It rose like the smoke, the deep bellowing noise, wordless but full of meaning; a chant, carried by a
dozen voices. The sounds of drums and rattles and bone striking bone formed a fierce undercurrent to
the wordless call. The worst of the wind’s anger was deflected from the taunka village by the circle of
posts and hides, and the lodges, their curving roofs arching over a large interior space in defiance of the
hardships of this land, were strong.