Secrets of the Anasazi

by Sky Whitehorse

  I wonder what’s wrong?

  Maya decided not to let it bother her and caught up to Ahote and her cousins, who were lollygagging.

  Ahote cleared his throat when she caught up to them. He had a twinkle in his eye when he spoke. "Did you get anything special while you were in the cave?"

  Her expression turned to excitement as she remembered the Indian paintbrush. "Yes!" She pulled it out of her bag to show it's exquisiteness.

  He examined it with its colorful bristles and green stem. "It's been a long time since I've seen one of these."

  She raised her eyebrows. "You've seen one before?"

  "It's your very own key." He winked at her.

  Her eyes widened as she gaped at it. A thrill ran through her as she thought about how special she felt knowing she had been entrusted to the door of the underworld. Maybe one day she would watch over the western canyons.

  "Along with this gift comes great responsibility," he warned her. His chin jutted out, and he arched an eyebrow at her.

  Her heart quickened with a boost of adrenaline. She tried to hide her enthusiasm, putting on her best poker face. "Of course." She had a newfound sense of ownership, a tie to the land of her forefathers.

  Ahote looked away and a sly smile spread over her face.

  Lance broke into their conversation, raising his palms. "How did you get away from Dr. Parker and climb the canyon to get to the door when you had been hit with a blow dart?"

  Ahote shrugged half-heartedly. "I was weak and tied to some tent fabric and poles, hidden behind a tall rock. I could barely move my head. My vision blurred in and out and someone stood over me, giving me a drink from an old pottery cup." He cleared his throat into his fist. "I realized the person in front of me was the badger Kachina, god of healing.”

  They corded their necks to look at Ahote while James hurried ahead, casting glances over the canyon as he went.

  “Shortly after,” Ahote continued, “I felt energized and healthy. I pulled myself out of the ropes and William saw me escaping up the canyon wall..."

  They hung on to his every word as the rain began to dwindle and the clouds further receded.

  Ahote’s half-lidded eyes spoke of his exhaustion. He brushed his long hair from his face. "He tried chasing me, but he wasn't nearly fast enough. I made it in and closed the door before he realized it was there."

  "How did you get in without the key?" Chantal asked with wide eyes.

  Ahote glanced over at James to make sure he wasn't listening. He was far enough away, but he lowered his voice anyway. "Because, young one, there are many keys."

  The three cousins arched their eyebrows and exchanged glances with one another.

  Maya looked down at her paintbrush, running her finger over the stem. "That reminds me. Lance, speaking of disappearances, what happened to you in the cave?"

  He slipped his hands in his back pockets. "A Kachina found me. I closed my eyes and I could clearly see his aura. I followed him as he climbed up the wall into a tunnel barely big enough for me to crawl through. He led me to Ahote."

  James spun around with his arms spread, and yelled, "We need to hurry! Quit jibber jabbering and pick up the pace!"

  Chantal looked at him as if she had just been spritzed in the face with his words. "Why are you mad?" She shouted back.

  "What's your hurry?" Lance added, cupping his hands over his mouth to amplify his words.

  James reached up, grabbed his hair, and pulled each side. "WOULD YOU JUST LISTEN TO ME? WE HAVE TO GO!"

  "What's his problem?" Lance snorted and waved at him dismissively.

  "We’re tired," Chantal sneered. “We’ll get there when we can.”

  "No," Maya cut in, grabbing Chantal’s arm. "There is something he isn’t telling us or he wouldn't be this upset. Maybe we should hurry."

  Chantal rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Fine. Let's hurry back so we can eat.”

  They walked through the wet sand and shriveled up bushes that drank up the moisture. Maya’s legs were sore from the climbing and walking. After what seemed like hours they were ready for a rest, but James continued to push them. Maya’s head lulled as she fought to keep her eyes open. She was almost staggering from the lack of sleep. James had burst ahead of them like he was on caffeine.

  The clouds rolled away and the sun beat down on them. The ground dried up. It didn’t look like there had been a downpour just a few hours ago.

  Maya felt relieved when they reached the canyons above the dirt slide. The familiar sight made her feel like they were home again. Only a couple miles and they would be back to the stables.

  James was still wandering like a madman, walking several feet ahead.

  Ahote winced when he noticed the charcoal rock where the bushes had burned up. His face fell, looking long and oval as he gritted his teeth. "What happened here?" He pointed to the ground and turned to the three of them.

