* * * * *
"Enchante', mademoiselle," replied Sir Anthony: "Normally, I'd return the courtesy. But, if you are who say you are, I've a feeling introducing ourselves would be superfluous."
Hank arched her eyebrows in amusement.
"And, why _wouldn't_ I be who I say I am?"
"Well, I'm the first to admit that I am not the world's leading expert on Canada. But, it was my impression that the Nipissings lived _much further_ eastward from here!"
She nodded: "They do. My father, however, who is half-Nipissing, married into the Wolf Clan of the Dog River Ojibwe. So, while I was born and raised among my mother's people, by patriarchal tribal law, I'm obligated to call myself a Nipissing, too. And, of the Beaver Clan, at that!"
"I see," replied Sir Anthony: "Well, then, how is it (if you'll forgive my persistence in not granting you the benefit of the doubt) that you've managed to arrive on this tragic scene, so fortuitously?"
Hank pointed out that where the Knights of Melion have Lodges throughout the United States, the Benandanti have affiliated Franciscan missions throughout Canada.
"The Apostolic Delegate in Ottawa sent word to all of them," she continued: "...to be on the look-out for an American and an Englishman. Working together to investigate anything strange and/or unusual. And, I think you'd be the first to agree, Sir Anthony, that this woman obviously classifies as both!"
"Very well," he replied: "Then, ask her who she is and where those missing children are. Be wary, though!"
"Don't worry," replie Hank: "You and Dr. Thorpe aren't the only ones with blessed steeljacket ammo."
Whereupon, she unslung a .35 caliber Remington Model 8 autoloader from her right shoulder...and pointed it at the bird woman. Then, she fired off Sir Anthony's question in Algonquian. And, using a tone of voice just as sharp as his!
I must confess; it was more-than-a-little disconcerting to hear the bird woman reply, in a normal-sounding human voice, after those unearthly shrieks, minutes earlier.
"She refuses to give us her true name. For that would give us power over her. As for the missing children? She claims they're safe. Far safer, in fact, than they would be at that summer camp in Michigan!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" I heatedly demanded (unable to resist butting in).
More translation followed.
"She says she's a Daughter of the Thunderbird Clan. And, that the Thunderbird Clan are eternal enemies of demons like the Melissae. For the Melissae are abominations! Disguising themselves as innocent creatures, such as true bees, in order to enslave (and ultimately devour) other innocent creatures. Like human children!"
"If she's on the side of the angels," I countered: "...then, why did she kill Constable Weir?"
Yet more translation.
"She claims it was self-defense! After all, he shot first. And, technically, the three of you _were_ trespassing in her nest."
"That still doesn't explain what she meant about Camp New Hope," Sir Anthony replied: "So, ask her if she'd be so kind as to elaborate."
Hank repeated Sir Anthony's first question. And, this time, the translated reply was slightly more vociferous.
"She says one of the white people at that camp is secretly in league with the Melissae."
tbc
Giantess World
Chapter End Notes:
This time, I apologize to all my Native American lurkers for my little bit of ethnological tweaking.