Lyrics – Smoke of Sage

About Smoke of Sage

DATE: Friday, May 29, 1891

LOCATION: Pine Ridge, Great Sioux Nation

SCENE: The witness is found wandering through tribal lands by scouts from Pine Ridge. He has been lost for days in the Great Sioux Nation and is in a feverish state. He attempts to relate his story to his captors, speaking excitedly about the ghosts of the dead who have been following him through the wilderness and a spirit woman who is in possession of his soul. The scouts bring him to the tribal elders who understand that he is dangerously ill and in need of their aid.

During his weeks-long recovery, the man experiences the sacred ceremonies of the tribe, including the Sun Dance Ceremony. When his fever eventually passes, he no longer believes he is possessed by the dead, yet he realizes that he isn’t any closer to finding Frances Coles’ killer and completing his quest.

He journeys south to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to locate the man he followed to America, a saddler named William Green who had disappeared from London in the weeks following Frances’ murder. If he could locate Green, perhaps Frances would return to him as well.

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