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Show 112 "I know," Toho said. "We must hope the eagle hunts down here for a rabbit or squirrel." "He knows that you need him," Chua said. "He will come." Chua refilled the water jars. "Keep your ankle in the cold water for now so the swelling will stop." They waited. The sun rose high in the sky and began its path toward the western horizon. The boys sat in the sand and waited. "Chua," Toho said, "my father doesn't need to know I hurt my ankle. I mustn't go home in disgrace. I don't want him to think I'm weak*" 1 "I won't tell," Chua said. "You're not weak. Strong people fall and get hurt." Toho pulled himself over to a nearby yucca plant. He pulled a shoot off and pricked his finger. A drop of blood appeared. "Here is my blood for your friendship." Chua pricked his finger and touched it to Toho's. "Blood brothers," he said. Chua pulled a couple of small juniper twigs out of his pouch for each of them to chew. They tasted like pine. Toho gave a big sigh as the sun dipped toward the edge of the earth. "The eagle knows we need him," Toho said. "But he isn't coming. We've waited all day for him." "I've been thinking," Chua said. "Hopi hunters always place pahos for deer and antelope to tell them they are needed for food. But they don't set their atlatl and spears down and wait for the antelope to come to them. They still must do the hunting." "You're right," Toho said. "But what can we do? I can't climb back up to the bluff to catch the eagle in his nest." "We must hunt the eagle as I have seen men hunt other birds now," Chua said. |
