by Jay Heavner
“It’s very beautiful and tranquil on this mountain.” He paused. “Back home in West Virginia, I have a mountain like this. Whenever I need to be alone and think, I’d climb to the top of Knobley Mountain behind my home. It seemed like the air was always fresher up there. When I came down, I always felt refreshed.”
She looked in his eyes and nodded. “After the only mother I knew, Whistling Woman, Dark Cloud’s wife, was killed by a drunk driver, he’d bring Chris and me up here when the horrors of the world would close in around us. I think that’s how he kept his sanity, that and the fact Chris and me needed him. Somehow, he survived, but it was hard on everyone.”
“My mom died from cancer when I was young. Sometimes, I’d climb to the top of that mountain and cry. Other times, I’d scream at God for taking my mom and then cry. Somehow after that, a sense of peace would come to me, and I’d be okay till the next time I got mad at the unfairness of the world.”
“Yes,” said Sarah. “I’ve been there too many times. Don’t seem like neither one of us was born with a silver spoon in our mouths.”
“My dad says struggles make us strong,” added Tom. “He also says he wished there was another way to achieve this. It seems there’s so much pain involved till we have victory. Why were you late? I was expecting you sooner.”
“I’m on Indian time.” Tom looked at her suspiciously. “It’s a common excuse you hear on the Rez for lateness.” His look turned to questioning. “Okay, okay, you caught me. I turned off the alarm and fell back asleep.”
Tom smiled, “You were missing another incredible sunrise.”
“And you didn’t.”
Tom smiled again. He must be dreaming, and he didn’t want to wake up. The couple sat side-by-side touching and not talking for another five minutes until Tom’s stomach began to growl. She looked at Tom as it growled again and said, “Tom, I think we better feed that bear before it eats us up.”
“You can say that again. Ever since I was little, my stomach’s growled that way. I’m getting hungry. Had your fill of beauty from this sunrise?”
“Yes, and now I’d like my fill of breakfast.”
“Well, what are we waiting for?” He swung his head in a “let’s go” motion, and off they went down to where the VW microbus among the trees. It didn’t take long for them to reach their destination. Tom nearly fell on the way but recovered with only his pride hurt.
At the vehicle, they took a two-burner camper stove out and set it up on a rock shaped like a short pillar. Soon, a pot of water boiled, and eggs and bacon cooked. Tom threw some coffee grounds in their cups for “cowboy coffee” and poured in water. Sarah placed the eggs done over easy on the plates with the bacon and put store-bought white bread and jam next to the eggs. The hungry couple chowed down on their breakfast. Tom stirred the coffee and gave a cup to Sarah. She sipped carefully on the hot liquid, and they made small talk.
A sour look came to Tom’s face after a sip. “Let me tell you, the grounds on the bottom are bitter. Yuck.”
“Taste like Navajo coffee?”
“Yeah, it does.”
“Navajos are notorious for bitter coffee. You should know that by now.”
Tom said, “So I’m finding out again. Don’t think I could get used to it.”
“Me neither. It’s too bitter that way, and I’d just rather do without sometimes, but Dark Cloud would fuss at me when he caught me pouring old coffee down the drain.”
Tom smiled, and a sound on the mountain caught his ear. Far down the road, an old WWII vintage Jeep was approaching. “You expecting someone?”
“No,” she replied as the Jeep steadily came closer. When it was about 100 feet away, she said, “I know him. That’s Jim Begay. I went to Navajo Nations High School with him. He was on the Redskins, our basketball team. Wonder what he wants?”
“The Redskins?”
“If we can’t use the name, who can?”
“Good point,” said Tom.
The Jeep rolled to a stop, and a tall, young man with long, black hair tied in a ponytail got out. “Sarah,” he said. “Your father asked me to come up here and find you two. I’d have used smoke signals, but you were on the other side of the mountain. He needs to see you. It’s important.”
Tom looked at Sarah and said, “Smoke signals again?”
