Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone – Chapter 86: Unwelcome Prophecy
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Ian Murray joins the Mohawk leader Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant) on a winter hunt. They track a glutton (wolverine) that is following a wounded moose. During the hunt, Ian reveals that his uncle Jamie’s wife, Claire, is a time-traveler—an arennowa’nen who has walked through time—and warns Thayendanegea that the Americans will win the Revolutionary War. Thayendanegea takes the information seriously and tasks Ian with telling the Sachem. After they kill the moose, Ian meets Gabriel Hardman, who confronts him about traveling to Canajoharie with Silvia and her daughters. Ian explains he came to check on his former wife Emily, now remarried, and that his new wife Rachel is with him. Hardman defends his own absence due to captivity, but Ian rebukes him and walks away.
Key Events
- Ian and Thayendanegea hunt in deep snow, following a glutton that tracks a wounded moose.
- Ian uses the hunt’s quiet moments to disclose Claire’s ability to walk through time and predicts the American colonists will defeat the British.
- Thayendanegea absorbs the prophecy without argument and later tells Ian to relay it to the Sachem.
- Ian kills the young moose with a single musket shot; the men and other hunters butcher the carcass.
- Gabriel Hardman rides in on a mule and later confronts Ian about his presence with Silvia and her daughters.
- Ian reveals he came to check on Emily (his former wife) and that Rachel, his current wife, is also present.
- Hardman explains he could not return from Philadelphia because he was imprisoned and enslaved.
- Ian ends the conversation with a final dismissal: “I’ll leave ye here. Go with God.”
Character Development
- Ian Murray: Displays deep loyalty to his uncle and strategic diplomacy. He chooses to tell Thayendanegea the truth about time travel and the war’s outcome, trusting the Mohawk leader’s wisdom. He also shows integrity in his relations with both his former wife and his current marriage, firmly rejecting polygamy.
- Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant): Remains cautious and pragmatic. He accepts Ian’s extraordinary claim without mockery, indicating an open-mindedness grounded in his Mohawk beliefs. His request to pass the message to the Sachem shows he values the intelligence.
- Gabriel Hardman: Reveals a troubled past: he was a prisoner/slave in Philadelphia, which prevented him from returning to Silvia. His confrontation with Ian exposes his guilt and defensiveness.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Prophecy and Knowledge: Ian’s warning is a direct use of knowledge from the future to influence the course of the war. Thayendanegea’s reaction highlights the dilemma of acting on foreknowledge.
- The Glutton (Wolverine) as Symbol: The glutton patiently following a wounded animal mirrors the relentless nature of war and fate, which will eventually overtake its victim regardless of resistance.
- Duty versus Personal Choice: Ian chooses to reveal the secret; Hardman chose not to return. Both actions stem from personal codes but yield different consequences.
- Time and the Land: The hunt occurs in a cold, unforgiving landscape that demands respect. The physical act of butchering a moose connects the spiritual and the practical.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter advances the series’ long-running tension about the outcome of the American Revolution, placing Jamie and Claire’s family squarely in the middle of Mohawk-British-American politics. Ian’s warning could alter the fate of the Mohawk people. It also deepens Ian’s role as a bridge between two worlds and clarifies his relationship with his past, cementing his commitment to Rachel.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Ian choose to tell Thayendanegea the truth about Claire’s time travel and the war’s outcome, rather than keeping it secret?
Answer: Ian judges that Thayendanegea, as a Mohawk leader with a college education and an open mind, is the only commander capable of believing the truth and using it wisely for his people’s good. Ian follows Jamie’s instruction to decide how much to reveal. -
How does the hunt scene mirror the larger themes of fate and prophecy in the chapter?
Answer: The glutton patiently stalking the wounded moose symbolizes the inevitability of war and the inexorable march of events. Just as the glutton waits for weakness, the war will eventually force a collapse, regardless of the Mohawks’ choices. Ian’s prophecy offers a chance to change the outcome, much like the moose’s broken leg seals its fate. -
What does Gabriel Hardman’s confrontation reveal about his character and his relationship with Silvia?
Answer: Hardman is burdened by shame and anger over his captivity in Philadelphia. His defensive outburst shows he feels he had no choice but to stay away, yet Ian’s quiet judgment suggests Hardman abandoned his responsibilities. The scene underscores the personal cost of war and the difficulty of making moral choices under duress.