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Show 65 "No," said the Chief. "Where is your clan now, and why aren't you with them? It% strange for a mother and son to be wandering the desert on their own." Chua twisted his fingers together and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He would have to tell a little more, and he didn't want to. "The Snake Clan is several days from here."; "That's not what I asked. Why are you on your own?" The Chiefs questions came at him like pelting rain. "My mother and I were not wanted in the clan because the Snake Clan is not the clan of her birth," Chua said. "What is her birth clan?" the Chief asked. "We don't know," Chua replied with his head down. "You give me no answers," the Chief said. "Where is your uncle? Why does he not care for you?" "He's gone." Chua shifted his feet again. He looked at the door of the hut, wishing he could run. 7 "That's no answer. Where is he?" Chua looked at his feet. "Give me an answer," the chief said, raising his voice. "I think he has gone to the Great Painted Canyons to gather chewing root, the visionary plant," Chua said in a soft voice. He could feel red shame rising up his neck and into his face. "Why does he need that when he has a clan to care for?" the chief asked, taking a breath and lowering his voice. |