Sarah’s face had an unpleasant look, “Common old Indian joke, and a poor one at that. Jim, thank you for delivering the message on this cold day. Did he say what it was about?”
“No. He had a somber look on his face when he asked for my help. I wish I could tell you more, but it seemed personal, so I didn’t press for details. I hope everything is okay with him.”
She said, “Thanks Jim. Tell father we’ll be there soon.”
“I’ll do that. See you in town.” He got back into the Jeep, turned it around, and took off down the old road through the forest.
“Tom, I’ll clean up breakfast, and you get the van ready for travel.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Before long, the two were bouncing down the rutted trail toward the main road and wondering what was so critical for Dark Cloud to send a messenger to retrieve them. They’d soon find out.
Chapter 22
The two in the VW microbus spoke little as they rode down the curvy road toward Lukachukai. Each seemed lost in their thoughts. What could it be? What had happened?
After maneuvering around a hairpin turn, Tom spoke to Sarah. “Any idea what he has to tell us?”
“No, I don’t. This came like a shot out of the blue. My best and only guess is it has something to do with Dark Cloud, and I fear the worst.”
“I don’t know. Something doesn’t feel right.”
They drove the next few miles down the twisting road in the red rock canyon to the small Indian town and pulled up beside Dark Cloud’s house. They got out and entered the warm abode. After hellos and greeting, Dark Cloud said, “Sit down. I need to talk to both of you.”
Tom’s heart fell inside of him. Dark Cloud said, “Sarah, the padre called and asked if you could start today. Someone up and quit, and he’s short-handed. He said you could start right now, as soon as you got back to town.”
“That’s a surprise, Dad. I thought I’d have some more time.”
Dark Cloud turned and focused his gaze on Tom. “And Tom, this isn’t going to be easy. “I had to make some decisions concerning you. I don’t know if you are going to like them or not, but I tried to do what I thought was best.” He paused, “Tom, yesterday I got a phone call from your father, and we had a long talk.” He stopped again. “This really isn’t a good way to tell you this. Your father told me that the day before yesterday, after finishing off his bus run taking the school kids home, he tripped and fell on the steps while getting out of the bus. He knew he hurt his leg and ankle, so he called your Uncle Bill, who took him to Memorial Hospital in Cumberland. The x-rays showed he had a badly broken ankle. They set the leg and told him to stay off of it and not drive for six weeks while it heals. Your Uncle Bill took over his bus route the next day, but can’t for the remainder of the six weeks. Your dad needs to finish out this year to qualify for his pension. The principal says he’d keep him in the spot if your dad could find a substitute, and he said you could do it until he was well enough to go back to work. Your dad said if he lost this job now to someone else, he’d never get it back and never get that pension he desperately needs.”
Tom nodded. Yes, he understood. Jobs were hard to find, and his dad badly needed that small pension. “I’ll do it. My dad’s always been there for me through thick and thin, and he needs me now.” He looked at Dark Cloud. “Any ideas about how I can get from here to West Virginia quickly?”
Dark Cloud gave a little sheepish smile. “I hope I did the right thing. I booked an airline ticket, a red-eye, for you tonight out of Albuquerque to Baltimore. We have to leave within the hour for you to make it.”
Sarah sighed. “I wish you didn’t have to go, but I know what it’s like w
hen the family needs you. You do what you must.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He dropped his eyes, looked at Dark Cloud, and asked, “What about my microbus?”
“I knew you’d get around to that. I’ll go with you to the airport and bring it back to the Big Rez. When you have this situation at home under control, come back and get it. I’ll keep it safe and sound. I hope by now, you’ve learned to trust me.”
Tom said, “Trusting you is not the problem. I knew real quick like you were an honorable man true to your word. Having this dumped on me all at once is, well, overwhelming. I’d hoped for more time before I had to get off my joy ride and face reality, but duty calls. I’ll do what needs to be done.”
Dark Cloud cleared his throat and said, “I need to run over to the Chapter House for about a half-hour. Tom, can you have the van like you want to leave it and your things packed for the flight in that time and say your goodbyes?”
