Pushing the Bear: A Novel of the Trail of Tears

Maritole and the other women, such as Quaty, Anna, Mrs. Young Turkey, and Kee-un-e-ca, sit by the fire to “thaw out [their] bones” (165). They hear the soldiers get drunk at night to celebrate the new year. Meanwhile, the Cherokee community celebrates their new year “with the Keetoowah fire” (165). Luthy watches Maritole with disdain as she sits with the older women. She despises Maritole’s growing relationship with Williams. Further along on the trail, Maritole almost faints from exhaustion, and Williams comes to her aid. The pair kiss and Maritole feels more comforted by Williams than by Knobowtee. Quaty asks Maritole if Williams is her husband, and Maritole claims that she lost her husband on the trail. Quaty rebukes Maritole, claiming that she is no better than the Georgia Cherokee people who gave away their land. During this time, Reverend Bushyhead’s sister dies just as his wife gives birth to their second daughter, Elizah Missouri Bushyhead.

Maritole asks Williams to take her back home. She also asks him to become Cherokee. Williams has given Maritole some clothing, and when Knobowtee tries to rip this clothing from Maritole’s body, he and Williams get into a physical fight. Maritole is shamed, and she worries that Williams will have to go to a hearing. Maritole begins listening to the leaves tell “the story of [the Cherokee people’s] march” (173). Tanner, Maritole’s father, and Knobowtee assert that the white men will eventually have to pay for their treatment of the Cherokee people, but Maritole does not believe that will ever happen. As Maritole loses hope, Quaty continues to shame her for falling in love with Williams. Tanner tells Knobowtee to stay with Maritole, but Knobowtee believes that she is dying. In a fit of anger, Knobowtee punches his brother.

Anna, Luthy, and Teehee continue to push forward despite their fear for the future. Anna worries that she cannot hear any of the voices anymore. As the journey continues, Knobowtee and many other men are forced to walk in chains. Tanner remembers how “the grandfathers” told their people that a “dark shadow” would cover their land (183). Maritole continues to weaken, and Lacey cares for her. Reverend Bushyhead continues to preach to the Cherokee people, and War Club begins talking to himself about how he needs to keep walking. Disembodied voices state that one of the guards keeps a list of Cherokee people and the supplies as they walk the Trail of Tears. These voices also remember how the Cherokee people planted their food, including corn, watermelon, and sunflowers. The narrative also includes the journal entry of a “government teamster” to outline their journey and list the stops that they make on their way to Oklahoma.

During this time, Quaty tells Luthy and Tanner’s sons a tale about the “Trickster Turtle,” using both Cherokee and English so that they will remember the legend. Anna believes that the power of these stories will help them defeat the white settlers, but Luthy claims that the white people’s disbelief in their stories will prevent the Cherokee people from gaining any power over them. Knobowtee continues to think about what he will do in Oklahoma, and he hopes to join the council that will guide the people. Meanwhile, Maritole continues to struggle with an illness. As they near the Missouri border, she wakes up one morning thinking of her brother, Thomas. The narrative relates a story of a bear to show how the Cherokee people once forgot their cultural roots and transformed into bears. Then the narrative shifts to Reverend Bushyhead, who carries a list of the supplies needed to establish their settlement.