Desert Passage (18 page)

“D
r. García, what's the word?” shouted Scott as he saw Dr. García ascending the pathway. The five explorers had returned to the first cave full of stories about what they had seen that morning.

“Well,” Dr. García started, a little out of breath from the climb, “looks like we can continue for now. The tribal council is making their final decision. They'll be joining us tomorrow at the site. They gave us permission to keep digging, but we can't remove anything today.”

Dr. García removed his khaki brimmed hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead. As the leader of the expedition, he was responsible for the entire project. The meeting with the Native American tribal leaders had gone well but they needed time before they would consent to the removal of their ancestor's bones from the ground that they considered sacred.

“Last night the canyon told me it understood why we were here,” interjected Eric, staring off into the distance.

Greg heard Eric's words, then said, “Okay, you heard it. Let's get moving to the cave.” Then he turned to Dr. García. “We've located another cave with primitive wall paintings. It'll have to be investigated further.”

Dr. García's eyes opened wide, “Another discovery in the same canyon?” He wiped his forehead again. “When the tribal leaders join us tomorrow, we'll check it out. This is miraculous. Good work, Dr. Shaw.”

“It wasn't me. Scott, Eric, Randy, and … ” Greg hesitated, “and our two boys were instrumental in getting access into the cave.”

“Well, well. Looks like we have two archaeologists in training. Very good!” Dr. García laughed.

The team took their flashlights from their packs as they approached the entrance to the cave. From the top of the cave rays of sunlight filtered through a hole in the ceiling and the team stopped for a moment to regroup.

“Okay, let's begin where the body was found first, then we'll spread out and see what we find,” Greg said, moving his flashlight around the room, directing the team.

Eric unloaded his pack and said a quiet prayer over the hole in the cave floor which until the day before had held the body of one of his ancestors. Scott took off his cowboy hat and lowered his head in silence until Eric had finished his reverent words.

Eric was sensitive to the desert. He was born into the Hopi tribe that lived nearby. Leaving his family to pursue his education had been difficult, and although it was hard to be far from his beloved land, he knew that his achievements in science had made the tribal elders very proud. He never forgot to thank his ancestors for his good fortune and for the wisdom that he had acquired in his life.

Dr. García paced around the room, glancing at the team of his students and at Dr. Shaw. Dr. García's accomplishments in science were impressive but his valued reputation among his peers was for the astonishing research and anthropological theories that he had produced in his thirty years of experience. He walked around the newly lit cave and reviewed the ground floor.

“What do you boys think of all this? I hear you've had quite an adventure this morning,” Dr. García asked, looking at Miguel first then Ramón.

They were unaware of Dr. García's impressive credentials but knew by his voice and posture that he was an important man.

“This is really cool. I didn't think that this kind of stuff really happened. It's like being in a movie,” Miguel gushed, looking at his cousin for something more to say.

“I like not knowing what you could find. It's kinda exciting, like anything could happen!” responded Ramón.

“Well, we research the history of the area before we start a dig, so we do know what it is we should be looking for. But sometimes we do find something surprising,” answered Dr. García.

“Like the mummy?” blurted Miguel.

Dr. García smiled and thought of his own boyhood adventures. “Maybe you'll help us find another?”

Miguel and Ramón felt the rush of exploration run through their veins. Miguel recalled the books that he had at home about the history of the ancient civilizations and thought he would look through them again when he got back home.

Ramón was thinking of the people that must have lived in the canyon, in the stone buildings, and in the caves they were now exploring. “What if we could talk to one of them now? What would they say about us if they saw our cars, TVs, movies?” he thought to himself.

The boys leaned against the cave wall and watched the scientists at work. There was so much to discover about the world, lands to travel, and cultures to discover about. They realized that their lives had just begun, that the first fourteen years had been filled with the actions and thoughts of children, and that a new life with exciting possibilities was opening up to them. They were no longer just kids.

They continued to observe the men work in silence and thought about all the amazing things they would do when they grew up.

 
Chapter 36
 

T
he day ended in triumph. Another ancient grave had been discovered in the cave and Dr. García shared that he thought they had made a significant scientific discovery. They all walked back to the campsite with their heads held high and boasting of who would win their first international award.

