st window
and fell on the layer of leaves that covered White Bear's bed.

But when she tried to move, pain struck her like knives driven into her
knees and elbows, as if she had been sitting in the same position for
days.

"His eyes!" Yellow Hair cried, pointing at White Bear. From the floor
Redbird could not see what Yellow Hair was seeing. She forced her aching
legs to lift her.

White Bear looked at Redbird, then at Yellow Hair. He smiled faintly.

She had done it. He was back in his body.

A spring of pure, sweet joy burst up inside her. A sob welled from her
lips. She stumbled toward Yellow Hair and felt that she was going to
fall. Yellow Hair's arms held her up.

She saw his mouth open, heard him whisper to her, "You brought me back.
I will always love you."

"And I will always love you," Redbird said. Her voice was a croak, as if
she had not spoken in days.

She turned to Yellow Hair. "Now he will live."

Laughing and crying at once, Yellow Hair thanked Redbird again and again
in their common language, calling on her God to bless Redbird.

_Bless me? But what of that man in the mine?_

"Give White Bear the tea of elm bark now. Later, little food, only
little," Redbird said. "Easy-eat food. Hominy good. Later, soup with
meat."

Yellow Hair eagerly agreed.

"Must sleep," said Redbird. She slurred her words, too worn out to speak
clearly.

She could lie down in another room, Yellow Hair said, leading her away
from the canopied bed where the weeping grandfather bent over White
Bear, holding him by his shoulders.

"I gone many days?" Redbird asked.

Yellow Hair's deep blue eyes widened. She shook her head at the word
"days." She assured Redbird that she had been silent only for an
instant. She had been singing, then she closed her eyes, and a moment
later when she opened them again, White Bear had opened his. Yellow Hair
hugged her so hard it hurt her.

_Just an instant?_ Every time Redbird went on a shaman's journey she
learned something new.

Yellow Hair, her arm around Redbird's shoulders, led her to a bed in
another room. Redbird had never lain on a pale eyes' bed, but she sat
down on the edge and fell back. If she was not so tired she would not
have been able to sleep in this bed. It was too soft. Yellow Hair lifted
her legs onto the bed for her.

That was the last thing Redbird remembered.

* * * * *

After a day and a night of sleep, Redbird woke refre