ADULT: Meeting Of Minds - Part 23 of 26
Dana Short (DanaShort@aol.com)
Thu, 10 Jun 2004 03:13:53 EDT
Sorry I am falling behind... It is entirely my fault - I only sent=20
Chapters 24, 25, and 26 out to the Proofreaders this week.
I am praying they get 24 back to me before Friday. If so, then I=20
may get it posted on Saturday. I won't have a chance on Sunday.
The good news is that Act 2 is finished. Finally. The really=20
sad news is that Act 3, which starts with Chapter 27 won't be ready
until the end of summer by my best guess. There is no way I can=20
write it fast enough to keep up with even a chapter-a-week posting
schedule.
For those of you who just can't wait to see how things resolve, there
will be an option though - I can always use more Beta Readers... I=20
will be posting to the Beta Site as fast as I work, and I hope to=20
have the entire story finished by the end of August. Will I? Who=20
knows. I thought I knew exactly how Act 3 was going to play out,=20
'till I started writing it on my PDA today while at lunch. Let's
just say I will await the recoil from my Beta Readers before I go
much further along this path - it may be too odd. But in a strange
way, it works even better than the one I had planned on. Oh well,
I can always blame the Coyote.
Dana...
------------------------<SNIP>------------------------
This story may be considered PG-13 due to both the situation, and=20
the occasional use of profanity (Chapter 11) when a char was upset.
Please direct flames/comments to DanaShort@aol.com=20
Please note the story title in the subject line, or your message will=20
be lost to my SPAM filter.
Legal Disclaimer: See first post, or visit the URL below for full=20
disclaimer. Just let it be known I don't own this universe.=20
Archive only according to rules mentioned in full disclaimer.=20
I hope you enjoy the story.
Fully formatted text of Chapters 1-23 available at:=20
http://www.DanaShort.com/HL-MOM.htm
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Chapter Twenty Three
We Win, You Lose.
(But we make you love it!)
Cassandra drove the RV behind the old pickup truck carrying Sarah and=20
Gaagi. It was a short drive up the road away from the highway to the=20
Casino, which was a bit off the highway, so as to be on the=20
Reservation it=E2=80=99s self.
They arrived, and parked in the large, mostly empty parking lot, then=20
piled out and examined the building glowing before them in the dark.
The Hotel and Casino building looked ready for business, the lighted=20
name above the long open car port in front of it proclaiming it to be=20
the "Beso'lha Navajo Casino."=20
Sue looked up at the sign on the front of the building, and once=20
again a bit of data floated softly to the top of her mind. "I could=20
be wrong, but that name seems to say something like "Give Me Money=20
Navajo Casino'. What kind of name is that?"
"An honest one," Gaagi replied, then looked at her sharply, "You can=20
read Navajo?"
Sue shook her head, "I don't think I ever tried before. I guess I can=20
speak a bit of it."
Cassandra gave Adam a worried glance, before asking Sue, "Sue, how=20
many languages do you speak?"
Sue got a confused look, as Sally turned to look at her as well.=20
Noticing Sally's glance, Adam spoke up, "I know she was spouting=20
French like a native after a few weeks at the Academy, And I think=20
she said something about Latin, Spanish, and Italian, but I never=20
asked."
Sue gave a slight shrug, and said, "I don't think I can really speak=20
anything other than English, fluently. But I can manage bit of lots=20
of languages. I've never counted,=E2=80=9D while wondering hersrelf just how=
=20
she could read Navajo, and how many other languages she may of=20
acquired from Eadgils.
Gaagi stood aside as he opened the doors bearing a sign proudly=20
proclaiming, "Opening November 1st. Please come visit us then!" A=20
uniformed guard could be seen beyond the opened doors. He looked=20
like he was about to say something to Sue, who was first through the=20
doors, but then Gaagi stepped into his view, and he bit off whatever=20
he was going to say. Instead he looked at Gaagi and asked, "Are=20
these the bilagannas guests Jonah said were going to stay tonight?"
"They are our guests, yes. They are friends of a very old friend of=20
mine, and I would like them to be treated with respect, and=20
politeness," Gaagi said with a glare.
"Ateh ya fanu late," Sue muttered towards the guard as she passed.
