<\/p>\n
Through all the days that eat away,<\/em><\/p>\n at every breath that I take.<\/em><\/p>\n Through all the nights I’ve lain alone<\/em><\/p>\n in someone else’s dream.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0Awake.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0The Crossing (OSIYEZA), Johnny Clegg<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Prelude<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Water lapping at his feet, Charlie awoke alone on the beach, cold, shuddering and naked. Mist rolled in waves, clinging to everything with its clammy, smothering embrace.<\/p>\n He caught shadows shifting. The mist circled around a figure emerging from the sodden grip of trees lining the shore. Thunder shook overhead and lightning danced like snakes frying.<\/p>\n He closed his eyes and it began again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n An eye opens after eons of sleep. It breathes deep. At last. I smell him<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapitre un<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat makes you think you qualify for this job?\u201d asked the stern-looking white man heading the hiring committee.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019m native aren\u2019t I?\u201d Charlie responded, smiling at him and the six other Caucasian members of the review board. He figured they felt protected behind their heavy desks, wanting him to feel exposed in the one chair centred in the large stark, empty office. He tapped his cane on the floor. \u201cNice.\u201d<\/p>\n One raised a head and stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cReal wood, pine, probably eighty years old. Nice stuff.\u201d He smiled back.<\/p>\n The five-man, two-woman board flipped through the pages on their clipboards desperately hoping to find other applications. There weren\u2019t any, and his didn\u2019t take much reading.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd being a man of deep spiritual connections, I reckoned this was up my alley. If you look under \u2018Hobbies\u2019 you\u2019ll see I love to watch baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d the same man said dryly. \u201cMontreal Expos in particular. I do believe they no longer exist.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, go those Blue Jays.\u201d Charlie beamed at the man. \u201cBeen meaning to get a new cap, rather attached to this old friend though, we\u2019ve been through a lot. Although I guess for special occasions like this I should\u2019ve splurged, look a little more respectable. If I get a spending budget on this job, could afford a new cap.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, yes.\u201d The man reading the resume cleared his throat. The scowl on his face showed he wasn\u2019t much of a baseball fan or any kind of sports fan for that matter.\u00a0 \u201cYou also cite \u2018watching documentaries\u2019 as well as baseball. These aren\u2019t really hobbies, Mr. ah, Stillwater.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCharlie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not Ah Stillwater. It\u2019s Charlie Stillwater-S.\u201d He smiled and leaned on his cane. \u201cI guess you could be right. Watching the Expos was more like my passion. Got hooked on them after they were top of the standings in eighty-four and probably would have taken the World Series if it wasn\u2019t for the strike. Eighty-four. Man, that\u2019s been awhile. I guess it is time for a new cap, or at least get this one cleaned. As for the documentaries, I think Dr. Suzuki has for the most part got it right. Bit slow to figure things out, but the man\u2019s on the right path. I think he\u2019s Chinese. Oops, I mean Oriental. Don\u2019t want to be politically incorrect these days. But I reckon he\u2019s got some native blood in him. I like the guy, looks a lot like my uncle Ralph.\u201d<\/p>\n The committee flipped through their blank pages again, wishing at least one other application would materialize.\u00a0 They were disappointed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard finding anyone willing to relocate to Prince Rupert to fill any position, but especially in the psychological fields,\u201d one rather well-nourished woman whispered to the cookie-cutter figure next to her. \u201cI remind you that the head warden has warned that if a candidate isn\u2019t found by the end of this week, one of us will have to go in and deal with them and I for one am not walking in there with the vile creatures. The way their dirty eyes linger, undressing me.\u201d She shivered and flushed a deep red, either embarrassed or aroused by the thought. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be caught alone with any of them in a cell, probably get raped. I\u2019ll quit if we don\u2019t get someone.\u201d<\/p>\n The head interviewer looked at his papers again and back at the others. \u201cI agree. The natives are starting to get out of hand. We\u2019ll take on Mr. Shaman man, let him try to deal with them. Better he gets assaulted than one of us. We have our Elder, the jail keeps its licence and after the Federal inspector leaves next week, we either fire him or find another to fill in. I request we send out a new listing for the position.\u201d The suits all nodded their agreement.<\/p>\n He cleared his throat. \u201cOkay, Mr. Ah, Charlie Stillwater, we\u2019ll give you a two week trial.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh good. Ends on a night of the full moon.\u201d Charlie smiled. \u201cI\u2019ll be feeling a mite hairy then. Should bring my silver razor for protection.\u201d<\/p>\n They glared at him. \u201cWon\u2019t last a day,\u201d one stern woman whispered to the colleague next to her. \u201cArrogant bastard, but feed him to the wolves instead of one of us. I agree.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be surprised if he lasts two hours.\u00a0 But we have no choice. It\u2019s him or one of us. We file the paperwork, get our federal funding. If he quits, well, we\u2019ll have to hope we get a better response next time. Everyone agreed?\u201d he whispered to the others. They nodded back.<\/p>\n \u201cAhem! Be reminded Mr. Charlie Stillwater, that you\u2019ve few credentials. No psychiatric training of any kind, not even tribal endorsements to prove that you are the shaman you claim to be. However, if you are a shaman, even self-taught, it does help you qualify for the position of Native Elder that we are seeking. You\u2019ll really need to prove yourself though. This is no place for amateurs. We\u2019re dealing with dangerous persons in here, killers, sociopaths, psychopaths and rapists.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I didn\u2019t think this would be a kindergarten picnic. These folks aren\u2019t here just because they tripped up grandma at the bus stop. I\u2019ve got me trusty bag and this\u2026\u201d, he tapped the side of his head with his orca headed cane. \u201cA full deck of marbles, that don\u2019t rattle. Oh, I didn\u2019t mention that I\u2019ve watched the original Karate Kid eighteen times, got the crane kick down pat. Try me.\u201d<\/p>\n The overweight woman choked down her disgust. \u201cI think some discussion should be made regarding certain standards of uniform ethics later. However you\u2019re the best candidate so far. So, before we change our minds, we are offering you the position. Sign this agreement so we can pass our findings to the warden.\u201d He shoved a paper towards him. Charlie leaned forward and scrawled his John Hancock.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you can count on me to get the job done. I\u2019ve always had my trusty cane and my wits. Never failed me yet. Although come to think of it I\u2019m pretty good at outside animal management. Should have put that on my resume.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOutside… Animal …Management…\u201d one of the team slowly muttered aloud, like he couldn\u2019t believe what his ears had just received.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve handled some irate squirrels in my backyard. They\u2019ll never figure out where I\u2019ve hidden those nuts. And a rather troublesome raccoon I named Rocky, although he tells me he likes Raymond better, raccoons are like that you know. Dealt with a pesky Raven too and he was more difficult to deal with than you could imagine but that\u2019s a whole \u2018nother story. Everything I needed to know I learned from my elders and from out there in the wilderness. Does this job include lunch and my own office?\u201d He looked about tapping his cane on the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a canteen here. Meals are included.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, this could be an interesting two weeks and at least I\u2019ll get some free grub. Should have brought my other jacket, it\u2019s got bigger pocket for leftovers. Oh, and no name plaque.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cName plaque?