the shaman, even accidentally, could result in
Z