The guard froze, and his eyes widened, before he looked away and got=20
busy guarding the once more closed door for all he was worth.
"What did you say?" Adam asked, as Gaagi and Sarah broke up laughing.
"She told him his mother dressed him upside down when he was born. A=20
very odd way to say he had his head up his ass," Gaagi said, his eyes=20
watering from the force of his laughter as he led the way towards the=20
front desk of the hotel.=20
Standing before the check-in desk was an older gentleman in a pair of=20
slacks and a dress shirt, standing behind a young looking woman who=20
looked resplendent in a hotel uniform which was made up of a black=20
velvet like blouse over a black broom skirt, with a gold belt=20
providing a flash of color. Another, older woman was walking out of a=20
back room, dressed in blue jeans and a paint smudged T-Shirt.
The older gentleman stepped forward and introduced himself. "Hello,=20
My name is Jonah Notah. This is my wife, Regina Tapahe-Notah, and our=20
daughter Virginia."
Virginia smiled at them and said, "Welcome to the Beso'lha Navajo=20
Casino. We hope you enjoy your stay. I'm here to check you in to your=20
rooms, but first, my father would like to give you a brief tour of=20
the establishment. Mostly to show you what is and isn't operational=20
so far. Just come back here when you are ready to check in, and I'll=20
get you your rooms for the evening."
Jonah came around from behind the counter, and extended a hand=20
towards first Cassandra, then Sally, Sue, Adam, and Patrick, in that=20
order. "Let me show you the Casino, then we'll get you checked in.=20
I'll give you a quick tour of the restaurants if you want before I=20
show you to your rooms. Unfortunately, none of the restaurants are=20
open just yet, in fact, we are only painting the Buffet's dining room=20
today, but at least it will give you a good idea about the layout for=20
the place."
Gaagi spoke up as Jonah started to lead them back towards the entry,=20
and the Casino beyond it, "Jonah, they were wondering what kind of=20
name 'Beso'lha' is for a Casino. Sue here, asked what kind of a=20
name =E2=80=98Give me money=E2=80=99 was for a Casino, apparently she though=
t it was=20
too direct."
Jonah missed a step, and looked at Gaagi questioningly. "You=20
translated the name that way for them?"
Gaagi laughed, and shook his head, them pointed at Sue. "No, she did."
"Well, I suppose it is accurate enough. But the simple truth is there=20
is no gambling involved here at all. There never will be." Jonah=20
explained, as they passed the guard, who was still studiously=20
watching the closed door for the slightest sign of misbehavior, and=20
looking more than a little embarrassed.
Jonah gave him an odd look as they passed, while Sarah started=20
laughing at him all over again
"The 'Casino' will have all the traditional games you find in an=20
Atlantic City or a Las Vegas Casino. From slots to table games, to a=20
few unique offerings we are going to throw in as well," Jonah=20
started, as he gestured towards a table which looked like nothing=20
ever seen before in a casino. "This one is based on an old Navajo=20
game called the shoe game. But what will really distinguish us from=20
the real Casinos, is that while you can win at any of these games,=20
all you will ever get is more Chips with which to play," Jonah=20
finished.
"That sounds like standard Casino Gambling to me," Patrick said,=20
looking over as they passed a pair of workmen hooking a new slot=20
machine up, connecting what looked like a standard Ethernet cable to=20
its innards, before powering it up.
One of the workers spoke up with a grin, saying, "What gambling? We=20
never give any money back. For us it is a win-win, and we'll make=20
sure the guests have fun the whole time."=20
"Yeah. We learned a lot from the folks in Las Vegas, only we are more=20
honorable. We let people know up front that the most they will win is=20
a great room and a Lobster dinner," the other added, as they closed=20
the front of the now running Slot machine and turned away, apparently=20
to get another machine from the pallet of similar units sitting along=20
the wall.
Jonah spoke up, reclaiming everyone's attention and leading them back=20
towards the front desk. "This is going to be one of the highest-tech=20
casinos in the world. All the chips will be encoded to the particular=20
guest they belong to. When a guest checks out, we will use a=20
customized Z-Corp Z406 to literally print out custom three=20
dimensional chips for each guest with their actual faces and names on=20
them, which they can keep as a souvenir, and show to all their=20
friends. Of course, they can always bring them back here for their=20
next trip as well. "
Arriving at the front desk again, he continued, "When you check in,=20
you will be able to buy chips. By the way, would you folks like to=20
buy some chips?"
