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Show 36 Their feet crept carefully down the sandy trail with Chua holding Apa's arm. As they reached the bottom, the dry riverbed snaked past them with hundreds of smooth round stones shaping its path. It held water only during the rains, thought Chua. Dried, broken com stalks stood like sticks in rows of small hills on the sandy riverbank. "I'm ready for the cool of the cliff dwelling," Apa said. Chua saw an old coyote bone used for digging in the earth. Maybe he should plant corn in their new home. They would need food for winter. He picked the bone up and then dropped it. It was too late in the season for planting now. It would turn cold soon. He hoped they could find some food left in the abandoned village. He sent the y/zx*i^ sehrfeop* ht^ut-tfrto the universe inxhopoo that it would be heaTd. They had enough com for a while, but not for the entire winter. Chua would worry about that later. 1 Father, help us, he though,. J ff+^fw *«*> Yrr^ teiS5^^tiv^ Chua broke off a sagebrush branch. "This will make a good broom to clean up ^rtM^^ the spider trails and dirt from our new home," Chua said. \cL*4hA°$^ As they crossed the canyon floor and climbed under the archway, they felt the relief of shade. The cool rock brushed Chua's back. It felt delightfully damp. Shade from Father Sun was a welcome relief. Chua found a rock ledge for Apa to sit on in the cool shadow. After his mother had rested, they began to climb up to the village. Her footsteps were slow and labored. "I'll take you to the upper level rooms," Chua said. "They will be larger," Apa said. |
