As I shielded my eyes from the sun, I was startled by three figures standing on the hill overlooking Mallard Creek. I approached, undetected, and guessed these men to be the expected hunting party, including the mysterious Core Tom. He had quickly moved to a position of prominence among the Coree, cousins to our people. Still, no one knew much about him.
Chuck Locklear
Chuck new book, A Storm Coming, won a Chaucer award, from Chanticleer Book Reviews. A retired educator, speaker, blogger, and pastor, he is a proud Lumbee.
I moved closer and noticed one of the men counting longhouses. Blessed with my mother’s quick wit, when near enough, I called out, “One thousand two hundred people in all.”
The three men turned to look in my direction. Caught in their gaze, I felt my cheeks grow hot.
One of them answered, “Now, tell us the number of warriors, and we’ll be all set.”
I felt a tingle sweep up the back of my neck, but ignored it. “You’ll need to figure that one out on your own.” I offered my biggest smile. “You must be the great Core Tom.”
He grinned at my emphasis on the word “great,” which confirmed what I was told about him. He was a man who enjoyed recognition.
Meet the Clan Mother
On a peninsula, wedged between the creek and Pamlico River, sat my new hometown. After the smallpox epidemic killed my mother, father, and most of our village, my brother and I came to live with our aunt. I called by her Tuscarora name, Annwaraogon. Others used her title, Ukuwana, the bear clan mother.
The view from the hillside provided a panorama of King Blount’s Town. It was far enough up the Pamlico that the English pressures for land had not yet reached us. My aunt had supported Blount for teethha… or king, as the English say it. He may be king, but Annwaraogon is the heart of the community. Our town contains about thirty longhouses, each filled with many families. From here, I can see smoke rising from a hundred fireplaces.
Wooden Palisade
The town was fortified with a strong wooden palisade, two lances high, or thereabouts. On the side opposite the creek and river were two gates, entrances into the community. One faced west and the other faced northwest. The upper Tuscaroras had chosen this location for its defensive characteristics, taking care to select a spot slightly elevated and protected on three sides by good streams.
King Blount had sent two warriors to meet the Coree visitors, ready with canoes to help them cross over the creek. I kept my eye on Core Tom as we walked around the surrounding wall. The gates were actually corridors, between overlapping sections of the wall. Upon reaching the end of the opening, enemy warriors, who were mostly right-handed, would need to turn in the opposite direction prior to aiming and shooting.
Any concerns I had about potential trickery evaporated, as I watched Core Tom and the others fumble to carry their things through. They turned from one side to the other, and then back again, all the while arguing with one another, rather than being able to stride in straightway.
Striking Stranger
A striking figure, Core Tom stood tall, with wide shoulders and determination on his face. Everything about him communicated confidence. I sensed my heart rate quicken when he looked at me and smiled. Yet, his behavior confused me. He walked with his arms crossed and pinched his lower lip as he studied our town. At times, he stopped to whisper in the ear of one of his companions. Thoughts raced through my mind as I tried to make sense of his actions.
Study question: This is the first time that Jane meets Core Tom (both are real people who lived through the Tuscarora Wars. Will the attraction grow between them? Leave a comment to let me know your thoughts.
See What Matters Most and Tuscarora Ancestors
Chuck is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.