"How much will the rooms we are going to be using tonight go for, the=20
posted rate?" Sue asked.
"About three-fifty each. They are on the better scale of our rooms.=20
We will have rooms for as little as thirty dollars a night, and as=20
much as ten thousand for the ten High Roller Suites. We had=20
discussions about a fifty thousand dollar a night room, but my Mom=20
vetoed it. I suppose we can always add one if we have any really big=20
winners." Jonah's daughter, Virginia answered.
"Why such expensive high end rooms?" Sally asked from the rear of the=20
group,
"So the Tanesh will feel they are getting their money's worth if they=20
win big. Remember, we aren't letting people cash out the chips, the=20
only thing they can spend their winnings on are things here, Room=20
Upgrades, Food, Souvenirs, and such. It is part of how we are=20
bypassing the Gambling laws here in Arizona, since we never pay out,=20
we can argue, with justification, that this is not really Gambling.=20
This casino is basically a huge ongoing high class fundraiser for the=20
People. It is being financed through tribal monies, and all profits=20
from it will return to the Tribal coffers. Plus it will give us about=20
fifteen hundred really nice jobs for our People. Also since we don't=20
collect gambling monies, we don't qualify for having to pay the=20
exorbitant =E2=80=98Revenue Sharing=E2=80=99 to the state that they charge f=
or=20
gambling income, either. Fundraisers are not covered by the contract,=20
and as I said, that=E2=80=99s all we really are. Not that the state has had=20
to do or pay anything for our project anyhow. We located the Casino=20
here because we had offices nearby in Lupton. And there was already=20
an exit, and it was close to tribal land. We paid for all the=20
infrastructure costs, electrical, water, sewage, and such. Why should=20
they 'share' the profit from our work this time?" Jonah explained.
"I don't see why they should," Sue agreed. "In any case, I'd like to=20
buy, oh, say five thousand in chips." With that, she pulled a stack=20
of bills from her purse.
Jonah looked up at her, then asked, "You understand most of the games=20
aren't running yet, and that you can't change these back to real=20
money, ever?"
"Oh, I don't plan to gamble. If the others want to try the games,=20
they can do so." Sue replied.
"Didn't I tell you the chips are non-transferable?" Jonah asked her,=20
glancing over at his daughter who was eyeing the stack of bills=20
speculatively.
"You said they could be used to buy food, souvenirs, and to give=20
tips, didn't you?" Sue asked, laying the cash down on the counter=20
before Virginia.
"You are planning on coming back after we open and eating five=20
thousand dollars in food, or taking home that many rugs, or that much=20
jewelry?"
"Not really. I just want the chips. You did say you were going to=20
make custom chips for people to take home with themselves, didn't=20
you?" Sue asked with a grin.
"Those would be expensive souvenirs, even assuming they can get the=20
machine fixed. Someone really messed it up, right after the reps from=20
Z-Corp installed it. It=E2=80=99s a highly customized unit you know, designe=
d=20
to print the chips, and nothing else. From what they can tell,=20
someone used it to print something else out, but they deleted=20
the .stf file, so they don=E2=80=99t even know what it was. Somehow they als=
o=20
got a part of a fur coat or something caught in the mechanism, so the=20
techs are busy right now disassembling and cleaning the entire output=20
carriage. They say they=E2=80=99ve never seen anything like it, almost like=20
someone tried to feed a squirrel to the machine or something." Jonah=20
answered, as he watched Virginia shrug, and collect the cash from the=20
counter.
"Ah, but I would not be a burden on The People. It is the least I can=20
do to pay my own way, and that of those who are here because of me.=20
Since you can't really rent the rooms being as how you aren't open=20
for business yet, I will just buy some chips. It seems only fair to=20
me." Sue explained, smiling at Virginia before glancing back over her=20
shoulder at Jonah.
"Miss Danning, I appreciate your attitude. It is a rare one in this=20
day and age." Jonah said, as he watched his Daughter slide a small=20
stack of generic white chips, each with the amount $1,000 printed on=20
their faces.