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, on the door to my office. I don\u2019t care for titles. Besides after a few days I think I should remember which office was mine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you last that long Mr. Stillwater.\u201d<\/p>\n He retreated to the back of the room and reached for the doorknob. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll talk about a raise in two weeks. This should be my kind of job, dealing with natives, riffraff and awful canteen food. Man, I should have applied for this earlier.\u201d He laughed. \u201cDon\u2019t reckon the food will be up to the organic stuff I usually eat when I\u2019m out in the woods, but hey, its food. And free. Now that\u2019s a bonus plan.\u201d He tilted his button-festooned Expos cap. \u201cSo I\u2019m off to check on the rabble. How long before I begin to build towards a pension?\u201d<\/p>\n The main interviewer, now almost regretting his decision, closed his eyes. \u201cYou\u2019ve a client to deal with later this afternoon.\u00a0 The pension you\u2019ll be building towards from your first paycheque. Now get to work, Mr. Stillwater. We\u2019ll file the contract with the warden this afternoon. All the details regarding benefits, pay and holidays will be in it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes boss. And you can call me Charlie. Boss. Hmm. Never had a boss before, this could be fun. Holidays! You mean I can get time off and fly to exotic locations, like LA? Never been to Leduc, Alberta. Some distant cousins out there.\u201d He turned and wandered off into the corridor.<\/p>\n \u201cOne hour! I give him one hour.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but at least none of us have to go in there to deal with THEM.\u201d The overweight woman grunted. \u201cAnd I for one, hope he gets what he deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charlie limped down the hall, leaning on his orca-headed cane, whistling. \u201cOh, I forgot to tell them I don\u2019t do suits and ties. Although a new plaid shirt would be nice, I think I got this one in ninety-three.\u201d<\/p>\n He winked at one of the guards as he led a prisoner down the hall. \u201cGreat day, lovely day. Nice uniform.\u201d<\/p>\n The guard scowled back as the prisoner glared at Charlie. \u201cOh, I must admit that pin stripe does make you look rather thin.\u201d He said to the guard as they passed.<\/p>\n \u201cWho the fuck is that?\u201d the prisoner grumbled.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t know and none of your damn business anyways. Get a move on.\u201d He pushed him forward.<\/p>\n \u201cCharlie Stillwaters, your new Native Elder.\u201d He whistled, again tapping the walls and floor with his cane. \u201cCould use a bit of more cheery paint colour. Will have to suggest that to the warden. Okay, time for some lunch and then off to work. Off to work, man can\u2019t say I\u2019ve ever said that before.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the darkness I wait.<\/em><\/p>\n Humming songs, like I always did, ever since it could remember.<\/em><\/p>\n Waiting.<\/em><\/p>\n Knowing they would come. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n I smile and hum another song.<\/em><\/p>\n Waiting.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charlie grabbed his meal tray and sat down at the only empty table in the canteen. The inmates stared and snickered to each other. \u201cMust be the hat. Obviously jealous,\u201d he muttered as he began to dig into his soup.<\/p>\n A large shadow blocked out the glow of florescent. \u201cYou\u2019re at my table,\u201d barked a heavy gruff voice.<\/p>\n Charlie looked up and gulped.\u00a0 A virtual mountain of a man stood before him. Native, with greasy dark hair, deep set eyes, face contorted into a nasty grimace. Standing well over six foot, bordering on seven, and nearly four hundred pounds. Not much of which was fat, but mostly anger buried in several large chips on his shoulder. The tables held at least six, nearly every table full, except for the one that only Charlie sat at. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of room for two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n The babble of conversation ceased, spoons hung in the air.\u00a0 A dollop of soup echoed with a plop as everyone stopped to watch the unfolding massacre. This, Charlie knew could go well or totally sideways, like a hockey player getting slammed into the boards head down, not looking.<\/p>\n \u201cYou . . . are . . . sitting . . . at . . . my . . . fucking . . . table,\u201d growled the mass that made Rocky Mountains look small.\u00a0 Great meaty fists grated on the lunch tray.<\/p>\n Charlie didn\u2019t really think getting thumped on his first day would make a good impression on the others. \u201cYou\u2019ve a licence for that hotdog stand?\u201d Charlie waved his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n A single fly buzzing reverberated through the canteen. Several breaths inhaled.<\/p>\n \u201cA hotdog stand.\u201d<\/p>\n The behemoth stood gritting his teeth. \u201cWhat the hell you going on about?\u201d Charlie could tell the giant\u2019s puzzlement was winning over the rage to crush the annoying insect before him. Which he could in one swat, like a grizzly tagging a poodle. \u201cYour fly is undone.\u201d<\/p>\n The man lifted his tray, looked down and blushed.<\/p>\n A sneer cracked one side of his mouth, intimidation at its best, backed by three hundred plus pounds of muscle. He looked at Charlie and laughed. \u201cMove the fuck over. For an old bastard, you\u2019re alright.\u201d<\/p>\n He thumped the tray down, slopping some of the soup, and sat next to the suddenly relieved shaman who\u2019d just seen his next three lifetimes sail before his eyes. After zipping his fly, he thumped Charlie on the back. Charlie gagged, nearly swallowing his back and front teeth at the same time. \u201cHey, you\u2019re okay. Most people are usually scared of me.\u201d<\/p>\n The other inmates blinked in disbelief, looking from each other to the no longer impeding demise of the newest member of staff, thinking they\u2019d just seen the Titanic miss the iceberg and land at New York, before returning disappointedly to their meals.<\/p>\n \u201cWell of course they would be. Yours are the size of a pair of grizzly bears stacked on top of each other in a totem, wearing the grimace of the bottom one suffering from fighting off the butt of the other after he ate a load of Tacos.\u201d Charlie stuck out his tongue and squinted his eyes like he\u2019d just smelled fresh cow patty.<\/p>\n The big man laughed again. Puzzlement showed on the other inmates\u2019 faces, not understanding what was going on and rather disappointed that today\u2019s massacre had turned into a Laurel and Hardy love-in.\u00a0 Most had never even seen him smile let alone heard him laugh out loud, nor say more than three words in any one sitting. \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n Charlie knew humour was rare on this one\u2019s face by the well-ingrained frown lines. \u201cCharlie Stillwaters. Your new Prison Elder.\u201d He stuck his hand forward after wiping it on his jean jacket.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Thomas Johnson.\u201d He shook the shaman\u2019s hand, somewhat gently, although Charlie\u2019s eyes opened as far as they could as the natural muscle crumpled three of his fingers into his elbow.<\/p>\n \u201cWow, bet the Man of Steel would have a bitch of a time winning against you in an arm wrestle. Your real name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is my real name.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRaised in a residential school?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah! How\u2019d you know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my job to know,\u201d he lied, thinking he should sound like he knew something about being a legal Prison Elder, even though he was only a half day into the job.\u00a0 \u201cNo, I meant the real name your parents gave you.\u201d<\/p>\n He frowned. \u201cMy parents died when I was very young. Don\u2019t know my real name, or if I have one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell I\u2019m naming you with your native name. Now then, I\u2019m thinking its T\u2019aalgii Tilldagaaw Xuuajii, Big Mountain Grizzly.\u201d<\/p>\n The man ladled soup into his mouth, pausing for thought. \u201cBig Mountain. I like that.\u201d Charlie breathed deeply, realizing he\u2019d just befriended undoubtedly the best, or perhaps worst, guy in the place. The one everyone else feared.<\/p>\n \u201cCharles Stillwater report to the warden\u2019s office.\u201d Spoke the disembodied voice over the PA.<\/p>\n \u201cDuty calls.\u201d Charlie rose. \u201cDidn\u2019t like the soup anyways, too salty. I\u2019ll have to talk to the cook about that and give them heck. I told them it\u2019s Charlie Stillwater-S. Government never can get things right. Probably have to redo all six hundred and forty pages of the contract. Did know you they only allow me two urine breaks and nine ounces of coffee? A day? Man, might have to buy diapers to make it through.