house, and a fine stew on the fire. Let him come
with me. I will feed him and put him to bed!"
131 "I will send some extra meat," added The Chieftain, "and bread. But
your gentle care is what he needs most."
132 Returning to her hut, Yellow Thorn put a couple of cushions on a
chair, seated Sleepy Crow, and served him the meal, eating lightly,
herself. "What
is your courtship like?" she asked.
133 "Whatever the two people want to make it," explained Sleepy Crow.
"We have no set procedure like The Oneness, or, The One. The two people
just do things together they like, and get to know one-another to see
if it is right for them to spend their years together. Why do you ask?"
134 "I was told what you said," she answered, "and merely wondered what
to expect. It will be nice doing things with you, and learning your
peoples' ways! "
135 "You are under no obligation," announced Sleepy Crow. "I will help
your people without payment."
136 The woman sat down beside him. "Precisely," she explained , "why I desire to keep your company. 'When a man demands
nothing, that is when he should be given all you have.' An old
expression of my people."
137 "I think," laughed Sleepy Crow, "there is much for ME to learn
about YOUR customs, also!"
138 She bedded him down and slept across from him. Sleepy
Crow had strange dreams of birds clawing at his eyes, that woke him
once, but he went right back to sleep. In the morning when the sun was
well up, they carried the glider to a long, open stretch of road.
The villagers fastened a rope to it, and as they ran swiftly
down the road pulling it, Sleepy Crow soared skyward.
139 As he sailed over the hills, to the west of the village, circling
for altitude he saw three fires still