Secrets of the Anasazi

by Sky Whitehorse

  "Well," he turned to face her, "after we turn this corner we'll be there. Any final guesses?"

  She looked up at his perfect jawline, and to his neck, and down to the part where his tank made a U on his defined chest.

  She was out of ideas. "You got me. What is it?"

  "Come see."

  She followed him around the turn to see mounds of round stones over different spots on the ground. “What are the piles of rock?”

  "They're grave markers. Old ones. The tradition in a Hopi burial was to bury the deceased sitting up, with food, water, and a stick coming out of the ground so their spirit could make it to the underworld after the first rain. It's a spiritual place for our people." He rested one foot on a rock and took in a deep breath; his chest puffed out and he tilted his chin up. "This was our people's village once. I try to imagine how it used to be. They were farmers. They devoted themselves to watering their crops day and night, just to survive, and praying to the gods of prosperity."

  "It's hard to imagine anything growing here. The ground is scorched."

  "Yes, but our people were hard working. They toiled the earth to make it sustainable. They were also generous, sharing the food they worked so hard to grow with other tribes. They were known as the peaceful people. One winter, the Navajo robbed the Hopi of every last grain of corn."

  "It must have made for a tough winter."

  He nodded. "They were on the brink of starvation. In 1540, the Spanish soldiers came in search of the legendary Seven Cities of Gold. They destroyed part of the village when our people couldn't bring them any."

  Maya looked around at the desolate grounds. She considered their plight. If travelers had never come to the Americas she would be here today, living the life of the Hopi people. There was something tranquil about being there, like she belonged.

  "In 1882, our tribe was forced by the U.S. government to leave our village home, to go live on the reservation. They were forced to walk whether they were young, old, or disabled, all the way to the new destination, leaving everything they had worked for behind."

  "I had no idea.” Maya felt a heaviness from his words. “It saddens my heart to think of it."

  He sang a short tribal incantation.

  “Shaman kayan kayanra je et cela, jusqu’a l’infini.”

  She didn’t understand the words, but his poise and humble expression gave her a spiritual feeling that hung in the air.

  "Just to think these are our ancestors is pretty amazing," Maya said.

  He stepped up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. The breeze caught a few strands of her hair and he tucked them behind her ear. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment then turned to face him, locking eyes.

  "If I were talented, I would write thousands of songs dedicated to your beauty." His eyelids lowered as he leaned toward her.

  She had yearned for this moment when he would hold her in his arms, and plant kisses on her, but she turned her head. "I can't."

  His lips parted as he took a step back and looked away. His ego was bruised. "Forgive me." He turned, resting his hand against the rocky plateau, looking into the sky as a bird of prey soared overhead.

  She felt the guilt rise in her stomach. She touched his arm and he turned to her. "Warren, you know I like you–"

  "It’s fine."

  "Roy and Aunt Roslyn told me they would send you back to the reservation if I–"

  He tilted his head, furrowed his brow, and hung his head in defeat. "They said that?" He turned away, resting his elbow on one hand and his fingers on his chin with the other. “I can’t believe after all the years I’ve put in with my father they would threaten to send me away.”

  She wanted to console him, not realizing her words would wound him, but now she had blown her chance. What was she doing taking walks with him if she wasn’t going to act on her impulse? She was just a tease. She closed her eyes, letting out her breath.

  He spun around. "I don't care. You're worth it." He pulled her in, putting his lips on hers. She reveled in the moment. His lips were soft on hers, and his embrace was strong. He deepened the kiss as his tongue mingled with hers. She leaned into him. A gust of wind whisked around them, heightening her senses in the moment. He pulled away, gazing into her eyes. She laid her head on him, pressing against his rippled chest. His bronzed skin was silky smooth on her cheek. They stayed there for a while, engrossed in each other’s touch.

  “I think we got the Earth mother’s blessing,” he whispered, running his fingers through her hair.

  She knew he was referring to the wind. She smiled back at him, and she felt he was right.

  "It's getting hot." He handed her a water bottle from his satchel. "I don't want you to pass out again."

  "Thanks for thinking of me." She twisted off the cap and took a swig.

  "Actually, I find myself thinking about you quite a lot."

  She tried to hide her smile.

  He looked at his watch. "We'd better head back. I have to take care of the horses."

  She sighed. "Can't you just let Roy do it this once?"