\u201d<\/p>\n Big Mountain laughed and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and slid Charlie\u2019s tray towards himself. \u201cI\u2019ll eat the rest of your soup then, and you\u2019re welcome at my table anytime. But don\u2019t any of you other bastards get any ideas,\u201d he grumbled loudly to the others. \u201cAnd if you need someone to back you up in here…\u201d he said more softly, and winked at Charlie.<\/p>\n \u201cTell you what, if you want I could dig into your files and see if I could find out some background history.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like that. Told I had a sister, but never met her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll see what I can do and no cracking any heads while I\u2019m on shift. You wouldn\u2019t want to make me mad, I crack a mean face.\u201d Charlie cracked several ridiculous faces as he got up. Big Mountain snorted a load of soup out of his nose, gagging.<\/p>\n \u201cQuick! He\u2019s choking! Someone get Arnold Schgartabugger to perform mouth to mouth, cause no one else is going to press lips to the Griz here and walk away without missing limbs.\u201d<\/p>\n The big man laughed even harder, turning puce.\u00a0 Charlie slapped him on the back several times until the big man spit a chunk of food out.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, funny place to hide a Colt .45,\u201d he said looking up at the approaching guards. They reached for their guns. \u201cOh just kidding, it\u2019s just a chunk of hot dog, shaped like a gun.\u201d The two guards looked at him like he was mad. Griz just wiped at the tears of laughter running down his cheeks.<\/p>\n Walking away, Charlie realized he\u2019d just found his first client as an Elder and his first prison friend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I am a being, alone, entirely alone. Except there are others. I want to meet the others. I want to be me. Only who am I?<\/em><\/p>\n I had others in my life. Older, parents. Then why am I here?<\/em><\/p>\n Alone?<\/em><\/p>\n And who? The question remains. Of who?<\/em><\/p>\n Am I?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo this is where the last Elder expired. Don\u2019t disturb anything. They\u2019re still not sure whether it\u2019s a crime or an accident. Wish they\u2019d make their minds up so we don\u2019t have to spend shifts guarding a damn tent.\u201d The guard indicated his work-mate whose duty today was to babysit the scene so it couldn\u2019t be tampered with. \u201cMy turn tomorrow.\u201d The yellow Police Line Do Not Cross tape surrounding the sweat lodge in the grounds behind the penitentiary sagged and swayed in the breeze.<\/p>\n \u201cBoy, you guys aren\u2019t very sociable around here. No wonder you can\u2019t get any help. Darn it though,\u201d he tut-tutted as he walked around the sweat lodge, \u201cI wanted to arrange a really swanky soiree tonight. You know, tux, champagne and horses douvres.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hors d\u2019oeuvres, I believe,\u201d the man grumbled, \u201cand those are big words for a native.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI watch a lot of educational TV.\u00a0 Gives you a large vocabulary. You know, documentaries, educational programs and the like. Pick up the odd phrase. I bet you like to watch tripe like all of those insipid reality shows.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, how\u2019d you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust a wild guess. Rots your mind that stuff.\u201d Charlie continued pacing around the sweat lodge trying to get a sense of what may have happened here. This was the reason he\u2019d received some weird calls from the spirits in his dreams recently. Only why, he wasn\u2019t sure. A death didn\u2019t usually raise such unrest from the spirit world. He knew that no one inside would leave until the sweat was done, although on the usual sessions they often took three breaks to cool down, one for each of the four directions. Once inside, there would be very little light to see by, only the glow of the rocks, which had been burning for hours. The person leading, usually but not always the Elder himself would be moving about, flapping eagles\u2019 feathers and other objects for effect, but how a murder could be committed with not one of the inhabitants noticing was a mystery. The guard scowled as he followed the still-pacing Charlie. \u201cDo you have a list of the people in the group?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t, but the office does, and the police and WCB. Why are you asking? Figure one of your relatives was in on it or you decided to become the next Dick Tracy?\u201d the guard, Jenkins grumbled, obviously put off by having to hang around while Charlie checked out the scene.<\/p>\n \u201cJust curious as to how someone could have died without anyone noticing. I\u2019ll have to lead a sweat sooner or later. WCB?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll accidents or deaths at work are treated as just \u2018work related incidents\u2019, unless foul play can be determined. If I was you, I\u2019d hope they\u2019d find any killer damn quick before they had to start asking for applications for my replacement.\u201d He snickered at what he thought was a great joke.<\/p>\n Charlie sniffed the air ignoring the guard\u2019s threats. Death never left a pleasant aroma but a murder created a foul stench. He sniffed again, loudly. Odd, no lingering after tones.\u00a0 Almost as if… he sniffed again.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, you got allergies, short of coke or something? There\u2019s plenty of drugs around this place, no matter how hard we try to police the inmates.\u201d His walkie-talkie went off. \u201cTime to go. I\u2019ve got duties besides babysitting you, old man.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSome of us can sense and smell things better than most animals. Any chance you were on duty that day?\u201d Charlie inhaled again, overly loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. What\u2019s it to ya?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, just asking.\u201d He knew one thing, this guard was not only belligerent, but possibly capable of murder. He\u2019d keep an eye on him. Charlie inhaled again. The wood-smoke of the sweat had covered the subtle floating aromas, but there was something underlying everything here. Something worse than menacing. The spirits were right. There was something very unnatural here.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only animal I want to smell is frying cow, as in a burger. Now time to beat it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere!\u201d he yelled.<\/p>\n The guard jumped, \u201cWhat the fuck…\u201d<\/p>\n Charlie stopped and moved his head side to side, sniffing loudly. It was gone. Out of the corner of his eye he caught the shadow of something moving on the edge of the forest, by the fences.<\/p>\n \u201cYou, old man, are the freakiest bastard I ever met and I\u2019ll tell you I\u2019ve met quite the collection of freaks here. Now get moving. Sniffing time is over, or go join the hound dog society if that\u2019s your bag.\u201d<\/p>\n Charlie moved to the doorway, careful not to disturb the tape or scene. He\u2019d have to come back alone. There was something lurking there alright, something masking everything else under the smell of sweat and wood-smoke.\u00a0 Something fouler than death. The spirits usually weren\u2019t wrong about getting him here. He glanced past the grounds to the dark edge of the forest.<\/p>\n A branch shifted.<\/p>\n And he\u2019d been watched. Yup most curious. And since I can\u2019t get into the lodge or the adjacent women\u2019s prison, I think I need to contact someone who can. Going to need some help on this one and I know just the person that owes me a favour.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n The floor bed shook. From a dark cave one eye opened, then another. It looked around in the darkness before stretching slowly from the cramped form it had endured all this time. Poking its head up into the ocean\u2019s waters, the creature took one deep sniff. The salty waters told it all it needed to know.<\/p>\n It is time. We need to act again.<\/em><\/p>\n It let out a high pitched squeal to the others, also long buried.\u00a0 The ground shook in response.<\/p>\n But first a feeding. It has been a very long time since we\u2019ve awoken and I\u2019m sure the others are, like me, famished. <\/em><\/p>\n And it knew who would do.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charlie strode down the hall towards his office. There was something out there watching him, he knew it. As he left the washroom he turned the corner and ran into two men dressed in suits. Charlie glanced at the name tag on the one that said Warden.