Finding Friends

Roger Smith

Paul had been searching for Noah for most of the night before he pushed opened the door to the derelict cabin close to a mile off the road and found him propped against a wall. His first breath of the humid, putrid air, heavy with sooty smoke, stale sweat, and vomit made him gag and take a step back. His flashlight beam showed an aluminum bathtub surrounded by mugs and bottles, some shattered, resting on four stones over smouldering logs in the center of the small room. Dark bundles scattered across the room became three men huddled together sleeping on a threadbare mattress, snoring loudly, and others squatting on the dirt floor, their backs against the mold-stained wall, heads slumped forward on to their arms. Noah raised his head slightly, his eyelids drooping, and then struggled to his feet and staggered towards the bathtub, mumbling incoherently. He bent to pick up a plastic mug by the bathtub, his hand waving vaguely, groping, until he was finally able to hook a finger through its handle. His body swaying and his head drooping, he scooped some liquid from the bathtub and then turned, apparently attempting to offer the mug to Paul. He stood with his back to the bathtub for a moment, swaying, and then stumbled forward and collapsed on top of the men on the bed, the liquid from the mug splashing over them. Smith Finding Friends Page 2

The men groaned, and then one began yelling curses and tried to push Noah off the bed. He tried to roll away, but as he moved towards the edge of the bed the older man beneath him swung a small axe at his head, slicing downward into Noahs neck

The young RCMP constable stood in the entrance to the hallway in the Mission, his eyes flicking nervously from the priest to the corporal and occasionally to Paul. The corporal tossed his cap on the table, dragged a chair out and sat astride it. Tall and heavy, close to obese, with

thick jowls resting on his collar, his grey hair was cropped into a close crew cut and his mouth formed what seemed a permanent scowl beneath a stiff brown mustache. Its not really that much trouble for us, Father, he told the priest. You did the right thing in calling us. At worst, its a day out of the office. And I get to check the area for hunting next fall. But that road sure is something elsetook us more than two hours to get here. Dont know how you manage it, so far from town. The priest smiled benignly. Anyway, Im sorry you had to be bothered, he murmured, managing to sound almost apologetic. But about the babyI suppose there has to be a death certificate, doesnt there? So we can bury her? The corporal nodded. Yeah, he said, almost sighing, damn bureaucracyyou gotta have one to bury it. But dont panic. Come in any time this week or soit was his kid? This Laboucan guys? The priest nodded. It had nothing to do with what happened to his neck? The priest shrugged. I dont see how, he said. We think hed been gone a few days before the baby diedwe can come into town to get the death certificate. But what can you do about her father? Well help all we can, of course. The corporal shrugged, squeezing his jowls tightly. Im sure itll be a waste of time anyway, he shrugged. Well just take a few names and note something about what seems to have happened. Do the formalities, that kind of thing. Then well go home. Ive a hockey game in town tonight Im looking forward to. Oldtimers, you knowanyway, I expect nothingll be done whatever we find out. Smith Finding Friends Page 3 Whats the point anyway? he asked, finally turning to look up at Paul. Howd all this start? Father Vito and the Brother were in town that nightI was sleeping, Paul told him. Then I heard high-pitched screaming and wailing. Made my blood run cold. Id never heard anything like it before. What did you do?

Paul shrugged. I opened the front door and looked outsidethe moon was bright, and I could see Mary Laboucan, Noahs wife, stumbling around on the other side of the road, shrieking. Must have been at least 25, maybe 30 below, but she was in her bare feet. The corporal arched his eyebrows. Drunk, I suppose? I grabbed my parka and boots, and ran across the road, Paul continued, ignoring the question. Shed collapsed and was pushing her face in the snow. I tried to pick her up, but she was flailing her arms and legs. Did she say anything? Say what was wrong? She just kept screaming her baby was dead. I asked her where Noah was, and she just kept saying she didnt know, and screaming, My baby! My baby! What about his other kids? the corporal asked. You said theres two of them right? Did they know where hed gone? Paul shook his head. They told me they hadnt seen him in a while. He shrugged. It didnt seem unusual. They werent complaining. The corporal didnt show any surprise. Can you think where he was? he asked, and then said without waiting for an answer, I suppose they must have been drinking for days. Thats what they do, isnt it? Any idea who was with him? Paul shook his head again. Havent a clue, he lied. Actually, the baby bothered me more than Noah. At least hell get better. The babys dead. So you say you were with this Mary Laboucan woman when somehow Noah showed up?

Smith Finding Friends Page 4 Paul nodded. I finally got Mary back inside her cabin. Alice and Jimmy, her children, were huddled on the floor beside the stove. The baby was on the bed...her eyes were open, and I closed theminstinct, I guess. Mary lay beside her, still wailing. Did the kids say anything? the corporal asked, sounding almost bored and taking a gulp of his coffee. Did they say what happened to the baby?

