The Legend of Running Brook: Redemption

By William C Barnes

Second Story in the series.

 

Left to himself in the Forest of Thought and creation, what will become of Buffalo Horn?

 

Karima V. Bushnell

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2015

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and admire it as well. The fictional Indian tribes have an authentic ring in two different ways: First, their cultures' practices and values make sense and hang together just as those of real cultures do, and I speak as an MA in Intercultural Relations and former college instructor in this field. Even better, at least one of the tribes holds and communicates the life-affirming, respectful, earth-centered values that make the traditional Native American worldview so beautiful and admirable. The characters are good, the story is interesting and sweeps the reader along, and the hero (who is something of a blockhead at times) is well worth rooting for as we follow his journey toward awakening. The mystical experiences feel authentic as well. This interesting and easy-flowing work of fiction reflects the real experiences and visions common to spiritual seekers across world religions. In short, it's my very favorite kind of book: It entertains, instructs and uplifts you all at once. Good work, Mr. Barnes!

Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2015

 

By Dr Ron De Vasto
Wow...This was one of the greatest reads I've had in years and I read a lot of books, love to read. Bill has hit it out of the park with this wonderful spiritual fantasy. Bill weaves the emotional ups and downs of Running Brook and pulled me into the adventure within a few pages, I didn't want the adventure to end. The book is filled with life lessons that I find can be applied to everyday life. Bills dynamic writing left it open for a sequel. I am waiting for the next book in the adventure of Running Brook

 

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2014

Erin Hopkins

Through fiction William C. Barnes is able to craft a well rounded story with relatable characters and situations. Running Brook is the hero of our novel and is forced to go through many trials and tribulations through out his journey.
William C. Barnes has well rounded characters in the story and they are human with flaws and feelings. That makes for much more believable characters.
I've enjoyed reading his book and hope that he comes out with more soon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: William C Barnes
• Release date: Mar 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393182177

Book preview

By William C. Barnes

COPYRIGHT AND CREDITS

This book is a work of fiction/fantasy.  It is not intended to portray any real native tribes of past or present.  All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional.  Any resemblance to real people, places, or incidents or culture is purely coincidental.

THE LEGEND OF RUNNING BROOK: REDEMPTION

© Copyright 2015 by William C. Barnes

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in all formats, except for short quotations included in a review.  Please do not redistribute this file without permission.

COVER DESIGN BY WILLIAM C. Barnes and Yonassan Gershom

Editing and research by Yonassan Gershom

TO THE FOREST

All that we are is the result of what we have thought.

If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him.

If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him,

like a shadow that never leaves him.

- The Buddha

IN MEMORY OF

Richard Rich Becker

Toby Christine

Eleanor Mueller

FOR

My sister: Anita M. Casciato

What has become of Buffalo Horn?

Holy Man tried to get to sleep but a large insect kept buzzing about him.  Every time he swatted at it became more incessant at keeping him awake.  He rolled over in his blanket and saw a man sitting on the floor near him.  He nearly jumped out of his skin.  The man was dressed in the full regalia of a Chief.  A red cape, white buckskin and feathers facing downward from a headband.

Your teepee still stinks, the man said.  Suddenly Holy Man realized that he was in the presence of Tornado."

PROLOGUE

From collective font of souls, The Great Everywhere Father chose a soul who was not bent on serving God, but rather one who was selfish and self-absorbed.  It had grown accustomed to living as an entity separate from others. The Great Everywhere Father placed the soul into a fetus some months before its birth.

Why are you bothering me? The soul protested. I was happy by myself with my own thoughts. I want to be left alone!

Dear child, the Great Everywhere Father explained. I want you to grow closer to me for you are in me and I in you, but you do not know this of yourself in any way matter or form.  You have caused great pain in other past lives, but still you have not learned. Being alone and away from me is your way of not seeing the truth and not dealing with it. So, to learn this truth you must suffer. You must learn that beyond the pain there is wisdom.

The child kicked madly in the womb.  No! I want to be alone! I don’t want to be among others."  And when his time came to be born, he kicked and writhed twisting and tearing at his umbilical corn. Finally, when he emerged from the womb, it was clear his mother, White Squirrel the wife of the Holy Man, Walking Bear would die from the difficult birth.

As she lay dying, she took her son in her arms. And named him Buffalo Horn for he had torn her insides like the horns of a bison. She tried weakly to sing the birth song to him, but the child would have nothing of it. He was angry at being born and could not be soothed.  He did not cry or whimper, instead he screamed in anger. His mother died as she held his squirming body that would accept no comfort.

What will become of you, my love? White Squirrel asked her son.  Those were her last words.

And so, as befitted the child, his name became Buffalo Horn, and his life was also dedicated that year to the Everywhere Father. But even during the ceremony he screamed as if cursing the Everywhere Father for his birth. How a human being could enter the world like this is anyone's guess.  Suffice it to say, that he came into life with bitter, revengeful memories in the recesses of his soul of similar past lives. 

From the start, Buffalo Horn lacked normal compassion and understanding.  He was self-centered and aggressive.  Even early on, anyone who would get in his way was subjugated.

He did not have to resort to violence, at least not at first, for he was bright, a quick learner, strong and handsome, with a beguiling way that could sway the thoughts of his peers.  No matter how sarcastic or cruel he was, people couldn't help but like him.  No one could resist his charm, his medicine—his eloquence. No one, that is, except Running Brook, the son of the Chief. Keplak.

