Red Wind and Thunder Moon

Book excerpt: The Thunder Moon series represents some of Max Brand?s best work, originally published in 1927?28 as a series of interlocking stories. The University of Nebraska Press is now republishing these stories uncut and in the sequence Faust intended, with careful reference to the original typescripts. In order, the works appear in four volumes as The Legend of Thunder Moon, Red Wind and Thunder Moon, Thunder Moon and the Sky People, and Farewell, Thunder Moon. Red Wind and Thunder Moon originally appeared in 1927 issues of Western Story Magazine. In this work, Walking Horse, war chief of the Omissi band of the Cheyennes, pays a mysterious visit to the Suhtai band, among whose foremost chiefs is Big Hard Face. Big Hard Face proudly shows Walking Horse the large herd of fine horses presented to him by his son, Thunder Moon, who has captured them in daring raids upon their traditional enemies, the Comanches. Feigning a desire to buy some of the horses, Walking Horse cleverly concludes a bargain with Big Hard Face, over Thunder Moon?s objections, that obliges the young warrior to accept an unknown gift. Big Hard Face is ecstatic over the good price he has received for the horses; Thunder Moon awaits the ?gift? with foreboding.