The Night the Sky Fell

by Stephen Levy

  “Ann, you’re back. I can barely think from my recent ordeal but I have just enough energy to come over and give you a kiss.”

  Ann opened welcomed arms and embraced him. She whispered, “You are the quintessence of breathless charm. Now rest and sleep Banks. I just wanted you to know that I owe you a Senior Prom date. And I promise you that the after party will be for just us and it will be a party we will never forget.” She kissed him again.

  Somewhere deep down in the exhausted body of Banks Blackhorse reemerged the sensation of swoon. He accepted the Prom date and as swoon began to take over his consciousness, it was released when Ann left and Tricia appeared at his door. She eyeballed him and raised her hand stereotypically in Indian greeting, “How! I have always been a great admirer of your people.” She cracked her gum for effect.

  Banks sat down in his chair and nodded to Tricia. Tricia scrutinized the room and told Banks, “You know, I could use this room for my upcoming senior projects. And winning back Johnny is one of my projects.” Tricia twerked and donned a seductive pose. Banks turned his head with a grimace. Attacking his disdainful disinterest, Tricia said, “So, just when are you returning to you teepee? Think about it.”

  Banks didn’t want to think about anything. He didn’t want to comment about Tricia’s winning Johnny back. As if! He couldn’t wait to rip off his clothes, take a shower and jump into his bed. Peyton appeared and Banks knew that he wouldn’t take his shower until Peyton had his bath. Julie and Stan were visiting all the neighbors and helping the older ones. He was in charge of Peyton.

  “Sport, now is the time for a bath.”

  Peyton responded with, “I concur.”

  Banks thought, “He concurs!” Banks was amazed how much Peyton had learned so much during the past year when he was ‘just a mere child.’ He thought he might bring it up while Peyton was bathing. After running the bath water, Peyton got in. Peyton was tired too and dispensed with his usual drill and grill.

  Banks shampooed Peyton’s hair, “So, Sport, we really did it. And as you know, we couldn’t have done it without you.”

  Peyton smarted, “I know. I was more than adequate, wasn’t I?”

  Banks reassured him that he was the best and bravest. “So, Peyton, what part of our adventure did you enjoy the most?

  “Driving, Banks. Driving.”

  Banks wanted to quickly change the subject since driving was not in the cards for Peyton, “Oh, and yes. Well I have some good news for you and some bad news for your mother. We don’t have any more eye drops and I don’t know how to make more.”

  Peyton responded maturely, “Isn’t life grand?”

  When Peyton finished his bath he told Banks that this was the last bath that he would give him. He assured Banks that his help was no longer necessary. It appeared that Peyton no longer needed Banks for anything. Peyton simply wanted to go to his room alone. Additionally it also appeared that since there were no more drops left, that Julie would conclude that their bargain was null and void.

  Peyton went to his room and closed the door. Just as Banks was thinking about his shower, Stan flew up the stairs and told Banks that a Roger Raintree was outside in his car and needed Banks for the next few days.

  Banks asked Stan, “Is that okay with you? I really don’t know what he wants but I’m sure it has something do with the tribe members at the compound.” Stan told Banks that he was released from duty with Peyton. He also remarked that Peyton was to resume school in a few weeks. Banks deciphered this code to mean that his services were no longer required. A quick thought ran through his mind, “Thank you for saving the world, now go away.” But this thought did not bring him down. After all, he had an official date with Ann in nine months.

  As Banks left the house, he waved to Julie and some of the neighbors. Nearing Roger’s car he heard an elderly lady conversing with another neighbor, “…you know the leader of those girls was the Abrams’ daughter…what’s her name?”

  Banks was not going to let that slide, “Her name is Ann. Ann Abrams.” They thanked him and Banks hopped into Roger’s car. As they drove off, The Monarch Raven followed.

  Banks asked about Roger’s sister Caroline and about Marilyn. While Roger was comforting Banks by telling him that Marilyn felt horrible guilt about Chief Dan, Banks noticed that his uncle’s deer hooves necklace was wrapped around Roger’s neck. “Roger, are you Chief?”

