Legend of the Dreamer

LEGEND OF THE DREAMER is the second book in THE WYAKIN TRILOGY. The book is historic fiction. The story centers around a thirteen-year-old boy coming of age in a strange and foreign culture. It can be considered as appealing to young-adult readers as well as historical fiction devotees.

LEGEND OF THE DREAMER begins where LEGEND OF THE WYAKIN ends. Cortez Modrables is entering into the Nez Perce family of is friend, Samuel. But, he has considered returning to the White-dominated culture that he feels abandon him. Cortez finds that the Indians want him to join them. They show caring and make a place for him in the lodge. His friend and adoptive brother, Samuel, asks him to stay. The elderly shaman/healer and his wife want him to live with them. The shaman considers Cortez to be his designated successor as reveled to him by the spirits in a vision. The trek from Montana to the homeland of the hunting band in Central Idaho yields adventures, dangers and growth experiences for the boy Cortez. Settled in the home area, the Nez Perce band provides the family that Cortez needs for learning the practices and rituals of a healer/shaman. The old shaman-mentor takes a more mature Cortez to meet a Dreamer Prophet. The prophet dislikes and distrusts Cortez because he is white. An earthquake at the Prophet's village nearly causes Cortes's death, but his wyakin and the spirits save him, The incident causes a rift between Cortez and the old shaman. Cortez meets Rachel a Christian Nez Perce school teacher. He falls in love with her, but the sharp religious differences between them keep them apart. The old shaman dies leaving Cortez to take over the bands healer/shaman responsibilities.

David G. Rasmussen tells stories in his books. He tries to get the readers into these stories with his characters and places. Vivid personalities are portrayed so that the reader gets to know the characters as if standing along side them. David knows the places well from many associations with each local. David lived and worked in the Pacific Northwest where THE WYAKIN TRILOGY was centered. Place is the backdrop to story. David wants the stories not forgotten, the charactors remembered as friends and the places recognized on future visits.