The Removed(67)

A swarm of locusts buzzed from the trees, disappearing into the dark sky. In the distance, I noticed that someone was walking toward us. I saw a figure, a man. Ernest noticed him too, then took my hand and squeezed it. The figure was difficult to see in only the light of the fire, but I could tell he was glowing and beautiful.

“Look, there,” Ernest said, pointing.

Sonja opened her eyes, stopped humming, and put her hands to her face. In the stillness of the night, there was the distant sound of voices. We could see the figure emerging from the darkness and approaching us. Listen! Do you hear? Listen. We heard the creaking of oaks, the rustle of trees shaken alive by a gust of wind. We heard the incessant voices all around us, the voices of our people, our ancestors, all of them whispering: Home.





Acknowledgments


Many thanks, first, to Caroline Eisenmann for the early reads, helpful comments, and important suggestions. Big thanks also to Sara Birmingham at Ecco for the strong editorial vision to help shape this book and its timeline, especially with Tsala’s sections. Thanks to Caitlin Mulrooney-Lyski and everyone else at Ecco. Thanks to Brad McLelland, who suggested the title at a coffee shop in Ponca, Oklahoma. Thanks to Geary Hobson and Rilla Askew for their support. I’m indebted to Brad Morrow for publishing excerpts at Conjunctions, and to Claire Boyle for publishing an excerpt at McSweeney’s. Thanks to my colleagues in the English department at New Mexico State for their support, especially Rus Bradburd, Connie Voisine, and Richard Greenfield. Thanks also to my colleagues at the Institute of American Indian Arts for their support. Some of Cherokee myths in this novel are either a product of my imagination or are based on certain myths in James Mooney’s Myths of the Cherokee (U.S. Bureau of American Ethnology,1897–8 Annual Report, 1902), which is great resource for early Cherokee stories. I’m always indebted to my former teacher and mentor and friend, Stewart O’Nan. Thanks to my family for all their support. Finally, a very special thanks to the person who wanted to remain anonymous but who shared such important information to help me understand Maria’s character better. Wado and peace.