  Roger replied, “Well, that’s going to be up to you Banks Blackhorse. Meanwhile, in your absence I am simply filling a void.” It seemed to Banks that the universe was attempting to communicate his future.

  When Roger made an unexpected turn, Banks warned, “That’s not the way to the Compound.”

  Roger said, “Precisely. We’re not going to the Compound. Today you begin your vision quest. We are heading near your special place.”

  Banks complained, “Why today? I’m exhausted. My body aches and I want nothing to do but sleep.”

  Roger responded, “I know. That’s exactly why we must seize the opportunity. Carpe diem. Carpe diem. The vision quest begins when you are in the walking sleep. You are ready. Your time has come.”

  Banks wasn’t ready for this. He wanted sleep. After sleep, he would want food. He had been out in the wilderness with Peyton to bring the horrors of this town to an end. He wanted only one reward now. Sleep.

  When the car pulled over, Roger grabbed a small suitcase and told Banks to follow him. They had walked almost a mile to a remote cave. It was camouflaged by branches and Roger took his flashlight from the case. They bent down and the two of them found a small place to sit.

  Roger announced, “This cave is over four thousand years old. He shined the light on the wall. There were pictures…stick figures drawn on the cave. Banks almost jumped out of skin when he saw the white stick man that resembled his tattoo. On the outstretched arm the white stick man was an animal.

  “What is that? A bird?” asked Banks.

  Roger replied, “Yes, it is a bird. But it is not any ordinary bird. It is the Monarch Raven. Some believe it was and is the creator of the universe.”

  Banks queried, “Why is the raven perched upon his arm?”

  “That’s a good question, Banks,” said Roger. He continued, “The Monarch Raven is this stick man’s guardian animal. The raven is a shape shifter. He is wily and wise. He sits and waits until he is absolutely certain that he should partake in life. He came to you when you were thinking about Ann’s treatment of you. You were at a low point and he captured her essence and became her to console you. If you were not reassured about her true feelings at that time, you may have never saved the town as you did. You see, Banks Blackhorse, the Monarch Raven is your guardian animal.”

  Roger turned the flashlight off and they walked up the hill. Banks breathed heavily and Roger told him it was just another half a mile. About twenty minutes of uphill walking, Roger pointed to a dome shaped hut that was built to survive vile weather even though it was only made of wood and earth.

  Banks questioned breathlessly, “What is this? Where are we?”

  Roger began, “This is a sweat lodge. This is where you are purified. This is where, once purified, you begin your quest and I will leave you. Now take off all your clothes.” Roger handed Banks some shorts, “This is all you will wear on your quest. You will give up all that it takes to live in the physical world. You will have no food nor water. And you must not fall asleep. You will rely on the strength of spirit to sustain you for the duration of your vision quest.”

  While Banks undressed, they both noticed the white stick man tattoo. Banks said, “It appears to be fading.” Roger smiled as he gathered heated coals that he prepared earlier. He tossed the coals into a circular pit. On top of the coals he rested a plank for Banks to stand on. He poured water from a large container in the lodge onto the heated stones through the plank. Vapors of steam erupted. He told Banks to get in. Once Banks managed himself on top of the plank, he began to sweat. Roger took a blindfold and wrapped a
round Banks’ eyes. Then for the next twenty minutes, Roger clanked the deer hooves and chanted.

  Banks was a heap of sweat. His feat began to feel as if they were on fire. He thought about calling for help, but instead, just concentrated on the purification. The chanting and clanking of hooves faded. He was sure that Roger had left. He was right.

  At the moment that fear was beginning to seep in, he heard a familiar voice, “It is time to come out, Banks. Remove the blindfold.” Banks saw an outstretched hand to help him out of the hole. Banks climbed out. Everything was blurry yet the voice rang with familiar clarity, “Drink this slowly, Banks. This is all the water you get.”

  As Banks drank the water, he rubbed his eyes with his free hand to see his uncle, Chief Dan Blackhorse. Banks said, “You are the essence of my deceased uncle.”

  “Very good, Banks. I will watch over you during your quest. I don’t want you engaged in thought but rather becoming part of the spirit and nature world. Your thinking must be limited to the following questions, nothing else matters. There will be no further water and no food until you are able to answer these questions: What is your self-identity? What vision dream to you have for yourself? How can you out maneuver the Old Soul?

