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It was not difficult for her to escape; but this was only possible when attempted alone. With Say Koitza flight was next to impossible. Beside, it appeared very unlikely to her that the woman would flee from her children. As for Shotaye, the case was different; she might leave her cave and her scanty effects at any time, provided she knew where to go. This was not so easy to determine.
Say hung her head and pouted; and yet she felt that Shotaye was right, after all. And then it was so gratifying to hear from Shotaye's own lips how good her son was. "Sanaya," she asked after a while, timidly, "tell me for what you came." "No," the other curtly answered. Say started. "Be not angry with me," she pleaded. "I do not mean anything wrong." "And yet you slander your best child."
Say Koitza began to sob. Shotaye continued, angrily, "You may well weep! Whoever speaks ill of his own blood, as you do, ought to be sad and shed tears forever. Listen to me, koitza. Okoya is good; he will not betray anybody, and least of all his mother. And hear my words, Mitsha also is good; as good as her father is bad, as wise as her mother is foolish.
It waxed to an intense longing for life and revenge. But what was to be done? There was the riddle, and to solve it she thought and thought. Shotaye became oblivious of all around her, completely absorbed in her musings. It thus escaped her notice that the curtain over the doorway had been cautiously lifted several times, and that a human face had peered into the apartment.
In short her words produced such an effect that the governor himself came to interrogate her on the subject, and even caused the war-chief to return from the field on the fourth day, and had him visit Shotaye in company with the interpreter and secure a detailed and accurate description of this dangerous individual.
The housewife, who until then had rather frowned at the visitor, now smiled and nodded too, repeating the words, "Not Queres; Tehua woman, wife of Cayamo." All laughed, and the governor exclaimed, "It is well." The case was clear to all. Cayamo, on his expedition to secure scalps, had picked up a sweetheart. Food was placed before Shotaye, and the woman caressed her, inviting her to eat.
The people look upon the Delight Makers with a degree of respect akin to fear at all times, for they are regarded as powerful intermediaries in matters of life and death to the tribe; but during that particular time they are considered as specially precious to the higher powers. Shotaye hated the Koshare.
When the night of the third came, her apprehensions became distressing. On the fourth, Shotaye must surely come; expectation, and finally disappointment, almost tortured to death the poor woman, for Shotaye came not. Everything seemed to conspire to render her hopelessly miserable. She lost sight of her surroundings, grew speechless, and almost devoid of feeling.
"It is well, and it is good for him and for the tribe," the old man asserted. "Afterward he came and said, 'Sanaya, I am going with that makatza; does she please you? I believe that was right also?" "It was right." The woman omitted the incident of her quarrel with Okoya as well as her interview with Shotaye, and said, "He also went to Hayoue and told him to speak to me for him.
Everything was quiet and still around her, only at a short distance two crows flew up croaking. Say Koitza was not strong enough to walk up to the cliffs; therefore Shotaye, when she came to announce to her friend that the necessary material was at last secured, suggested that the incantation be performed at the home of the invalid.
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