TOMB HUNTER

The Adventures of Larra Court

Episode 6

Larra’s Arctic Adventure

Chapter 3 Sawatis

John Brant studied the tall white woman sitting across from him. They were sitting in a small café on the outskirts of Cornwall, Ontario. She was most interesting. In truth, he had never met a woman like her. She had surprised him when they had first met by actually greeting him in the Iroquoian dialect that he spoke. It turned out that she was not fluent in the language, but she certainly knew more than most white women. That had decided him in her favour even before she had asked for his help. Although, help was not exactly the right word. She was offering to pay him well for his services. However, he was a man of principle. Proud of his Mohawk heritage, he was not given to working for people he did not like.

“I was referred to you by a source that I have found trustworthy, Mr. Brant,” said Larra. “It appears that he was not wrong in his recommendation. Now I need your guidance. I intend to keep my party small, no more than four people, and I need another well-trained and trustworthy woodsman. Is there someone you can suggest?”

“Please call me Sawatis, Miss Court. It is a name I allow my friends to use and I prefer it to the name given to my ancestors by white missionaries.”

“Sawatis it is then. And you should call me Larra. I find Miss Court a little too formal.”

Sawatis grinned. He liked this tall woman more and more. “In answer to your question, there is someone I know. He is not Mohawk, but he is the best hunter and tracker I know, next to myself.”

“Excellent. I will leave the matter in your hands. In the meantime, I would be obliged if you would help me in my choice of equipment. You are more familiar with the demands of the North than I am.”

“Show me a list of what you need, and I will get it. Some of the supplies might be better purchased at our point of departure, rather than hauling them all across Canada.”

Larra nodded, handing him a list of basic supplies. “I’ll get on that right away, “he said, “and contact the man you need. Do you mind if I ask who is to be the fourth member of the party?”

“Not at all. She is my assistant, Miss Gallant. I hope you are not put out at having to work with two women.”

“I’ve worked with women before and survived. I expect I’ll be able to work with both of you. Well,” he said, rising and waving the list Larra had given him, “I better get on this. I will contact you in a few days.”

“You’ll need money,” said Larra reaching into her purse. “Would a thousand dollars be enough to start? You can take your first month’s pay out of it.”

Sawatis rarely showed surprise. But this display of trust caused him to raise his eyebrows. It certainly appeared that he had judged correctly. If Larra’s assistant was anything like her, he was certainly looking forward to their first meeting.

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