Sioux Slave by Georgina Gentry

knelt on one knee before him as he fought to break free, shouting and cursing, but not begging for mercy.
    The people yelled encouragement; “Finish it, so we may begin the torture! Who will be first to put a burning stick on that white skin?”
    The crowd roared approval at the remark, looking forward to the entertainment to come.
    Kimi paused uncertainly. Suddenly she wanted to throw down the knife and run away. Very slowly she looked up into the soldier’s stoic, angry face. His expression was pale but grimly determined as he set his mouth in a hard line. His eyes widened as he looked at her. What was it that surprised him so? That a woman could take part in such a thing? Lakota women were as brave and savage as their men. To survive against the tribe’s many enemies, they had to be.
    Yet she had a sudden feeling that she could cut him slowly to small pieces with her knife, even cut off his manhood and throw it in his face, and he would not whimper or beg for mercy.
    There was sudden confusion on the far side of the camp and Kimi looked around, relieved for any diversion that would postpone the inevitable.
    Somewhere an elderly woman shouted, “Tatanka Iyotake of the Hunkpapas and some of his warriors have come to council with our chiefs.”
    The crowd turned, abruptly more interested that Sitting Bull was in camp. Kimi breathed a sigh of relief.
    One Eye frowned. “We will see what these leaders think we should do.”
    Some of the Hunkpapas dismounted and came forward.
    The short, stocky Sitting Bull, wearing the scarlet sash of his Strong Heart society, paused to look. “What is happening here, my friend?”
    One Eye spoke with respect. “As you see, Tatanka Iyotake, we make ready to geld and kill a bluecoat soldier. You have arrived just in time.”
    â€œOne Long Knife is of little concern,” the leader shrugged, “I come to discuss future plans.”
    Even though, as a woman, she really wasn’t supposed to speak, Kimi saw her chance because she knew now she couldn’t bring herself to torture the Hinzi. Perhaps her status as wife of a respected warrior who had been killed in battle would cause the braves to overlook her impudence.
    â€œIt seems to me we are in too big a hurry to kill the captive,” Kimi blurted to the important leader. “Yellow Hair would do better as a hostage to insure the soldiers won’t attack this camp. Later we might even trade him to them. They won’t give us cartridges and tobacco for a dead man.”
    The Strong Heart nodded. “For a woman, you think and speak well.”
    â€œNo!” Some of the men of yesterday’s war party protested and pushed forward. “No, we brought back this captive; we demand the right to test his courage by fire and blade!”
    Kimi whirled on them. “You would question the wisdom of Strong Heart warriors? Perhaps he is right. Alive the soldier might be used as a hostage to protect our camp or trade to the soldiers. Dead, he is worthless to our people.”
    A murmur of agreement ran through the crowd at Kimi’s words, though many were grumbling at the talk of losing the morning’s entertainment. She saw the hesitation on One Eye’s face and knew that even he saw her wisdom. “What should we do with him in the meantime?”
    Kimi shrugged carelessly as if it mattered little to her, although suddenly it mattered a great deal. “Hinzi might be useful as a slave. With my husband dead, I have need of a beast of burden to carry wood and water.”
    One Eye frowned. “The whites geld their beasts of burden to make them docile and tractable. Even if we don’t kill him, that’s what you should do with this soldier. Let him live so he might be of use as trade goods or as a hostage, but take his manhood.”
    â€œHe is already weak from loss of blood,” Kimi argued coolly, “he may not survive the knife.”
    Judging from the