Barkskins. Annie Proulx

“But is it not recorded in the ledger that the house belonged to René? And that René married Mari, our mother, following the whiteman law?”

      Theotiste whispered back: “Perhaps it was, but when I asked Captain Bouchard he went in the back room with the ledger, came out a moment later and showed me there was nothing. But I could see rough bits of torn paper in the cleft of that book.”

      In the end Jean Mague, Démon and Renardette Meillard stood apart under the trees and made their arrangement. They shook hands, turned and faced Elphège, Theotiste, Achille, Zoë and Noë. Jean Mague said, “I have agreed to buy the property from the owners. You must now leave.” He raised his gun, ready primed and loaded, to his shoulder.

      Achille stood stiff with rage but Elphège touched his arm and said in a low voice, “Brother, it is only a whiteman house. You do not wish to be tied down to a potash kettle like such a one. Let us go. We will hunt and fight. We will not burn trees into dirty ashes.”

      Achille’s voice was tight. He felt his blood curdling with poison. “It is clear that Captain Bouchard informed them, that he removed René’s claim from the ledger. He was friendly to our father—for our father was a white Wenuj. But to our mother and to us his friendship was false.”

      “What does it matter? Before you there lie many good years of hunting. That is a better life for you.”

      Achille stood silent for many heartbeats, then said, “We will come with you to our mother’s country.”

      “Good. First we go to Odanak.”