  Banks looked up, “The Old Soul?”

  “Yes, that final question will be solved once you have solved the other two. Remember, Banks Blackhorse, your bloodline is matrilineal.”

  Banks looked up, “Matri-what? I don’t know what that means.”

  The essence of Chief Dan metamorphosed into the Monarch Raven. It flew out of the sweat lodge singing instead of cawing. Yes, the raven got involved and was in its element.

  Banks was thirsty and hunger crept in, not to mention sleep deprivation. Banks was instructed that depriving himself of the physical world would lead him to answering the basic questions. He wandered out of the lodge barefoot clad only in his skimpy shorts. Banks would try not to think and just be. He decided to walk upwards since this would be new and downwards represented the past. For the next thirty minutes of his ascent, he avoided thinking. He shut down the voice within his head and just existed.

  He was awakened from his sleeping walk. In front of him was a grizzly bear. Banks felt what the bear wanted and never thought that he was in danger. Banks acted on instinct and he went down on all fours. The bear rose on its two hind legs and roared. Banks rose on his feet and roared. While bear and human stared at one another, Banks could feel what the bear was up to. And the bear also felt what Banks was up to.

  The bear got on all fours as did Banks. Banks felt the bear’s essence of happiness. Both strolled to a nearby stream. Salmon were flying in the air during their seasonal run to spawn. Nature created this upward swim/flight for salmon to deliver their eggs at the exact spot from which the salmon were born. Once the salmon spawned, they died. The life cycle would begin again once the new salmon were born and eventually swim downwards to the ocean only to repeat the process of swimming upstream, spawning then dying.

  The bear sat on a log in the middle of the stream and caught many salmon. He was feasting to survive the winter. Many pieces of dead salmon went downstream which supported breeding birds. Banks watched the bald eagle above dive towards the stream. New senses overwhelmed Banks. He felt the salmon’s sense of megnetoception from which the fish could locate their native river while in the ocean. Then the salmon would use their keen sense of smell to find their birthplace. He understood the salmon’s drive to spawn, then die. He understood the bear’s nature to feast. He accepted the feeling that these two animals were playing roles in the nature and spirit world. Then he felt the oneness of those two worlds.

  Then the satiated bear left its log with plenty of salmon dangling from its mouth. Banks followed as the bear dropped the uneaten salmon near a pack of wolves. The wolves had been following a deer for dinner. But the wolves thought, “Why have hamburgers when you can filet mignon?”

  The immediate lesson from this action would only resonate later when Banks thought about friendship. He would redefine it from this act of the bear’s unconditional act of giving. Every aspect of the salmon run would affect the neighborhood…from the smallest insect to the largest animal. Unknowingly to humans, it would affect them as well.

  If Banks could liken his journey to others, he would see that he was like Alice in Wonderland, or Neo in the Matrix, or Nick Carraway in Gatsby. In the future Banks would think about his journey and he would experience it from a spiritual level without really thinking about it.

  As the late night sun impeded his vision, he would carry on to the top of the wilderness where his vision would present itself.

  The Powers’ house was asleep, except for Peyton. Peyton Powers lay in bed. His eyes were open. He was deep in his eye’s mind. He too was on a journey. Peyton was flying above the clouds on his black horse. He was adjusting the colors of his journey from the knowledge that he attained from his drill and grills of colors. He went higher and higher on this journey. He thought he breathed the rarified air at this great altitude. In actual fact, he was so high that he could not breathe, but somehow he did.

  He was guided on his upward journey not by the black horse but rather from a voice that only he could hear. He told others last Thanksgiving that he could read minds. But in actual fact, the voices that he listened to were not human. The voice was from the Spirit above His Head.

