Something to the South caught her eye. She stared hard, seeing nothing except the endless miles of rolling grasses. 

Just my eyes playing tricks? 

Then she saw it again: A few people were emerging from a dip in the land, walking away from her.

Black hair. No sunbonnets. 

Indians. 

While she stared, a woman at the back of the group turned to glance behind her. Hanna recognized her at once: The gray haired elder she had encountered earlier, the day before leaving LaForge. 

Their eyes met. The woman looked at Hanna for a long moment. Then she made an unmistakable gesture with her chin, both acknowledging Hanna and beckoning her.

Hanna pointed to herself. "Hanna" she said, "my name is Hanna". 

"Hanna" the woman repeated. She tapped her own chest with a flat hand and said "Wichapiwin". 

"Wichapiwin", Hanna said, dipping her head in an awkward half bow, half courtesy. She had no idea if her gesture signified respect to the Sioux, but she hoped the woman would understand her intent.