  "He really can't do it alone yet. He's slow, and he gets moody."

  They headed back to the trail.

  “So, what sort of picture can I paint for you?” Maya asked.

  “Something meaningful.” He put his arm around her shoulders as they walked.

  “Can you be more specific?”

  “I love the one you did of Fearless Legend. You completely captured his essence. You know, I’ve seen that exact look in his eye.”

  She nodded. “He is a character. He won’t eat the grain in the bucket if I’m watching him. As soon as I turn my back it’s gone.”

  He chuckled. “He thinks you’ll feed him more if you don’t catch him eating it.”

  “He’s clever. He follows me everywhere.”

  “If I didn’t have to work I’d follow you everywhere too.”

  She beamed at him.

  As they neared the hotel, Maya tripped on a rock, almost falling over, but regained her balance by grabbing Warren's arm. "Oh! My sandal broke." She tried to walk with it but it was no use; it wouldn't stay on her foot. She took it off. The hot sand assaulted her foot. "Ow!" She lifted her foot and stood there.

  "Here, hop on. Piggyback." Warren crouched down and she got on. "You're light." He took off running as she laughed, wrapping her arms around his burly shoulders. When they made it to the front doors, he put her down. He wrapped her in his arms. "See you at breakfast."

  ⭐⭐⭐

  That night, Maya awoke to someone shaking her. The room was still dark and she opened her eyes into slits. The dream catcher dangled in front of the window where Maya had hung it. Chantal crouched over her. "Go away!" Maya said, pulling the pillow over her head.

  "Dr. Parker is headed down the hallway with James. They're wearing climbing gear," she whispered, pulling the pillow off Maya’s face.

  "So what? What time is it, anyway?"

  "Two."

  "Ahhh! Leave me alone. We went to bed like… three hours ago."

  This was true. They had a lot of laundry to catch up on after spending most of the day outside.

  "Maya, you can't go to sleep now! Guests aren't allowed to explore the western side of the canyon—Ahote's rules."

  Chantal sat on top of Maya. It was dark, and she couldn’t see her expression, only her silhouette.

  "So, go tell Ahote,” Maya said. “I'm sleeping."

  "No, I want to see for myself what Dr. Parker is up to. I need to find out what his intentions are. I think he's just using my mom to explore the west side of the property."

  "I don't think that's it. I think he really likes your mom. Maybe she doesn't really need protecting."

  "C'mon, Maya, there's no time to argue. Just go with me this once. You know it's dangerous to go climbing solo. I need you."

  She sat up, her eyelids drooping in protest. She longed for the soft pillow on the bed.

  "Why did this have to happen
tonight?" Maya whined, but she got out of bed.

  Chantal handed her climbing gear and they headed out the front doors of the hotel.

  They snuck across the plateau under the vastness of shimmering stars. The moon’s large crater face seemed to be closing in on the Earth. Soon they caught up to Dr. Parker and James, who were rappelling into the canyon with shining headlights. They stood by the edge of the cliff.

  "How do you think he knew how to climb into the canyon?" Maya asked.

  "Warren gave them a climbing lesson earlier this week," Chantal replied.

  "When do you think we can start rappelling without them noticing us? Even if we wait until they reach the bottom of the canyon, they'll see us coming. If we wait too long they'll be long gone before we get there."

  "Hmm, your right. Quick, back to the stables. I know another way."

  The western wind blew gently. Maya looked in its direction as a chill climbed her spine.

  "Hurry or we'll never make it," Chantal said, running ahead.

  "Where are we going?"

  "Just wait and see."

  They dashed to the stables and into Fearless's stall. He was startled from sleep and shook his head, blowing raspberries.

  Chantal stroked his head. "Shhh, Fearless. We can't wake Ahote."

  "How are we going to get down into the canyon with him?" Maya asked.

  "You'll see. I'll be right back with Ancient Orange." She hurried into another stall. The horse followed her out. "The tricky part comes next."

  "What?"

  "Getting Ahote's flute from around his neck without waking him."

  Maya's jaw dropped. "Are you serious? When he catches us sneaking, he'll never trust us again."

  Chantal smirked. "That's why we can't get caught. He's probably dozing in the chair." Without hesitation, she eased the screen door open.

  Sure enough, Ahote sat in his chair facing the western window. She could see the side of his head cocked to one side. He snored with his mouth wide open. The flute dangled from his neck.