“Yes, I can be ready in a half-hour. I sure hate to leave so soon.” Tom glanced at Sarah, who returned his gaze.
“Okay,” said Dark Cloud. “I’ll be gone a half hour and not a minute more. There’ll be no Indian time wiggle room. I’ll be back shortly,” and he left the house.
“You know, Tom, I don’t want you to go. I was enjoying having you here so much, but I know I’d do the same if I were in your shoes.”
“I don’t want to go either, but I must. Dad needs me. He’s always been there when I needed him.”
“Tom, I want you to know I’ve never done this with another man before. I so enjoyed being with you these days. At times in the dark, when we hugged and kissed, I wanted you so bad, but you were the perfect gentleman. I’ve had a few dates where I had to fight my way away from those pawing hands, but not you. I’ve never met a fellow like you. Wish this dream didn’t have to end so soon.”
Tom winced when she had said, a perfect gentleman. He so enjoyed his time with her and didn’t want it to end. “I’ll,” he stammered, “I’ll be back.” He put his arms around her, and she did the same. Lips met, and they kissed like they may never get the chance again, long and hard.
Their lips parted, and Tom said, “I hate to break the spell, but I need to have the van packed up when your father returns.”
“I don’t want it to end, either. I’d like this not to be the last chapter in our book. I think I want to write more with you in it.”
“I’d like that very much, also.” They released their loving embrace, and Tom asked, “Do you have an old suitcase I could borrow and some cardboard boxes for the things in the VW?”
“Wait right here.” Sarah went into her room and quickly returned with a suitcase with a Beatles picture on the side and several medium size boxes. “This is mine. I used it when the basketball team went to the state championship in Phoenix. It’s not so manly, but it’s the best I can do.”
“Any port in a storm,” said Tom. She looked a little puzzled. He explained, “It’s something my father always says. It means you take any harbor or shelter in a time of need, even ones you wouldn’t normally use.”
“Looks like we have much to learn about each other.”
“Sounds very interesting,” he said, “but if we keep up this yammering, I’ll never be ready when Dark Cloud returns.”
“Okay, where do we begin?”
“Everything I have is in the van, so let’s make like two frogs and hop to it.”
She rolled her eyes. “Are you always so corny?”
“Only with girls I’m trying to impress.”
Packing didn’t take long, and Dark Cloud was back on the dot. “You two ready?”
“As ready as I’m going to be,” said Tom.
Sarah sighed, “Me, too. Guess we both have to go.”
Dark Cloud said, “Tom, it’s a long way, and we can make better time if I drive. I know the road, and there’s something a few miles down the road I want to show you. Would you mind if I drove first?”
“No.” He handed the keys of the vehicle to Dark Cloud. “Let’s go.”
The trio piled in the microbus, and Dark Cloud drove to the old church mission where Sarah’s new job waited for her. Dark Cloud spoke, “You two can say your goodbyes, but remember, we need to get this young man all the way to Albuquerque today. His flight won’t wait.”
Tom and Sarah looked at Dark Cloud and smiled. “Okay, we’ll try not to take too long.”
“Good,” said Dark Cloud. “I don’t want to have to throw a bucket of water on you to separate you.”
Sarah smiled coyly. They exited the van and went in the front door of the mission. A short six feet away was another set of solid double doors. She stopped and turned to Tom. “I guess this is goodbye.”
Tom replied, “I guess it is goodbye, for now, anyway. I don’t want to leave, but my father needs me.”
“I don’t want you to leave either, but I’d think less of you if you didn’t put family first. Let’s call it goodbye for now and see you ASAP.”
“I like that idea,” He placed his arms around her and kissed her heartily. She put her hands on his chin and then they went around to the back of his head. Just then, a man in priestly robes came through the inner double doors and nearly ran into the lovers who broke apart.
“I think that was my cue to go. Love you, Tom,” she said as she departed through the inner doors leaving an embarrassed Tom with the priest.
