Walker of Time by Helen Hughes Vick

Author:Helen Hughes Vick
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Roberts Rinehart
Published: 1998-10-16T21:00:00+00:00

The sun’s rays were beginning to fade by the time they had climbed back up the long, steep trail to Great Owl’s home. Leading the group, Walker saw Great Owl sitting on a mat outside his home. He sat facing the setting sun, his eyes closed in prayer. At the sound of Small Cub’s chatter, the black eyes opened. His head turned toward them.

“Grandfather, Grandfather,” cried Small Cub, running ahead of the others. “Bright Star’s baby’s spirit escaped! Tag caught it and blew it back into the baby!”

Walker saw Great Owl’s eyes widen slightly. “Small Cub, your mother needs the water in your jug. Please take it to her,” Great Owl said.

“But Tag . . .” Small Cub started, but seeing the stern look in his grandfather’s face, he nodded. Without another word, he climbed through the door of his home.

Tag was huffing and puffing when he reached Great Owl. He wiped the sweat off his dusty forehead. “What a climb, not to mention carrying this heavy jug full of water,” he groaned, taking the jug from his sagging shoulder. Holding the jug in his arms, he flopped down on the ground and leaned back against the stone wall of Great Owl’s home.

A smile spread across Great Owl’s wrinkled face as he looked at the tired, panting bahana with his long, white, freckled legs sprawled out in front of him. His eyes peered at Tag. His smile became a tight line across his face. What is Great Owl seeing? wondered Walker, watching the two. Could Great Owl see Tag going back to his parents? Or was he seeing Tag’s life coming to an end here? Walker’s scalp tingled. He didn’t want to know what lay ahead for Tag or himself.

“Here, Tag, I’ll take the jug in,” Walker said, taking the jug out of Tag’s arms. He followed Flute Maiden into the house.

Walker found Great Owl still intently studying Tag’s face when he returned. Tag still leaned against the house. His eyes were closed, his face calm. From the sound of Tag’s slow, shallow breathing, Walker knew that his friend had fallen asleep. He sat down next to Tag, easing his tired back against the rough wall.

Feeling Great Owl’s eyes on him, Walker stared straight ahead, not wanting to meet the old Seer’s gaze. The smell of cooking fires drifted in the air. Sounds of tired voices mingled with the song of a chickadee. The air was cooling down. The canyon’s harsh, rocky cliffs mellowed in the late-day shadows. Walker closed his eyes. Náat, my uncle, you have sent me here. What must I do here, among these people that seem so much like our Hopi brothers and sisters?

The sound of excited voices started to ripple in the evening air. Walker opened his eyes and listened as they seemed to draw near. He looked over at Great Owl. The Seer’s eyes still rested on him yet seemed to be hundreds of miles or years away.

“Son of Great Bear!”

“Son of Great Bear is coming.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.