North America, April, 1280 AD

"The Only Game in Town," 2.

The land burns green;

bright leaves flutter on high beeches;

cold mountain wind, smelling of melted snow, roars through pines;

birds darken the sun;

to the west, the distant, blue-white Cascades float;

to the east, forest and meadow descend to a valley;

beyond the horizon, buffalo are thunderous on prairies;

seventy Mongols on Asian horses with pack animals, remounts and native guides follow a small river;

Everard watches with binoculars.