I asked if their sister had been ill, Paul told him. After a while seeing their teacher in their home must have frightened them - the girl, Alice, said her Mom thought maybe she had pneumoniamaybe. Maybe? the corporal snapped. They didnt take it to a doctor? Paul shook his head and said simply, I asked if the baby had been coughing or shaking. Alice said shed been coughing a lot and her Mom said she was always warm. Even when she had no clothes on. The corporal shook his head in disgust. Im surprised any of them make it, living like that, he snarled. What about medicine? Did they ask for any? Help of any kind? Alice said they used their own medicine. Their own? the corporal snorted derisively. Their own? Some kind of weed and weird dancing and chanting I suppose? Superstitious crap, and a baby died. God, youd never know this was 1970. This time Paul found ignoring the corporal almost impossible, but he was able to say, Then the door crashed open behind meNoah staggered in. He had his right hand on his neckhe held his hand to his own neck covered in dried blood. The corporal looked skeptical, and for a moment Pauls stomach sank. It didnt sound convincing, even to him. Did he say anything? the corporal demanded. Say where hed been? What happened? Paul shrugged. He just fell on his face on the ground. Passed out. The corporal sighed as he stood up. Yeah, well, I have to file some kind of report. Well just check around a bit, pretend it was worth our while coming all the way out here God, that roads awful, isnt it?

Smith Finding Friends Page 5 Could we talk to people in here? he asked the priest. So we wont have to go into any of thoseshacks? He shivered slightly. God, he said, I can feel the bugs without going inside one of thoseplaces. The priest nodded, his face rigid. Who do you want to talk to first? he asked. Noah?

May as well, the corporal snorted. Who knows? That might even end it. I dont suppose anybody can remember anything anyway, not after drowning in hooch. But I suppose it would be nice to know where the party was, and who made the stuff, not that thered be any point in charging anyone. The courts have better things to do than spend time and money on a few drunken Indians who try to poison themselves and then kill each other. How can they get stuff to make hootch if they cant even get a sick baby to town? he demanded, glaring at the priest. Hows that happen? We ship it in, the priest said quickly. When the corporal looked surprised he added, Innocentlyunwittingly, of course. These people dont have a truck that could make it to town, so we their bring groceries in. They spread it around, each orders some of one thing, spread over a few weeks. We bring it inbut how can we not? he asked, looking at the corporal as if pleading for mercy. Were wrong whatever we do. They have to eat. How can we refuse to bring sugar? Brown bread? Orange juice? No, I guess you cant, the corporal admitted grudgingly. But what about alcohol coming in, to give it more kick? Any way they can get clean booze? The priest shook his head vigorously. Theres no alcohol here, I can assure you of that. And we never bring it in. Just a little sacramental wine, thats all. Paul felt an urgent need to change the subject. Ill get Noah, he told the corporal. He should have had a few hours sleep by now, so he should manage it. He turned to open the Mission door before anyone could argue, shoved his feet inside his boots, and grabbed his parka. As he approached the Laboucans cabin he had no idea what he would say. Noah would have to talk to the corporal, if only to get him out of the settlement, but he doubted Noah was in any condition to talk to anyone and anyway would only be antagonized by the corporal. Smith Finding Friends Page 6 Alice opened the door when he knocked and peeped out from behind it. She didnt say anything. Hello Alice, Paul said quietly. Can I talk to your Dad please?

She hesitated and then stepped back from the door. Paul kicked the snow off his boots on the step and pushed the door open enough for him to squeeze through. A cardboard box containing the dead baby had been placed in the center of the table, the pink blanket covering the small body overflowing its sides. Mary lay unmoving on the bed, her back towards them. Noah was slumped in the only chair. He raised his head slightly to look at Paul and then let it fall forward again. Paul saw that the dressing he had put on his neck wound the night before was already loose and dirty. Hello Noah, he said quietly. How are you feeling? Noah grunted, still not looking up. You put some more medicine on your neck? Wakinakim. Our medicine, Noah murmured. Good for cuts. Paul squatted in front of him on the dirt floor. The police have to talk to you, Noah, he told him, speaking softly and slowly. They want you to come to the Mission. Noah finally looked up sharply. No, he murmured, I wont go, and let his head slump forward again. Paul hesitated, glancing quickly at the children who were watching him intently. Its the only way theyll leave, he told Noah. And you should talk to the priest soon anyway. Youll have to get a death certificate for your baby so he can bury her. Noah brought his head up slowly, as if lifting a great weight, and Paul saw he had tears in his eyes. Death certificate? he asked. We never even got no birth certificateshe was only six weeks old. Paul put one hand gently on Noahs knee. Thats something else we can work out. But first we have to get the Mounties to leave.

