Man on the Silver Mountain (chapter 2)

Man on the Silver Mountain

Chapter 2:

INTRODUCTION TO THE VILLAGE

As we neared the village, it was only a few hundred feet away, many started to notice our approach and notify others. They started gathering to see who this stranger was, that was being led in by Swift Fox. The children and women talked in hush tones and the men and boys looked on in a wary but friendly way.

I began to smell all of the activities of a village. Fires and their smoke, of course, food cooking, dust that was raised with all the commotion. The herd of their horses, that was off to the one side, grazing on an open flat area, near a stream flowing about 100 feet away. Then, a faint whiff became conscious to me, of something unfamiliar to my previous experience, from living around others. Ah, now it came to me, it was their scents. They unlike my own kind, didn’t use lye based soap. I hadn’t used any since I left the settlements, back home. I started to be able to discern the pleasant smell of women and realized how much I had missed that scent.

It seemed that in the short time I had been in this mountain life. The mountains had awakened all of my senses to a deeper natural awareness that I hadn’t become fully conscious of, until that moment.

These smells were more natural, it seemed. I began to wonder when and why so many of my own “civilized” people had begun to use such strong scented soaps on washing with. It seemed to me now, that it only corrupted them; only diffused the sense of smell.

Suddenly, three young women, two that were barely more than girls came running up to Swift Fox, hugging and laughing with him. All three were quite lovely creatures and I wished that I had been the recipient of their attention. They seemed so openly happy and sincerely affectionate.

The oldest, I noticed then, was glancing my way, more than not but trying to seem like she wasn’t. Surprisingly she had beautiful blonde, long wavy and curly hair. Her skin, although tanned was more of my color. (Later I learned that she had been rescued and adopted by the tribe)

We were about a 1/3rd of the way into the village, when we came to one of the larger tipis.

Sitting in front, was an older man, I would guess in his late 30’s or early 40’s. Swift Fox broke from the girls and walked directly to him squatting in front. Speaking to the man and then motioned me to come over.