The Acorn-Planter

(Glancing about.)     And this is Eden, to look upon it.

Red Cloud     My father was the Coyote.

Sun Man     My father was Jehovah.

Red Cloud     I am the Fire-Bringer. I stole the fire from
the ground squirrel and hid it in the heart of
the wood.

Sun Man     Then am I Prometheus, your brother. I
stole the fire from heaven and hid it in the heart
of the wood.

Red Cloud     I am the Acorn-Planter. I am the Food-
Bringer, the Life-Maker. I make food for
more life, ever more life.

Sun Man     Then am I truly your brother. Life-Maker
am I, tilling the soil in the sweat of my brow
from the beginning of time, planting all manner
of good seeds for the harvest.

(Looking sharply at Red Cloud's skin
garments.)     Also am I the Weaver and Cloth-Maker.

(Holding out arm so that Red Cloud may
examine the cloth of the coat)     From the hair of the goat and the wool of
the sheep, and from beaten and spun grasses,
do I make the cloth to keep man warm.

Shaman     (Breaking in boastfully.)     I am the Shaman. I know all secret things.

Sun Man     I know my pathway under the sun over all
the seas, and I know the secrets of the stars
that show me my path where no path is. I
know when the Wolf of Darkness shall eat the
moon.

(Pointing toward moon.)     On this night shall the Wolf of Darkness eat
the moon.

(He turns suddenly to Red Cloud,
drawing sheath-knife and passing it
to him.)
More, O First Man and Acorn-Planter. I am
the Iron-Maker. Behold!

(Red Cloud examines knife, understands
immediately its virtue, cuts easily a strip
of skin from his skin garment, and is
overcome with the wonder of the knife.)
War Chief     (Exhibiting a long bow.)     I am the War Chief. No man, save me, has
strength to bend this bow. I can slay farther
than any man.

(A huge bear has come out among the
bushes far up the hillside)
Sun Man     I, too, am War Chief over men, and I can
slay farther than you.

War Chief     Hoh! Hoh!

Sun Man     (Pointing to bear)     Can you slay that with your strong bow?

War Chief     (Dubiously)     It is a far shot. Too far. No man can slay
a great bear so far.

(Sun Man, shaking off from his arms the
hands of Deer Foot and Elk Man,
aims musket and fires. The bear falls,
and the Nishinam betray astonishment
and awe)
(At a quick signal from War Chief,
Sun Man is again seized. War Chief
takes away musket and examines it.)
Shaman     There is a sign.

People     There is a sign.
He carries the thunder in his hand.
He slays with the thunder in his hand.
He is the enemy of the Nishinam.
He will destroy the Nishinam.

Shaman     There is a sign.

People     There is a sign.
In the day the Sun Man comes,
The waters from the spring will no longer flow,
And in that day will he destroy the Nishinam.

War Chief     (Exhibiting musket.)     Hoh! Hoh! I have taken the Sun Man's
thunder.

Shaman     Now shall the Sun Man die that the Nishinam
may live.

Red Cloud     He is our brother. He, too, is an acorn-
planter. He has spoken.