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Show 42 III. HAASHCH'EEH DINE'E BIX battle and restored all the Eagles to life and health. For payment he received some "living" down (hiina bitsos). The next day he found himself in a similar battle between the Hawks and the Wasps. The day after, there was a battle with the Wrens. Then he headed north to visit the Great Eagles. He found them planning a raid against the Black Star People. The next morning, however, the Great Black Star sent hundreds of prickly tumbleweeds (tToh deinayisii) whirling against the Eagles. In this way, they were driven off. After this Younger Brother returned to the Great Black Star (So tsoh), told him of all his adventures, and offered him some of the down. So tsoh was very glad to get these feathers and thanked Younger Brother. He told him that all the medicines he had collected and used to cure the Eagles and the Hawks would also cure Earth-Surface People. Most important, he said, "Remember that during the war with the stinging insects you were always guided by the Spirit Wind (Niyol biyazhi). He told you what was the right thing to do. When you return to earth, he will no longer whisper in your ear as he did up here. Instead he will go inside you. He will speak to you in your dreams or by pricking your throat or twitching your nerves or popping your ears. Pay attention to these signals, for it will not be so easy to hear him down there." Then the Great Star told Younger Brother how to interpret his dreams and gave him some fat and a star as gifts. When Younger Brother returned to his home, he found the hogan deserted. As he started to build a fire, a sound came in his throat. He recognized it as a signal from the Spirit Wind. He waited, then heard a noise. It said, "Four years ago your wife and children were taken south from this place by Coyote. Do not worry, for you shall be guided to them." After passing several abandoned hogans, Younger Brother finally found his family. They were living in a hogan that reeked of Coyote's filthy presence. Coyote said that he wanted to remain with the family. Younger Brother responded, "All right, then, but you will have to eat this fat I have brought back first." Coyote eagerly swallowed the delicious fat that Younger Brother had brought back from the Sky World. He did not know that the Great Star had been wrapped inside of it. As the fat dissolved in Coyote's stomach, the Star expanded. Soon Coyote began to run around and around, howling in pain. Eventually he fell dead at the entrance to the hogan. |