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Show Chua leaned his body forward as they neared the finish. He crossed the line just ahead of Hanai. Both boys slowed to a jog, panting heavily. "Good race," Chua said to Hanai. "You are fast like a desert fox," Hanai said between breaths. Chua grinned at Hanai. "So are you." Hanai smiled back. The sweat on Chua's glistening body dried in the slight breeze. The clan crowded around him. They pressed against him, supporting him. He reached out to touch them back. He looked for the chief, but couldn't find him. The chief was like his father now. Did he know that Chua had won? Chua had seen the chief alone in the hills, watching the race from a distance. But he would be there for the Snake Dance. The priest pushed through the crowd to stand by Chua. "Bless you, son of the medicine man." He handed Chua the sacred water jar andpahos. "As winner of the race, you may take the sacred water and prayer stick to bless the fields of your family. Your father would be grateful." £7 W p^4 " \9^fy aW * ° n e l i n e s s knotted inMis belly. He missed his father. And since his 3 father was gone, Chua knew he had to take care of things himself with the help of the chief and the clan. Chosovi, his blue-feathered bird, fluttered to his shoulder and kissed his cheek. His mother kissed the other cheek. He drank from an earthen jar. The water refreshed him. |