his men were trying to help Little Blossom.
"Don't pull out the shaft!" warned Thundering Dove, "Leave it there
until we can get her to a Healer. It will only make the bleeding worse
if you pull it out."
60 Using their shields for a litter, they carried her back to a boat.
There, The Healer worked for a long time. When he came out he did not
look pleased. "She'll live," he announced, "but that arm will never be
right again. I fixed what I could, but there was alot of damage. She'll
always have a little discomfort. I'm shipping her back on the first boat, with
the worst of the wounded. She'll need constant care. She's already awake if you want to talk to her."
61 Thundering Dove went in. He just looked down at Little Blossom and
asked "Why?"
62 The woman looked up and smiled. "Don't you know?" she sighed.
63 Thundering Dove nodded. "We can't talk now," he acknoledged. "When
this is over we'll have words. Now I must get back to my duties."
64 "This might be an awful time to ask," insisted Little Blossom, "but
it is something I must know. Why did you choose a woman so much older
than yourself?"
65 "I did not," answered Thundering Dove, "she chose me! And it is a
choice I will forever be grateful for!"
66 "Among your people," continued Little Blossom, "a woman can tell a
man she wants him? SHE may make the proposal?"
67 Thundering Dove nodded. "You are the most strange and wonderful
people!" sighed Little Blossom. "I will never understand your ways."
68 As soon as the boat was on its way down the river, Thundering Dove
hurried back to the tunnel. By now it had been cleared and the first
fighting people