  Maya had a flashback of a meme she had seen of a guilty dog lowering her head when her master asked if she ate the cat treats.

  The three of them gave him a blank look.

  “Chantal?” He looked to her first, placing one hand on his hip. His bicep flexed making his armband tattoo bulge.

  Her mouth fell open as her fingers spread over her chest. “Why me?”

  He cocked his head to the side with pursed lips.

  Chantal let out a breath. "It was an accident.”

  "It's my fault," Lance replied, blinking rapidly. "The torch grazed the branches as I-“ he paused at Ahote’s grim expression and cut his explanation to a minimum. “Sorry?"

  Ahote glared at him.

  James let out a groan as he looked over the edge of the canyon to the river below, putting his hands over his chest, then pacing back and forth.

  "James?" Chantal asked, coming to stand next to him. "Don’t worry. The bushes will grow back."

  "I did a bad thing," he blurted out, staring blankly. He placed his hands on his hips and his shoulders curled over.

  The cousins exchanged glances, then came closer to James. Chantal put her arm around his back.

  Maya stood on his other side. “James? Are you ok?”

  His face turned red and he covered it with his hands. "Warren was pierced by a blow dart… I dumped him into the river… right there-" He pointed to the river.

  Maya’s shuddered. "WHAT!"

  James let his arms hang limp by his sides.

  Chantal pulled away from him. “WHY WOULD YOU-“

  “HOW COULD YOU?” Lance interrupted, shoving James toward the edge.

  James stumbled but caught his footing a couple feet from the cliff.

  Ahote approached Lance sweeping his arm in front of him and pushing him back. He placed his hands on James’s shoulders, thrusting out his chest. He bared his teeth, "You killed my son?"

  "Asshole!" Lance yelled, starting towards him again. "I'll throw you over the canyon!"

  “Stop Lance!” Chantal said, grabbing his arm. “Let him explain.”

  The four of them stared at him as his chin lowered. His chest caved and he made a pained moan in the back of his throat as he swallowed. "Uncle said if I didn't do it… I was next." He wiped a tear away as it ran down his cheek and took a deep breath. "I was a coward. I propped his head on a rock while uncle wasn’t looking so he wouldn’t drown, but now...” he swallowed, “the river has risen."

  James’s words hit Maya like a punch in her gut. Her heart ripped from her chest, too emotional to speak. If she lost Warren, she would be broken.

  Ahote stood rigid as if he were stunned with a slap. His knuckles were holding James’s shoulders so tight they turned white. After several moments he loosened his grip and his hands fell to his sides in defeat. He turned to stare over the canyon in a daze. Maya joined him, putting her arm around his waist. From where they stood, they wouldn't be able to see a head poking out of the water propped on a rock, but they tried anyway. It was like a nightmare thinking about his lifeless body in the riverbed.

&nbs
p; Chantal and Lance came and stood beside them while James ran back to the hotel.

  Maya put her hand over her chest, and her fingers brushed over the necklace she was wearing. It had been tucked into her shirt. She clasped her hand over it and pulled it over her head, handing it to him.

  He gasped. "Where..." He ran his thumb over the turquoise kachina. The stiffness around his eyes softened. He inhaled deeply and, where there was sorrow in his eyes before, there was now determination. "Head back to the hotel. Get food and rest. Tell Roslyn I'm looking for Warren." He climbed over the edge of the canyon and headed down without gear or anchors.

  “But-“ Maya protested. “I want to help-“

  "Maya," Chantal gave her a nudge. “You really need rest. We all do.”

  Maya shook her head, bringing her hand to her mouth. “No-“

  “Maya, I love him like my brother…” she gave her a firm look. “None of us are worth anything right now. We need to refuel and rest. Ahote wants us to go back to the hotel. We’ll find him after we take care of ourselves.”

  Maya felt the guilt rising in her stomach. She shook her head, staring back into her eyes. “I can’t go back knowing he could be out there needing my help.”

  “Maya, you haven’t even got a horse. Suppose you found him and he couldn’t move? What would you do?”

  She sighed, knowing Chantal was right.

  “You couldn’t carry him,” she continued, “not if his life depended on it.”

  She nodded, but she was just covering. She had every intention of getting a horse and coming back.

  As they stalked towards the stables her stomach tensed at the thought of her life without Warren in it. She thought back to their walk in the riverbed when he rescued the helpless dragonfly. What would the world be like without someone to rescue dragonflies?