"Thanks, Mr. Notah. I just don't like not pulling my own weight, and=20
I have a particularly good idea what was done to your people in the=20
past." Sue replied, plucking up the chips, and looking dubiously at=20
their plain appearance.
"These are simple $1,000 starter chips. Every chip has a barcode, and=20
an associated number. It is the record in the computer which really=20
counts. That is the actual money. If you somehow lose the chips, just=20
let us know, and we will reissue them. Whenever you deposit them in a=20
machine, or use them at a table, they are scanned. If someone somehow=20
steals your chips, unless they actually look like you, they won't=20
find them anything but trouble, if they use them anywhere, their=20
picture will be on the surveillance videos, and they will find that=20
there is no reward at the end of their path," Jonah explained.
"Well, I'd at least color them, perhaps imprinted with some sort of=20
Native American pattern," Sue replied, looking dubiously at the chips.
"The actual plan is to have custom chips by Opening Day, which will=20
have different patterns based on Sand Paintings on each chip, with=20
the predominant, and edge colors denoting the denominations of the=20
chips, but the artwork was only recently approved, and the actual=20
chips are still in production," Jonah replied with a smile.
"Ok, that's a bit more like it. After all, if I lay down thousands of=20
dollars I will never see again, it would be nice to get something=20
that at least looks like it is worth more than a quarter in=20
exchange," Sue answered, turning back to Virginia, and accepting the=20
keycard she was now holding out.
"Ms. Danning, this is your room key, it is for room 4128. That is on=20
the Fourth floor, over near the elevator. Do you need me to show you=20
on the map?" Virginia asked.
"Nah, I think I can find my way. Thanks," Sue replied with a smile.=20
Turning to Jonah and smiling at him, and his wife who had just=20
reemerged from the back room, she added, "Thanks all of you. I=20
appreciate your letting us stay here tonight."
"Not a problem," Jonah said, as Virginia continued checking in the=20
rest of the party, one at a time, and assigning them rooms on the=20
fourth floor near Sue's.
When she was done, Jonah lead the party to the elevator, and they=20
headed on up to the fourth floor to check out their rooms, before=20
heading back down to the RV to get their luggage. Gaagi and Sarah=20
remained behind in the lobby, talking quietly with Virginia and=20
Regina, in Navajo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sue finally drifted off to sleep, after everyone had agreed to meet=20
with Gaagi again in the morning for breakfast at some place on the=20
Reservation.=20
The next thing she knew, she was once more in the Dojo of the Mind,=20
Eadgils practicing a kata in the middle of the room with his old=20
sword, while some sort of skinny dog, or possibly even a coyote, laid=20
on top of a stack of workout mats, watching him.
"Hey Eadgils. What's with the dog?" Sue asked, looking over at the=20
animal, as she stepped onto the mats before Eadgils.
"Uh? I thought he was yours. Some pet from when you were a child or=20
something. He was here when I got in myself. I don't know him."
Sue looked at the animal, which calmly looked back at her with an=20
oddly intelligent gaze through its yellow, almost golden eyes. "He=20
looks like the coyote that went over the cliff with Patrick this=20
afternoon. You don't suppose HE's haunting me now as well, do you?"=20
Eadgils looked again at the coyote, then back at Sue, and said, "I=20
have no idea. What happened to us is something I'd never even heard=20
of before it happened. But I've never heard of any Immortals being=20
actually haunted by the dead, only by their own consciences."
Sue turned away, dismissing the phantom canine from her awareness,=20
and focused instead on Eadgils. "I saw Gaagi today. And I remembered=20
him. Isn't that what happens with you, when you recall something from=20
my life?"
Eadgils nodded softly. "Yes, I'm afraid it is. I'm not sure if it's a=20
good sign, or a bad one. It could just mean that things are=20
equalizing, you know, you gaining an equal footing with my=20
consciousness, somehow."
"But it's MY life. Not yours. I'm sorry, but 'gaining parity' doesn't=20
sound all that attractive. I want my own life back, damnit!" Sue=20
complained, whining almost like a young child. Suddenly another damn=20
on her emotions shattered, and the Dojo vanished in a blink of an=20
eye, being replaced by a hillside, overlooking an ocean as the sun=20
set low behind the waves on the horizon.
