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Show 46 Chua climbed to the end of the small canyon. Water shot out between two big rocks and slid down into the streambed below. Chua set the water jar down and decided to climb the boulders to look for the paah or spring. He slipped and slid across the cool rocks. The sun didn't peek into this narrow canyon very long each day. He liked the dampness from the spray of water and the coolness from the shade. Over the top rock he peered down into a small bubbling spring. It slid down a long narrow rock in a groove that had taken years for the water to carve. That would be fun to slide down, thought Chua, but not today. He would get back with the water first. He filled the jar and started back down the canyon. His neck ached as he carried the jar on his head. As the cliffs spread themselves apart into the wash, Chua noticed an old woman gathering pinecones near the top of the hill. Her back was towards him so she did not see him. Something hit his neck. It stung. Chua continued walking. Another something hit his shoulder and then the back of his head in his hair. He ducked behind a boulder and set the water jar down. He felt the back of his head to see what was hitting him. It was not as hard as the pebbles had been yesterday. He pulled a small brown nut out of his hair. Chua tasted it. It was a delicious pine nut. He looked around to see who had hit him, but there was no one. Zing! He was hit in the leg this time. Chua jumped out in time to see the same boy that had shot the pebbles through the reed the day before. He was standing on a ledge above Chua. |