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, the big guy, the big Cheese, el capitain, the dude who signs my paycheque.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho the hell are you \u00a0Sir?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCharlie Stillwaters\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot on any payroll I know of around here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe hired him this morning, sir. Remember the \u2018I need an Elder pronto or we lose our Federal funding for the next six months,\u2019 speech?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, what was that got to do with this, I might say, disheveled looking, fellow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour new Elder counsellor, Boss Man.\u201d He grabbed the warden\u2019s hand and shook it hard three times before wiping his hand on his shirt. \u201cCrap, forgot to dry my hands after that last trip to the pisser. Actually didn\u2019t notice any paper dispensers in the cans. But you should have someone look into those vacuum cleaner ducts they\u2019ve installed in the washroom. Makes lots of noise, but didn\u2019t pick much off the floor. Oh and no ties. I don\u2019t do ties. Yours I\u2019ll have to admit is rather smart. Solid one colour, denotes lack of character, bland in tastes and preferences, but very dapper, as they say in England. Goes well with the fancy cufflinks. Gotta run, don\u2019t want the boss to think I\u2019m loitering about on my first day. Need to make a good first impression and all.\u201d<\/p>\n With that Charlie sauntered off, limping on his cane. Still wiping his hands as he muttered more to himself than anyone else. \u201cGlad that wasn\u2019t a number two.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry sir, there weren\u2019t any other applications.\u201d<\/p>\n The warden stood there blinking, calmly pulled a hanky from his vest pocket and wiped his damp hand. \u201cHenricks, in my fucking office now.\u201d Red rushing in to replace the white sheen of mortification.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the darkness deep breathing echoed. A flipper broke the centuries old sand. We are called, the others must awake before it is too late.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charlie limped up behind Carol as she lay sun-tanning on Agate Beach on Haida Gwaii. \u201cNice tan. Heard you were here on holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n Carol jumped. \u201cHate it when you do that.\u201d Squinting, she yanked herself upright in her deckchair and peered over her dark sunglasses. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect to see you on the islands. Although with your woo-woo stuff I might have figured I\u2019d run into you sooner or later.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood to see you too, Carol. What drags you out here?\u201d He hadn\u2019t seen her since they worked on solving the death of Vancouver\u2019s mayor last year.<\/p>\n \u201cYou hooked me. Decided I gotta see more of this place. And let me guess, I\u2019m presuming this is probably a business call, since you\u2019re a bit over dressed for the beach.\u201d She looked him up and down over her sunglasses realizing it was the same getup he wore then, probably was like Einstein who kept ten same outfits of everything in his closet. No, with Charlie, probably just the same one.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, this is my office suit now.\u201d Charlie referred to his usual get up of seen-better-days denim. \u201cI got hired by the Federal Government to be a paid Elder for the Prince Rupert Penitentiary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Were they mad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I was the only one that applied. It seemed the other applications got lost.\u201d<\/p>\n Carol shook her head. \u201cI\u2019ve heard this story before. Lost by, let me guess, cousins of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBig family. We don\u2019t see each other much, but we\u2019re tight. Man, it\u2019s hot out here. Their last Elder died, more aptly was murdered, although I think the pen don\u2019t like that idea and are trying everything they know to get it signed off as what the WCB call \u2018a work related incident\u2019. Covers all sorts of wrongdoing that title.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich, unless someone finds three knives in his back or several bullet holes, it is, and the police involvement ceases.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGot that from the no-humour jail guard and a little bird that whispered it in my ear.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA little bird whispered in your ear? That someone was murdered? Man, you hang out with a strange crowd. But then I already know that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, little bird, not you-know-who-giant-raven-type-bird, built like a triple-stacked burger, but sparrow sized.\u00a0 One of those woo-woo things of mine that you talk about was disturbed by something that happened at the supposed accident. Whatever is happening is sending physic shockwaves through the unknown world, as you\u2019d probably call it, and the authorities won\u2019t let me near the scene. The disturbance happened in a native sweat lodge out on the back grounds, only some of the suspects involved are female. While I\u2019ve got access to the men I can\u2019t enter the women\u2019s prison.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey won\u2019t let you near the scene until it is ruled either a WCB incident or the coroner warrants there\u2019s enough evidence to open a homicide investigation.\u201d Carol knew where this was going. \u201cSo let me guess. You want me to cut my holiday short because a sparrow whispered in your ear and go to a penitentiary full of women to investigate a murder? Many of whom would just as soon blink and either kill me for being a cop, make goggle eyes at me or just out-and-out rape me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you\u2019re good at summing things up. Sharp cookie, Ms. Ainsworth. You did say you owe me a favour as I did save your, what do the gangstas on TV call it? Oh yeah, your white skinny ho ass. Which by the way is starting to burn. You need some higher SPF or some of my herbal cream.\u201d<\/p>\n Carol reached for her pack of smokes. \u201cI\u2019ve tried your herbal remedies. Bear-sweat, weasel pee and oak-tree pumice. Thanks, but I\u2019ll stick to the drugstore products. At least they have a money back guarantee.\u201d Carol remembered the large burl along Rawlings Trail in Stanley Park that, if you caught it just right, looked like the face of an old woman. Or at least to everyone else it was a burl with an old woman\u2019s face in it. She knew it was the living witch called the Lure trapped inside. It still gave her the creeps to think how close to death she came. She would have died if it wasn\u2019t for Charlie, in their last and, she thought at the time, only adventure together. I\u2019m not really thinking what I\u2019m thinking, am I? Why didn\u2019t I bring a flask of wine with me or at least a mickey of whiskey?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAh what the heck. I was getting bored anyway, already hung out up at Rosespit. Wanted to chat with my mom\u2019s spirit up there, but couldn\u2019t hook up with her. Need to work on that woo-woo stuff of yours some more.\u201d She paused and shook her head. \u201cI know I\u2019m going to regret what I\u2019m about to say, but okay. And after this we\u2019re even. I can\u2019t be seen to be constantly talking to an old native man dressed forever in the same clothes. People will begin to think we\u2019re a team, or, heaven forbid, an item.\u201d<\/p>\n Charlie waited for Carol as she collected her things together. A couple with kids in tow walked by, all were staring at Charlie sweating away in his jeans and jean jacket. One of the children, a rotund girl of about twelve, was eating an ice cream cone. She frowned at the older man and stuck her tongue out. \u201cSmelly Indian.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRude little girl.\u201d Charlie waved his cane and a stick that was lying in the sand lifted between the girl\u2019s shins and sent her flying. She tripped and fell face first, mashing ice cream and sand all over her face.<\/p>\n \u201cDeal. We\u2019re even after this.\u201d Carol giggled as the girl screamed, spitting sand.<\/p>\n \u201cOh dear.\u201d Charlie walked on and said as he passed the couple, \u201cYou know its bad luck to take any agates and sand away from here, even ingested. Native legend, just like the ones in Hawaii regarding Pele\u2019, their fire goddess.\u00a0 She brings bad luck to anyone that takes away her sand and agates. I\u2019d make sure you wash her mouth out, with soap preferably. Sand isn\u2019t good for the digestion anyways. Good day.