The Acorn-Planter

Shaman     He is the Sun Man, and he is our eternal
enemy. He shall die.

War Chief     In war I command.

(To Hunters.)     Tie their feet with stout thongs that they
may not run. And then make ready with bow
and arrow to do the deed.

(Hunters obey, urging and thrusting the
Sea Cunies into a compact group behind
the Sun Man.)
Red Cloud     Shaman I am not.
I know not the secret things.
I say the things I know.
When you plant kindness you harvest kindness.
When you plant blood you harvest blood.
He who plants one acorn makes way for life.
He who slays one man slays the planter of a
thousand acorns.

Shaman     Shaman I am.
I see the dark future.
I see the Sun Man's death,
The journey he must take
Through thick and endless forest
Where lost souls wander howling
A thousand moons of moons.

People     Through thick and endless forest
Where lost souls wander howling
A thousand moons of moons.

(War Chief arranges Hunters with their
bows and arrows for the killing.)
Sun Man     (To Red Cloud.)     You will slay us?

Red Cloud     (Indicating War Chief.)     In war he commands.

Sun Man     (Addressing the Nishinam)     Nor am I a Shaman. But I will tell you true
things to be. Our brothers are acorn-planters,
cloth-weavers, iron-workers. Our brothers are
life-makers and masters of life. Many are our
brothers and strong. They will come after us.
Your First Man has spoken true words. When
you plant blood you harvest blood. Our brothers
will come to the harvest with the thunder
in their hands. There is a sign. This night,
and soon, will the Wolf of Darkness eat the
moon. And by that sign will our brothers come
on the trail we have broken.

(As final preparation for the killing is
completed, and as Hunters are arranged
with their bows and arrows,
Sun Man sings.)
Sun Man     Our brothers will come after,
On our trail to farthest lands;
Our brothers will come after
With the thunder in their hands.

Sun Men           Loud will be the weeping,
Red will be the reaping,
High will be the heaping
Of the slain their law commands.

Sun Man     Givers of law, our brothers,
This is the law they say:
Who takes the life of a brother
Ten of the slayers shall pay.

Sun Men     Our brothers will come after,
On our trail to farthest lands;
Our brothers will come after
With the thunder in their hands.
Loud will be the weeping,
Red will be the reaping,
High will be the heaping
Of the slain their law commands.

Sun Man     Our brothers will come after
By the courses that we lay;
Many and strong our brothers,
Masters of life are they.

Sun Men     Our brothers will come after
On our trail to farthest lands;
Our brothers will come after
With the thunder in their hands.
Loud will be the weeping,
Red will be the reaping,
High will be the heaping
Of the slain their law commands.

Sun Man     Plowers of land, our brothers,
Of the hills and pleasant leas;
Under the sun our brothers
With their keels will plow the seas.

Sun Men     Our brothers will come after,