  Peyton was nearing the sprite. It flashed a type of indigo lightning that propelled upwards in the ionosphere. The voice at that moment was concise and direct: “Let go of the black horse and let it fall to the ground.” Despite the natural curiosity of Peyton, he somehow knew not to question the voice’s authority. He let go of the black horse as Peyton floated towards the sprite. Peyton was engulfed in an indigo mist. This entire journey seemed familiar as if he had been here before! Not as Peyton Powers but as someone else. He was face to face with the Great Spirit. Peyton Powers knew who he was and completed his rite of passage. Peyton Powers was the Old Soul. And the Old Soul had a mission that the Great Spirt so directed. Peyton received notice that it was he that destroyed Banks Blackhorse’s father. That it was he who indirectly caused Marilyn to kill Chief Dan. And that it would be he who must end the Blackhorse line. For a breach of promise with the Great Spirt would lead to the eradication of one’s bloodline.

  Peyton Powers closed his eyes. He completed his journey and found his vision quest. His soul of an Indian was real and eternal. His mission was understood.

  At the highest point of the Juneau wilderness, a fox was creating a trap. The fox knew about the availability of salmon, but he relished eating something that he killed with cleverness. The fox created an area of desirable twigs that certain birds wanted for their nests. Once the pile was created under his tree, he clawed and jumped up to the branch and awaited some poor bird to show up that would become his dinner. As the fox waited for his prey, Banks Blackhorse reached the highpoint of his journey.

  Banks saw the twigs, saw the fox and smiled. He was exhausted and he knew that his vision would come and that what he would see would guide him for the rest of his life. Banks stood near the fox’s tree as a bird flew toward the twigs. The fox jumped in the air as Banks laughed loudly to scare the bird away. The fox was angry wanted revenge for Banks’ intrusive maneuver. The fox yelled out in English, “You are Lakota Sioux and I know how to deal with your kind.”

  Banks ignored the fox and stood at the highest point and chanted. As he did so, his energy, what little he had left, escaped his body like a wispy cloud. The cloud encircled him. Appearing all around him were members of his tribe. They were encircling him and singing. Roger Raintree came out and placed the deer hooved necklace around Banks’ neck. The singing was louder. Marilyn and Carol passed out fried bread as all rejoiced. And they broke the circle to let Ann Abrams in. She walked slowly in tribal dress. She kissed Banks and said, “Congratulations, Chief.” And the northern lights shined above him and for an instant. He glowed with the aurora borealis shining gre
en. Banks Blackhorse was one with all things.

  And as the cloud dissipated, so did his vision. Banks Blackhorse fell to the ground unconscious. The fox thought this was a good time to strike and snack. It crept up to Banks drooling. And as it opened its mouth in a biting fashion, the grizzly bear appeared and stood on two legs. The bear growled and clawed at the fox slamming it against the very tree where it waited for its prey. The fox gave out an indignant shriek and ran away. The same bear that caught the salmon returned to its four legs. Then the bear metamorphosed into the Monarch Raven. And the Monarch Raven morphed as Chief Dan Blackhorse.

  The essence of Banks’ uncle picked him up and carried him downhill. Roger Raintree met them at the bottom of the hill and placed him in the pickup truck. He stuck a straw into Banks’ mouth and Banks took in some water. Roger noted the absence of the white stick man tattoo. Chief Dan shape shifted and flew away singing a triumphant bird song.

  For the next few days, Banks regained his health in the bedroom of his deceased uncle. Roger came for talks regarding his vision. Marilyn was in charge of feeding Banks and Carol nursed Banks’ wounds.

  Hung in Banks’ room was his uncle’s deer hooved necklace. It was there in plain sight so that Banks could stare at it when he was awakened. No discussions were made about Banks’ becoming Chief. This would be a decision based on his vision quest. Banks knew that if he wanted to become Chief, it had to be his own dream.

  Marilyn would exchange quips with Banks. Her favorite was that there was never a virgin Chief and that even a great vision quest would not catapult him to manhood. She loved Banks like a brother and when she would stare at the necklace, she would shed tears of guilt that she was the one behind the death of the Chief whom she loved like a father. Carol would console her who loved Marilyn like a spouse.

  School would begin soon and decisions needed to be made. Banks arose from his Uncle’s bed and showered. His thoughts returned to the Powers’ household. He had promised them that he would return in a few days and he knew that that he had to face the family. He also wanted to face Ann. If and when he left the Powers’ house, he would see Ann on a regular basis. And it was Peyton Powers who wanted to face Banks Blackhorse.