Ch. 16f Tomorrow is Another Day

[Mr. Handy]

I'd also like to visit Nashoba.

[Bullfrog]

It seems pretty essential to check in on Nashoba.

[Philulhu]

Leaving Mrs Hebert and her daughters to their homework, the party let themselves out and headed up the road that lead out of town, towards the shack where they had left Nashoba the night before.

As they approached the shack they heard raised voices. Nashoba’s wife was hectoring him in a shrill tone and the man himself was answering back, barking replies at her, testily. The language was foreign to them, of course, but it wasn’t difficult to surmise the tone of the conversation.

As they watched, the door to the shack was flung open so that it banged hard against the wall, threatening to break the timbers, and Nashoba staggered out, eyes sunken, his hair standing up in all directions, tripping over his own feet but somehow just about managing to stay upright. To Lawrence, no stranger to the illicit hooch distilled in the backs of barns and other out of the way places, it looked like the Native American was suffering the very worst of hangovers, barely able to keep his eyes open or his hands from trembling.

His wife appeared in the doorway behind him, continually berating him to no avail. Even when she tore off her moccasin and threw it at him, it barely registered and he stumbled past them in the direction of town without a word…

[Silver Priest]

Of all the sights Alex was expecting, this was not one of them. Given what the man had seen however, perhaps the bottle was a logical source.

He places a hand on the native's shoulder, attempting to gently but get the man's attention. "Good morning, Mr. Nashoba. We'd like to speak to you for a few moments."

[Mr. Handy]

"If you'd like some food, I'm buying," says William, walking along with him. Having something in his stomach besides alcohol will help dilute it and sober him up, and it loosened his tongue the day before.

[Philulhu]

Nashoba shrugged off Alex’s hand and carried on in the direction of town. Up close, he had the sour reek of smoke, of someone who hadn’t washed and had slept in their clothes, but not of alcohol. It seemed it was events of the previous evening that tormented him, not the demon drink.

He eyed William blearily. ”Lunch. Uh-huh,” he grunted as he almost staggered into the ditch at the side of the road.

[jp1885]

Ivy's nose wrinkles in disgust.

"It seems our only lead is as reliable as ever," she mutters. "Remind me why we came down her again?"

[Mr. Handy]

"To find evidence of the presence of Nyatanga or any of his people," says William.

[jp1885]

“It was a rhetorical question,” Ivy snaps. ”That thing in the oilfield is evidence enough I’d say!”

[Philulhu]

Nashoba continued on his unsteady way, swaying from side to side as he walked. His progress was slow. More than once he seemed to get lost and stop in the road, peering around to get his bearings before heading off again.

It took almost twice as long as it should have to reach town but he eventually made it, tripping over the town sign before staggering into the general store and demanding food in a broken voice.

[Mr. Handy]

"I'll pay for it," says William.

[Philulhu]

Nashoba sat down heavily on at one of the tables, barely managing a wave of his hand as Bart greeted him. “Chief! You look sick as heck. Are you sure you shouldn’t be in bed?”

He looked at the others with obvious concern.

[Silver Priest]

"He had a rough night," Alex adds, lamely. "We're hoping a nice meal will help him sober up."

[Mr. Handy]

"I think he'll feel better once he's had something to eat," says William.

[jp1885]

Ivy makes her opinion of Nashoba known with a loud 'harrumph'.

"It'll take a three course meal to sober him up," she mutters.

[Philulhu]

Nashoba frowned and stared at Ivy. ”Harrumph, yourself,” he said, testily but a bit more cogently.

He looked at the other three and frowned again. ”What do you want?” he asked.

[Mr. Handy]

"We want to understand what happened last night," says William. "I get the feeling you don't fully understand it yourself, but maybe we can put the pieces together. There was an oilman we saw last night." He describes the one he saw in the church. "Do you know the man's name? Did you see him?"

[Silver Priest]

Relieved the man's back to his grumpy self, Alex smiles.

"There's also the fact of what you saw last night," he adds. "I don't think it's a coincidence you chose the exact pit whatever that thing was was lurking in to attack. I think someone manipulated you to strike there--wanted to unleash something horrible on the town."

[Philulhu]

Nashoba shrugged at William’s question. It seems that whoever the man was, Nashoba either hadn’t seen him or didn’t know who he was.

To Alex he said, ”I told you. Well, one of you, anyway.” He looked around at the four of them. ”It’s the burial ground of my tribe. My ancestors lie there, beneath the oil and filth with which the whites pollute the ground.” He scowled at them, as if they were personally responsible.

[Mr. Handy]

"Last night, you kept saying 'Nakka Mur,'" says William. "I was wondering what it means."