  "Why does he sleep out here?" Maya whispered.

  "To keep watch. The grounds are sacred, remember? I'll be right back." Chantal tiptoed up behind him; his chest rose and fell rhythmically. She placed a finger around the rope and one of Ahote's eyes popped open.

  Maya gasped from outside the door.

  Chantal didn't notice. The corners of his mouth slightly curved upward and then his eye closed. Chantal tiptoed out the door with the flute.

  "You woke him!" Maya hissed, as Chantal closed the screen door quietly behind her.

  Chantal whirled around and looked through the screen at him. "No, I didn't."

  Maya took a second look. He was snoring.

  "Let's go," Chantal said, turning on her heel.

  They mounted their horses and headed to the Valley of Hoodoos.

  Maya looked over her shoulder at the hut. Through the small, dark window she thought she could see Ahote's silhouette. "Couldn't be," she said under her breath.

  17. Spying on the Trespassers

  "I thought we were tailing Dr. Parker and James," Maya said as they headed to the Valley of Hoodoos.

  "We are.” Chantal focused on the trail without an explanation.

  They galloped under the arch of sandstone. The many hoodoos looked like an army of giants in the night. Two winged creatures were flying overhead.

  They trotted a mile into the valley before reaching the channel with the sign above it that read Danger. Maya remembered trying to get Fearless to go into it, but he was stubborn about it, and refused.

  "This is the entrance to what Ahote likes to call the Ancient Anasazi Dirt Slide," Chantal said. "It was mined by the Anasazi in about 50 A.D., as a shortcut into the canyon. It turns into a mudslide when it downpours. The ground is so desolate that the water can't penetrate it, so it floods. Fearless, Ancient Orange, and Hototo have been trained to take riders down, but only under the direction of Ahote's flute. Hold on." Chantal pressed the flute to her lips, played three notes, and Fearless began to back away from the dirt slide.

  Maya imagined this was what it would feel like if her cousin were controlling a drone and Maya was riding it. She squeezed her legs around Fearless’s ribs.

  Chantal played three more notes and Fearless charged toward the dirt slide at full speed. She let out a short whimper as she clung to his mane, her heart pounding. The nine-foot-wide passage headed west thirty yards and made a sharp turn to the north.

  Maya had no control over him and each time his hooves hit the sand she could feel him sliding. She heard Chantal laughing as Ancient Orange galloped behind them.

  On the sides of the wall, Maya tried to get a glimpse of the prehistoric drawings on the jagged rocks. She passed by so quickly, they were only a blur. The slide was long and steep. Toward the middle of the dugout, it became a dark tunnel. Moonlight shone through the other end where bushes covered the exit, except at the very bottom where a small clearing afforded an exit. The whooshing of the wind whistled through the passage.

  Fearless neared the exit.

  "Duck!" Chantal shouted.

  Fearless bent his head down to avoid the scratchy shrubs and Maya pressed her body against his neck. Stray hairs from her head caught onto the bushes overhead and were yanked from her scalp. "Ouch!" She rubbed her head. Fearless slowed to a stop. Maya was aghast when she realized they had arrived at the bottom of the canyon. The gushing of the river overpowered the sound of the clopping hooves. Maya pulled Fearless's mane and he came to a stop.

  She stroked his neck. "Good boy!" She heard the gurgling of the Colorado River that gushed in front of them.

  Ancient Orange galloped out behind them.

  "I forgot to warn you about that exit," Chantal said. Her eyes widened and she placed her finger in front of her lips. "Dr. Parker and James are just getting to the bottom of the canyon," she whispered.

  They steered their horses beside the canyon wall behind the bushes.

  Maya could see Dr. Parker assisting James with removing the rope from his climbing gear. The beams of lights on their hats lit up a good portion of the canyon. Dr. Parker pointed into the air. Maya and Chantal looked up to see what appeared to be a large flock of birds heading west. He grabbed James by the arm, pulling him closer to the side of the canyon, and soon Maya understood why. She saw a couple pellets of guano plop into the sand beside them in the moonlight.

  Chantal raised her top lip in disgust.

  "Birds," James shouted.

  "Not birds, bats," they overheard Dr. Parker reply.

  Fearless blew raspberries.

  "Did you hear that?" Dr. Parker asked James.

  "Hear what?" James asked.

  "If I didn't know better, I would say there's a horse down here in the canyon."