A huge fire was lit and dinner was soon ready. Dr. García had arranged for the delivery of a special dinner in celebration of their amazing discovery. Large aluminum trays were uncovered to reveal stacks of barbequed spareribs and corn on the cob. Everyone cheered at the bountiful feast. Miguel ate more than anyone else, piling his plate three times before most of the others had finished their first plate.

“Hey, man, you got your barbeque!” Ramón said, in a teasing voice, proud that his cousin could eat more than the older guys.

Miguel nodded his head and wiped the spicy sauce from his chin. “This is really good,” he managed to say before taking another big bite.

“Hey, Eric, tell us one of your stories,” bolted Scott. He had noticed Miguel eating more than anyone else and loaded his plate higher in competition with the young boy.

Eric wiped his sauce-stained fingers on a towel and placed his pack over to his side. He reached into it and pulled out an object which he purposely kept out of view. He then got up from his chair and began to speak.

“Usually you guys hear me tell a story that originated with my people and sometimes I tell a story that I have heard
from faraway lands, but tonight I have a story that happened last night.”

The small group stopped talking among themselves and listened to Eric as soon as he began to speak. He was considered to be a great storyteller and his stories were always filled with fascinating detail and magical surprises. Miguel and Ramón turned their eyes to the raven-haired man and felt the awe of mystery begin to surround the campfire.

“I had finished my evening stretches and had sat upon the great rock of the red-stained cliff. My mind was at peace and I felt the moon as she ascended into the heavens.”

Eric extended his arms and gazed into the night sky as he spoke. The others watched every move he made and loved the dramatic interpretation that he added to his story. Scott sat back on his chair and kicked his feet up on a log sticking out of the fire. He grinned in enjoyment as Eric continued.

“The ground breathed beneath me, the walls of the canyon sounded their call to the desert, and I was one with the universe.”

Eric then held his arms out along his sides and continued. “It was then that the Great Spirit revealed himself to me.”

The listeners were stunned. Miguel stopped eating and Ramón felt the hair on his neck rise.

“He flew over the mountains and through the canyon, his wings spanned the width of the canyon walls, and when he landed on the cliff, his eyes met with mine.”

Eric lowered one arm and bent his body slightly over to one side, then spun in a circle around the campfire. “The Great Spirit then allowed himself to be heard. He spoke of brotherhood and of the love a father has for a son.”

Eric stood in front of Ramón and looked directly in the young boy's eyes. “He dropped this in my hands and told me that I would know to whom it belonged.”

He drew a long white eagle feather from the inside of his jacket and handed it to Ramón. “This is yours. The Great Spirit is watching over you. Go in peace, my brother.”

Ramón sat motionless in his chair. He reached for the majestic eagle feather as it was placed into his hands by the storyteller. He needed no further explanation. His heart told him the truth of the story.

Ramón held the feather to his beating heart and felt his father's presence. He had never left him. The dreams had always been real.

 
Chapter 37
 

S
parks flew from the fire toward the night sky. The glow of contentment was on every face sitting around the flames. It had been a blessed day. After the story, Eric went back to his seat and lifted the drum that he had carried down from the cliff that morning onto his lap. He started to slowly tap on the stretched skin, closing his eyes to feel the rhythm of the moment.

Greg leaned over to the two boys and said in a hushed tone, “Eric has traveled on the Amazon. That's where he got that drum.”

Seeing that the boys were fascinated by the origins of the music, he continued. “He went there with Brain and two former students on a research trip. I wish I had been there.” The young man sighed and started to nod his head as the beats of the drum grew more distinct.

Dr. Shaw looked out into the night sky and remembered other nights that had felt like this one. He remembered nights after a day of discovery when the team of men felt cohesive and that along with the amazing new discoveries it had felt that anything in life was possible.

Eric continued to beat the drum and he began a low chant in the Hopi language. He had been the spiritual center of all the expeditions. His spirituality was invaluable to the group just as the genius of Brain, the independent spirit of Scott, and the hard work of Randy. Each one was important to the success of the project.