Chapter 73: Prophecy Fulfilled

The next day, the body of the man guarding the tent was found by the tribesmen. He was holding the rattlesnake's neck with both hands, and it seemed that he had died together with the poisonous snake.

Almost no one thought of other possibilities, and they all believed that this was the fulfillment of the Arapaho people's prophecy. Fear of mystery and the unknown shrouded people's hearts.

Early morning.

The tribesmen gathered in a circle, talking among themselves. There was an open space in the middle, where the chief's body lay.

Standing next to the body on a rainy day, he looked around and said, "Unfortunately, I think this is a prophecy coming true."

Some children just burst into tears: "Woo waa ...

"High Priest, what should we do now?" people asked.

Rainy Day: "We don't have to worry about anything. Last night, I saw the revelation of the Great Spirit in my dream."

People are eager to ask: "What revelation?"

"I dreamed of a solar eclipse." Rainy Day said slowly, "Our sun was obscured by darkness for a while, but soon, the darkness will leave us, and light will reappear in the world... Moreover, after the darkness, the new sun will be brighter and more dazzling, and all the evil spirits in the world will be driven away by its light and heat!"

He described a beautiful scene for his fellow tribesmen, and people's panic was calmed and the discussions became much quieter.

What's more, some people directly regain their calm and optimism after being comforted, and go back to doing what they were doing - throughout the long history, being easy to comfort is one of the most important passive skills acquired by humans.

Of course, such people who are easily comforted are rare, and most people are still a little worried.

"Even if we encounter any difficulties, we should not be afraid." Rainy Day continued to encourage the tribesmen, and inadvertently said a famous saying that has been passed down through the ages: "The only thing worth fearing in this world is fear itself."

This is a famous saying by FDR, also known as President Roosevelt. However, there must have been many people who expressed similar ideas before him, but they were not remembered.

"Burn this poisonous snake to ashes!"

On a rainy day, he personally carried the body of a rattlesnake and ordered his tribesmen to make fire and burn it.

Then, under his leadership, a group of Apaches began a religious ceremony, dancing around the flaming snake corpse and chanting strange spells.

The emotions on the rainy day were mixed, he danced with his tribesmen but his eyes were always fixed on the poisonous snake in the flames.

The venomous snake had been burned into a blurry charcoal ash. Suddenly, Rainy Day felt that the ashes of the corpse actually belonged to him...

After a series of shamanic rituals, the tribesmen were basically freed from their inner confusion and fear, and most of them returned to their mundane affairs, each doing their own thing.

Only a few people were left there, discussing the aftermath.

"What we need most now is a new great chief." The speaker was Deer Hand, who was about forty years old, with a sturdy build, short and thick fingers, and a war crown on his head. He was obviously a man of great merit.

Anyone could hear the anticipation in his tone.

Everyone could understand Shirashou's expectations. After the tent keeper died, he would be the most suitable successor, both in terms of seniority and merit.

When the tent guards went north to fight the Arapaho, it was Deerhand who stayed behind here.

So as soon as he finished speaking, someone said, "I think there is no one more suitable than Deer Hand. Let Deer Hand be our chief."

"Deer Hand is a respected elder, and besides guarding the tent, he is the one who has received the most eagle feathers."

"Yes, I support it too," said Shikatet's son.

People almost reached a consensus. Shirate was already smiling, as if he was thinking about his inaugural speech.

Only the rainy days have not yet expressed their opinions.

Deer Hand looked at him: "High Priest, what do you think?"

But Rainy Day said, "Deer Hand, I don't think you should be the chief, at least not now."

"Why?" Deer Hand frowned.

Rainy Day explained: "According to the revelation I saw in my dream, it should still be a dark period. If you succeed the chief now, you may be swallowed by the darkness just like the previous chief who guarded the tent."

After hearing this, everyone's expression changed slightly.

Lu Shou's expression changed: "Then when is the right time for me to take over?"

"I think we have to wait at least ten days," said Rainy Day. "In fact, it would be better to wait until midsummer and choose a time when the sun is shining brightly to succeed the chief. Otherwise, you will face the threat of darkness, and the next incarnation of darkness may be more terrifying than a rattlesnake..."

Everyone looked at each other.

Lu Shou's palms were also beating fast.

He didn't particularly believe in such supernatural things, but he didn't have the courage to completely ignore them.

In fact, let alone Indians, even people who have received materialistic education would find it difficult to completely ignore the shaman's description in this situation. The blackened body guarding the tent was lying next to him.

"Ten days, huh? Okay, I'll wait ten days." He finally took a deep breath and nodded.

After all, it was only ten days and it passed quickly.

It turned out to be a stupid decision, because a few days later, Ma Shao and his army arrived at the Plains Tribe, and by coincidence, they arrived just in time to catch up with the funeral of the tent guard.

The first person to greet Ma Shao was Ma Shao on a rainy day, or rather, he almost waited for Ma Shao to arrive.

Ma Shao turned over and got off the horse, but before he could say anything, he was led to a deserted place by Yu Tian.

"What's wrong?" Ma Shao asked in surprise.

"You came at the right time!" Rainy Day smiled. He looked at the pistol troops behind Ma Shao and couldn't help but feel excited.

"What do you mean by the right time?" Ma Shao looked at the scene in the tribe in confusion. It seemed that someone was holding a funeral.

Rainy Day said directly: "The great chief is dead."

"What?" Ma Shao thought he had heard it wrong.

"A few nights ago, a rattlesnake killed the chief of the tent," Rainy Day said. "Just as the Arapaho prophecy said!"

Ma Shao blinked and was speechless for a moment.

He came to see the chief with a hundred elite warriors, thinking that what awaited him was a battle, or perhaps a reconciliation in a strange atmosphere.

Unexpectedly, before he could do anything, the chieftain himself died. It was really unpredictable.

He stared at the rainy day for a moment.

Rainy Day's eyes were a little evasive: "I think you should be very clear about the current situation. As long as you are willing, you can be the new chief. Don't tell me you don't want to."

Of course Ma Shao is willing.

Becoming a great chief may not bring him much benefit, but at least he will no longer have a leader above him. A leader who is in the way can sometimes be more terrifying than a hundred thousand enemy troops.

"Of course I'd like to, but I don't think it would be that easy," he said.

Rainy Day nodded, "It will be a little troublesome, but I believe it will not be difficult to solve. The trouble mainly lies with Deerhand. He is almost regarded as the new chief, but he has not really taken the throne yet."