Apocalypsis 01 - Kahayatle

  If we can get them to agree to a truce, then will you guys be in favor?   Will you honor it?”
    “I’m going too,” said Paci.   “You can trust me to bring back accurate information, brother.”   He was addressing Kowi, and now I could see a strong resemblance between the two.   I don’t think he meant just tribe brothers in this case - they had the same parents for sure.
    Kowi nodded.   “Fine.   You go represent our tribe with the negotiators.”   He looked at his girlfriend. “Coli, you go too.   Talk to your family and help them to see the sense in this.”
    “But you’re my family now, Kowi.”   Her eyes were pleading with him along with her voice.   It was kind of sad, really.   I was starting to get the feeling that their relationship was somewhat one-sided.
    “We’ll see,” was all he said.
    Her face dropped and she looked down at the ground.   I know there had to be tears in her eyes; even someone made of stone would have cried at a rejection that cold and that public.
    “Come on,” I said.   “We’re burning daylight.   How far away are they?”
    “Twenty minutes, if we move fast.   Come on,” said Paci, separating himself from the group and heading for the trees.
    I looked at Coli.   “Coming?”
    She just stared at me for a second and then moved away to follow Paci, saying nothing.
    I rolled my eyes.   I thought teen drama had been left behind in the old world.   Today, the Miccosukee has taught me otherwise.   Bodo came up to walk beside me.
    “Dat was some smooth talking back dare.”
    I smiled.   “You think so?”
    “Yes.   Remindt me never to argue with you about anything.   I guess it wouldt be a waste of time for me.”
    “I’m glad you’ve figured that out so early in our relationship, Bodo.”   The import of my words didn’t really hit me until he responded.
    “Dat’s what we have, issn’t it?   A relationship.”
    “I guess,” I said, noncommittally.
    “Maybe some day you’ll let me call you my girlfriendt.”
    I laughed.   “Yeah.   Some day when we’re not running away from cannibals and indian warriors.”
    “Okay.   I’m gonna hold you to dat.”
    I smiled but said nothing.   The idea of a world without fear and Bodo calling me his girlfriend didn’t sound half bad.

CHAPTER TEN

    WE CLIMBED INTO A CANOE that was docked near our hut, leaving Buster behind with one of the Miccosukee girls who promised to take good care of him and feed him.   Buster seemed perfectly happy with the arrangement, especially when she pulled a nugget of something edible out of her pocket and gave it to him.   I sighed, watching him scamper away, jumping up so much on her that he looked like he wanted to climb right up her leg.   Loyalty - taken by a simple scrap of food.
    Paci rode in the back and Coli in front, both of them doing all the paddling while Bodo and I just rode.   It was pretty nice, actually, if I didn’t think about the purpose for the trip.   No one said anything, so the only sounds to be heard were those of the wildlife around us.   There were squawks, croaks, and ribbits and an errant caw now and again, floating out above the sounds of rustling bushes and leaves.   The banks of the river seemed like they were full of animals, rushing to hide whenever we came by.
    Eventually we stopped and Coli got out, pulling out the line they kept attached to the front of the canoe and wrapping it around a nearby tree.   We disembarked when she was done, following her into the trees.   A light was visible up ahead, and as we approached, I could see that it was a circle of torches stuck in the ground, all centered around a fire.  
    Coli stopped well outside the circle of lights and made a sound like a birdcall.   Less than a minute later, we were joined by three indians in more tribal-looking dress than I saw the Miccosukee wearing, making them look more intimidating.
    “Coli,” said one of them.   “Tired of those Meeks?   Ready to come back home?”
    “Shut up, Jeremy.   I need to see Trip.”
    “Trip’s busy.   Who are these people?”
    Coli sighed.   “You’re not high enough on the food chain to know that information.   Just go get him.”
    “You know, Coli, one of these days that mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble.”
    “Yeah, well, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to be around to see it.”
    “Maybe I will,” he said, before storming off.
    “Nice guy,” I said, when he was gone.
    “He’s