Tears were falling from her eyes, as she swung back towards Eadgils,=20
the corner of her eye catching the coyote, as he looked down at the=20
suddenly missing stack of practice mats, instead taking in the=20
several feet of empty air between himself and the sloping ground=20
below him. He glanced up at Sue, almost in annoyance as he suddenly=20
fell to the earth with a painful sounding thump.
"Are we going to end up like Rojor and Euclopities?" Sue asked=20
Eadgils, again dismissing the canine.
Eadgils took Sue in a gentle hug, and squeezed her tight. "No, I=20
promise, whatever it takes, we won't end up like Rojor and=20
Euclopities. First off, I am perfectly aware that my life is over. I=20
have no desire to steal your life from you. Secondly, unlike them, we=20
are not enemies. I had considered taking you as my student when your=20
time came, you know. I don't do that for people I don't like.=20
Finally, thanks to Methos, or Adam as you call him, we know what=20
happened to those two. That gives us a valuable warning of what to=20
avoid."
"I'm just so scared, Eadgils. I mean, a week ago, my largest concern=20
was whether to actually give in and get an apartment of my own,=20
instead of living in the Watcher safe house in Atlanta. After all, it=20
was pretty obvious that you weren't planning on moving anytime soon,=20
and I was pretty permanently assigned to you." Sue suddenly grinned=20
up at him, "Of course, now I seem to have been even more permanently=20
assigned to you. Or you to me... Anyhow, then before I knew what was=20
happening, I was killed, you got dumped into my head, and suddenly I=20
am an Immortal myself, I have a student, and am crossing the country=20
with two Immortals as old as you were, or in one case, even OLDER,=20
and another Watcher. I have to accept the fact that my father was not=20
really my father at all, and that everything I ever expected from my=20
life, including children of my own, is flat out impossible. Worse,=20
what will I do when some head hunter comes for me?"
"Defeat him, of course," Eadgils replied.
"Yeah, fine. But what about their WATCHER? Don't you think she will=20
find it a bit odd that their subject would stalk me, then lose their=20
quickening to me, as he would to any other Immortal in the game? I=20
mean, sooner or later, they ARE going to figure out what I am. I=20
doubt they will want to throw me a party when they do." Sue said,=20
turning away, and settling her gaze on the colors of the sunset, as=20
the night above them sank to swallow the western horizon.
"Perhaps you should just tell them. What is the worst they could do=20
to you?" Eadgils asked, as he looked over Sue's shoulder, taking in=20
the silently observant form of the coyote sitting on the hillside,=20
apparently listening intently to them.
"Most likely, at a minimum they'd cut me off from my friends, since=20
they are Watchers after all. Worst case, they could always drag me in=20
and chop off my head. I've already given them enough call to do that=20
with Patrick and Cassandra, despite the support of Joe, and now=20
Sally. I am more worried about them cutting me off then I am about=20
them chopping parts off of me though. I suppose I should be more=20
concerned about the Tribunal, but with everything else going on in my=20
life at the moment, it seems to be way down on my list of=20
priorities." Sue shuddered, then sat down on the ground, and poked a=20
stick into a camp fire which was now crackling happily before them in=20
the gathering darkness.
"Well, considering that your head is where I also seem to be living=20
these days, I think that a bit of concern over retaining its=20
connection to the rest of you is not unjustified. However, at the=20
same time, I can understand the impact of losing everything. But for=20
most new Immortals that is normal. Almost all Immortals have to leave=20
their original life behind, and abandon everything and everyone they=20
knew before. In a way, you are lucky, because there is a good chance=20
that you can at least make it an easier transition. No one knows you=20
died in Atlanta. That means no one will be surprised to see you=20
walking around alive. That's a lot more than most new Immortals can=20
claim."
"I know, damnit. But at the same time, I'm afraid of losing what I=20
have left. Of losing everything, including my own mind. And I feel=20
like there's nothing I can do about it. That is the worst part of it.=20
That there's nothing I can do. Nothing." Tossing the stick the rest=20
of the way into the fire, she stood, and looked up the hill, her eyes=20
being caught by the lambent golden reflection of the coyote's eyes,=20
from where he still sat, watching them. "That coyote is still here.=20
You sure you didn't bring him somehow?"