Smith Finding Friends Page 7 Noah shook his head slowly. Wont talk to no yellow stripes. They just want trouble. Its over now. Ill be alright. Ill get better.

Please, Noahwe dont want the yellow stripes here, Paul begged, using the peoples name for the police without thinking. Come to the Mission with meplease. It wont take long. Ill stay with you. The police dont want to be here as much as we dont want them here. You told them? Noah asked warily. Told them what happened? Paul didnt hesitate. No. I just said I found you here. I told them I dont know anything. Noah stared at him for a very long time. Finally he murmured, OK, and struggled to stand. Paul put one of his arms under one shoulder and they shuffled together to the door and out into the cold snow, the children watching silently and Mary still sobbing. When they reached the Mission the two policemen were seated at the table drinking coffee. Paul guided Noah to the bench along the wall and sat down next to him, the warmth drifting up from the heat vent in the floor seeming to bring a little more life into him. The corporal moved his chair so he could look directly at them. Noah Laboucan? he barked, without standing up. Noah nodded briefly. Just tell me what happenedhow you got that ugly wound in your neck. Paul felt Noahs back stiffen. Dont know, he told the policeman without looking at him. Getting better already. Whered it happen? the corporal demanded. In the bush, Noah said, his voice so soft the corporal had to lean forward to hear him. The corporal snorted derisively. The bush? It was 25 below yesterday. Must have been 35 below last night. What the hell were you doing freezing to death in the bush? Being Cree, Noah told him quietly, looking up at the policeman for the first time, his voice cold. White man couldnt go there. But bush our home, not yours. Not white mans. The corporals face was red with rage. Who was with you? he demanded. You must at least remember that much. When Noah didnt answer the corporal stood up and moved closer to him.

Smith Finding Friends Page 8 He turned to give Paul a vicious look before saying, Id better start getting some straight answers. No ones telling the truth around here.

Finally Noah said, Dont remembersome people. Dont remember who. Youre not going to tell me anything, are you? the corporal snapped. If he doesnt make a complaint, thats the end of it, isnt it? Paul interjected quickly. Its entirely up to him? We have a duty to investigate breaches of the law, the corporal almost yelled. Thats no mosquito bite on his goddamned neck. And I intend to do my duty. But Noahs not saying a law was broken, Paul told him, careful to keep his voice down. Hes not making a complaint. It could have been accidental. He doesnt know. We dont know. You dont know. And youll never find any witnesses. The corporal glared down at Noah. You were drinking garbage hooch, right? he shouted. Poison. You were all drunk out of your tiny little minds, right? Noah reached to touch the dressing on his neck with his fingertips. It was dark. Couldnt see. Fell over a lot. Can I go home? he pleaded, turning to Paul. The corporal looked at his watch. At least Ill make it back in time for the game. But what a goddamned waste of time and money, he snarled. I should have known better. At least I dont have to talk to any more of them. Chasing the hell out here over a bit of drunken witchcraft in the bush! He turned to the constable and snapped, Lets get the hell out of here. Ill bring him in to the hospital to get checked out and get a death certificate, the priest assured him as he shoved his arms inside his parka. The corporal only nodded and snapped, Yeah, you just do that Father, and followed the constable out the door, leaving it wide open behind him, white clouds of cold air billowing in. Noah tried to get up, but Paul restrained him with a hand on his shoulder. Wait a minute, he whispered. Best just let them go.

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The priest had followed the police outside and when he heard the police truck roar away, Paul whispered, OK, lets go, and helped Noah to his feet. Ill clean your neck when we get to your place. Outside, the priest stood in front of them. It would have been better if youd told them more, he told Noah, his voice soft. You could have been killed. Noah shook his head without looking at the priest. Yellow stripes never listen. They just want trouble for someone. Anyone. Dont matter who. And my necks getting better. Ill take Noah and Mary and the baby to town tomorrow, Paul told the priest. He can see a doctor, get his neck stitched, and well get the certificates sorted out. The priest shook his head firmly. Thats good of you to think of doing that. But theres no need, he said, his voice cold now. The brother and I will take them when we go in on Thursday. You cant cancel school for a day. Paul heard the implied threat: He knew the priest would have told the superintendent. Lets go, he told Noah, cradling one of his elbows to steady him. Ill clean your neck. And then, deliberately loud enough for the priest to hear him, promised, Then Ill put some Wakinakim on it. He knew now for certain whose side he was on, but the knowing only made him feel even lonelier.