man's back years before and left him paralyzed,
had done more harm to The Land of Spirit than any enemy soldier.
53 Finally, this trusted Councilman nodded. ''Many of the older
Warlocks are going to be resentful,” he suggested, "but I say SEND
HIM! He'll drive the enemy crazy! They'll never know WHAT he'll do!" The rest of The Council nodded in agreement.
54 "Now, wait a minute!" insisted Thundering Dove, "don't I have some
say in this?"
55 "Would you refuse the assignment?" questioned The First Speaker.
56 "Not if you insist I go," agreed Thundering Dove. "But I would like
to choose my own staff. I've got to have people I know around me. It
will give me some assurance."
57 "Name the ones you want," agreed The First Speaker.
58 "First of all, I want Jumping Toad, my old assistant. He knows my
every whim and is like a second hand. We function together very well,
and I will need that. Then, I want Dancing Crow. He's smart, and can
help me deal with civil matters, which I'm not good at. Then, I want
Sorrowful Fox's Warlock status reestablished, and I want him as my
Second in Command."
59 The whole Council looked like they would fall away. "I'm a cripple!"
insisted Sorrowful Fox, "I can't even dress myself. I'd be no good to
you in
battle!"
60 "Someone else can dress you," argued Thundering Dove, "it is not
your legs I need, it's your brain. While I am off in the field, I must
know that everything behind me is secure. You can direct such things
from a chair or a pallet. I need your wisdom to balance the brashness
of my youth."
61 "What you want," agreed The First Speaker, "you will have! All your
conditions will be met!"