Summary

It is 1981. Mercury Thunder remains an uncomfortable presence in Charlene's life. She often wakes to find her grandmother's hand placed on Charlene's chest above her heart. Charlene feels the weight and never knows if Mercury is giving something to her or taking something away. Now that Charlene is older, her grandmother is ever more insistent that Charlene does not need to learn more in school. Instead, she needs to be passing the tests Mercury sets for her.

When they arrive at the powwow, Charlene seeks out Harley Wind Soldier. She tells him she is sorry about Pumpkin's death. Harley tells Charlene how different Pumpkin was from anyone he'd ever met. When Harley comes to the dance floor, he wears the clothes of a grass dancer in Pumpkin's colors of red, orange and yellow. Charlene knows Harley is dancing to honor Pumpkin. Charlene jumps up to leave...