I have been having dreams, creator -- like random memories -- of myself here on Earth and on alien planets. What does this mean? 
- — Sorcerer
Spectre (Volume 3) #46 is an issue of the series Spectre (Volume 3) with a cover date of October, 1996.
Synopsis for "Gather the Ghosts"
An old Native American named Lonetree tells a young Jim Corrigan about the Massacre at Wounded Knee: the Sioux believed the Ghost Dance would protect them, but the American soldiers killed over 100 men, women, and children. When Jim's mother tells him to do his chores, she does not see Lonetree; he is a shaman who doesn't let people see him unless they're special. Lonetree predicts that Jim is destined for something great—something strange.
In the present day, Jim Corrigan and Nate Kane are on a train in the American West, looking for pieces of the American Talisman. Jim tells Nate about his childhood: he was three years old when the Wright Brothers took flight in 1903; he nearly died in the trenches during World War I; he saw many things before he died in 1939.
At the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation in White Sands, New Mexico, two twin brothers have a meeting. Both are Native Americans; Tahzey is wearing the traditional dress, but Victorio is wearing contemporary clothing. Victorio says he has just negotiated a deal in which the tribe sells the mining rights to its land in exchange for money and permission to build a casino. Tahzey says that many members of the tribe are unhappy with the idea, and he has called for the Ghost Dance. He has a piece of the American Talisman, with which he plans to call forth spirits. Victorio insists that the white men are here to stay and tells Tahzey to come to his senses.
Jim and Nate get off the train in Roswell, New Mexico. Jim sees a vision of Lonetree, who tells Jim that the Council of Elders wants to talk to him. Jim tells Nate to meet him near the Mescalero Reservation.
At NORAD Mountain (the secret headquarters of the National Interest), scientists have located the Spear of Destiny: it is in a piece of rock orbiting the Earth.
Lonetree and the Spectre arrive at the council. One of the chiefs at the council once wore the Spectre's robes. They urge him to become a guardian rather than just the avenger of the murdered dead. They make several vague prophecies, telling him that he will have to make sacrifices.
At NORAD Mountain, a scientist unveils Sorcerer, a machine that can take the form of any human. The National Interest instructs Sorcerer to retrieve the Spear of Destiny. Sorcerer accepts the mission, but first explains that he has been having dreams of himself on Earth and on alien planets. After he leaves, the members of the National Interest discuss Sorcerer's memories, which they thought they had wiped. They admit that they know "very little of the suit beyond the fact that it is obviously of alien origin." They may deactivate it again after they recover the Spear.
In Earth's orbit, Sorcerer gets the Spear of Destiny out of the asteroid.
Appearing in "Gather the Ghosts"
Featured Characters:
- Spectre (Jim Corrigan) (Flashback and main story)
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- The National Interest
- Sorcerer
- Armistead
- Duchloss
- Dwayne Hawke
Other Characters:
- Jebediah Corrigan (Flashback only)
- William Lonetree (As a spirit)
- Mescaledro Apache Indians
- Tahzey Wovoka
- Victorio Cutter
- Orville Wright (Flashback only)
- Wilbur Wright (Flashback only)
Locations:
- Wounded Knee, South Dakota
- White Sands, New Mexico
- Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation
- Roswell, New Mexico
- NORAD, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado
- National Interest Headquarters
Items:
- Spear of Destiny
- American Talisman
Vehicles:
Notes
- This is part ten of the story arc, "The Haunting of America." It concludes with issue #50.
See Also