He Who Was of Two Minds spoke then. “It is good that we will follow the way of peace. But what of those who have not accepted this peace? How will be defend ourselves if they attack us?”

“I am going now to speak to those other nations, to bring them the message of peace. When all of you People of the Longhouse are of one mind, no longer will you fight with each other. You will use your good minds to avoid conflict and come to agreement together. Because your nations joined together will be strong, that strength will prevent other nations from attacking you. But even with other nations, you must use persuasion and the power of the good mind to prevent war.”

The Peacemaker looked around again at the people who were listening closely to his every word.

“I am going now to visit other nations and bring them this message of peace. There will come a time when all of us will be called to gather at Onondaga, where a giant war chief controls others with his power. But first I must clear a path.”

Then the Peacemaker, his face turned toward the direction of the sunset, left them.

•   •   •

When Carries had finished his second story about the Peacemaker, everyone was silent. It was not just that Carries was such a good storyteller, his voice even and calm, each word clearly spoken. It was the story itself that brought such thoughtful silence.

Especially to Okwaho. That story was magic.

It had not been like listening. It had been as if he had been carried there, placed to stand at the edge of the cliff and see it happen, watching the Peacemaker plunge into the great waterfall and then—with those men who saw his smoke rising the next day—feel the same wonder they must have felt at his miraculous survival.

Okwaho looked around at his father, his mother, Burnt Hair and all the others who had been listening as intently as he. The looks on their faces were the same. Even Burnt Hair was nodding his head.

Finally Wolf Woman broke the silence.

“Will we see this man?” she asked. “Will he come here?”

Carries smiled. “Yes. And it will be soon, before Grandmother Moon’s face is full again in the sky. Those of us who have been carrying the message that he will soon arrive have now visited almost every village. The Great Stone People, the Swampy Land People and my own Flint nation have all come to the decision to join their minds and heart together. I have just come from the village of the Standing Stone People closest to yours and they, too, have said they are willing to give up the way of war—as long as the Onondagas agree to the Great Peace. It seems that your great war chief, Atatarho, will be the last one to decide.”

chapter eleven

THE BLUEBIRD