He tormented the Chief’s son making fun of him and inciting fist fights between the two.  The fact that he lost every fight did not deter him from pushing Running Brook into anger, for he gained more satisfaction at inciting him to fight than for losing to him. It was worth the pain.

Buffalo Horn wanted to be Chief.  And so worked the magic of his words –his eloquence to garner the support of all the young braves against the Chief’s son.  When the young men were of marriageable age, he used his guile to separate the Running Brook from Doe the woman he so loved, and then later manipulated the two in an unholy tryst that left Doe pregnant and outcast, and Running Brook banished from the Kepke tribe. The fact that Buffalo Horn had killed Doe’s father, Many Elk to accomplish this only gave him an exhilarating sense of power and the knowledge that one day HE would be Chief.

As the years of Running Brook’s banishment stretched into nearly three years Buffalo Horn got what he wanted.  He became Chief!  It took killing the Chief Keplak and his own father Walking Bear to do it, but he blamed it on Running Brook, predicting that he would return.

At the end of his own personal trials and with his heart changed, Running Brook did return to his people fearing for their welfare because of a vision he had in the Forest of Thought and Creation. But Running Brook returned nor only with a changed heart but with a new name—Tornado, the name of a Heyoka, the contrary man.

Immediately Buffalo Horn had Tornado bound and gagged. He spit at him, tormented him and as the new Chief ordered Tornado’s execution, even though such a thing was contrary to Kepke codes. True to his power-filled name, Tornado escaped to the Forest.  Further enraged, Buffalo Horn accompanied his best men and hunters to seek out Tornado in the Forest of Thought and Creation, leaving his tribe subject to raiders who stole their meager supplies, leaving them to near famine.  In the Forest Tornado took on many forms from that of a large spider to that of a dragon fly in order change the hearts and the minds of those who followed Buffalo horn.

Now in the Forest himself Buffalo Horn found the cave where Tornado lived.  In late afternoon, before twilight set in, Buffalo Horn and his haggard companion, Talking Bird were near the cave. Talking Bird was injured because during one of Tornado’s mind tricks he had been mistaken for Buffalo Horn by his friends and stoned.  He was barely able to stay on his feet.  Quickly Buffalo Horn crouched to the ground behind some tall grass.

There! he pointed excitedly.  There's the cave.  Look!

At that moment, Doe appeared, looking out from the opening of the cave.

Perfect, Buffalo Horn whispered.  Wait here!  I'll see if she is alone.

Buffalo Horn crawled off through the brush like a mountain lion on the hunt.  Talking Bird watched him as he got farther away.  He knew Buffalo Horn wanted to kill Doe.  Even if he never found Tornado, he would have had some revenge.  No! NO!  He had to stop this once and for all.

Talking Bird stood up and shouted, Look out, Doe!  Behind you!

Doe was wise enough to stop and not look toward the cave.  If there was a danger, it threatened her son Little Bear back in the cave.  With the instincts of a prairie chicken feigning a broken wing, she purposely stumbled as she scrambled away from the cave, hoping to divert whoever her attacker was.

Buffalo Horn followed her, but Talking Bird was upon him in a flash, knocking him to the ground.  They separated and faced each other, circling, and drew their knives.

Your insanity ends here! Talking Bird said.  I will not let you kill her.  I won't betray Tornado again.

You fool!  Buffalo Horn yelled, and then lunged with his knifepoint aimed for Talking Birds gut.  Talking Bird sidestepped quickly at the last moment, and Buffalo Horn landed face first on the ground. 

Talking Bird turned his head and yelled, Run, Doe!  Run!  Warn Tornado!

In the instant he looked away, Buffalo Horn picked up a stone and hurled it, hitting his opponent in the side of the head with a loud crack.  Talking Bird tried to remain standing but was blinded by the blood running down his face.  Not until he was knocked to the ground and felt the thumping on his chest as Buffalo Horn's sharp blade pierced him repeatedly, did he realize the fight was over.

The commotion outside awoke Little Bear.  Feeling lonely in that big cave, he walked outside, calling for his favorite playmate, the Watcher.

Puppy?  Play!

His voice stopped Doe dead in her tracks.  She turned around to see Buffalo Horn scoop Little Bear up and carry him away.

No! she screamed, her voice echoing through the Forest.

What is it? a voice said – it was Tornado who appeared so suddenly, she nearly fainted from surprise.  All she could do was point.  Tornado took off like an eagle in a down draft, sailing over the small hill overlooking the cave, in hot pursuit of Buffalo Horn.  His only thought was to save his son.

Buffalo Horn came out from behind a tree about fifty steps away.  He was holding Little Bear.  Tornado was relieved to see the child alive.

Put the child down, Buffalo Horn.

Look at you! Buffalo Horn cackled.  Do you always run around the forest naked?  You look like a clown.

Put the child down, Tornado repeated more emphatically.

The child?  I thought he was yours, O Great ‘Tornado.’  In a way, he's my child, too.  Yes, I'm his father.  Didn't I put you and that dog bitch together? he taunted. 

The baby sensed that something was wrong and tried to squirm away.  Buffalo Horn struck him and made him cry.  Tornado moved forward in response.

Stay back!  Buffalo Horn demanded, drawing his knife.  Or I'll gut him like a trout.

You don't want Little Bear.  You want me.  Put him down.

I want more than just to kill you.  I want to hurt you.  I want to see you beg for mercy while I kill your child.

Is this how the Kepke Chief acts?  Tornado asked.

Chief?  What do you know about being a Chief?  You never cared for our