"Bruce Holland Rogers - In the Matter of the Ukdena" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rogers Bruce Holland)

"I have considered," said Walks the River, "and I have dreamed." For a moment, he could feel the
hope that filled the lodge, the expectation that he was going to throw in with the rest and make the
opinion unanimous and harmonious at last.
"The Ukdena are growing fewer because there are fewer priests to master them and hold them to the
earth. Yes, the Ukdena are dangerous, but under the control of the Principal People they are dangerous
only to our enemies."
The disappointment filled the room like bad air.
"All right," said the second priest. His job was to manage the discussion, and he was allowed no
opinion of his own. "Let us consider again the nature of the Ukdena."
"We all know their nature," said Holds the Corn Up, Beloved Man of the Long Hair clan. "They are
anger and fear. The Ukdena are war dragons, and we are at peace."
"You are right. They are the unmastered anger and fear of all the world's people," said Walks the
River. "And why does this energy come here, to the Principal People, if not to be guided by us? Why are
we together, Tsalagi and Ukdena, in the same place, the middle of the world, if not so that the Principal
People might direct those energies safely? We must hold in trust all the powers that attach to us."
"I have had a dream," said the Paint clan's Beloved Man. "In my dream, I saw the Great Bear dancing,
stomping."
Everyone had that dream sooner or later, and everyone understood what it meant. The Great Bear
was stamping out fear and ignorance from the world.
"I think," the man continued, "that the Ukdena are the very thing that the Great Bear is trying to drive
out of the earth with his dancing."
"No power is all good or all bad," said Walks the River. "In my dreams, I have seen the Ukdena."
And they are terrible, he thought. They will lead us into war. But he said the other words, which were
also true. "The Ukdena are beautiful."
The secondary priest said, "The man who has not mastered himself looks at the Ukdena and sees
demons. But the man who knows his heart and masters clear thought will see angels instead. The Ukdena
are the same Ukdena." This was not opinion, but simply a review of the facts.
"It's just a question of one priest," Red Fox reminded everyone.
"Ours is the Very Middle Village," said Walks the River, "in the middle of the world. We are at the
center of many circles. Already, the science that communicates with the Ukdena and guides them for us is
in decline. Our decision may travel from the center like a stone in still water. If we will not maintain the
Ukdena, how do we know anyone will? I think that if we make the wrong decision, the Principal People
will forget how to master the Ukdena. I can imagine a time when the Ukdena pass out of this world with
hardly any notice by our people. What if we call to them and they are no longer here to answer us?"
"Why should we call to them?" said Woods Burning. "Why should we bring down fear and anger to
the earth? When is fear good? When is anger good?"
"A man without fear cannot be brave," said Walks the River. "As for anger, it is needed for passion.
For justice."
"For justice, we have the law," said Woods Burning. "If the Shaawanwaaki raid our village and kill five
people, then we will kill five Shaawanwaaki. If a Blue clan man murders someone in the Long Hair clan,
then the killer or someone else in his clan must die. The law maintains harmony. Nothing else is needed."
"Walks the River imagines a time without Ukdena," said the Paint clan's Beloved Man. "I imagine
instead a time of abundant Ukdena. If there are too many of these beings held here by our medicine, then
no one will be able to contain them. They will range farther and farther from the middle of the world.
Other people do not train themselves as we do. Who knows what the wandering Ukdena might do in the
lands of people who do not see as clearly as we must see?"
"Neither thing has happened," said Red Fox. "We have always held the Ukdena here in harmony."
"The Ukdena grow fewer," said Walks the River. "That is certain. Who knows what turn the future will
take?"
"Is the future singular," said the Beloved Man of the Blue clan, "or is it multiple? Is there one future, or