Technically Cheveyo was still a member of the council himself. He had yet to be voted off, and he could have challenged Hiamovi's four month suspension if he had petitioned the other council members to vote to over rule it. He did not wish to embarrass Hiamaovi though. Challenging his ruling would only alienate Cheveyo further from his old friend. On the other hand, he did not want to apologise to Ahiga, as Hiamovi had demanded, not after the Navajo's disgraceful conduct. So he had not returned to his council duties.
Instead Cheveyo had worked at the fringes of the UTN. His status as a council member still opened doors for him. He had travelled around the country attending meetings and listening to many of his brothers and sisters' concerns, returning to the grass roots of the UTN. Now he was ready to address all the key members as they gathered to vote on going to war.
Cheveyo still believed in the basic decency and wisdom of his brothers and sisters. Any nation that could maintain such a democratic system as the Crow for so many centuries had to be responsive to reason and impassioned argument. Cheveyo had come today to win back the soul of his people. If they truly did believe in the Fifth Age of Man, as so many of them now professed to, surely they would listen to its true meaning and not commit themselves to the atrocity of war and the desecration of such a sacred ideal.
Many in the hall waited in anticipation to hear what he had to say. Cheveyo had only to wait for his moment.
Ahiga entered the hall two steps behind Hiamovi. He was shoulder to shoulder with his fellow council members, Amitola, Hinto and Huyana. As befitted their position within the UTN they had waited until everyone else was seated before they entered.
Only Onatah had already taken her place. That was typical of her. She held the respect of many UTN members with these displays of humility. Ahiga knew they were calculated to increase her standing and influence, but he was uncomfortable with the integrity they also displayed. Hiamovi had once been the same. Now he liked being called 'Great Chief' too much.
Onatah was chatting to the Crow chief Casper Yellowtail when they entered. She stopped her conversation and sat upright as Hiamovi and the other council members sat. She looked serene and full of quiet authority.
Ahiga was wary of Onatah. She was the only council member he had nothing on. He had no hold over her and she seemed unimpressed by his arguments or his actions. She expressed neither condemnation or admiration for his schemes. He found her inscrutable and therefore very dangerous. She knew this and held it over him. He had much to learn from her before he finally put her out of the way.
Ahiga wondered if that fool Hopi would try and take a seat with the council. He knew Onatah was sympathetic to Cheveyo's cowardly mewling, but she was too clever to openly endorse him. The only UTN members who actively supported Cheveyo were young weaklings and frightened old women.
Ahiga knew all about Cheveyo's pathetic attempt at uprising. He had informed Hiamovi how the cowardly little Hopi planned to foist his misguided pacifism on the UTN at this meeting. Ahiga had plans to head off Cheveyo's laughable little stand before he could even make it. Hiamovi had eventually seen sense, of course, and had given Ahiga the go ahead, but not without some reluctance. It seemed Hiamovi still had some inexplicable fondness for the Hopi. Ahiga couldn't think why, but he wondered if it was something he could use against Hiamovi at some point.
Hiamovi stood and the general murmurs of conversation died out across the hall. 'Brothers and sisters. Today is a momentous day in the history of our people. We stand on the brink of a new age – the Fifth Age of Man. To see every tribe of our people gathered here today fills me with joy and great hope for our glorious future. We have many matters to discuss and voices to hear, but before all this we have another pressing matter to attend to. Ahiga, if you will.'
Hiamovi sat down and Ahiga stood. 'Brothers and sisters of the UTN, it pains me greatly to say it, but we have a traitor in our midst.' Surprised murmurs broke out across the room and many faces turned to him in disbelief. 'That's right, a traitor. One who not so long ago actually sat at the very heart of the UTN.' There were more murmurs. Ahiga looked over and saw Cheveyo trying to stay calm and reassure those sitting around him who looked concerned. 'Do you see what a threat the Neo-Clergy pose to us?' Ahiga continued. 'When they can reach so far into our organisation and make someone of such standing turn on his own kind? You all know who I'm talking about. The Hopi chief who even now is working against the UTN from within. Trying to talk you all out of defending yourself against the Neo-Clergy aggressor. Lulling you all into a false sense of security and dividing you so that the white man can pick you off one by one. Cheveyo I accuse you of the worst form of betrayal and deceit. Do you dare to deny it?'