  Remembering the passion in his eyes when he talked about their people, like he had known them personally, had drawn her closer to him. They were her people too, and she had a new sense of belonging. He faithfully believed in the Earth Mother, and spoke from his heart about his faith with passion. He knew there was more to life than material things. You cannot eat money. He worked by the sweat of his brow. She had never known anyone their age that hustled as hard in a week as Warren could in a day.

  She never told him what he meant to her, or that she loved him. There was a sore knot in her throat from the guilt. It wasn’t clear until she realized she could never talk to him again, hold his hand, or see his smile it would… devastate her. She loved him.

  She closed her eyes and it was like she could hear him speaking to her. His voice was deep and rich. You captivate me with how humble and gentle you are, in your gestures, your words, and eyes. No one had ever spoken to her so sweetly. With Warren, there was meaning, and purpose in her life. She never imagined her trip would forever change her this way, and he was a part of that.

  What was it he said to me? Hold on to what is good… She thought and thought, but his words were lost, just as he was. I’ll never remember. A single tear slid down her cheek. Chantal looked at her as they walked, but she didn’t say anything. Maya turned her head the other direction.

  Her vision blurred. Without Warren, there was no one to share crepes with. Anytime she saw the starry sky it would remind her of how they cuddled under the bursting fireworks and watched a falling star.

  There would never be another man like Warren. He was a white buffalo in a continent of brown bison. She yearned to be in his embrace where she could smell his cologne and taste his skin.

  40. Fearless Legend

  Sunday, 6:29 a.m.

  Warren was ready to be taken to the afterlife as his head became fuzzy from being underwater. We don’t determine our fate. This is mine.

  He floated downstream until he was pushed into something much softer than a the last rock he had hit, and it blocked him from being swept down further. His fingers brushed through familiar thick hair. Warren pulled himself upright and his head bobbed at the top of the water. He yanked with all his might, pulling his head out and gasping for air.

  "Fearless!" Warren choked, overcome by rage and grief, "you dumb horse! I told you to go home!"

  Three lightning bolts crashed, one after the other and in different locations, followed by a loud rumble. Fearless let out neigh. The only part of his body not under water was his neck.

  "You just won't leave without me." He breathed heavily. "I guess there's only one way to get you out of here… I have to go with you." He wrapped his arms around his bristly neck and tried to maneuver his leg over his back, aided by the force of the flowing river.

  "I'm on... Fearless, I'm on!" He could hardly believe his luck. "Hup."

  Fearless slowly turned in the water, trying to push his way back upstream to the dirt slide. Warren estimated Fearless hadn't eaten anything for about thirty-six hours, but the only thing on his mind had been rescuing him.

  He stroked Fearless's mane, feeling overcome with emotion. "Good boy. I’ve always loved you most.” He remembered how his mother used to ride him. She had taught Warren how to groom the horses. The memory of his mother riding Fearless was forever engrained in his heart. “No wonder she loved you so much.”

  In the distance, water gushed from the dirt slide into the river with intensity.

  "We'll make it together or die trying... but not without a fight."

  Fearless’s ear turned back as he listened to Warren’s voice. He pushed through as fast as a horse possibly could, but the force of the water slowed him down. Warren could see his determination, he forced his way against the current, raising his head to keep it above water.

  They neared the dirt slide, getting splashed as the water fanned out from each side of the canyon walls of the entrance.

  Fearless approached the splattering mouth looking from one side to the other as if he were reluctant. He slowly placed his hooves into the roiling mess, steadying his footing. He neighed, slipping on the eroding sand.

  Warren wrapped his arms around his neck to stabilize himself.

  Another flash of lightning was followed by a loud crack.

  He neighed again, spinning around to check behind him.

  "It's okay, boy," Warren whispered as he tried to comfort him, massaging his neck. He could see the distress in Fearless’s eyes as he backed into the dirt slide.

  Warren pulled his mane, guiding him to turn.

  Fearless spun around to face the channel and tried to leap over the flood ripples, gaining way but sliding back down again. The pebbles churned under his hooves. Once again, he leaped with vigor through the mighty cascade, putting up a fight. He bounded and crashed back two feet for every three feet he had gained, slowly making headway through the channel.

  Warren encouraged him, "Go, Fearless! Go!"

  Slowly but surely, they made it to the bend where the flow thrashed powerfully against the wall and spun down the turn in the passage. The depth of the water lessened as they neared the top.

  Warren began to gain confidence, as the worst was now over. "Go!" Warren clung to Fearless as tight as he could with his weakened muscles.