A voice came from the darkness. "He is an Animal Spirit of some sort."
Turning, Sue and Eadgils saw Cassandra strolling up the hill towards=20
their fire from the direction of the cliff, and the ocean beyond, the=20
only sign of it's continued presence being that of the waves lapping=20
at the base of the rocky cliff.
"He looks like the Coyote which fell over the cliff with Patrick, the=20
one that disappeared." Sue said, meeting the steady golden gaze of=20
reflected firelight from the canine.
"I can't tell you more than that I feel great power from him. Almost=20
like a Quickening, only more so," Cassandra replied.
"I wish there was someone who knew more about him, and what he was=20
doing in my head" Sue grumbled, still meeting the gaze of the coyote.
Suddenly the coyote blinked and cocked it's head a bit to the side,=20
almost like a collie. It turned, and looked up the hill into the=20
darkness as though seeking something.
Cassandra followed its gaze, then suddenly took a sharp breath, "A=20
ghost!" she whispered.
Sue spun around, looking at the ghostly figure approaching the fire=20
with a bewildered looking stride.
Eadgils followed her gaze, then his eyes widened in=20
recognition. "Gaagi!' he called, waving at the eerily translucent=20
phantom.
Sue then realized that the latest ghost to wander through her mind=20
was indeed Gaagi. "Gus, how did you get here?" she asked.
"I don't even know where I am. I see Coyote, the trickster, I see an=20
old friend, and the two people who today informed me he was dead. I=20
see a fire, in a place I have never seen before. I was meditating on=20
what to do about the young Kani-ah-fanuti to try and help remove his=20
curse. Then I felt a pulling, and the next thing I knew, I was here."=20
As he spoke, his form seemed to slowly solidify, until he was=20
as "Real" as was anyone else.
"Well, where we are is something none of us are really sure of."=20
Eadgils started. "I am more amazed and puzzled than anyone, because=20
they told you the truth. I did lose my head a few days ago. But=20
somehow I got dumped, intact, into Sue's head. This is where we first=20
met." he said, gesturing around at the closing darkness, indicating=20
the universe in general. "It seems to be a figment of Sue's=20
imagination, or perhaps of mine, or of everyone, somehow. Some sort=20
of accepted mass hallucination."
Gaagi looked at Eadgils, then back at Sue and Cassandra, his gaze=20
then lingering on the silent Coyote, before settling again on=20
Eadgils's. "Well, you seem pretty lively for a dead man. I always=20
knew you were some sort of Demon. No white man could have beaten me=20
in a fair fight."
"Ah, but none of those fights were fair, you were pitting hundreds of=20
years of experience against thousands. And not thousands of years=20
spent idling away on Holy Ground, either, thousands of years out in=20
the world, with a life or death fight every year at the least. And=20
lots of practice and study in between."
"Still, when you beat me, you didn't take my head. That was the most=20
embarrassing thing," Gaagi replied.
"I didn't want your head. It was bad enough what was happening to=20
your people, and their culture. Should I take one of their potential=20
resources away for no other reason than he got upset when I passed=20
through his land, or what was left of it?"
"I would have taken yours. I tried."
"I know. I knew then, but I figured you had a good reason for wanting=20
my head. I had no such reason to want yours. I would rather have the=20
friend I made amongst your people, than add another head to the long=20
list of ones I had already taken." Eadgils replied, tossing another=20
stick into the fire.
"What is Me=E2=80=99ii doing here, is he a friend of yours as well?" Gaagi=20
asked, after a silent pause, looking pointedly at the silently=20
watching canine.
"We have no idea. We were just speculating on that very issue when=20
you appeared," Sue replied.
Cassandra finally spoke, "You name him Me=E2=80=99ii, as though he is a=20
familiar being to you. I can feel that he is real, and that he is far=20
more than he seems, but beyond that, I don't know much. I have dealt=20
with Wolf spirits, and other beings in the past, but this one feels,=20
both older, and stronger."