'Of course I deny it,' said Cheveyo leaping to his feet. His face was full of righteous indignation. 'This is absolutely preposterous. What proof, what evidence do you have to back these claims up?'
'I'm glad you asked,' said Ahiga. 'Bring in the Hopi woman'
Hastiin got up and came back with the elderly Hopi, Martha Homolovi.
'Martha,' said Ahiga. 'Can you tell those assembled here what you gave to a group of Neo-Clergy soldiers recently?'
Martha turned to look at Cheveyo. Her face was full of surprise and concern. 'My chief, I had no idea they wanted me to speak against you.'
'That's alright. Tell the truth Martha we have nothing to hide'
Martha turned back to Ahiga. 'We gave them food, animal hides, fuel and… and…'
'And what else Martha?' Ahiga said. 'What else?'
'… and guns. We gave them guns.' Martha hung her head.
Ahiga bent towards her. 'You gave guns to the enemy Martha, you and three others of your tribe. On whose orders did you do this?'
'Well my chief's. But it wasn't like you think. We were just…'
'That's enough Martha. We don't need to hear any more you can go. So,' said Ahiga turning to Cheveyo. 'Do you deny arming our enemy?'
'Don't be ridiculous! Those men weren't Neo-Clergy soldiers they were a band of scavs.'
'Who would have taken your guns straight to the Neo-Clergy soldiers they work for.'
'You don't know that. You have no way of proving it.'
'And you have no way of disproving it.'
'I was simply making a trade. Those men had medicine I desperately needed for several members of my tribe. The men had something we needed. They named their price and we met it. It's common practice for tribes to trade with white men when they have something the tribe needs.'
'It's not common practice for Navajos,' said Ahiga, banging his chest with his fist. 'And it isn't common practice for the Crow tribe either. These friends of yours have declared war on all our tribes. Why would any of us give them the weapons with which to kill us?'
'They are no friends of mine. Is this the best you can do Ahiga? Because you and your warmongering faction must be desperate if this tiny transaction is all you can come up with?'
'This is just the beginning. You've already admitted to running guns to our enemies. But I can show your treasonous behaviour goes much deeper than this.'
'I'd like to see you try.'
'You're about to,' said Ahiga and motioned to Sam Long Arrow, an Arapaho brave, to stand. 'Can you tell us all where you were three moons ago?' Ahiga asked Cheveyo.
The Hopi looked unimpressed. 'I attended a meeting held by the Arapaho tribe. As I'm sure you know.'
'Thank you for admitting that, even though your frankness obviously comes from your arrogant belief that you're above reproach.' Ahiga smiled as Cheveyo bridled at this remark. 'Tell me Sam,' said Ahiga. 'What did Cheveyo say to you when he approached you after this meeting?'
Sam cleared his throat. He spoke with hesitation. 'He, err… he told me that if I supported his attempts to sabotage the UTN's fight for freedom the Neo-Clergy would see I was well rewarded. I'm sorry to say it, but I did have a few, err… doubts about the UTN's views on the Fifth Age. He said there were lots of others like me who had accepted the Neo-Clergy's offer. He also said I needn't worry about being found out because he was a Hopi and people would believe the way he… twisted the prophecy.'
'This is a lie,' said Cheveyo. 'It's a totally unsubstantiated accusation. I've never even seen this young brave before. There were hundreds of people at that meeting, nearly all of them can vouchsafe for me.'
'Can you call any of them to speak on your behalf?' Ahiga said.