\u201d He smiled as he passed.<\/p>\n The girl kept spitting sand and ice cream from her mouth. \u201cHe did it! He made me trip. Stinky old …\u201d<\/p>\n Charlie gave her a nasty glare. The girl decided to shut up.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, you were just clumsy. I\u2019ve told you before to watch where you\u2019re going. He wasn\u2019t even near you at the time,\u201d her mother scolded.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I know he …\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEnough! Get in the car now!\u201d her dad yelled, \u201cserves you right for being rude to your elders.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSee, my work precedes me.\u201d He walked with a swagger.<\/p>\n Carol looked quizzically at Charlie as they walked towards her car. \u201cDid you do something to that girl back there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy dad always told me to never piss off certain people in your life; your doctor, lawyer, a police officer or your shaman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t think he said shaman, probably minister.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t know my dad.\u201d<\/p>\n Carol laughed. \u201cAnd now I know why you don\u2019t cheese off shamans.\u201d<\/p>\n Charlie laughed back. \u201cCome to think of it, he might have said minister.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter Two<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He who tried to communicate with me, knew of a bird of metal. It flies with the excrement of the ancients in its bowels. It devours the ancients to fly? How is this possible? And humans inside. Living inside its belly? What kind of world is out there? I read writing on its wing, CE438571.\u00a0 I know letters, my language. I can communicate.<\/em><\/p>\n I reach out to speak to it. <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n James stared at his buzzer as it rang. \u201cWho is it?<\/p>\n \u201cCarol Ainsworth to see you, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSee her in.\u201d<\/p>\n James rose to shake her hand. \u201cCarol Ainsworth? The same Carol Ainsworth Detective in the Vancouver Police force? The Carol Ainsworth that cracked the Hell\u2019s Angels\u2019 crime spree and solved the murder of your mayor? Also involved in the cracking of the fake totems set up in Stanley Park?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, to all of that. Wow, how is it you know all of this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust looking at your file because of one Charlie Stillwaters that we happen to have currently employed with us. The Charlie Stillwaters mentioned in some of the reports associated with those cases. I must admit I didn\u2019t know who he was until I read your file. I do like to know the background of the people that are coming to work with me or pop in for a visit out of the blue. I\u2019m surprised he didn\u2019t put his association with you and the Vancouver Police Department in his resume. All one line of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cModest guy. Environmentally conscious as well, doesn\u2019t like wasting paper. Carol smirked.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d say a few things about him, but modest wouldn\u2019t be one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n Carol sat down. \u201cTry exasperating.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo why are you here, Detective?\u201d James cut to the chase.<\/p>\n \u201cCharlie asked me to help him investigate the death of Ken Benson, your last Elder on duty, who died under mysterious circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIncorrect. He was involved in what we are hoping is about to be classed as a work related incident by the WBC investigators. The family, as you can guess, would like closure and some kind of settlement, as would we. This has caused a lot of unrest with the native population which will only grow as the days go on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, that is what I hate about BC Criminal Law, everything at work is considered a \u2018work related incident\u2019 unless proven otherwise. However you are misinformed. This will not be signed off until the police have investigated and it could be some weeks for anyone to become available so I\u2019m here to do you a big favour. I\u2019ve called my boss and the powers that be and said I\u2019d be willing to take on this investigation at least for the remainder of my vacation. My boss, lovely bastard of a chap, figured if I want to wreck my holidays, I can go right ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy wouldn\u2019t you want me to? Surely you don\u2019t want to see a murderer go unpunished? Anyway I\u2019ve already done it. I\u2019ve already had a quick perusal of the crime scene photos and autopsy report. My boss had them e-mailed to me as soon as I was given the go-ahead and I do have severe misgivings about it being an accidental \u2018work related incident\u2019 hence me offering to give up my vacation. My own M.E. is looking over the autopsy for me as we speak. Now we\u2019ll see if someone found with their head bashed in is just \u2018a work related incident\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you talking about? He passed out and fell against the rocks, killing himself,\u201d James growled.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, that\u2019s what someone, maybe the WCB, want us to think. However the crime scene photos have given me a red flag and even your own M.E. hasn\u2019t ruled out foul play. Death was definitely blunt force trauma to the temple and this could be head-to-rock but just as easily rock-to-head, and I intend to find out exactly which. Someone was obviously happy just to think it was an accident and I wouldn\u2019t like to think what would happen to anybody that had misled WCB.\u201d<\/p>\n James looked hard at her.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we may well have a murderer on the loose here and there\u2019s a good possibility this could happen again. How much more upset do you think it would cause if it does?\u201d<\/p>\n James stared at her with hardened eyes. It was obvious he didn\u2019t want to back down but he knew he had no choice. Damn. He had so been hoping this would go so long without investigation the fuss would die down and it could be quietly swept under the carpet.<\/p>\n \u201cAs you probably know, I got special funding to perform sweats on this site due to the large native population. Opening a police investigation could endanger that and cause even more unrest by upsetting the inmates more than they already are. Worst day for a warden is having to deal with a riot so here\u2019s what I\u2019m willing to do. I\u2019ll set you up as a prison employee IE guard, with all the necessary protocols. You look into this and if we find the evidence that there is wrongful doing here then we open the file as a homicide investigation. I don\u2019t want to upset his family as they are already in the belief that his death was an accident. Can you imagine the crap if we open this up thinking he\u2019s been murdered and find out he wasn\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, agreed. Good idea actually. Best to be sure before we tell the family anything else. However, as there were male and female inmates in that sweat lodge, I\u2019m gonna need Charlie\u2019s help here. He can investigate the men and I will deal with the women. Lucky you\u2019ve already hired him, isn\u2019t it? The sooner he and I can leave, the sooner this penitentiary can get back to normal and maybe I can even get back to my holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n He squeezed his eyes closed and took a couple of deep breaths. \u201cMs. Ainsworth. I run a tight prison. I\u2019ve enough trouble keeping the inmates civil and I have nothing to do with any possible misleading of WCB. What I told you about him hitting his head is all I know. There\u2019s been a lot of unrest since the incident, especially since Ken was an ex-con, which you might not have known. I know there has to be an investigation at some point so I guess it\u2019s best to get it over with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo time like the present; how can I say this? Boss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMr.\u00a0 Braithwaite to you. God you\u2019re a bitch. But that\u2019s probably why you\u2019re successful. But I do like a lady with balls or guts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou were probably wanting to say vagina.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd get busted for sexual harassment? Not on your life. Now get to work and find my killer, if that\u2019s what you believe I have here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. First I want to see the crime scene and if I bump into him shall I say \u2018hi\u2019 to Charlie from you?