For once in his life, Tom was tongue-tied. He stammered for something to say. Father Sebastian smiled and spoke. “Young man, you need say nothing. There aren’t many people in this small town of Lukachukai, and everyone knows everyone else’s business. I know who you are. I’m Father Sebastian, and this is my parish. I do believe you were practicing the words of the Bible, ‘love one another’?”
Tom said, “Father, I can see how a great sense of humor comes in handy for a man in your position.”
“It does, Now, I think you better get going if you want to catch that plane in Albuquerque.” Tom looked at him with surprise. “As I said, it’s a small town where it is hard to keep a secret.”
“Well then Father, I better be going like you said, or I’ll miss that plane.”
“Yes, and when you are back in town, I would like to talk with you.”
“Okay, till next time.” Just how much does this man know about me?
Tom walked back to the van and got in. Dark Cloud spoke, “That was pretty quick. Everything okay?”
“Everything’s okay, and I met the padre.”
“Father Sebastian. Great guy. He has a real insight into people.”
“So I can tell.”
With that, Dark Cloud pulled the hippie microbus onto the hard road. Lukachukai passed from sight as they rode south.
They rounded a bend, and the small town of Greasewood appeared and then disappeared just as quickly. Dark Cloud took a left on a small side road and two miles later stopped at a construction site in another small town about the same size of Lukachukai. “Is this what you wanted me to see?” asked Tom.
“Yes and no. This isn’t the main item I wanted to show you, but I did want you to see this. In a few years, give or take, as money becomes available and numerous construction delays are overcome, this will be Dine’ Community College. Perhaps with more education, our people will be better prepared to live in today’s world.”
“I hope they teach something useful,” said Tom.
“I hope so, as well. Too often, those in control use schools for indoctrination centers and not as centers of learning and thinking. I went through the government schools as a child. They tried to beat the Indian out of me. Me and another kid got caught speaking Navajo, and they punished us severely.” He paused. “It’s funny how a few years later, that same government came looking around for Navajo speakers who functioned as code talkers during the war. Guess the Navajo had the last laugh on that. Now, one more thing to show you before we get serious about the long drive to the airport.”
Dark Cl
oud pulled the microbus back onto the main road and continued east for about five miles. He took a left on a dirt road and stopped at a rutted, dirt parking area. “What I want to show you is a short distance ahead. We walk from here. Be careful. There’s a cliff ahead.”
They got out and walked about 1/5 of a mile to a 1,000-foot drop-off. The sun shone down into the deep valley below. “This is Canyon de Chelley. Down in the valley, my people grow corn using water from the small stream.”
“You wanted to show me a cornfield?”
“No. Look under the cliffs along the valley for some ruins.”
“I see ‘em. Stone dwellings similar to the Pueblo structures.”
Dark Cloud said, “Those are the dwelling places of the Anasazi, the Ancient Ones. They were here when the Navajos came to this land long ago. They are the places of chinde, spirits, and we leave them alone.” He stopped and took a breath. “I told you this before, but it’s worth repeating. The whites forced us from this land when they thought there was gold here. Fortunately, there was none, and they lost interest, and we returned to our homeland.
“Two things I want you to remember. Number one, gold and greed can make men behave foolishly, worse than animals.” Tom listened intently. “And number two, the Old Ones are gone. Little remains of them. One day, you and I will also be gone. Find beauty wherever you walk and be at peace with God, whatever name you may know Him by. Remember these two things, and you will be ahead of most people.”
“I do appreciate that, and I’ll remember it, but why did you feel you needed to tell me this?”
Chapter 23
Dark Cloud said, “Why? I felt it in my heart. I believe the Creator of all put it there, and He wanted me to tell you this. You will need to remember and use this message at some time in your life.” Dark Cloud looked to the east toward the sun and the valley, raising his hands he intoned. “Oh, Ancient Ones, we didn’t come to disturb you, but remember you. Tell the Creator that we’re well and soon will be coming.” He looked at Tom. “Now, we must go. You have a plane to catch.”