and better.

Slowly he withdrew from her and they lay on their sides looking at each
other. His eyes were huge right before her face.

"For a moment," he said softly, "I felt as I did when I walked on the
bridge of stars."

She thought of asking him whether it made him so happy that he would
stay with her now instead of going to the country of the pale eyes with
his father. But she knew what his answer would be, and that his saying
it would only hurt him and her.

She said, "It was Sun Woman, your mother, who told me about this--about
what men and women do together."

He laughed. "It was also she who told me." His face reddened. "I feel as
if my mother were here watching us."

It was Redbird's turn to laugh. "What would she see that she did not
know about already?"

He shook his head. "I would not want anybody to see us doing that."

"The spirits watch us."

"That is not the same. They watch everything, so it is not special to
them."

"Is it special to you?" she asked.

"Oh, yes. Something has passed between us. I have given a part of myself
to you. And I have a part of you too. Now, even if I must leave you, we
will still be with each other."

She did not want to hear him speak of leaving. She wanted to stay here
with him in this grove of ancient trees forever. When she had spoken to
him of going off and being alone together, this was what she imagined it
would be like. But then a dark thought crossed her mind.

"White Bear, they might send people looking for us. They might catch us
together like this." Anxiously she started to pull her clothing
together.

He sat up beside her and put his hand over hers. "I do not think anyone
is coming." He sounded so sure that she thought he must be speaking as a
shaman.

"They know I will come back to the village," he added. "They saw me
smoke the calumet. And in a few days I will leave with Star Arrow."

He said it with such finality that the sun seemed to go out.

"And so there is time," he said, "If you want ..." and guided her hand
to touch him. To her joy she felt him strong in his readiness to be
within her again. This time, she was sure, it would not hurt. She would
know the full delight that Sun Woman had told her of. The afternoon
sunlight slanting through the budding branches was warm again, bathing
her and making her feel joyful and free.

Their flowing together lasted longer this time, and gave her all the
happiness she had hoped for.

And it c