Life and times of America's last great Apache Chief opens in 1877. Death has stolen the original Chise (chise di cochise) who leaves behind two grown sons to deal with broken U. S. Government treaties.
     Apache are now systematically listed on military rolls then forced from their Dragoon Mountain homelands to imprisonment at an abominable early-version of San Carlos Indian Reservation. There they face lack of shelter, water, along with starvation, disease, woefully inadequate sanitation, all resulting in eventual death.
Such future still proves better than fate of the less fortunate who don’t make it that far women are raped then murdered en route, as often are their children, of both genders.
     Chise's oldest son Taza, father of Niño arranges a perilous escape for his family, travel to be assisted by a few women and elderly men including Chise’s faithful shaman, Deeodet.
     Because Taza, his brother Naiche, their brother-by-marriage Geronimo bear names known to the Army, they must remain behind. Any Indian already identified will be missed, and hunted, which will surely further endanger the unnamed 38 who embark on their uncharted journey.
     After months of struggle the nameless, now homeless escapees make their way across desert floors, down into Mexico where they climb high among steep Sierra Madra spirals to safety. There they establish the final Apache stronghold, “Pagotzinkay.”
     Back at San Carlos, known as the ‘bowl’, Chief Taza agrees to allow the U. S. Government to send him to Washington D.C. where Indians are shuffled around on parade floats as evidence that federal handling of Indians is a, “Good thing”. The chief’s private goal is to reach President Grant, that he might plead a bit of land be returned to restore Apache homeland.
     Far to the southwest, high among rocky encampment the grandchild of Chise, young Niño Cochise’s life among green petioles, becomes a peaceful mélange of happy events, tutored by his mother Nodahsti and Chise’s old tribal diwi, Deeodet—until word comes the lad’s father, Taza, is dead. His end arrived in the form of pneumonia. Apache believe Taza was murdered by white-eyes.
     Niño’s uncles, Naiche (Taza's brother), and Geronimo (by marriage) break out of San Carlos, leading 700 angry warriors. All head straight to the new Sierra Madras Apache fortress where a state of combat is declared. Geronimo and braves step on a path that launches what will forever be the ‘bloodiest decade in annals of western American history’, the Ten Year Geronimo Wars.
Skilled in weapons of battle, youthful Niño’s heros become Netdahe —a term for Geronimo's warriors, Chato, Nanay, Tzoe, all braves who vow “death to every White and Mexican”.
     Other tribes soon join them. Known as The Wild Ones, they are fierce, fearless, and seldom sober.
At age 15 Niño follows his heritage, becomes the youngest chief ever approved by full council, while rebel Indian Agent Tom Jeffords helps handle discovery of a thin gold vein found on the edge of the stronghold. They name it the, “Just laying there,” mine.
     Niño’s first leadership act is to kidnap Mexican doctor Gutierrez from Basaranca, the village at the base of the mountains, with hopes the physician can and will save Geronimo, dying of battle injuries.
Then Chief Niño befriends a stronghold prisoner, Army deserter “Ticer”, enlisting the ex-school-teacher to ply his academic skills by familiarizing the Apache with White Man’s words.
     At the behest of Niño’s mother who thinks it’s time for wife, he courts Judi, a Mexican girl but the day before the wedding he finds her in the forest with her Mexican lover. The betrayed swain viciously slashes off both her lover’s ears, her nose thereby marking her forever as a fallen woman.
     Adding to Apache woes the village below is becoming overrun with Rock Scratchers, most criminals, society’s ilk— vagabonds, bums, gunslingers, gamblers, bank robbers, ranch-grabbers (there is no law enforcement), fortune seekers come to get riches rumored to be anywhere there’s gold.
Dr. Gutierrez, Barasloma village leader unable to protect residents, begs help of the tribe. Apache have little sympathy for villagers who consider Indians savages. On the other hand, Tom Jeffords points out, “If ‘n nar-do’wells ain’t stopped below th’re surely gonna make a’h way up th’ rocks lookin’ fer veins, lik’ rats chasin’ rotten meat.” Something Apache don’t want to happen.
Dreaded battle for Barasloma’s soul is hard-fought and long. In the end, the dark side loses but costs are high. One includes the death of their good friend Jim Ticer.
     Upon return to camp karma bestows reward on Niño, waiting is a small tribe looking for a safe place to make a home. Leader Beneto Jemezr introduces his daughter, Maria. It’s love at first sight, Niño names her Golden Bird.
A year after their wedding his beloved now with-child, is shot off her horse and dies in his arms. In the most defining act of his life Niño pursues her killers, more than two-dozen Mexican soldiers, all the way to the Pacific Ocean before the world is cleansed of the last of them.
     This volatile climax demands cunning, endurance, self discipline, perseverance, loss of Niño’s favorite pony, tracking, poison, burning a Butterfield stagecoach building, hiding among a pack of wild Javalina pigs, skulking between perilous ravines inside pitch-black caverns, saving another pregnant woman, and her son, all against overwhelming odds, the killing each executioner. Chief Cochise is in the end deprived of final victory, the last remaining assassin cheats Niño by taking his own life. Only then can our hero return to the body of his one true soul mate... to bid her farewell.
 

© 2006 Strasbaugh