Fred nodded as he moved toward them.
“I’m Michelle, this is my partner, Sean.”
They shook hands and then surveyed where the plantation had once stood.
“Did you know Sam?” asked Fred.
“A little. I suppose you did?”
“Good man. Let me live on his land. Brought me smokes and the Jim Beam. I’m going to miss him. I’m going to miss them all. I guess I’m the only one left now that Gabriel isn’t living here anymore. I had two indigenous staying with me, but they moved on.”
“Koasati?” she asked.
“The lost people, yes. How did you know?”
“Lucky guess.”
“I hear the property is being sold. Are you involved in that? I saw you meeting with some folks.”
“That’s right. But Gabriel told us about you and we’ve made provision that you and your Airstream will still have a place here.”
Fred smiled grimly. “I doubt that’ll matter.”
“Why?”
He coughed deeply. “Doctor says I’ve only got a few more months left. Lung thing.”
“I’m sorry,” Sean said.
“Don’t be. I’m old. I’m supposed to die.” He put a small hand on Michelle’s sleeve. “Would you like to come back to my trailer for a beer? It’s close by here. And my Airstream has never seen anyone as beautiful as this young lady.”
Michelle smiled. “How can a girl refuse an offer like that?”
They sat inside his little trailer and drank a bottle of beer each and Fred regaled them with stories about Sam and Gabriel and life at Atlee.
“You know, I could always tell that Sam was unhappy. He tried not to show it, but he was an unhappy man.”
Sean took a swig of beer and nodded. “I think you’re right there.”
“Sam had great respect for our culture. Asked me lots of questions about it. Our symbols and rituals.”
Sean sat up. “Fred, I saw a mark on Sam’s arm one time.” On the layer of dust on a rickety table in the trailer, Sean drew it out and spoke as he did so. “Four lines. A long one intersected by two perpendicular ones at each end, with a short one in the middle.”
Fred was already nodding before he finished. “I told him about that. You see, in Native American culture that is the mark of spiritual protection. It’s not Koasati, but another tribal language. Not sure which one. Anyway, the left line means winyan , or woman. The right mark stands for wicasa , or man. The long center line stands for the wakanyeza , or innocent children.”
“But what does it mean?” asked Sean.
“It means it’s the responsibility of the parent to always protect the child.”
Sean looked at Michelle. “Thanks, Fred. That really clears it up.”
On the drive back to the airport, Michelle said, “How do people like Jane and Dan Cox go as far as they have?”
“Because she’s strong and tough and will do whatever it takes. And he has the gift of making people want to root for him. A real people person.”
“So that’s all it takes? God help us.”
“But it all comes with a price, Michelle.”