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Show 69 ^-"You'll do well in the race tomorrow," said his mother. "I'll pray for you." "I'm going down to the kiva to be alone for a little while," Chua said. "I'll be back'after the sun has left the earth." Chua missed Chosovi, leaving an empty ache in his heart. As he climbed down the ladder into the kiva, the last of the daylight illuminated the wall with the snake on it. Chua touched it, as he walked around to the wall to the storage room. He looked at the bird feathers. "Please don't let the chief hurt you," he said to Chosovi. He hoped the sound would carry across the air like the words of Coyote boy that had flown to his elders. Chua had found Chosovi as a tiny baby. Her mother was carried off by a hawk, leaving Chosovi alone in the nest. Chua had taken her and kept her warm in a small basket. He had fed her and loved her. They had been together ever since. "Father, I need you," Chua said. When Chua said the words, he could picture his father and feel peace surround him. "I know you are discouraged," his father said. cc "How could the Bear Clan Chief take my bird?" asked Chua. I try to trust and look what happens." "Bear Clan Chief was angry because he is afraid. If you listened, the chief is worried about Toho being strong enough to be chief someday." J Chua had not heard that. Did the chief say it? Toho had said that his father was worried about him having stiff bones like his mother. |