\u201d<\/p>\n James glared darkly at her. \u201cGet out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do think he\u2019s right though, you should pick snazzier ties.\u201d She smiled as she left his office. Yup, as Charlie said, wound a little too tight and probably doesn\u2019t get much at home. Which currently was more than she was getting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It walked along the shore.<\/p>\n I have counted every rock on this beach twice. I know every blade of grass, every totem that sits waiting. And I wait. Only why? Why am I waiting? Why am I alone?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve never worked before?\u201d Carol said as she entered his office. She stared pointedly at the largely blank sheet of paper that was Charlie\u2019s resume. He looked up at her, he had been busy reading from the stack of documents sitting on the desk before him.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019m a shaman. You know, live-off-the-land type. Help little animals fight oppression, the lack of nuts and the Freedom of Planting Act.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Freedom of Planting Act. It gives squirrels, chipmunks and even crows and ravens the right to plant fallen nuts wherever they desire.\u201d<\/p>\n Carol shook her head and smiled. \u201cCan\u2019t say I\u2019ve missed this inane banter of yours. But really, never had a real paying job before? How is this possible in our day and age?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had a few small jobs, fishing, selling jack pine mushrooms, got paid in cash. Darn Japanese are crazy, they\u2019ll pay nearly a thousand dollars a pound for the stuff. And they eat sushi, raw fish, yuck.\u201d Charlie wrinkled his nose. \u201cGood to see you too Carol, I knew you were a person of your word.\u201d<\/p>\n Carol scratched at her shoulder where the sunburn hurt the worst. She hated him being right most of the time. \u201cI thought you were a native, eat wild roots, live off the land. Smoke salmon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but this is the twenty-first century. We\u2019ve got electricity. Cooked, deep fried, breaded, now we\u2019re talking. Raw! Hell, haven\u2019t you heard of fish lice? They\u2019ll eat you alive from the inside out. That\u2019s it. I can\u2019t read anymore. If I knew I had to read this much, I\u2019d have thought twice about getting hired. \u201cCharlie got up and headed out the door of his office, chucking down the wad of paper before him.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, where you going?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCafeteria, see if old Sandy will do me up a smoked salmon sandwich. Talking about food gets a guy hungry. Are you coming?\u201d<\/p>\n Carol decided to join him. \u201cYou can\u2019t seriously be telling me you rerouted all of the applications so they\u2019d have to accept yours?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, so I won\u2019t tell you.\u201d Charlie laughed as he tapped his cane down the hallway.<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you tamper with the federal mail? Oh, let me guess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNephews and uncles.\u201d They said at the same time.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re getting it.\u201d<\/p>\n Carol groaned. He either had great balls to pull off this kind of grandiose lunatic kind of stunt or dumb shit ass luck. Probably mainly the latter, she muttered to herself, remembering the incident earlier in the year with the smuggling out of the deceased shaman\u2019s remains into Stanley Park that Charlie had arranged by another of his \u2018nephews\u2019. But she knew this, if he thought the man was murdered, he most likely was. Now they had to find just cause. \u201cOkay take me out to the sweat lodge after we eat.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n My breath chills in the dawn\u2019s air, mixing with the stillness. I shake the seawater from my pelt and tread inland as the shore laps gently behind me. It has been a long time since my kind have walked on this earth. But the time has come to end the slumber. I stop, voices echo in the mornings awakening.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDerek, I think it went this way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh come on Tom. I think you\u2019ve had one beer too many. You missed the deer completely.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSix isn\u2019t too many and I know I winged him. Come on.\u201d<\/p>\n Intrigued, I glide through the bushes wondering what kind of humans are these speaking in a language I don\u2019t recognize. Nearby is the scent of fresh blood, a wounded deer. I remember that delicious smell. I lick my lips and edge closer, a branch cracks underneath.<\/em><\/p>\n They both spin in my direction. Thunder erupts from their metallic rods in a horrible voice and more metal whizzes through the air, thumping into a tree behind me. I react in defense. I shouldn\u2019t, the humans don\u2019t know we\u2019re here, but I must defend myself from these thunder weapons of destruction. Where did they come from? Have the humans evolved so much since our last being here? They bear strange dress of unnatural fibres and no longer shoot wood through bent sticks.<\/em><\/p>\n Claws dig in and I launch myself through the air, deep growls spring from within. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat the fu\u2026\u201d is all one gets to utter as my claws tear his insides out. Warm intestines and blood splatter the ground. The other falls backwards as delicious smell of fresh blood fills the air. How I\u2019ve missed that aroma. <\/em><\/p>\n Its thunder weapon discharges and searing agony hammers my left shoulder. I rake the screaming one\u2019s throat, ending its pain. More wonderful redness erupts everywhere. But I can\u2019t feed on this one as my shoulder cries out in agony and my own blood splatters the ground.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat in God\u2019s name is that? Hang on Tom, I\u2019ve got to reload.\u201d<\/p>\n More thunder retorts from the metal rod\u2019s mouth and narrowly misses me. I must leave to heal. I cannot defeat this weapon it holds. I have underestimated the humans. I glare deep into the face of this one. Derek.<\/strong> I call out in my mind to him.<\/em><\/p>\n He stares stunned at me, unbelieving. I inhale his scent. I will return to hunt him for what he has done to me. We can\u2019t be found out, not before we eliminate the one who awoke us. I lop through the dense bush as he recovers his shock and more metallic projectiles whistle by, tearing apart vegetation, but little else.\u00a0 I have never run in fear from anything and won\u2019t again. I will return as I dive into the cold sea water shifting my form. <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Carol stood beside the sweat lodge smoking a cigarette. \u201cYeah, talk me into some crazy things old man. You kill my vacation to investigate a murder in a pen full of women that would like me for only one thing; as in stick their hands down my pants, or beat me senseless, and then instead of being on a hot beach, I end up investigating a room full of hides. Sweaty ones at that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s called a sweat lodge. Hey, some of the prison guards look quite hunky. Even the female ones. You never know, could find a good date here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, the only ones that I seem to have attracted so far are the hunky females. I bet there\u2019s probably a lot of that same sex thing going on around here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell they’re in jail but still get the urge.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEver do it with a woman, Charlie?\u201d Carol just couldn\u2019t even visualize him in bed with one. Let alone seeing him naked\u2026 Nah, not going there<\/em>. She shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI never thought you’d be the type to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEver think about it? Hey, if we’re supposed partners I gotta ask, get to know you.\u201d On the other hand, sometimes the less you know about your partner the better.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNope straight and narrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, same, hot dog material only and yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMuch the same. Don’t butter my bread on both sides of the slice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, pure straight. Glad we got that in the open, but if that’s the case who’s the lucky lady. Don’t see a ring on your finger except that black onyx one. Which I believe is for friendship.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCalming as well.