"My people, in our religion believe there were three beings spawned=20
by the Medicine Bundle in the beginning - First Man, First Woman, and=20
Me=E2=80=99ii. First Man and First Woman begat all the peoples of the earth.=
=20
Me=E2=80=99ii was a companion to them, offering help and guidance, while als=
o=20
causing no end of mischief along the way. He stole the water=20
monster's children, resulting in the flooding of the 4th world, for=20
example. He introduced Death. He is known as a trickster, one who=20
peruses his own agenda, and who should always be approached with=20
caution, respect, and wariness. Especially if he offers you some sort=20
of deal." Gaagi explained.
'We saw him earlier today, I think. When Patrick fell off the cliff,=20
there was a coyote on the rock with him, it looked a lot like this=20
one. There was no body that we could find at the bottom when we went=20
to get Patrick." Sue explained. "I had first thought he was just a=20
figment of my imagination from that." She glanced warily at the=20
coyote, then Cassandra and Gaagi, before settling her eyes once more=20
on the Coyote. "I suppose there is more to his presence that that=20
though, if you both think he is more than he seems."
Cassandra looked again at the coyote, then back at Gaagi, and=20
asked, "Does he have any history of interacting with immortals?"
Gaagi shook his head, "Not that I have ever heard of. The People=20
didn't have many of the Kani-ah-fanuti and those we did kept a low=20
profile. I don't know of any others who are still alive. And I have=20
never encountered Me=E2=80=99ii in person before. In fact, I don't know of=20
any of the People who have actually seen Me=E2=80=99ii in person. Sometimes,=
=20
like this, in dreams he will appear. He is known for bringing=20
warnings of the future. It is said that the Coyote People know of=20
things to come, and will on occasion attempt to intervene."
"Coyote people?" Sue asked.
Eadgils replied before Gaagi could, "While the children of First Man=20
and First Woman are the People, the children of Me=E2=80=99ii are known as=20
the Coyote People. All coyotes are of his people, as well as other=20
animals, such as foxes."
Gaagi looked speculatively at the coyote. "While he may not be the=20
actual Coyote, I can feel his power from here, he is as close as I=20
have ever encountered to our people's god. Perhaps a song of the=20
Coyote Way may help to lift the curse on your friend. Has he done=20
harm to one of the Coyote People that you know of?"
"Not that I am aware of," Sue replied.
"I don't believe the curse is from this being, or one of its=20
brethren. It has the feeling of Voodum, of a bound or compelled=20
spirit."
"Then we should try a Song of Release. It is a song which frees a=20
captured spirit. There was once a ritual practiced by the People. I=20
think I can recreate the sand paintings it needed. We will need a few=20
masks though. I'm not sure I remember all of them. Talking God, for=20
one; Changing Woman, for another. I don't remember the exact=20
ceremony, but my old friend Tsosie, he may remember the whole thing.=20
I hope so, it would be a shame if it has been lost already.
The Coyote nodded at his words, almost sagely, then he turned towards=20
Sue, and before anyone could say or do anything, he leapt at her, and=20
nipped at her foot.
Sue sat bolt upright in the bedroom of the hotel, yanked out of her=20
sleep as though she had never gone to bed, a slight pain coming from=20
the foot held gently but firmly in the mouth of the coyote at the far=20
end of her bed.
Suddenly it let her foot go, and headed into the bathroom with a=20
soft "Yip."
"What, has Timmy fallen down the toilet?" Sue asked, climbing out of=20
bed, and heading towards the bathroom. As she came around the corner,=20
she turned the lights on, and found no sign of the coyote. Looking in=20
the shower, and under the sink to be sure, she decided she must have=20
still been asleep, only she still had the little indentations on her=20
foot from the teeth. She looked again for any place the coyote could=20
have gone, and upon finding no possible avenues for escape, she gave=20
up, and headed back to the bed. However, try as she might, she could=20
not fall back asleep.=20
Finally, as the first glimpse of dawn came through her windows, she=20
headed back to the bathroom to get a shower, and get dressed for the=20
day. She was eager to see what Cassandra, and Gaagi had to say of=20
last night's events, assuming they even happened. A glance at her=20
foot showed that the impressions of the coyote's teeth had even=20
vanished, leaving her with nothing but her memories.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
=20
To be continued in Chapter Twenty Four "Paint, Sing, and Fall Down!"=20
Hopefully Comming 6-11