\u201d Charlie sat quiet for a long moment as he turned the ring on his finger. \u201cGiven to me by Lucy. She died of illness in my arms when I was twenty-two. We\u2019d just met the year before. Her favourite artist and mine is Roy Orbison. I\u2019ll always remember his song, Crying, was playing in the background as she died. It was because of that I decided to become a shaman. I couldn\u2019t save her, but thought if there was some way to visit her, on the other side so to speak, I would. I also pledged my undying love to her. I\u2019m a man of my word.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd no one since.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope. The equipment is kinda healed over since then. No desire for another. I became a shaman after that. If I can’t save her then I’ll save some others.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdmirable man you are Charlie Stillwaters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNuts is more what I am. I coulda got lucky so many times. There\u2019s more than a few lonely gals out there I\u2019ve bumped into at the grocery store or out hiking the backcountry.\u201d He laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou meet horny single women out hiking? Man, got any good places I could bump into a hot hunky fireman type of male?\u201d Carol chuckled back as she ground out her cigarette and they entered the sweat lodge, the ceiling so low neither could stand upright.<\/p>\n He looked at her appalled by her upfront attitude.<\/p>\n \u201cI’m not pious, just a bit afraid. It\u2019s a lonely world being a detective, not many guys want to know someone who lives on the edge of possibly being shot or killed every day. But as I get older, if I meet a good looking guy, and we go out on a date, I do allow him to get to a homerun faster. Thinking if he ain’t Mr. Right he might as well clang all my bells. Beats watching \u2018Sex And The City\u2019 reruns.\u201d<\/p>\n He opened his eyes at that revelation. \u201cThanks for the honesty. I can see you’re obviously less frustrated than me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you frustrated? Must be hard to not want to do it one way or another?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, part of my training gets me past the need for; how do you say it politely?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRelease.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYup, interesting conversation to be having inside a sweat lodge.\u201d Carol shook her head. \u201cYou’re an interesting character Charlie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, if you want interesting, let me tell you about my Roy Orbison record collection.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRecords? You mean those large black CD\u2019s? Didn\u2019t know they still made those. Yeah, I’ll pass on that one, I’m more of a U2 type of person.\u201d She lifted the flap to the sweat lodge so that some light, and fresh air could enter.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, vinyl is making a comeback I hear. Can\u2019t quite get the same background depth of music, they tell me on those silver Frisbee things. U2? Didn’t know any of the people on the German submarines released any kind of music. But I could recite some baseball stats on the Montreal Expos.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled. \u201cI’ll pass on that one as well. Now enough of the chitchat.\u201d Carol looked around at the central fire pit area. The stones were still in place but were now, obviously, cold.<\/p>\n \u201cDrats! Back to work is it boss lady?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A dark figure from the edge of the forest next to the pen watched the two moving around inside the sweat lodge for a few minutes before slowly slinking back into the darkness at the edge of the woods.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Carol grabbed her notebook and began to jot down notes. Charlie scratched his head, watching her. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNotes, and lots of them. First rule of a crime scene investigation, even if the scene is a week old, first impressions are critical. Along with pictures and measurements.\u201d She pulled out a tape measure.<\/p>\n \u201cPull it to the end.\u201d Carol ordered.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m measuring this why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause it\u2019s evidence. Do as I say and quit asking questions. I\u2019m in charge. I never ask why you carry a bag full of medical herbs around, do I?\u201d<\/p>\n Charlie looked at her. \u201cMedicine pouch, it\u2019s a medicine pouch. Okay you do your job and I\u2019ll do mine. No questions.\u201d<\/p>\n Carol looked around, her head lost deep in jotting down notes. We\u2019ll see how long thy stillness of lips lasts.<\/em>\u00a0 The dimensions of the lodge lent itself to more than enough room for more than ten people to be inside, which meant they weren\u2019t elbow to elbow. She checked the height, noting that at five-foot no one except Snow White\u2019s bedmates could have stood up properly.<\/p>\n \u201cMan, I think that you whites have poor memories and waste a lot of trees on this kind of thing.\u201d He watched her scribbling away in her pad.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t think analytical investigation was your kind of thing. So did you notice what I noticed in my supposed waste of time jotting down notes and killing one spruce tree and half an ounce of lead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat at a crime scene you get writing cramps and are rather boring?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I thought shamans were observant. So did you notice what I noticed?\u201d<\/p>\n Charlie screwed up his face and scratched his head with the end of his cane. \u201cNope and I\u2019ve already tried the old zipper down hotdog gimmick yesterday, which doesn\u2019t work so well with females.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, no hotdog. How about the gap in the pile of stones?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat gap?\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed to the depression in the soil where another stone may have lain. She took a couple of close pictures. \u201cIt is possible it could have been dislodged when the inmates left the lodge. However it could just be a red herring.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHerring? We back to that sushi stuff again?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, silly. A red herring is what you think is a clue but isn\u2019t and only serves to mislead you. However would be handy if we could find it, even if just to rule it out.\u201d<\/p>\n Charlie stared, wrinkling his nose again at the thought of raw fish. \u201cI knew there was a reason I hired you to help me.\u201d It was odd that he had been so lost in trying to pick up psychic residue that he hadn\u2019t thought to notice what was right in front of his face. \u201cI must admit I\u2019m wrong and you\u2019ve caught me in the opposite of when we first met.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, I remember those the famous words, \u2018If you weren\u2019t white you\u2019d see all the clues that are around you.\u2019\u201d Charlie nodded quietly, remembering his quick cockiness at their first meeting in Stanley Park where the mayor of Vancouver had been brutally slain. Where he\u2019d said the same thing except using native in the context of white. \u201cNow from what I understand natives believe in the four cardinal points of the compass.\u201d Charlie nodded in agreement. \u201cAnd always the sign of leadership comes from the East spreading West and up and down so\u2026 I believe Ken Benson would have been sitting about here.\u201d Carol indicated a space opposite to where the stone may have been missing.<\/p>\n Charlie thought a moment. \u201cHow would you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI read about traditional sweat lodges on the ferry ride over. Again it\u2019s important to know as much about a situation as possible in case it lends itself to the investigation and I discovered this fact. So that tells me the suspect, if there is one, knew Benson would be sitting here and that the suspect is most likely native as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy is that important?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause in the gloomy light of the lodge at the time you would need to know where your mark would be so you didn\u2019t off the wrong person.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMan, that\u2019s amazing deductions. All that from a few notes and powers of observation. I will never bug you about note taking again, well except at dinner. You can\u2019t write and eat at the same time. Gives you ulcers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHowever from the crime scene photos,\u201d Carol continued, deciding not to rise to the bait this time, \u201cKen was laying here, slumped over, probably dead or at least severely incapacitated before his head hit the ground. Highly unlikely he managed to move after his head was hit. So if his body was here,\u201d Carol pointed to where he had been found \u201cbut the stones were here,\u201d she indicated the fire pit some distance away \u201chow did he fall, hit his head on the stones, and then fall down dead or incapacitated some six or eight feet back.\u201d Carol busied herself with the tape measure again to get the accurate figure, indicating to Charlie to assist.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you know what this means?\u201d Carol continued.<\/p>\n He scratched his head. \u201cThat I\u2019ve got to buy a measuring tape, pen and a pad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it means our Elder was more than likely murdered.\u201d She shook her head and whispered under her breath. \u201cLike someone else I\u2019d like to have done in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat little old me? Come on, you got to say I\u2019ve made your life interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInteresting? I\u2019m supposed to be relaxing on a beach sun-tanning, hoping that some hunk of a man, lifeguard, general stud type muffin would see me. Say, something like \u2018hey good looking want a date or a quick roll in the hay\u2019.\u00a0 No, instead I\u2019m on my knees inside some smelly native sweat lodge in the back of a prison. Few would call this interesting, humourous or I\u2019m just a sucker for punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo I sense a little resentment? I think you could use a good shrink.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood shrink? What I need is a good cattle truck. How\u2019s your rhyming slang?\u201d She laughed.<\/p>\n Charlie squinted as he tried to work it out in his head. \u201cOh, my. Did I mention I hate suckers? Chocolate bars though, now that\u2019s a different matter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow we know more what we\u2019re looking for we need to get the CSIs back in \u2013 some that know what they\u2019re doing. Who was here before? High-school students? We\u2019ll also need to extend the crime scene area, see if we can find that stone, although admittedly that will take some doing. If this was planned rather than spur-of-the-moment the murderer sure knew what he or she was doing. Murder weapon already easily to hand and not at all suspicious. I\u2019ll call the warden to make sure he continues to have this place under twenty-four hour guard.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood idea, I like it. You get to put more yellow tape up now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, that means I\u2019ve got to put up more yellow police tape to widen the perimeter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to make me cry you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard of crying at funerals, but crime scenes? You\u2019re one strange man, Charlie Stillwaters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, reminds me of the first time we met. I get all teary eyed and everything.\u201d<\/p>\n They\u2019d met at the taped off area in Stanley Park where Vancouver\u2019s mayor had been murdered, late at night.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I should be the one that\u2019s crying.\u00a0 It took me over a month to find you in Vancouver and I still get nightmares when I think of those maggots raining down on me.\u201d Carol shivered. Charlie had led her to the discovery of the mayor\u2019s daughter\u2019s body trapped inside an ancient cedar in Stanley Park. When she reached up and dislodged the rocks holding the body in place, all the maggots and grubs feeding off the body rained down on her.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you know the journey is always better than the destination.\u201d He snickered.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only destination I want right now is back to sun-tanning on the beach and less I journey with you the better.\u201d She shrugged her shoulders in shivering disgust.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, you\u2019re breaking my heart, and here I was getting all sentimental over our first date.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDate? That\u2019ll never happen. The only dates you\u2019ll get from me is a pound of dried Moroccan over the back of the head.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I see you\u2019re beginning to get my sense of humour. Can I help you with your yellow tape?\u201d As they exited the lodge Charlie turned to stand facing it, away from the forest. Earlier as they were joking around he got that internal shiver that he was being watched. The sensation he called his Spidey sense from the old Spiderman movies. Over his shoulder to the left he sensed it again. I was right. There is something out there watching me, or us. He spun around and caught a flash of light. Gone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I try to awake the shaman, I must reach out. Only he is dead, killed, by who?<\/em><\/p>\n And who?<\/em><\/p>\n Who I am?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Awakening Back Cover Blurbs and reviews<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n How angry would a mythical god be if he found himself awakening inside a mortal? After a strange and inexplicable death inside a jail, an intriguing and extraordinary shaman detects great unrest in the world, and breaks his way into the jail to investigate. He enlists Detective Carol Ainsworth to assist as an undercover prison officer who, rather strangely, also finds herself tasked with bringing to justice the murderer of a gentle forest being’s mother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Awakening, Stillwaters Runs Deep: Book Three<\/p>\n Just when I was beginning to wonder where the next great Canadian story teller would emerge from, Frank Talaber has written a modern crime mystery with a twist. In \u201cThe Awakening\u201d Talaber weaves the richness of Canada\u2019s west coast aboriginal spirituality into the science of modern forensics. CSI comes to Haida Gwaii as the shaman and the detective conduct an investigation that will take them and the reader on a journey to a place where murder, redemption and ancient mysticism intersect.<\/p>\n Michael G de Jong, QC, Minister of Finance, Government House Leader, Province of British Columbia<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Raven’s Lament, Stillwaters Runs Deep: Book One<\/p>\n It may only be a book to some, but to me it is a beautiful piece of artistry that I have the privilege of enjoying.<\/p>\n Greta Olsson<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Lure, Stillwaters Runs Deep: Book Two<\/p>\n Damn Frank — this writing is as tactile as a 1955 T-Bird. Very nice descriptions, good dialogue, a thinking man’s book but one that can be read entirely for pleasure. Good work.<\/p>\n Michael Arkin, Judicial Indiscretion<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Joining, Book One The Ainsworth Chronicles.<\/p>\n I hate you! My wife, who is off on medical leave, won’t get out of the bathroom. Can’t put your book down. LOL.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bruce W.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Frank Talaber, Writer by Soul.<\/p>\n A natural storyteller, whose compelling thoughts are freed from the depths of the heart and the subconscious before being poured onto the page.<\/p>\n Literature written beyond the realms of genre he is known to grab readers; kicking, screaming, laughing or crying and drag them into his novels.<\/p>\n Enter the literary world of Frank Talaber.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":4086,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[26,15],"product_tag":[],"class_list":["post-4084","product","type-product","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","product_cat-books","product_cat-uncategorized","desktop-align-left","tablet-align-left","mobile-align-left","first","instock","virtual","taxable","purchasable","product-type-simple"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatcreators.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/4084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatcreators.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatcreators.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatcreators.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4084"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatcreators.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatcreators.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatcreators.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=4084"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatcreators.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=4084"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatcreators.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=4084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}